Archive for the ‘Michelle Obama’ Category

If you have a spare 15 minutes and don’t mind being uncomfortable throughout, watch this clip from today’s “Morning Joe” on MSNBC of the Rev. Franklin Graham assessing the Christian beliefs of President Barack Obama and his GOP challengers – Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.

Honestly, I could have shortened it, but much of the context would have been lost:

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Continue reading Franklin Graham on the Christian faith of Barack Obama and the GOP field »

The state’s unemployment rate jumped to more than 10 percent in June, the highest ever recorded in Georgia — though we’re fairly certain no one was counting during the Great Depression.

That’s nearly half a million people looking for work in this state, up 65 percent over June 2008.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond will testify at a U.S. Senate hearing (Johnny Isakson a ranking member) on Thursday. The topic will be re-training an army of American workers.

And this is where Georgia politics kicks in. We understand that Thurmond, who had been gearing up to enter the Democratic race for lieutenant governor, was recently offered a post within the U.S. Labor Department.

Thurmond is perhaps the most valued African-American stump speaker in the Georgia Democratic party, and plans have been afoot for him to run on an informal, biracial ticket with former Gov. Roy Barnes.

Thurmond has discussed the offer with Democratic lawmakers and other officials. Acceptance would …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: Michael Thurmond offered U.S. Labor post »

So with the Democratic race for governor somewhat filled out, eyes are turning to the race for lieutenant governor, an office now held by a refurbished and unopposed Republican, Casey Cagle.

Democratic talk, of course, centers on state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. “I’m weighing my options,” Thurmond said late Thursday. “I am interested, but I’ve made no final decision.” And he probably won’t until July.

There is talk of much pressure from national Democrats for Georgia to 1) settle its four-man race by consensus; and 2) to field a biracial ticket at the top that would stir the party’s base, which is largely African-American. Only then might it be worth the investment of outside cash — so the theory goes.

If entities like the Democratic Governors Association are behind former Gov. Roy Barnes, as they seem to be, then Thurmond — he is an African-American from Athens — becomes a likely choice for lieutenant governor.

And yet. Thurmond points to his …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: Democratic eyes turn to the race for lieutenant governor »

First Lady Michelle Obama cheers local schoolchildren on the South Lawn. Photo credit: New York Times

Politico.com says it’s detected a Republican move against Michelle Obama:

House Republicans are pressing for a change in federal law that could force Michelle Obama and future first ladies to do more of their policy work in public. But Democrats warn President Obama may take the attempt personally “as an attack on his wife.”

The GOP effort is being led by the ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), whose initial salvo was rebuffed recently at a contentious committee markup session. Under Issa’s amendment, any government policy group that Mrs. Obama or another first spouse regularly participates in would be subject to a law requiring meetings to be announced in advance and, in most instances, public.

Sounds like an attempt to prevent Michelle Obama from assuming the role that Hillary Clinton did during the …

Continue reading A GOP move to prevent Michelle Obama from following in Hillary Clinton’s footsteps »