Obama wins election as first African-American President of U.S.

Wednesday, 05 November 2008 13:28

Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States, opening a new chapter in the country's history as the first African-American to hold the world's most important job.

``If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,'' Obama told more than 100,000 people who gathered for a victory celebration in Chicago's Grant Park.

The Illinois senator capped his 21-month quest with a sweeping electoral victory that also enhanced the Democrats' majority in Congress and marked the end of an era of Republican dominance in Washington.

Obama crossed the requisite threshold of 270 electoral votes to defeat Republican rival John McCain last night when television networks projected him winning the state of California. He had at least 338 electoral votes to McCain's 145, according to the Associated Press and television network projections. Six states remained undecided.

His victory, along with his party's gains in congressional contests, puts Democrats in firm control of the federal government for the first time since the early 1990s. That gives Obama an opportunity to turn his victory into a pivotal moment in the country's political history.

McCain's Concession

McCain, speaking to supporters in Phoenix, conceded the race and said he called his rival ``to congratulate him on being elected the next president.''

``Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and his country,'' McCain said. ``This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African- Americans and the special pride that must be theirs tonight.''

McCain pledged to do ``all in my power'' to assist Obama and urged his backers ``to find ways to come together'' for the good of the country.

During their phone conversation, Obama told McCain that he hoped to work with him in the future, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said. Obama told McCain, ``I need your help, you're a leader on so many important issues,'' Gibbs said.

Obama also received a congratulatory call from President George W. Bush, who promising a ``smooth transition,'' White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Promising Change

Obama, 47, swept to victory by promising a change in Washington, inspiring millions of new voters and volunteers along the way. He persuaded the electorate that he could best handle the economic crisis facing the country. He raised more money than any presidential candidate in history, overwhelming McCain.

``He wants to be a transforming leader,'' said presidential historian James McGregor Burns in a Bloomberg radio interview. Such a leader, like Franklin Delano Roosevelt, ``knows how to proclaim great goals and summons the people to help him realize those goals,'' said Burns, who has written biographies of Roosevelt and other presidents.

Having based his presidential bid on change and using that theme to create a new electoral coalition, Obama must now follow through or risk alienating those supporters, Burns said.

``He has made that so crucial to his campaign: change, change, change,'' Burns said. ``This man cannot escape now the responsibilities of trying to bring it about.''

No Guarantees

And while Obama will have the opportunity to build on his appeal to young Americans and energize their generation, there is no guarantee of success, said Scott Keeter, director of survey research at the Pew Research Center in Washington.
``The problems that George W. Bush has had, especially in his second term, have really hurt the Republican Party's brand,'' Keeter said. ``There's no reason to think that couldn't happen if Obama has problems as well.''

The racial symbolism of Obama's campaign was never far from the surface. He formally declared his candidacy in February 2007 in Springfield, Illinois, evoking the spirit of Abraham Lincoln and his call for the nation to overcome the divisions of slavery. Obama ended his campaign Monday night with a rally in Manassas, Virginia, the site of two Confederate Civil War victories.

At the same time, Obama generally avoided overt discussions of racial issues. The one exception was in March, when revelations of inflammatory remarks by his longtime pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, led him to deliver a lengthy address on the subject.

Break With Past

Obama's victory represents a break with the razor-thin margins in the last two presidential elections.

In 2004, the election was too close to call until the next morning, when Democrat John Kerry conceded after concluding he couldn't surpass Bush's vote total in the decisive state of Ohio, which Obama won tonight. Four years earlier, Bush's victory over Vice President Al Gore was in doubt for more than five weeks while Florida recounted its ballots. The Supreme Court finally halted the recount in December, and Gore capitulated.

Obama comes to the White House promising to pursue universal health-care coverage, alternative sources of energy and middle-class tax cuts. He faces daunting challenges: the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the lingering threat of international terrorism.

Obama will have a Democratic House and Senate behind him after he takes the oath of office on Jan. 20. While not all of the races have been decided, the president-elect's party has clearly made gains in Congress.

New Obama Ad Attacks McCain's Economic Deficiency, Palin

Barack Obama took a double-shot at John McCain's campaign today.

This commercial, entitled "His Choice," first highlights Republican McCain's repeated admissions that he's not that great with the economy. Those policy decisions, he once said, will be made by his vice-president, which leads to the titular line and a shot of Sarah Palin winking.

Vice-presidential candidates aren't typically attacked in campaign ads, but apparently Obama thinks that Palin, with her scads of bad press, is a ripe target. Fair enough, although we have to admit this advert left a bit of a bad taste in our mouth.

It's not simply the fact that Palin's painted as a bit of a dolt, a sentiment with which we agree, but that she's presented as a dismissive character, not an attitude to take with only the second female running mate in American history. But, what do we know? We're not campaign managers…

NUBIANNEWYORKERS!

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE... GOD IS WATCHING OVER YOU

MYTHS ABOUT "CHOKING THE CHICKEN"

Masturbation is something you do when you're young, but then grow out of.----In fact, masturbation is a life long sexual activity. Surveys regularly show that anywhere from 70 to 95% of adult men and women masturbate. And while this may slow down as we age, many of us continue masturbating into our golden years. One survey of 800 adults over 60 found that that 46% of them masturbated, another found that 20% of seniors masturbated once a week or more. Masturbation isn't just for the young, nor is it an "immature" form of sexual behavior.

Masturbation isn't "real sex"; it's only for people who can't find a partner.--Masturbation is real sex. When you masturbate you can get really aroused, which can result in very real orgasms. In North America, we put values on different sexual behaviors, but this has no basis in science. From a health perspective, masturbation is as "real" a sexual behavior as intercourse, oral sex, or kissing. And research shows that people in relationships masturbate, which contradicts the myth that masturbation is only for loners.

Masturbation is bad for your health.-- This myth originated with an anti-masturbation tract that was written in 1712 as a way to sell a bogus "tonic" that was supposed to stop the disease of "self-pollution". Through the years there have been many colorful attempts to pathologize masturbation. They say it will make you go blind, it will give you acne, and it will grow hair on your palms. All claims that have been refuted by science. Today virtually all physicians and scholars agree that masturbation is harmless.

Masturbation is something men have to do, but women don't "need" to.--While most statistics show that men do masturbate more than women, there is no evidence to suggest this is due to some biological "need" on the part of men to masturbate. What is true is that social attitudes toward female masturbation are much more negative, and this likely impacts both women's early masturbation and their willingness to report masturbating in a survey.

There is no research to suggest that the desire to masturbate is tied to biological sex or even gender

People in relationships don't masturbate.--This common myth often drives people in relationships to masturbate in private hiding it from their partners. Survey research shows that people of all ages masturbate when they are in relationships. Kinsey's survey found that almost 40% of men and 30% of women in relationships masturbated. A study of Playboy readers found that 72% of married men masturbated, and a study of Redbook readers found that 68% of married women masturbated.

Too much masturbation is bad for you.--With very rare exceptions, frequent masturbation is not harmful. If an individual is compulsively masturbating or is unable to engage in any sexual behavior other than masturbation (and would like to), it is possible that there may be reason to consult a mental health professional. But masturbating, whether it is once a month, or three times a day, if it is part of a balanced sexual and social life, poses no specific risks.

Only certain kinds of people masturbate.--Survey research debunks this myth that only certain people masturbate. Whether you are 19 or 99, religious and conservative or secular and liberal, whether you are a parent, grandparent, uncle or aunt, whether you get around on your own two legs or use a wheelchair, scooter, crutches, or roller-skates to get around, almost everyone has masturbated at some point in their lives, and most of us continue to do so.

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N.Y. Will Recognize Gay Marriage

ALBANY — - New York state will recognize gay marriages legally performed in other states and countries, according to a memo from the counsel to Gov. David Paterson, the governor's spokeswoman said Wednesday.

State agencies, including those governing insurance and health care, must immediately recognize same-sex marriages legally performed elsewhere as valid in New York, according to the directive.

Same-sex marriage is not legal in New York, and the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals, has said it can only be legalized by the Legislature.

But the memo, based on a Feb. 1 New York Appellate Division court ruling, would recognize the marriages of New Yorkers who are legally wed elsewhere.




The appellate judges determined that there is no legal impediment in New York to the recognition of a same-sex marriage.

The state Legislature "may decide to prohibit the recognition of same-sex marriages solemnized abroad," the ruling said. "Until it does so, however, such marriages are entitled to recognition in New York."

Gay rights advocates have sought recognition for gay marriages so couples could share family health care plans, receive tax breaks by filing jointly, enjoy stronger adoption rights and inherit property. Most of these advocates rejected so-called gay unions, thought to be a compromise, because the unions lacked the legal protections of marriage.

Many or all of these rights would now appear to be available to legally married gay couples, according to the memo.

Agencies have until June 30 to report back to the governor's counsel on how, specifically, the directive will change existing state benefits and services for gay couples.

Massachusetts is currently the only U.S. state that recognizes same-sex marriage, but its residency requirements would bar New Yorkers from marrying there.

New York residents could instead flock to California, where gay couples will be able to wed beginning June 17 — unless that state's Supreme Court decides to stay its own ruling.

Upon their return home, in the eyes of the state, their unions would be no different from those of their heterosexual neighbors.

Gay couples could also travel outside the country to marry in Canada, for example.

The move by Paterson's administration is one of the strongest steps the state can take short of action by the Legislature.

In a video shown at the Empire State Pride Agenda's spring dinner on Saturday, the governor said he directed the measures as "a strong step toward marriage equality right here in our state."

DAVID COOK SHOULD WIN IDOL....here's his voice!

National black gay conference attracts Atlanta leaders

‘The Power of Us’ slated for April 24-26 in Baltimore
By DYANA BAGBY | Apr 7, 6:04 PM

Some of Atlanta’s top black gay leaders, activists and straight allies will be taking part in the National Black Justice Coalition’s national conference titled “The Power of Us” slated for April 24-26 in Baltimore.

Hundreds of people are expected to converge in Baltimore for the conference that plans for more than 50 national speakers and panelists and some 35 workshops, including Q&A discussions as well as receptions and dinners.

“The goal is to bring black and non-black LGBT leaders together and to build alliances with non-black and non-LGBT organizations,” said Herndon Davis, spokesperson for the NBJC (www.nbjcoalition.org). The conference will focus on three topics: health, spirituality and leadership. Registration is ongoing until the conference opens, he added.

“With the presidential election coming, we thought this would be a great opportunity to address serious issues in a public forum,” Davis said.

Health issues will be a major focus at the conference, especially because of the rising rates of HIV infection among black gay men, Davis said. Dr. David Malebranch of Emory University, who has done significant research on HIV among black gay men, will be taking part in that aspect of the conference.

The NBJC also plans to hold its third annual Black Church Summit as part of the conference. The first NBJC Black Church Summit was held in Atlanta at First Iconium Baptist Church and featured keynote speaker Rev. Al Sharpton. Although they are not gay, Dr. Ken Samuel, pastor of Victory Church for the World, UCC, in Stone Mountain; and Dr. Timothy McDonald, pastor of First Iconium Baptist Church, will be on hand to discuss homophobia in the black church.

“Homophobia is unfortunately still a pervasive force in the black church and we want to keep addressing this issue,” Davis said.

Carey Sherrell of Atlanta, former contestant on NBC’s “The Apprentice” and fashion designer, will also be at the conference as part of its star power that also features comedian Karen Williams and Ray Cunningham, an actor from BET’s “College Hill.”

Political leaders and political strategizing will also be a major part of the conference, Davis said, with several black gay politicians attending, including Connecticut State Rep. Jason Bartlett, who came out in late February and is the first openly black gay state legislator in the country. NBJC reports there are also six openly black gay elected officials in the U.S.

Other noted speakers to be at the NBJC conference include Bishop Gene Robinson of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire; Joel Ginsberg, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association; and Leah Daughtrey, chief of staff of the Democratic National Committee.