To remind you:
Smiley & West are going on a road trip to highlight the plight of the poor people of all races, colors, and creeds so they will not be forgotten, ignored, or rendered invisible during this difficult and dangerous time of economic deprivation and political cowardice.
You ask, what can a philosopher and broadcaster do about poverty? The answer is simple, do what we do best and use our public platforms to raise consciousness and raise the issue of poverty higher on the American agenda. source
Yeah, that bus tour. The tour in which they went HAM on President Obama for this, that and a third. Anywho, I raise the question: Where are they now?
North Philly, Southside Chicago, Harlem, Southeast DC, Detroit?
No, no, no, no, no and no! West/Smiley are no where near the hood.
On the other hand, the man they called out has been very busy...
Health Care Roll out:
The Obama administration announced Tuesday that 4 million Americans have signed up for health insurance through the new health care law’s insurance exchanges, with just five weeks remaining until the end of the enrollment period.
President Obama welcomed the news, in a speech to grassroots political group Organizing For Action. “We now have more than 4 million Americans who have signed up for quality, affordably health insurance. 4 million people have already signed up because of you. 4 million.” Read more
Minimum wage increase:
President Barack Obama on Wednesday formally signed an executive order raising the pay for employees of federal contract workers, but his attention was on a push for Congress to do the same for all Americans.
Obama came armed with an array of statistics and figures showing how he believes raising the hourly minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 would boost the economy, but with few details about the executive order he signed during the East Room ceremony.
A minimum wage hike would help millions of people, be good for the economy and has the broad backing from Americans, Obama said. But what it does not have at the moment is enough support from Republicans in Congress. Read more:
My Brother's Keeper initiative:
Today, from the East Room of the White House, President Obama will launch a new effort aimed at empowering boys and young men of color, a segment of our society which too often faces disproportionate challenges and obstacles to success. These obstacles are found in our schools, our communities, our criminal justice system, our families, and even in the minds of our young people themselves. The President is committed to build a broad coalition of backers to help break down barriers, clear pathways to opportunity, and reverse troubling trends which show too many of our boys and young men of color slipping through the cracks in our society.
To launch the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative, the President will be joined by local and national leaders in philanthropy, business, government, faith communities, and media. The challenges facing boys and young men of color are broad and multidimensional, and so must be the team we bring to the table to begin fostering solutions.
On hand today will be General Colin Powell, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Adam Silver, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, Magic Johnson, and many more leaders from key national and regional philanthropic foundations and major businesses, all of whom understand what is at stake with this effort. When we let this many boys and young men fall behind – we are crippling our ability to reach our full potential as a nation. read more
Oh, to answer the Where are they now question: Both West and Smiley -- similar to Fox News -- are still busy dissing all things Obama. Just check out this podcast of Tavis pooh poohing My Brother's Keeper initiative.
Tavis speaks
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