Commentary

By Juanita Bratcher

Some people will say any and everything to draw attention and sap-up public interest to whatever cause they are trying to espouse for various reasons, even if devoid of facts.

Such is the case of Investment Tycoon Donald Trump. In recent weeks, Trump has fueled the “Birthers” debate by taking to the airwaves spewing out vicious and off-the-wall statements when questioning President Barack Obama’s citizenship.

Trump’s voice has joined the chorus of team “Birthers” and many extreme Right Wingers that for a while now have long been crying wolf over Obama’s birth certificate.

The “Birthers” actions can be looked upon as nothing more than a blatant means of planting seeds of distrust in the American people and polarize the country in the same manner in which they tried to kill off Health Care Reform with incendiary talk, misinformation, lies and underhanded tactics at health care rallies to derail health care reform legislation.

In several media interviews Trump declared that President Barack Obama is not a U.S. Citizen, that he was born in Kenya. He even stated that he had sent investigators to Hawaii to investigate the issue and went on to say that Obama’s grandmother even said he was born in Kenya.

Recently, Trump said he hates what is happening to this country. What is happening to this country, I ask? He didn’t get specific. Anyone can shoot from the lip or the hip and make opinionated statements, but do they speak to truth? What about some facts to back them up? Is it being done by Trump to liven, muster up or boost his run for President of the United States? According to polls, his numbers went up after he started questioning Obama’s citizenship.

It is unprincipled to give power and life to unproved rumors just to make a point that isn’t! One must deal with the facts, not mere speculation and personal attacks, especially when they don’t balance out. The majority of American voters elected Obama as president. They chose him to lead this country. And you can bet your bottom dollar that anyone who makes a run for the presidency is thoroughly checked out through this country’s intelligence and the mass news media. There’s no question, the mass media would be swarming with articles if it were so. Don’t think for one second that anyone can be president of this country before being thoroughly checked out. And I have tremendous confidence in our intelligence system. I, too, know that the news media will have their investigative search engines in place roaring and purring to find out facts and truth. That you can bank on!

Obama presented a live birth certificate when he run for the presidency, nonetheless, after being sworn into office he has constantly been dogged by the issue from “Birthers”. Is it racism? Obviously it is.

Trump has received praise (from the Birthers and Right Wingers) and criticism from others for his remarks on Obama’s citizenship.

The state official in Hawaii in charge of Obama’s birth information said there is an original birth certificate on file that confirms that Obama was born in Hawaii but state law won’t allow it to be released unless the president authorizes it.

Hawaii’s Governor Neil Abercrombie, in a statement this year said an investigation had found papers proving that Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961.

“It actually exists in the archives, written down,” Abercrombie said in an interview with the Honolulu’s Star-Advertiser.

Abercrombie also said that he knew Obama’s parents, and that he was “here when he was born.”

Commenting on the Birthers, Abercrombie, when appearing on CNN, stated that they will not be convinced because they have a political agenda, or they have minds that go in that kind of direction. He added that political theorists will never be satisfied and that it has gone into another area of “political attack.”

Trump’s remarks questioning Obama’s citizenship set-off an “outrage” from the National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a coalition of 34,000 African American and Latino churches comprised of 15 denominations and 15.7 million African Americans.

In a news release the NBCI stated: “As a national African American organization, we are appalled that in Trump’s effort to garner publicity and separate himself from the pack he feels it is appropriate to dredge up false, divisive and ugly rumors about our elected President.  While we may disagree with Obama on policy decisions, we wholeheartedly stand behind our President and, in accordance with widely accepted facts, acknowledge his lawful citizenship.  Those who remain skeptical are unsuccessfully hiding their racism under a veil of conspiracy theories and gossip.  So, to those who continue to undermine the legitimacy of our President’s citizenship – we see you for what you are.”

Rev. Anthony Evans, President of NBCI says, “When anyone attempts to divide the American public for personal political gain the democratic system is tarnished by indignity.  As a leader in the faith-based community I can confidently say that we stand united – promoting the Christian values of respect and inclusiveness, divided not by race or belief, in support our President.  I strongly feel that Donald Trump is using race to further a divisive agenda – an agenda that has no place in modern American political culture. We have come a long way, Obama’s election illustrating the evolution of equality in the United States.  Let us not allow anyone to regress the progress we have achieved by championing false, racist beliefs.”

Former Alaska Gov. and Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin jumped on the bandwagon with Trump after having said in a “wishy washy” statement a few months earlier  that she didn’t question Obama’s citizenship.

However, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in an interview with Larry Kudlow (CNBC), described the “birthers” claim not credible, but said there were compelling reasons to get Obama out of the White House. Romney has already formally announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee.

Romney said he thinks the citizenship test has been passed, that he believes Obama was born in the United States.

In an interview with Politico, Urban League President Marc Morial said: “There’s a lot of people that I’ve talked to [who] instinctively think that he’s using the issue as a proxy for race. I don’t know if it has resonance in the Republican Party but I certainly think it has resonance in certain far right elements of the American public.”

Morial added: “It’s like a modern day Salem witch trial — because there’s no merit to it.”

President Obama weighed in on the “Birthers” controversy in a recent interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos:

“I think that over the last two and a half years there’s been an effort to go at me in a way that is politically expedient in the short-term for Republicans. But [it] creates, I think, a problem for them when they want to actually run in a general election where most people feel pretty confident the President was born where he says he was, in Hawaii. He– he doesn’t have horns…we’re not really worrying about conspiracy theories or– or birth certificates.”

In other developments, the Arizona House and Senate approved a bill that would require all 2012 presidential candidates to show proof of being a U.S. citizen before being included on the state’s ballot. The bill has now gone to Gov. Jan Brewer’s desk to be signed into law; although it is not known what her intentions are. If it is signed into law, Arizona would be the first state to pass such legislation.

Under the Bill, candidates can show alternative documents – a baptismal or circumcision certificate, a postpartum medical record or a hospital birth – if they don’t have a birth certificate.

As for questioning Obama’s citizenship, the late Civil Rights Activist Fannie Lou Hamer’s phrase says it best: “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Enough already.

Perhaps Trump’s intention is to get favor from the Tea Party and extremist Right Wingers in an election that he has a very slim chance at winning.

A Chicago Police Sergeant was arrested and is facing felony criminal charges in connection with the arrest of a defendant last October in which the sergeant is captured on videotape repeatedly slapping the man across the face despite the fact that the defendant was handcuffed and in compliance with police orders, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez announced.

Sergeant Edward Howard Jr., 48, appeared in bond court where he was charged with Aggravated Battery (Class 3 felony) and Official Misconduct (Class 3 felony) for commission of the offense in his official capacity as a Chicago Police Officer. Howard has been employed as a Chicago Police Officer since August of 1986.

“It’s a sad and difficult day for all of us in law enforcement when an incident such as this occurs and criminal charges are warranted,” said Alvarez. “We recognize that police officers have difficult jobs and work under challenging circumstances, but every law enforcement officer holds his or her powers through the public trust and this officer’s senseless act against a defendant who was handcuffed and compliant constitutes a violation of that trust.”

According to prosecutors, the incident occurred on Oct. 11, 2010 at approximately 10:15 p.m. in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant at 7904 S. Vincennes. The 19-year-old victim and two friends had been arrested by two Chicago Police Officers for Criminal Trespass to Land after walking out of the restaurant.

The victim immediately complied with the orders of the responding police officers, walked to the squad car in the parking lot and placed his hands on the car. The officers handcuffed him behind his back and searched him without incident. Other officers began to arrive and after the scene had been secured, Sgt. Howard arrived and walked up to the victim. While several officers watched, Howard struck the victim on three separate occasions across the face with an open hand. The final strike was forceful enough to knock the victim backwards and off balance against the squad car.

The 19-year-old victim sustained cuts, bruising and swelling to his upper and lower lips and redness and swelling to the face. The victim was taken to the 6^th police district for processing after the incident and released from custody several hours later. That same morning the victim and his mother reported the incident to the Independent Police Review Authority for investigation and the case was then referred to the State’s Attorney’s Office to be reviewed for criminal charges.

Videotaped footage recovered from the restaurant’s surveillance system corroborates both the victim and other eyewitness accounts of the defendant’s abusive use of force against the handcuffed victim, according to prosecutors.

Howard surrendered to authorities and subsequently appeared in bond court at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building at 26^th and California.

Alvarez thanked the Independent Police Review Authority and the Chicago Police Department for their cooperation in the investigation.

The public is reminded that criminal charging documents contain allegations that are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the state has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Illinois Department of Human Rights, Office of the Illinois Attorney General and Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to Highlight State’s Protections Against Housing Discrimination, Mortgage Fraud

Chicago, IL – The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) will commemorate National Fair Housing Month with free screenings of American Casino, a documentary on how deregulation and discrimination in subprime and predatory lending practices drove millions of people into financial ruin.

IDHR Director Rocco Claps, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and IDFPR Division of Banking Director Manuel Flores will discuss fair housing rights as well as protections and resources available through the state to avoid mortgage fraud, predatory loans and foreclosures.

American Casino, “where mortgages replace the chips,” is “a powerful and shocking look at the subprime lending scandal,” according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.  “If you want to understand how the US financial system failed and how mortgage companies ripped off the poor, see this film,” said Stiglitz.

RSVP today for the April 18^th free screening of American Casino by calling 312-814-6278 or by emailing: IDHR.FairHousing@illinois.gov.  Please note that a valid government-issued ID is required for entry to the Bilandic Building at any time.

  Additional free screeningswill be shown at the same location on April 19, 20, 21 and 22 from 12 Noon – 1:30 PM (no RSVP required for these dates).  No food or drink is allowed in the auditorium.

This year marks the 43rd anniversary of the enactment of the U.S. Federal Fair Housing Act and the 32^nd anniversary of the Illinois Human Rights Act – laws that were enacted to bar discriminatory acts based on several protected classes including race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability and familial status. 

WHO:              Rocco Claps, Director, IL Department of Human Rights

                         Lisa Madigan, IL Attorney General

                         Manuel Flores, Director, Div. of Banking, IL Dept of Financial

                         and Professional Regulation

                         Leslie Combs, Office of U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky

WHAT:            Launch of American Casino filmon foreclosure crisis to mark

                        Fair Housing Month

                                                (Free screenings continue at same location throughout the week

                                                from 12 Noon)

                        WHEN:            April 18, 10 a.m. registration; 11 a.m. movie screening

                                              (Valid government-issued ID required for entry; please

                                               allow time for security check)

                        WHERE:         Michael Bilandic Building

                                                5^th floor auditorium (C-500)

                                                160 N. LaSalle

(From the Better Business Bureau)                                                                                                  

Chicago, IL – The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers to be wary of free trial offers for e-cigarettes. As with any trial offer, consumers need to read the fine print before sampling a product advertised or it may cost shoppers more than they bargained for in the long run.

Consumers from 44 states have filed more than 360 complaints with the BBB against the Naples, Fla., and London, England based company Direct E-Cig in the last year concerning the product’s trial offer. Complaints focus on the reoccurring monthly charges stemming from the 15 day free trial offer. Consumers with cancellation issues also report Direct E-Cig advertisement’s terms and conditions are not clear and conspicuous.

“The complaints allege to a serious and ongoing pattern of problems with Direct E-Cig,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Before signing up for any free trial offer, read the fine print carefully and always check out the company out with your Better Business Bureau. You’ll save time and money by avoiding the hassle and recurring charges of these offers.”

Local consumer Donna Clyburn of Chicago said, “I received an e-mail for a free sample of smokeless cigarettes for only $4.95 and I figured that if I didn’t like them, I’d only have lost $5.  It came and I tried it after 14 or 15 days and it wasn’t doing it for me. I looked at my bank statement online and saw that I had been billed $109.05. I received an e-mail telling me that they were about to ship more. They said that I agreed to pay after 14 days and also get more shipments, but I had not seen that anywhere. I found their phone number and called and they said there was nothing that they could do. I kept calling and they told me that they would refund part of my money. I wrote to the Better Business Bureau and they agreed to refund the whole amount.”

Greg Erban of Chicago said, “I decided to try the 14 day trial for these smokeless cigarettes. I am a fireman and since I am not home every day it took the package 10 days to get to me. I tried one about 6 days after it was delivered and it was terrible. I called and since I had gone past the trial period they said that there was nothing they could do. I told them that the time for the trial should begin when I get the product. They would not help and instead of being nice they were very stern. They billed me $109 for the trial offer and wanted to keep shipping more but I told them not to.”

Direct E-Cig’s website notes that consumers must go through a cancellation process within 15 days “to avoid being billed the full price of the kit of $109.95 and future monthly shipments.” Consumers who received direct email solicitations from the company may not see the cancellation policy.

Even if consumers are dissatisfied with the product and follow the return policy exactly, it appears that the “free trial” offer will end up costing them money. The website notes that Direct E-Cig charges $7.50 for each opened or missing cartridge, and a $10 restocking fee on all returns.

The BBB suggests you ask the following questions before signing up for a free trial:

• Is the free trial offer related to a membership, subscription or extended service contract? If so, is it refundable?
• Do I have to contact the company to avoid receiving more merchandise or services?
• Who do I have to contact in order to cancel, and what steps will I need to take?
• Will I receive other products with the free item? If so, will I have to pay for them or send them back if I do not want them? How long do I have to decide before incurring a charge?
• Will my credit card be automatically charged for anything?
• What is the name and address of the company offering this trial?

“It has been the BBB’s experience with many free trial offers that they lead consumers to unwanted futures purchases,” added Bernas.

For more information on free trial offers, to file a complaint or to research a company, visit www.bbb.org.

Legislation Supported by Attorney General Madigan, Rep. Chris Nybo Heads to Senate 

Springfield, IL – Attorney General Lisa Madigan joined state Rep. Chris Nybo in praising today’s passage of critical legislation to protect Illinois school children who suffer from severe allergies. House lawmakers voted 113-0 today to send to the Senate a bill that would allow school nurses in public and private schools throughout Illinois to administer epinephrine auto-injectors, or “epi pens,” on students who they believe are suffering from anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening allergic reaction to food or other allergens.

“This bill is a critical step to protecting Illinois children with severe allergies who are at risk of potentially deadly reactions,” Attorney General Madigan said. “Allowing schools to have epi pens on hand is a simple yet crucial safety measure that can prevent tragedy.”

Madigan said the bill she crafted together with state Rep. Chris Nybo, R-Lombard, would allow a school nurse to administer an epi pen injection for a student believed to be in anaphylactic shock, regardless of whether the student’s medical plan on file has indicated an allergy diagnosis. The legislation would also allow schools to keep epi pens for students who are authorized to self-administer the dosage during a reaction, and for students who have a medical plan in place to allow any school personnel to administer the epi pen.

“With so many children, including my own, having serious food allergies, this bill reasonably expands the availability of life-saving medication in our schools,” said Rep. Nybo, House sponsor of the legislation. “Kids are obviously around food and other allergens in our schools so having epinephrine more available is a big step forward in helping those students with known and unknown allergies.”

Attorney General Madigan and Representative Nybo said the bill addresses an increasing safety need in Illinois classrooms. Studies show that not only are food allergies on the rise among children, but, according to the Journal of Pediatrics, one in four cases of childhood anaphylaxis occur in children who were not previously diagnosed with a food or other severe allergy. The Journal also found that 25 percent of first reactions among children allergic to peanuts or tree nuts occurred while they were in a school setting.

Internet Mogul Dante Lee Opens Overseas Office in the Philippines; Acquires Tagalog.com

Tagalog is the official language of the Philippines, spoken by over 100 million Filipinos worldwide

(From BlackNews.com)

International — Dante Lee, the 29-year-old Internet media mogul who is the founder of Diversity City Media and the co-founder of Lee Moss Media, has officially launched his first overseas business venture. Lee has opened an office in downtown Manila, Philippines – the country’s capital – for his newly formed subsidiary, Dante Lee International (DLI), which will house his newly acquired web property – Tagalog.com. He is planning to re-launch the site as an online dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, and resource guide.

There are many dialects in the Philippines, but Tagalog is the official language spoken by over 100 million Filipinos worldwide. Lee’s goal is for the site to be the ultimate resource for everything pertaining to the Philippines – how to speak the national language, how to travel there, what attractions to see, where to stay, where to shop, how to interact with the people, etc.

Lee comments, “I’ve traveled to many Asian countries including the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, and Thailand, to research potential international business opportunities. I chose the Philippines for my first venture because I believe that this market has the strongest potential for economic growth within the next 5-10 years.”

Lee, who was recently featured on BET’s The Mo’Nique Show with business partner William Moss, is planning for the new web site to go live by September 2011. “I hope I’ve inspired people,” he says. “With 7 billion people worldwide and only 350 million in the United States, that means that 95% of all consumers on this planet live outside of the United States. It’s time for entrepreneurs to start thinking outside the borders.”
About The Philippines
The Philippines, located in Southeast Asia, is an archipelago of over 7,100 islands and has an estimated population of about 92 million people. As the world’s 12th most populous country, this third world nation is currently undergoing major development and modernization from local and foreign investors.
About Dante Lee
Dante Lee is an award-winning entrepreneur, business coach, prolific blogger, and the best-selling author of Black Business Secrets: 500 Tips, Strategies and Resources for the African American Entrepreneur. His companies, Diversity City Media and Lee Moss Media, own and produce the largest network of premium African American web properties. He has offices in Columbus, Ohio, USA and Metro Manila, Philippines. For more details about him or his book, visit www.DanteLee.com or www.BlackBusinessSecrets.com

(From WorldChicago)                                                                               

Chicago, IL - WorldChicago announced today that it is hosting a group of non-profit and media leaders, and activists with the United States Agency for International Development Office of Democracy and Governance. The Cairo initiative will expose young Egyptians to a range of practices used by U.S. civil society organizations working in democracy-related fields. 

There has never been a better time to discuss democracy and governance in the Middle East. Thousands of demonstrators in Egypt created a historical ripple effect for change in governance last month and President Mubarak stepped down.

“The WorldChicago program gives the emerging Egyptian leaders ideas that they can immediately apply at a critical time. Enrichment seminars to observe U.S. practices will provide tools that are directly applicable to their work and the continued change expected in Egypt. These leaders will also benefit from the intense cultural experience of the U.S. that is here in Chicago,” said Peggy Parfenoff, WorldChicago executive director. 

Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces ruled Egypt since Mubarak’s ouster. It is laying the groundwork for a democratic Egypt by holding a referendum on constitutional reforms this week, parliamentary elections in June, and then a presidential election. Yousry El Komy, executive manager for the Association for the Advancement of Education in Egypt, is discussing democratic principles and the organizational capacity to leadduring the month-long program. Joining four others, El Komy is specifically working with the Chicago Public Schools and making presentations to hundreds of teachers about the revolution.

“After 30-years of one regime, it is such an exciting time for democracy in my country. World Chicago’s Cairo initiative will enhance my skills for strategic management, program management and information management. I will also focus on internal governance, finance and external relations during meetings with Chicago Public Schools, Facets Media and Street-Level Youth Media. WorldChicago offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As young Egyptians, we are seeing a future that we once thought very difficult to obtain,” said El Komy.

About WorldChicago

World Chicago, founded in 1952, is a 501©3 organization dedicated to citizen diplomacy and funded by U.S. Department of State, USAID, Library of Congress, private programs and individual donations. WorldChicago serves over 800 visiting delegates annually, who support global relationships that enhance Chicago’s and the United States’ image.  For more information or to be a professional host, visit WorldChicago.org.

 Applauds efforts to improve public input                               

 Springfield, IL – Lt. Governor Sheila Simon endorsed a plan to hold public hearings on a forthcoming state and congressional legislative map, so that voters can provide feedback on the proposed districts.

Simon, who was a member of the Illinois Reform Commission, said she supports the Senate Redistricting Committee’s plan to hold two public hearings after a proposed map is made public. She called for the hearings to be held in Northern and Southern Illinois in May.

“The remap is a once-in-a-decade event that helps determine how voters will be represented at the Statehouse and in Washington D.C.,” said Simon, who has met with legislative leaders from both parties. “We want voters to be heard.”

Governor Quinn signed the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011 and Redistricting Transparency and Public Participation Act in March. It established the first changes to the Illinois redistricting process since the 1970 Constitutional Convention and first voting rights act in Illinois history.

Simon said the Act “set a floor, not a ceiling” for the amount of public participation in the redistricting process, calling for at least four public hearings statewide to receive testimony and inform the public on the applicable existing districts.

Both the Senate and House redistricting committees have gone beyond what the law requires, putting Illinois on a path toward inclusion for all Illinoisans in the political process.

The Senate committee, chaired by Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) has held two public hearings to date with 11 more scheduled across the state before a map is drawn. Raoul said earlier this week that he also intends to add two public hearings after the map is drawn but before the Senate votes on it.

The House redistricting committee, chaired by Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), will host its first of 15 scheduled hearings on April 16 in Marengo. The remaining 14 hearings will be held in April at various locations throughout the state.

 The redistricting committees also announced the availability of workstations and software that the public can use to submit maps for consideration in the redistricting process, adding another layer of public participation to the remap efforts. In addition to the workstation already present in the Stratton Office Building in Springfield, beginning April 19th the 7th floor of the Bilandic Building in Chicago will also host a workspace. Users will have access to census and demographic data and current district, ward, and county boundaries. Facilitators will also be present to offer technical assistance

Redistricting refers to the process of redefining the political geographic boundaries including representative, senate, and congressional districts. The state Constitution gives the General Assembly the responsibility for redrawing legislative boundaries every 10 years after the release of the decennial Census.

 Senate and House Redistricting Committee & Sub-Committee Hearings