THE GREAT GOP MELTDOWN

Once upon a time the GOP stood for the GRAND OLD PARTY.  But lately the Republican Party has been anything but "grand" and is now in fact a party in turmoil.  Infighting between varying factions, lack of an identity or a legitimate leader, and a far right conservative message that's having difficulty connecting with up and coming new generations, the GOP appears to be outdated, obsolete, out of control and on a downward spiral to crash and burn. 

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Exactly when, how, and why did the great meltdown of one of the major political parties in America begin?  Where can blame be placed? Eight years of the failed George W. Bush presidency is certainly a huge factor.  But there has to be more.  The Republican party is primarily 3 parties in one:  the FISCAL CONSERVATIVES (no to affirmative action, yes to tax cuts for the wealthy, yes to trickle-down economics); the CHRISTIAN COALITION (no to gays, no to abortion, and other 21st Century ways of thinking); and the SOUTHERN RACIAL SEGREGATIONISTS (dislikes blacks, mexicans, jews, etc.).  Each of these factions have their own strengths and followings,  and each wants the party run "their" way with "their leader.  But that sort of clash is bound to be catastrophic.
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Right now there's a tug-of-war brewing within the Republican party for exactly which wing will control the GOP, and it's getting nasty.  Many Republicans simply do not like, respect, or want Michael Steele as their leader, and he has quickly become a whipping boy and scapegoat for the party's ills.  But in light of Steele's embarrassing rhetorical flourishes to his bizarre public fight with Rush Limbaugh, he certainly hasn't helped much.  He recently compared Republicans to drunks in need of a 12-step program and to the mentally ill.  And he has promised a “hip-hop makeover” that would attract even “one-armed midgets” to his party.  “I’m trying to move an elephant that’s become mired in its own muck,” Mr. Steele said in an interview last week in his  Capitol Hill office.  Naturally the other Republican factions were not amused.
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Why Chairman Steele feels compelled to recreate the GOP into the "hip hop" party is an absolute mystery, and it calls into question the very motives behind his ascension to chairman.  Was he propped up as sort of a "Republican Obama?"   Did someone in GOP-Land think putting a brown face on the Republican brand would somehow make it more appealing?  Already Steele's pledge to recruit black voters is in question. Raynard Jackson, a Republican consultant, said that he and fellow African-Americans are glad about Mr. Steele’s election but uneasy about its timing. It looks too much like “let’s get a black person out there and let him attack the first black president,” Mr. Jackson said.  Last week, Ada Fisher, one of a handful of black Republican National Committee members and a persistent critic of Mr. Steele’s, called on him to resign, arguing in an e-mail message to the entire committee that he “makes us frankly appear to many blacks as quite foolish.”
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It can't be easy being the first African-American to lead the Republican party, but many within the party are already laying in wait to watch him fail.  Said one conservative critic of Steele:  "Michael Steele wanted to be a priest, but that didn't work out. He wanted to be a successful lawyer, but that didn't work out. He wanted to run a consulting firm, but that didn't work out. Steele parlayed this 'success' into a role as Maryland's Lieutenant Governor, but that didn't work out, either -- he was booted out after one term, and didn't follow through on his own hand-picked projects. He then wanted to be a U.S. senator, but that didn't work out.  Remind me, why did the Republican National Committee pick Steele as its chairman?"

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Katon Dawson, who came in second in the January RNC vote, is said to be quietly organizing a vote and is getting the support of several state party chairmen who want to dump Steele.  But if she's successful, then what?  Just who exactly is the REAL leader of the Republican Party?  Is it former President George W. Bush?  Is it failed Republican candidate John McCain?  Is it 2012 hopefuls Sarah Palin or Bobby Jindal?  Is it conservative bullhorn Rush Limbaugh?  Which faction of the party will prevail?  And once a true leader is determined will their message and ideology be enough to keep the party relevant and competitive, particularly within the 21st Century and amidst a new generation of voters?  As CNN's Jack Cafferty recently put it:  "The Republican Party is marching double-time down the road to irrelevancy and they don't even know it!"

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SPLITSVILLE!

Remember last summer when it was revealed that Sarah Palin's teenage daughter Bristol was pregnant?  And remember when the McCain/Palin campaign used political spin to make it a beautiful occurrence, claiming Bristol and her high school senior beau Levi Johnston were planning to marry and become a perfect family?  And remember all the uncomfortable pictures from when they rolled good old Levi out and forced him to participate on camera and on stage in all the political appearances with John McCain?  Well put down the shotgun Grandma Sarah, because this wedding is off!

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Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston have officially announced they are no longer a couple and in spite of their newborn son Tripp, have gone their separate ways.  In fact, Levi went even further and made it known they broke up some time ago and have long since moved on with their own lives.  Could it be possible that the two love-sick teenagers were never really meant to be together for life, but that the whole marriage thing was a slick attempt to smooth over the unplanned and out of wedlock pregnancy of the daughter of the Christian Conservative Sarah Palin?  Oh, say it ain't so!
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WATCH as Bristol Palin explains that sexual abstinence is unrealistic:

WHERE'S THE HONEYMOON?

President Obama has now officially been in office for 50 days of the proverbial "100 DAYS IN OFFICE" that many like to follow.  Traditionally, members of the opposing party allow the president 100 "grace" days to try some things, make a few mistakes, and basically settle into office without them meddling or presenting much opposition.  However, the Republican party seems to have ditched the "honeymoon" concept almost immediately into the Obama presidency, which poses the obvious question:  WHERE'S THE HONEYMOON?

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The day following his inauguration, President Obama hit the ground running --- literally.  With an economy in recession, a foreign policy in turmoil, and the remnants of a failed Bush presidency to clean up, Obama came into office with a very full plate.  Time was of the essence and he had a lot to do within a little amount of time.  He undid many of the illegalities from the Bush years.  He spent day and night with an economic team looking for ways to stimulate a stalled economy.  He sent Secretary of State Hillary Clinton out into the world to repair our tarnished international image.  And he tried ever so hard to keep to his promise of bipartisanship, even hosting luncheons, parties, and movie nights at the White House for members of the GOP and their families.  But the Republicans would hear none of it, and launched a powerful and united attack against the president and his new ideas almost immediately.  Sad they would put party ideology over what's best for America, but I can sum up in one word why they did it:  FEAR.  

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President Obama is soaring with incredibly high public approval ratings, and a large majority of the country trusts and believes he can and will fix the ills of the nation and get us back on the right track.  That's a scary thought for a Republican party ripe with infighting, a failed message, and a confused identity.  Because if President Obama succeeds, the Republican party as we know it could very likely fail and become obsolete.  So they're fighting for their lives.  Why give a "head start" honeymoon to the man who could be driving the final nail in your political coffin?

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Check back tomorrow for a blockbuster of an article entitled: THE GREAT GOP MELTDOWN.

SNL PARODIES RUSH AND STEELE

Saturday Night Live has done it again!  After becoming a political house of comedy during the reign of John McCain and Sarah Palin in the general election, SNL garnered a reputation for taking on political humor in an uncanny and timely way.  They've done President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and even former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his appointed cronie Roland Burris.  Now in light of the recent public feud between Rush Limbaugh and RNC Chair Michael Steele, SNL has once again tackled the political moment with a hilarious outcome.  WATCH:

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I'M SORRY, RUSH!

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 A MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE:

Picture this. You're a Republican who just accidentally offended your leader Rush Limbaugh. You know that your only option is to bow down to King Rush and offer a groveling apology. But you have to do it fast before Leader Rush calls you out. What can you do?

Luckily, we've uncovered the secret Republican Apology Machine. As a member of the DCCC's Rapid Response, we want to give you the chance to give it a try.

Check out I'M SORRY, RUSH!, the fastest and easiest way for a Limbaugh-Loving Republican to express the error of their ways to the king himself.

Now you can draft your own "apology" to Rush just like the pros do it. Best of all, we'll share your "apologies" with Rush personally.

Check it out.

Brian Wolff
Executive Director, DCCC

LIAR!

Last Tuesday during his rebuttal speech following President Obama's address to Congress, Bobby Jindal told a touching tale of how during Hurricaine Katrina he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a local sheriff who was battling government red tape to try to rescue stranded victims.  According to Jindal Sheriff Harry Lee was yelling into the phone at a government bureaucrat who was refusing to let him send volunteer boats out to rescue stranded storm victims, because they didn't have the necessary permits. Jindal said he told Lee, "that's ridiculous," prompting Lee to tell the bureaucrat that the rescue effort would go ahead and he (or she) could arrest both Lee and Jindal.  Well, as it turns out, there's one thing wrong with that story....IT'S A LIE!

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Over the past several days various news organizations raised serious questions about the story, based in part on the fact that no news reports could be found to place Jindal in the affected area at the specific time of his tale.  But now, a Jindal spokeswoman has admitted the story is "inaccurate" and that in reality, Jindal overheard Lee talking about the episode to someone else by phone "days later." Since Sherrif Lee died in 2007, it was an easy story to get away with telling without accountability.  Although Jindal's office is now playing defense trying to spin the story and his choice telling it into something more positive, the fact remains it just wasn't true.  Perhaps honesty really is the best policy after all!  WATCH:

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FAMILY FEUD

There seems to be a family feud brewing within the ranks of the Republican Party, between the elected leader of the GOP Michael Steele and the real "FACE" of the GOP Rush Limbaugh --- and it's a good one.

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As an African-American, Michael Steele was elected to supposedly "shake-up" and salvage the fledgling party, drag it into the 21st century, and try to create a more diverse and inclusive party that would appeal to the newly enthused youth voter.  But after a raucous appearance last Saturday before the Conservative Political Action Conference by Rush Limbaugh, it was quite evident there's a powerful wing of the GOP that is ready, willing, and able to clash with Chairman Steele and his lofty plans.
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On a Sunday appearance on CNN Steele was asked if Limbaugh was the real face of the GOP, to which Steele made it clear HE is the leader of the Republican Party and noted Rush Limbaugh is an "entertainer" whose positions are often "incendiary" and "ugly."  But apparently those were fighting words to Rush and he was to have none of it. So on Monday Limbaugh put on his boxing gloves and brazenly criticized Steele for having the audacity to lambaste the conservative radio talk-show host,  prompting a swift public apology from Steele who clearly doesn't want to ruffle the feathers of the powerful Limbaugh and his constituents. A tug of war for control of the party is almost certainly in the works, especially from those who may not yet be ready for the African-American Steele to be calling the shots for their Grand Old Party.  Now the stage is being set for what could soon become a very ugly public family feud.  Here is a clip of the comments by Michael Steele and Rush Limbaugh from Round 1 of what is surely more to come.  WATCH:

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THE FACE OF THE GOP

Michael Steele may be the new chairman of the GOP, and Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin may already be positioning themselves for 2012. But although each of the above names are trying hard to reshape the Republican image, if anyone actually believes an African-American, Indian, or Female is the TRUE face of the GOP, you are highly mistaken. That title officially belongs to Rush Limbaugh!

In a stirringly divisive appearance before the Conservative Political Action Conference this past Saturday, the well known conservative commentator and democratic hater proved he's still King. Reiterating his disdain for bipartisanship and his controversial claim that he hopes President Obama fails, Limbaugh said of the President: "He wants people in fear, angst and crisis, fearing the worst each and every day because that clears the decks for President Obama and his pals to come in with the answers which are abject failures, historically shown and demonstrated. Doesn't matter. They'll have control of it when it's all over. And that's what they want."

Limbaugh also dismissed the notion of bipartisanship as a "false premise" given the opposing views of the Democrat and Republican parties on a variety of issues, including the recent $787 billion stimulus package signed by Obama. Limbaugh's conservative "red-meat" speech came one day after Obama supporters put out a political ad implying that the conservative radio host has become the de facto head of the Republican Party in the absence of a clear GOP leader. The ad argues that the Republican leadership in Congress is following Limbaugh's lead in opposing the Obama administration's stimulus package. "So who are Republican leaders listening to?," the announcer asks before the 30-second ad cuts abruptly to footage of Limbaugh saying, "I want him (Obama) to fail."

The GOP is proving to be a party of crumbling factions, each with its own agenda in stark competition with the other. One faction thought selecting their own Republican version of "Barack Obama" to be party leader would make the party viable. But the new African-American party chairman somehow believes he can attract hip-hop and young ethnic minorities into the party. And then there's the Christian and social conservatives like Limbaugh who are thinking and working exactly the opposite of their own party chairman. It's 3 parties in one, infighting with one another and teetering on irrelevancy and failure.

MEDIA'S GUIDE TO RACIAL SENSITIVITY

From the very moment Barack Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States, the media has somehow been under some awkward belief that any jokes regarding him being black would be brilliantly funny.  So time and time again these blowhards in business suits took gigantic risks, ventured out onto the edge, and if they weren't connecting him to a muslim extremist terrorist they were connecting him to a monkey, ape, or gorilla.  Since these types of connections have been historically negative, divisive, and near riotous, having long been used to portray black people as something less than human, these media moguls have been either unbelievably racist or unbelievably dumb!  Now it's the New York Post's turn, which published a cartoon on their editorial page depicting President Obama as the dangerously out of control chimpanzee killed last week for mauling a neighbor.  Funny, right?  WRONG!

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A Georgia businessman sold t-shirts

showing Obama as a monkey

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This mailer from Republicans in California depict Obama 

on a Food Stamp, as a mule, with fried chicken, ribs, watermelon, 

and red Kool-Aid...all black stereotypes.

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The mayor of Los Alamitos, CA distributed the photo via email

claiming that instead of the traditional easter egg hunt, 

the Obama's will turn the south lawn of the White House 

into a watermelon patch

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 The New York Post cartoon

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The election of Barack Obama to the presidency was the moment in American history where we could all collectively move beyond our national racist past and progress toward a future of unity.  So why then are so many clinging to the very stereotypes that have long sought to divide us?  And since when did we all collectively decide that these reminders of racism were funny?  EVERY SINGLE TIME these editors or politicians have cluelessly fooled themselves into thinking putting this sort of trash out to the public was an excellent idea, only to have to retract and apologize later for being insensitive, claiming they didn't realize it would cause such a stir.  BALDERDASH!  Would it be right to poke fun at the jews regarding the Holocaust?  Or make jokes about those who perished in the 9/11 attacks?  Or what about a funny little story or cartoon regarding an abducted, raped, or killed child?  OF COURSE NOT!  Some things are just not funny, and are off limits to the apparent armchair comics out there who are making the decisions to publicize this sort of nonsense.
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So to the NEW YORKER magazine, the NEW YORK POST, and all those out there who keep presenting the general public with these assinine and outdated racial stereotypes, claiming you had no idea you were doing something wrong, here is your guide that should help prevent any future "mistakes" of racial insensitivity:
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✓DO NOT DISCUSS, PUBLISH, OR PRESENT PRESIDENT OBAMA, HIS WIFE MICHELLE,  THEIR CHILDREN, OR ANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITIZEN AS: an Ape, Gorilla, Monkey, Primate, or anything less than human; 
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✓DO NOT PORTRAY AFRICAN-AMERICANS:  as extremists; terrorists; in black face or as a sambo; with overly large lips, nose, or other body parts;
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✓STAY AWAY FROM CONNECTING AFRICAN-AMERICANS AS STEREOTYPICAL CONNOISSEURS OF:  fried chicken, ribs, watermelon, kool-aid, or the like;
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The above suggestions are only a start.  And for anyone who sees the above listings as harmless good old fashioned humor you probably have a long way to go in racial education anyway.  So if you are truly sincere that your motives are not to incite racial insensitivity and that your goal is to present pure and fair politics and journalism, you will best serve yourselves and your constituents by avoiding the above at all costs.  Racism is still very much alive and well in our society.  It is not funny.  Never was.  The only way past it is to collectively turn our backs from it.  And that means YOU!

MIND YOUR BUSINESS

Former Bush White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card nearly had a conniption fit over recent photos of President Obama not wearing his suit jacket while in the Oval Office.  Apparently a cardinal sin during the Bush years, Mr. Card considered President Obama's behavior a disrespectful shame, saying: "The Oval Office symbolizes...the Constitution, the hopes and dreams, and I'm going to say democracy. And when you have a dress code in the Supreme Court and a dress code on the floor of the Senate, floor of the House, I think it's appropriate to have an expectation that there will be a dress code that respects the office of the President."

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Well it seems Mr. Card --- ahem --- misspoke.  Because although former President Bush "claimed" to have such a dress code in place in his Oval Office, the photos below prove a different story.  Not only did Bush go without a suit jacket in the Oval Office, so did members of his cabinet.  In fact it appears to be a time-honored tradition among president's.  Gerald Ford did it.  Jimmy Carter did it.  Even Clinton did it...a lot.  Perhaps the best thing a past official like Andrew Card can do now is realize his opinion is irrelevant, mind his own business, and allow PRESIDENT Obama to decide how HE wants things done in HIS Presidential office.

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THE PROOF IS IN THE PICTURES:
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MORE LIPSTICK ON A PIG?

Last week, the GOP elected its first African-American as Chairman of the Republican National Committee.  Immediately, news journalists and political pundits hailed the historical election of Michael Steele as ground breaking and the reinvention of the Republican party.  Oh really?
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Just in case anyone forgot, the Republican party membership has a long history of racial hatred and inequality.  Former Alabama Gov. George Wallace personally blocked the doorway to prevent school desegregation in his state back in 1963, and he was a Republican.  White Supremacist and former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan David Duke unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate from Louisiana in 1996, and he too is a Republican.  And just try picking out at least five black faces in the crowd at any Republican event.  The Republican party has long been a landing pad for racists, anti-abortionists, gay rights opponents, christian conservatives, and just about anyone who takes a passionately strong stance against any way of thinking that is different from their own.  It's been that way in the GOP for many decades now (which should explain why the party has been losing steam --- and elections).  So why does the arrival of Michael Steele at the helm suddenly change everything?  It doesn't!
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Just because a hotel meeting room full of delegates chooses a leader doesn't instantly make him one.  And that one afternoon of balloting simply does not turn back or erase decades of racial thinking. In spite of his newly acquired title of "Chairman," Michael Steele is still a black man going against a party of some who absolutely will not play follow the leader.  Already David Duke has gone on record in calling Chairman Steele a "black racist," "Obama Jr." and a "servile dog of Israel."  So put whatever lipstick on that pig you want, but the true Republican party and all its ways of thinking are still right there behind it.  With cutesy slogans like "Family Values" and "Pro Marriage", the reality is the Christian Coalition and the social and racial conservatives are the REAL Chairman of the Republican party.  They have the numbers, they have the strength, and they wield the true power.  They've worked too many years, donated too many dollars, and they're not about to relinquish their party simply because a lone African-American man said so.  Truth be told, this unique group of GOPer's simply have no place else to go if they don't hold their ground.  "Change" and "Obama-mania" have swept the Democratic party, attracting multiculturalists, youth, and 21st Century free thinkers.  So the older, conservative, race conscious, gun toting, value-themed voter has no choice but to hunker down and hold on to the only place they know as home.
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Since becoming Chairman, Michael Steele has appeared on numerous talk shows touting it's a "new day" in the Republican party.  But then he followed up all that contemporary talk with the same old outdated and hard lined Republican positions that already has the party on the brink of irrelevancy.  If the messenger is going to be spewing the same old rhetoric, what difference does it make if he's black, white, hispanic, or martian?  So the question remains: what exactly is going to be new?  Apparently not much.  It seems Michael Steele is just a darker shade of lipstick being applied to the same old pig!

THE "O" TEAM

FAMED PHOTOGRAPHER ANNIE LEIBOVITZ CAPTURES THE NEW

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IN STYLE!

See the entire photo display HERE

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GREAT MOMENTS IN PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHES

For the past year, CBS Late Show host David Letterman has had a barrel of laughs with the segment GREAT MOMENTS IN PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHES.  The segment always began with some of the most powerful and memorable speeches of 2 former president's, but would then switch to a baffling and buffoonery speech by George W. Bush.  Last Friday, in the wake of Bush's waning days in the White House, Letterman paid special tribute with his final "GREAT MOMENTS" segment.  Here is the special Late Show montage tribute.  WATCH:

THE OBAMA GIRLS

A PICTORIAL LOOK AT MALIA AND SASHA OBAMA

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Malia photographs the Lincoln Memorial Concert

while sister Sasha squeals with delight

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after his big speech, Sasha gives Dad the thumbs up

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President "Dad" gives Sasha a kiss on her noggin

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a loving glance between Malia and her Dad

the new President 

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the girls enjoy the Inaugural Parade 

MR. PRESIDENT!

 PRESIDENT and MRS. BARACK H. OBAMA

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There once was a time when a black man in America was considered 3/5ths of a person.  In 1901, it was unheard of for a black man to even be able to dine at the White House.  Now 100 years later a black man will live and preside there. 

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CONGRATULATIONS  Barack Obama, on breaking barriers and making history by becoming the first African-American President of the United States!

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A DREAM FULFILLED

Today is KING DAY, as the nation celebrates what would have been the 80th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Tomorrow is OBAMA DAY, as the nation will inaugurate the first African-American President of the United States.  On August 28, 1963, Dr. King prounounced "I HAVE A DREAM" on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama will become the fulfillment of that dream on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.  Martin paved the road for Barack.  Barack now stands on the shoulders of Martin.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. KING!

WEIGHT OF THE WORLD

With the weight of the world squarely on his shoulders, with an entire nation holding its breath in anticipation of tomorrow's inauguration, and with the hopes and dreams of African-Americans both young and old preparing for a dream fulfilled, Barack Obama prepares for the final moments of his amazing journey from political obscurity to the next President of the United States.
WATCH HIS HEARTFELT STORY:

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A NIGHT OF HISTORY!

NOVEMBER 4, 2008

A PICTORIAL LOOK BACK AT THE NIGHT THAT MADE HISTORY!

 

 Nearly 1 Million strong in Grant Park, Chicago

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President Elect and Mrs. Barack Hussein Obama

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The "New" First Family

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The Obama's and The Biden's

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African-American emotional pride

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Jesse Jackson overcome with emotion

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A tender moment with the First Couple

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OBAMA - BIDEN '08

A  PICTORIAL LOOK BACK AT THE CONVENTION 
THAT MADE HISTORY!