Roland S. Martin from Creators Syndicate

Now It's Obama's Turn To Make the Adjustments for 03/07/2008

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Ask any boxing trainer and he'll tell you that you can walk into the ring with a well-designed plan to beat your opponent, but as the fight progresses, you might have to alter your plan.

After losing 11 straight races to Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton was faced with a tough choice: continue on the same path and keep losing or shake up your fight plan to keep battling another day ...

Updated: Fri Mar 07, 2008

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Florida, Michigan Don't Deserve a Do-Over for 03/13/2008

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700

For the last two weeks we have watched nearly every political hack from Michigan and Florida hit the airwaves to tell us that voters in those states deserve to have their votes counted, and new elections should be called for — and paid — by the Democratic National Committee.

One word they all keep tossing around is disenfranchisement. Because of this nation's sordid history o ...

Updated: Thu Mar 13, 2008

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Knowing My History Is Better Than Remaining in the Dark for 03/14/2008

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700

As we stood on the Beverly Hills patio of a friend's house last month, talking about a myriad number of issues, Isaiah Washington's eyes lit up when the subject turned to one of his life's passions: reconnecting with his African ancestry by virtue of DNA.

An accomplished actor known to many as Dr. Preston Burke on "Grey's Anatomy," Washington has become an ardent champion of Af ...

Updated: Fri Mar 14, 2008

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The Politics of Race and Faith for 03/21/2008

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The revelation of controversial comments made by the longtime pastor of Sen. Barack Obama — and the equally hot aftermath from the general public that led to the junior senator from Illinois delivering a strong speech/sermon on race in America — has opened anew the explosive connection between three of the most volatile issues today.

If a poll were taken, there is no doubt th ...

Updated: Fri Mar 21, 2008

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Listen to the Candidates, Not Their Associates for 03/28/2008

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700

It's been an interesting week watching folks analyze the outcry over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's controversial comments, especially when they try to link them to Sen. Barack Obama.

Obama's supporters say it's wrong to associate his views with those of his pastor at Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ.

His opponents say that surely his views are linked with Wright's, including ...

Updated: Fri Mar 28, 2008

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Presidential Polls Don't Truly Speak to Race or Gender Issues for 04/04/2008

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

When a new poll comes out, those of us in the media, especially on television, get excited and giddy over what the numbers may mean to the overall electorate.

As any good pollster will tell you, polls offer a snapshot into the minds of the voters on a given day. Of course, that view could change the next day for a multitude of reasons.

My BlackBerry and Treo were buzzing Thursday ...

Updated: Fri Apr 04, 2008

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Democrats Finally Getting Religion on Religion for 04/11/2008

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Sweet Jesus! What has gotten into the Democratic Party when it comes to issues of faith?

On Sunday, CNN will broadcast the Compassion Forum, an event hosted by CNN's Campbell Brown and Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham. It will explore issues of faith and morality with Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

This is the second time the top Democratic c ...

Updated: Fri Apr 11, 2008

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Understanding Why You Don't Call a Black Man a Boy for 04/15/2008

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

When I read about Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Ky., using the word "boy" in reference to Sen. Barack Obama, I immediately thought of a routine — and subsequent book — by comedian Cedric the Entertainer.

While watching the movie "The Original Kings of Comedy," Ced had me rolling in the aisle as he was talking about being a "grown-ass man," an ...

Updated: Tue Apr 15, 2008

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An 'Average' American Never Will Be President for 04/18/2008

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Can we all just stop the silly nonsense over who is an elitist and whether an "average" American will occupy the White House?

Listening to the punditry today, you would think folks who revel in the comedy of Larry The Cable Guy or Katt Williams really would have a shot at the White House. It's totally absurd.

So, Sen. Barack Obama is all of a sudden an elitist because he ...

Updated: Fri Apr 18, 2008

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Look to NASCAR To Understand Democratic Presidential Race for 04/25/2008

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

If NASCAR governed the 2008 race for the Democratic nomination, this would be called "The Chase." In NASCAR, that is the period when the regular season is over and the winner of the season-ending cup championship is named based on who won the most points in "The Chase."

For Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, they easily dispatched the likes of John Edwards, Joe B ...

Updated: Fri Apr 25, 2008

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What Obama Needs To Do To Move Beyond the Rev. Wright for 05/02/2008

Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Let's not kid ourselves. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright was going to be a part of this presidential campaign through November, whether Sen. Barack Obama smacked his former pastor upside the head or not.

Now that he has taken the necessary steps to separate himself from Wright, Obama must go on his most vigorous offensive to date and make it clear that he is running for president, not Wright.
Updated: Fri May 02, 2008

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Hillary, Dems Need More Than Hard-Working White Workers To Win for 05/09/2008

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Excuse me if a look of bewilderment continues to cross my face when a surrogate of Sen. Hillary Clinton starts off on the we-need-hard-working-white-workers-to-win-in-November mantra. In fact, the candidate herself now has made that the primary — and latest — argument to the superdelegates in order to convince them that she's the best person to beat Sen. John McCain in November.

...

Updated: Fri May 09, 2008

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Make Wearing a Flag Pin the 28th Amendment to the Constitution for 05/16/2008

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

When is the last time you watched a mindless movie that had no redeeming value on you intellectually, but it made you laugh a lot?

That perfectly describes the raging debate among voters and the rabid television and radio talk show hosts who love to yell and scream at the top of their lungs, "I'm an American, and by golly, you better show as much appreciation for this country as I d ...

Updated: Fri May 16, 2008

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Clinton To Bow Out Gracefully? Forget About It for 05/23/2008

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Remember all those wrestling "death matches," during which they talked about guys tearing their opponents' heads off in the ring? We all knew wrestling is fake, but the promotion was awesome because it always sucked us in.

Lest anyone think the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination is going to end peacefully in June, forget about it.

Sen. Hillary Clinto ...

Updated: Fri May 23, 2008

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We Should Be Voting on the First Saturday in November for 05/30/2008

Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

While Democrats continue to be embroiled in their ongoing war over counting votes in Florida and Michigan, everyone else seems to be focused on Nov. 5, when the nation will go to the polls to choose a new president.

But why is Election Day on a Tuesday? Why in the world do we continue to insist on voting on a weekday when we are supposed to be encouraging as many people to vote as possib ...

Updated: Fri May 30, 2008

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'Yes, We Can': Obama's Victory Makes Parents' Admonition a Reality for 06/06/2008

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

For years, black quarterbacks could run and pass with the best of them.

Yet when it came to Division I-A colleges — called "the big white schools" by African-Americans — they were ignored, having to showcase their skills at black colleges. If they were recruited, coaches would move them to the wide receiver or safety positions, and the implication was often that the ...

Updated: Fri Jun 06, 2008

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The Shameful Sliming of Michelle Obama for 06/13/2008

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

I can't stand punk men who lay hands on women.

Any man who finds the need to hit a woman should make it his mission to stand up to a man and see what happens. Go mano a mano , and then we can determine how big and bad you are.

When I examine the pathetic and sordid attempts of the Hate Barack Obama forces to malign and slime his wife, they all fit in that category. And i ...

Updated: Fri Jun 13, 2008

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Obama Opting Out of Public Financing a Win for Him and McCain for 06/20/2008

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

When is the most recent time a decision by a presidential candidate ended up being good for him and his opponent?

That is certainly the case with Sen. Barack Obama's decision Thursday to become the first candidate since public financing went into effect in 1976 to make the bold move of opting out of it.

The move is a huge help to Sen. John McCain because McCain has cast himself as ...

Updated: Fri Jun 20, 2008

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James Dobson Is NOT an Evangelical Leader for 06/27/2008

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, is in the news as of late for ripping Sen. Barack Obama over a 2006 speech dealing with faith and public policy.

My issue isn't the speech or Dobson's criticism. I want to know why in the world we in the media keep holding Dobson up as an influential Christian leader or evangelical leader when the guy says with his own mouth that is nothi ...

Updated: Fri Jun 27, 2008

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Was Burglary Worth Killing 2 Men? for 07/04/2008

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Joe Horn may be praised by gun enthusiasts and thrill seekers as a no-nonsense guy who got fed up with crime in America by pulling out his shotgun and blasting two men to their deaths, but there is no doubt that the Texas man will be haunted by his fatal decision.

Ever since the suburban Houston man saw two burglars crawling out his neighbor's window Nov. 14 and gunned them down, Horn ha ...

Updated: Fri Jul 04, 2008

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