From BlackVoices

The 2016 election may still be several years away, but some democrats are already getting excited about a political match that they say is made in heaven: Hillary Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama on the presidential ticket.

“All due respect for President Obama and Vice President Biden, but that would truly be a dream team for America,” Karen Finney, a former spokesperson for the Democratic Party and Clinton, told the Washington Examiner. “Both women are proven effective leaders who’ve raise children, so dealing with Congress would be a snap.”

Democratic strategist Chris Lehane, who worked closely with the Clinton White House, told the paper that all this talk of a Clinton-Obama partnership ”reflects the growing awareness that it is time for the glass ceiling of the last old boys club to be firmly shattered.”

Read more on BlackVoices.com.

Let’s start with the obvious — Joe Biden killed it six ways to Sunday in last night’s debate. The media’s reporting on polls showing a draw, but seriously. No.

Showing that one shouldn’t underestimate Joltin’ Joe, he came armed with a “You’ve got to be kidding me” laugh, a lifetime of experience and facts. #FactsMatter was actually one of the popular hashtags of the night, and with good reason. Biden has been in the White House for the past four years, witnessing all that the Obama administration has accomplished. He has more than 30 years in Congress. And he wasn’t afraid to talk it up and call a spade a spade.

On foreign policy and military matters, he spoke plainly and with authority. Explaining the policy in Syria versus the one in Libya, he started by stating simply, “They are two completely different countries.” In other words, I understand the nuance of the dynamics across that region. It’s not a monolith. Ryan was clearly overwhelmed by the topic. On healthcare, Biden discussed the dollars and cents of what people will spend and save. On women’s issues, he made it clear that despite his religion, he believes in a woman’s right to determine what’s best for her own body.

And without letting too much time pass, he jumped all over Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” comment. On MSNBC, a commentator made the point that VP Biden speaks the language of populism well, a good point. Much of the criticism of Biden comes from those who thought his laughing  was over the top or downright rude. It was noticeable and maybe even a touch too much, but it didn’t overshadow his words.

So a big topic, of course, was the economy. On the issue of small business, Ryan said that letting tax cuts expire on high earners (they would remain for the middle class) would mean big trouble for job creators and VP Biden said it would only impact a small portion of small businesses (defining small businesses and those earning less than $250,000 per year, which is the vast majority). The Washington Post‘s analysis shows that both of them have a point. Ryan continued to be vague about the loopholes and tax breaks for the super-wealthy that they would cut.

Moving on, Ryan criticized the rate of economic growth the country is experiencing now and even went so far as to say joblessness is increasing, a claim that is in stark opposition to the unemployment numbers we’ve gotten over the past two weeks. And then both candidates fiercely debated about Medicare and other entitlements, going back and forth about whether the GOP side is advocating for vouchers. Here’s a good breakdown of the economic issues that were discussed. And here’s full video along with issue-by-issue clips.

Two final notes: ABC’s Martha Raddatz did a bang up job last night, gained thousands more Twitter followers as a result of her work, and launched the #MoreMartha hashtag, with people requesting that she moderate the remaining two presidential debates.

And Joe Biden may single-handedly bring back one of my favorite words: “malarkey.” The word was erased from proper parlance last year when the AP Style Guide removed it. They should rethink that.

MEET Crystal Barnes. After eight years of working her way up in the media company Nielsen, the global leader in measuring what consumers buy and watch, she is now the Vice President of Industry Relations for the worldwide marketing company. Barnes began with the company as a part of its Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), and from there, went on to working in multicultural outreach and public affairs before landing her VP position in Industry Relations, which focuses on the diverse, demanding and connected consumer.

As a mother, wife and executive at the world’s leading media information company, Barnes knows that the fuel that keeps her going is her sense of responsibility to play an active and leadership role in promoting diversity. Remembering her path to success and acknowledging her passion is the name of her game.

Madame Noire: You were just promoted to Vice President of Industry Relations at Nielsen, just spotlighted in Ad Age’s People On the Move and also spotlighted on Crain’s NY Executive Moves. What is the role you play in your company and how is that role important not just for Nielsen, but for any company?

Crystal Barnes: In my current role, I’m responsible for developing strategic alliances with industry and business associations within the global business community. That means expanding the reach of Nielsen’s thought leadership efforts across the media and consumer industries.  The data, insights and analysis that we provide to our clients and stakeholders helps them make informed decisions around their content, brands, products and services.  Industry Relations is a major lifeline by which our key messages are shared and disseminated to the business community. As the industry rapidly evolves, it is imperative that we maintain open and active communication channels with our clients, industry influencers and consumers.  Listening to and connecting the dots between these constituents is a business imperative for most companies.

MN: You began your career with Nielsen in 2004 as a part of the company’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) and have been working your way up in the company ever since. What is it about the field of marketing and media information and the company that made you continue your career with Nielsen?

CB: Nielsen’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) focuses on developing diverse talent and leadership throughout the company by exposing participants to various industries and expertise. The idea of rotating through multiple departments and gaining a cross-section of experiences was fascinating to me.  Post program, I continued to expand my expertise through multiple positions on what I call a “permanent life rotation.”  As a marketer, there is no such thing as knowing too much. With these experiences came leadership growth and competency mastery.  Working in an environment that encourages curiosity and rewards a degree of risk is empowering.

MN: Prior to joining Nielsen, what was your professional background and experience?

CB: Prior to joining Nielsen, I worked at WHP, a CBS affiliate in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Comcast SportsNet in Bethesda, MD. I received my Bachelor’s degree at Temple University (Philadelphia PA) with a major in Broadcast Telecommunications and Mass Media and a minor in Business.

MN: A lot of your responsibilities throughout your years at Nielsen focused on community affairs, civic and social service partnerships and commitments to diversity within the company. Why is that a passion of yours, and how important is it for a company to make these responsibilities important?

CB: Some of my best years at Nielsen were dedicated to community and public affairs. It’s simply a passion of mine. To be placed in a position to help educate our communities on the benefits of your company’s expertise is an honor. We as individuals wear many hats; however, at the end of the day, we are all consumers. The power in Nielsen’s message lies in the consumer’s ability for her voice to be heard through the insights and analysis that we provide to our clients. Educating communities on how to exercise their power is an import message to deliver.

Meet Yvette Miley, Vice President and Executive Editor of MSNBC. A 21-year veteran of NBC Universal, Miley oversees the editorial content of MSNBC’s dayside programming. Accomplished and hard-working, she remains committed to providing viewers with quality programs that aim to motivate, inspire and inform. FInd out why she’s the boss.