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Rick Santorum: 'Remarkable' That Obama Is Pro-Choice, Considering He's Black

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President Barack Obama's policies do not reflect his gratitude to the U.S. government for considering him human, and former Republican Senator Rick Santorum (pictured) has decided to put him in his place.

In an interview with CNS News on Thursday, the senator voiced his absolute disbelief that Obama would dare support a woman's right to choose abortion ... considering he's a black man:

"The question is, and this is what Barack Obama didn't want to answer - is that human life is a person under the constitution?" the social conservative said. "And Barack Obama says, 'No.' Well, if that human life is not a person, then I find it almost remarkable for a black man to say, 'Now we are going to decide who are people and who are not people.'"

It's amazing how racist people expose themselves when they attempt to be intelligent.


More than the obvious ignorance of his statement, the underlying condescending and prejudicial tone reveals Santorum's sense of superiority and blatant disregard for African-American life.

While there will continue to be contentious debates on the viability of life in the womb and when exactly it should be recognized, there has never been any reason other than bigotry to suggest that black people in America are less than human.

Let's combat fallacy with fact.

John P. Holdren, President Obama's advisor for Science and Technology, substantiates his pro-choice stance with the following statement:

"To a biologist, the question of when life begins for a human child is almost meaningless," Holdren argues. "To most biologists, an embryo (unborn child during the first two or three months of development) or a fetus is no more a complete human being than a blueprint is a building."

Many fetal neurologists assert that the fetal brain does not even develop until late in the third trimester, yet Santorum wants to equivocate terminating the products of conception with the murder and dehumanizing of black people in America?

Furthermore, if one is to delve in to Santorum's voting record and documented philosophies, his self-righteous pro-life stance is astoundingly hypocritical:

This is man who said to Catholic Online in 2002, that the "cultural liberalism" prevalent in Boston made pedophilic priests victims of their environment.

This is a man who lobbied for Robinson Township's Ronald Reagan Atrium I nursing home to remain open after failing federal inspections. The Atrium's nursing home operator was later convicted of fraud, after patients' families testified that subpar care led to the senior citizens facing broken bones, dehydration and sitting in their own fecal matter.

Santorum also proposed a $250,000 cap for victims of medical malpractice, even though his wife sought substantially more than that after alleging that her chiropractor treated her negligently.

He has voted against an increase in college financial assistance, expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation and health care coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

Yet, he voted yes on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers, yes on loosening license and background checks at gun shows, yes on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors and yes on maintaining a law that allowed guns to be sold without trigger locks.

This delusional man has absolutely no concept of what "pro-life" actually means.

His Republican Party is attempting to eliminate every single public policy that financially assists those historically marginalized in this country, yet he pretends to care about life?

In his speech to the 2009 graduating class of Notre Dame, President Obama made his stance on abortion crystal clear:

"...let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term. Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women."

This stands in stark contrast to Santorum, who in his 2005 book, "It Takes a Family," concludes that "privacy," "neutrality" and "free expression" are not terms found in the Constitution, but instead are pure "philosophical abstractions."

While abortion is a potentially painful choice, it should always be a private one. The internal battles a woman faces when making the decision oftentime haunt her for the rest of her life.

In this desolate society, choosing abortion does not always mean that a woman does not love her unborn child, but it can easily be a testament of just how much she does. We must learn that our personal code of ethics, no matter how honorable, or in Satorum's case, hypocritical, should not dictate national policy.

A woman's body in the United States of America, cannot, and should not, be legislated.

Even a black man knows that.

Watch Rick Santorum talk his foolishness here:




 

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Rape Used as Political Weapon in Ivory Coast

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Rape Being Used as a Political Weapon Across Ivory Coast


The United Nations is reporting that rape and sexual torture is spreading across Ivory Coast as the nation teeters on the brink of a civil war over a disputed presidential election.

A local U.N. human rights representative said that 23 women were raped in just the last week in the western part of the country. Ethnic and political tensions are blamed for the sex attacks which have caused thousands of people to flee across the border to Liberia because of the November 28 election.

Though promising to respect the election results, President Laurent Gbagbo has refused to leave office even though every credible domestic and international election observing organization has said he lost fair and square to rival Alassane Ouattara.





It's not surprising that security forces tied to Gbagbo have been accused in the sexual torture attacks on a Ouattara supporter after raiding his party headquarters two weeks ago.


The U.N. report said a young male Ouattara supporter was sodomized by eight members of the national police.

Gbagbo has denied the accusations -- as if he can be trusted.

Is there any more evidence needed for the world to step in and force Gbagbo from office?

People have been getting shot and killed. Now men and women are getting raped. All because a tyrant can't give up his grip on power.

The country officials are currently under an international travel ban but it is clearly time for African nations to join the U.N. to help clean up the mess in Ivory Coast.

The West African group of countries called ECOWAS is making noises about forcibly removing Gbagbo from office but hasn't moved beyond that.

How much longer will the world sit by and watch Ivory Coast, once the jewel of the continent, fall into disrepair?




 

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Eddie Murphy's Daughter, Bria, the New Face of Dark and Lovely

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Actress Nia Long recently passed the torch as Dark and Lovely spokeswoman to Eddie Murphy's daughter, Bria Murphy. Long was on hand Tuesday for the 21-year-old Murphy's launch party at the Juliet Supper Club in New York. Murphy's family members, including her dad, sister, Shayne, dad and ex-model mom, Nicole Mitchell, also were in attendance.

"I am so proud to be part of a brand that celebrates the diversity of African American women and inspires them to be self-confident, glamorous and fun," says Murphy, adding that she grew up using Dark and Lovely products. She will be the face of the brand's latest product innovation, Dark and Lovely Healthy -Gloss 5 System, a relaxer product promising to preserve hair's overall health.

Look to see the actress and model promoting the product via upcoming television and print campaigns as well as participating in social media programs and hosting Dark and Lovely consumer events.

"Not only is she beautiful, she truly exemplifies the character of the Dark and Lovely brand and will inspire an entire new generation of Dark and Lovely women throughout the world," dotes Angela Guy, general manager and senior vice president of SoftSheen-Carson, owner of Dark and Lovely.

It seems like yesterday when the elder Murphys introduced the young stunner to the world. Since then she's made a special appearance on 'America's Next Top Model' and was the female lead in rapper Gucci Mane and singer Usher's 'Spotlight' video.

Check out a video of how Murphy becomes a Dark and Lovely girl:

 

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FULL CIRCLE: Jennifer Hudson Plays Godmother At Disney Dream Ship Christening

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Jennifer Hudson was on deck -- literally -- when the new Disney Dream ship officially became a part of the Disney Cruise Line family on Jan. 19. The Academy Award and Grammy Award winning powerhouse took on the title of the ship's "Godmother" and joined Disney CEO Bob Iger and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs at the official christening ceremony in Port Canaveral Florida.

Hudson, who is known for her scene-stealing role in the movie remake of 'Dreamgirls' and her show-stopping performance on 'American Idol,' was a perfect choice for the job; the ubiquitious Weight Watchers spokeswoman could be the only celebrity who honed their craft on an actual Disney cruise ship. Prior to winning audiences over on 'Idol,' the Chicago native worked as a performer on the Disney Wonder ship in 2003.

An estimated 3,000 people were gathered at the Disney Dream for the christening ceremony where a helicopter hoisted a 16-foot "champagne bottle" across the bow of the Disney Dream (video below).





 

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Dawn Olivieri Cast As Don Cheadle's Ex-Wife On New Showtime Series, 'House Of Lies'

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Dawn Olivieri, who last appeared as "Janice Herveaux" on the hit HBO series 'True Blood,' as landed the lead role opposite Academy Award-nominated nominated actor Don Cheadle in the Showtime comedy pilot 'House of Lies,' states Deadline.com .

Written by Matthew Carnahan based on the book by Martin Kihn, the show centers on Marty (played by Cheadle), a self-loathing highly successful management consultant from a top-tier firm who is never above using any means (or anyone) necessary to get his clients the information they want.

Olivieri will play Monica, Marty's crazy, pill-popping ex-wife and biggest professional competition as her consulting firm is No.1 compared to Marty's No. 2.

In 2009, the former model landed the role of "Lydia" on season four of the award-winning, NBC series 'Heroes,' and other television projects such as CBS's 'How I Met Your Mother,' 'Cold Case,' HBO's 'Entourage.'

Coming up next for Cheadle is a role opposite Brendan Gleeson in 'The Guard,' which will premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

'House of Lies' is slated to go into production in February.

 

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Attention Birthers: Hawaii Gov. Says President Obama's Birth Certificate 'In Archives'

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Officials in Hawaii have tracked down papers indicating that President Obama was indeed born in their state, according to its new governor.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who took office in December, told Honolulu's Star-Advertiser on Tuesday that "our investigation" indicates there is a recording of his birth.

"It actually exists in the archives, written down," he said.

The new Democratic head of the state vowed when he took office that he would do his best to end the debate over Obama's birth, which began in 2008 during the presidential campaign.

"We'll do what we can as quickly as we can to make it inevitable that only those who wish the President ill, only the ones with a political agenda, will be the ones doing this kind of thing," Abercrombie told CNN in December. "The President is entitled to the respect of his office and he's entitled to have his mother and father respected."

During that interview, Abercrombie said his goal to combat birthers was a personal one.

"It's a matter of principle with me," the 72-year-old said. "I knew his mom and dad. I was here when he was born. Anybody who wants to ask a question honestly could have had their answer already."

However, the conspiracy theories still thrive, and according to Abercrombie, likely will continue despite whatever evidence that shows him to be a proper U.S. citizen.

"You're not going to convince those people because they have a political agenda, or they have minds that go in that kind of direction," he told CNN.

Source: NY Daily News



Kevin Eason is a freelance editorial cartoonist and Illustrator from New Jersey. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Follow him on Facebook.

 

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Gabrielle Giffords Shooting Suspect Arraigned, Charged

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A federal grand jury has issued the first in a set of charges in the indictment of Jared Loughner, the man accused of attempting to assassinate U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Loughner is accused of shooting Giffords in a rampage that left six people dead and injured 13 during a January 8 visit at a grocery store. Loughner has thus far been charged with an attempted assassination of Giffords, along with attempted murder of her two aides, Ron Barber and Pam Simon. He has also been charged with two counts of first degree murder in the death U.S. District Judge John M. Roll and one of Giffords' aides. More charges are expected to be released soon.

U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke mentioned that the three charges are just the beginning of legal action against Loughner.

"This case also involves potential death-penalty charges, and Department [of Justice] rules require us to pursue a deliberate and thorough process," said Burke in a public statement.

Authorities are claiming that Loughner plotted the assassination several weeks in advance. Critics are stating that harsh language being used in the political environment in Washington DC contributed to the shooting itself. Even the Sheriff of Pima County, Clarence Dupnik, went out of his way to cite bigotry as part of the reason that Loughner shot Giffords.

Loughner purchased a 9-millimeter Glock pistol at a Tucson Sportsman's Warehouse five weeks before the shooting. Investigators also found two pieces of evidence when searching Loughner's home: a letter from Giffords thanking Loughner for attending one of her events in August 2007 and an envelope with the words "I planned ahead," "My assassination" and the name "Giffords" on it.

Authorities claim that Loughner fired 31 bullets and hit 20 people. He was tackled when he stopped to reload. The Giffords shooting has sent off alarm bells for politicians all across America and has also led the public to ask if the political environment has become too hostile. There is also evidence that Loughner showed signs of mental illness in his past, leading to a public debate regarding how to respond when someone reveals the potential for serious aggression.

Another interesting thing about the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords is that one has to wonder if there is going to be a meaningful debate on gun control after this tragedy has subsided. The African American community is disproportionately affected by gun violence, with much of this violence being committed using guns that have been bought and sold illegally. Even since the death of Giffords, black people around the country have been killed by guns that have been bought illegally and it's time to start becoming serious about gun control instead of allowing the profitability of gun manufacturers to trump the value of human life. If this incident doesn't wake us up, then almost nothing will.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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Michael Steele: Republicans Need "a Few More Brothers in the House"

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Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has continued to be outspoken in the name of the Republican Party. On a recent appearance on MSNBC, Steele went out of his way to note that he feels that he's helped to increase diversity within the ranks of the Republicans.

"What I tried to do [as chairman] was to broaden the landscape over which we could play, go into neighborhoods where we needed to be in, but hadn't been in generations, and I think it made a difference," he said. "I'm very happy with what we got done."

Matthews noted that he rarely sees African Americans gathering together at Republican conventions, and Steele responded by saying, "We could have used a few more brothers in the house, there's no doubt about that."

Steele was not reelected as the chairman of the RNC this week, being replaced by Reince Priebus after seven rounds of balloting. Steele believes that his fellow Republicans will work with President Obama if he leaves the door open to do so. "I really believe they will run with him on certain issues," Steele said.

While some might see Michael Steele to be a puppet of the Republican Party, I don't quite see it that way. Steele represents a growing number of African American conservatives around the nation who've become disgruntled by the fact that the Democratic Party has long taken African Americans for granted. He also realizes that being a Republican does not take away his "Brother Card," given that black people come in all shapes and ideologies.

One of the things that Michael Steele has in common with President Obama is that both of them are black men in leadership positions who've been attacked and chastised by members of both parties, especially the Right Wing. Obama has taken a public lashing that is virtually unprecedented in American politics and many have attributed this excessive hatred to America's latent racial hostility. Steele has been heavily criticized by his colleagues and portrayed as a free-spending, incompetent buffoon who tends to say the wrong things in public. It is probably more than a coincidence that both of these men just happen to be black and it is also not a coincidence that they were both appointed at the same time. When Michael Steele appeared to be a sufficiently adequate "Anti-Barack," the Republicans were happy to have him. When they no longer needed a black man to try to prove they weren't racist, they booted Steele right out of his post.

The Republican Party has missed several opportunities to bring African Americans into the fold. The truth is that the black community is very conservative, particularly on issues such as abortion, gay rights, the separation of church and state and other things that Republicans hold near and dear. The problem is that the Republicans continue to cater to the very worst in the American people by allowing themselves to be guided by racist ideals disguised as conservative value systems. If the Republicans could gain a greater degree of understanding on issues such as affirmative action and social programs for the poor, they could attract quite a few more African American constituents (sorry, but I won't be one of them). But their determination to brand themselves as the party of the rich, white, male and powerful continues to serve as a liability. I don't like Michael Steele very much and I don't agree with him politically, but I like the fact that he is trying to civilize his overzealous Republican colleagues. That's a good thing.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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Clint Eastwood To Do Direct Beyonce In 4th Version Of 'A Star Is Born'

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After months of rumors and talks of remaking 'A Star is Born' with Grammy winner Beyonce as one of the lead stars, there's finally a solid name that could make the film come to fruition.

Deadline.com is reporting that Oscar winning director Clint Eastwood is on board to helm and co-produce the film, with a script by Will Fetters.

The story about a an famed aging, alcoholic musician who mentors/is schooled by and then finds romance with a younger female star was first done in 1937 with Janet Gaynor and Fredric March. Judy Garland and James Mason starred in the 1954 remake, and Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson were in the 1976 version.

Billy Gerber and Jon Peters, who directed the third version, will serve as the other producers.

There was speculation in early 2010, through the LA Times, that Russell Crowe was once attached to the vehicle, although no male lead has been given the green light at this point.

Shopped around studios for years, many names were tossed around, including a Will Smith/Jennifer Lopez pairing, but nothing was set in stone.

Beyonce has proven that she could be a leading star and bring in audiences, having done so with her last film, 'Obsessed,' which opened at #1 at the box office in 2009 with a take of $28 million despite terrible reviews.

The question many will wonder is whether this new version's male lead will be Black or White?

 

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Republicans Seeking to Cut Legal Aid for the Poor

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In a set of spending cuts proposed by the Republican Study Committee, legal aid programs that help women in distress are among the items on the chopping block. According to their website, the Republican Study Committee is "a group of over 165 House Republicans organized for the purpose of advancing a conservative social and economic agenda in the House of Representatives." They plan to keep spending at 2006 levels, cut some programs and get rid of some programs altogether.

One eye-popping development is that the RSC is seeking to significantly cut the funding for the Legal Services Corporation, an organization that offers civil legal support to those with incomes below 125 percent of the poverty line. By cutting services, the RSC estimates that they can save $420 million. This would cause the constituency of the Legal Services Corporation, consisting mostly of women, to look elsewhere for support on domestic violence cases, child custody cases and eviction problems.

LSC is listed as America's largest provider of civil legal support for the poor. Started in 1974, the group distributes 95 percent of its funding to 136 nonprofit legal aid programs across the country. LSC also closes nearly one million cases per year and helps five million Americans. By eliminating such a program in its entirety, Republicans would only be serving to destroy millions of families and the futures of countless children. It would seem that cutting a program that helps families would be highly inconsistent with the Republican claim to support family values. Perhaps families only matter when they are rich.

The broader Republican push to slice programs that provide support to the poor is not surprising. These efforts are in line with their work last month to cut unemployment benefits at Christmas in exchange for tax cuts for the wealthy. It's interesting to see that the Republicans appear to be concerned about the deficit when it comes to cutting resources to struggling Americans, but they become fiscally flamboyant when it's time to give tax cuts to the wealthy.

Inequality in our justice system is a serious and growing problem in America, and it has a significant impact on the black community. The price of high paid attorneys is typically too much to afford for quite a few American families, leading to the mass incarceration problem that has served to destroy urban America. Programs such as the Legal Services Corporation deserve our support, along with groups like the ACLU, the Sentencing Project and many others that work to level the playing field. But Republicans aren't so keen on making playing fields level, and that is incredibly unfortunate.


Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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President Obama to Kick Off Re-Election Campaign

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President Obama to Kick Off Re-Election Campaign

Time sure does fly. After a little more than two years in office, and enough political battles to last a lifetime, President Barack Obama is slated to kick off his re-election campaign in March by filing papers with the Federal Election Commission.

With the president's approval rating inching higher, after his well-crafted call for this nation to end the dangerous and hurtful political rhetoric, the president is positioning to become only the second Democrat since Franklin Delano Roosevelt to be elected to second term. Former President Bill Clinton was the first.

To prepare for the effort, the president will close his political affairs office at the White House and open up shop outside of Chicago with several White House staffers shifting back in to campaign mode. The moves will allow him to raise money and avoid controversy.

The New York Times writes:

The personnel moves, which were confirmed in interviews this week, represent the latest step in a major reorganization of the Obama administration. The accelerated pace of the re-election bid, particularly with no sign of any Democratic primary opponent, highlights the challenges facing Mr. Obama as he can no longer present himself as a Washington outsider. The headquarters in Chicago is intended to help connect him with Americans across the country at a time when he is also fighting Republican efforts to portray him as too liberal for the electorate.

The Times also notes that neither Presidents George W. Bush or Clinton closed their political affairs office but that Obama is doing so to "reduce the likelihood that it will become a target of an investigation by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee."

That is a clear signal that this will be an ugly campaign for a few reasons.




Obama and his aides are going to have to work around a Republican-controlled House who are looking to throw any obstacle they can in the president's path to re-election.

Overblown investigations into nonsense allegations of wrongdoing can cost the president and the Democratic National Committee valuable time and money. Every moment the president spends warding off some possible bogus investigation will take away from his campaign to show the ways in which he has improved the country.

In addition, Republicans seem to not have learned any lessons from the assassination attempt against Arizona U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Just a few weeks after the awful attack against Giffords, Republicans returned to the same overheated, hateful arguments in an effort to repeal the health care reform law.

Republicans on the House floor could be heard talking about how the country is moving toward socialism and how the government is reaching its hands in to the lives of everyday citizens. That is the type of overhyped rhetoric that can stir the mental illness of the next crazed person with a gun who wants to make a name for himself.

Finally, the novelty of working to elect the first black president is gone. All of the people that signed on to support Obama, because they were excited to help make a major first occur in this country may not be as excited this time.

Nevertheless, President Obama has the accomplishments so far to make a strong case for his re-election. Despite the Republican rhetoric, millions of Americans are already benefiting from health care reform, according to those in the health field.

President Obama inherited a country on the verge of economic collapse and has pushed it back from the brink in a slow, uphill battle.

And as Obama demonstrated with his Arizona speech, he still has the ability to rally the country at any time with his amazing oratory skills. These days, we need more inspiration and less division based off of untruthful, illogical rhetoric.



 

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Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight: A 'Frugalista' Teaches the Art of Fabulous Frugal Living & Budgeting

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Natalie P. McNeal is onto something. Under the name "The Frugalista," she has come up with a set of concepts that allow us to balance our need to save with our desire to enjoy life -- thus mastering the art of frugal living. Black people, on average, tend to be first-class consumers, second-class savers and third-class investors, leading many of us to a life on the edge of financial ruin. Even those of us who have high incomes can end up with debt up to our eyeballs and bills that we can barely afford to pay, if we don't make enjoyable frugal living a priority. So, when unemployment or financial crisis hits our households, we are the first to be bankrupt or in foreclosure.

The Frugalista lays out her own experience with debt and how she found a way to save money without forcing herself to live a Spartan life. She transformed frugal living into "balling on a budget." She teaches that saving money should not be the only important thing in your life, but that financial responsibility can be a key to having a better life experience. It is for that reason that Natalie P. Mcneal is today's Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight on AOL Black Voices:

What is your full name and what do you do?
I am Natalie P. McNeal, but I jokingly say my superpower name is Frugalista. I am a first-time author of 'The Frugalista Files: How One Woman Got Out of Debt Without Giving Up the Fabulous Life.' It's the first personal finance book that Harlequin has published in its more than 60-year history. No pressure. Oh yes, I am the creator of the blog, thefrugalista.com, too.

What is the story behind your blog and the concept of the Frugalista?
I started "Frugalista" blogging after being more than $20,000 in debt, and realizing that I didn't have a real plan to get rid of it other than "I want to pay it down." I had a car note, student loan and credit card debt.

After being fed up with the lingering debt, I created the blog to chronicle going on a No-Buy Month. I went a month without getting my hair and nails professionally done. I didn't dine out. I didn't even get my car washed. I cooked at home. I saved almost $400 and I loved how my bank account looked that month. I was so used to my checking account balance dwindling every day. During the No-Buy Month, my account stabilized. From then on, I decided to pamper my finances, stop being a promiscuous spender and to find ways to have fun for low or no cost. I did all three! A Frugalista is a person who lives within her means and saves money, but still looks good, eats well and lives fabulously.


After adopting the Frugalista lifestyle, I became debt free in little more than two years.

What is your background?
My background is journalism. I am a Howard University graduate and I majored in news editorial. I used to work in newspapers, covering local news. I always wanted to be a business reporter, though.

The movie 'Good Hair' implied that black women sometimes put themselves in financial jeopardy by trying to look good. What are some ways that women can find a balance between staying fly and staying solvent?

Well, sisters, love a great head of hair. There is nothing wrong with that. However, if it's draining your bank account, it's probably not worth it.

To save money on their hair, women can try to wean themselves off going to the hair salon so frequently. For instance, if you go every week to the salon, try going every two weeks instead. That's cutting the money you spend on your hair in half. Over time, you will probably realize that your hair still looks pretty good and will feel more confident to stretch the time between professional salon visits longer.

Or, it may be worth it to invest in a $100 flat iron and high quality shampoo and conditioner so you can style your hair at home instead of getting your hair done professionally.

Also, some natural products such as olive oil may work as a conditioner on your hair. If you have gray hair and your roots are just starting to show, you may want to try a "color your gray" stick for touch ups before rushing to get a professional coloring job. It's about five dollars.

If you wear a weave, it might be better for you to spend the extra money for high quality hair that you can reuse for up to a year, instead of always buying new tracks from the beauty supply.

How can people find out more about you? What are your plans for the future?
My book, 'The Frugalista Files: How One Woman Got Out of Debt Without Giving Up the Fabulous Life' has a lot of details about me as well as money saving tips, so it's a good place to start. Also, my blog, thefrugalista.com and my Twitter feed, twitter.com/frugalista are great ways to learn about me in real time.

I plan on continuing to spread the frugal and fabulous gospel and being a social media addict. It fascinates me. I also want to think of new things to do with Frugalista. The book is just the beginning.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with our AOL Black Voices audience?
I am doing another No-Buy Month in February. I'd love it if the readers would join me! I just want everyone to know that you can have fun and be frugal. There are a lot of happy hours, free music concerts and other ways to have fun without burning up your bank account. The recession hit our community pretty hard, so it's important that we try to hold onto our cash for as long as we can.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the bookBlack American Money To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. To suggest a subject for a Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight, please click here.

 

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Check Out New 'Scream 4' Trailer With Anthony Anderson

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Dimension Films released a new trailer for 'Scream 4,' which is directed by Wes Craven and based on a script by Kevin Williamson.

Starring in the film are Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Marielle Jaffe, Rory Culkin, Nico Tortorella, Erik Knudsen, Marley Shelton, Anthony Anderson, Adam Brody, Alison Brie, Mary McDonnell, Anna Paquin, Kristen Bell and Brittany Roberts.

In the film, Sidney Prescott (Campbell), now the author of a self-help book, returns home to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. There she reconnects with Sheriff Dewey (Arquette) and Gale (Cox), who are now married, as well as her cousin Jill (Emma Roberts) and Aunt Kate (McDonnell). Unfortunately, Sidney's appearance also brings about the return of Ghostface, putting her, her friends and the whole town of Woodsboro in danger.

 

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Best Celeb Hair: Michelle Goes Curly, Yaya Adds Volume, and More

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Golden Globes and BET Honors week brought a lot of chic updos to the celebrity hair front this week, and we loved it! Yet when celebs decided to let it all loose, we loved it even more - especially Michelle Obama's sassy new look. Here are the top 6 hairstyles of the week.
Michelle Obama teamed up with Walmart to speak about food availability and affordability within the chain's locations, but that's not what we noticed - it was her cute new curly 'do that captured our attention! The First Lady traded in her usual straight bob for cute curls that make her look chic and youthful.

At the 4th Annual BET Honors, actress Gabrielle Union diverts from her usual lengthy do and gathers her curls for a well-planned messy updo.

We don't know how she did it - actually, yes we do; she's a supermodel - but Iman managed to turn Dracula's classic hairdo an ultra-chic, mega-glam modern style.

Actress and 'Top Model' runner-up Yaya DaCosta goes big at a Golden Globes party, rocking tight curls with crazy volume - a great compliment to her shiny party dress.

'Access Hollywood' co-anchor and correspondent Shaun Robinson shined at this year's Golden Globes in a shimmering, full-length, one-shoulder gown and a classic updo reminiscent of old-time belles.

Jennifer Lopez' new side-swept 'do has been everywhere recently, from here at the Fox Golden Globes after party to 'American Idol.' We're wondering why she didn't come up with it sooner - it's hot!

 

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Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright Join Tom Hanks in 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'

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Viola Davis and Jeffrey Wright have joined Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock in the cast of Stephen Daldry's 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,' states The Daily Mail.

Based on the Jonathan Safran Foer novel, the story follows multitalented 9-year-old Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) whose father died in the 9/11 attacks. Given a mysterious key by his father before he died, Oskar now wanders New York City in search of the lock it will open.

Scott Rudin will produce the film, with Eric Roth ('The Curious Case of Benjamin Button') adapting the script from Foer's 2005 book.

Davis, who was recently in 'Eat Pray Love' with Julia Roberts and received an Oscar nomination for her role opposite Meryl Streep in 'Doubt,' was awarded the 2010 Tony Award for best actress in a drama for her role opposite Denzel Washington in August Wilson's stage play 'Fences.'

She will later be seen in the film version of Kathryn Stockett's No. 1 New York Times best-selling novel 'The Help,' with Emma Stone, Cicely Tyson and Octavia Spencer.

Wright, who will next be seen opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in Duncan Jones' 'Source Code,' is currently on stage in New York City opposite Mos Def in George C. Wolfe's 'A Free Man of Color.'

 

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Frederick Jermaine Carter: Was This a Suicide or a Lynching?

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The black community in Greenwood, Miss., is on edge and angry after the death of Frederick Jermaine Carter (pictured) who was 26 years old and found hanging from a tree in what authorities have labeled to be a suicide.

The community, though, isn't buying the police's story and claims that he was actually murdered.

The Final Call is reporting on the death of Carter, and even Michael Pimbleton Jr., the mayor of Sunflower, Miss., said there is more going on than meets the eye:

"This is 2010 and we still have black people hanging from trees? They're saying he hung himself, but I have doubt in my mind that he actually did that. That wasn't his character. This wasn't a suicide, this was a homicide," Mayor Pembleton said to The Final Call.


Carter was found on December 3, with his body hanging from an oak tree in North Greenwood, which is a predominantly white section of Leflore County. He actually lived in nearby Sunflower County, and North Greenwood is known as an area that black people are sometimes afraid to visit. Carter was with his stepfather, who said that he wandered off from an area in which they were both working.

County Sheriff Ricky Banks told the media that a mental condition led to Carter drifting off and hanging himself. He also said that there is no evidence that there was a crime committed, but the community is outraged that the location of Carter's death was never taped off as a crime scene and they also believe that the investigation was inadequate.

"Because there has been no investigation on the part of the local officials in to this as a crime, we're calling on the federal government to conduct an independent investigation. We want the U.S. Justice Department to look in to this," attorney Valerie Hicks Powe said to The Final Call.

Greenwood has a history of aggressive behavior toward African Americans.

Just 10 miles north of the town is where Emmett Till was murdered in 1955. Till's alleged killers were acquitted of the crime, even though the boy was shot in the head and had his eyes gouged out. Till's attackers were angry that he'd allegedly whistled at a white woman.

Mississippi is a state that stubbornly hangs on to its racist roots, with the state's governor, Haley Barbour, tossing some of the nastiest, most unprofessional and aggressive insults at President Barack Obama.


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Carter's family denies that he has a mental problem. They also want an independent autopsy and outside investigation. State Senator David Jordan has offered to help the family, claiming that he doesn't buy the story being presented by authorities either:

"There are a lot of unanswered questions. He reportedly had rope in his pocket but didn't have anything to cut it with? Why wasn't the scene of the crime blocked off? That tree limb is nearly 12 feet high. I'm 6'2" and I can't see how I could maneuver to do that, so how could a boy his height hang himself like that?" said Jordan.

The mysterious death of Frederick Jermaine Carter shows all the classic signs of significant injustice.

Given the history of Mississippi as it pertains to African Americans in the justice system (both as victims and perpetrators), it is quite conceivable that authorities are misleading the public. Small town justice can be fickle, particularly in the South.

I wouldn't be surprised if officers were covering for a family member of a prominent city official or somehow felt that their activities would escape the scrutiny of the broader American public. When we were involved with the case of Heather Ellis, the college student who was nearly sentenced to 15 years in prison after cutting a line at Wal-Mart, I received an enlightening education on how justice is delivered to African Americans in tiny, historically racist towns.

While it is not a foregone conclusion that local authorities are engaged in a cover up, it is abundantly clear that they did not conduct an investigation that is thorough enough to satisfy Carter's family.

Given the lack of credibility of the Mississippi justice system and the questionable nature of this crime, it is fully expected that outside officials engage in further analysis of what happened to this young man. If Carter really did commit suicide, then the sheriff has no reason to be concerned, so he should be the first to support further probing.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

 

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New Pics of John Singleton's 'Abduction' With Taylor Lautner

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Lionsgate has released some new images of John Singleton's 'Abduction,' starring Taylor Lautner of 'Twilight.'

The film is a thriller that focuses on a young guy (Lautner) who discovers that the parents who raised him aren't his real folks, a revelation that triggers events and leaves him running for his life.

Also starring in the film are Lily Collins, Sigourney Weaver, Alfred Molina, Denzel Whitaker, Maria Bello, Jason Isaacs and Antonique Smith.

Collins, who's Phil Collins' daughter, plays Lautner's romantic interest in the film.

Smith plays the role of CIA agent Sandra Burns, loyal partner of Frank Burton (Molina), who is out to protect Lautner as he gets closer to the truth. Whitaker plays Lautner's best friend Gilly.

The film will in theaters Sept. 23, 2011.



 

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Republican's Childish Opposition to President Obama's Health Care Reform

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Get over your bad selves.

That's basically what former Senate Republican leader Bill Frist told his GOP compadres this week as they set about trying to dismantle the national health care reform law.

"It is not the bill that I would have drafted," he said during an appearance at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington. "But it is the law of the land and it is the platform, the fundamental platform, upon which all future efforts to make that system better, for that patient, for that family, will be based."

Frist's high-minded approach to health care reform stood in stark contrast to Republican members of the House of Representatives, who voted unanimously Wednesday to repeal the reform law and replace it with ... what?

That's still unclear, even though it's been 10 months since President Obama signed the legislation into law, and even though Republican candidates campaigned for much of last year on ending "Obamacare."

The repeal bill will now likely perish in the Democratic-controlled Senate, and in any case would almost certainly face a presidential veto if it miraculously made it that far. But House Republicans say they'll still obstruct the health care law by blocking funds to implement its provisions.

It's hard not to think of a bunch of spoiled children throwing a tantrum because they didn't get their way.

The health care reform law, while imperfect, is a done deal. The prudent thing to do at this point is to build on it rather than waste time with fruitless - and needlessly divisive - political grandstanding.

And the Republicans have outdone themselves for misinforming the American people about what the reform law will and will not do.

Conservatives might have ideological differences with some aspects of the reform law. Those differences should be respected.

But House Republicans have no business attempting to undermine a law just because they disagree with parts of it. It's as if Southern lawmakers had tried to block or repeal the Civil Rights Act after it became law in 1964.

They didn't because they had the maturity to accept the new status quo and move on. Today's Republicans should take a lesson from them.

As Frist said, health care reform is the law of the land. Deal with it. Work with it.

Grow up already.

Source: LA Times



Kevin Eason is a freelance editorial cartoonist and illustrator from New Jersey. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Follow him on Facebook.

 

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Bernice King Deserts the SCLC

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Bernice King Deserts the SCLC


Maybe Bernice King finally saw that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, founded by her father Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. more than 50 years ago, had truly outlived its usefulness.

Or perhaps she found the cast of characters surrounding the SCLC a bit lacking in their ability to help her breathe new life into the civil rights group.


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Either way, King came to her senses and announced that she would not take over the leadership of the SCLC, even though she promised to run the group after being elected
to the post two years ago.


Part of me can't blame King for her decision.

For years, the Atlanta-based civil rights group has been making more news for its embarrassing internal legal squabbling than for advancing the rights of black people.

But even if all the SCLC leaders were on the same page, it's hard to see where the group could offer any help in advancing the complex civil rights agenda of black America.

Add to the mix that the SCLC finances are in shambles.

Talk about mission impossible?

It's surprising it took this look for the light bulb to go on in King's head that rescuing the SCLC was not in the cards.

The NAACP, a far larger and better-funded civil rights group, has trouble remaining relevant with everyday black folks these days with the ever-changing priorities of black America.

So was it ever realistic to expect the SCLC to successfully tackle this task?

The problem with King's decision is that it comes after she spent nearly two years raising the hopes of the few SCLC supporters that she could revitalize the moribund organization.

Just this August, King led a prayer rally to bring an end to the wrangling within the SCLC.

For those misguided yet true believers in the future of the SCLC, it is a shame that Bernice King deserted them.

 



 

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How the Tea Party Rebellion Could Disproportionately Hurt Blacks

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Tea Party and African Americans

With with Dow pushing 12,000 and unemployment down to 9.4 percent, it's fair to say the economy is finally pointing in the right direction. Still, with black unemployment on the verge of a 25-year high, I don't think anyone's breakin' out the bubbly just yet. The reality is that the current economic depression is hitting us worse than anyone else, and the recovery is passing us by.

As the new Republican-majority House settles in, the political crosshairs are now fixed on cutting non-military spending in the name of deficit reduction. Programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are likely to experience some level of belt-tightening cuts, and public sector jobs are likely to be eliminated. An unintended consequence of this drive to chip away at governmental austerity is that black people will likely suffer more than anyone else (as usual):

Whenever governments cut spending, the pain is uneven. But African Americans are especially vulnerable, as a disproportionately high number rely on government dollars for crucial services, a new study has found. As black people are more dependent than white people on public safety nets, and are more likely to be on public payrolls, governmental austerity could wound the black community especially severely.

In the wake of the worst economic downturn since the Depression, local, state and federal governments have contended with often massive budget deficits. As officials cut spending to compensate for diminished revenue, society's most vulnerable members are losing essential services. In a political climate where austerity is considered a virtue, and where "belt-tightening" is seen as necessary for re-energizing the economy, many black Americans could see their lives upended.


Nearly 60 percent of older black people rely on Social Security for more than 80 percent of their income, according to the study, released Friday by the Boston-based nonprofit United for a Fair Economy. That's compared to 46 percent of older white Americans.


The safety net is not all that's at stake. African Americans are 30 percent more likely than the overall workforce to hold public sector jobs -- and 70 percent more likely to work for the federal government, the study found.

Budget austerity would come at a time when unemployment among African Americans has reached epidemic proportions. Last month, the national unemployment rate was 9.4 percent, and the white unemployment rate was 8.5 percent. For black Americans, it was 15.8 percent.

As plunging home prices have ravaged household wealth, the effects have been particularly painful in black communities. Neighborhoods with a disproportionately high concentration of African Americans have experienced a dramatically higher rate of foreclosure, according to a study released in October. At a time when the national foreclosure rate was 4.14 percent, in black communities that rate increased by 1.68 percentage points.


One thing that's always perplexed me is how military spending is never a consideration when it comes time to cutting costs, but programs like the ones mentioned above -- which aren't as much of a financial drain -- are always fair game. What's the point in protecting the country when its citizens are already vulnerable for reasons that have nothing to do with terrorists or IEDs?

Maybe this country needs to re-examine its definition of Homeland Security.

 

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