The Barras Report

THE ABSENCE OF INTEGRITY

by jonetta rose barras

District politics hit its nadir last week.

A legislative session was called to consider a request to extend the summer youth jobs program and vote on a Board of Elections and Ethics nominee. Some council members, led by Chairman Vincent C. Gray, demonstrated during that meeting that they’ll do whatever it takes to slay Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, including pitting residents against each other and sullying an ordinary citizen.

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Voices

“BLACK POWER”: NOT YET

by William Reed

“Politics without economics is symbol without substance” – Minister Louis Farrakhan

August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. The landmark legislation outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S. But, 45 years after the legislation Blacks nor their vote have attained “Black Power”.

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Quick Takes

GREENS TO OBAMA: Don’t Drill, Baby

WASHINGTON, DC — Green Party leaders called on President Obama to
cancel his call for offshore drilling in US waters off the Atlantic and Alaskan coasts, as the spreading British Petroleum oil spill threatens ecosystems and public health in the Gulf region. Greens also urged the President to hold BP and Halliburton liable for all
costs associated with the spill.

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COMING UP

ALL POLITICS, ALL THE TIME

If you like your politics hot and spicy, then you’ll love DC Politics with jonetta. Tune in Thursday from 11AM to NOON on WPFW (89.3 FM or WPFW.org). Host jonetta rose barras and resident analyst Eugene Dewitt Kinlow serve of a mean gumbo of local and national politics.

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