Elon James White

The Republican presidential candidates have been in the news an awful lot: Trump racist this. Carson Holocaust that. Jindal victim blaming someone else. But last night the Democrats had their chance for the spotlight with their first debate. We discussed it all: Hillary Clinton’s and Bernie Sanders’s strong points, Matin O’Malley’s smooth jazz cadence, Jim Webb’s plea to be relevant, and Lincoln Chaffee, well, he just looked happy to be there. Join us for pre- and post-debate coverage.

Team Blackness also discussed an aunt suing her nephew for hugging her too hard, Playboy‘s decision to take out the nudie print pics, and T.I.’s thoughts on women as president.

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The Democrats DebatePost + Comments (3)

Westboro Baptist Church is obviously running out of things to protest. Their latest attack is on meteorologists. Yes, you read that right. They planned to protest the National Weather Center headquarters in Norman, Oklahoma, because:

“Note to weather reporting rebels, nothing happens in this earth without the direct command of God,” the group said in a statement. The church also released a statement on Twitter saying that it would demonstrate against the agency on Thursday, “to remind them that ONLY by God’s mercy and power do you gather intelligence on His weather.”

Just, wow. Team Blackness also discussed Ben Carson’s run-in with an armed robber at a Popeye’s “organization,” Piers Morgan’s latest douchery, and more drama around the new speaker of the house.

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God Apparently Hates MeteorologistsPost + Comments (67)

We get it: Bobby Jindal is desperately trying to be relevant. But man has he chosen a horrible way to do it. The Louisiana governor blamed the Oregon community college shooting on video games (we’re desensitized to violence), abortion (we don’t value human life) and bad parenting.  And what he had to say to the shooter’s father, who is dealing with a great deal, is just cruel:

“This killer’s father is now lecturing us on the need for gun control and he says he has no idea how or where his son got the guns.” … “Of course he doesn’t know,” Jindal said. “You know why he doesn’t know? Because he is not, and has never been in his son’s life. He’s a complete failure as a father, he should be embarrassed to even show his face in public. He’s the problem here. He brags that he has never held a gun in his life and that he had no idea that his son had any guns,” Jindal continued. “Why didn’t he know? Because he failed to raise his son. He should be ashamed of himself, and he owes us all an apology.”

So much for a compassionate conservative.

Team Blackness also the murder of yet another trans woman of color (that makes 18 this year), more stupidity out of Ben Carson’s mouth, and Obama’s apology to Doctors Without Borders.

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Bobby Jindal Says Horrible Things: Part 82Post + Comments (14)

Think your kids are being treated equally at school? You may want to think again. An Ohio court has upheld a suspension for a 12-year-old black boy for being in a staring contest with a white girl. According to the boy, she was giggling the whole time. According to court documents, the girl “felt fearful.” Even after writing an apology, the boy was still suspended:

“The perception is he intimidated her,” said his mother,  Candice Tolbert. “My son stared at a girl who was engaged in a staring game. She giggled the entire time.” According to Tolbert, the same girl was involved in an incident at the school that was much worse, yet led to no repercussions. “The same girl that accused my son of this act of perception of intimidation, aggressively poured milk on someone else’s lunch. When she did that there was no penalties for that. She received nothing for that,” she explained.

He said, she said takes on a whole other level when race is involved.

Team Blackness also discussed the “motivation” of the Oregon community college shooter, McGraw Hill revising a textbook after a parent complains of misrepresentation of the slave trade, and Congress quietly ending the government’s ban on medical marijuana.

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He Said, She Said When Race Is InvolvedPost + Comments (19)

In Alabama due to Voter ID laws, it is illegal to vote without a government-issued ID, which usually means a driver’s license. That wouldn’t be such a big deal if Alabama wasn’t closing places to get those IDs in 12-15 counties. Which all happen to be primarily African American.

[These are] counties where some of the state’s poorest live. Counties that are majority African-American. Combine that with the federally mandated Star ID taking effect next year, and we’re looking at a nightmare. Or a trial lawyer’s dream. When the state passed Voter ID, Republican lawmakers argued that it was supposed to prevent voter fraud. Democrats said the law was written to disenfranchise black voters and suppress the voice of the poor.

But yeah, Democracy, am I right?

Team Blackness also discussed the heartbreaking school shooting at an Oregon’s Umpqua Community College, police corruption–this time in Miami, and how some banks are making it hard for minorities.

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How Alabama Is Making It Even Harder For African Americans To VotePost + Comments (55)

Are Bernie and Hillary not doing it for you? Well, a new poll shows that if Joe Biden chooses to enter the presidential race, he’ll start out as a favorite.

According to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 40 percent of Americans have a positive impression of Biden. …That’s compared to fellow Democrats Bernie Sanders (+10) and Hillary Clinton (-8), and to top-tier GOP candidates Ben Carson (+8), Carly Fiorina (+7) and Donald Trump (-33). Part of Biden’s current popularity is almost certainly attributable to the fact that he’s not officially in the 2016 race. Most of the media coverage of the vice president’s potential run has centered around his decision-making about a campaign and the outpouring of sympathy for his family after the tragic death of his son, Beau.

Not exactly surprising news, but couldn’t we use a little new campaign blood?

Team Blackness also discussed Yelp for people, Pornhub’s new findings, and a guy who tries to stop a carjacking with a gun with horrible results.

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If Biden Throws His Hat In The Presidential RingPost + Comments (58)

House Republicans continue their attack on Planned Parenthood. They’ve threatened to shut down the government to defund it, they’ve formed a special committee to explore all that baby part selling hogwash, and presidential candidates can’t stop talking about it. Yesterday, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee hauled PP President Cecile Richards in for more than 5 HOURS of questioning (which she unflappingly answered) about important things like her salary and the group’s travel expenses. But the attack doesn’t seem to be working:

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds that Americans have a more favorable view of Planned Parenthood than of any other entity tested, including the Republican Party and presidential candidates. The group’s favorable/unfavorable impression, 47 percent to 31 percent, is actually up slightly from July. What’s more, 61 percent oppose eliminating federal funding of Planned Parenthood. Even among the 35 percent who support defunding, only 9 percent favor shutting down the government to do it.

Team Blackness sat down to have a frank discussion about all things surrounding Planned Parenthood and why this attack is so very ridiculous.

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The Republicans’ Planned Parenthood Witch Hunt ContinuesPost + Comments (36)