By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Nov. 3, 2009 – Governor races in New Jersey and Virginia are being watched closely by Democrats and Republicans to see if the “Obama influence”  impacts the outcome by delivering a win for either candidate.  

Its doubtful President Obama will determine the outcome of either race, but the fact that he traveled to New Jersey five times to campaigned for the Democratic incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine can’t be ignored.  In Virginia the president wasn’t as visible for Creigh Deeds and his campaign was slow to accept help from Pennsylvania Ave.

Deeds is trailing in recent polls by double-digits and appears to be headed for defeat by his rival Republican challenger Bob McDonnell.  But it might be too soon to count him out; Deeds won the primary trailing his Democratic challengers and bested both with a sizeable margin.   

Other Key races to watch around the country with African American conternders include Detroit and Atlanta. Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is pretty much a shoo-in but Atlanta, for the first time in 35 years, may elect a White Mayor, Mayor Norwood.

More: See other Key races to watch on CNN.Com

Few races in the country have African-American’s in contention, but one to watch is in California.  Kamala Devi Harris (D) is running for California attorney general in 2010.  In 2003 Harris became the first woman to become San Francisco district attorney the first Black woman to serve as District Attorney in California’s history.

Another California political powerhouse, Rep. Maxine Waters (D) released a statement in response to the pending investigation by the House Ethics Committee (see my Blog Oct. 30) regarding her influence with federal agencies on behalf of a minority owned bank that received bailout dollars.

 “My longtime advocacy on behalf of women- and minority-owned institutions is well known and appreciated by these institutions, which have been historically denied access to government regulators to address their concerns.

“I am confident that as the investigation moves forward the panel will discover that there are no facts to support allegations that I have acted improperly or violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation or other standard of conduct in performing my duties and discharging my responsibilities as a United States Representative.”

On a lighter note, Monday First Lady Michelle Obama made an emotional announced she was launching a mentoring program to give local high school girls access to women at the White House.

Mrs. Obama was joined by 13 of the young ladies in the State Dining Room who will be matched with White House staffers as mentors including senior advisers Valerie Jarrett and Melody Barnes.

Mrs. Obama said, “We thought, what we can do to make the White House different, to make kids in our own new neighborhood know that the White House is a place for them?” She also told the   young women, “That when you get to this position in your life that you do the same thing for somebody else.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Oct. 29, 2009 – Reps.  Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson could be in hot water, The House Ethics Committee voted unanimously Thursday to look into ethics violations by the two African-American Southern California congresswomen.

Reps. Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson pose outside the Martin Luther King Harbor Hospital Medical Center.

The committee released a statement saying it was looking into whether Richardson had failed to report real estate liabilities and income on her financial disclosure forms.  They also have plans to investigate if she received a “gift or preferential treatment” from Washington Mutual; the same bank that sold her home at auction following foreclosure action, but later returned the house to congresswoman. 

According to The Associated Press a four-member committee will investigate Waters’ activities surrounding the National Bankers Association and OneUnited Bank.  Water’s husband, Sidney Williams, owned stock in the bank and served on the board of directors until early in 2008.

The Massachusetts-based OneUnited Bank dealing with Waters is under scrutiny because the bank received $12 million in bailout funds three months after a meeting was arranged by Waters with members of the banking committee , other minority-owned financial institutions and U.S. Treasury Department representatives.

By Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)

Sept. 11, 2009 — The President hit a home run [Wednesday] last night.

President Obama said exactly what proponents of meaningful health care reform — including myself — needed, expected, and wanted him to say. The time for bickering, myths, and flat out lies by those who want to block reform is over. We will move forward with health care reform and get it done this year.

What most impressed me about the President was his demeanor. He came there as Barack Obama the educator, explaining clearly both the need for health care reform and the specifics of our proposal. He presented a strong case for reform, and he spoke directly to the American people, outlining the benefits of health care reform both for those who are currently covered and those who are uninsured.

He stood there — amid cheers from most of us and unfortunately also unprecedented jeering and outright disrespect from some on the opposite side of the aisle — to reaffirm core principles, to debunk rumors, to reclaim the debate, and to spur us to act once and for all to fix America’s broken health care system.

I have been outspoken about the need for credible health care reform that covers all Americans, maintains quality, lowers costs, and holds insurance companies accountable. And I believe the best way to accomplish those goals is through a government run public option that will compete with the private insurance companies, the operative word here being option.

My vision for meaningful health care reform is also shared by the President and many of my colleagues in Congress. Though the President stopped short of saying that the public option was essential to achieve health care reform last night, he did reiterate his support for it and his belief that it is a means to an end.

The public option will help us achieve the kind of health care reform that will cover the uninsured, lower costs for the insured, and bring more security and stability to American families and businesses.

Republicans have rejected President Obama’s repeated offers to come to the table and negotiate in good faith. They have continued to say “No” throughout this process, just like they said “No” to the economic recovery package, to energy and climate change legislation, and to providing health care to uninsured children.

The President, despite his best efforts, is not going to get the support of the Republicans on health care reform. They are determined to play politics instead of helping the people they serve and prefer to defeat reform in order to wound the President.

I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that politics does not trump public policy. We cannot allow health care reform that will benefit all Americans to be derailed. Reform will make us healthier and our economy stronger.

As I have said before, if we fight for what we believe in, if we fight for our principles, we can win. Most importantly, it will be a win for the American people.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Anaylst

Aug. 17, 2009 — The president’s stance on the public option under health care reform may be wavering, but not with Black lawmakers.  After reports the public option might be off the table, the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus released the following statement:  

“Any bill without a public health insurance plan like Medicare is not health reform,” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) wrote.

“The Congressional Black Caucus remains committed to ensuring that health reform is meaningful and that means making sure a public option is part of the package.”
 

“Without a public option there will be no way to keep insurance companies honest and their rates down. A public health option that competes with private insurers will set standards that could help lower costs and improve access.”

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) agrees. “I am very troubled to hear that after months of negotiations – supposedly moving toward meaningful health care reform – the public option may in fact be off the table.  

“As I have said before, particularly in conjunction with my colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I will not be able to support a health care reform bill that does not guarantee the creation of a public option that will provide an alternative for the 47 million uninsured Americans and millions more who face rising premiums, deductibles and co-pays.”

Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) said he doesn’t want reform derailed by confusion.  “Simply put, an option is an opportunity; and a public option is a patient opportunity. Consumers must be given the option to make an informed decision about their own health care. A public option merely expands a patient’s ability to choose,” he said.  

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) wrote, “The public option would be minimal regulation, which would ensure that most of the 47 million people who are uninsured would have access to health coverage. The public option is not going to run the insurance companies out of business. Why should we take half measures that do not accomplish the desired result?”

The  president is sure to have more support move away if the public option is a deal breaker.

By Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif)

July 15, 2009 — Confirmation hearings for President Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor, are taking place this week.  Nominations are voted on by the Senate, not the House, but I am following the proceedings with interest because of the importance of the Supreme Court and this historic nomination.

If she is confirmed – as I hope and expect she will be – Sonia Sotomayor will become the first Hispanic and only the 3rd woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington , Tuesday, July 14, 2009, before the Senate Judiciary Committee. (AP Photo)

Sonia Sotomayor has served already as a federal judge for 17 years including currently on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of our nation’s highest courts, where she has compiled a distinguished record.  She previously worked as a prosecutor, a civil rights advocate and in private practice, giving her a range of legal experience.

Judge Sotomayor grew up in humble circumstances and faced significant challenges that I think many of us can relate to:  her parents left Puerto Rico and moved to New York where her father was a factory worker.  He died when she was nine, so she and her brother were raised by a hard-working single mother.  They lived in a housing project in the Bronx. 

She learned early on that the key to success is education, and she excelled in the classroom, earning scholarships to Princeton and Yale Law School.

Her life is an inspirational American success story.

I believe that the focus of Senators should be on Judge Sotomayor’s outstanding legal career, the cases she has decided and opinions she has written.

However, much discussion currently focuses on her life experiences, and indeed she and her supporters have cited her background as significant. 

To what extent is this relevant?  Judge Sotomayor has an exceptional professional record, and her years of service as a judge, as well as the intelligence and hard work she has demonstrated, make her highly qualified.  For these reasons, she should be confirmed.

However, I think we can also recognize that as a woman and as a Latina, she brings a unique perspective to her job, one that has never been represented on the Supreme Court.

Although women make up more than half of our population, the Court has most recently had only 1 female among its 9 Justices.  Despite a Hispanic population of approximately 50 million, America has never had a Hispanic Justice.

To be representative of the great diversity of our nation, it is important that more women and more racial and ethnic minorities serve as judges in state and federal courts.  Our government draws its authority from the consent of the governed, and this consent continues only as long as the American people have confidence that our laws will be applied and enforced fairly for everyone.

Serving on the House Judiciary Committee, I work to promote equality and fairness. I understand that America does not always live up to its ideals.  At times the legal system fails to uphold the law equally or to provide full protection for all.  I believe that someone who has experienced life from the perspective of living in poverty, as a woman and a member of a minority group will be sensitive to injustice and recognize the impact of her decisions on the lives of ordinary people.

Over the years the Supreme Court has issued decisions that have profoundly affected our nation and helped define and protect the fundamental rights of all Americans.  In moments when a president or Congress were unable or unwilling to do the right thing to help us overcome discrimination and prejudice, courts have acted to advance the civil rights of African Americans and other minorities.

I am confident that Sonia Sotomayor will apply the law equally and impartially, interpret the Constitution wisely and fairly, and be an outstanding Supreme Court Justice.

What qualifications and qualities are most important for serving on the Supreme Court?

By Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)

I got tested.  President Obama and the First Lady got tested.  Did you?

National HIV Testing Day was June 27th, and I wanted to lead by example to encourage others to get tested.

Testing is easy and painless – it can be done by a simple swab inside your cheek, without a needle or blood – and you can get your results back in half an hour.

I encourage all Americans to get tested for HIV and educate themselves about the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) more than one million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS — and more than one out of five people living with HIV do not know they are infected. 

HIV/AIDS affects men and women of all races and ethnicities. 

However, Blacks and other minorities however are disproportionately impacted by the epidemic.  Combined, minorities represent 67% of new HIV infections, 71% of new AIDS cases and 67% of people living with HIV/AIDS.

One out of two Blacks living with HIV is unaware of being infected.  This means the disease is not detected until it has advanced.

That is why getting tested and learning your HIV status is extremely important.  Those who test positive can begin to get lifesaving medicine and prevent spreading the virus to loved ones.  Those who test negative can continue to take steps to protect themselves from infection.  In any case, knowledge is power and knowing your HIV status allows you to make informed decisions.

We need to increase the availability of HIV tests and encourage individuals to get tested so we can reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS. 

To encourage and enable more Americans to be tested for HIV, I have introduced the Routine HIV Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 2137).  This bill would require health insurance plans to cover routine HIV tests under the same terms and conditions as other routine health screenings.

As chair of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1998, I spearheaded the establishment of the Minority AIDS Initiative, and I have continued efforts to expand it.  I sent a letter signed by a total of 53 Members of Congress, many of them my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, to House leaders who make key funding decisions requesting that the Minority AIDS Initiative receive $610 million in fiscal year 2010.  This would be a considerable increase from the funding level of about $400 million per year during most of the Bush Administration.

The community-based organizations and health care providers who receive grants through the Minority AIDS Initiative have been effective in delivering HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs to minority communities in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways.  That is why we are seeing some encouraging signs. 

For example, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that more Black Americans (68%) and Latinos (57%) than Whites (42%) have taken an HIV test. 

However, we still have a lot of work to do with regards to HIV/AIDS prevention, awareness and testing.
Many clinics, health care centers and community organizations provide testing, and in some cases the test is even free. 
To find a testing site near you, call 1-800-CDC-INFO ( 1-800-232-4636 ) or visit http://hivtest.org
“Take the test, take control.”
        Have you been tested for HIV?  What additional steps can we take to reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS in our community?

By Rep. Maxine Waters, (D-Calif.)

June 9, 2009 — The housing market was the epicenter of our nation’s financial crisis, and until it recovers we will continue to have economic troubles.  Already this year more than one million foreclosures have been filed, and by the end of 2009 we can expect almost two and a half million foreclosure starts.  That means 6,500 American families every day are filing for foreclosure and at risk of losing their homes.

I have led efforts in Congress to help families and communities devastated for foreclosures such as the creation of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which enables local governments to fix up abandoned, foreclosed properties and put them back on the market for rent or sale to low- and middle-income families.

Just recently, I attended the signing ceremony at the White House for the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which will protect at-risk families.

However, I am concerned that not enough is being done to prevent foreclosures.  In particular, I am disappointed that mortgage servicers are failing to modify mortgages to make them more affordable for homeowners even though we passed legislation that gives servicers a financial incentive to perform loan modifications ($1,000 for each loan they modify, plus additional payments if the workout proves sustainable).

Fifteen companies that service 75% of all mortgages are participating in President Obama’s Making Home Affordable Program.  However, so far they have only offered a total of 55,000 trial modifications to homeowners, well short of the 3 to 4 million predicted by the Administration.

Many banks and mortgage servicers are understaffed and unprepared to perform loan modifications.  Homeowners desperate to save their homes are waiting as long as 60 days for a response to their request for a modification.

In addition, banks and servicers are frequently uncooperative and are steering borrowers away from loan modifications and instead offering them refinancing that could result in higher monthly payments!

The poor performance of servicers has opened up a market for unscrupulous businesses to take advantage of at-risk homeowners.  Maybe you have seen a poster or late night TV ad for loan modification consultants.  They are misleading people into paying high upfront fees for a service that the government and non-profit agencies perform for free.

I am taking steps to crack down on these predatory scam artists, and I am also preparing to introduce legislation that will require servicers to offer legitimate loan modifications so millions of homeowners in jeopardy can prevent foreclosure and keep their homes.

Have you tried to obtain a loan modification? What has been your experience with a mortgage servicer?

Waters talks with actress/activist Mia Farrow while Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.) looks on.

  By Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)

 May 25, 2009 – Approximately two and a half million men, women and children from the Darfur region of Sudan in Africa are living in miserable conditions in refugee camps throughout Darfur and in the neighboring countries of Chad and the Central African Republic.   

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They have been driven from their homes as part of a deliberate effort by Sudan’s repressive government.  Government forces and the Janjaweed militias have engaged in the systematic murder, kidnapping, rape and persecution of civilians.  The number of Darfuri deaths since 2003 is in the hundreds of thousands as a result of killings and starvation.  Truly this is genocide.

Sadly, the humanitarian crisis is getting even worse – more illness, malnutrition and deaths – because the Sudanese government has expelled 13 non-governmental organizations, including some of the most respected humanitarian organizations in the world.  Among them are Oxfam, Doctors without Borders, the International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps.

The expulsion of these organizations from Sudan will deny millions of desperate Darfuris food, clean water and medical assistance.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Sudan’s President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, charging him with war crimes and crimes against humanity, yet he remains free and continues to terrorize the people of Darfur.

The plight of Darfur has spurred people of conscience to speak out and to act to bring an end to the suffering.  There is a wonderful coalition of faith-based groups, students, grassroots activists and others working on this issue.

Today, I am participating in the Darfur Fast for Life (www.fastdarfur.org).  In solidarity with those who are hungry involuntarily, I have chosen to fast today, consuming water only.

Joining me are members of Jewish World Watch (www.jewishworldwatch.org), a coalition of almost 65 California synagogues that has been working to educate the community about the crisis in Darfur, engage in advocacy efforts to try to stop the genocide, and provide humanitarian relief to alleviate the suffering of the survivors.

Mia Farrow, the actress and activist, initiated the Darfur Fast for Life on April 27 with a hunger strike that lasted for 12 days.  She had intended to fast for 21 days but her health suffered and doctors advised her to end her hunger strike.  My colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus have agreed to take turns to extend the fast and raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

We are encouraging President Obama and other leaders to work on behalf of Darfur – by helping aid organizations get access to the refugee camps and provide immediate assistance and working on a peace agreement that will bring an end to the suffering.

There are many good sources of information and ways to get involved: Save Darfur (www.savedarfur.org) and Stop Genocide Now (www.stopgenocidenow.org) are just a couple of these initiatives.

What do you think we can do, individually and collectively, to help end the humanitarian crisis in Darfur?

By Rep. Maxine Waters (D- Calif.)

May 19, 2009 – As a founder and leader of the Out of Iraq Congressional Caucus, I opposed the failed Bush policy in Iraq, and I am now increasingly concerned that escalating military involvement in Afghanistan could lead to disastrous consequences.

I believe we must enable the people of Afghanistan to develop a stable and functioning state that cannot be used by al Qaeda terrorists, the Taliban and other extremists to threaten our security or other nations.

The question is how can we best achieve this objective?

President Obama and his key advisors – including military leaders – have acknowledged that nonmilitary initiatives are essential to stabilizing Afghanistan.  However, his most recent spending request for Afghanistan and Iraq dedicates only about ten percent of funds to humanitarian, diplomatic and other civilian efforts.

I am also disappointed that there is no exit strategy or timeline or set of benchmarks to measure progress.

The spending bill presented to the House of Representatives for a vote last week simply continues and amplifies the failed policies that have caused us to be caught up in a continued occupation of Iraq and an increasingly large presence in Afghanistan.

Instead of playing the Taliban shell game, we should devise a smart strategy to win the hearts and minds of the people of Afghanistan. They will help us to locate Osama bin Laden.

Airstrikes that kill innocent civilians will only harden the civilians against us.

The Taliban is leading us into Pakistan, where we are on the verge of establishing a new footprint.  Previously, U.S. policy gave the former Pakistani President Musharraf billions of dollars while he was playing footsie with the Taliban and allowing it to control the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Now President Zardari has proven to be weak and ineffective, yet he is being rewarded with more of our tax dollars.

Next week, we will observe Memorial Day and remember the sacrifice of those who have given their lives while serving our nation, including almost 5000 Americans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As we honor them, I will also be thinking of the brave men and women now in uniform, and I will continue my efforts to bring them home safely to their loved ones.

I believe we must place our troops in harm’s way only as a last resort and only with a sound plan.

Tens of thousands of American troops are serving courageously and honorably in Afghanistan, but they have been executing a flawed strategy, and Afghanistan remains mired in violence with a weak and corrupt central government.  I am worried that sending another 21,000 troops there will not succeed, and instead I advocate strengthening our diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives.

Do you think we should continue to send more troops to Afghanistan?

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) guest blogger on "Pamela on Politics"

By Rep. Maxine Waters (D- Calif.) 35th District

May 5, 2009 — This posting marks my debut as a guest blogger for BET.com.  I am excited about this opportunity to share information, ideas and advice with visitors to the web site.

This blog will provide a forum from which I can offer my perspective as a Congresswoman about some of the most important policy discussions, debates and developments taking place on Capitol Hill. 

More and more it is becoming clear that what happens in Washington has profound impact on businesses both on Wall Street and Main Street, so you cannot afford to ignore news about government and public policy.

I will try to focus on how decisions made in DC will impact you, your family, your business – and our community.

My work as a senior member of the Financial Services and Judiciary Committees and as chairwoman of the Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee puts me in the center of the action as Congress and the Obama Administration are responding to the current economic crisis and working on issues such as foreclosure prevention, mortgage reform, unfreezing the credit markets, bank regulation and much more.

In addition, I am an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and chair and co-founder of the Out of Iraq Caucus to name but a few of my leadership roles and commitments.

I hope that you will read my blog postings regularly – and that you will provide feedback through the comments section. 

I value my frequent conversations with my constituents back home in California, and now I look forward to hearing from the informed, engaged, outspoken visitors to BET.com.

Please let me know what issues you are interested in having me blog about, send your responses to my postings, and share your stories and experiences with me.