Aloha: A Republican pick-up in Hawaii?

H/T Libertarian Republican

Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou has announced his run for one of the two Hawaii Congressional seats, currently held by Neal Abercombrie. LR friend Moe Lane over at RedState.com is reporting that the seat is likely to become open, as Abercombrie considers a run for Governor.

Further Lane reports that Djou already has the endorsement of GOP Gov. Linda Lingle, and that fundraising is going well. Djou (Zhou in Chinese) is a Chinese-American, and active member of the Hawaii Chinese Republican Coalition. He's the former State Vice-Chair of the GOP. And he serves as a Captain in the US Army Reserve. Djou's agenda is simple: keeping taxes low to spur economic growth and greater job opportunities.

From Djou's campaign website:

Charles believes that every resident of Hawai‘i who is looking for a job should be able to find one. Charles has always made it a priority to lower taxes because reducing the tax burden allows you to keep more of your money for your family, to grow your business and to buy goods and services, which in turn fosters small business and job growth in our community.

That is why Charles has never voted for a tax increase. You are a better steward of your money and can do more for the economy than the government. Charles will continue this long standing fight in Washington.On defense matters, Djou is an advocate of a strong military, and backer of Hawaii's numerous military bases. Further, he "understands that we must combat terrorism wherever it is found, whether in Iran, the Pakistan-Afghanistan border regions or in industrialized cities around the world."

To make a contribution or get involved: http://www.djou.com/

HHR NOTE: If Charles Djou wins this will not be a first for the GOP electing strong candidates from Hawaii. Below are just a list of some of the many successful Asian American Republicans to hold office from that State.

Lt. Governor James Kealoha was selected in 1959 by the Republican Party as its candidate for lieutenant governor in the state of Hawaii’s first gubernatorial election, running alongside William F. Quinn, the party’s candidate for governor. The pairing worked well, as Quinn and Kealoha successfully defeated their Democratic opponents John Burns and Mitsuyuki Kido. Kealoha was the first Chinese American and Native Hawaiian to be elected lieutenant governor in the United States.

Hiram Leong Fong is most notable for his service as Republican United States Senator from 1959 to 1977, and for being the first Asian American and Chinese American to be elected as such. In 1964, Fong became the first Asian American to run for his party's nomination for President of the United States. As of 2008, he is the only Republican to ever hold a Senate seat from Hawaii and the only Asian American to actively seek the Presidential nomination of the Republican Party. He would be followed by Patsy Mink, also from Hawaii, who sought the nomination of the Democratic Party in 1972.

Herbert Young Cho Choy (January 6, 1916–March 10, 2004) was the first Asian American to serve as a United States federal judge and the first person of Korean ancestry to be admitted to the bar in the United States.immigrants who worked in Hawaii's sugar plantations. Choy received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hawaii in 1938 and his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1941. He was the first person of Korean ancestry to be admitted to practice law in the United States. From 1957 to 1958, Choy served as Attorney General for the Territory of Hawaii. In 1971, at the urging of Senator Fong, President Richard Nixon appointed Choy to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. At the time of Choy's appointment, there were no Asian Americans serving anywhere on the federal bench. Choy was the first individual from Hawai'i ever appointed to the court.

McAllister on CNN Saturday Night 11:30 PM EST from Los Angeles

HHR SPEAKING at "STATE OF THE BLACK UNION".... WATCH LIVE WEBCAST 7:30PM..Tonight then watch Lenny on CNN at 11:oo pm eastern standard time.

http://www.broadcasturban.net/webcast/sobu2009/

HHR's Political commentator and community activist Lenny McAllister will appear on CNN Saturday evening with host Don Lemon.

McAllister will comment on the day’s events at CPAC and the State of the Black Union after hosting a chat room over the course of Tavis Smiley’s “State of the Black Union” event in Los Angeles starting today.

The occasional co-host and regular political contributor on “Fox News Rising” will host the chat room at the following link:
http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2009/02/24/state-of-the-black-union-live-chat/

He will provide feedback on the SOBU experience on both Friday and Saturday from 9 AM through 4 PM PST (12 noon through 7 PM EST).

McAllister’s article previewing the event, “State of the Black Union – Making Good on America’s Promise,” can be found here: http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/category/blackspin-black-news-headlines/

McAllister will participate on a panel during the State of the Black Union Symposium Saturday with bloggers Carmen Dixon and Kevin Ross. The panel will be moderated by Michael Fauntroy, an assistant professor of public policy at George Mason University. The live webcast of the panel will air at 4:30 PM PST (7:30 PM EST) on Saturday on www.tavistalks.com

HHR at State of the Black Union

HHR's Lenny McAllister has landed at the annual "State of the Black Union" event . Lenny will be moderating the chat room for Black Vocies AOL and participating in numerous panels one which will include the Chairman of the Republican National Committee:Micheal Steele. The 10th anniversary of the event will be held in Los Angeles, California.

Please join in the chat room and discuss the event here on HHR

Marcus Skelton on Rock the Vote Radio!

Hip-Hop Republican "Marcus Skelton" will began appearing on Rock the Vote Radio! Each week, Rock the Vote Radio will bring you the latest political voices and views from young America.

The weekly program, a 30-minute roundtable discussion, features a rotating panel of young adults talking politics, current events, issues and more. Check it out and share your comments and opinions on the discussions.

Note: The radio show is in the pilot phase so support the team and let Rock The Vote know if you like the show.

http://rockthevote.com/radio/

The John Langston Forum - "Black Libertarians & Republicans United"

Are you an African American Libertarians or Republican? If so please consider joining hundreds of young black Libertarians and Republicans on The John Langston Forum an online project in honor of the black abolitionist and Republican Congressman from Virginia John Mercer Langston.


Visit The John Langston Forum

RNC CHAIRMAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE OF THE BLACK UNION

WASHINGTON – RNC Chairman Michael Steele will hold a press conference tomorrow before participating as a panelist at the State of the Black Union, hosted by well-known leader of the African-American community, Tavis Smiley. This year’s 10th anniversary of the symposium is entitled, “Making America As Good As Its Promise,” where panelists will have constructive conversations about how to bring together every American citizen. Michael Steele also attended the event in 2007, but it is the first time an RNC Chairman has ever participated.

MICHAEL STEELE AT LAST YEARS STATE OF THE BLACK UNION

RNC ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR OF COALITIONS

The RNC announced today that it was naming Angela Sailor as Steels new RNC’s Director of Coalitions. According to the press release the "The Coalitions Department is a new RNC division created by Chairman Steele as part of his commitment to creating sustained communications with every constituency. The Director of Coalitions will work to recruit and support Republicans by targeting messages to identified publications, events and emerging issues in communities where the party has opportunities to grow.

“The RNC Coalitions department will evaluate every outside constituent organization in the country at the local, state and national levels,” Steele said. “This canvass will help to identify key and promising organizations and leaders in constituent organizations with whom we must build lines of communication now.”

Previously, Sailor was named Director of African-American Affairs for the RNC and Victory 2000 to support the Bush/Cheney Presidential campaign. She has also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to the U.S. Secretary of Education and most recently as a partner at Watts Partners providing public relations and governmental advocacy for clients. She is also currently the President and CEO of The Alamni Group LLC, a public relations and consulting firm specializing in marketing, grassroots advocacy and strategic planning.

Just a Historical Note - WASHINGTON, Feb. 3,2005

RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman and Political Director Mike DuHaime announced they have asked Randy Enwright, Cary Evans, Anne Hathaway, Randy Kammerdiener, Jay McCleskey, Graham Shafer and Karen Slifka to join their team at the RNC as Regional Political Directors. They have also named Raul Damas as Coalitions Director and Brian Donahue as 72-Hour Director.

"This group is second to none when it comes to grassroots politics, and I look forward to working with them in broadening and deepening the GOP," said Mehlman. "The RNC has hired the best regional political directors in the nation, and they will be instrumental in growing the Republican Party's majority. ...

Lets Hope This Team Works!

"Black Power" Struggle

By Raynard Jackson


Later today, President Obama has his first meeting with the members of the Congressional Black Caucus. There is an untold story here that has been brewing quietly. Obama’s relationship with the caucus has been strained at best and indifferent at worse. He took a lot of heat from CBC members because, as a U.S. senator, he was not more engaged with them, especially in the area of fundraising. This relationship and how it’s handled could go a long way in determining how successful President Obama’s term is.

Membership of the CBC is by far mostly liberal to very liberal. Of its 44 members, you may have 5 or so, who are considered centrist or very slightly right of center. The group is chaired by one of the most liberal members of Congress, Barbara Lee from California.

In the meeting today with President Obama, the group is going to attempt to get the president to adopt a more leftist agenda. They made it perfectly clear that they were not happy with Sen. Judd Gregg’s nomination to be commerce secretary (he later withdrew his name from consideration). The CBC feels Obama “owes” them because of the support he received from the Black community (96%). But, there is no proven causation. As a matter of fact, most members of the CBC supported other candidates for president. In raw political terms, Obama could make the argument that he won inspite of them.

The CBC does not think Obama has enough Blacks in his administration. They have never stated what positions and numbers would satisfy them. Neither have they clearly stated what they want from the administration in terms of policy.

Strategically, considering the mess Obama inherited, is it better to defer on certain expectations and wait for a better opportunity or do you push for your most cherished policy items now. That is the challenge facing the CBC.

Obama must convince the CBC that now is not the time to lurch to the left. Of course they will scoff at this. Thus, the fireworks will begin. I think the administration has learned its lesson from giving House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, too much latitude in crafting the stimulus package. Her influence was the singular reason for no Republican support. Pelosi and the CBC are political soul mates, thus were generally satisfied with the spending bill.

After the meeting with President Obama, you will hear all the expected niceties from those in attendance, but within a day, their true feelings will begin to leak out as anonymous quotes in the media. With Obama’s asendency, there is a new sheriff within the Black community and those knocked off their perches are not happy.

You have not heard from the “old guard” within the radical leftist civil rights community—Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Andy Young, etc. They have all but disappeared from the political landscape.

In this regards, Obama has the playing field all to himself. Obama has proven to be a pragmatist more than an ideologue. This is anathema to the CBC and this friction is going to be problematic in the future.

The House in general and the CBC in particular are pushing very strongly to get Obama to govern from the left. But he realizes that the country is not there, so how far is he willing to go to be pragmatic?

The bigger question for the CBC is, what happens if Obama is not liberal enough for them and their agenda? What tools do they have to force or pressure the administration into compliance? The administration has more than enough Democratic votes to pass legislation in the House without any votes from members of the CBC.

During the meeting today with the CBC, what happens if the president makes clear to them that he won the election? Then what? I would venture to say that if Black America had to choose between Obama and the CBC, there is no doubt that they would support the president. So, what leverage does the CBC hold if Obama governs as a pragmatist?

I don’t think President Obama is going to go out and seek a fight with members of the CBC, but they should have a plan in place as to how they will extract policy considerations from him in a game of political hard ball. Will they demand “purity” in terms of policy or will they accept the political reality that they will have to also be pragmatists?

It is great to have our first Black president. This is a monumental achievement for our country. But now Blacks must demonstrate the ability to act strategically, not emotionally. This is were the struggle for “Black Power” will take place. I am not sure the CBC has matured to this level yet. Until they do, “Black Power” will remain a nice refrain from the 1960s; full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-based political consulting/government affairs firm. You can reach him at: Raynard@raynardjackson.com and website at: http://www.raynardjackson.com/

Why All Roads Lead Through China

Realpolitik, popularized by Henry Kissinger and exemplified by Nixon's diplomatic outreach to China and peace efforts during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, is goal oriented, strategic diplomacy defined largely on what is practical both politically and militarily and distinctly in one's interest. Ethics aren't in the equation. And it's what China has been doing for years, and why they wield the influence they now do.

By John S. Wilson

Amnesty International and other human rights groups were outraged when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on a diplomatic sweep in Asia, clarified US-China relations going forward as, “We know we’re going to press them to reconsider their position about Tibetan religious and cultural freedom and autonomy for the Tibetans and some kind of recognition or acknowledgment of the Dalai Lama and we know what they’re going to say...[b]ut our pressing on those issues can’t interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crises.

We have to have a dialogue that leads to an understanding and cooperation on each of those.” Why Amnesty and other groups were aghast at these comments is clearly evident. Human Rights will no longer play a dominant role in trade relation talks, and this will lessen the likelihood that the US will force China's hand on the freedom of Tibetan peoples and the burgeoning struggle for independence in Taiwan. And if the message wasn't bad enough, the messenger it came from was.

Clinton has been a long-time critic of China's human rights abuses, and regarding China's one child policy has said "It is a violation of human rights when women are denied the right to plan their own families, and that includes being forced to have abortions or being sterilized against their will." When China strong-armed protesters in Tibet last year during riots, Clinton pushed for a strong US stance against China's subjugation of religious freedom. Additionally, just last summer she asked former George W. Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics to further send a message. So, is it that Clinton is being a hypocrite in the name of pragmatism? Or could it be that previous unsuccessful diplomatic efforts, which were predicated on other countries making improbable concessions (e.g., China conceding ground on human rights and Taiwanese independence), have now gained way to realpolitik-style strategic function?

Some would argue that it's a little bit of both. Surely, Clinton did not just realize that diplomatic policy implementation requires not only the US compromising but sometimes having to make embarrassing concessions of it's own (e.g., scuttling lawsuits to prevent trade repercussions ). And while China is already both the largest holder of US debt and foreign holder of US currency , Clinton stated further that "Washington must incur more debt to China to boost the ailing U.S. economy and stimulate demand for Chinese products" and "it would not be in China's interest if the U.S. is unable to get its economy out of a recession".

This does not come as a surprise to those of us who have watched the Chinese purchase US debt at record amounts over the past few years. But Clinton's point goes much deeper than bonds and bucks. Realpolitik, popularized by Henry Kissinger and exemplified by Nixon's diplomatic outreach to China and peace efforts during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, is goal-oriented, strategic diplomacy defined largely on what is practical both politically and militarily and distinctly in one's interest. Ethics aren't in the equation. And it's what China has been doing for years, and why they wield the influence they now do. Name a dictatorial regime and China is there: North Korea; 14 billion dollar trading partner (arms, food and oil), Russia; recently signed a 25 billion dollar deal financed by Chinese banks and will deliver oil to China over 20 years, Sudan; holder of its largest overseas oil project and biggest benefactor of its guns, tanks, and rocket propelled grenades, all of which has accelerated the north-south civil war and underscores allegations of genocide against the Arab-led Khartoum government in Darfur, Iran; 70 billion oil deal.

The limits of China's diplomacy is strictly what the market will bear. It's as if the uglier the regime the more dollars they spend to invest in it. It's easy to see why the US has had icy relations with all of these countries. But when it comes to energy - which is to the the 21st century what gold was to the 17th, when King Ferdinand proclaimed: "Get gold, humanely if you can, but all hazards, get gold" - there are no more important players outside of Saudi Arabia and the UAE than Russia, Iran, Sudan, Venezuela and Iraq.

To be sure, Iceland and Canada provide much needed oil to the US and Iraq will be a consummate partner in the years to come, but China is concerned with the next century not decade. So must the US adopt China's version of realpolitik in order to succeed in this diplomatic environment going forward? More importantly, has the US become an idealist in thinking that our moral compass, which has uniquely set us apart from any other country since our founding, lacks the ability to steer us in the right direction in the future? That depends on the answer to the following questions: Does the US want violence in Darfur to come to a peaceful end? For the Khartoum regime to stop arming the Janjaweed rebels that have killed an estimated 2 million in Darfur? To warm relations with Russia, who has abruptly restructured oil agreements with BP in a further grab for energy control and antagonized the US over their decision to place a defense missile system in Poland? Or ensure that Iran's soon-to-be completed nuclear facility does not engage in the production of weapons-grade uranium? Unquestionably, China couldn't and frankly wouldn't guarantee all of these things. But the point Clinton was underscoring is that China's ability to influence those countries the US cannot is more valuable than the US influencing China on the issue of human rights.

And the ability of the US to prod other countries into doing the "moral thing" was always prefaced upon what those countries stood to gain or would lose by doing the wrong thing (the sticks and carrots approach , except our sticks aren't big enough and carrots aren't fresh enough). But China's been doing the latter for years, and has only seen an upside. This upside came by embracing capitalism, not morals. US investors big and small have rushed to enter the Chinese market for years, seeing the tremendous growth opportunity there. And that's underscored by the fact that we're in a global recession that some say you have to go back to the Panic of 1873 to find precedent, yet this year China's gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow at a pace of 7.5%, their slowest since 1990, while the US' GDP is projected to contract by 2.8%. So, in sum, the same capitalism the US has yearned for China to embrace is the same capitalism that has brought them so much influence - quite possibly at the US' expense.


~ John Wilson has written considerably in areas of public policy spanning politics, mortgage reform, immigration and gun control. He attends Virginia Commonwealth University with a triple major in economics, sociology, and women's studies. John's publishings have appeared in the Orlando Sentinel, Wiretap magazine, and cutting edge political blogs such as HipHopRepublican.com and PolicyNet. In addition, he edits and blogs at Policydiary.com and serves as a regular contributor to Black Web 2.0 where he blogs about technology start-up companies. He currently serves as a legislative fellow in the office of the Honorable David Englin (D) of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Russell Simmons Defends Michael Steele

I have heard the rhetoric from the mean left and from the angry right. Don't let those who are angry in your base guide your choices or let the people to the left of President Obama push your buttons.

~Russel Simmons

Russell Simmons -An Open Letter To My Friend Michael Steele

Just wanted to send a note congratulating you on your election as the new Chairman of the Republican National Committee. I also wanted to thank you for writing a blog for Global Grind. The hip-hop community remains eager to hear the views of national leaders like you who understand the importance of diversity, inclusion and striving to end poverty in our nation and the world.

I have known you to be a strong advocate for the advancement of the poor and also as a supporter of small businesses.

This is your chance to make history and real change. I have heard the rhetoric from the mean left and from the angry right. Don't let those who are angry in your base guide your choices or let the people to the left of President Obama push your buttons. If you work directly with the White House, from your informed perspective, you can help to build an effective bridge for the sake of the improvement of the quality of life of millions of Americans.

This is America's great chance for change. We all should be working together for the common good beyond the lines of partisanship. Let's keep this constructive dialogue going and give the American people a comprehensive stimulus package that EVERYONE can support.

Your friend Russell Simmons Courtesy of The Huffington Post

Black America Re-Imagined

By Nadra Enzi

Early in both my activism and self-development studies I would imagine what Black America as a whole would have be like had we immigrated here voluntarily?

The visions that came was of a community with fewer of the nagging issues arising from fractured selfhood; with far more businesses and non-profits owned and operated by its members and better race relations based upon an uninterrupted history of achievement first among ourselves and in general society.

Is it nonsensical or even callous to ask oneself why can't we take this same vision and attempt to realize it in the current version of Black America. Are the chains of the past and present errors too strong to dare such reformation?

I honestly think and strongly feel we write our outcomes daily by what we choose to believe and behaviors these beliefs birth. While this new Black America wouldn't happen in the blink of an eye, millions of people engaged in this type of re-imagining of group reality would create a community dramatically different from today's version.

Excuses for not doing better are falling upon increasingly deaf ears, most notably more Black ones than ever before. When mainstream figures like Bill Cosby joins conservatives and nationalists in denouncing what's going on a watershed moment is upon us.

Re-imagining our group biography means deleting those habits born from a time when even our minds we not ours to control.

Re-imaging ourselves includes a full court press on the ghetto class that is loudly displacing every other Black culture preceding it.

Only by transforming old and new dysfunction will a new Black culture arise that takes the best features of what came before while aggressively avoiding self-destructive pitfalls.

Imagination seems an unlikely prescription for what ails many of us but consider the alternative: millions more thugged out youth waging war on adults and elders who scarcely understand them let alone have the backbone to actively resist.

If we fail to re-imagine our community then we may find ourselves quarantined in steel as society imprisons inner cities and majority Black areas as a last ditch effort to spare themselves more bitter harvest.

The imagination gaining ground as I write is a nihilistic mindset where intimidation; rudeness and non-stop scheming is used without hesitation against anyone.

The ' Hood is a desperate place where anything goes and goes often. We know this only too well and a Berlin wall of sorts has been erected by a middle class and fellow travelers whose ethnic identity doesn't include what we see dominating inner cities and popular entertainment from coast to coast.

Two competing imaginations war within Black America. Those who could save the day have literally given up hope in a different vision.... it could be argued so many Black votes were cast for the new President as a last ditch cry for help by folks drowning in an urban sea of misery.

We have to at least try to re-imagine ourselves because the alternative is becoming the first people in modern times to literally self-destruct in plain view of the entire world.

That kind of imagination needs to be re-imagined!

~NADRA ENZI aka CAPT. BLACK is a writer and promotes avoiding trouble with the criminal justice system and realizing that what you think and feel becomes your personal reality.

NADRACAPTBLACK@YMAIL.COM

“The Blueprint for Urban Conservatism?”

By Brandon Brice

In a recent article, “Can Hip Hop and the GOP Co-Exist”, I received numerous comments about the rise of HipHopRepublican.com and the word being that of an oxymoron. The social movement affiliated with hip hop culture is just the catalyst needed for a greater expansion, the blueprint of this new Urban Conservatism economic movement. The economic trends of Hip Hop culture, since it’s inception, has created more African-American entrepreneurs than any other industry in America, which speaks to one of the reason for adopting the name. For years I tried to figure out how the Democratic Party were monopolizing on urban and black communities, then the light bulb flashed that there success was attributed to marketing.

As with any business plan there must be a mission, thus the mission of the Urban Conservatism movement is to highlight real issues; healthcare affordability, fiscal responsibility, solutions to better inner city schools and job creation. Let’s think about the trends of economic activity in urban America. In 2007 Def Jam Chairman Russell Simmons created a credit based debt card for urban families to input funds on a card, without creating debt or overdraft fees, as a means to educate on financial literacy. In 2007, Atlanta rapper T.I. started T.I construction as a means to help recently released ex-convicts find employment. Def Jam South Rapper David Banner teaches low income residents in the south about the importance of saving and investing. Jay-Z, when he’s not on tour, gives more to Make A Wish, Brooklyn Public Schools and the Marcy projects than any other rap celebrity in the New York City area. So now that we’ve discovered that Hip Hop has not been the source of fault for urban America’s downfall; we can now consider the idea that neither the government and Wall Street had a hand in this decay..

In reality, urban conservatism speaks to all of the issue’s in everyday neighborhoods by putting a direct spin on how to counter education, by offering advanced literature of Mac Beth and The Canterbury Tales in neighborhoods schools that never have considered this broad array of topics. The Urban Conservatism movement influences ex-gang members to put down the guns and pick up a book, or a pen to learn how to start their own legal businesses. This movement takes experts out of the hospitals to speak on pro-active health in local community centers. The movement utilizes media contacts, not for personal gain, but to address the crisis of housing affordability, or the need for prison reform so that tax payers aren’t baring the burden via tax dollars. The movement recognizes that America is changing and it’s time for the Republican Party to adapt to new solutions.

Imagine if Hip Hop icons Jay-Z or Puff Daddy, gave concert tours on economic empowerment or how to start businesses, what influence could this create towards 10,000 young minorities under the age of 18.What makes this concept of Urban Conservatism unique is that it pushes minorities to become self sufficient and responsible. The blue print for urban conservatism is for the party to take on new problems in the 21st Century. The movement recognizes that Republicans can no longer run on set guidelines to win elections, but must solely run on the issues.


~Brandon Brice is a graduate of Howard University and is a former graduate of the New Jersey Eagleton Institute of Politics fellow at Rutgers University. As a long time member of Republicans for Black Empowerment, Brandon is an active contributor to HipHopRepublican.com. Brandon is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, and attends the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Harlem.

TONY CAMPBELL COMMENTARY: Insanity In The Keyes Of Alan

H/T Booker Rising Blog -The moderate Republican takes issue with conservative activist Alan Keyes' recent claims about President Barack Obama:

"I have always thought Keyes was a bit unhinged but he has really lost all sense of reality in the video clip. Just in case you think I am joking… here are a few of the more unsettling thoughts offered by Keyes: 1) Barack Obama is the 'greatest crisis that this country has ever seen' 2) 'The United States of America will cease to exist' 3) Barack Obama is an 'abomination'. As a seminary graduate, the word abomination struck me as a bit harsh to define a person who was elected to public office.

According to Dictionary.com, the word means a person who is loathsome or disgusting. In terms of theology, the word is used to define people or actions that God hates. So to translate the meaning of what Alan Keyes said is that the President of the United States is loathsome, disgusting and hated by God. This type of rhetoric is in very bad taste and demonstrates what can happen when unstable people are given license to say whatever comes into their brain."

Congratulations Derek Moss !

HHR would like to congratulate Derek Moss who was elected last week the new Ethnic-Vice Chair of the Michigan GOP.

Derek Moss is a Michigan native who was running for that states GOP Ethnic Vice Chair. This past week on Friday he won the seat.

Derek Moss is a an officer in the Michigan Army National Guard. Mr. Moss is an Eastern Michigan University graduate pursuing a career in corporate and public administration with a concentration in international relations. Attending law school is apart of his future educational plans.

As a long time member of the Republican Party, he has also served as the Minority Outreach Director and the Political Director of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans, and was the Chairman of the Eastern Michigan University College Republicans. He is an executive board member of the Washtenaw County Republicans.

Also, he is currently serving as an adviser to the Southeastern region of the Michigan Teenage Republicans. Along with these titles, Chairman Moss is an executive board member of the Alliance of Black Republicans; the purpose of the Alliance of Black Republicans (ABR) is to increase participation of the Black American community in the Republican Party.

The ABR also serves as an advisory council for minority related concerns. In addition to these roles, Mr. Moss is a congressional aid for the Honorable Congressman Thaddeus McCotter.In November of 2005, Chairman Moss organized and hosted the 1st annual Michigan Federation of College Republicans Inclusion Conference. This conference gathered conservative college and high school students from around the state of Michigan, as well as the public, for training Republicans in minority apologetics.

Chairman Moss has practical experience in working side by side with organizations in assisting troubled youth, runaways, and dysfunctional/homeless families, and he is a former minister of the World Outreach Fellowship of Churches (WOFC). While under the employment of WOFC, Derek Moss was a bible instructor. Mr. Moss has also taught children of various age levels, and was the Assistant to the Executive Office of Detroit World Outreach and the Executive Assistant of Motown Master’s Commission, under the ministry of Bishop Jack C. Wallace and Pastor Patrick Martin.
As an executive assistant, Derek Moss has traveled to numerous locations around the globe including the including Europe, Central America and Africa. He has also directed large events, rallies and fund-raisers for various non-profit organizations.

http://www.derekmoss4gop.com/Derek_Moss.html

Can We Stop Having Conversations About Race?

By Dennis Sanders

Every so often, I have been part of a "discussion" on race. Every time I hear this, I start to shudder, because I know where this is all leading and how it will end. We all get together and there are a few speakers. A black person will talk about how unfair life has been for them and a white person will talk about their white priviledge. The African Americans (and other persons of color) in attendance, are made to feel bad about their lot in life and the things they have to put up with. The whites in attendance have to feel ashamed of being white and in power.

There might be a video about the amount of African Americans in poverty of in prison and how that is a result of racism.At the end of the "talk" we go our separate ways supposedly feeling good about having this time have a frank discussion on race. But the thing is, we never had a discussion and nothing ever really changed. The discussion has almost alway been "rigged" in that there is one viewpoint that African Americans are supposed to have and one viewpoint that whites are supposed to have. It feels less like an honest conversation and more like a play where we have been handed the lines to speak.

Of course, the reason I am bringing this all up is because of Attorney General Eric Holder's comments this past week about the United States being a "nation of cowards" by not dealing with race. Holder said that the nation "still had not come to grips with its racial past, nor has it been willing to contemplate, in a truly meaningful way, the diverse future it is fated to have." In some ways, I find this hard to believe. Since the civil right movement, we as a nation have been talking and facing our racial past. When I watched then President-elect Obama speak in Chicago's Grant Park back in November, I saw a multi-cultural audience that reflected America at this moment. I'm not saying that life is perfect for African Americans. But speaking as an African American, I can say that life for me is a lot better than it was for my father who grew up in the Jim Crow South.

Martin Peretz remind us what has changed:

Holder was eight years old half a century ago. The desegregation of schools had barely begun. The "dream" of Martin Luther King, Jr. was still ringing in the people's ears and he had only recently been murdered. Black men and women did not figure in our national politics. Black teenagers did not then reasonably aspire to do well at school -the odds were against them--or hope to graduate, as Holder did, from Columbia University (as Barack Obama also did) and from the Columbia Law School. There were no black generals or managing partners of law firms or presidents of the best institutions of higher learning or CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and not many black people at all in the solid middle class. And almost none in the upper middle class. How many blacks were actually rich or even super-rich?

No, America is not racial paradise. But it is more integrated, much more integrated than Great Britain and France which used to disdain our bigoted traditions and habits. No longer, believe me, no longer.But Holder seems to ignore all of this progress. In some ways, that has become the way many liberals have viewed race: highlighting the shortfalls and ignoring the major progress we have made as a nation. We have a black man in the White House, a house that was built by people that looked like our President who were viewed as nothing more than property. That is something to be proud of.Yes, there are still problems that persist and racism does still exists, but it is not as pernicious and devastating as it once was. Yes, be vigilant, but for God's sake, be willing to celebrate once in while. As John McWhorter said:

If white people are cowards for not wanting to be called racists, there is a fear as well in people like Holder. It's not pretty to face that black people will excel, like everyone else, under less-than-perfect conditions. This "conversation" would be social history playing out quite perfectly--but history is never that consummately fair. The Civil Rights revolution was close enough to perfect, and Barack Obama's election was even closer. Now, it's time not for a callisthenic "conversation," but for making our way in reality. History is not perfect. But we have come a long way. Let's be willing to say that.

Dennis Sanders A pastor living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has worked on centrist Republican issues for years, including stints as President of the Minnesota chapter of Log Cabin Republicans (a gay/lesbian advocacy group) and Republicans for Environmental Protection. Dennis blogs at NeoMugwump and happily lives with his partner Daniel and serves two cats, Morris and Felix.

Congratulation's Troy Rolling!

Let's Give A 'Shout Out' to Troy Rolling's for being elected Grassroots Vice Chair of the Michigan Republican Party.

http://votetroyrolling.com/

What Slumdog Millionaire Can Teach us about Economic Stimulus

BREAKING NEWS: Republican Party Losing Hispanics

"Republicans will not be able
to win any national elections if they don't do something soon. But the problem
I'm having is breaking through to them with this message."

Jason Villalba -President of the Dallas chapter of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly

That’s not wishful thinking on the part of Democrats. It's a growing concern by Hispanic Republicans themselves, and they say the GOP leadership seems oblivious to it.” The underlying current in Hispanic communities is that Democrats are capturing the hearts and minds of Hispanics wholesale," said Jason Villalba, president of the Dallas chapter of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly. "Republicans will not be able to win any National elections if they don't do something soon. But the problem I'm having is breaking through to them with this message.” Texas seems to be following the same trajectory as California, with its burgeoning Hispanic population.

HHR Reply: This is a crying shame people...a crying shame! There is a group of online activist http://latinorepublicans.ning.com/ but in the end it’s the indifference of the State GOP Chairs who obviously do not see the warning signs. It is there job to spend the money and resources to put together a strategy and a message. This is how the Democrats win Texas, Arizona and many more.

EXCLUSIVE HHR INTERVIEW: RACHEL HOFF

"Rachel Hoff is a committed servant leader who has the competence and work ethic to empower YRs from the club level up. Whether or not someone has a title does not matter to Rachel--she believes everyone is capable of making a difference and she is committed to investing in everyone. The DCYRs also endorsed the team Rachel is building to take the YRNF to the Next Level. As members of her local club, we know that anyone on a team with Rachel Hoff is the kind of leader we need to move the Republican Party forward."

~ Marcus Skelton, DCYR Chairman

By Richard Ivory

A wave of excitement rippled across the faces in attendance at a recent meeting of the DC Young Republicans. They had gathered from all over the District of Columbia to unanimously endorse their National Committeewoman, Rachel Hoff, as she announced plans to seek the Chairmanship of the Young Republican National Federation. Speaker after speaker took to the stage to endorse Rachel Hoff's team and her strategy for taking the YRs to the next level.

The Young Republican National Federation is one of the largest and most influential networks of young Republicans in the nation. Its intricate state and city grassroots army of young professionals makes it a powerful institution within the Republican Party, particularly as the GOP looks to make up ground after the devastating loss of support among under-30 voters last fall. This is why HipHopRepublican.com decided to sit down with Rachel Hoff and ask her a variety of questions. We asked her about her plans and strategy for empowering the YRNF and how, as Chairman, she would reach out to the urban landscape.

HHR: Rachel thanks for sitting down with HipHopRepublican.com and providing our readers with a glimpse at what the YRs do and your strategy for taking them to the next level.

Rachel Hoff: It's my pleasure.

HHR: So Rachel you have themed your entire campaign the "Next Level" what does that name encompass and why did you choose it?

Rachel Hoff: The Next Level is about building upon the successes of the Young Republican National Federation in recent years. We have made a lot of progress in recent years toward establishing our organization as a political force and the voice of our generation of Republicans in the media. At the same time, we have a long way to go to reach our potential. But instead of starting over, let’s use what success we have had as a platform to rise to the next level. As young professionals, our generation must lead our Party into the 21st Century, creating new ideas and driving new technologies to communicate a new message to more people than ever before, while we reaffirm our commitment to conservative principles – that’s the Next Level for the Young Republicans.

HHR: How will you implement this strategy?

Rachel Hoff: Our campaign has launched a sketch of our five-point action plan, which can be seen on our website at http://www.yrnextlevel.com/. Our platform is a strategy to institutionalize a robust fundraising program to provide for the long-term sustainability and influence of the YRNF, as well as provide value to member states. We also want to arm YRs with education, training, and access to 21st century policy solutions, ensuring that we are the most qualified and competent political operatives in each state to help young candidates communicate a strong message that will win voters and elections. Another thing we will do is to reinvent and expand the targeted deployment of YR volunteers to meet the changing needs of campaigns, with particular emphasis on supporting candidates under the age of 40. Underlying each of our goals and driving all of our activities is a revolutionary use of technology. We will make use of current and future technologies to reach the members of our generation and motivates them into activism for the GOP. Technology will be the foundation that innervates all goals and functions of the YRNF in increasing our exposure and influence among both our Party and our generation.

HHR: Rachel, could you explain to our readers why the YRNF exists?

Rachel: The YRNF identifies and produces Republican Party leaders – including elected officials, conservative thinkers, campaign consultants, GOP activists, and community leaders. As a national federation, we serve to support and empower our YR clubs and state organizations around the country in the work they do to promote Republican candidates and causes. YR clubs can be found in major cities and rural counties across the nation, and we provide training and resources to new clubs that are just forming. Young Republicans work tirelessly every fall as volunteers, campaign managers, and candidates to elect and re-elect Republicans to all levels of government. We also serve as the leading voice for young Americans in the Republican Party through the media.

HHR: When will the convention be held and what city will it be in?

Rachel: Convention delegates from around the country will gather in Indianapolis this July to elect the next leaders of the YRNF

HHR: Are you paid a salary to become Chairman of YRNF?

Rachel: No, the YRNF is an all-volunteer organization. Our leaders and activists at all levels work tirelessly for our cause – and that is one of the many reasons why I am so humbled to be running for Chairman as this organization.

HHR: Is there a national headquarters somewhere?

Rachel: No, the YRNF is a truly grassroots organization. The strength of the national organization comes from the state federations and local clubs. Each Chairman has a team of leaders from around the country that work hard to implement the programs and initiatives of the Young Republicans. We all meet for meetings three times a year.

HHR: You are aware that HHR's primary focus is on urban issues and minority voters in particular. How will the YRs reach out to this community?

Rachel: The Republican Party must reach out to every person in every corner of this country, no matter where they live and not matter what their race. In the Young Republicans and the Party as a whole, we need to take minority outreach to the next level, involving people of color not just in minority outreach roles but in every sphere of our activity, from serving as media surrogates to running as candidates. With regard to urban issues, Young Republicans must serve as strong and visible advocates for safe and prosperous streets, school choice, job growth, and efficiency and transparency in government. These are core Republican issues that can win votes in the inner cities. In terms of reaching into urban communities and communities of color, our message and policies focus on empowering the individual.

HHR: Thank you Rachel for spending some time with HipHopRepublican.com, and The John Langston Forum and good luck on your run.

Rachel: Thank you! And be sure to check out our campaign website at http://www.yrnextlevel.com/

Leaked Rihanna Photo - Bruised & Battered

Go Rafael Lopez!!!!

Rafael Lopez, a graduate from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration is seeking office as a Virginia Delegate for Virgnias 52nd District:

He has lived in Dumfries, Virginia since 2000. In 2002, the Dumfries Town Council appointed him as Zoning Administrator. In addition to his duties as an Administrator, he was also responsible for Code Enforcement in the Town.

His desire for public service grew and in 2004, at the young age of 25, was elected to Town Council. After his term ended in 2008, the Council recognized and thanked him for his selfless and dedicated service to the Town. He continued to be involved in politics and became the Treasurer for Willie J. Toney who ran for Town Council and won a seat in a very contested election.

Afterwards, Rafael volunteered for several political candidates. Rafael works in the field of public health information and is employed by a federal government contractor. Recently, he started a foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping orphanages. He is a member of the Prince William County Republican Commitee, Prince William County Young Republicans, Hispanic Roundtable, RPV Hispanic Network, and the Prince William County Public School PTO. He is also founder and chair of the Council on International Public Affairs, a think-tank dedicated to the analysis, information, and discussion of foreign policy issues. Rafael is married and has two children. He and his family attend St. Francis of Assisi Church in Triangle, VA.

http://www.rafaellopez.org/

UN: IRAN HAS A BOMB FOLKS!

HT- Huffington Post for breaking this story...its a sad day America!

By Daniel Dombey

Iran has now built up a stockpile of enough enriched uranium for one nuclear bomb, United Nations officials acknowledged on Thursday. In a development that comes as the Obama administration is drawing up its policy on negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear programme, UN officials said Iran had produced more nuclear material than previously thought.

In just a few hours around 5:48 PM Friday night, Derek Moss may be elected the new GOP Ethnic Vice Chair in Michigan . We are asking that everyone reaches out and show some "love" as he runs for this seat. Also you may want to offer up some suggestions for outreach should he win.

www.derekmoss4gop.com

Bailing Out the Big Three - Why reward Detroit (and punish taxpayers) for making unprofitable cars?

12 Solutions for Jobs and Prosperity

Washington solutions of more money for more government, more power for politicians, more debt, and more bureaucrats will not lead to real growth in jobs and prosperity.We need a clear and decisive alternative that creates jobs and rewards work, saving, and investment.

1)Payroll Tax Stimulus. With a temporary new tax credit to offset 50% of the payroll tax, every small business would have more money, and all Americans would take home more of what they earn.

2)Real Middle-Income Tax Relief. Reduce the marginal tax rate of 25% down to 15%, in effect establishing a flat-rate tax of 15% for close to 9 out of 10 American workers.

3)Reduce the Business Tax Rate. Match Ireland’s rate of 12.5% to keep more jobs in America.

4) Homeowner’s Assistance. Provide tax credit incentives to responsible home buyers so they can keep their homes.

5) Control Spending So We Can Move to a Balanced Budget. This begins with eliminating Congressional earmarks and wasteful pork-barrel spending.

6) No State Aid Without Protection From Fraud. Require state governments to adopt anti-fraud and anti-theft policies before giving them more money.

7) More American Energy Now. Explore for more American oil and gas and invest in affordable energy for the future, including clean coal, ethanol, nuclear power and renewable fuels.

8) Abolish Taxes on Capital Gains. Match China, Singapore and many other competitors. More investment in America means more jobs in America.

9) Protect the Rights of American Workers. We must protect a worker’s right to decide by secret ballot whether to join a union, and the worker’s right to freely negotiate. Forced unionism will kill jobs in America at a time when we can’t afford to lose them.

10) Replace Sarbanes-Oxley. This failed law is crippling entrepreneurial startups. Replace it with affordable rules that help create jobs, not destroy them.

11) Abolish the Death Tax. Americans should work for their families, not for Washington.

12) Invest in Energy and Transportation Infrastructure. This includes a new, expanded electric power grid and a 21st century air traffic control system that will reduce delays in air travel and save passengers, employees and airlines billions of dollars per year.

Please Visit: http://www.americansolutions.com/

Photo Wednesday: "What Recession?" Edition

According to recent news Chrysler and GM plan to drop a combined total 50,000 jobs this year so by comparison I guess we should be happy for people like those hearty construction workers who reach for the sky everyday in order to lift still going condo projects over our heads, like the development at 80 DeKalb pictured below.

Say what you will about the Condo-virus, capitalism, the perils of navigating construction sites or what-have-you (and you know I usually do) none of that changes how surreal it is to watch buildings rapidly grow. From my vantage point up in the Brooklyn Born Aerie, I've watched a total of over 100 stories go up in five buildings in the last twelve months. I find it mesmerizing in a weird artificially organic way.

80 DeKalb development comes into view behind the Forte Condos

My trance starts to wear off when I think of the needs of the average working family to find an affordable and acceptable place for a family of three or four to live. It doesn't disparage the desire to build and sell condos to admit that the price point for many condos in otherwise middle-income areas leaves them vacant for long periods, even in a good economy while developers weight for buyers to help them turn a profit.

However 80DeKalb is a rental development, which thankfully was pointed out to me by Norman Oder of the Atlantic Yards Report, whose blog has much more detailed info on the developer (Forest City Ratner of Atlantic Yards infamy) and the specifics of the project much of which can be seen positively and negatively depending on your politics.

Case in point the quickly constructed "Forte" with it's 30 stories, 500k+ starting price, and already dingy outer walls is visibly 50% unoccupied three years after completion. A fact you can see from nearby Fort Greene Park. (below)

Many vacancies are visible in the Forte Condo building

Watching the skyline change before my very eyes (often one floor per day) is nothing when you consider the video below presenting the plan for downtown Brooklyn in 2012 that barely has anything to do with the Atlantic Yards calamity. Many of these towers are under construction at this moment.

Maybe you've seen this video, maybe not, I think it's interesting to see the 2012 plan, appropriately narrated by "X-Men" super-villain "Magneto" (Sir Ian McKellen provides the v.o.) The 80 DeKalb building materializes into view at 1:00 of the video from the left side. Check it, pass it, and try and wager which of these giants will actually be completed...

H/T UMBROOKLYN BLOG -http://umbrooklynborn.blogspot.com/

Time To Take Action : A letter from David All, RNC Transition Team Chair

Tuesday in Denver, Colorado, President Barack Obama gleefully signed a pork-laden "stimulus" bill that passed through Congress with very little bipartisan support (not a SINGLE House Republican voted for passage).

As reported on yesterday by the Washington Times*:
- - - - -
"President Obama on Tuesday will sign an economic stimulus bill that is four times bigger than he first called for, includes smaller tax cuts than he wanted, drew fewer Republicans than desired and was done nearly a month later than he had hoped."

"But he got it done."
- - - - -

Yes he did. Great.

And now we're the ones that are going to have to live with it. And it's our children and grandchildren who are ultimately going to have to pay for it.

Look, Barack Obama was elected not out of chance or luck but due in-part to a massive distributed network of grassroots activists. Millions of people, connected and self-organizing - fighting every single day for the cause. Among other places, they organized on Facebook. They changed their status updates to virally spread a message.

Our group, the GOP Grassroots Committee, is a group with a purpose. It is an opportunity for every Republican to step-up to the plate for the party that we love and help it make the right choices and decisions. This is your platform to discuss how technology can be used to better reach, listen to, embrace, and engage grassroots.

Yesterday our group grew from 200 people to over 2,000 people. This tremendous growth didn't happen because I wanted it to. This group grew organically because Republicans are excited, engaged and want to take action.

Robby Hightower of Inland Empire, California updated his status update, invited 60+ members, and invited all of the members of a group he runs called Red Voices. In a note, Robby wrote, "Happy to help as a Grassroots captain for the cause!"

Ebeth Weidner, the President of the Republican Women of Pitt County, NC wrote, "Hey David, I just invited about 61 of my friends that I know are Republicans. Hope they all come on board!!"

1981 Marshall alumni Victor Diaz's quote on his profile is “To involve people........ just ask them.” And that's exactly what he did in order to help grow our group. He not only sent out 200 direct invites and posted to his facebook status as requested but he also blended his online activity with offline action when he invited the Oakland County YRs to join at their meeting last night.

I believe we can grow this group to over 5,000 people before midnight tonight if you decide to do two things:

1. Be a Facebook activist. Invite at least 50 friends to this group. If you have already invited all your friends, follow-up with them and see if they have joined. Forward them this note. Message me when you've sent the invites and I'll make you a "GOP Grassroots Captain" and list your name in the final report to Chairman Steele. Update your status update to help amplify our message.


2. Take offline action. EMAIL this message to at least five friends and urge them to get involved. If they're not yet on Facebook, work with them and help them sign-up. We need their help moving forward. If we're to compete with Barack tomorrow, the time to take action is now. I hope you'll continue to be an active part of this effort.

Thank you,
David All


SAMPLE FACEBOOK STATUS UPDATE:

Today Barack signs a massive spending bill. I'm working with others to ensure that never happens again http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=134904795197

* http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/17/late-and-over-budget-obama-gets-his-stimulus/

Republican National Committee: We Need Your Input

By Tiffany Shorter

Michael Steele wants to bring fundraising up to the 21^st century by combining technology and local outreach to make donating to the cause a lot easier.

Take the fundraising survey so you can have your say about how the RNC should establish an easy to use system. Together we can make sure that the past elections in 2006 and 2008 remain history. Republicans are out of the White House and Congress, therefore, now we have little say in policy. The stimulus package signed into law yesterday, shows that our voice is not being carried to Capitol Hill or the White House. Let’s get Republican values back into public policy.

You can take the Fundraising survey. It will only take a few minutes today so you can make a better future tomorrow.

You are also welcome to join the Facebook group GOP TechSummit - Grassroots and share your other ideas with Steele.

Tiffany Shorter

HHR Editor & Chief

Co-Chair of RNC Transition Team on Grassroots

Using YouTube & Humor

By Richard Ivory & Tiffany Shorter

Political parties and our Republican Party in particular, have often been cautious about using YouTube as a means for getting out there message. However in the past few years Democrats have not only embraced the technology, but dare I say online they own it. As Republicans we need to not be afraid of these new technological advances and use them. We may need to hire a firm to produce funny & educational videos that will get our message across to a broad audience, but however we do it we must use them.

Using humor is important because it’s easier for regular folks to grasp highly technical topics, such as the stimulus package. We need to use YouTube much like others use other satirical television programs due to attacks our message. YouTube and other video sharing sites can give us an advantage to articulate our message in a way the media could never. If we as Republicans want to define our own message we need to take the initiative. Often Republicans lack humor and a bit of fun when making there argument. As TV shows like The Daily Show tell us humor can go along way.

We need to harness this technology and do it in a way that’s fun but gets the point across. The other week a friend mentioned to me that the Republicans should start a YouTube video after the old Burger King commercial, "Where’s the Beef?"

That commercial showed two seniors looking at there new burgers they had just bought and began asking the question: Where the Beef? Implying they had gotten something very different then what they expected. We could do such a thing with the stimulus bill and ask the question “Where’s the Jobs” or something like this.

If you type in for instance “Republican” or “GOP” in YouTube’s search engine there is literal thousands of satirizing attack ads against political figures within our party figures that we know. This is of course a concentrated effort to define an image of Republicans in the mind of the millions of young people who visit YouTube. We need to care about this because many of these young people upon becoming a first time voters will stay with one party or another party for many years. For years the Party has used YouTube cautiously and thus failing to embrace it. Inaction will leave our party facing an uphill battle for years to come.

There are sites fighting back some of the best videos I have seen to date are coming from The Cato Institute and ThePeoplesCube.com. The Peoples Cube or Philip DeFranco, make fun of Democrats mercilessly and Cato produces fun and education sites. Another great video sharing site is Reason TV, which produces documentaries from a Libertarian perspective.

WHEN LOVE HURTS-VALENTINE’s DAY: You Don’t Hit a Woman or Molest a Child

Dr. Ada M. Fisher

One of the dirty little secrets smoldering in minority communities has been the abuse of their women by their men. The allegations against “cutie pie” Chris Brown noting his possible assault on singer Rhianna is sickening. If true they ought to lock him up and throw away the key.

It is time for the black community to own up to the abusive nature of many of our relationships and kick the bums out. Any man who would hit a woman is sorry. No excuses! No explanation accepted! Just plain pure sorry. Throw the bums out and quit supporting their “alleged artistry” in boycotting their media presentations. My father told my brothers and I told my sons, “Don’t ever hit a woman for I will help put you in jail.”

Side by side with this goes with the child abuse, where we all turn our heads saying we can’t control it. Underage girls as young as 13 and 14 are having babies out of wedlock without so much as a whimper of indignation from parents, preachers, brothers and others who ought to be outraged. Sex with underage girls is statutory rape.

If a few of the statutes on the books were enforced, some of this female directed violence might change. You aren’t legally grown until you are 18 for voting, entering contracts or military service. As such, underage females can’t legally sexually consent and males should act accordingly.

Too often young girls who are sexually active think they’re grown; but they end up taking the total blame/responsibility for resulting children while the fathers go off to repeat the same behavior with someone different. The disgraceful charades can be witnessed on Maury Povich, in Judge Hatcher’s television court or your local county courtrooms trying to get men to fess up to the seeds they’ve spread.

Society ought to be willing to pay social services to do DNA paternity testing on anyone requesting government child support. Paternity must be established before pay outs are received. If you are going to play, you should be made to pay. If folks were imprisoned or put in a leg monitor to impose work requirements with first job preference for picking crops in the field, jobs sweeping the streets, hauling garbage, etc. we might change some behaviors. If men won’t work to support their children, being in jail at least they can’t make more babies. Such information must be shared across state lines to get dead beat dads off the lame.

Family values aren’t just a Republican thing, but need to become all of our thing. We need to stand with righteous indignation against the videos, music and television shows exploiting women and using them strictly as sex objects. Listening daily to early morning programs, one is impressed by how much women’s fashion, looks and chit chat dominate reinforcing this view of the value of women in terms of how appealing we make ourselves. Boycott such garbage. We are coarsening our culture and losing those conservative family values which should be the bedrock of our society.

Though some might not like President Obama for many reasons, I like the fact that he has a black wife who is his equal and whose beauty is not typical of what we have long held for that standard. I hope one role she takes on as First Lady is to stand against the exploitation and abuse of females of every age. I hope that men who love women will join in this effort.

This weakened economy highlights for the first time; more women are now employed than men across all ethnic groups. I support equal pay for equal work. More must be done to ensure that women and girls have equal protection under the law from predators of every stripe.

Dr. Ada M. Fisher is a physician, licensed secondary education teacher, and NC Republican national Committee Woman. Contact her at P. O. Box 777 ; Salisbury , NC 28145 ;

DrFisher@Fishernchousedistrict77.com