Not all Blacks Support the Obama Message

A black that opposes the Obama agenda? If you view the mainstream media and read your daily news, such a thing does not seem possible? Fortunately, the good people of Project 21 and the National Center for Public Policy Research decided to do a little homework of their own and to size up the opinion of those black Americans we don't often hear about following the President's State of the Union address.

Bishop Council Nedd II of the Chesapeake and the Northeast for the Episcopal Missionary Church and a member of the Project 21 national advisory council noted that "After virtually walking away from the gay community after the election, President Obama is all of a sudden taking up their cause again? Last week's election (in Massachusetts) shows he has problems with Americans of all political stripes, but he appears to be focusing most intently on quelling the civil war rising against him in the left-wing of his party. One would think that -- as his approach to national security is being questioning in the wake of the underwear bomber and his dithering on Afghanistan -- that he would think of some other military-related issue to champion than one that could fracture his 2008 base even further. And then there is his post-Obamacare pivot to jobs that seems to be uneducated and aimless. Is 2010 to be consumed with 'don't ask, don't tell' for the military and 'don't ask, don't know' on jobs?"

Mychal Massie, who is the chairman of Project 21 stated that "It is time that President Obama realized his job is more than giving speeches and blaming former President Bush. Instead, from his performance tonight, he continues to show his disconnect with what the American people want and need. With record numbers of people unemployed and home ownership at risk or lost for so many, to point out just two problems, we needed to hear more from him than blaming others. It is time for Obama to own up to this malaise as his own."

Kevin L. Martin, also with Project 21's national advisory council argues that while "Watching President Obama's State of the Union Address, it felt like he was back on the campaign trail. Like on the trail, tonight's rhetoric tends to differ from reality. What was on display was a bait-and-switch in which broken promises were rehashed and more pandering was thrown at the middle class as he pledged tax cuts, tax credits and job creation."

R. Dozier Gray, a combat veteran and also a Project 21 member stated that "The President reminds us that one in ten Americans still cannot find work. Hard as I try, I simply cannot think of anything he has done to truly mitigate the problem. Mr. President, if you hated the bank bailouts why did you support them. Own it, sir."

In addition to her work with Project 21 Lisa Fritsch is a writer and talk show host from Austin, Texas. She observed that "President Obama wonders why there is so much 'cynicism' out there. While his speech was full of ironies and folly, this is the worst. It is President Obama who is the cynic, because he doesn't seem to believe in anything but the government. Though President Obama worked hard to try to connect with Americans, it is clear that his position on some of Americans' top concerns -- taxes, terrorism and health care reform -- remain the same. And his idea of change is at odds with the average voter..."

Ellis Washington who is a member of the national advisory council for the Project 21 black leadership network and a former editor of the Michigan Law Review noted that "Obama in his first year raised the spending limit to unsustainable levels ($1.35 trillion); more than GWB did in 8 years and now Obama is championing a freeze on spending? President Obama's first State of the Union Address painfully exemplifies that this clear and present danger to America is not Mr. Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man of this ilk with the presidency. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us -- lack of common sense and good judgment."

You will not typically find these opinions among black Americans in the mainstream media. The reason for this is simple, there is a disdain by the media and by the left in general when it comes to a "diversity of opinion" among minorities and women. Liberals have "fought" for the freedoms of the "down trodden" for years we are told. One of the freedoms they did not fight for, it appears is freedom of thought.

Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Sarah Palin's rise raises Questions about Conservative Women

Sarah Palin is all the rage as she promotes her new book, Going Rogue: An American Life. She was a conservative darling before she wrote the book and all the more so now that this book is being promoted by the former governor and GOP nominee for Vice President.

Columnist Jedediah Bila pointed out in a recent article that Palin's book conveys the qualities that made her a star in the 2008 Presidential campaign, noting "Palin almost immediately establishes herself as someone who reveres the ideals that she cherishes most — her faith, her family, and her liberty — but who also has a pungent distaste for the hypocrisy of the political machine: 'But it seemed that every level of government I encountered was paralyzed by the same politics-as-usual system. I wasn't wired to play that game' (5). She later echoes a kindred reflection: '...I had to live with my own conscience, so I voted according to my principles and let the chips fall where they may' (66). Palin pledges allegiance to her convictions and both the Alaska and United States constitutions, but not to her party, narrating several instances when she confronted GOP waste and corruption, choosing instead to side with her self-proclaimed 'commonsense conservatism': 'At the time, both parties, nationally and locally, were spending uncontrollably. No wonder voters couldn't tell Republicans from Democrats'" (146).

In spite of the fact her messaged resonated so clearly with many Americans and some could argue that she nearly pulled the McCain campaign out of the jaws of defeat, I believe that Palin and other women and minorities face a serious handicap when running for national office. That handicap is the mainstream media.

I have been arguing in my column, in interviews, and on my radio program, that the mainstream media will do everything in its power to prevent a conservative female or minority from being elected to national office. The left has believed that minorities and women would have no political power without the liberal agendas of the past. The left wants to keep these groups on an ideological plantation, with women and minorities marching in lockstep. I assume the progressives don't realize that the idea behind giving these groups their freedom was to empower them to be able to disagree with their agenda. That is, after all, what freedom is about.

Many on both the left and right disagree. They point out people like Bay Buchanan, who has enjoyed a successful career as a political consultant; yet she has never faced the scrutiny of the election process. To me, she is a weak argument.

Another popular example is Elizabeth Dole. There is no doubt about it; Dole has had an impressive career. Former Secretary of Labor, former Secretary of Transportation, and an US Senator, Dole has certainly had a career filled with accomplishments. Unfortunately, these individuals are missing the point. You can point to many successful conservative females in politics, but we only have one that was on a national ticket and that was Sarah Palin. Now Dole has run for national office, but had little to show for it. She was an interesting novelty, but not a serious candidate by any measure.

The only way to test my thesis is to apply it only to female candidates who have actually had the nomination for national office. Enter Sarah Palin. Palin was literally butchered by the mainstream media by every measure. The thought of Palin as Vice President provided nightmares to the left and to the media that largely supports a liberal agenda. Attention women and minorities, if you are serious about national office, you better be prepared to worship at the alter that "got you there." Other wise, we better be prepared to change the way the media looks at women and minorities.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on AM 650 (M-F at 11 am) in Houston, Texas and on AOL Radio. His articles often appear in Chicago Sun Times, Reuters, USA Today, and other national media. Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.

Sarah Palin's Odd Move

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin shocked the political world by deciding to resign from office by the end of July. The blogosphere is making assessments about her decision based on their opinions of her. If they like her, it is some how "brilliant." If they don't, she is a "complete moron." I want to take this a little deeper.

For disclosure sake, I'm a fan of Gov. Palin. She is the first major political candidate to fully embrace and epitomize Reagan's "3 legged stool" of limited government, pro family, and national security since the Gipper himself. Furthermore, she is the only candidate in years who seems to understand the morality of economics. In fact, in her resignation speech she mentioned that the stimulus package was "immoral" because of its redistributive nature and control it placed on the states. You simply don't hear that from politicians today, but that message is desperately needed.

Now, with that disclosure, I simply don't understand her decision at all. I read her speech several times and watched it as well, and the more I studied it, the less I "got it." With the information I have before us today, I have to come to one of the following conclusions:

• She couldn't stand the heat of constant scrutiny on the family and her and simply needed to get out. This may be noble, but it likely spells the end of a powerful political career. Furthermore, if they can't handle the governorship, they certainly can't handle the White House or even the Senate, where they would deal with the constant questions by the much larger and more hostile cadre of journalists in DC. Than again, she could take a decade off and have her kids much older and she would certainly be young enough to run. She could rightly hope they will forget her resignation, but they will also likely forget her.


• A much bigger scandal that will "stick" is about to come upon her. Palin has been plagued with scandals since August of 2008, about the time she received the GOP nod for VP. None of them have had any staying power and they all appear to be trumped up to discredit her. You get the sense with this announcement, that "the other shoe" is going to drop and it is going to be big.


• She wants a fresh start. Tired of getting exonerated of one scandal to make room for another, she might think this is the best way to create a new beginning. She will be free to travel the country and make large amounts of money as a speaker, accumulate the financial largess to run for higher office and build a name around the country. Barack Obama and George W. Bush were the only Presidential candidates since John F. Kennedy to have a full time job while running for President and get elected. Furthermore, Reagan, Carter, and Clinton were former governors when they ran, making it a great springboard for office. The difference between Palin and these others, were the circumstances of which she left.
  

My concern is that no woman or minority is going to have a prayer dealing with the mainstream media if they are Conservative. The left tries to place these groups on a plantation, stating they would have nothing without liberal policies. This is a very narrow view indeed, but those who break it will suffer.

The jury will be deliberating on this for quite some time. However, she is going to have a difficult time distancing herself from accusations of being unable to finish things, or being scandal plagued, or not tough enough, or several other things that will do nothing to help her case as a GOP front runner.

See Kevin Price's new video commentary on the subject here.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on AM 650 (M-F at 11 am) in Houston, Texas and on AOL Radio. His articles often appear in Chicago Sun Times, Reuters, USA Today, and other national media. Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.

Roger Ailes, Matt Egan, and the Changing Face of Cable News

Matt Egan is only 24, but he is already in a position that is well beyond his age. He is a news writer for FoxBusiness.com and has been in this role since 2007. Just a few years ago, Egan wasn't very sure what he wanted to do. He talks about an interview with Fox Business in a recent article in the New York Times: "Ray Hennessey, the director of business news, went to my college (the College of New Jersey), and also wrote for The Trenton Times. I kind of went to the interview not interested in business or TV, but I figured I’d give it a shot. And the interview was amazing. I was one of the first hires for the Web team." The old adage of "who you know" and the value of alumni relationships seemed to help the young Egan. However, I'm familiar with the standards of Fox Business and Fox News. Going to the same "old school" might get you noticed, but would not necessarily secure a career. Egan certainly had to bring his best game to the program.

Something that certainly helped Egan is the Roger Ailes Apprentice Program. In an article in Multichannel News, "Fox News Channel has quietly sought to increase its minority employee base through an apprentice program spearheaded by the network's most senior executives... CEO Roger Ailes created the network's Apprenticeship Program in 2003 in an effort to provide minorities at entry-level positions with an opportunity to gain valuable behind-the-scenes experience working at a cable network that otherwise wouldn't be available to them."

Essentially, Ailes doesn't believe that young people who are minorities are not getting enough opportunity to learn about this important industry. He wants to fast track opportunities for these often neglected groups. Ailes is quoted as saying “I didn't think enough minorities were getting access to the system,” Ailes said (Fox News Channel employee base is nearly 20% minority). “If there aren't a lot of people they know inside, then they don't necessarily have the same access as others.”

Since 2003, 20 young people have gone through this unique mentoring program and by 2008, over $900,000 had been spent on it. The senior executives who nominate young people for the program, often fresh out of college, go on to actually mentor the students they recommended if selected.

The program has certainly fast tracked Matt Egan's career. Although he seems very comfortable in his job today, he noted in the Times interview being challenged early on, "Getting beyond the businessy terms: derivatives. Mutual funds. Futures. Options contracts. I had no idea about the stock market. I wish I had taken business classes. I bought a business textbook ahead of time. I read that, and started reading The Wall Street Journal every day. We had a month and a half to prep." Even today, it isn't always smooth sailing, noting that his big problems today relate to "Keeping my cool. The stock market tends not to cooperate a lot. If the Dow’s up 100 points because an economic report came out, I’ve got to go back and change what I’ve just written."

Fox News and Fox Business have developed an innovative approach to acclaimating young people to the news industry that has, in my opinion, further positioned the networks as the industry leaders.



Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on AM 650 (M-F at 11 am) in Houston, Texas and on AOL Radio. His articles often appear in Chicago Sun Times, Reuters, USA Today, and other national media. Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.