WILMINGTON COMMUNITY PAYS TRIBUTE TO CONNIE TINDALL - Family, friends, supporters and classmates all came together August 10th at Union Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmington to pay their final respects to Connie Tindall of the Wilmington Ten. Tindall, who died on August 3rd at the age of 62, was remembered by people like Dr. Benjamin Chavis, leader of the Wilmington Ten, as a man who believed in his people, and community, and wanted the best for them. Tindall, Chavis, and eight others, were sent to prison 40 years ago after they were falsely convicted of conspiracy in connection racial tensions in Wilmington in Feb. 1971. Their convictions were later overturned by a federal appellate court. A legal petition for individual pardons of innocence is pending in Gov. Beverly Perdue's office. [Cash Michaels video clip]
TRIANGLE NEWS BRIEFS
RALEIGH POLICE CHIEF DOLAN TO RETIRE OCT. 1
After
only five years on the job, Raleigh Police Chief Harry Patrick Dolan will be
stepping done as of Oct. 1, announced Raleigh City Manager Russell Allen
Wednesday. Reportedly, Dolan had decided several months ago to retire after
32-years in law enforcement. Allen called Dolan “a champion of community
policing.” Deputy Chief of Police Cassandra Deck-Brown will serve as interim
Raleigh Police Chief until a permanent chief is found.
NEW SOUTHEAST RALEIGH HIGH INTERIM PRINCIPAL NAMED
The
former principal of Fuquay-Varina High School has now been named the interim
principal of Southeast Raleigh High School. Gerald Pickett, who retired in
2005, is replacing John Wall, who left for a better paying position in the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Pickett has served as interim principal at various
Wake schools since his retirement.
WAKE OPENS TWO SINGLE-SEX ACADEMIES
This
week, Wake Public Schools began its experiment with single-sex academies. On
Monday, the Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy and Wake Young Women’s
Leadership Academy opened to great fanfare, with a diverse population of
students, dressed in uniforms, attending both. Some students say they think the
experience will be better because they won’t have the “distraction” of the sex
around them. Attending students will earn two years of college credit upon
graduation.
-30-
WHAT THE RYAN VP PICK
MEANS TO BLACKS
By Cash Michaels
An analysis
When
presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced last weekend
that the man he felt best suited to be his vice presidential running mate was
Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, the political world literally stopped on its
axis.
"This
election is about values, and today Romney doubled down on his commitment to
take our country back to the failed policies of the past," said Jim
Messina, President Obama’s campaign manager.
"Paul
Ryan is the largest step the GOP has taken towards solving the USA’s problems
since Reagan and Kemp," tweeted Newt Gingrich, former rival to Romney for
the GOP nomination.
With
the African-American vote crucial in a battleground state like North Carolina -
a swing state that every political expert who knows anything about the
Electoral College says Romney has to win in order to reach the 270 he needs to
claim the White House - how the Romney-Ryan ticket’s policies will affect the
black community is key.
Right
now, Romney and Pres. Obama are in a tight race in the Tar Heel state, just
three weeks out from the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, with the
GOP Convention in Tampa, Fla. the week before.
The
Romney-Ryan message to North Carolina and the nation - Obama’s big government
is destroying America. Jobs will come back, they add, when government is cut to
the bone.
Enter
Paul Ryan.
When it comes to fiscal matters,
Rep. Ryan, now in his seventh term in Congress and chairman of the House Budget
Committee, is considered to be an impressive master of the numbers. It’s what
he wants to do to those federal numbers that has made him a darling
conservative of the ultra-right Tea Party movement, and a villain in the minds
of Democrats who see Ryan’s penchant for government austerity as extremist at
best, and an absolute threat to the social safety net for the poor and elderly,
at the least.
“Congressman Ryan has developed a
spending plan should shock the conscience of every American,” Congressman G. K.
Butterfield [D-NC-1] told The Carolinian
last November.
Ryan’s
well-known plans for chopping billions from the Medicare and Medicaid programs
to help the needy confirm his calling card, and his joining the Romney ticket
as the man who would be a “heartbeat
away” if elected, signals to the extreme right-wing conservative base that
Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and longtime GOP moderate, has heard
both their cries and their doubts, and is willing to give them a place at the
table if they fully commit to defeating Barack Obama.
So
what does the Ryan choice mean to African-Americans, many of whom are
unemployed; are elderly and need Medicare and Medicaid; and whose children are
trapped in failing public school systems?
If
the book on Paul Ryan is accurate, then combined with Mitt Romney’s plan to cut
taxes for the rich and raise them on the middle-class, it means the
African-American community and the poor will see an abrupt negative reversal in
public policy that could set them back even further if the Romney-Ryan ticket
is elected in the fall.
“He
doesn't just want to trim America's insurance program for the poor,” said The
Atlantic magazine in its latest online
edition. “He wants to bulldoze the whole thing and replace it with something more
modest.”
Rep.
Butterfield called it a “radical approach.”
According
to the so-called “Ryan Plan,” first introduced in 2011 and passed twice in the
GOP-led House, the federal government would be getting out of the social safety
net business, while giving big tax cuts to the rich.
Currently,
an estimated 62 million Americans - nearly 20 percent of the nation’s
population, many of whom are elderly, the disabled, children and parents -
receive Medicaid services. In 2010, the federal government spent $263 billion -
roughly 60 percent - to cover Medicaid recipients, while the states
collectively spent $125 billion.
Estimates
are if a “President” Romney adopted a “Vice President” Paul Ryan’s radical
reform of Medicaid - meaning drastic cuts and sending limited block grants to
states that couldn’t possibly cover all of their recipients, approximately, “…
44 million additional Americans [would be] without health insurance, in a worst
case scenario,” says The Atlantic,
adding that under Ryan’s plan, Medicaid spending alone would be cut by $810
billion over ten years.
Experts
say those block grants would soon become insufficient because they would not be
designed to grow with the rate of health care costs, thus forcing the states,
after a while, to cover less of the poor and disabled once they see the federal
government has slowly turned off the spicket.
"Medicaid
is already a very lean program," Edwin Park of the Center on Budget and
Policy Priorities, which advocates for low-income people, told the Associated
Press this week. "It is not a program
where you can magically glean huge efficiencies by just devolving it to the
states. The only way to compensate for funding reductions of this magnitude
would be to institute deep, damaging cuts to beneficiaries and the health care
providers who serve them."
Under
Ryan’s block grant phase out, poor and disabled recipients would not have what
they have now - a legal right to coverage under federal law. Indeed, many of
the protections currently in force would be lost, experts say.
On
Medicare, the Ryan plan would have future elderly recipients to move over to
private health insurance by giving them a stipend for part of the premium
costs. They would have to come up the balance of those costs, which would be
expected to go up over time.
“We
don’t want to privatize Medicare,” Rep. Butterfield said. “We think it’s an
awful plan.”
And
what about Obamacare?
Romney
promised he would have it repealed as soon as he took office as president. Even
if he left it alone, if Ryan’s government reform plans were enacted, Pres.
Obama’s Affordable Care Act to provide healthcare coverage and access for 30
million more Americans currently without it, would be crippled.
The
end result is more people would find themselves uninsured in case of medical
emergency, experts say.
For Paul Ryan, when it comes to
education, the same rule applies. Cut federal education spending by the
billions, eliminate the US Dept. of Education, and farm out as much as possible
to the private sector.
The
$38 billion Pell Grant program, which helps poor students attend college, many
of whom are African-American, would be drastically slashed, limiting
participation of the neediest.
There
would also be a dramatic slash to the $14.5 billion in Title I funding, and $11.6
billion in Special Education funding.
So
there’s little question that a Romney-Ryan presidency, with a GOP majority in
the both houses of Congress (a remote idea given that Ryan’s austerity threat
to Medicare and Medicaid does not play well in local Republican congressional
districts), would hurt the very social safety net programs many
African-Americans and the poor depend on.
“If
any of this went into effect, “ Rep. Butterfield said of the Ryan Plan last
year, “working families [and the poor] in America would be devastated. They
would not have the safety they are now entitled to.”
But
some blacks don’t think that’s a bad thing.
“I
do recognize plenty in Rep. Ryan’s record that will serve as legitimate red
meat for Democratic Party activists, and Get-Out-The-Vote advertising scripts,”
writes economist/author Cedric Muhammad in an August 14th op-ed
on Forbes.com. “But I don’t think on balance, that the obvious anti-Left
positions of a Republican vice-presidential nominee is the most strategically intriguing
fact, where Black Americans are concerned.”
Muhammad continued, “While Rep. Ryan is probably
unacceptable to 80% of the likely-to-vote Black electorate automatically, I
believe that he and Gov. Romney will receive a hearing from a remaining percentage
who do not automatically believe their interests align with the Democratic
Party. This 15% which I refer to as ‘free-agents’ – are comprised of
Blacks more concerned with cultural issues, self-help, and asset ownership.”
While some in the African-American community may
agree with Muhammad, given an over 14 percent unemployment rate, it’s likely
that most won’t.
"[Mitt Romney] said in the first hundred days,
he's going to let the big banks once again write their own rules — unchain Wall
Street,” bellowed Vice President Joe Biden to a Danville, Virginia crowd
Tuesday, a day after he spoke in Durham. “They’re going to put y’all back in
chains.”
-30
-
STATE NEWS BRIEFS
FIRST FATAL 2012 CASE OF WEST NILE VIRUS IN NC REPORTED
[WAYNE
COUNTY] Health department experts say the most important months to protect
yourself from mosquito bites in North Carolina is August and September. That’s
primarily because of the deadly West Nile virus which, state health officials
say, has already claimed its first victim of the year. An unidentified Wayne
County man is said to have died as a result of a mosquito bite that transmitted
the virus. Experts say make sure you and your family use mosquito repellant containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or
lemon eucalyptus oil from dawn to duck to guard against infection.
CHARLOTTE ABORTIONIST RAILS AGAINST SAVING “UGLY BLACK
BABIES.”
[CHARLOTTE]
An abortion doctor was caught on videotaped angrily challenging anti-abortion
protesters at his door to “adopt one of those ugly black babies” in order to
get them off “the taxpayers money.” Dr. Ashutosh Vimani, an obstetrician - gynecologist,
who works for an abortion clinic, was arguing with members of Operation Save
America through his open front door, when the group’s camera caught him as he
made the remark. Dr. Vimani was even videotaped saying, “I, as a taxpayer, do
not wish for those babies to be born and brought up and kill those people in
Colorado,” referring to the recent Batman movie theater slayings in Aurora,
Col. several weeks ago. Dr. Vimani has not been available to clarify his
remarks.
NORTH CAROLINA NAMED “STATE OF THE YEAR” FOR ECONOMIC
EFFORTS
[RALEIGH]
Southern Business & Development, a leading publication covering and promoting economic
development in the American South, announced that North Carolina has been named
the “2012 State of the Year.” North Carolina is being honored as State of
the Year based on its performance in 2011. North Carolina also received
this accolade in 2005 and 2006. “This recognition is further proof that North
Carolina is a great place to start or grow a business,” said Gov. Bev Perdue.
“Our investments in education, highly skilled workforce, and low cost of doing
business are major reasons that people and businesses thrive in North
Carolina.”
-30-
CASH IN THE APPLE
By Cash Michaels
31
YEARS THIS WEEK - Monday, August 13th was my 31st anniversary here
in North Carolina. It was in 1981 that I came off the Trailways bus from New
York City, not knowing a darn thing about North Carolina beyond old “Andy
Griffith Show” reruns. And, as I’ve indicated before, my original plan and
intention was do three years in commercial radio (which is why I came to North
Carolina in the first place), and then head back to New York City to be a star.
It
didn’t quite work out that way because I fell in love with North Carolina and
its people.
Indeed,
North Carolina has been the longest “marriage” of my life, and I’m proud of it.
This state has given me three careers, two families, two great children and a
fantastic wife, and opportunities galore to serve the community, and leave a
lasting legacy.
I’m
certainly not as young as I used to be, but as long as GOD gives me strength
and direction, I hope to do even greater things in the near future.
So
thank you, North Carolina, for adopting this young man from Brooklyn.
PS
- the food here ain’t half bad, either.
RYAN ON THE TICKET - As we head
into the national political conventions, the presidential tickets for both the
Democrat and Republican parties are now set.
Last
weekend, presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney chose Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan to be his vice presidential running mate, indeed an
interesting choice given Ryan’s previous call for cutting everything in the
federal budget short of guns and ammo.
Ryan
is an interesting choice for Romney because it is a clear dog whistle to the
extreme right-wing of the conservative movement that the former governor of
Massachusetts wants, and indeed needs their full support.
Remember,
the Tea Party folks don’t trust Romney any more than they can throw him. They
take one look at his moderate record during his one term as governor of one of
the most liberal states in the nation, and they gag. They pull up old YouTube
clips of Romney assuring all that he’s pro-choice, and the teabaggers start
throwing things at the screen.
And
the poor guy has flip-flopped so much, trying to be everything to everybody,
that Romney simply can’t be trusted.
But
more than not standing, nor trusting Romney, the righties want Barack Obama out
of the White House so bad, they can taste it.
To
put it another way, they hate his guts…ears and all.
The
right wing will say anything to get people to hate the nation’s first black
president as much, if not more than they do. From his allegedly not being born
in the country, to his allegedly being a racist who wants to destroy America.
Remember,
it was former Fox News host Glenn Beck
who went on the air and told the world that Obama “…is a racist…[and] hates
white people.”
A
year later, Beck was hauled off of Fox News so fast, he barely had time to
leave a forwarding address.
The
point is, now that Paul Ryan is onboard the “Romney for President” train, we
are going to see negative, racist ads like we’ve never seen before. They won’t
necessarily come from the campaign itself, but these crazy 527 groups, like the
kind that swiftboated Sen. John Kerry during his 2004 campaign, costing him
dearly.
And
Paul Ryan will give those kind of attacks perfect cover, because both he and
Romney are now on the task of “saving” America from the Obama regime.
So
cussing the president out will be widely accepted.
Like
I said, it is going to be a mess.
The
question is, and I’ve asked this before, what are we going to do about it?
The
future of this nation, and our children, once again rests with whom we vote for
for president and the Congress.
I
really hope we’re paying attention to as many important issues as possible.
Because
if we don’t, no matter what our personal feelings or dissatisfactions may be,
we will feeling it in the future.
There
are no perfect candidates, and there are no perfect elections.
We
have to work with what we have, folks, or pay the price in the future.
It’s
up to us. No one else can vote for us.
CONGRATS
COACH K - You have to hand it to Duke University Blue Devil Coach Mike Krzyzewski. Coaching the 2012 US Olympic Men’s Basketball team could
have been a disaster given all of the egos onboard. But Coach K led them all to
gold medals in Sunday’s thrilling game against Spain, so you have to hand it to
him.
It
takes a lot to be a leader of special men. It takes a lot to make them see that
they’re stronger together than solo. To have such giants like Lebron James - who has had a magnificent year as a world champion
with the NBA’s Miami Heat and league
MVP; Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers; and both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City
Thunder, all playing for love of
country, and pride alone, no money, that takes a special skill.
And
it was clear during the games that all of them had great respect for Coach K,
and it was well-deserved.
So
congratulations, Coach K. These were your last Olympic games as coach, but
they’ll go down in history as some of the best, thanks to you.
GABBY
AND MICHELLE - If ever Jay Leno’s
bookers hit a homerun, it was last Monday evening when they had US Olympic
Women’s Gymnast gold medalist Gabby Douglas
on with First Lady Michelle Obama. It
is rare for a standard talk show to have even one person we admire and hold in
hi esteem. But to have two, and to have them both be black women of high
achievement, that was special. Of course Jay had fun with them, especially when
Gabby admitted that after she won her two gold medals, she broke down and had
an Egg McMuffin.
That
was not pleasing news to the First Lady, who has made it a crusade to have
America eat right and better. “You’re setting me back, Gabby,” Mrs. Obama
teased as the 16-year-old Olympian giggled.
Thanks
Jay, for having these two great Americans on. It made us all feel good.
THE
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION - Have my credentials to cover the Democratic
National Convention when it comes to
Charlotte in a few weeks. This is history, for sure, not only because for the
first time the DNC is coming to North Carolina, but it is the first, and may be
the only time in modern history that an African-American is re-nominated by his
political party to the presidency of the United States.
Don’t know what to expect as of
yet, but you’ll see and read about it all in The Carolinian and Wilmington
Journal, and you’ll hear it all on my
Thursday radio show, “Make it Happen” on Power 750 WAUG-AM, and www.myWAUG.com at 4 p.m. Sept. 6th, just
before President Obama speaks to the
nation.
Looking
forward to it.
PARDON
THE WILMINGTON TEN - Since the death of Wilmington Ten member Connie Tindall two weeks ago, more and more people around the country
are discovering the cause of the ten civil rights activists who were unjustly
convicted of crimes they did not commit 40 years ago. Approximately 540 people
have signed the Change.Org online petition. Have you? Sign our Change.Org
petition by going to our Wilmington Ten Pardons of Innocence page on
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TheWilmingtonTenPardonOfInnocenceProject),
and clicking the petition link. But don’t stop there. Get your family and
friends to do it too.
This
is about justice during an historic year, and you can be part of it.
Please
join us. Thanks.
Also,
Connie Tindall was buried last week. He had
no life insurance. Because he was falsely convicted of a felony 40 years ago,
getting insurance would be prohibitive at best, and more expensive than
standard rates.
The Wilmington community,
led by Mary Alice Thatch, publisher of The Wilmington Journal, is doing what it can to help. A contribution fund has
been setup to help with the costs of the service and burial.
The Tindall family asks
that checks be made out to THE CONNIE TINDALL FUND, c/o FIRST CITIZENS BANK,
P.O. BOX 1619 WILMINGTON, NC, 28402. Contributions to the fund can be dropped
off at any First Citizens Bank branch.
Thanks again.
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.myWAUG.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 was also honored by the NNPA for 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.
-30-
No comments:
Post a Comment