CASH IN THE APPLE FOR
8-4-16
By Cash Michaels
THREE MORE
MONTHS – Just think, on November 8th, three months from now, all of
this noise from the presidential election will be over. Mind you, there’s no
doubt we’ll be hearing plenty of chatter from other candidates for public
office, and that’s understandable. But few of them will be as dirty and
humiliating as the race for the highest office in the land.
Now usually
its kind of cliché’ to say, “this is the most important election of our time.”
We’ve heard that old saying before, and one can argue that, given the time and
the election, the cliché’ was true. Imagine if Barack Obama had never been elected
president, how would that great economic depression he faced when he came into
office been solved? John F. Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis? Lyndon B.
Johnson and the civil rights movement?
Clearly,
and call it GOD’s hand if you will, it almost seems like divine intervention
that more times than not, the right person is elected to be president. But
there are times, like in the case of Richard Nixon and George W. Bush, where
someone is chosen ho just seems to bring a lot of baggage with them.
That’s why
it can be honestly be said that given the stakes, and the personalities vying
for office this time around, this upcoming presidential election really is the
most important election of time.
Now if
you’re expecting me to sing the praises of one candidate over the other, you’re
mistaken. That would be too easy, quite frankly.
But there
is a more complex issue to be addressed, and you hear a lot about it when
election analysts on television opine about who has most of the
college-educated white vote versus who has most of the non-college educated
white vote, or who has the majority of black/Hispanic voters.
Now voting has
been carved up at every election – there’s nothing new about that. Democrats
pride themselves for going after people of color and working people, while
Republicans specialize in advocating for businesses and the wealthy. But this
election year, in particular, the lines seem to be even more sharply drawn,
because there are groups o people ho firmly believe that with the election of
our nation’s first black president, somehow America didn’t move forward, and
the white-dominated land they once grew up in has now become a wasteland
vulnerable to terrorism, no jobs and higher taxes.
The
particular groups who feel this way are so focused on “taking our country
back,” that they don’t care whether their candidate insults people because of
their religion or ethnic background, or disrespects military veterans who were
once prisoners of war, or calls illegal immigrants “murderers and rapists.”
As far as
these particular groups are concerned, it’s about time someone stood up to the
“politically-correct” crowd and told them off in the blunt manner and language
that means business. They aren’t thinking about the nation as a whole, only
their part of it.
That’s why the recent Republican and
Democratic party national conventions were so interesting. Each gave us a
separate view, not only of the nation now, but what the future will look like
under their respective presidential nominees.
One
convention seemed brimming with hope, the other filled with fear and despair.
They made their cases. The question is, which one will we, the people, elect
come November?
But more
importantly, we will be deciding in November who do we really want to be? A
nation always at war, and doing little to stop it? Or a country looking to
build a better, more equitable future for all of its citizens?
That seems
to be the choice in this November’s election, and GOD help us if we choose
wrong.
FOX NEWS –
One of the things I try to pay attention to is how veracious news outlets are
reporting the same story, or even if they are reporting the same story.
For
instance, I noticed during the Democratic National Convention that Fox News
would simply ignore certain important speakers that CNN and MSNBC were covering
from the podium. Now, to be fair, everybody didn’t cover everything during the
conventions. But Fox News made it a point of having critics of Hillary Clinton
on as much as possible, and when the “Mothers of the Movement” – several black
mothers who lost their children to police and gun violence – appeared onstage
at the DNC to speak, Fox made it a point not to cover it.
As many
know by now, Fox personalities Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity have been on a
constant rant to destroy the Black Lives Matter movement, calling it “racist”
and even going so far as saying that it is a terrorist groups because O’Reilly
and Hannity want so badly to link BLM to the many tragic police shootings.
In effect,
Fox News – which just lost its leader, Roger Ailes because of several destructive
allegations of sexual misconduct against him – has, and continues to give parts
of America the skewed vision of this nation the “doom and gloom” crowd craves
until they “get their country back.”
Not sure
when that will be, but one thing’s for certain, Fox continue to go to the bank
pushing this stuff. I’m pretty sure we’re all not the better for it.
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-
CBC CHAIR BUTTERFIELD
WITH VOTER ID
REVERSED
QUESTIONS REMAIN
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Democrats
and activists who supported efforts by the NCNAACP and others to legally
overturn parts of North Carolina’s “Monster Voting law,” were certainly
thrilled to hear last week that a three-judge federal appellate panel indeed
struck down key elements of the 2013 measure, effective immediately.
"The
US Fourth Circuit Court [of Appeals] ruling [Friday] is a people’s victory and
a victory that sends a message to the nation,” said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber,
II, president of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. “The court
found— under the sensitive inquiry required by law -- that how the law was
enacted and its impact made crystal clear that discriminatory intent
impermissibly motivated this General Assembly.
“Under
our constitution, and under the core principles and dictates of the Voting
Rights Act…” Rev. Barber continued, “… these provisions have no legitimacy under
the law."
In
its ruling, the federal appellate court stated that the Republican-led NC
General Assembly was racially-motivated with “discriminatory intent” in passing
the 2013 voting restrictions, saying, that African-Americans were targeted
“…with almost surgical precision.”
“The Court’s decision reinforces
that race-based decision-making in the electoral system will not stand,” said
Penda D. Hair, lead attorney for the NC NAACP. “We know that voters of color
rely most heavily on these voting measures, and that, without this decision,
they would have borne the brunt of the burden this November.”
Unless a
timely stay on the ruling is granted by the entire US Fourth Circuit Court of
Appeals before the November 8th general elections (something Gov. McCrory
and Republican leaders have vowed to seek, but legal experts say isn’t likely),
then voters will have their early voting period restored to 17 days prior to
Election Day instead of the current 10 days; maintain same-day registration and
out-of-precinct provisional balloting; reinstate voting pre-registration for 16
and 17 year-olds; and most importantly, not have to show a government-issued
photo ID in order to vote.
This means
Democrats no longer have to educate voters at rallies or by phone banks about
making sure they have some form of official government-issued ID, or legal
excuse for not having one. They can continue their door-to-door canvassing of
neighborhoods for candidates to GOTV. Now, not only should excessive long lines
be eliminated during early voting and on Election Day, but voters can still
have their ballots counted, even if they go to the wrong precinct.
But there’s
a holdup as to how grassroots activists and others proceed in the aftermath of
the momentous ruling. Local BOEs have not met yet to determine how to carry out
the appellate court’s mandate.
“We need
to, and are awaiting direction from the NC Board of Elections and the executive
director,” confirmed Gary Sims, director of the Wake County Board of
Elections,” because whatever action does or does not happen, needs to come from
their guidance.”
Ironically,
all local BOEs were required to have their early voting sites locked in by July
29th, the same day the federal ruling came down.
Sims added
that while the 17-day early voting period is reinstated, the longer hours of
operation per early voting location currently in force could be relaxed since
the period is being extended from 10 to 17 days. But exactly what to do with
that seven-day extension would be up to local county BOE boards.
One of the
other challenges Wake and other local BOEs face is that they are already locked
into budgets prior to the July 29th ruling. That reality will also
constrain how quickly and adequately local BOE’s will be able to comply. Having
only one early voting site open, namely the local BOE office itself and no
satetilite sites for the seven-day extension, is a possibility.
Prior to
the July 29th ruling, Ms. Sutton had been distributing materials
educating voters about the photo ID requirement, which went into effect this
year during the March and June primaries.
Now the
community must also be clear that not all of the voter ID law was knocked down.
They will still be faced with no straight-ticket balloting, meaning that
instead of voting for all candidates of a single party with just one mark,
voters will have to individually mark, race by race, which candidates they
choose.
Critics of
the 2013 law have always said that voters may not be aware of all of the
candidates, especially during a presidential election year, and thus, only vote
for a few of the major offices, leaving judicial or local races blank.
Another
element of the 2013 “Monster Voting Law” left untouched is the provision that
allows anyone from anywhere in the state, to confront any voter on line at a
precinct, and challenge their right to vote.
That means
the challenged voter is required by law to leave the line, and report to the
precinct judge’s table with the challenger to answer questions about their
voting qualifications.
Activists
say they have to have a strong voter protection plan in force – observers
making sure that people are educated, and that they are not intimidated at the
polls.”
-30-
CBC CHAIR BUTTERFIELD
BLASTS TRUMP AS
“UNFIT”
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Last
Tuesday, President Obama raised eyebrows when, during a press conference at the
White House, he bluntly told reporters that “the Republican nominee is unfit to
serve as president.”
But Obama
wasn’t the first black-elected official to make that declaration about
controversial businessman Donald Trump.
North
Carolina Congressman G. K. Butterfield (D-NC-1), who also serves as chairman of
the Congressional Black Caucus, took the stage at the 2016 Democratic National
Convention in Philadelphia last week to tell conventioneers, a national
television audience, and Trump himself (if he was watching), “You are not
qualified to serve as president of the United States.”
“In my
community you judge a man’s heart by his words and deeds.” Butterfield
continued. “Donald J. Trump, your words have been hostile, been bigoted, and
insulting. You’ve used every opportunity to talk about your wealth, to
denigrate people who don’t hold your views, even in your own party.”
Trump has
ignited numerous controversies since he announced his candidacy in July 2016,
calling illegal Mexican immigrants “rapists and murderers,” demanding that
Muslims from countries that have had terrorist activity be temporarily banned,
and recently, he criticized the Gold Star family of a deceased Muslim US
soldier who was killed in action in 2004, just because the father criticized
Trump publicly at the DNC.
While
Republicans in Congress and elsewhere have severely criticized the
controversial businessman, few, if any GOP leaders have revoked their
endorsement of the Republican nominee. North Carolina Republican Gov. Pat
McCrory has endorsed Trump, and appeared with him as recently as last week in
Winston – Salem, along with other state GOP leaders.
Rep.
Butterfield further charged that Trump would “… use your status to alienate African-Americans and other
groups, and you would use the office of president to take our great nation in
the wrong direction.”
“We know, we know that you have no
plan to address issues directly affecting the African-American community, such
as gun violence and voting rights, historically black colleges and universities,
raising the minimum wage and addressing persistent poverty,” Congressman
Butterfield continued.
Rep. Butterfield’s public rebuke of
the Republican nominee carries weight because the black Democratic congressman
is committed to doing everything he can to ensure that Trump does not win North
Carolina in November.
The Tar Heel
State is considered a prime battleground state that could go either for Trump
or his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. In 2008, Barack Obama won the state on his way
to the presidency but four years later, Republican nominee Mitt Romney won
North Carolina in his failed attempt to unseat President Obama. According to many political analysts, if Trump
is to have any real chance of tallying the needed 270 electoral college votes
to win, he needs North Carolina’s 15 electoral votes in his win column.
Both Trump
and Clinton have made numerous campaign stops to the state, and many more are
expected. Their vice presidential running mates – Republican Indiana Gov. Mike
Pence and Democrat US Senator from Virginia Tim Kaine –are also scheduling
appearances across the state.
So there
was very little surprise when Rep. Butterfield, after stating that he felt Donald
Trump was “unfit to be president,” began to spell out the reasons why at the
DNC.
“Instead of putting forth
details to address income equality and opportunity for everyday Americans, you
use your celebrity status to paint a picture of gloom and doom,” Butterfield
charged.
“You want to know why your polling
numbers are so dismal among African-Americans?” Rep. Butterfield continued,
referencing recent NBC/Wall Street Journal polls that show Trump getting zero
support from blacks in Ohio and Pennsylvania. “We know you have gotten rich
through your business, but we also know your wealth has come at the expense of
other people.”
-30-
TRIANGLE NEWS BRIEFS
FOR 8-4-16
NCNAACP COMMORATES 51ST
ANNIVERSARY
OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT SATURDAY
Saturday,
August 6th, te NCNAACP invites all to come to Christian Faith
Baptist Church, 509 Hilltop Dr. in Raleigh to both commemorate the 51st
anniversary of the signing of the historic Voting Rights Act, and also to
celebrate te recent US Fourth Circuit Court ruling overturning the state’s
voter ID law. At 10 a,m, there will be a
unity press conference. Ar 10:30 am, a forum on the state of votings rights. At
1:30 pm a call to action ,and at 3 p.m., the closing.US Rep. G. K. Butterfield
[D-NC-1] is an invited guest. This event is free and open to the public.
WCPSS FAMILY MOURNS
THE DEATH OF ATHENS DRIVE HIGH PRINCIPAL
Parents and
students were shocked Tuesday to the news that Athens Drive High School
Principal James Hedrick had died after a morning run. At press time, the exact
cause of death was unknown. Hedrick has been principal for two years. He
previously served for nine years at Green Hope High School in Cary. Ha edrick
is being remembered as a good educator ho cared deeply for his students. He is
survived by his wife, Camille.. who is also a WCPSS principal.
FEDERAL JUDGE TO
STATE LAWMAKERS – “ SUBMIT NEW WAKE DISTRICT MAPS”
A federal
judge this week has asked state lawmakers to submit new maps for his
consideration on how the district lines for Wake County school board and county
commission seats should be redrawn. Several weeks ago the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals determined that
the original 2013 redistricting maps drawn for Wake by GOP lawmakers were unconstitutional.
Elections for both the Wake school board and county commission are supposed to
be this November.
-30-
STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR 8-4-16
FIRST CASE OF MEASLES
REPORTED IN WAKE COUNTY
[CARY] A
traveler who hs just returned from several cities in Europe is said to be
carrying Wake County’s first case of measles, a highly contagious disease.
Officials with the county health dept. are urging people who were at RDU
International Airport on July 24th between 2 pm and 4:30 to check
with their doctor for possible exposure. Measles is an airborne disease. It can bring about a fever,
coughing and a rash. For more information call 919-728-5233.
THIRTY SWIMMERS STUNG
BY JELLYFISH AT SUNSET BEACH
[SUNSET BEACH] Beachgoers
seeking fun and sun with dip in the
ocean at Sunset Beach last weekend came out of the water with jellyfish stings.
Fire ofiials report at least 30 people -
most of them on Saturday. Because there are no lifeguards at Sunset Beach, the
local fire department had to answer calls for jellyfish stings. Most of the
attacks were near the pier. Fire officials say they scooped up as many of the
critters as possible, while the rest left the area.
MCCRORY BLASTS COOPER
FOR REFUSING TO APPEAL VOTER ID RULING
[RALEIGH]
Gov. Pat McCrory has vowed to appeal the US Fourth circuit Court of Appeals
ruling last week dismantling the states restrictive voter ID law, but apparently
he won’t be using State Attorney General Roy Cooper’s office to do it. Cooper, a Democrat opposing McCrory for reelection
this fall, has refused to have his office represent the state again on appeal.
McCrory says the attorney general isn’t doing his job, and thus, shouldn’t
collect a paycheck. Cooper said the voter ID law is unconstitutional and an “overreach,”
thus a waste of time to appeal.
-30 
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