Obama Administration Makes Youth Employment a 2012 Goal

As the 2012 presidential election approaches, it is becoming painfully clear that the U.S. economy may be the topic helping voters decided which candidate to choose. Unemployment has remained relatively high across the nation, but some populations have been hit harder than others. The Obama administration has made progress in its attempts to stabilize unemployment, and job growth has been on a small but steady rise. But if stabilizing the economy is the greatest challenge for the 2012 election, then increased employment is the only solution.

While job growth has increased, the questions regarding who is gaining employment still remains. Today, the White House released a press release announcing the Summer Jobs Act to employ nearly 180,000 youth between the ages of 16-24 nationwide. The White House has been encouraging youth employment since 2009, and has worked with many private companies to ensure that young people received on-the-job training and paid internship positions. However, today they took an aggressive stance toward youth employment stating:

“America’s youth can’t wait for Congress to act.”

Obama is moving forward without Congress by proposing $1.5 billion to make sure that youth can be hired not only in the summer, but year-round.

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

Ife

Political Quick Hits: December 9th Edition

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• The Obama administration announced Tuesday that they will be using the enticement of foreign aid to other countries as a way to promote gay rights around the world. The administration also vowed to combat efforts by other countries that criminalize homosexual conduct or abuse/ignore abuse on gay citizens. “Some have suggested that gay rights and human rights are separate and distinct, but in fact they are one in the same,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. (NY Times)

• Rod Blagojevich, former Governor of Illinois, was sentenced to 14 years in prison this week on federal corruption charges that related to him trying to sell/trade a United States Senate seat that was left vacant when President Obama was elected to the White House. Blago is expected to serve at least 12 of the 14 years in federal prison. (NY Times)

• The Obama administration rejected a request to let anyone of any age buy the morning-after pill, Plan B, directly off of drugstore and supermarket shelves. The Department of Health and Human Services vetoed the FDA’s decision to make the contraceptive available without any restrictions. This split decision stunned both women’s health advocates and abortion opponents. President Obama said that he agreed with Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ decision though he “did not get involved in the process.” (Washington Post)

Posted by:

Justin Burkhardt

10 Rappers That’ve Taken Shots at President Obama’s Throne

I can remember it like it was yesterday. The moment that Barack Obama was elected president, you would’ve assumed Jay-Z and Young Jeezy had something to do with it, due to the amount of times their hit record, “My President is Black” played around the country. I have no exact number of plays, but it was definitely the hip-hop ode to candidate. However, three years after a black man was made president of this great country, some people are quietly asking if he was the right man for the job, while some are yelling it to the top of their lungs. At the end of the day, everyone isn’t in love with Barack just because he’s a cool public figure. We are all looking between the couches in search of the lil bit change we were promised.

The real question is, how influential will hip-hop be in the 2012 election? Is Barack still the popular candidate in the hip-hop community?

[See List of Rappers That Have Taken Shots at President Barack Obama]

Posted by:

DJWillieShakes

Political Quick Hits: November 18th Edition

Here’s your weekly quick look at a few developing stories in the political arena:

• As expected, the Supreme Court announced this week that it will decide on the constitutionality of the Obama administration’s health care reform. The court will hear two major questions, the first being if the individual mandate requiring Americans to have health insurance is constitutional and if so, the second question is should all of the healthcare reform be scrapped? Arguments will likely be in February or March, with a ruling coming by June. The ruling will once again make health care an important issue for the 2012 presidential race. (CNN)

• Congress again avoided a shutdown threat by passing a temporary spending measure on Thursday that will keep the government funded until December 16. The government would have run out of  money midnight Friday if another temporary spending bill wasn’t passed. (CNN)

Posted by:

Justin Burkhardt

Political Quick Hits: November 4th Edition

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• In 2012 news, the dates for the 2012 presidential debates between President Obama and whoever wins the GOP nomination have been set. Debates will be held October 3rd at the University of Denver in Colorado, October 16th at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY,  and October 22nd at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. The only vice-presidential debate will be held October 11th at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. (Politico)

Posted by:

Justin Burkhardt