Do You Support Obama’s Health Care Plan?
July 24th, 2009The Obama administration has sent out a call-to-action that allows the public to declare support for the three principles of the president’s health care plan. Visit the site.
The Obama administration has sent out a call-to-action that allows the public to declare support for the three principles of the president’s health care plan. Visit the site.
Pioneers for Peace leader needs public support. One of the nation’s best-known activists against gun violence is up against a new opponent: cancer. Weusi Olusola, president of Pioneers for Peace, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 of the illness and told that he has six months to live. Known throughout the nation among urban peace activists, Olusola has appeared on TV episodes of “Judge Hatchett,” “Maury Povich,” CNN and even in Good Housekeeping magazine. He and the Pioneers for Peace – all survivors of gun attacks – have spoken at hundreds of schools, youth rallies and other functions. Under Olusola’s leadership, the organization even received praise from ex-President George W. Bush, who issued a “Daily Point of Light” award. Olusola’s recent diagnosis left him unable to make public appearances to support his family, and he only recently received medical insurance. The Park West Foundation for youth plans a March event to honor Olusola and collect donations to help him. “This is an opportunity for Weusi to receive back some of the love he’s given,” says program director Saba Gebrai. “After 23 years of working in the community, he deserves it.” A former high school basketball star, Olusola was left wheelchair-bound at 16 after he was shot in Detroit. He has since committed his life to helping end gang and youth violence. For information about how to help Weusi, visit the Web site .

Blacks were nearly unanimous in support of Obama.
Blacks were practically unanimous in their support for Obama, who will be the first African-American president. Black voters propelled Obama to victory with 95 percent of their votes. About two-thirds of Hispanics backed Obama, putting an end to a question of whether they would support a Black candidate, which was a holdover from the Democratic primaries, when they mostly supported Obama’s rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, as to whether they would support a Black candidate. Another Election Day puzzle was also put to rest: suspense over whether supporters of the New York senator and former first lady would back the man who vanquished her in those primaries. About eight in 10 of them rallied behind Obama, according to election analysts.
In the primaries, their candidate of choice was Hillary Clinton.

Latino Americans, who overwhelmingly backed Sen. Hillary Clinton in the primary election, now appear to be flocking to Sen. Barack Obama as their choice for president. In fact, more than three in four Latinos who voted for Clinton last time – 77 percent, according to a new Pew Hispanic Center survey – say that Obama is their man in November. Fifty-five percent of all Latinos said they believe Obama is better for their people, while about one in 10 believe Sen. John McCain is a better choice. When it comes to education, Latinos like Obama over McCain 66 percent to 19 percent; on jobs, it’s Obama 65 percent to 19 percent; health care, Obama over McCain 64 percent to 19 percent; crime, Obama 50 percent to McCain 26 percent. Twice as many Latinos prefer Obama over McCain on the issue of the war in Iraq, 58 percent to 27 percent. And while Obama did not fair well against Clinton in the primaries, the fact is, Latinos overwhelmingly identify with the Democratic Party. Only 26 percent of Latinos say they identify with Republicans the Pew survey shows. Latinos comprise about 15 percent of the U.S. population but only 9 percent of eligible voters, but as their numbers in society rise, they are becoming the most sought-after political bloc.