By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

July 22, 2008 – By embarking on his recent tour of the Middle East, Sen. Barack Obama has managed to monopolize the media while annoying his his headline-starved Republican rival, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)

McCain has been working overtime to draw some of the news coverage that his camp contends is unfairly skewed toward the presumptive Democratic nominee.  But it appears that even the chatter about “fairness” has only given more ink and airtime to Obama.

On Sunday Obama’s trip to the Middle East made headlines, touting his meeting with Afghanistan leaders and visits with U.S. troops; on Monday his meetings with Iraqi leaders and U.S. military commander in Baghdad created a buzz; and that was all topped by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki telling a German magazine that he thought Obama’s timetable for withdrawing troops was reasonable.

And there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight to the gushing over Obama if a poll released on Monday is any indication.  Rasmussen Reports released the results of a survey of 1,000 likely voters, showing that 49 percent of them believe reporters will favor Obama in their coverage this fall, compared with only 14 percent who expect the press to give the Arizona senator a leg up. 

These findings are exactly why the McCain camp has stepped up television advertising while Obama is overseas and made a point of leaking the story about The New York Times’ refusal to run McCain’s opinion editorial on the Iraq war last weekend.  McCain had written a response to an article by his Democratic rival, titled “My Plan for Iraq.”   The Times wanted McCain to provide his own plan rather than merely criticizing that of his opponent.

The Obama campaign has been setting the agenda, thus making it tough for McCain to gain any media momentum. His jaunt overseas has been well choreographed to shift the conversation from the economy to the war in Iraq, a topic McCain has considered his strong suit.

 But Obama has managed to shift the conversation and the discussion around the U.S. strategy concerning troop levels in Iraq in one fell swoop, not to mention overshadowing McCain’s town hall meeting with the news from Maliki.   

The prime minister was quoted in a German magazine saying, “U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months.  That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes.”

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Obama did not mention his plans to bring troops out of the region in 16 months during Monday’s meeting with the prime minister.  But the comments were enough to bring swift reaction from the White House, which is working on a planned agreement with Iraq due the end of this month.

White House press secretary Dana Perino told reporters, “What it will not do is have any sort date tied to combat troops, like how many American troops would be in Iraq at X date. That would not be included.”

Al-Maliki’s spokesman, Dabbagh, said, “We cannot give any timetables or dates, but the Iraqi government believes the end of 2010 is the appropriate time for the withdrawal of the forces.”

Obama is going to Europe when he leaves the Middle East, so McCain will have to keep busy stateside to make sure he gets his fair share of the political spotlight. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

July 21,, 2008 – Black Republicans are being asked if party loyalty or the chance to vote for an African American for president will be a tough choice to make. 

Prominent Black members of the GOP, including former Secretary of State Colin Powell, political talk show host Armstrong Williams and former Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts, have all noted that the historic nature of this election could make the choice tough, but they haven’t disclosed whether they will vote for Sen. Barack Obama. 

Over the weekend, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was asked by CNN show host Wolf Blitzer what she thought of Obama’s candidacy to become the next commander and chief.

Blitzer: “Now, you grew up in the segregated South. You know what racism is in our country. The fact that Barack Obama is now the Democratic presidential nominee, what does that say to you?”

Rice: “I think it’s great. And I think it’s great for our country. And I do think it says that we’ve come a long way. But it’s interesting that it’s from Colin Powell. He knocked down a few barriers of his own. He knocked down the barrier of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He knocked down the barrier to the first Black Secretary of State. Yes, I’ve knocked down a few too. It just shows that our country has been doing this for a while, and it’s great that this last barrier perhaps, has also come down.”

Blitzer: “Have you decided who to vote for?”

Rice: “Wolf, yes.”

Blitzer: “Do you want to tell us?’

Rice: “No.”

Rice, a Republican, is one of President Bush’s top advisers on foreign affairs. She wasn’t given up the info on her presidential pick.  But it makes you wonder, why didn’t she just say the nominee of her party when asked?

Do you think Black Republicans will cross party lines to support the first African-American nominated by a major party for the presidency, or will they stick with the GOP?
 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

(July 18, 2008) – It looks like the opportunity for the two presidential rivals to speak to 6,000 minority journalist won’t be taking place at the Journalists of Color convention Unity.  

According to Richard Prince’s Journal-ism.com both Sen.’s John McCain and Barack Obama won’t be able to attend because of other commitment.  Obama is scheduled to be in Europe for one of his first international trips since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee.  McCain is set to speak at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

Convention planners had hoped to attract the two candidates and feature them as speakers on in Chicago on July 24.  Onica Makwakwa, Unity’s executive director, told Journal-isms, “We’re still working on it. We’re still working on both campaigns. We know there are some changes with the schedules for both of them. We should be able to make an announcement in a few days of what adjustments, if any, we will make.”

It appears invites were extended but neither candidate had committed to attending Unity.   While journalist are usually the link between the candidate and the voter, Nick Charles, Vice President of content for BET.com, pointed out; “They don’t need journalists as they did before: with the Internet, they go straight to the people.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

(July 16, 2008) – Trying to make the most out of a rare Republican address to a humongous African-American audience, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told the NAACP convention Wednesday that there needed to be much more energy toward improving education, suring up the economy and eliminating federal spending.  The Republican nominee was making a direct appeal for the Black vote. 

In recent days, McCain’s African-American party mates have been adamant that he should not concede the Black vote to his African-American rival for the presidency.  The Arizona senator’s appearance on Wednesday already puts him ahead of the man he hopes to succeed. President Bush declined the civil rights organization’s invitation throughout his first term in office and spoke to the gathering only once during his second term.

McCain knows he won’t wrestle a slew of Black votes from Sen. Barack Obama, but he opened his remarks with nothing but praise for the Illinois senator. “Don’t tell him I said this, but he is an impressive fellow in many ways,” McCain effused. “He has inspired a great many Americans, some of whom had wrongly believed that a political campaign could hold no purpose or meaning for them. His success should make Americans, all Americans, proud.”

McCain added jokingly, “Of course, I would prefer his success not continue quite as long as he hopes.”

Understanding the importance of education to this audience, McCain used the opportunity to introduce his policies to the audience.  To some applause, McCain told 5,000 gathered at the 99th Annual meeting in Cincinnati that “after decades of hearing the same big promises from the public education establishment, and seeing the same poor results, it is surely time to shake off old ways and to demand new reforms.”

A shakeup by a McCain administration would mean more “choice,” including public education dollars to pay for private and religious school education, and better pay for teachers.  “I will target funding to recruit teachers who graduate in the top 25 percent of their class, or who participate in an alternative teacher recruitment program such as Teach for America, the American Board for Teacher Excellence, and the New Teacher Project,” McCain said.

While education was the largest focus of the speech, McCain also pledged not to increase taxes as part of his economic plan and to work across party lines, “reforming government and controlling spending.”

“My opponent and I have honest differences as well about the growth of government. And it may be that many of you share his view. But even allowing for disagreement, surely there is common ground in the principle that government cannot go on forever spending recklessly and incurring debt,” McCain said.

The audience was gracious to the Republican presidential candidate and interrupted his remarks with applause on several occasions. McCain ended his remarks by making one last pitch, “I am a candidate for president who seeks your vote and hopes to earn it. But whether or not I win your support, I need your good will and counsel. And should I succeed, I’ll need it all the more.”
 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

July 15, 2008 — Sen. Barack Obama told thousands gathered to hear him speak at the annual meeting of the NAACP’s convention he would not halt his call for African-Americans to embark on “individual responsibility” as part of the solution for improving the plight of Black families and communities. 

Obama who is poised to become the first Black Democratic presidential nominee, said his journey to the White House, should he win, isn’t enough, stressing that it will require all Americans to exercise greater social responsibility. 

His remarks during the civil rights organization’s 99th annual convention in Cincinnati Monday night praised those Black leaders, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rep. John Lewis, and the organization’s executive director, Julian Bond, for paving the way for today’s aspirating leaders.   He told the crowd of 3,000, “If we’re serious about reclaiming that dream, we have to do more in our own lives.

 ”But with providing the guidance our children need, turning off the TV set and putting away the video games; attending those parent-teacher conferences; helping our children with their homework; setting a good example. That’s what everybody’s got to do,” Obama insisted.

He received thunderous applause when he urged Blacks to demand more of themselves, without mentioning recent criticism he received from the Rev. Jesse Jackson.   Last week Jackson accused Obama of “talking down” to Black folks in his earlier comments on the issue of “responsibility” of Black men to their families. Jackson later issued an apology to the Illinois senator for his remarks.

 But Obama reiterated the theme Monday night, saying, “I know some say I’ve been too tough on folks talking about responsibility. NAACP, I’m here to report, I’m not going to stop talking about it. Because as much I’m out there to fight to make sure that government’s doing its job and the marketplace is doing its job, … none of it will make a difference — at least not enough of a difference — if we also don’t at the same time seize more responsibility in our own lives.”

The 46-year-old, father of two, told those gathered at the Duke Energy Center that “when we are taking care of our own stuff, then a lot of other folks are going to be interested in joining up and working with us and taking care of America’s stuff. We can lead by example, as we did in the Civil Rights Movement. Because the problems that plague our community are not unique to us. We just have them a little worse, but they’re not unique to us.”

Obama revealed in his books that he grew up without his father and has spoken often about the importance of parental responsibility and fathers participating in their children’s lives.

 Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) is scheduled to address the convention on Wednesday. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

July 14, 2008 – Tony Snow’s death, at 53 on Saturday, was something we all feared would come too soon, and for his family, friends and colleagues it is defiantly did. 

I met Tony more than 20 years ago when we were both frequent guests on the weekly public affairs show “Evening Exchange.” 

The WHUR-TV program featured a round-table of journalists, who discussed the happenings in the nation’s capital. It was hosted by D.C. fixture Kojo Namdi .

Topics often focused on the African-American community – issues Snow was well-suited to address since, at the time, he was the Washington bureau chief for The Detroit News, which covered a majority-Black city.

After Snow left The News and joined The Washington Times staff, our paths didn’t cross as often.  We would see each other periodically, but we didn’t see each other on a regular basis again until he became the White House press secretary in 2006.

When I saw him at his first White House briefing, he bent to give me a hug and kiss, which prompoted April Ryan, White House correspondent for the Urban Radio Network, to ask jokingly, “Why is Tony kissing you?” 
One of the last times we talked at length was during the White House Christmas party.  He looked good, and we chatted about the primary that was underway.  We were interrupted frequently by folks wanting to say hello.  It had been only four months since he had left his post at the White House to concentrate on his fight against colon cancer.

The last time I saw Tony was shortly after it was announced he would be going to CNN; he was excited about getting back into the media with such a historic and competitive race underway. He didn’t want to be on the sidelines.

My sincerest condolences to his wife Jill and their three children.

July 11, 2008 – The Rev. Jesse Jackson’s comments that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) “was talking down” to Black folks has critics talking up the demise of the civil rights leader’s long-running power position in the Black community.

Newspaper and television reports asked if the civil rights leader is still relevant, influential and the dominate voice of Black America. Some went so far as to ask whether Jackson’s comments helped the Illinois senator distance himself from the man who walked side by side with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and later founded the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition – distance that would give him an advantage among White working-class voters he’s working to woo.

While it’s not really clear what it’s done for Jackson, it is clear what it has done for Obama. The 46-year-old senator already has surpassed President Bill Clinton’s popularity among Black voters and, judging from my readers’ comments, Jackson’s criticism of Obama did not sway his supporters; they were just disappointed he made them.

Take Blogger lsyss’ comments, for instance: “Reverend Jackson and other [B]lacks need to realize that Barack is a politician and not a civil rights leader. It is not his job to solve just African American problems, but America’s problems as a whole.”

…And those of Fahay, who thought the comments were part of a strategy: “Rev. Jackson is quite savvy and experienced with the media. I could be wrong, but nothing said while mic’d is for naught and he knows this. This was picked up, because he wanted it picked up!”

But the reaction to this recent slip of the tongue shows that the Black community can and will embrace “new” leadership.

“This moment only reinforces that we have to let the younger guys take the lead in politics, that they know the issues of today, that we live in a far different world than 20 years ago,” Michel Dukakis told The New York Times [WHEN????]. Dukakis and Jackson competed for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988.

Angelic777 writes in my blog, “Jesse we know it’s hard, bro, not being the chosen one to head up America; it was not your calling. Yours was to keep hope alive; Obama’s is to take us to a much needed change.”

Film producer Spike Lee, may have said it best. “I don’t think his (Jackson’s) comments help anybody; it’s just unfortunate,” Lee told The Associated Press following his participation on a panel at the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles.

Lee, an Obama supporter, predicted his candidate will win in the fall. “When that happens, it will change everything. … You’ll have to measure time by `Before Obama’ and `After Obama.’ It’s an exciting time to be alive now.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer July 10, 2008 – The Rev. Jesse Jackson is no stranger to controversy, media spotlight or the ground rules when speaking with the press.  But if he had forgotten, his latest slip of the tongue will serve as a pungent reminder to remember past lessons.  

On Sunday, while in the FOX News studio waiting to be interviewed, Jackson leaned over to another guest, Reed V. Tuckson, the former chief medical officer for the District of Columbia and President of the Charles Drew University in Los Angeles, and whispered, “Barack has been talking down to Black people. …I want to cut his nuts off.” In a rapid response, the founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition issued a statement denouncing the “crude” nature of his comments and apologized to the presumptive Democratic nominee.

“I apologize,” Rev. Jackson said Wednesday. “My support for Senator Obama’s campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal. I cherish this redemptive and historical moment.  My appeal was for the moral content of his message, to not only deal with the personal and moral responsibility of Black males, but to deal with the collective moral responsibility of government and the public policy which would be a corrective action for the lack of good choices that often led to their irresponsibility.”

Still, his actions brought swift rejection from the civil rights leader’s son, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), the national co-chairman of Obama’s presidential campaign. In rallying behind his candidate, he proved that political alliances can be stronger than family ties. “I’m deeply outraged and disappointed in Reverend Jackson’s reckless statements about Senator Barack Obama. His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee – and I believe the next president of the United States – contradict his inspiring and courageous career,” Jackson Jr. wrote in a statement.

Jackson said his comments were in reference to visits Obama has made to Black churches during his campaign, at which the 46-year-old senator has said Black folks are responsible for their families and their communities. While Jackson has also been outspoken about Black America’s responsibility to play an active role in improving its plight, he has been careful to highlight the government’s responsibility to provide equal opportunity and racial justice.

But, Jackson knows that everything one says while wearing a microphone in a television studio is on the record. He also knows that a careless remark – even one he thought was off the record – can be costly. After all, it was his clumsy reference to Jews as “Hymies” and New York as “Hymietown” during his 1984 presidential bid that nearly destroyed his lifelong work within the Jewish community. And his gaffe late last year about Obama “acting White” perhaps revealed Jackson’s latent belief that the Illinois senator’s political perspective was out of line with that of the traditional civil rights establishment.

 Granted, this was a careless move on Jackson’s part, but I also know it was not intended to do harm to the Obama’s shot at being commander and chief.  After hearing his comments had been recorded, Jackson appeared on CNN to publicly apologize, issued a statement to the press and called the senator’s office with his apology.

  His immediate actions may slow his roll on political chatter, but what it won’t stop speculation about some underlying dissention among old-school Black leadership regarding Obama’s candidacy.  The topic wasn’t on the radar before this and support for Obama appeared unwavering.  

 Bill Burton, spokesman for the Obama campaign, suggested that the brouhaha was being blown out of proportion. “Of course” the senator accepts the reverends apology, he said. Jackson’s son’s wasn’t so forgiving.  “Reverend Jackson is my dad and I’ll always love him,” he said But, “he should know how hard that I’ve worked for the last year and a half as a national co-chair of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. So, I thoroughly reject and repudiate his ugly rhetoric. He should keep hope alive and any personal attacks and insults to himself.”

Whew, I bet the next family dinner will be a bit tense at the Jackson’s house.  

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer 

July 9, 2008 – A group of high-profile Black Republicans want Sen. John McCain to woo Black voters.  While admitting that running against Sen. Barack Obama will make it tough to win over Blacks, they’re encouraging him to go for it. 

On Tuesday, NBC/The National Journal reported African-American Republicans met with McCain in his northern Virginia campaign headquarters and told the Arizona senator not to abandon the notion of courting Black voters.

The meeting of high-powered Black conservatives included former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, former Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts, and via conference call, Lynn Swann, the former pro football star who ran for governor of Pennsylvania in 2006.

According to NBC, the group delivered a message that McCain and the Republican Party should reach out to Black folks through “conversation and engagement” on issues they care about, like economic policy and health care.

“It’s important, especially with an African American running on the Democratic side, that the party reawaken its relationship (with Black voters), no matter how tattered and torn it has been over the years,” Steele told NBC. 

The McCain campaign seems convinced they can’t get the Black vote so why bother, but in a close race, no candidate should ignore a registered voter. 
 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

(DENVER) July 8, 2008 – Sen. Barack Obama will accept the Democratic presidential nomination in front of a record crowd at Denver’s Invesco Field at Mile High rather than the Pepsi Center.  

The Field at Mile High stadium will open the event to about 80,000 folks, compared to a capacity of 20,000 at Pepsi.  “For us to be able to do it in Invesco Field is an opportunity for 80,000 people who might otherwise not have been able to participate to get involved,” Obama said.

During a conference call Monday with reporters, Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean touted the event as staying with the theme of inclusion, something Obama’s campaign has embraced with his extensive grassroots outreach. 

Having already spent thousands of dollars at the Pepsi Center, some networks are balking at spending thousands more to broadcast Obama’s speech because of the last-minute change.

But do they really have a choice? 

The convention will take place in Denver Aug. 25-28, with everything accept the acceptance speech taking place at the Pepsi Center, which holds a little more than 20,000 people.  

When asked if the operation budget for the convention was in trouble, Dean denied any financial difficulties and said and the party would raise the additional money needed to make this change in the program.

I’m in Denver today for the final walk-through for the press. I’ll get to see first hand what we’re in for next month.