Roland S. Martin's Blog, page 695

White House Denies Report Of Deal As Debt Deadline Inches Closer

Source: Alan Silverleib and Tom Cohen / CNN Washington – The White House is continuing to pursue the most "significant deficit reduction package possible," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Thursday — the latest indication officials are keeping as many options open as possible as lawmakers try to hammer out an agreement to raise the nation's debt ceiling and avoid an unprecedented default. Carney signaled to reporters earlier in the week that President Barack Obama may now be willing [...]

MSNBC Set To Hire Sharpton; Black Journalists Slam Impending Hire

Source: Richard Prince / Richard Prince's Journal-isms™ "After giving a nearly six-month tryout for the Internet talk show host Cenk Uygur, the cable news channel MSNBC is preparing to instead hand its 6 p.m. time slot to the Rev. Al Sharpton," Brian Stelter reported Thursday for the New York Times. Such a move would respond to complaints from the NAACP that "Currently, there are no African American hosts or anchors on any national news show, cable or broadcast network, from the [...]

Democratic Source: President Obama Working On $3 Trillion Debt Deal

Source: Stephanie Condon / CBS News President Obama is working on a deal to raise the debt ceiling with House Speaker John Boehner that would make $3 trillion in cuts over 10 years but include no new government revenues, a Democratic congressional aide told CBS News today. Mr. Obama conveyed this to congressional leaders last night, the aide told CBS News Senior Political Producer Jill Jackson. A White House official tells CBS News that there is no such deal. The [...]

NFL Owners Vote To End Lockout

Source: Nate Davis / USA Today Atlanta – NFL Network is reporting that the league's owners have ratified a new labor agreement which would be a major step toward ending the four-month lockout. The owners approved it 31-0 according to NFLN. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti left the meeting early for a family obligation, though it was unclear if the Ravens were the team that abstained. Players are scheduled to conduct their own conference call in Washington at 8 p.m. ET [...]

Major News Outlets Reject Black Talent in Prime Time

July 21, 2011 Major News Outlets Reject Black Talent in Prime Time NABJ and Civil Rights Orgs Discuss Course of Action WASHINGTON, D.C. — In reaction to an ostensible trend in cable news to pass over African American talent for prime time programming, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) continued discussions this week with several civil rights organizations to address the matter and direct a definite course of action. "We appreciate the support of like-minded organizations stepping up to [...]

Fearing The Worst: Federal Reserve Plans For Potential U.S. Default

Source: Reuters / The Huffington Post The Federal Reserve is actively preparing for the possibility that the United States could default as a deadline for raising the government's $14.3 trillion borrowing limit looms, a top Fed policymaker said on Wednesday. Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Plosser said the Fed has for the past few months been working closely with Treasury, ironing out what to do if the world's biggest economy runs out of cash on August 2. "We are [...]

TJMS: Pastor Kenneth Whalum Discusses Memphis City Schools Board's Decision To Delay Classes Until The City Pays Up

Pastor Kenneth Whalum joins Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. The Memphis City school board has decided to delay the start of classes until the city pays $151 Million to fund the coming school year.

Tiger Woods' Former Caddie: Sex Scandal Made Me Lose Respect For Him

Source: CNN New Zealand caddie Steve Williams said Thursday he is disappointed and shocked that he was fired by Tiger Woods especially after his loyalty to the golfer during his sex scandal. "Given the fact of my loyalty and the way that I stood by this guy through thick and thin …" Williams told CNN affiliate Mediaworks in New Zealand. "And the timing of it is very poor, from my perspective." Williams said the sex scandal made him lose respect [...]

FEC Says Edwards Should Repay $2.3 Million In Federal Funds

Source: AP / MSNBC Raleigh — The Federal Election Commission says former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign should repay the treasury $2.3 million. The commission on Thursday decided to order the repayment. Federal auditors said all but about $200,000 of the total came from federal matching funds the Edwards campaign received. The campaign got nearly $13 million in matching funds. Edwards dropped out of the race Jan. 30, 2008. Federal auditors said the campaign understated its cash and [...]

Allen West Says Apology To Wasserman Schultz 'Is Not Happening'

Source: Felicia Sonmez / The Washington Post Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) says he is not apologizing to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz for attacking the Florida Democrat in an e-mail. "That is not happening," West told Fox Business Network's Stuart Varney Thursday morning when asked whether he plans to apologize to Wasserman Schultz, who is the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. WATCH: Roland Martin: Rep. West Needs To Accept The Stature Of Being A Member Of Congress (VIDEO) "This is a pattern I [...]