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Black voters showed up and showed out at the polls this past November, so much so that analysts say the African American turnout actually surpassed that of Caucasians. And it’s a good thing we did show up, because according to an analysis conducted for The Associated Press and reported by CBS news: “Had people voted last November at the same rates they did in 2004, when black turnout was below its current historic levels, Republican Mitt Romney would have won narrowly.”

Did anyone else just breathe a sigh of relief?

Here’s the analysis of the data:

America’s blacks voted at a higher rate than other minority groups in 2012 and by most measures surpassed the white turnout for the first time, reflecting a deeply polarized presidential election in which blacks strongly supported Barack Obama while many whites stayed home….

William H. Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, analyzed the 2012 elections for the AP using census data on eligible voters and turnout, along with November’s exit polling. He estimated total votes for Obama and Romney under a scenario where 2012 turnout rates for all racial groups matched those in 2004. Overall, 2012 voter turnout was roughly 58 percent, down from 62 percent in 2008 and 60 percent in 2004.

The 2012 data suggest Romney was a particularly weak GOP candidate, unable to motivate white voters let alone attract significant black or Latino support. Obama’s personal appeal and the slowly improving economy helped overcome doubts and spur record levels of minority voters in a way that may not be easily replicated for Democrats soon.

Romney would have erased Obama’s nearly 5 million-vote victory margin and narrowly won the popular vote if voters had turned out as they did in 2004, according to Frey’s analysis. Then, white turnout was slightly higher and black voting lower….

Unlike other minority groups, the rise in voting for the slow-growing black population is due to higher turnout. While blacks make up 12 percent of the share of eligible voters, they represented 13 percent of total 2012 votes cast, according to exit polling. That was a repeat of 2008, when blacks “outperformed” their eligible voter share for the first time on record.

As Andra Gillespie, a political science professor at Emory University who has written extensively on black politicians, put it, ”The 2012 turnout is a milestone for blacks and a huge potential turning point. What it suggests is that there is an `Obama effect’ where people were motivated to support Barack Obama. But it also means that black turnout may not always be higher, if future races aren’t as salient.”

Whit Ayres, a GOP consultant who is advising possible 2016 Republican presidential contender Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida made an equally good point to CBS, noting that the last election reaffirmed that the Republican Party needs “a new message, a new messenger and a new tone.” Yet he added:

“It remains to be seen how successful Democrats are if you don’t have Barack Obama at the top of the ticket,” he said.

Do you think the black turnout will drop off significantly in the 2016 presidential election?

Andres Otero/WENN.com

I had the opportunity to listen to Jay-Z’s “Open Letter” yesterday, and I definitely enjoyed many aspects of it. The beat was dope, the lyrics were witty, and as a hip-hop fan, I found it to be a pretty entertaining response to his critics, which are increasing. They, of course, spent the week on the rapper and Beyoncé’s case for celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary in Cuba with family.

But when he dropped lines like,

Boy from the hood, but got White House clearance

Obama said chill, you gon’ get me impeached/You don’t need this s**t anyway, go chill with me on the beach,”

I thought to myself, “This isn’t going to end well.” A day later, the White House felt the need to make it clear that they had nothing, especially President Obama, to do with the Carters getting clearance from the Treasury Department to vacay in Cuba. There was no conversation about possible impeachment, not even a joke about it–so basically, don’t look at President Obama, because his name is Bennett, and he ain’t in it.

While I could only imagine how amazing it would be to be able to say you are good friends with the President of the United States, it’s becoming clear that it’s not easy. Ever since Jay-Z and Beyoncé started pushing hard for the re-election of President Obama, and the First Family made clear that they were supporters of the couple, they’ve become closer and closer. The Carters hosted an event to raise millions for the Obama re-election campaign late last year, and they definitely did that. Jay-Z performed at a campaign event for the president the day before the election. Beyoncé could be seen all over her Instagram stanning for the president, wearing Obama earrings, Obama shirts and even showing us her early vote through her profile (bad idea). And when you show that kind of support, make it clear in your lyrics that you have “Obama on the text,” and that you take exclusive trips to the White House, a new type of critic is bound to come out that is much worse than folks on “urban” blogs and people who just aren’t fans. They’re like the boogie man, and they’re the Right-Wing nut-jobs searching for a conspiracy in every single thing to make you a target. And that’s what they’ve made Jay and Bey, when five or so years ago, they were just simple entertainers. From the backlash over her lip-synching performance of the “Star Spangled Banner” at the inauguration, to Donald Trump criticizing her performance at the Super Bowl, conservative haters going in about her outfit, Rush Limbaugh trying to mock “support” her song “Bow Down” by tying misogny to it, and now, this Cuba mess, the Carters have a new troll on their backs. We all know a rap song as a response might not be enough to hold them back.

On the other side of the fence, Jigga’s response and the couple’s trip as a whole has already become something of a small annoyance for the president and the White House, with people investigating two grown a** people’s decision to go to Cuba for the purpose of trying to see if the President had something to do with it. His song only made things worse, to the point that a statement had to be made about it all to prove that, look, Barack Obama has more important things to focus on and worry about. Gun control? North Korea anyone?

Who the president associates himself with has always been a target, dating back to Obama needing to separate himself from Rev. Jeremiah Wright when he was vying for a first term, and they were even closer at one time. And Jay doesn’t have a spotless background, what with a past in selling drugs, some episodes of violence, and some very provocative lyrics over the years. Hell, when Bey told “b***hes” to “Bow Down,” even people at my job were wondering if that would reflect well upon the president, because all of a sudden, everything the couple says and does can now affect the Obamas. What’s up with that?? It makes no sense to us, but for the critics, it does.

So while I enjoyed “Open Letter,” for what it was worth, I think it’s best that Jay-Z and Beyoncé go back to doing what they do best–ignoring the criticism like they had done for years, because I can’t say that responding and calling folks in high places out makes things better at this point. And in reality, this is just the beginning. For uber-conservative folks still pissy about Mitt Romney losing last November and making that eight years that Republicans will not have the highest position, the President and anybody that is close to him have become fair game for their bull. So as a man who said, “I Got 99 Problems But Mitt Ain’t One,” and his lady who exclaimed “Take that Mitches” after President Obama’s win on loose-leaf paper, things will probably get worse. But I just hope Jay will do the President a favor and relax on all the name dropping he does of him in his lyrics and in everyday life to prove that he’s come further than anybody ever expected. We get it. You’re cool. No need to gloat about your connections, nor to drag his name in on diss tracks and leave the president and his people trying to fend off all the press that comes with that. Let’s leave him far, far away from that.

Continue doing you, and be ready for whatever lies and drama uber-conseratives, the folks who don’t listen to your music, try to throw your way–ready to “brush your shoulders off” that is. Because that’s just what comes with having a friend who’s the leader of the free world.

President Obama during today’s press conference, the last one of his first term. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

At the beginning of a brand new year, we have much to celebrate and anticipate, from New Year’s resolutions to gearing up for another year of great change in your professional and personal life. This January, we have one additional reason to celebrate: on Monday, January 21st, President Barack Obama will be sworn into his second term as the President of the United States in the nation’s capital.

Although you might not need any other reason to celebrate this historical event, MN Biz will sum up a few political, personal, and even entertaining reasons to continue the celebration of President Obama’s second inauguration into the next four years!

Source: Getty Images

When Mitt Romney disappeared into oblivion at approximately 10: 27 pm on November 6, he, unfortunately, did not take his son Tagg with him. The eldest of Romney’s offspring has already been in hot water over saying he wanted to “take a swing” at Barack Obama after one of the presidential debates this year. Now, he’s claiming his dad didn’t really want to be president, which is sort of ironic considering Romney attempted to land the executive seat not once, but twice, and he lost both times. Sounds like Tagg’s trying to save face for papa bear. He told the Boston Globe in their report, “The story behind Mitt Romney’s loss in the presidential campaign to President Obama:”

“He wanted to be president less than anyone I’ve met in my life. He had no desire to . . . run,” Tagg, told the paper, saying he worked with his mother, Ann, to persuade his father to seek the presidency after his 2008 loss.

“If he could have found someone else to take his place . . . he would have been ecstatic to step aside. He is a very private person who loves his family deeply and wants to be with them, but he has deep faith in God and he loves his country, but he doesn’t love the attention.”

I see what Tagg is trying to say, but I know I’ll personally sleep a little bit better tonight with this reminder of how grateful we should be that Barack Obama is in office. It’s also sad that this quote confirms Republicans really thought Mitt Romney was the best man they had for the job. I want them to do better in 2013.

Source: Tumblr.com

This past Sunday at church, we were having altar call prayer when the woman speaking starting praying for our president. If you go to a black church, this is probably nothing out of the ordinary: “Lord, please bless our president, Bah-ROCK Obama.” The next sentence was a little bit more unorthodox. “And Lord, I know I may step on a few toes with this one but please bless Mitt Romney because we know he’s a little confused right now.” 

Even though, it would seem like that sentiment would be unpopular, there were several people who chuckled, grunted, and nodded their head in agreement. It’s true.

If we’re to judge by Romney’s recent actions and even his statements to his supporters and fundraisers, it would seem that he’s pulling for all kind of straws, looking for a way to explain his second presidential defeat. I mean this is the same man who allegedly didn’t have a concession speech on election night, the same man who’s said that President Obama only won the election because he was handing out “gifts” to voters. If you were to ask me his ego, elitism and even entitlement is suffering a huge blow right now. So while I’m glad he didn’t win, for the sake of the country, I’m not opposed to sending up a prayer for him, in hopes that this election will help him become a better man.

Source: WENN

Since President Obama won re-election last Tuesday, a lot of folks have been extremely salty and in denial, and one of those people just happens to be Mitt Romney. While the President spent his day yesterday talking to reporters about the possibility of working with Romney in the future since he agreed with some of the Governor’s ideas on certain things, Romney was throwing shade in a phone conversation with campaign donors where he claimed that the reason he couldn’t bring in a “W” for them was because the President won over voters with his promises, which Romney called “gifts.” According to USA Today, he says, “The president’s campaign, if you will, focused on giving targeted groups a big gift. He made a big effort on small things.” Yet he believes that his campaign tried to pay attention to big issues that affected the whole country, worrying about foreign policy issues, a strong economy and more. This is what he had to say according to The New York Times:

“With regards to the young people, for instance, a forgiveness of college loan interest, was a big gift…Free contraceptives were very big with young college-aged women. And then, finally, Obamacare also made a difference for them, because as you know, anybody now 26 years of age and younger was now going to be part of their parents’ plan, and that was a big gift to young people. They turned out in large numbers, a larger share in this election even than in 2008 … You can imagine for somebody making $25,000 or $30,000 or $35,000 a year, being told you’re now going to get free health care, particularly if you don’t have it, getting free health care worth, what, $10,000 per family, in perpetuity, I mean, this is huge … Likewise with Hispanic voters, free health care was a big plus. But in addition with regards to Hispanic voters, the amnesty for children of illegals, the so-called Dream Act kids, was a huge plus for that voting group.”

Romney went on to call the President’s alleged strategy an “old playbook” that singles out certain interest groups while alienating the public at large. Too bad that’s not really why President Obama won and Mitt Romney is licking his wounds with pissy donors right now. Too bad he didn’t bring up his damaging 47 percent comments, or the Republican party’s obsession with talking about rape, or the fact that Romney did a whole lot of flip flopping throughout the campaign so that people–black, Hispanic, young, old, whatever–barely could figure out where he stood on issues that mattered. The man spent more time trying to say what the specific crowd in front of him wanted to hear rather than sticking to his guns and having a backbone. Too bad he thought he could buy the election and assume he could ignore the 47 percent he tried to diss behind closed doors. But I could go on. Either way, it’s a shame that folks can’t be gracious losers. And besides, everyone can benefit from the promises President Obama made, not just these certain voting groups. And on a sidenote, when did people run campaigns where they weren’t promising big things to get voters on their side? Don’t knock it because you didn’t do it right, sir.

Source: Reuters

We know mothers, particularly black ones, can get a little arts and crafts creative when it comes to naming their children but Millicent Owuor takes the prize today. I’m not mad that he 20-year-old from the village of Kogelo in Kenya named one of her sons, born yesterday, Barack but my heart goes out to his twin brother who got the short end of the stick by being named after the President’s republican challenger Mitt. I mean, you essentially just named your child a loser — or after one anyway.

According to The Standard, Owuor delivered her newborn boys at Siaya District Hospital, not far from where President Obama’s 90-year-old step-grandmother, Sarah Obama, grew up and still lives. That detail will no doubt instill pride in little Barry as he grows older and learns about the historic man he was named after. As for little Mitt Mitt all I can say is keep your head up homie. Maybe you’ll grow up to be filthy reach like your predecessor.

Source: Reuters

Source: WENN, AP Images

I had a bit of a revelation yesterday when thinking about President Obama’s re-election. Of course I’m super excited to call Barack Obama my president for another four years — and you know control my own vayjayjay without Republican oversight — put there is something equally exciting about this re-election that has nothing to do with him. We will no longer have to hear from the ignorant characters who showed their you know what’s this election season.

Between random endorsements, trying to hold the president for ransom, and making the case for legitimate rapes, by the time November 6 came around, most of us couldn’t wait for the entire electoral process to be over just so we wouldn’t have to see or hear from these fools who will now be disappearing into conservative oblivion anymore. Let’s take one last look at them shall we?

From Hello Beautiful

It seems as though the Romney Campaign believes in the power of positivity! They created a website to reflect the possible Mitt Romney victory. What’s so bad about this website is that President Obama obviously won and the Romney’s site went live for an ENTIRE DAY, proclaiming the former Massachusetts governor as the president-elect.

Read more at HelloBeautiful.com.

Source: Blog.VH1

I feel like Brian Williams when he talked about Donald Trump’s revolution foolishness last night: I really don’t want to report on this but since it’s out there I figure you should know.

I thought it would have been enough that virtually all of black Twitter went in on Stacey Dash last night when President Obama’s re-election was announced. But as these things usually among the unemployed D-list celebrity ilk who have too much time on their hands, the former “Single Ladies” actress is back asking for more  shade/attention with a 1,344-word essay about why she voted for Mitt Romney and shouldn’t be judged for it.

Stacey sent the letter to TMZ. See the thirst already? The majority of the essay was written before the election was determined and then she added a little aside afterward acknowledging President Obama’s win. Since we don’t have space for all her nonsense, how about we just look at the highlights from the essay:

At the end of the day we are in this together. This is Our American Family. I do not want to be a part of the hateful voices insulting each other. I want to be a part of the voices that helps shape the future. Don’t you? Perhaps I publically [sic] endorsed Romney from a slightly naive place, thinking that I could speak my voice without being criticized in such racially charged and hateful tones.

People get it wrong. My vote for Romney isn’t a vote against Obama. That’s not how full participants in the democratic process operate. We vote for candidates and we vote for issues.

I’ve been fortunate enough in my career to have earned a considerable income. I am a fiscal conservative. I like the simplicity of the plan to lower taxes. I feel I’ve paid out a substantial amount over the 20 plus years I’ve been working. I’m also a woman. And as a single Mother who happens to be half-Bajan and half-Mexican, I have concerns, which cover many topics and issues…

I also don’t understand why more people aren’t acknowledging the good that has come about thanks to Romney’s Massachusetts medical coverage for all citizens. In addition, Romney’s
business acumen is sterling. Our country needs a savvy business manager with the ability to work on both sides of the aisle. Paul Ryan is another brilliant mind with a viable plan for the economy of this country. They’ve injected so much energy into the race. We need that ambition  and focus to get our country back on its feet…

In the event that Obama is re-elected I expect them to work a whole lot harder to bridge the divide between political parties, end the gridlock and get America back to work! Welfare reform
is also in order. An elderly woman stands in the same grocery line pinching pennies to buy a can of soup while a woman is buying marshmallow fluff with food stamps. As times have changed, welfare policy needs to keep stride, just like every other issue.

Just as I was about to ask why she felt the need to write this letter in the first place, as if anyone is really checking for a Stacey Dash election day free-write, I came to the best line in her 1300-word prose:

Ultimately I know that what Stacey Dash thinks about who will be the next president of the United States isn’t that important in the scheme of things-but I feel a desperation for the country.

I think that’s desperation over how she’ll manage to pay taxes with no income since her attitude keeps costing her jobs. Does she not realize no one will ever take her political stance seriously in a Baywatch swimsuit?In 2016, just keep your thoughts to yourself Stacey. Not because you’re a republican, but because you are clueless.