The Tommy Bottoms Report
Editor, Poet, Political Blogger, Social Commentator, New Media Producer
‘Power concedes nothing without demands’. This quote from the social reformer and abolitionist, Fredrick Douglass, is a truism that extends well beyond its 19th century origins. So I will do my best to channel the spirit of Douglas and deliver a message to the ‘Occupy’ protestors across the country: Ask for something specific or just go home! Until you have a list of specific demands, you don’t look like responsible citizens exercising civil disobedience; you look like a bunch of bums sleeping in the park.
Editor, Poet, Political Blogger, Social Commentator, New Media Producer
Over the past week Republican Presidential candidate, Herman Cain, has taken a real beating in the media over decade old accusations of sexual harassment. And to be quite frank, I'm couldn’t more upset or disappointed with the media. Not because of their over-sensationalized rush to judgment of Cain, but because they have placed me in an uncomfortable position to where I feel obligated to defend Herman Cain. Trust me; I don’t enjoy this one bit.
Editor, Poet, Political Blogger, Social Commentator, New Media Producer
Whether it is President Obama serving his second term or one of the Republican candidates applying for the position, the economy may not be their biggest fish to fry. Like the president-elect of 1860, the 2012 President’s legacy could be possibly be judged by his (or her) ability to preserve the Union. It is no secret that America’s social-political climate has not been this polarized since America dealt with the issue of slavery 150 years ago (and I think we all know how that ended).
Editor, Poet, Political Blogger, Social Commentator, New Media Producer
Depending on which poll you read, GOP Presidential candidate, Herman Cain, is either way out in front or just slightly behind front runner Mitt Romney. But regardless of his actual position in the polls, you cannot deny the momentum his campaign has gained over the last several weeks. His harshest critics claim the reason for his new popularity is that he is just another anti-Romney candidate whom the Republican primary voters can fawn over for a few weeks before fading in the polls a’ la Donald Trump, Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry. When it comes to his not-so-harsh critics, although they do not believe he has a real shot at winning nomination, they do see him having a chance at being selected for the role of Vice President. As for myself, no one would ever confuse me for a Cain supporter but I do believe he has a strong chance at winning the GOP nomination.
While the United States is actively engaged in a ‘War on Terror’ in at least six countries around the world, at 7pm today, the state of Georgia is set to murder a man who many consider to be innocent of the crime. That man is Troy Davis. And the world is watching-from the United Kingdom to the United Arab Emirates. Is the United States truly prepared to put its hypocrisy on the world stage by killing one of its own?
About and year and half ago I was having a discussion with a good friend who is a Black conservative about the idea of starting a Black chapter of the TEA Party. My reaction to my friend’s idea was less than positive. It was somewhere along the lines of “Are you effing crazy!?!” At the time, it was the height of TEA Party mania. And by ‘mania’ I mean I the unreasonable enthusiasm of a group of people from the fringes of society screaming they wanted a country back that- from the last time I checked- was never taken from them. Fast forward two years and the TEA Party is an actual political force wielding enough power to not only influence elections but also set the tone of the national political discourse. So I have begun to think, why shouldn’t Black people have a TEA Party-type movement? Let’s face it, we have spent 40 plus years on the Democrat Party Plantation and the only thing we have to show for it is ‘baby mama’s and baby daddies’ and a generation of young people who have come to embrace the culture of prison and poverty. TEA Party values don’t necessarily represent the interest of the Black community, but the TEA Party’s ability to command the nation’s attention around the issues and policies they find important is a great blueprint for the Black community.
