[VIDEO] DJ WILLIE SHAKES @ B.P. GAS STATION w/ B.P. SHIRT ON!!!

I, personally, haven’t bought gas from BP since the oil spill just to show my support for the birds and disgust towards the companies that allowed their own greed to affect humanity and wildlife as it did just recently. Have we already forgotten?

A buddy of mine surely hasn’t who makes the comment, “If you’re looking for a morally pure vendor to buy your gasoline from, enjoy that nice fresh air as you walk, jog or ride your bike to and from work tomorrow.” When asked what he thought of the oil spill in the gulf, BP CEO Tony Hayword said. “I wish I could have my life back.” So do a whole bunch of the employees that die in your unsafe work environments, Tony! … Continue Reading

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DJWillieShakes

Hell Nah: Congress Cuts $12 Billion From Food Stamp Fund

spotted at bossip!

During one of the worst national recessions the government has decided to cut $12 billion from the Food Stamp fund, potentially effecting 41 million Americans.

In the midst of Michelle Obama’s campaign to eat well, the Government has decided to help its citizens do just the opposite.

House members convened Tuesday to pass the multibillion-dollar bailout bill for cash-strapped states. The Bill requires that $12 billion be stripped from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, to help fund programs that provide $10 billion to school districts. The money will be used to rehire laid-off teachers or ensure that more teachers won’t be let go before the new school year begins, keeping more than 160,000 teachers on the job, the Obama administration says.

Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, blasted the move as “a bitter pill to swallow” but still voted yes.

“I fought very hard for the food assistance money in the Recovery Act, and the fact is that participation in the food stamps program has jumped dramatically with the economic crisis, from 31.1 million persons to 38.2 million just in one year,” DeLauro said in an e-mail sent to FoxNews.com. “But I know that states across the nation and my own state of Connecticut also desperately need these resources to save jobs and avoid Draconian cuts to essential services for low income families.”

The Food Research and Action Center said a family of four would see benefits drop about $59 per month starting in 2014.

read more after the jump
… Continue Reading

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The Editor

Cornel West is Right & Wrong!

Yesterday, we posted an audio clip from a recent interview with Cornel West (shouts out to Allhiphop’s Chuck Creekmur for the heads up). The respected public intellectual and scholar was a guest on NPR’s “Talk of the Town” and let’s just say that the usually unflappable thinker got a little flustered. Apparently, he and President Obama had an uncomfortable moment sometime back, and West felt that the President was talking to him like he was a “cub scout.”

Of course, Cornel West is a top notch polemicist (aka debater) and I believe that much of this was political theater. West understands that NPR is a powerful outlet, and it’s clear that he used the moment to jump on his soapbox. Plus, West has been a pretty strong critic of Obama since the campaign, and I don’t believe that the Princeton Professor is simply hating on Obama because he can’t stand seeing another black man shining. The philosopher typically tries to push Obama’s moral compass, and remind him that as a person of color, he is tied to a much longer history of social justice. West acknowledges that the President has to govern, but at the end of the day he has more power to build a “Beloved Community” than any other president in US history. (Obama has acknowledged this in the past, the clearest example of this is his “Joshua Generation” speech during his campaign.)

And I am not like a lot of people who think that we shouldn’t be pushing or criticizing Obama. After all, he himself has said that it is our responsibility to “hold” him to be a stronger leader. So push on Mr. West!!

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

Biko Baker

Obama Unveils National AIDS Strategy Amid Praise and Criticism

President Barack Obama on Tuesday unveiled what he calls a comprehensive national strategy to fight HIV/AIDS. Critics assert that the plan falls far short of what is needed, while others call it an important step toward a more coordinated and effective national response to AIDS.

The plan aims to reduce infections by 25 percent within five years, expand education about the disease, and increase the number of infected people who are aware of their HIV-positive status.

Addressing some 250 AIDS activists and community leaders at a White House reception, the president said the new strategy comes nearly 30 years after the medical community first documented some of the first cases of AIDS.

It will work, he said, in a comprehensive and coordinated way to improve therapy for those with HIV, expand testing, and narrow health disparities by ensuring that treatment is available in disadvantaged communities.

Read more after the jump.

… Continue Reading

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DJWillieShakes

Editorial: Thoughts on Federal Immigration Lawsuit by Conan Lee

The topic of immigration has received its share of attention in the media lately due to the law suit filed by the United States Justice Department against the state of Arizona. The claim came as a response to the controversial law passed by Arizona’s legislators this past spring. The law gave Arizona’s officers authority to question the immigration status of anyone while making routine stops. This law is the catalyst that was needed to completely extricate anyone who the controlling powers of the state may feel as unwanted.

Many of the illegal immigrates that the law will expel are only looking for a new life in what they believe to a greater country. A greater country we are. The US is where all of your dreams can come true, as long as you are in the five percent of the population that comprises of the upper class. Though for the rest of the population there is more of a struggle and grind to realize the American dream.

Those in Arizona believe that they must protect their families and their home from the criminals who cross the border. Their close mindedness only allows them to see the bad and never the good. That is why this law suit is more then the federal government trying to keep restraints to the states power, it is also a beacon of hope.

If the law were to remain unchecked, then the hope of a brighter future would be diminished to nothingness.

The state’s new law also contradicts the actions taken by the government to bring more illegal immigrate to light. With acts like the Dream Act – which allows illegal students to become citizen to continue into a higher education – being canceled out, no one would willingly apply for something that they believe could get them thrown from the country. The US was founded by immigrants in search of something better; we should at least be able to understand the longing for a better tomorrow.

Conan Lee is a recent high school graduate and is participating in the WI-LYVEF’s Summer Leadership Cohort.

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Conan

Pres. Obama on Fatherhood

Despite, the amount of oil in the Gulf and poor response from our current administration, a simple message on fatherhood from a model father shouldn’t go unnoticed.

But enough with this talk of being a father and more of those world cup condoms!!

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DJWillieShakes

Time For Action!!!

Showing a sense of urgency, Last night, President Obama gave his first Oval Office speech to connect the dots for the American people between BP’s Gulf Coast oil disaster and our nation’s self-destructing addiction to fossil fuels:

“For decades, we have talked and talked about the need to end America’s century-long addiction to fossil fuels. And for decades, we have failed to act with the sense of urgency that this challenge requires. Time and again, the path forward has been blocked – not only by oil industry lobbyists, but also by a lack of political courage and candor… Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash American innovation and seize control of our own destiny.”

So what are we waiting for? We’ve blamed the President and his administration for poorly responding to the Gulf disaster but now Obama’s leadership qualities are becoming more apparent and we must make sure he follows through with concrete action to end our addiction to fossil fuels creating millions of good, clean energy jobs here at home.

… Continue Reading

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DJWillieShakes

We Do Read The Newspaper, Obama. Thanks.

Big shout out to a former LYVEF employee! Last night, Kip Williams, co-founder of the gay rights group GetEqual, called out on Obama on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell during a fundraising speech for Barbara Boxer.

The President’s response was disappointing, at best. He told Kip that he should “buy a ticket to a guy who doesn’t support his point of view, and then you can yell as much as you want there”, and that he must “not be reading the newspapers”.

There’s no point in yelling at “a guy who doesn’t support” repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell when there’s a guy who does and has the power to make it happen but just isn’t doing it.

Check out Kip’s letter about the exchange and join the call for Obama to issue an Executive Order repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell!

Posted by:

Rachel Bishop