CUTLINE FOR RALEIGH MAYORAL PIX -
THREE FOR CITY HALL - Raleigh Mayoral candidates Nancy McFarlane, Bille Redmond and Russell Williams at a recent candidates forum. Current Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker endorsed Mcfarlane, who is mayor pro-tem, to succeed in the Oct. 11th election. {Cash Michaels Photo]
CRITICS QUESTION MARGIOTTA’S STYLE
By Cash Michaels
An analysis
He’s been representing Apex, Holly Springs and parts of Cary on the Wake County School Board since 2003, but didn’t get to lead the board until 2009, when four likeminded conservatives joined Ron Margiotta, and elected him chairman.
Since then, the retired New Jersey businessman has moved forcefully in the past two years to reshape the Wake County Public School System the way he feels it should be - governed by parental choice and neighborhood schools. And along the way, Margiotta has wielded a partisan power and control that many of his critics, and even some of his fellow Republicans, say reveals a ruthless side to a leader who demands unfettered loyalty to a single agenda.
His.
But next Tuesday, Oct. 11th, Ron Margiotta is once again at the mercy of voters in his predominantly upper-middle class District 8, and by all accounts, and unlike past elections, it may not be a cakewalk. As opposition mailers attest, Margiotta is being judged not only by the quality of his representation of the district, but his leadership of the controversial Republican majority school board.
“Ron Margiotta forced the Tea Party agenda on our schools,” bellows a full-color mailer from a 527 group called Common Sense Matters.
He is being directly challenged by Democrat Susan Evans, who has accused Margiotta of “creating community chaos;” “damaging the school system’s once stellar national reputation; supporting costly decisions to taxpayers (like moving from the system-owned headquarters in North Raleigh to leased property in Cary); “recklessly” risking Wake high schools’ accreditation; being disrespectful to non-Republican school board members and the public; and “focusing more on advancing an ideological agenda [rather] than building consensus and finding solutions.”
A close look at the chairman’s record, and feedback from some in his district, shows that Margiotta may be in the fight of his life politically.
And he knows it.
“I think you know me better than to believe that “fear” is any part of my decision to not meet with you at this time,” the school board chairman responded to a Carolinian reporter last Christmas Eve when asked for an interview.
Margiotta didn’t even bother to respond to another Carolinian request for an interview for this story, realizing that unlike many of the conservative outlets on which he frequently appears, he can’t control what The Carolinian prints.
Thus, he’s able to boast of creating a “better foundation for better Wake County Schools” by discarding Wake’s previous socioeconomic diversity policy, which he blames opponent Susan Evans for still upholding.
While Margiotta, who has well documented connections to right-wing Tea Party businessmen Art Pope and Bob Luddy (once serving on the board of Luddy’s private school while serving on the board), claims “a record of accomplishments” in student achievement on his campaign mailers, and on emails from his loyal board vice chairman John Tedesco, critics, and even fellow board members, counter that at best, the hard work and investments previous Wake School Boards put in prior to 2009 are now baring fruit in higher graduation rates and national honors.”
“Graduation rates? They took claim for that, but the data shows that was 2008,” Keith Sutton, who represents District 4, told The Carolinian, “prior to [Margiotta’s Republican majority] coming on the board. How they can lay claim to that is just unfounded.”
Though Margiotta claims that, as chairman of the school board, he’s worked hard, “to develop a budget which resulted in no loss of teacher positions,” and Wake Supt. Tata, Margiotta’s handpicked choice, did give system teachers a one-time $500.00 bonus as well, there are growing reports that Wake teachers, principals and administrators have not appreciated what they feel has generally been a dismissive attitude towards them from both Margiotta and Tata.
“There are claims of institutional bias and institutional prejudices towards certain groups of children, be they black or brown, that we try to hide them, and not give them our best,” District 3 school board member Kevin Hill, a former principal, told The Carolinian, confirming that he is hearing from disgruntled Wake teachers and administrators.
“Of course we’re going to go ahead and go with this policy [because] we want to keep our jobs,” Hill says administrators have told him just in the past week. “What I’m hearing is that the morale is very low, and that principals and teachers are afraid to speak up. That’s not a good way to run a school system.”
“We need to thank our teachers for what they do everyday.”
Susan Evans, Margiotta’s opponent, says as she walks in District 8 neighborhoods, she’s hearing people tell her that while many were, at first, pleased with the change in school board in 2009, they did expect the divisiveness and petty squabbles that Margiotta and company seemed to promote.
“They’ve told me that they’re very disappointed with Ron’s leadership, his bullying style at the table, insulting remarks he’s made to members of the public (like, “Here come the animals from their cages” when audience members disagreed with a speaker), and this was not the kind of change they were looking for. They’re not happy.”
Apparently, Margiotta has also angered close supporters.
Last week, The Carolinian reported that while researching Margiotta’s campaign reports on file with the Wake Board of Elections, a blistering November 4, 2009 resignation letter to the “Citizens for Ron Margiotta” campaign, from longtime campaign treasurer Phyllis Bryson was found.
Letters of resignation from a political campaign committee are considered public record.
“Ron,” Ms. Bryson began, “Due to political, philosophical and ethical differences, I am resigning as your treasurer, effective immediately.”
Ms. Bryson continued, “Many people have reported your attempts to influence them to the detriment of my family. I am stunned. It is difficult to believe that you are totally innocent, as you claim.”
In a phone interview subsequent to that story, Mrs. Bryson said she and her husband, who had even given money to his campaign, were upset when they found out that Margiotta was trying to undermine the 2009 re-election campaign of her daughter, Cary Town Councilmember Jennifer Robinson, who has served since 2005.
Bryson said people were calling her, asking why Margiotta was saying not to support Jennifer, even though she was also a Republican, and was running against a Democrat, Lori Bush. Bryson said Margiotta denied the allegation, but people kept confirming what he was doing.
Bryson said she was forced to file a complaint with the Wake Republican Party Chairman Claude Pope, who subsequently wrote Margiotta, telling him he had no business trying to work against a candidate the party had already endorsed.
Mrs. Bryson says she hasn’t spoken to Ron Margiotta, who she and her husband had supported since he first ran for office in 2003.
She added that her problem with Margiotta was not political, but she could not understand why he would try to work against her daughter.
Ron Margiotta was asked by The Carolinian to respond, but did not do so by presstime
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PEYTON ATTACKS SUTTON IN DISTRICT 4
By Cash Michaels
Editor
With the Oct. 11th elections looming next Tuesday, the gloves are off now in the District 4 Wake School Board race between incumbent Keith Sutton, and challenger Venita Peyton.
In an October 3rd press release, Peyton, who previously lost to Sutton when he was appointed to the board in 2009 to fill out the unexpired term of Rosa Gill, accuses the current District 4 representative of being “doubleminded” in not supporting neighborhood schools; hiding “under the arm” of NCNAACP President Rev. William Barber (whom Peyton has previously accused of not caring about black children); not living in Southeast Raleigh; being a “follower” of the Democratic minority on the school board; and voting against a proposed new Algebra 1 placement policy.
“For these reasons, he needs to go,” Peyton declares at the end of her release.
In response, Sutton refutes Peyton’s allegations, adding that he doubts that she even wrote her own press release. This will be his first election to the four-year term.
He is currently the only African-American on the board, as Peyton would be if she were elected.
In a taped interview for the Power 750 WAUG-AM radio program “Make It Happen,” airing this afternoon at 4 p.m., Peyton said she is running because she believes herself to be, “… the one person who will be open and direct with all of the people in my district about what is needed for our area on the Wake County School Board.”
“I have been especially disappointed with the way poor children have been treated,” Peyton, a Republican who has lost her bid for elective office four times before, continued. “They have been bused around for the past several years, and no one seems to have taken up their cause.”
She sees herself as a “voice” for Southeast Raleigh parents who are unable to attend meetings, or be heard.
Ironically, while Peyton chides Sutton for voting along with the board’s four-member Democratic minority more times than not, thus calling him a “follower,” she has not said what policy differences she’s had with the GOP majority since they took over in 2009.
Peyton prides herself for the relationship she’s built with board Chairman Ron Margiotta and Vice Chair John Tedesco, comfortably calling both by their first names in her interview; defending what the board Republicans have done thus far despite against charges of bias from the NCNAACP; and if elected, hopes to further their neighborhood schools agenda, believing it good for Southeast Raleigh despite the prospect of future under-funded high poverty schools.
Peyton is so loyal and protective of the board’s GOP majority that, fearing that Margiotta was under attack in the black community, she wrote a recent letter to The Carolinian editor titled, “Ron Margiotta is NOT a Racist.”
“Despite those who want to defile the name of this good man, we all should be quite careful before we label someone who we truly do not know,” Peyton, who has, herself, labeled NCNAACP President Rev. Barber, the nonprofit group Great Schools in Wake Coalition, and even Keith Sutton himself, as not serving the needs of Southeast Raleigh children, wrote at the end of her missive.
She even refused to take part in a Wake Up Wake County-sponsored candidates forum, charging that it was “Democrat controlled.”
In fact, Peyton recently wrote on her blog, “It's obvious now. NC NAACP President William Barber is not concerned with the children in the Wake County Public School System,” later adding, “We should ask: "Is William Barber's agenda about advancing minorities, the NC NAACP or just William Barber"?
When asked why Peyton has such bitterness towards him, Rev. Barber told The Carolinian he doesn’t even know her, which means, by Peyton’s own definition, she has not been, “quite careful before we label someone who we truly do not know.”
Peyton is four-square behind a new proposed policy to place more black eighth-graders in Algebra 1, saying that it gives more children “a chance,” but accuses Sutton of opposing it, along with the other three board Democrats.
Sutton, in fact, agrees that more black students should take Algebra 1, but like colleagues Kevin Hill (a former principal), Dr. Carolyn Morrison (a former principal) and Dr. Anne McLaurin, has concerns that the EVAS computer predictor that any child scoring a 70 percent chance of passing Algebra 1 is too low.
According to school board member Kevin Hill, an educator, middle school principals are telling him that threshold should be raised to 85 percent, otherwise too many students who don’t have the proper foundation for Algebra 1, and are barely passing courses with D grades, will fail.
Peyton said she was told by Southeast Raleigh High Principal John Wall that the policy was just fine.
Sutton says he wants to make sure there is both a parental, program and teacher support system in place to help struggling Algebra 1 students before the policy is passed if the threshold isn’t raised. He asked the board majority to consider his request.
The policy was supposed to have been approved at Tuesday’s board meeting, but was taken off the agenda at the last minute.
Peyton, a big fan of Wake Superintendent Anthony Tata, is for single-gender leadership academies (Sutton voted for them, though Peyton says only that’s because “There’s an election going on”) and charges that many of the Democratic candidates running this time were “venomous” in their opposition, and “have such low expectations of our children.”
In fact, many questioned why Wake County Schools needed them, given that normally these academies are implemented in public school systems whose black students aren’t performing anywhere as well as in WCPSS.
“I want to have a chance to serve so that I can sit with these folks [in District 4] and have them tell me, “Venita, here’s how we feel,” Peyton says. “I am more interested in hearing from the parents with children in the school system now.”
“I have to represent my district,” Peyton says, when asked if Margiotta and company want her to vote a certain way, trying to put a little distance between her and her Republican colleagues when challenged.
For his part, Sutton readily dismisses Peyton’s most pointed charges, countering that she’s spewing nothing but misinformation being fed to her by the GOP machine, and says parents in District 4 already see that they have a champion.
Sutton doesn’t live in Southeast Raleigh, but in nearby Heddingham, where state Sen. Dan Blue and other prominent black figures reside. But District 4 covers both East Raleigh and Southeast Raleigh, he says, so he represents all in it. Besides, Sutton asked, why would Peyton criticize him for living there when he saw her campaigning two blocks from where he lives?
Sutton says he still feels that diversity should be part of the WCPSS student assignment policy, but believes it should play an equal role along with proximity, stability and student achievement to prevent the creation of any more high poverty low performing schools.
Ironically, Peyton accuses Sutton of not being supportive of Walnut Creek Elementary School, the new $25 million high poverty school in Southeast Raleigh that 77 percent free-and-reduced lunch (and breakfast), over 50 percent low-achieving, spends more than $1 million operationally compared to comparable elementary schools, and is currently 102 students beyond its 800 student capacity and growing, requiring the system to now figure out where it can place trailers on campus, and threatening to enlarge average class sizes.
Sutton says Walnut Creek was never conceived to be a neighborhood school before this board came in, but once the decision to change it was made, he has been very supportive, working overtime with Supt. Tata, area superintendent and the school’s administration to develop programs and strategies to help that student population succeed.
“[I support those families] having the opportunity to end their children to a brand new school right here in their neighborhood,” he says. “[Peyton] should do her homework before she, and those who wrote the press release for her, open their mouths!”
Sutton says he’s not under anyone’s “arm,” unlike Peyton who seems so protective of Chairman Margiotta and the rest of the GOP-led board. In fact, he says, when the issue was right for District 4, “You’ve probably seen me join the Republicans more than you’ve seen the Republicans join the Democrats over the past two years, pointing to his vote to support the single-gender leadership schools.”
“I thought it would be good for Southeast Raleigh,” Sutton says, revealing that he actually spoke to Supt. Tata about that shortly after he took over last January.
Sutton says he’s been very visible in the district, working with the community and principals on issues like lowering student suspensions. The record will show, Sutton insists, that he’s fought hard for District 4.
“Bad claims and bad information,” Sutton says of Peyton’s attacks.
“Not only do I have the experience over the past to years to bring to this position,” he adds. “ I’m one that folks can count on to fight for them and advocate for them on policies that support the children of District 4. But most of all, they can count on me to be honest and upfront. Good information, bad information, I’m going to give it to them straight.”
“For those reasons and more, I’d like for District 4 to support me, like you have in the past,” Keith Sutton said.
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TRIANGLE NEWS BRIEFS
ONE STOP/EARLY VOTING ENDS OCT. 8th
One Stop/Early Voting for the Oct. 11th elections continues until Oct. 8 in both Raleigh and Cary. Vote 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday at the Wake Elections Board, 337 S. Salisbury Street in Raleigh, and on Saturday, Oct. 8th there from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. In Cary, Early voting is scheduled at the Herbert C. Young Community Center at 101 Wilkerson Ave. Oct. 7 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and on Oct. 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call 919-856-6240.
OFFER FOR POPE-FUNDED NCCU LAW CENTER WITHDRAWN
Before officials at North Carolina Central University could decide, an offer to establish a constitutional law center on campus, funded with a $600,000 grant donated from the John William Pope Foundation, has been withdrawn. NCCU alumni voiced concerns about the strong connections to conservative Raleigh businessman Art Pope, and his ties to the Tea Party movement. Former NC Supreme Court Justice Robert Orr proposed the idea, but once the controversy hit the fan, withdrew it. The New Yorker magazine this week featured an expose’ on how Pope was allegedly behind the Republican-takeover in the NC General Assembly.
ONE IN FOUR NC CHILDREN IN POVERTY
With both the national and statewide economies struggling, new US Census data shows that one quarter of North Carolina’s children were living in poverty last year, up from just 19 percent in 2007. Overall, 1.6 million North Carolinians are poor, with a family of four earning just $22,000 a year or less, according to federal standards. Another 728,000 in the state are living annually on half of that. Experts say with sustained unemployment in that state, an budget cutbacks on the state and federal levels, it will be difficult for those already in the depths of poverty to climb out of it.
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WAKE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR RON MARGIOTTA
RALEIGH MAYORAL CANDIDATES NANCY MCFARLANE
BILLIE REDMOND AND RANDALL ROBINSON
WAKE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 4 CANDIDATES
KEITH SUTTON AND VENITA PEYTON
STATE NAACP CONFERENCE OCT. 13-15 IN HIGH POINT
[HIGH POINT] Members across the state are preparing for the 68th Annual NAACP Convention in… High Point, Oct. 13-15 at the Best Western Hotel. The theme for this year’s confab, “We will…and we must fight back to secure America’s promise.”
Some of the scheduled sessions include “Operation Fight Back,” on voter education protection; “The State of the nation” Political Action Luncheon with Congressmen G.K. Butterfield and Mel Watt; and “The State of Civil Rights in North Carolina,” the annual address by Rev. William Barber, president of the NCNAACP.
EDWARDS HEARING OCT. 26TH
[GREENSBORO] A federal judge has circled Oct. 26th on the court calendar for the John Edwards hearing on his case to commence. The former North Carolina senator and two-time presidential candidate has been charged with illegally using campaign funds from this 2008 presidential to payoff Rielle Hunter, the woman he was having an affair with, and eventually gave birth to his baby. Edwards’ attorneys have filed five motions to dismiss the case, hoping to forestall a trial.
STATE CLASSROOM LAYOFFS WILL BE LOWER, CLAIMS REPUBLICAN SENATOR
[RALEIGH] Amid cries that state budget cuts to education are resulting in school districts having to cut thousands of teachers and teacher assistants, a Republican state senator says not true. Sen. Jerry Tillman [R-Randolph] says the proof will be in figures from the NC Employment Security Commission for September, slated for release later this month. Tillman says school districts statewide have been rehiring teachers and teaching assistants because once school stated, they got a better idea of their staffing needs. The NC Dept. of Public Instruction has reported that 534 teachers and 1200 teaching assistants lost their jobs statewide, and over 6300 positions were cut overall.
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PIX FOR CASH IN THE APPLE:
CASH IN THE APPLE
By Cash Michaels
MAHALIA’S 100 - If she had lived, gospel singing legend Mahalia Jackson would be turning 100 years-old this October 26th. No one had her voice, her sound, or her spirit, which is why, even today, almost 40 years since her death in 1972, Mahalia Jackson is still beloved, regarded and respected in a class by herself.
Besides, Mahalia was my late mother’s favorite gospel artist, and I can still hear Mom as she sang many of Mahalia’s greatest hits around the house as a little boy back in Brooklyn. So I don’t play when it comes to Mahalia Jackson.
That’s why on Sunday, Oct. 23rd, 5 p.m. at Lincoln Park Holiness Church where Bishop Eli Ratcliff is the pastor, the community is invited to what promises to be an extraordinary concert celebrating the 100th birthday of Mahalia Jackson, featuring a young lady who has astounded audiences across North Carolina for years with her voice and talent, Ms. Lynette Barber.
Lynette used to be one of my students when I worked at St. Augustine’s College back in 1988 - 1990. Today, she is a teacher, but when she isn’t in the classroom, or at church, Lynette is thrilling audiences with a voice you simply have to hear.
If anyone can pay tribute to the great Mahalia Jackson…indeed if anyone ever has paid tribute to that singular legend of good gospel music, Lynnette Barber has.
So why am I piling it on so thick here? Because, like those who’ve already heard Lynette do Mahalia, I KNOW you’re in for a special treat when you attend this concert on Sunday, Oct. 23rd, at Lincoln Park Holiness Church, 13 Heath Street in Raleigh. This concert is free and open to the public, and NOT to be missed.
So circle the date, and let’s all come out and support Lynette as she gives us the absolute best of Mahalia Jackson.
Sure this is normally in Church News, but if I’m telling you about it, then you know it’s going to be something special.
Besides, something tells me after these crazy Wake School Board elections next week, we’re all going to need to look forward to some strong spiritual entertainment.
See you and yours on Oct. 23rd! Take it from me, Lynette will be worth it!
THANK YOU, NAACP - Normally, at the end of this long-running column, I list some of the most recent awards and honors that we’ve received pertaining to journalism. Many of you have been faithful readers for the twelve years we’ve been doing “Cash in the Apple,’ and believe me, we are both happy and grateful that you have remained loyal. But we also want you to know that we take seriously the high journalistic standards we employ not just to produce this column, but, quite frankly, all of the work we have, and continue to do for our community in this newspaper.
That’s why we’re adding a new honor to the list, one that we humbly received last week during the Raleigh-Apex NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet at Martin Street Baptist Church.
Yours truly was one of three recipients of the President’s Award for outstanding achievements in media from the Raleigh-Apex NAACP, where Rev. Portia Rochelle is president.
To put it in a nutshell again, we’re truly humbled. The work we do, not only with this column, but the news stories that we write for both The Carolinian Newspaper in Raleigh, and The Wilmington Journal in Wilmington, news that is done not for honors (because we’ve learned never to expect any), but to serve our community. To inform you, enlighten you. Strengthen your grasp of the day’s issues so that when it comes time for you to make decisions, you’re fully armed to do so not only with the information and perspective of the general media - which you obviously get from television and general market newspapers - but also from black newspaper that are in your community, and can report both the black perspective and unreported information that is critical for you to know.
In addition, we also produce a weekly radio show based on our reporting called “Make It Happen,” heard every Thursday at 4 p.m. on Power 750 WAUG-AM/Power 750.com.
And, we also produce awardwinning documentaries like “Obama in NC: The Path to History” through our production company, CashWorks HD Productions (working on the latest update of that film now).
All of the work we’ve done, and continue to do, is because we love our community, and am honored that GOD has given us the ability to serve.
So to have the Raleigh-Apex NAACP, which has a long, long history of dynamic activism in the community dating back to the integration of Raleigh Public Schools, to decide to honor us for our work in the community, that is something I’m really proud of.
So thank you branch President Rev. Portia Rochelle, Freedom Fund Banquet Chair Michael Leach, and the rest of this fine NCNAACP chapter.
It really means a lot.
Also congratulations to my co-honorees, veteran broadcaster Benny Moore, and the community’s photographer Chris Hinton. Sharing the stage with these two fine giants was an extra-added attraction.
“YOU-KNOW-WHAT-HEAD” - Well, well, well…it has been simply fascinating listening to all of the conservative pundits make excuses for why Republican Tea Party favorite, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, shouldn’t pack up his “I wanna be president” toys and go back to the Lone Star state, never to be heard from again. Especially after the stunning Washington Post revelation that Perry’s family has for years leased hunting property in Texas called “Niggerhead.”
You’ve heard the story by now, and how Perry’s campaign has spun tails about buckets of white paint covering over the big entry-way rock that brandished the racist moniker for the site.
Makes you wonder why the Perrys just didn’t get a truck, pick up the racist rock, take it to the nearest cliff, and drop it to oblivion.
Apparently just having the rock still there made it feel like “home” for the folks the Perrys took there for a little huntin’ and fishin’, eh?
You know, folks like other Texas lawmakers, campaign donors…folks are generally civic minded enough NOT to object to being seen within ten miles of such a place.
According to the Post, the people who actually live in the area see nothing wrong with Niggerhead at all. Great place to shoot rattlers, I hear.
And, of course, when another darling of the Tea Party, former pizza executive Herman Cain, decided call the Perry racial controversy “insensitive,” the black Republican got pummeled so badly for “playing the race card” by conservative mealy-mouths, he changed strips the next day and hurried backed off what was clearly a weak response to the N-word head story in the first place.
Gee Herman, who’s brainwashed now, pizza man?
The long and short of this is the right-wing in this nation has been on a desperate drive to redefine racism for decades. They honestly feel that they have the right to redefine exactly what a racist is.
Heather Losurdo, Wake School Board candidate for District 3 and admitted Tea Party supporter. As far as she’s concerned, when Losurdo agrees with her husband making racist fun of Hispanic illegal aliens, or writes that the skunk has replaced the American eagle as the symbol of the presidency because its black, white and everything it does stinks (a slam against President Barack Obama, of course), Losurdo sees it only as harmless “light-hearted” fun, so get a grip.
The right-wing believes it should be everybody’s right to racially hate, and say it as they mean it, without ever being branded a racist. And, of course, when somebody…. say black people…in fact DO cry foul, then the Tea Party playbook makes it very clear. Call THEM the racist, as loud as you can, and then proudly go about your business that you stood up for all “right-thinking” Americans.
Take Hank Williams Jr., you know, the famous country singer who has opened Monday Night Football for years with, “Are you ready for some football?”
Well this week, old Hanky went on Fox News (where else), and compared President Obama to Adolf Hitler, all because he disagrees with Obama’s policies.
ESPN, apparently not pleased, knocks Hank’s opening off the game, creating even more controversy. I applaud them for doing so.
So does Hank apologize? Of course not. Instead he issues a lame statement saying:
“Some of us have strong opinions and are often misunderstood. My analogy was extreme – but it was to make a point. I was simply trying to explain how stupid it seemed to me - how ludicrous that pairing was. They’re polar opposites and it made no sense. They don’t see eye-to-eye and never will. I have always respected the office of the President.”
“Every time the media brings up the tea party it’s painted as racist and extremists – but there’s never a backlash – no outrage to those comparisons… Working class people are hurting – and it doesn’t seem like anybody cares. When both sides are high-fiving it on the ninth hole when everybody else is without a job – it makes a whole lot of us angry. Something has to change. The policies have to change.”
Translation - Our black president is looking out for his own, and screwin’ us, and it’s about time it stop. We (the Tea Party) aren’t racists. We just want our country back.”
And THAT’s the justification for all of the racial stuff you’ve been hearing from the right.
So what does Rick Perry’s Niggerhead resort have to do with that? Being able to once and a while, get away from it all, and celebrate your white supremacy through word and deed, seems to be considered a god-given right to people who think like him, and Heather and Craig Losurdo, and of course, Hank Williams, Jr.
And that’s why, instead of sitting there and cussing these folks out under your breath, you better do something about it.
Vote in the upcoming elections. If you don’t, that kind of thinking will return as the law of the land. And believe me, they’re working hard at it.
Make sure you tune in every Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. for my talk radio show, ''Make It Happen'' on Power 750 WAUG-AM, or online at www.Power750.com. And read more about my thoughts and opinions exclusively at my new blog, ‘The Cash Roc” (http://thecashroc.blogspot.com/2011/01/cash-roc-begins.html). I promise it will be interesting.
Cash in the Apple - honored as the Best Column Writing of 2006 by the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Columnist Cash Michaels has also honored by the NNPA as Best Feature Story Journalist of 2009, and was the recipient of the Raleigh-Apex NAACP’s President’s Award for Media Excellence in Sept. 2011.
Until next week, keep a smile on your face, GOD in your heart, and The Carolinian in your life. Bye, bye.
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NNPA STORY -
How Blacks are Being Exploited in Presidential Politics
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