OBAMA VICTORY HEALTH CARE BILL PASSES

by Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Below is a letter I received from MoveOn, the grass roots organization that hits the ground running to help ensure people stay involved in supporting President Obama in his programs and efforts. I’m sharing this with you in case you’re not on their mailing list.

But first, some thoughts:

I must say that I am so proud and pleased that Congress not only passed the Health Care Bill, but they passed it on my Birthday, March 21!!! I feel like celebrating my Birthday all over again. Who am I kidding? As an Aries, I will be celebrating my birthday over and over again, at least until the sign changes. But now I'll have some additional "bragging rights!"

That little ego trip aside, I have want to take the opportunity, while it's still fresh, to say some things that we have to remember going forward because, somehow or other, it appears that we, as Black people are catching a very serious and contagious disease. Johnny Cochrane once said when it comes to business, education, or almost anything, there is a perception that "the white man's ice is colder."

Now what do I mean by quoting that statement? What it means it this: We seem to be harsher in critiquing our own when it comes to mistakes or taking steps that break from the status quo. Case in point: For 8 years we had a “president” who managed to take our country from a major economic surplus and turn it into a crushing deficit, such that, with the help of his cronies, the entire financial underpinnings of the government almost collapsed. And, when they began to try to bring about a "recovery," all they could think of to do was to try to cover their own asses, and make sure no damages were done to their cronies.

Had it not been for President Obama, who had enough insight to see that specific measures needed to be taken across the board, most of us, including yours truly, would be sitting in the middle of a street somewhere, trying to find shelter and food. We know the Bush Administration would not have done anything for any of us.

When President Obama was running for office, before the whole economic downturn nearly derailed the entire country, one of his key platform items was health care reform. He was perfectly clear as to what that would entail: no more bogus, overpriced medications to maintain your health when you can be cured; no denials because of pre-existing conditions; no denials because of age or employment/lack thereof; and a host of things. He was perfectly clear -- he did not stutter. He said what he wanted; he said when he wanted it; he said why it was necessary and who it would help.

It’s interesting when you allow the so called news analysts to get involved, they take the plain and make it obscure. They seem more interested in keeping confusion alive, than providing clarity.

Of course the pharmaceutical companies knew they would lose money because they can't sell you medications you don't need any more; and the surgical industry can't cut off body parts when stem cells can save them. This is why they lobbied so hard. Hmmm wonder why that public option was really canceled? Follow the money.

So, why am I hearing from some of my brothers and sisters that they didn't understand Obama's health care bill? That it was confusing and made no sense? Of course upon closer interrogation, when I asked had they read it in its entirety, they say no, they haven't. Or, some say the medical reform bill is "too expensive" -- though they can't seem to juxtapose that against nearly 10 years of war at a hefty $200 billion a year, or more. We're so in debt to the Chinese, we'd better learn to speak the language because they pretty much own the country, thanks to Bush.

Despite all he's accomplished during his first year, some of us seem to have no compunction about passing judgment on President Obama. By the way Obama is doing a wonderful job. He is on point all the time. Instead of giving him credit where credit is due, we disparage him. We who stood silently (stupidly) by while Bush nearly flushed this country down the toilet. I can understand if certain caucasians of a certain racist persuasion flap their gums. That's just a case of sour grapes. They haven't seen a president that dynamic since LBJ. That's been their stock in trade from day 1. We understand that syndrome

I want to warn you. POC's, about making sacred cows out of bulls--t. I want to warn you about trying to sound "objective". People of other nationalities do wonder about the sanity of some of us when we take the side of the media pundits; or when we play "devil's advocate" instead of standing with Obama. This is no time for fence sitting. Or trying to appear detached or sophisticated. You have to stand for and with Obama all the way through. This is not a fad. We have to stay the course.

Shows like Charlie Rose, Meet the Press, Bill O'Reilly, and others will bring on the nay-sayers, critics, and those who think they have some insight that Obama couldn't possibly have considered. And they may actually sound plausible. The whole concept is to discredit the president and make it look as if it's not personal, just business, procedure, protocol. You know the drill. The surveys that say x% of people don’t understand; x% don’t think it will help and x% think it won’t are designed to detract from the intrinsic value of the bill.

Monetizing health is rather dehumanizing and depersonalizing. You could have the best job in the world, but if you’re ill, or your insurance doesn’t cover your treatment, as far as they are concerned, you can jump in your coffin right now and pull the earth over yourself right now.

If the news media was truly interested in clarifying what Obama’s health care bill was about, they actually could have simply replayed his campaign speech in Denver, CO. He was very explicit. We are, instead, stuck with people who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. For example, what is the value of the human life? What is the value of quality of life? What is more important -- how many people you can kill in a war, or people you can save domestically?

You had best believe, particularly with the Republicans, they will be doing whatever they can to protect their cronies. They’re more important than the people they are constituted to serve. And it's definitely personal, and a vendetta is under way. Despite the efforts of the mainstream right wing media and other press to distort his message, there were enough of us who maintained our senses and thwarted their yellow journalistic efforts. So called faith-based TV shows went overboard in trying to disparage the President through "realistic" news broadcasts. We were on to that as well.

The President has personally gone to communities to talk with people about the efficacies of the health care bill. He cares enough about the people who elected him that he's leaving nothing to chance in shepherding this new bill into fruition.
But what about the rest of us? Those of us who are not necessarily politically involved, but did vote; those of us who live in America, are Black, and have a stake in what happens next? What are we doing? If we think we can coast over the next few years and things will just work themselves out -- Not gonna happen.

WE have a great work to do now. We have to contact and congratulate and thank those members of Congress who supported President Obama; and then we have to send a clear signal to those members of Congress -- Democrat and Republican who did not support him (and by extension, did not support you). By that I mean, we must send more Democrats to Congress this year than ever before -- in both Senate and House of Representatives. No more slip ups. No more oops, how did he or she get in there? We have to get those out who deliberately slowed down the process of the passage of this bill, because it's clear they are not operating in our best interest. We likewise have to begin backing the ones who do. We should know as much about our congressional representatives as we do rap artists, spoken words artists, actors/actresses, or the latest hot piece of music, etc. It’s time to do our homework, our due diligence. This is serious business.

Voting takes all of 5 minutes. But you only get to do it once every two years, and the Republicans have vowed to take revenge against President Obama. Let’s turn the tables and show them what we’re really made of. Do your homework and make sure we put people in place that are there for us. If we don’t we suffer the consequences of having sharks who look upon us as carrion.

If we are going to turn this country around; bring it into being a country that puts its people first, we can't sit around and wait to see what the rest of the folks are doing. We have an obligation to get it done ourselves. We have a brother in the White House who has proven that He “does not back down and he doesn't quit.” And neither should we. So if you haven't already, dust off all those Obama buttons and wear them proudly, and begin looking for a few Obama "clones."

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

By the way: The President also overhauled funds of education, so those of you who thought you could not afford college, can now receive a Pell Grant to defray some of the expenses. Say, "Thank You President Obama!"

PS: MoveOn Letter follows:

Dear MoveOn member,

Yesterday, the House of Representatives made history. Even with the bill's flaws, health care reform is the most important piece of progressive legislation in decades.

Below is a list of ten of the most important things health care reform will accomplish for everyday Americans—none of which would've been possible without the dogged efforts of grassroots progressives and the support of Representative Edolphus Towns.1

But Republicans are already unleashing their spin machine to target Democrats who voted for reform, so we've got to show that we've got their backs. We've set a goal of making 505 thank-you calls from Brooklyn to Rep. Towns's office today—can you join in?

Here's where to call:

Representative Edolphus Towns
Phone: 202-225-5936

(NOTE: CONG. ED TOWNS REPS BROOKLYN, PLEASE LOOK UP AND CALL YOUR LOCAL CONGRESSMAN OR WOMAN - IF THEY VOTED FOR THE BILL; IF THEY DIDN'T CALL AND GIVE THEM A PIECE OF YOUR MIND)

And after you call, take a moment to check out the list and share it with all your friends. Big Insurance and right-wing extremists are already ratcheting up their campaign to spread misinformation about the bill, so it's critical that we get the truth out as widely as possible.

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Lenore, Laura, Michael, and the rest of the team

10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM

1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.

2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.

3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.

4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.

5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.

6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.

7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.

8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.

9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.

10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.

Don’t Believe the Hype: President Obama is on the Right Path

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Interesting how we, the people, tend to develop convenient forms of amnesia. Interesting how easy it is to allow the perpetrators who started the problems we are currently facing in these United States, to turn the tables and make the main person who’s trying to solve the problem the “bad guy”.

How did President Obama become the person who is “wrong”. When did he become the one who’s not “moving in the right direction”? How is that he is the one who “does not know what the people want, or need”? Since when did he become the one who is out of touch with the people? At what point did he become the one who “didn’t explain the situation, the issue, the problem sufficiently, so that somehow, we, the people, now are “confused”? Think about it!!

This is the bilge water the Republican-run media and political pundits are trying to use to brainwash Americans who support President Obama. There is an old saying, “give them an inch, they will take a mile.” And that is apparently patently true when it comes to Republicans. In the Black community, when the perpetrator is trying to cast doubt or blame the other party, we called it “the pot trying to call the kettle black -- of course back in those days we only used cast iron cooking utensils -- but the meaning is pretty much the same: the real culprits are trying to throw you off the track by blaming the hero -- President Obama.

DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE, THE TYPE, OR THE GRIPE on the part of the Republicans and the blow hot-blow cold so-called Independent party.

It has never been a case of whether Americans need either affordable comprehensive health care, or decent well paying jobs. It is a case of Americans needing both -- as enunciated by President Obama in his campaign speeches, his inauguration speech, and from the time he stepped into office. He has not changed the message, or the mission. What’s happened is that the message is being distorted, and there are many who are trying to undermine the mission.

No, President Obama did not forget that jobs were needed. In his speech in Denver, at the Democratic National Convention, he spoke of bringing American jobs back from overseas and giving corporations that did so a tax break for making it so. He reiterated it during his State of the Union Speech.

No, President Obama did not neglect explaining what was going on with his policies. He has been very diligent about keeping his promises. What is happening is that the mainstream media is spending a great deal of time, ink and propaganda distorting the information, to maintain a level of confusion. Unfortunately, America is just beginning to realize that “they been hoodwinked” -- by the media, the so-called blue dogs, and the Republicans. As Malcolm X said, “You been took, you been had!” The lies are piling up higher and higher. Look at the headlines of the newspapers -- they lead with negatives. (interesting isn’t it, that the entire time Bush was taking the US down the proverbial toilet with his misguided policies, you never so much as saw one invective -- wonder why that is?)

No, President Obama is not to blame for the loss of either New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, nor Massachusetts the loss of the Kennedy legacy. The Democratic Party is culpable for being schizoid in its support of him. For once they can blame no one but themselves for any lapses in bills passed, elections clinched, etc. They are in the majority (also known as the cat/bird’s seat). Yet they continue to fumble the ball. They have the responsibility for watching his back, and dealing with any lapses in support nationally and locally. So what’s up with that? Interesting! No time for resting on past laurels. Time to wake up and take care of business.

No. President Obama did not forget how to add. He inherited a government with a trillion dollar deficit, banks failing, automotive industry on stall, millions of jobs disappearing, and rampant foreclosures.

Funny isn’t it? The entire 8 years that these monies were being mismanaged, that people were being bilked out of their earnings; mini-Katrinas were ignored until the big Katrina was staring us stark in the face and all the world saw how far we really sank in terms of Bush's administration. When the prices of housing were "higher than a giraffe’s ass", while salaries and jobs were shrinking faster than a wool sweater in hot water, somebody was asleep at the switch. Then we, the people suddenly realized that you can’t get here from there. Wall Street was trading our mortgages on the international market, and whole blocks of neighborhoods were secretly being sold to foreign interests for pennies on the dollar. We, the people couldn’t get a decent mortgage for a roof over our heads, or find an honest lawyer who would tell the truth about the fact that we were walking into a time bomb that was going to blow up in our faces. Obama was fighting for us - we, the people.

Even before he was President, he was working in his own community in Chicago to help those people who were being devastated by the Bush policies that had trickled down and eviscerated urban centers throughout the country. He saw first hand what was happening, and took a stand even then. He did not forget once he got into office; and he has not lost touch.

When he won the election as the 44th President of the US, Bush handed Barack Obama the broken toy that is America, and said now try and fix it, and oh yeah, here’s the monkey wrench. Interesting how no body thought to hold him accountable for his destruction of the country; no one tied his feet to the fire; no one said hey, wait a minute, how come he and his henchmen get to walk off into the sunset without so much as a reprimand? (well actually, we did, but he got on that helicopter anyway).

Now my question is, where the heck are we coming from? What sam hill is our problem? Why are we allowing the yellow journalists to get away with this garbage of trashing the President, while and sitting back as though our brains are made of swiss cheese? Just like we need to change from the big banks that have abused the privilige of handling our funds while giving us a pittance return on our investments; we likewise need to change the publications we read -- try the local Black News Papers, the international papers; online publications, blogs. Stop allowing the mainstream media to manipulate the truth for their own ends.

We finally have a President who stands for us. Who is not going to allow business as usual to continue on Capitol Hill. Guess what folks, contrary to popular belief, silence is definitely not golden. And yes, we do have the power. And we must stand with our President.

Did we think that now that Bush was out of the White house, and Obama was President, that our job was finished; did we think that his detractors are going to sit back and let him do his job. We all know the answer is NO.

So what should we be doing? Any thing and everything to make sure that we back him up. We should be backing him up in the communities we live in. We should be backing him up in the polls. In the petitions and demonstrations in support of his policies. And we should definitely be making sure that if our locally elected officials are not in compliance with Obama policies -- they should be replaced.

This year is the so-called mid-year election. Supposedly, Democrats in congress are will lose their seats, and Republicans are supposed to gain a majority, as a sort of back-lash against Obama. Well, just like we brought Obama to the White house, it’s time to shake up a few more “givens”. And this one definitely has to be laid to rest. We have to triple, quadruple our efforts now, so that all the primaries are loaded with Democratic candidates, who are there for us. And that we not only keep the majority, we increase it. We have to campaign like we’ve never done before. The strategy is vote or die for real. The strategy is there ain’t no more days like that.

Next, all those states that received stimulus packages that have not shared them with the African American communities, have to be put on blast, immediately. But make sure that when you do so, that you have viable projects in your community ready to go.

Obama’s policy is one of inclusion. DC’s is one of exclusion. Republican’s is one of confusion. WE have to be the Solution. Make sure that each and every one of the incumbents know that we want the Health Care Bill Passed NOW. And make sure that the funding for the jobs bill is taken care of.

When they ask where the money is going to come from for the programs we need implementing, advise them of the following options: they can actually bring the troops back in May instead of August, saving billions and billions of our dollars. That they can make sure that the big banks ante up on those bonuses they managed to set aside for their incompetents, by giving them to underwrite local businesses, and salaries (as the President mentioned in his State of the Union Address - remember?). Tell them to get Bush, Cheyney, Halliburton, and the rest of their cronies that ripped the US off for the past 8 years, and tell them we want our money back Now!

I’m not being unrealistic in my request. Nor am I being facetious. I am saying that now is the time to stop treating the perpetrators like sacred cows, while the President is being subjected to racist remarks, duplicitous behavior, and salacious inuendos - I am saying that it is time to return to integrity -- or maybe I should say, get some integrity. At any rate, the principle has always been people (ie humans) first; things (money, positions) second. Sure, they want the status quo. But I think we made it clear when we elected Obama we were tired of the run of the mill run over us while they run away with the money type of government. We are tired of footing the bill, while they plant their foot dead in our derrieres (individually and collectively).

If you take care of the people - us -- the people will take care of you. This principle was violated over and over again by the Bush Administration. The Obama Administration is trying to change it. He can’t do it by himself. He needs us, and we need him.

So, people what have we just learned from this little treatise? I sum it up with these Commandments (of sort):

Thou shall not allow the hostile media and the Republicans to commit iniquitous acts against our President;
Thou shall not allow false witness against the President to go unchallenged -- regardless of whether it’s on TV, Radio, Newspaper, or some religious fanatic;
Thou shall not recite (regurgitate or parrot) media crapola chapter and verse as though it was the truth (due diligence is the name of the game);
Thou shall take a stand for the policies that our President stands for, and encourage your associates, family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances to do the same;
Thou shall turn out in record numbers to vote for issues that are in concert with the President’s policies and encourage your associates, family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances to do the same; (ie vote like you’re voting for Obama all over again, with lines around the block -- make them know that you are taking a stand
Thou shall not let the main stream media program you against President Obama;
Thou shall not allow the media to insult your intelligence by telling you you don’t know what you do know;
Thou shall make sure that both Affordable Health Care Bill and Jobs for America legislation are passed;
Thou shall read the President’s speeches and statements for your self (either online or in hardcopy), and make sure your children do the same;
Thou shall keep a running tally of all the good things President Obama has accomplished since coming to office;
Thou shall be wary of Republicans bearing gifts; and of Independents, many of whom are really Republicans in disguise;
Thou shall bring people first and humaneness to our communities, neighborhood, and America.

If we begin now with these few commandments, and come up with axioms as we go along, we can begin to bring about the change we need to see in the how things are done, and how they affect us and our families. And like President Obama says, if you have better ideas, please bring them.

Stay blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: WE DON’T GIVE UP AND WE DON’T QUIT!!

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

You know, if I weren't more sophisticated, worldly and politically savvy, I would definitely have done a "happy dance" and flipped an "in your face" symbol to all the right wingers -- media, repugnantcans (oops, I mean Republicans), and religious fanatics of that ilk -- last night when President Obama wound up his first State of the Union Address. And I would not have been alone. I can just see millions of Americans who supported Obama, but who had had some trepidation about his standing, owing to the poisonous media coverage of late, and how he would be received on this most auspicious occasion.

Apparently, we need not have worried. For despite their best efforts to distort his image, to make him seem uncaring and out of touch; to even come up with some bogus popularity poll (by the way, they didn’t call me, did they call you?) that had him somewhere below 50% for the first time, President Barack Obama showed he was not only the same person we elected as president of these United States, but he was even better than ever!

Even Katie Couric on CBS announced that a poll they had gathered immediately after the speech had President Obama with a 70% approval rating! And after watching Charlie Rose's gathering of pundits, I realized that no one had actually checked in with us as to what our response to President Obama's State of the Union Address was. So allow me: IT WAS GREAT! FANTANSTIC, WONDERFUL, INSPIRATIONAL, MOTIVATIONAL, AND EMPHATIC!!!

Did you hear him? Did you absorb the information he delivered, practically without pencil or paper -- genius that he is -- as he stood before the joint House and Senate (Republicans and Democrats). The brother was brilliant!!! He was erudite!!! He was creative!!! He was candid!!! He was humorous!!! He was courageous!!! He was effective!!! And he was perfectly clear when he said: We Don’t Give Up and We Don’t Quit!!

Even thoughthere were some political missteps and mistakes in the recent past (i.e the Kennedy's lost Massachuetts), he didn’t roll over and play dead, he didn’t compromise, he didn’t pull out the political expediency card -- he was clear about what the country needed when he was elected, and that necessity has not changed. The time to get it done is now. He put Congress on notice that turning their backs on the American people because of a few minor setbacks was not an option. He pointed out that having a majority of Democrats in office for the first time in 40 years is supposed to mean something -- laws are supposed to get passed -- not people running for the hills, concerned about their next election to such an extent that they forsake their responsibility to their constituents. He made it plain that he expected the Democrats to do their jobs. Not waffle. Wow!!!

By the way, if anyone was wondering whether or not the Health Care Bill was DOA (dead on arrival), guess again -- it’s been needed for 40 years, it was needed yesterday, it's needed today, and will be needed tomorrow. Millions will lose their insurance by the time he ended the speech, he quipped, so it is still needed. It’s time to get it done. If you got a better plan, bring it, he’ll look at it, but if not, stop shortchanging the populace, and pass the bill. (One wonders what would they do if one of their family members was directly affected by the bill?).

Individuals already insured can keep their current insurance plan and their doctor; there would be a reduction in costs and premiums for millions of families; and it would bring the deficit down by over $1 trillion over the next two decades. The President observed that the longer the House and Senate harangued over the Health Care bill, with their incessant posturing to please the pharmaceutical lobbyists and private interest groups, the more confused Americans become as to what the health bill would do and who would benefit.

While he blamed himself for part of the confusion, stating that he should have better explained the program, I beg to differ. In point of fact, President Obama’s original proposal was perfectly clear! The only distortion was in mainstream, right wing-run media, who took particular pleasure in distorting the facts and throwing scare tactics into their distorted, and obviously slanted reports.

“Still,” he stated, “this is a complex issue, and the longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became. I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people. And I know that with all the lobbying and horse-trading, the process left most Americans wondering, "What's in it for me?" Premiums will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber. “

The President’s aggressive program for bringing jobs back to America, the same one he articulated when he was running for President, was passed by the House a week ago, and is awaiting passage in the Senate. And woe betide the senator who does not step up to the plate with the whole world watching. In addition to green jobs, job training, and educational programs, there are major tax incentives to companies that bring the jobs back from overseas also on the table. There should be no quibbling on the part of the legislators who claim to stand for their constituents best interests. It puts the issue squarely where it belongs: are you for your constituents or for the foreign dollars.

Speaking of which, the President stated that it is time that the US become more competitive in the foreign trade markets, developing goods and services that can be sold overseas. This further expands opportunities for small businesses to present their products to a broader market base.

“Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit. In this new decade, it's time the American people get a government that matches their decency; that embodies their strength“.

For those with convenient amnesia, Obama briefly recounted the condition the government was in when he took office: Ten years ago, in 2000, there was a surplus from the Clinton Administration of $200 billion dollars; by the time the Bush administration finished in 2008, America was $3 trillion in the hole. And the gap was getting wider and wider by the day. If he had not supported the proposed bail out package at the time, American would most likely have been thrust into deep depression.

“So I supported the last administration's efforts to create the financial rescue program. And when we took that program over, we made it more transparent and more accountable. And as a result, the markets are now stabilized, and we've recovered most of the money we spent on the banks. Most but not all. To recover the rest, I've proposed a fee on the biggest banks. (YAAY!!!) Now, I know Wall Street isn't keen on this idea. But if these firms can afford to hand out big bonuses again, they can afford a modest fee to pay back the taxpayers who rescued them in their time of need. Now, as we stabilized the financial system, we also took steps to get our economy growing again, save as many jobs as possible, and help Americans who had become unemployed. That's why we extended or increased unemployment benefits for more than 18 million Americans; made health insurance 65 percent cheaper for families who get their coverage through COBRA; and passed 25 different tax cuts. Now, let me repeat: We cut taxes. We cut taxes for 95 percent of working families. We cut taxes for small businesses. We cut taxes for first-time homebuyers. We cut taxes for parents trying to care for their children. We cut taxes for 8 million Americans paying for college.”

Just for the record, it’s obvious that Republicans aren’t the only ones who know how to cut taxes-- so let’s disabuse ourselves from that myth now and forever. Tax cuts are not just in the province of the Republicans.

“I'm proposing that we take $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid and use it to help community banks give small businesses the credit they need to stay afloat. I'm also proposing a new small business tax credit- one that will go to over one million small businesses who hire new workers or raise wages. While we're at it, let's also eliminate all capital gains taxes on small business investment, and provide a tax incentive for all large businesses and all small businesses to invest in new plants and equipment. Next, we can put Americans to work today building the infrastructure of tomorrow. From the first railroads to the Interstate Highway System, our nation has always been built to compete. There's no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains, or the new factories that manufacture clean energy products.”

Does that sound like a man who is out of touch with his fellow Americans, or who has no concern for the middle class’ economic well being or viability? Does that sound like a person who is prone to political expediency?

I’m sure Wall Street did not like the fact that the President has now put the whole world on notice that there will be no more days when they are treated like royalty while Main Street gets treated like cannon fodder. Stating that they can no longer play Russian roulet with American funds, the President outlined a financial integrity bill that must be passed, and not watered down. If it does not do what it is supposed to do, he has threatened/promised to send it back until they “get it right!”

Rather than the "sloganese" that leaves people feeling that you’re doing something while actually just the opposite is the case, President Obama focused on education and failing schools, stating, “we've broken through the stalemate between left and right by launching a national competition to improve our schools. Instead of rewarding failure, we only reward success. Instead of funding the status quo, we only invest in reform -- reform that raises student achievement; inspires students to excel in math and science; and turns around failing schools that steal the future of too many young Americans, from rural communities to the inner city. In the 21st century, the best anti-poverty program around is a world-class education. When we renew the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, we will work with Congress to expand these reforms to all 50 states. Still, in this economy, a high school diploma no longer guarantees a good job.”

He further p;roposed a bill to revitalize community colleges, make college more affordable. Gone will be the tax breaks for banks that make student loans. Instead there will be a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and an increase in Pell Grants. “And let's tell another one million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years -- and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they chose to go to college”

My only reaction to this was GREAT!!! I just wish this had happened when I was struggling as a single parent to put my three through college by hook or crook. The Bush Administration definitely did not make it easy. Like many parents, I became good at the art of finagle -- so much so that I tell everyone now that I have absolutely no credit, but have absolutely fabulous investments in my three beautiful children, all of whom have graduated from college. Obama plan would have greatly added to my sanity, if not to my savings. So for those of you who don’t get the magnitude of what he is trying to do, figure that a college education now costs between $14,000 and $40,000 per year. Like he said, “you should not have to go into permanent debt trying to get an education.”

He is also working to lift the value of single family homes, by allowing them to refinance their homes at lower interest rates, and save an average of $1500 month on mortgages. “This year, we will step up refinancing so that homeowners can move into more affordable mortgages.”

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. There had been bets by pundits that the Health Care Bill was dead in the water. That Coakley’s defeat in Boston had sealed the deal. The salacious were licking their chops waiting for some sign of frustration, contrition, defeat. But not our President. With that wry smile of his, he continued, “And it is precisely to relieve the burden on middle-class families that we still need health insurance reform. Yes, we do. Now, let's clear a few things up. I didn't choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt. And by now it should be fairly obvious that I didn't take on health care because it was good politics.“

Ah, yes. That wonderful sardonic wit, for which he is so famous, came through once again: “I took on health care because of the stories I've heard from Americans with preexisting conditions whose lives depend on getting coverage; patients who've been denied coverage; families -- even those with insurance -- who are just one illness away from financial ruin. After nearly a century of trying -- Democratic administrations, Republican administrations -- we are closer than ever to bringing more security to the lives of so many Americans. The approach we've taken would protect every American from the worst practices of the insurance industry. It would give small businesses and uninsured Americans a chance to choose an affordable health care plan in a competitive market. It would require every insurance plan to cover preventive care.”

Adding to the charisma that is Obama, he announced that First Lady, Michelle Obama, is creating a national movement to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity, and make kids healthier. Ms. Obama, who was sitting in the audience, stunning in a burgundy tafeta and knit dress, waived and smiled beautifully at the camera.

To further emphasize his determination to make a change in the way things get done in Washington, President Obama issued and executive order to establish a bipartisan fiscal commissin to provide a specific set of solutions dealing with line items in the budget that needed to be discontinued, thereby saving billions of dollars to the American taxpayer. This wil restore the pay-as-you-go-law which made it possible for the surpluses that came about under the Clinton Administration.

He further announced a freeze on government spending beginning in 2011, giving sufficient time for some of his proposed measures to take effect. Using his signature humor, he indicated that the right may suggest that they should “just make fewer investments in our people, extend tax cuts including those for the wealthier Americans, eliminate more regulations, maintain the status quo on health care, our deficits will go away. The problem is that's what we did for eight years. That's what helped us into this crisis. It's what helped lead to these deficits. We can't do it again. Rather than fight the same tired battles that have dominated Washington for decades, it's time to try something new. Let's invest in our people without leaving them a mountain of debt. Let's meet our responsibility to the citizens who sent us here. Let's try common sense. A novel concept.”

Further proof that President Barack Obama is a cut above his predecessors, he wisely noted that the discontent in American was not just about jobs, health care or education, but also a deficit of trust that permeates the country. “…deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years. To close that credibility gap we have to take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue -- to end the outsized influence of lobbyists; to do our work openly; to give our people the government they deserve. That's why -- for the first time in history -- my administration posts on our White House visitors online. That's why we've excluded lobbyists from policymaking jobs, or seats on federal boards and commissions.
But we can't stop there. It's time to require lobbyists to disclose each contact they make on behalf of a client with my administration or with Congress. It's time to put strict limits on the contributions that lobbyists give to candidates for federal office.”

He likewise cited the fact that a Republican packed Supreme Court “reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests -- including foreign corporations -- to spend without limit in our elections. I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people. And I'd urge Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to correct some of these problems.” Anyone who knows the definition of a corporation knows that it cannot be considered on the same par with human beings. A corporation lasts for ever, and therefore should not be accorded the same rights as an individual -- wonder who’s bankrolling the supreme court judges. Remember that little travesty of 2000 that gave us George Bush as President, in light of a recount that would most likely have proven Al Gore had actually won. Hmmmmm?)

To provide further transparency, President Obama has also asked Congress to continue earmark reform by posting all earmarks on a single website so the public can view them, and track the dollars and the votes as they proceed. While earmarks have been given a bad name, depending on whose side you sit on, they can actually be of significant importance to making sure that funds are allocated appropriately for key programs in different districts. (More on earmarks and what they mean to us in an upcoming article)

“Now, I'm not naïve. I never thought that the mere fact of my election would usher in peace and harmony -- (laughter) -- and some post-partisan era. I knew that both parties have fed divisions that are deeply entrenched. And on some issues, there are simply philosophical differences that will always cause us to part ways…” While I totally applaud President Obama’s efforts to take the high ground and appeal to both Democrats and Republicans to cease the lies, back biting, b.s. filibustering and political one gunmanship, the kind of stuff that makes Americans believe that neither side means them any good, I want to caution him against staking his Administration on it actually happening. In the past, as in the present, the Republicans seem to represent viciousness, ultra conservatism, trickery, lies, war mongering and deceit -- to put it mildly. It’s a very Machiavellian attitude at which they will stop at nothing to undermine his authority and his progress. So while he cautions that: “We can't wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most

"But what frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is Election Day. We can't wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about the other side -- a belief that if you lose, I win" (unfortunately, this is exactly how the Republicans operate)." Neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can. The confirmation of well-qualified public servants shouldn't be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual senators." (once again, this is their stock in trade -- opposition for the sake of opposition). Washington may think that saying anything about the other side, no matter how false, no matter how malicious, is just part of the game. But it's precisely such politics that has stopped either party from helping the American people. Worse yet, it's sowing further division among our citizens, further distrust in our government (the bigger wedge they can drive between the people and the government, the happier they are -- it‘s a fact of life, and the very fiber of their existence. Blind opposition, greed, inhumane treatment).

This is not to say don’t try; just don’t stop the process of doing what needs to be done to bring them along, particularly if you are in the driver’s seat with your foot on the gas, and they have theirs on the brakes.)

The President also promised equal pay for equal work for women; jobs in green technology, bringing the troops home from Iraq by August of this year; a new and improved Veterans Administration for returning troops; a Civil Rights Division that is once again prosecuting civil rights violations and employment discrimination; and strongerlaws to protect against crimes driven by hate.

Summing it up he stated, “The spirit that has sustained this nation for more than two centuries lives on in you, its people. We have finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don't quit. I don't quit. (Applause.) Let's seize this moment -- to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.”

Now, I was tempted to post the entire transcript of President Obama’s speech on the blog. I may still do it, but you can really go online and download it for yourself.

I think each and every teacher in each and every school in the US should provide a copy of this speech for the students, who, in turn, should study his speeches for content and context. This is the stuff that history and heroes re made of, from Elementary school children through college level. Adults especially should be read this speech, because the President is going to need each and every one of us to help implement his plans. He's working for us, we need to do our part. There are 300 million of us in the US. That should be enough to make sure that Obama succeeds in giving us what we need to be the greatest nation ever. We cannot be ambivalent about issues concerning us while he's doing all he can to make the changes he promised a reality. We have to step up and be involved.

Like President Barack Obama, we don't give up and we don't quit until they get it right for all of us.

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria Dulan-Wilson