Show Me the Money $$$$

"Let's Talk Politics" with Adrienne Washington on Lyndia Grant's "Think on These Things" Show on WYCB- 1340 AM, MySpiritDC.com 8/17/12

SHOW ME THE MONEY $$$:

Even on vacation you just can’t get away from the campaigns, especially if you are trying to get a little R&R within a stone’s throw of a swing state in the DMV such as Virginia. The money that the presidential campaigns and their surrogates are spending on campaign ads alone to elect their candidates is absolutely obscene as they are expected to raise an estimated $2 billion collectively before the Nov. 6 election. $2 billion! Can you imagine how many worldwide social problems – or jobs -- even tax cuts – $2 billion could cure? Any even bigger question is what exactly does the money in American politics buy, and for whom?

Although Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney has reportedly raised more money than President Obama and the Democrats in the past three months, $101 for Romney to $75 million for Obama, before his pick of VP candidate Paul Ryan, the Center for Responsive Politics’ website, www.Open Secrets.org , shows figures which indicate that President Obama has raised more at $300 million to date with $97 million still in his campaign war chest. But those funds haven’t stopped the Prez ‘s folks from begging for money – particularly from small, individual donors where more than half of his contributions are shown -- to counter the high rotation of political ads that have become the irritating soundtrack of the Summer of 2012. And, those ads don’t come cheaply. My unscientific study indicates that for every three anti-Obama ads funded by Romney-backers, there is only one pro-Obama ad aired in counter response throughout the battleground state of Virginia and its neighboring border states of North Carolina and West Virginia. So don’t be surprised when you receive those Obama 2012 campaign solicitations online and in snail mail seeking your pocket pennies and bigger bucks.

Everyone knows money talks in politics and nowhere was that more evident than in Maryland this week where the General Assembly in a special session narrowly voted to favor the money-wielding gaming industry by putting a voter referendum for Las Vegas style gambling particularly at National Habor in Prince George’s County on the November ballot. Hiding behind the possibility of more jobs, many of Maryland’s leaders like PG County Executive Rushern Baker, changed horses this time around and pushed for the referendum unlike in the past when they followed faith-based voters who are still adamantly against the slots referendum. It’s not just the expanded gaming that’s a moral and social problem for opponents like Gerron Levi, of Stop Slots in Prince George’s, but she stressed on NewsChannel 8 her worries about the nature economic development based on jobs, which are more suited to low skilled high school graduates and mismatched with the need for professional employment needed by the county residents who overwhelmingly possess college degrees. It is unclear just how much money the gaming industry ponied up but there are moves afoot to ban political contributions from gambling companies and if that prohibition will really take hold before November .

Cruising up the Potomac River, campaign contributions for November local council elections are trickling leaving candidates, such as At-Large contender Vincent Orange, with meager resources but no one knows for sure if it’s due August vacations or the chill blowing in to town due to the numerous investigations into campaign finance irregularities in the scandal-plagued nation’s capital city. Nonetheless, despite DC voter’s frustration with the corruption scandals, the grassroots group DC Public Trust was not able to get their Initiative 70, The Prohibition of Corporate Contributions Initiative of 2012, as a referendum on the November ballot.

It’s an old saying in political circles to “follow the dollars.” And we still need real campaign finance reform in this country to get the tainted dollars out of politics at every level. Want evidence? Watch the biopic ‘Casino Jack” about the once-famous Washington lobbyist to get a startling view of how money and influence peddling are the lifeblood of American politics.
And, don't forget to check your voter registration status!

And... They're Off!

Aired during "Let's Talk Politics with Adrienne Washington" segment on Lyndia Grant’s "Think on These Things" WYCB-AM show (1340 AM)  7/27/12, 6-6:30 p.m. http://www.myspiritdc.com/


Well, this week in the DMV they’re off… off to the races, off to the games, off and running for a special election that has yet to be set!

First Lady Michele Obama is leading the Presidential delegation to London and the Olympic Games pushing her healthy lifestyle program “Let’s Move.” Meanwhile her husband is campaigning stateside making appearances again in the important swing state of Virginia and appearing at the National Urban League convention in New Orleans where he touted his middle class agenda which he claims helps African Americans and where he unveiled an education initiative aimed at improving academic achievement and opportunities for African American children, in the tradition of the Urban League. Some say President Obama can bet on support from black voters again in November, but with increasingly loud dissenters, such as scholar Cornel West and talk show host Tavis Smiley, there is No Way President Obama could have passed up an invitation to the NAACP convention, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Urban League in the same election year, if he is hoping to get even half the number of blacks to the polls in November as he did in 2008.

Speaking of betting, Cha-ching $$$$$. Do you hear the sound of slot machines on the shores of the Potomac with a view of the Washington Monument in full view? The biggest and most anticipated development in the DMV this week was Gov. Martin O’Malley’s controversial call for a special General Assembly session on Aug. 9 just to deal with gaming, specifically in Prince George’s County, which will undoubtedly upset the African American religious community which has fought against additional gaming in the past. It is a foregone conclusion that legislators will approve a referendum whereby voters can decide if they want more slots and Los Vegas style gambling, primarily at National Harbor. Here is where your listeners may participate in the political process by letting their state representative know how they feel about this move for a special industry by calling, writing and joining up with supporters or proponents depending on what you want to happen. Most folks think this is a done deal and the politicians are just window-dressing by going through the legislative process when , in fact, it’s clear they want to see more slots at National Harbor but are seeking cover by stressing that the measure will bring more jobs to the county which has been hit hard by foreclosures and high unemployment.

There is some parlor room betting going on in DC, too. Would-be mayoral contenders are already soliciting supporters and donors for their fantasy candidacy-by-default sweepstakes, acting as if a special election is a foregone conclusion, and as if Mayor Vincent Gray has already been forced from office by prosecutors or the court of public opinion although he has been charged with NADA! The best bet has been placed on number 31, which is the Aug. 31 date that Gray would have to be ousted in order for the DC Board of Elections to have enough time to hold a special election before the end of the year. Now, roll the dice on the first white mayor since DC won limited Home Rule in 1973!

Don’t forget to check your voter registration status and read my blog at awashingtonnote@blogspot.com.

Gray Gone by Aug. 31?

From the "Let's Talk Politics with Adrienne Washngton" segment on Lyndia Grant's "Think on These Things" radio show on WYCB-1340AM, MySpiritDC.com, Friday, 7/20/12, 6-6:30 pm :

Gray Gone by August 31?


Today President Obama said “is not a day for politics” as he canceled a campaign event in Florida in memorial to the victims of the Colorado movie shooting in which a deranged gunman took at least 12 lives. And, I’m sure I speak for you and your listeners by sending our prayers to the families and loved ones of all those involved. And, on another day, we will discuss the political pressure exerted by the National Rifle Association and other Second Amendment groups that allows America to be the only Western nation where an individual can literally become a one-man heavily-armed militia able to kill masses.

However, we would be remiss if we did not give a passing mention to a few political happenings this week which your listeners in the DMV (District, Maryland and Virginia) might want to pay attention to:

First off, DC Ministers, Rev. Willie Wilson and Rev. Grayland Hagler, staged a supporters’ rally in front of the Wilson Building this week to counter the cries for the Mayor Vincent Gray’s resignation. My sources tell me that DC Mayor Vincent Gray will be forced out of office by Aug. 31 by federal prosecutors, the city’s business stakeholders and the court of public opinion, that mainly being at the behest of the Washington Post which released a questionable poll this week. That poll contends that the majority of DC voters, including African Americans want Mayor Gray to resign, a majority said they would now vote for former Mayor Adrian Fenty, but that none of those named as possible mayoral contenders, which include DC Council members Jack Evans, Muriel Bowser and Tommy Wells catches the voters’ fancy either. The Aug. 31 ouster date is being circulated by speculators – and DC loves nothing more than a guessing game -- in order for the Board of Elections to organize yet another special election in the District this year, potentially the third one. However, As I said last week when a third member of Gray's 2010 campaign, public relations consultant Eugenia Harris plead guilty to campaign fraud for operating a $650,000 “shadow campaign,” Mr. Gray should not resign until he has either been charged and convicted of a crime, or the DC voters go through the legal political process to recall him.

Speaking of polls, which I will remind you are mere “snapshots” that take the voter’s temperature which can be like Washington’s unpredictable weather, the latest Quinnipiac poll of Virginia voters shows President Obama losing ground even after his campaign sweeps through this battleground state, and he is now even with Republican Mitt Romney, at 44 to 44 percent. The only good news here is that the president fares slightly better with Independents at 40-to 38 percent. Also, these numbers don’t seem to have any bearing on the upcoming US Senate between former governors Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican George Allen, according to last week’s poll results. Those contenders also seem to be neck-in-neck in this rematch that has been overshadowed by the oversaturation of presidential campaign adds.

In Maryland?

You’ve got to give some props to the Montgomery County Council which not only put PEPCO on the hot seat for its poor performance after massive power outages, but also put the PSC, the Public Service Commission literally on the firing line, calling on Gov. Martin O’Malley to replace them ALL, because the local offiicials charge they have not done their jobs of holding PEPCO to higher standards and punitive sanctions.

On the gambling front, some hope on the shores of National Harbor, it is still anyone’s bet if Gov. O'Malley will call a special session to placate Prince George’s leaders who want lucrative slots plus Las Vegas style gambling in their jurisdiction. This debate is setting the stage for the 2014 gubernatorial Democratic primary race pitting Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who supports the special session and gambling in his home base, against Comptroller Peter Franchot, who is against the special session because he contends that move sets up a tax break for the gaming industry.

That’s it for the DMV this week, but remember to check your voter registration status ASAP. And read my blog at awashingtonnote.blogspot.com

Join us on WYCB- 1340 AM on Fridays at 6 p.m.

"Let's Talk Politics":
Again, I know it's been awhile and I am testing a new post. In the last month, I have teamed up with motivational speaker Lyndia Grant who now has a show on WYCB-1340AM, MySpirtDC.com to contribute a brief segment, "Let's Talk Politics with Adrienne Washington." Her name;not mine. The show airs from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Fridays with my 5-minute segments airing around 6:20 p.m. Give us a listen.!
One of the main concerns I discuss is the new voter ID laws in a lot of states which some, such as the National Urban League and the NAACP contend are voter suppression tactics, pushed by Republicans, to thwart minority voters. US Attorney General Eric Holder has even called the voters ID laws a modern day form of "poll taxes," which were imposed during Reconstruction to deter black voters. In any case, I have been telling our WYCB listeners to make sure they check their voter registration status so they will not be surprised come time to cast their ballots in November. 

From the "Why I Teach" Files

OK, I asked and my student answered.

Question: What new skills or insights have you learned so far this semester?

Answer: "To be more relaxed when I write; to write a thesis, and
that not all English teachers are A-holes."

Yes, she actually turned it in.

Add this to another "Why I Teach" favorite: "Professor, you're giving us information overload!"

P.S. And speaking of information overload, while I'm at it: "Why don't we know these things?" "Why doesn't anybody tell us?" These are questions from an outraged student, an Eastern European immigrant, after I showed a documentary, "Out of Obsurity," about a little-known 1939 library "sit-in" when five young black men in Alexandria, Virginia protested their inability to get library cards and use the new "white" library that ALL Alexandria taxpapers funded, simply because of the color of their skin.
Remember, this outraged student is of the generation that was taught how to pass standardized tests; not any standard or useful content.

Spring Forward w/ "Special Seminary" Love

Wow! Can't believe it's been almost a year since I posted a comment. Got to spring forward! If this year has taught me anything, it's the value of friends, family and community. You just can't spend enough time with the folks you love. I'm not saying that just because I lost a dear friend, Lydia Lively, this year, but I've spent a great deal of time on a labor of love -- the fight to restore and preserver our precious Ft. Ward/Seminary African-American community in Alexandria, VA , encompasing the famous "Remember the Titans" T.C. Williams H.S. Here we can boast of 150 years of continuous struggle and survival despite all odds, including city leaders attempts to displace our founding families numerous times. The strong sense of community love, value and honor was experienced last Saturday at the "homegoing services" of one of "Seminary's" matriarch, Julia Adams Bradby. She was not only the mother of seven children but also the dean mother to Cub Scout Troop #138. Those who remain came out to pay their respect and were poignantly represented by Tommy Crewe's solo serenade, "How Great Thou Art." "Seminary is a special place," said Stanley Bradby Jr., in his tribute to his mom. Minister Alphonso "Butch" Terrell reminded us of how Mr. and Mrs. Bradby were "Seminary's Sweethearts" as they never missed their evening stroll walking hand-in-hand. You have to have grown up here to understand how well we "colored chil'ren" were nurtured and guided and protect in this self-suffiicient enclave, and how it shaped our lives well into adulthood. That "special" feeling that has forged our paths was palpable Saturday as we gathered and shared old stories and the repast staples of roast chicken, potatoes, green beans and rolls, ice tea and, of course, pound cake. It was raining hard and the tornado warning was live, but I couldn't have felt warmer or safer. Spring filled my steps and the air; maybe it was Mrs. Bradby's Easter pink suit and bonnet, worn as she lay in repose, that's the blooming cause. Sadly, few communities like Seminary exist today. The sense of family spirit and caring is what is desparately missing from the polarized America experience as most would rather pick a fight than pick a partner to stroll hand-in-hand for a common community good.

Timber Has Fallen: To Mourn but to Move Ahead

Yes, it's been awhile since my last post. But I could not let this day pass without noting the passing of a great woman, Dr. Dorothy I. Height, who grew to unthinkable heights in her 98 years of purposeful life.
Last week, Dr. Benjamin Hooks passed; this week, Dr. Height. Timber has fallen. Where is the reforestation? Who steps into these might shoes? While we mourn the passing of these tall trees, we must get busy and move ahead. President Barack Obama notwithstanding, we still have miles to go to The Promised Land before we sleep.