Former USDA official Shirley Sherrod claims she was abruptly fired by the Obama administration because the White House feared Glenn Beck would target her in a segment on his show. (Which he did anyway, of course.) Ben Jealous, NAACP president, claims that he was “snookered” by “the right” into misrepresenting, exploiting and demonizing Sherrod. The way the Obama administration and the NAACP bungled the case of Shirley Sherrod should disturb and alarm everyone concerned with fairness, courage and racial honesty.

Denied due process, Shirley Sherrod was misrepresented, exploited, demonized …

Blond, white and beaming, Tareq And Michaele Salahi breezed into the first White House State Dinner of the Obama presidency. The Salahis hadn’t made it onto on any guest lists, hadn’t gone through any of the usual background checks beforehand and apparently didn’t even pretend to have done these things. Instead, they were just smiley, dressed “appropriately” for the festive occasion and walked right in.
When I heard “White House party crashers” story for the first time, I wondered two things:
1. What if the Salahis are terrorists and have …

Everyday should be Veterans Day. Everyday we should give what we can to organizations that support our troops and their families. November 11th shouldn’t be the only day to thank members of our military for their service to our country. I take this tiny obligation very seriously, all the time. By and large Vets I encounter appreciate the acknowledgment, particularly those who’ve served in the Korean War or Vietnam. Every now and then, my “thank you for your service” is greeted with a grunt. That’s okay, too. I still want …

The best antidote to the fear induced, mass amnesia afflicting so many of our brothers and sisters on the far right is truth. So I’ve written a post over at AOL BlackSpin that reminds that Republican presidents have made direct appeals to our nation’s children for help with meeting White House goals. Sure there was push back from Democrats, most notably to the address President Bush gave in October 1991, on the eve of the 1992 presidential campaign. Still, I don’t recall and cannot find any evidence of lefty parents …

I have a bit of empathy for the “birthers”. Really. I understand that not all of us have the emotional maturity or mental capacity to deal with deep disappointment in a rational, non-self destructive manner. Instead, like a two year old infant reacting to the calamity of not getting a much desired new toy; some of us default to blind rage, shrill tantrums and stubborn self-righteousness when things don’t go our way.
Whether you support his policies or not, there is a new sheriff in town, and you get to …

By Andrew Padula
I am certain that everyone who has heard of “Gates-gate” already has a fixed opinion of which parties are culpable in the matter. Undoubtedly, these opinions will be based on deeply ingrained personal attitudes and experiences. I am upset with the actions of all parties involved. I am convinced that under the circumstances, as an individual entrusted to protect the public, the officer acted inappropriately. As a wealthy, elitist, race baiting, snot headed, tenured Harvard professor from the school of “ I am smarter than …

Once upon a time, not too long ago, smart and well meaning conservative friends would say to me, “We conservatives don’t talk about race.” I always laughed at that, mostly because I have too long a memory. I remember racist rants by conservative icons like Pat Buchanan and William F. Buckley. But I appreciated the “big tent” sentiment they were intending to convey.
Now even my conservative friends cannot deny the depth of rotting racist decay eating away at the heart of their movement. I am hoping I will soon hear …

Please join me TONIGHT for All About Race on the Radio at 7pm PST/10pm EST. Tonight we have special guest Farai Chideya whose new novel “Kiss the Sky” features an alternative look at the music world from the perspective of a black punk/alternative rock songstress, Sophie Clare ‘Sky’ Lee.
I loved the book and while reading it I felt I had an insider’s backstage access to rock and roll life. Farai puts the good, the bad and all of the in between, right there on the page.
In addition to discussing …

Perhaps those of us on the outside looking in have it all wrong. Perhaps Mr. Steele is a mole. Maybe Michael Steele is a one man, chocolate colored, fifth column for political progressives. It’s becoming plausible that Mr. Steele’s goal is to burrow in and then ransack the GOP from the inside while other conservatices/Republicans take on that task from the outside. Think I’m wrong? Then you explain Steele’s latest, self-hating suck up:
While hosting Bill Bennett’s radio show Friday morning, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele appeared to agree …

I feel calmer and more confident about the path we’re on with President Barack Obama in office.
One hundred days in, our president has demonstrated exceptional leadership, focus and intelligence. These traits, combined with an inspiring work ethic and a strong presence as an engaged husband and father, have confirmed for me that President Obama is the caliber of commander-in-chief that many of us had hoped for.
Not that I agree with the president on everything. I have gnawing concerns about the speed and lack of accountability related to economic stimulus/recovery …

For the first time in CBS news polling history, a majority of both blacks and whites see improved race relations.
Fifty-nine percent of African-Americans – along with 65 percent of whites – now characterize the relationship between blacks and whites in America as “good,” according to a new CBS News/New York Times survey.
Less than a year ago, just 29 percent of blacks said race relations were good. The percentage of blacks who say race relations are bad, meanwhile, has dropped from 59 percent last July to 30 percent today.
Sixty-one percent of …

Far be it from me to oppose a good passionate grassroots movement. Maybe I’m dating myself here, but I still remember big, huge marches and demonstrations that energized the heart and focused our nation’s gaze on high ideas – at least for the day. I support the scattered message tea partiers who have every right to take to the streets, distort history, wave their offensive signs and spout misinformation about the “inevitable” consequences of the proposed Federal tax increases.

And believe it or not, I don’t think the anti-spending battle …

If you want to have an effective racial discussion, you need to listen closely to what others are saying. If what you hear makes you squirm, that’s okay. When it’s your turn to speak you can explain your discomfort or ask more questions for further clarification. So I am here to listen on this one because frankly, I’m skeptical. I keep hearing conservatives saying, “If you criticize Obama you’re called a racist!” I am not seeing that at all. In fact, after former “Law and Order” actress Angie Harmon …

Note to the international community: cut it out! Stop using President Obama to sell snacks and services.
First there were "Obama Chicken Fingers" from Germany, now there’s "Duet" ice cream out of Russia to add to the subtly racist Obama food pyramid:
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Russian advertising agency has used an image resembling U.S. President Barack Obama to promote a new vanilla-and-chocolate ice cream, drawing the ire of human rights groups who said the ad was vulgar.
Ice Cream Plant No. 3 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg launched last week …

So my very wise blogamigo Eddie Griffin suggested that I take TWO mental health days. He’s right of course, I am almost feeling clear and inspired again. I pay close attention when my higher energies, like optimism, dip and lower level energies, like frustration, surge. Sometimes the best way for me to re-balance is to take a break from writing for a day or two, breathe deeply, workout and read.
Big post for tomorrow, but in the meantime I am reading all over the interwebs and ask that you do the …