Nevada Caucus Site Challege Dismissed

United States District Court Judge James Mahan ruled today against the Nevada state teachers union's attempt to prevent special caucus precints on the Las Vegas strip. "State Democrats have a First Amendment right to association, to assemble and to set their own rules," Mahan said. For more information on today's ruling, please see the Nevada caucus New York Times article .

Sen. Patrick Leahy Endorses Obama!

Senator Leahy, who is the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has endorsed Senator Obama for President. Senator Leahy's endorsement speaks volumes to the level of support and momentum that Obama is building in cities, states, and even among the Washington establishment. I know that many doubt the significance of endorsements, but it at the very least shows me that there is a growing feeling among many that the days of old-style politics and political dynasties are numbered!

Las Vegas Review Journal Endorses Senator Obama

The Las Vegas Review-Journal is going to recommend Obama In tomorrows Review-Journal, the editorial board recommends Democrats in the Saturday caucuses support the candidacy of Senator Obama. The board notes he is the most viable of the remaining candidates for the party and that he is the best candidate for the job.

Watch the Nevada Democratic Presidential Debates Tonight at 6pm PST!

Don't forget to watch the Nevada Presidential Debates tonight from 6-8pm PST, on MSNBC, Cox Cable Channel 47. NBC News, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 100 Black Men of America, IMPACTO, the African American Democratic Leadership Council and the College of Southern Nevada are all co-sponsors of the debate...Check out this post on the Las Vegas Review-Journal about the potential importance of this debate to the upcoming Nevada caucuses and beyond!

The Race and Gender Presidential Debate — and the Invisibility of Women of Color

There has been a lot of discussion within the last few days about whether voters will find race or gender more relevant as they weigh in on the contenders for the Democratic nomination for president. See, "Race and Gender Issues in Tense Day for Democrats," New York Times, January 14, 2008, at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/us/politics/14campaign.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=race+and+gender+issues+in+tense+day+for+democrats&oref=slogin.

Presumably those who care about race will favor Barack Obama and those who care about gender will favor Hillary Clinton. Yet lost in all this discussion about the relative weight of race and gender, is the way in which women of color cannot fall neatly into the "either-or" split about race and gender. Women of color who are disproportionately working class, can't automatically presume Hillary Clinton will prioritize their issues because she is a woman. For women of color who live at the intersection of both race and gender, what is most relevant is the substance of a candidate's approach to the economy.

Looking at Barack Obama's specific commitments to low-wage workers indicates that Latinas, African-Americans and other women of color will have their interests well served by someone who understands that race and gender are not two separate categories of existence. Specifically, as President Obama will increase federal investments into transitional jobs, which are a promising way to help chronically unemployed people break into the workplace. This approach places participants into temporary, subsidized wage-paying jobs. It also offers mentoring and social services designed to address the work-blocking problems like personal and family conflicts. Obama also supports funding for bridge programs that partner the federal government with employers and community-based organizations to identify job opportunities, develop customized training programs, and place low-income employees in better jobs. He also supports funding for apprenticeship programs and investments in community college programs that target adults looking to gain new skills.

Barack Obama also believes that all workers who want a job should not only be able to gain meaningful employment, but also be able to move up the career ladder to further support their families and serve as role models for their children. Obama has introduced legislation to help strengthen career ladders by first identifying regions and industries where career pathways are not fully developed and then establish public-private partnerships to lift up low-wage workers. Obama supports using the successful organized labor model of providing workers with additional skills and opportunities, and looks forward to working with organized labor to build more opportunities for low-income workers to reach economic security.

And most importantly, Barack Obama believes that people who work full time should not live in poverty. Before the Democrats took back Congress, the minimum wage had not changed in 10 years. Even though the minimum wage will rise to $7.25 an hour by 2009, the minimum wage’s real purchasing power will still be below what it was in 1968. As president, Obama would further raise the minimum wage, index it to inflation and increase the Earned Income Tax Credit to make sure that full-time workers can earn a living wage that allows them to raise their families and pay for basic needs such as food, transportation, and housing -- things so many people take for granted but that working class women of color still stuggle to attain.

T.K. Hernandez

Barack Obama Discusses Plan to Revitalize Economy

Sen. Obama Hosts Roundtable in Reno with Residents Affected by Mortgage Crisis Reno, NV – At the Reno Events Center today, Senator Barack Obama hosted a roundtable discussion with local residents about the mortgage foreclosure crisis that threatens millions of American families. Obama spoke about his plan to fight mortgage fraud and protect consumers against abusive lending practices. Yesterday, Obama unveiled his economic stimulus plan, which provides relief to homeowners hit by the housing crisis and provides aid to states hardest-hit by the housing crisis. “Months ago, I introduced a plan to help struggling homeowners and prevent this crisis from happening again in the future,” Senator Obama said. “It would crack down on unscrupulous lenders, give consumers the information they need to protect them against abusive lending, and provide a tax credit to 10 million homeowners - including 60,000 right here in Nevada.” Obama was joined by several local citizens who have been impacted by the crisis, including Tamishia Ayala, a dealer at the Silver Legacy and Club Nevada who lost her home to foreclosure; and Patricia Chastain, the real estate agent who was forced to evict Tamisha and believes the system is fundamentally flawed. Obama shared their frustration. "Here in Nevada, the foreclosure rate is four times the national average, and the economic impact in this state is expected to cost over $1.6 billion,” Senator Obama said. “This is an outrage. It's an outrage that Washington caved to lobbyists when they knew this could happen and it's an outrage that they're doing nothing about it now.”

To download a PDF of Barack Obama's plan to protect homeownership and crack down on mortgage fraud , click http://obama.3cdn.net/20aaae116872a1bde6_jjeumvhgq.pdf.

Are our so called leaders losing a step?

So is it just me, or are others on Black Vegas News disenchanted with our so called "leaders" and their blind commitment to the old political machine that has kept them fed for so long? I would think that these so called leaders would give the first viable Black presidential candidate real consideration, if not support. I'm not saying that their aren't legitimate reasons to support a candidate other than Barack, but we should expect more than insults and self-serving endorsements from those who trade on being our community's leaders. Here is an interesting article from the Washington Post that addresses the issue of Black leadership and candidate endorsements.

Senator Obama rocks the crowd in Las Vegas

Senator Obama rocks and moves the crowd when he spoke in Las Vegas. Click on the link to read about what happened and the great effect he had on the crowd.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/13729202.html

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano Endorses Senator Obama

More great news has come in regarding the Obama Campaign. Nevada's neighbor to the south has come on board. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, one of the most prominent female elected officials in the country, announced this morning her endorsement of Barack Obama's presidential candidacy. This is a big win for the campaign not only because Gov. Napolitano is a strong voice in the West, but it also demonstrates that Sen. Clinton does not have the guaranteed support of prominent female elected officials.

Senator Kerry Endorses Senator Obama

Senator John Kerry has endorsed the presidential candidacy of Senator Barack Obama at a rally in South Carolina today. Senator Kerry is the first of several high-profile Democrats expected to announce their support for Senator Obama in his fight to win the party’s nomination.
Senator Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat who was the party’s presidential nominee in 2004, stated that Mr. Obama represents the best prospect for uniting a divided country, as well as transforming America’s image around the world.
The endorsement ceremony today was held on the campus of the College of Charleston.

It was back in 2004 when Senator Kerry selected Senator Obama –to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Boston.