Dear Secretary of State Clinton: Don’t Believe the Hype You Can't Win in 2012

I've admired the grace which with you accepted the position as Secretary of State and the loyalty you've shown President Obama during your tenure as a Cabinet member. You've been supportive, knowledgeable and diplomatic and you should be applauded for your dedication.

You may have noticed some grumblings recently by talk show host Tavis Smiley  Princeton University Professor Cornel West, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and a few others. Some are asserting that President Obama has lost support among Black voters and that he may be vulnerable to a primary challenge in 2012. Others including Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh appear to be encouraging you to consider challenging Obama in the primary. 

Please don't be duped by the hype of Smiley, West, Cheney, and Limbaugh. Challenging President Obama in 2012 would not only be an unsuccessful venture on your part, but you would become a pariah among black voters for decades to come.

Smiley and West have become a two-man tag team, or Gestapo squad, determined to publicly ridicule Obama at every possible opportunity, particularly on their bus tour in August to highlight Black poverty. In an    ABC Nightline interview  last month, the program's host explained Smiley's and West's frustration by describing Obama as the "man they helped get elected."

As you know, Secretary Clinton, the truth is that Smiley never supported Obama when he ran for election in 2008. He was a supporter of yours from the very beginning and, on election night, seemed to be the only black person in America who was not excited about Obama's victory.

Cornel West may have made some appearances on the campaign trail for Obama, but he is quick to point out that he made exactly 65 campaign appearances. When someone is a true supporter, he doesn't keep a running tally of things he's done for you.

Both Smiley and West say they are "old friends" of Obama and that "friends stab from the front" and not from behind. Frankly, friends, if they are genuine, don't stab you at all.

They act as though the President ushered in the problems of unemployment and poverty in the Black community, when these conditions have been present for decades. Yes, Blacks have been hit hard by the recession, as we are usually hit harder than other communities when the economy is bad, for a variety of complex reasons. But where was the Smiley/West bus tour during the eight years under President Bush, when poverty among African Americans was about 20 percent, and unemployment was twice as high for Blacks and it was for Whites?

And a recent Washington Post/ABC News poll showed that 86 percent of African Americans view the President favorably. Sure, that percentage is lower than it was when Obama first took office. But no politician's support could remain in the stratosphere forever.

So, Secretary Clinton, don't believe the hype. Please put your country first over your ambition to become its first female president. Maintain your dignity and stature by continuing to do an outstanding job representing the United States of America around the world.  More importantly, inform misguided fools and the world in not uncertain terms that you will not challenge President Obama in 2012.

Note:  The picture of Secretary Clinton was obtained from the U.S. Department of  State public domain photos.

Vera Richardson
Author of  Screwed by Former Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer

Why President Obama’s Re-Election in 2012 Is Important to American in General and African-American in Particular

When Barack Obama ran for President in 2008, it was an historic election. The prospect of voting for America's first African-American president brought black folks to the polls who had never voted before. People voted early, stood in long lines, some were in wheelchairs or on walkers -- but the passion and enthusiasm were palpable in black communities across America.

The rights and opportunities that our ancestors marched for finally came to fruition on election night, November 4, 2008, when the votes were cast and the T.V. networks announced that Barack Obama had been elected the 44th President of the United States. Tears of joy were shed across America by young and old.

Some of us mistakenly thought that, with President Obama's election, we had finally arrived. We could take it easy and not have to press so hard for our rights to be affirmed.

We underestimated the backlash from the opposition. Those who did not vote for Obama and who thought a black man would never occupy the White House -- either through prejudice, ignorance or defiance of authority -- quickly rose up in anger and indignation. The Tea Party was formed and we've seen their influence on politics in general and the Republican Party, in particular.

It will be difficult to duplicate the magic of the 2008 campaign, but we can't afford to sit down -- you have to put on your marching shoes once again and work to re-elect President Obama in 2012! You need to not only vote, but work in the trenches to put President Obama back in the White House for four more years.

Here's why President Obama's re-election is important:

1. He cares about ordinary people -- the poor, middle class and those hardest hit by the recession.

2. He can keep the right-wing forces from enacting discriminatory policies.

3. He has already and can appoint additional federal and Supreme Court justices who are sensitive to the needs of blacks and other minorities.

4. The presence of the Obama First Family in the White House is an important positive symbol for our young people and others around the world.

Don't be fooled. With Republican legislatures around the country attempting to make voting more difficult in poor and minority communities, the election in 2012 matters more than ever! President Obama has instituted "Operation Vote" to make it easier for black communities to organize for 2012. What are you willing to do?

Here are some things you can do to help with President Obama's re-election:

1. Make sure you have the proper documents to vote by securing a state-issued driver's license or photo I.D., if you don't already have one.

2. Sign up as a voting registrar and register people to vote in your neighborhood.

3. Host a fundraiser for President Obama in your home or through one of your community organizations; and/or send a personal contribution to his re-election campaign online.

4. Post information via social media like Facebook and Twitter encouraging your friends to vote for President Obama's re-election.

5. Encourage your church or pastor to host voter registration drives.

6. Stay informed about the presidential election campaign by watching news broadcasts each day.

7. Write letters to the editor or commentaries in support of President Obama and submit them to your local daily newspaper.

In his September 24, 2011, speech to the Congressional Black Caucus, President Obama was speaking for me and to me when he said, “Throughout our history, change has often come slowly. Progress often takes time. I never promised easy. Easy has never been promised to us. But we’ve had faith. We have had faith. We’ve had that good kind of crazy that says you can’t stop matching.”

“Even when folks were hitting you over the head you can’t stop matching. Even when they’re turning the hoses on you, you can’t stop. Even when somebody fires you for speaking out, you can’t stop. Even when it looks like there’s no way, you find a way—you can’t stop. Through the mud an muck an the driving rain, we don’t stop. Because we know the rightness of our cause-widening the circle of opportunities, increasing each other’s prosperity. We know our cause is just. It’s a righteous cause.”

It will take a concerted effort from all of us once again, to get President Obama re-elected. Put on your marching shoes and let's get to work!

Vera Richardson
Screwed by Former Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer

John Boehner Own Words Are Proof that He Broke 2010 Pledge to Create Jobs and Do the Will of the People

For two years especially during the health care reform debate John Boehner accused President Obama of ignoring the will of the American people. During his March 21, 2010, Hell No Speech on the floor of the House in opposition to the Affordable Health Care Act he stated in part “ we have failed to listen to America. And we have failed to reflect the will of our constituents.”

During Speaker Boehner’s November 2, 2010,  midterm election speech he stated in part: "Across the country right now, we are witnessing a repudiation of Washington, a repudiation of Big Government and a repudiation of politicians who refuse to listen to the people. "Because for far too long, Washington has been doing what’s best for Washington – not what’s best for America. Tonight, that begins to change.

"The people’s priorities will be our priorities. The people’s agenda will be our agenda. This is our Pledge to America, this is our pledge to you. These are the principles our new majority will stand for, and we hope you will stand with us in the hard work that lies ahead. Because we are humbled by your trust in us. And we recognize that with this trust comes the responsibility to listen, and listen we will. Let’s start right now by recognizing this is not a time for celebration. This is a time to roll up our sleeves and go to work. We can celebrate when small businesses are creating jobs again.”

Boehner hypothetical claim that Republican members of Congress represented the will of the people during the debt ceiling debate was not supported by facts. American s and Boehner knows the will of Americans because various recent polls results show that the American people want Congress to address creating jobs over budgets and deficits issues.

An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll last month found 60 percent of Americans approved of ending the Bush tax cuts for families making $250,000 a year.  Only 37 percent found it unacceptable.

Boehner’s current actions and position reflect the fact that he is not listening to the will of the American people as they related to Bush Tax Cuts.

 Sept. 8-11, 2011, Gallup poll: “What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?” 39 percent stated Unemployment/Jobs; 28 percent stated economy in general; 14 percent stated dissatisfaction with government; 12 percent stated federal budget deficit. The result of the above mentioned polls shows that the 67 percent of American rank jobs and the economy as the most important problem facing America. Only 12 percent listed the federal budget deficit as the most important problem.


A September 15-18th Gallup  poll shows that by a two-to-one ratio, Americans support Obama's plan to increase taxes on the wealthy and big corporations. The same share expects that his proposed stimulus, the American Jobs Act, will create jobs and grow the economy.

On September 15, 2011, in light of the President’s release of “The American Jobs Act,”  Speaker Boehner articulated his position that a reform of the tax code is needed to spur the national economy and create jobs.

In his speech, Speaker Boehner focused on the issue of deficit reduction and its broader effect on the economy. He stated that deficit reduction should not be achieved by increasing taxes. Moreover, he stated that if the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction could broaden its scope to include tax reform, it would be his position that economic growth would result in job creation. The Speaker explained his point by utilizing the correlation between taxes and jobs as an equation. Speaker Boehner stated, “It’s a very simple equation. Tax increases destroy jobs. And the joint committee is a jobs committee. Its mission is to reduce the deficit that is threatening job creation in our country.”

Speaker Boehner can’t have it both ways. He can’t demand that President Obama respect the  alleged will of the “American people” and ignore his own promises that he and his party will listen to the American people and the people’s priorities and agenda will be their priorities.

Boehner Own Words in my youtube video demands that he change directions and cooperate with President Obama. The time is now for Speaker Boehner to deliver on his November 2, 2010, midterm election promises and pledge to America.  WILL SPEAKER BOEHNER LISTEN TO AND RESPECT THE WILL OF AMERICA and introduce and fast track the America Job Act to House of Representative?

Vera Richardson

Screwed by Former Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer

President Obama's Weekly Address: Passing the American Job Act

Vera Richardson Author of
Screwed by Former Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer

Join Me - Become a CNN I-Reporter and Support President Obama!

President Obama said that change wouldn't come easy in this country and the Republican manufactured Debt Ceiling Crisis proved that he was correct. In 2008 President Obama also informed us that “we are the change that we seek."

Although President Obama has been opposed on many of his agenda items he hasn’t gotten weary or quit fighting for the American people including African-Americans. Therefore, we can’t get weary and give up. President Obama needs his supporters to voice their support of his presidency and their political opinions to the nation and the world. We must use everything and tool at our disposal to help re-elect him and democratic congressional members in 2012.

The CNN I-Report  platform is an excellent tool to join in the political discourse, silence the Republicans opposition, and support President Obama. Citizen journalists are allowed to post pictures, stories, and videos on CNN.com. Please join me and become a CNN I-Reporter. Your work will be reviewed and if selected and vetted it will appear on CNN’s platform including CNN network programs.

*** Find your Senators and House Representative Congressman  and contact him or her and post an I-Report on CNN.com and tell him "to pass The American Job Act Bill."

Vera Richardson Author of  Screwed by Former Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer

Amazon

Just Say No to a Rick Perry Presidency in 2012

Just Say No to a Rick Perry 2012 Presidency

Rick Perry who announced On August 13, 2011, that he is running for president in 2012 is now the leading Republicans presidential candidates in three national polls. The same Rick Perry that once stated in his role as governor that Texas had an option to secede from the United States of America now wants to become president of the that very same nation. What is wrong with this picture?

Does the Republican Party believe that the American voters are stupid, dumb, or crazy? This country’s voters must reject Perry because we can’t return to the Jim Crow Laws of the 50’s and 60’s nor can we have another Civil War in this country.

Author of Screwed by Former Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1456436171/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller

Was 2011 and The 2013 Debt Ceiling Limit Crisis Racially Motivated?

I believe that the extension of the debt limit debate is about race. The election of President Obama has caused many in this country especially Republican member of Congress to lose their collective minds.


In order to deny President Obama, a man of mixed racial heritage, a second term Republican congressional leaders Speaker Boehner, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, and Eric Cantor are willing to risk the economic well being this nation and the world.

What gives Speaker Boehner the right to use the 2010 mid-term elections as a mandate for their political vision and deny the fact that the 2008 Presidential election doesn’t give President Obama an even greater right to achieve his political vision for America?

UPDATE 1/15/2013 - DEBT-CEILING CRISIS was self-inflected by Republicans in 2011. Today after losing the 2012 Presidential Election Republicans Paul Ryan, John Boehner, and Senator McConnell are going to FORCE their will on the American people and on President Obama an African-American man who achieved the impossible two times with his reelection. In view of this fact I believe that the current debt ceiling blackmail by Speaker Boehner is racially motivated. Speaker Boehner is determined to not only force his party's will on country but also to punish the 47 percent referenced by Mitt Romney for voting for President Obama. He is also determined to force President Obama to break his campaign promise to SENIORS to protect Social Security and Medicare.
Vera Richardson

Author of Screwed by Former Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer