Florida Courier - October 19, 2012

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Breast cancer survivor’s journey to wellness B1

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OCTOBER 19 - OCTOBER 25, 2012

VOLUME 20 NO. 42

NEXT STOP: BOCA RATON After sleepwalking through the first presidential debate, President Obama rebounded with a forceful dissection of Mitt Romney’s proposals and policies.

COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS

President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney aggressively challenged each other Tuesday night in their second debate, with an estimated 65.6 million people tuning in to watch more than 90 minutes of sharp attacks, interrupted answers and testy exchanges over the economy, taxes, immigration and energy.

The president’s partisans were likely pleased with his tough-minded rebound from his tepid and muchmaligned performance in the first debate earlier this month. Romney backers will be pleased with his continued willingness to confront his rival.

The third and final matchup between Obama and Romney is just around the corner. The candidates are

scheduled to take the stage at Lynn University in Boca Raton on Monday in a foreign policy-focused debate moderated by CBS’ Bob Schieffer.

In the other’s face Trying hard to erase the memory of his initial debate performance, Obama came on strong Tuesday, forcefully See DEBATE, Page A2

WANGLEI/XINHUA/ZUMA PRESS/MCT

Shake hands, then come out fighting. President Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney looked friendly before getting at it during the second 2012 presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Tuesday.

MILLION MAN MARCH / 17th ANNIVERSARY

‘Long live the spirit of the Million Man March!’

New Black voter registration down by 80 percent Obama campaign justifies ‘Black’ strategy FROM THE FLORIDA COURIER STAFF

The Obama for America campaign justified its Florida campaign strategy in writing after questions were raised

by Florida Courier Staff Writer James Harper during a press conference with President Obama’s top national re-election campaign strategists as to whether the Black vote is being taken for granted.

The campaign’s justification comes in the face of Florida Department of Election statistics, verified by the Florida Courier, showing that new voter registrations for Black Floridians fell by more than 80 percent between October 2008 and August 2012, when compared to the four years before the 2008 presidential election.

When registration closed in October 2008, approximately 245,000 new Black voters had been added to Florida’s rolls. As of August 2012 – the latest statistics available from the state – only about 51,000 new Black voters have been added.

‘Data-driven’ FLORIDA COURIER FILES

Tuesday marked the 17th anniversary of the Million Man March on Washington, D.C., one of the largest single public events in American history. See Page A5 for a retrospective of the march.

Harper participated in a press conference call on Oct. 11, which included Obama for America (OFA) Campaign Manager Jim Messina and National See OBAMA, Page A2

SNAPSHOTS FLORIDA | A3

Scott weighs in on plan to close the achievement gap NATION | A6

The men pushing to unseat Obama FINEST | B5

HEALTH | B4

How to fight the flu

ALSO INSIDE

Meet Chantel

Charlie Wilson, Rickey Smiley headline Classic entertainment FROM STAFF REPORTS

after the 100’s November 2011 performance at the Florida Classic football game shook the university and led to the suspension of the iconic band.

Champion, 26, was beaten during a ritual hazing onboard a charter bus. An autopsy concluded that his death was a homicide and that he was beaten so severely that it caused internal bleeding. Criminal charges and civil lawsuits have been filed, and various investigations continue.

The Florida Classic Consortium announced Monday that Charlie Wilson, former lead singer of The Gap Band, will headline the McDonald’s Halftime Show as part of the 33rd annual Florida Blue Florida Classic. Comedian Rickey Smiley will perform as part of this year’s Florida Blue Battle of the Bands.

Wilson and Smiley are substitutes for Florida A&M University’s “Marching 100,” which traditionally performs Wilson at halftime against archrival Bethune-Cookman FLORIDA COURIER FILES Wilson, a six-time Grammy nomiUniversity’s “Marching Wildcats.” Their nee, will perform in collaboration with B-CU’s “Marching Wildcats” will perform with appearances are yet another consethe Marching Wildcats, then perform a Charlie Wilson at the 2012 Florida Blue Florida quence of the hazing death of Robert See CLASSIC, Page A2 Classic.

Champion, a drum major whose death

COMMENTARY: CHARLES W. CHERRY II: RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A FREE BLACK MIND | A4 COMMENTARY: THE FINAL CALL: MEMORIES AND LESSONS FROM MILLION MARCH | A5

FOCUS

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OCTOBER 19 - OCTOBER 25, 2012

The duopoly, ObamaRomney, debates itself The two titans of America’s finance capitalist duopoly clashed – leaving behind a dull fart. It was as if the town hall at Long Island’s Hofstra University was hermetically sealed against the raging realities of a world and nation in systemic crisis.

For 90 minutes, not one useful fact or thought was allowed to enter or escape. This is what happens when the terminal decline of the old order is not met by effective resistance from those who suffer under its dead weight.

Don’t question bankers What to do about a jobs crisis that has left millions permanently unemployed from effects of the last two recessions? Apply additional corporate “incentives” to boost investment (Obama) or a thicker layer of laissez faire non-regulation (Romney). And by all means, extract more energy (Obama and Romney) from the exhausted environment, as if lack of fuel is what has stalled the engines of late capitalism. But do not, under any circumstances, question the inherent right of bankers (also known as “markets”) to dominate every aspect

GLEN FORD BLACK AGENDA REPORT

of economic and political life.

Banks were mentioned only three times: once, by Romney, in connection with (of course) cutting taxes, and twice by Obama.

The president is proud that his mother was the vice president of a small bank, and he took credit (deservedly) for denying banks their $60 billion cut of college student loans. But the funneling of $16 trillion in guarantees, grants and virtually ‘free’ money to financial corporations over the last four years – a profound restructuring of the relationship between The State and Wall Street – has been unmentioned in all three debates to date, because it is a policy consensus within the duopoly, Obama and Romney.

nominating convention in Tampa, while Obama uttered the term not once. Corporate media pundits and even many “progressives” accept the Democrat’s avoidance of the subject as understandable, since he is an incumbent. Yet, the fight against poverty was Franklin Roosevelt’s rallying cry during capitalism’s previous great crisis, and Lyndon Johnson initiated a War on Poverty.

Today’s poverty rate hovers only a fraction of a percent below the level of 1965, but the standardbearer of the party most identified with the poor has nothing to say on the matter. Instead, there is consensus within the duopoly that austerity must be the watchword – clear evidence that the Occupy Movement is no longer a felt threat.

Romney is more ‘liberal’ in the use of the term “poverty” only because his vision of laissez faire trickle-down to the poor is more fantastical (12 million jobs, just you watch!).

‘Poverty’ hardly mentioned

Little separation

Romney owned the word “poverty,” just as did the Republican

Just as in the summer of 2011, all that separates the Obama and

VOTERS from A1 Press Secretary Ben Labolt, and National Field Director Jeremy Bird.

“The purpose of this call is the voter registration/early vote efforts,” said Messina, according to a transcript of the call. “... I’m a data-driven guy...The numbers that mean something to me: registered voters, ballots requested and early votes cast...

We’ve never stopped growing the grassroots campaign that we revolutionized back in 2007 and 2008. And that grassroots campaign is a strategic advantage for us in the last days of this campaign.”

‘Telling numbers’ In his report, Bird focused on voter registration and early voting results.

“I think there are some real telling numbers...if you look at our voter registration drive over the last several months,” Bird reported. “The first is Democrats, in party registration, lead Republicans in nearly every battleground state.

Democrats have out-registered Republicans in every single battleground state for the past three months.”

OFA identifies “battleground states” as Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio,

DEBATE from A1 challenging Romney’s stands.

Romney countered just as vigorously by attempting to reinforce the confident, determined image he showed during their first matchup. The Republican challenger also aimed to show that his conservatism has a compassionate hue and to dispel the notion that he’s a wealthy, out-oftouch patrician.

Their second and perhaps pivotal debate had Obama and Romney fighting constantly, sometimes interrupting, and sometimes talking and correcting each other at the same time.

Didn’t answer question One undecided voter, Katherine Fenton said she “felt incredibly lucky” to have the opportunity to ask a question at the debate. But the 24-year-old pre-K teacher said Wednesday that she didn’t think either candidate answered her inquiry about pay inequality for women. She said the two men focused on their record rather than their plans for the next four years.

In his answer, Obama mentioned the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first bill he signed into law in 2009, which expands workers’ right to sue based on discriminatory compensation decisions. Romney talked about how he met with women groups when he became governor of Massachusetts to seek qualified workers to serve in his administration.

Fenton’s questions sparked the most memorable phrase of the debate. When explaining

JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

First Lady Michelle Obama responded to cheering supporters at the University of Central Florida in Orlando on July 10.

Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

“Latino voter registration has greatly exceeded registration for non-Latino Whites,” continued Bird. “...Perhaps most strikingly, most new registrants are younger than 30 and, in fact, more than four in five new registrants in these battleground states are women, young people and minorities.” how he made an effort to hire women to work in his Cabinet, Romney said he had put together “whole binders full of women.”

Not exactly true That’s not exactly what happened, according to the nonpartisan Massachusetts Government Appointments Project, or MassGAP. Romney didn’t request the binders, the group said in a statement Wednesday.

In the lead-up to the 2002 gubernatorial election, MassGAP approached the campaigns of both Romney and his opponent, Shannon O’Brien, asking them to “make best efforts” to ensure that the number of women appointed to state leadership positions was proportionate to the population of women in Massachusetts, which was about 52 percent at the time. Both candidates pledged to do so and agreed to work with MassGAP during the process.

Number decreased After Romney won the election, MassGAP presented Romney’s transition team with binders containing hundreds of resumes for top applicants vetted by the group.

By the middle of Romney’s term in 2004, women made up 42 percent of new appointments to senior-level positions in Massachusetts government, according to MassGAP. But by the end of his term in 2006, the percentage of newly appointed women in those positions had dropped to 25 percent, the group said.

“Romney paid lip service to the public about hiring more women in senior positions and treated it like a quota,” Jes-

What about Blacks?

When the call was opened up for questions, reporter Harper immediately jumped in – then was cut off.

After asking a question about the first presidential debate, Harper said, “I notice in your statistics that you are really focusing on Latinos... the Daytona Times...

se Mermell, a former executive director of MassGAP, said in a media call organized by the Obama campaign.

‘Facts don’t match’ “But like with so many other things with Mitt Romney, the facts didn’t match the rhetoric. Facts are facts, and despite what Governor Romney claimed in the debate last night, there were fewer women in senior administration positions during his term than the governors who came before and after him.”

A Romney spokeswoman said the governor worked with MassGAP to find the bestqualified women for top government posts. “The efforts resulted in Massachusetts having the most women in top positions in the entire country,” Andrea Saul said.

Romney’s awkwardly phrased comment about the binders started a social media frenzy before the debate even ended Tuesday. Within minutes, new Twitter accounts, Facebook pages and Tumblr feeds mocking the phrase had gone viral.

“Binders full of women” became the third most searched term on Google.

Campaigns move on Picking up where their contentious debate left off, Obama and Romney battled Wednesday for the support of female voters, underscoring their potentially decisive role in settling the fiercely competitive race.

Obama traveled to the swing state of Iowa, where he renewed his attacks on Romney for proposing an end to federal funding for Planned Parenthood, and again touted legislation he signed making it easier for women to sue for job dis-

Republican wings of the Wall Street duopoly is the question of “modest” tax increases for the very rich.

But both factions are intent on cuts of around $4 trillion, mainly on non-military programs. Why should Americans whose vital governmental support is targeted for chopping be concerned whether or not some millionaires are also discomforted in the process? Are the poor and struggling classes supposed to accept the loss of the necessities of a dignified life, on condition that some rich people pay a modest financial tariff?

Agree on war The consensus on imperial war is near absolute. What passes for argument is merely a matter of style and posture.

Romney attacks Obama for failing to grasp or reveal the “terrorist” nature of the fatal attack on the U.S. ambassador in Libya. But both candidates are wedded to an alliance with Muslim fundamentalist jihadis against Middle East governments targeted for destabilization or regime change: Syria and Iran. as well as the Florida Courier, are members of the Black press, so we are curious as to why the focus on Latinos. It seems like he’s (Bird) lumped Blacks into the minority group and you’ve reached out to women, to gays, to Latinos, and it appears you have been taking the Black vote for granted.

“So I am curious as to if the president will be doing more to specifically reach out for the Black vote...Early voting starts on October 28th and Black churches are organizing to go to the polls on Sunday, the 28th…”

Then Labolt jumped in: “Alright, we have to cut you off there because we have a lot of questions to get in...” Then after answering Harper’s first question, he turned the call over to Bird.

“Of all new registrants in Florida, 83 percent...are either women under the age of 30, AfricanAmerican, or Latino. I talked specifically about the Latino vote in part because the growth has been extremely large in the Latino community in terms of new registrants, but obviously we’ve seen growth in the African-American community as well,” Bird said.

Barbers, beauticians “We have an incredible group of neighborhood team leaders and neighborhood teams working both on the registration front and, for all of those folks that are already registered, the GOTV (get out the vote) front in the African-

crimination.

“When Gov. Romney was asked about it, his campaign said, ‘We’ll get back to you,’” Obama said of the legislation, repeating a line from the debate.

“That shouldn’t be a complicated question: Equal pay for equal work.”

Romney stumped in Virginia, another battleground, where he suggested women had borne the brunt of hardship during an Obama tenure marked by economic anxiety.

“Why is it that there are 3.6 million more women in poverty today than when the president took office?” Romney demanded during a stop at Tidewater Community College in Chesapeake. “This president has failed America’s women.

They’ve suffered.”

Key demographic Women have been a key constituency for Obama, and their enthusiastic backing is vital to his re-election hopes. The president has counted on a strong showing among women to offset Romney’s edge among men.

Generally, Obama has been strongest among younger and single women, while Romney has been most popular among older and married women.

After Romney’s commanding debate performance two weeks ago in Denver, polls found many women giving the Massachusetts governor a second look.

David Lightman, Anita Kumar and Lindsay Wise of McClatchy Newspapers; Christi Parsons and Seema Mehta of the Los Angeles Times; and Matea Gold of the Tribune Washington Bureau (MCT) all contributed to this report.

Obama’s obfuscations on Benghazi were an attempt to continue masking the nature of the Libyan legions armed by the U.S. as proxies against Gaddafi, many of whom are now deployed in Syria – a mission with which Romney is in full accord. There is also no daylight between the contenders on drone warfare or the continued projection of U.S. power in the Afghanistan-Pakistan theater of war, or in Somalia and Yemen.

The War Party wins in November, regardless of the Electoral College outcome.

Despite the profound, systemic crisis of the global capitalist financial order and its U.S. imperial gendarme, there exists no political crisis for the rulers, because there is no serious internal resistance. These theatrical productions may pass for debates, but it’s really just the passing of gas within a closed Wall Street consensus.

Glen Ford is executive editor of BlackAgendaReport.com. Email him at Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

American community. And it’s not just voter contact, it’s not just the phones, it’s not just the doors, it’s our barbershop and beauty salon program, it’s our faith program where we have congregational captains working with their congregations. It’s African-American vote directors in all of our battleground states.

“So we take the African-American vote very seriously, we’ve been committed to it for years, as we’re committed to our organizing program in the Latino community, on college campuses and with youth, in rural areas, in suburban areas, and in the cities.”

OFA defends campaign Five days after the conference call, OFA Florida State Director Ashley Walker distributed a memo stating that “the AfricanAmerican and Caribbean-American registered voter population increased by more than 50,000” in 2012 – purportedly due to OFA’s efforts in Florida. That’s well below the 245,000 additional new Black voters registered between 2004 and 2008.

Walker’s memo also states that OFA opened 103 offices in the state, and more than 20,000 people completed required voter registration training before they could register voters. That means that each trained volunteer may have registered an average of less than three Black Floridians to vote.

CLASSIC from A1 15-minute set for what is expected to be another large crowd at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium on Nov. 17. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

“Working with our partners at B-CU, we really focused on bringing the best entertainment available to this year’s Florida Blue Florida Classic and the Florida Blue Battle of the Bands,” said FAMU’s interim president and provost Dr. Larry Robinson. “Charlie Wilson is a terrific addition to our talent lineup and has a tremendous following among Florida Classic fans.”

Smiley at Battle Standup comedian and radio personality Rickey Smiley stars in the recently launched “Rickey Smiley Show” on TV One. Best known for his outrageous characters, Smiley will perform at the Florida Blue Battle of the Bands on Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Amway Center. High school bands from throughout the state of Florida also will perform, as will the Marching Wildcats.

“There are so many great traditions that surround the game and ancillary events,” said B-CU’s interim president, Dr. Edison O. Jackson. “With the announcement of this year’s entertainment, we are only continuing to build on the fun and excitement that everyone has come to expect from the Florida Blue Florida Classic.”

Tickets for both events may be purchased from Ticketmaster.com, any Ticketmaster outlet or the Amway Center and range from $10.75 to $52 per ticket, depending upon seat location. Packages for groups of 20 or more may be purchased through the Florida Citrus Sports Ticket Office at 407-423-2476.

Ancillary events include the Florida Blue Florida Classic Career Expo and Diversity Job Fair, Florida Blue Florida Classic FanFare and Florida Classic Consortium Kickoff Luncheon.

For more information, click on www. floridaclassic.org.

october 19 - OCTOBER 25, 2012

NATION

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Scott: Education department should change strategic plan Governor weighs in on proposal for closing Florida’s achievement gap

the board to more completely incorporate this recognition into its strategic plan so that we can focus our efforts on helping every student to achieve the highest level of success,” Scott said.

BY BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

‘Starting points’

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Rick Scott called Tuesday for the State Board of Education to overhaul its strategic plan, inserting himself into the racially charged debate over how much should be expected of students from different groups.

“The actions taken last week by the State Board of Education in adopting their strategic plan did not clearly articulate our shared commitment to fully close that achievement gap for all students, regardless of race, geography, gender or other circumstance,” Scott said in a statement issued by his office late Tuesday.

Scott contended that all students can perform at grade level, and the state should strive to get rid of the achievement gap between students of different ethnic and racial groups.

“With this in mind, I would ask

The governor publicly distanced himself from the plan little more than a half-hour after Gary Chartrand, the chairman of the State Board of Education, issued his own statement as the agency tries to manage the fallout from the plan.

The department’s blueprint has stoked outrage over its “interim goals” for students in each group during the 2017-18 school year, with the final goal five years later being for all groups to have 100 percent of students testing at grade level.

For example, the department would aim for 86 percent of White students testing at a proficient level by 2017-18 in math, but for 74 percent of Black students to be at that level. The goal for White students in English and language arts would be 88 percent; it would be 81 percent for Black students and 78 percent for

Jones also wants to lead house Democrats

Rep. Mia Jones

A day after Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, said he will seek to become House Democratic leader in 2014, Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, said she also will seek the post.

She told The Florida Times-Union that her priority is to make sure “that our caucus stands together so that we don’t have to wonder who will be with us, or if our leadership will be with us.”

Jones, who has been in the House since 2008, has helped lead House Democrats on issues such as Medicaid. Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, will be the Democratic leader from 2012 to 2014.

JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

Florida Governor Rick Scott addresses the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference on June 12 at the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World, in Lake Buena Vista. This week, the governor addressed the issue of closing the Black-White achievement gap. low-income students.

“We have to acknowledge that there are different starting points among groups of students today,” Chartrand said. “We can only close the achievement gap in Florida if we are willing to have an honest conversation about what it will take to get all students to that level of success.”

Praise for Scott Currently, according to the department, 68 percent of White students and 40 percent of Black students test at a proficient level in math, while 69 percent of White students and 38 percent of Black students are deemed proficient in English and language arts.

“To be clear, the interim targets will not determine our success; the absence of an achievement gap will,” Chartrand said.

Incoming House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, applauded Scott’s comments in a statement issued late

Tuesday.

“I am hopeful that the Board of Education will recraft the plan so that it seeks improved student performance across the board instead of one based on race and ethnicity,” Thurston said. “As I’ve stated before, it is simply wrong to imply that one race is academically inferior to another.”

Appeals court won’t quickly hear voter roll case A federal appeals court declined to quickly consider a challenge to Florida’s effort to clean the voter rolls of ineligible, making it clear that voters who aren’t citizens won’t be removed before Election Day on Nov. 6.

It was already unlikely that would happen, because of the ongoing legal fight and the fact that the process is lengthy, allowing those identified for removal a month to prove they’re not ineligible. But the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision Tuesday will definitively leave the issue undecided until after the election.

Two federal judges in Florida have ruled that the state plan to remove non-citizens could proceed. The state has sent a list of 198 suspected non-citizens to local officials for possible removal, but those county elections officials have generally been waiting for the outcome of the lawsuit challenging the plan.

“We are pleased that the Secretary of State has assured the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals that no U.S. citizens who have been misidentified will be removed from the voter rolls before the November election,” said Ben Hovland, Senior Counsel with the Fair Elections Legal Network, one of the plaintiffs.

“We have always recognized the state’s responsibility to maintain accurate rolls. At issue is whether or not the state is performing that duty correctly and lawfully.”

EDITORIAL

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OCTOBER 19 - OCTOBER 25, 2012

Whites’ permission not needed to be successful When you wake up after election night you might wonder why President Barack Obama was reelected and so many other Black candidates for public office lost miserably.

Well, Obama had an inferior opponent, he had billions of dollars to spend and he was right on a few issues that drove concerned voters to the polls, you might say.

Many African-American political losers were not necessarily the people’s choice in the districts they sought to represent. Some were even handpicked by enemies of Black voters and Black communities.

Lucius Gantt THE GANTT REPORT

raising. Others ridiculously will even blame their families, friends and neighbors claiming Blacks were too lazy or too preoccupied to vote.

The Gantt Report thinks that all Black candidates, including Presidential candidate and incumbent Barack Obama, politically speaking, have been negatively and severely impacted by lessons learned and taught Blame game during slavery days. Can I Some Black candidates prove it? Yes! Ever since the days of slavwill blame losses on difficulties in campaign fund ery, Black people have been

led to believe that they can’t do anything without the help and the blessings of the White man.

In slavery days and in modern days, Black Americans were always told directly or indirectly that Blacks can’t make it without the White man, they can’t improve without the White man, they can’t progress without the White man and you can even live without the white man!

Inferiority complex No disrespect and I know you don’t like for me to write like this but it is true!

Too many African-American politicians and political candidates can’t shake their inferiority complexes.

Let me ask you some questions that you should

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: STILL UNDECIDED VOTER

Rick McKee, The Augusta Chronicle

Random thoughts of a free Black mind, v. 157 FAMU leadership – We reported last week that one of the “Marching 100’s” band members pled “no contest” to the criminal charges against him regarding drum major Robert Champion’s hazingrelated killing. FAMU will need tested, steady, principled leadership moving forward as it deals with this fiasco. My strong recommendation for FAMU’s next prez?

Dr. Henry Lewis III, current Florida Memorial University president. He’s a Tally native, a FAMU grad who is Harvardtrained, has been a president of a national Black organization, served as dean of the FAMU Pharmacy school and the university’s interim president, and has an outstanding fundraising track record. Dr. Lewis, your alma mater needs you...

Debate No. 2 – Good performance by Bro. Prez. If this was a heavyweight fight, he would have won a unanimous decision by a comfortable margin. My group of 50-year-old brothers, all Obama fans – I’m the only independent voter – were texting during the debate in real time and were extremely relieved.

Romney looked hostile, rude, and disrespectful. Candy Crowley’s confirmation of Obama’s “Rose Garden” speech mentioning “terrorism” was a knife in Romney’s gut. Want to know how Romney’s people

quick takes from #2: straight, no chaser

Charles W. Cherry II, Esq. PUBLISHER

knew they lost? Did you see all the tight faces of Ann Romney – who dragged Mitt out of the venue – and all of the Fox News GOP apologists immediately after the debate?

IOU – I know I owe you a column on the wussy Florida Democratic Party. I also owe you some information from the Nielsen study on Black consumers. Give me some time to get through the election, and we’ll turn our attention to those matters.

One thing about Florida Dems – they’ll put Black faces in high places. But is that meaningful to the average Black Democratic voter, or is it just Black windowdressing for a political party that seems too incompetent to get out of its own way?

More to come...

Contact me at ccherry2@gmail.com; holler at me at www.facebook.com/ ccherry2; follow me on Twitter @ccherry2.

Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.

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know the answers to. Looking at the few African-American winners and the large amount of losers after election day, tell me, how many Black candidates had paid Black political consultants, how many used Black printers for signs and literature, how many African-Americans used Black pollsters or Black call centers and how many African-Americans bought more than one ad on Black-owned broadcast stations or in Black-owned newspapers and print media?

Not many if any!

There are some losing Negro politicians that refused to even let a Black restaurant cook the chicken at a catered campaign event.

Brainwashed Blacks

I don’t know what’s going to happen in South Florida Congressional races but what do you feel Rep. Allen West thinks about Black people in America that are not brainwashed like he is?

We can vote for a hundred Black candidates for President and other public offices but it won’t mean a thing if those candidates can’t or won’t address our political, governmental or community needs unless the White man gives them permission to do that.

Political titles don’t deserve respect, individuals do!

The devil can’t trick me with negative, misleading television ads and I don’t have to be in a political hurricane to tell which way the political winds are blowing!

I pray that the candidates that you support and vote for on Election Day will support and vote for you in the days after the elections.

As for myself, I feel the same way about politicians as they feel about me. They are afraid of fearless, thought provoking, God fearing Black columnists and The Gantt Report is afraid of “Political Chucky”, spineless, heartless political puppets that love to have the devil pull their strings and hate to stand up, speak out and support Black people and Black political issues!

Contact Lucius Gantt at www.allworldconsultants.net. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Amount of TV viewing can influence vote We’re getting down to the wire in this year’s race for the White House. In our digital world of sometimes dizzying 24/7 information overload, both political camps are relying heavily on media in its plethora of forms to reach you and influence your vote. As we draw closer to November 6, you are correct if you think the intensity of the political ads has increased.

According to Nielsen data, this is especially true if you live in any of this election’s nine key swing or battleground states – Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia or Wisconsin. Nielsen’s summarized Designated Market Areas (DMAs) within each state show that year-to-date through the beginning of September.

President Obama’s reelection campaign has saturated those states with almost 230,000 ads, more than twice the ads from the campaign of his opponent, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (87,000). The lone exception here is Wisconsin, where Gov. Romney’s campaign leads by 561 ads.

Influence of ads How much influence do these ads actually have? Data shows that an effective advertising campaign in a swing state can mean the difference between victory and defeat on Election Day. It might be most interesting to watch which way Ohio goes, as no Republican presidential candidate has ever won the White House without this critical state’s electoral votes.

Thus far in Ohio, the margin of the number of ads is

CHERYL PEARSONMCNEIL NNPA COLUMNIST

the greatest, with the Romney campaign running just more than 17,000 ad units; and the Obama camp running nearly three times that amount – 51,000 ads.

Then there are the presidential debates. At this writing, Nielsen ratings show that an estimated 67.2 million people watched the first debate between President Obama and Gov. Romney.

That was up 28 percent over the first presidential debate in 2008 between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain. Eleven networks broadcast live coverage from 9 to 10:30 p.m., while Telemundo aired coverage on tape delay.

Football vs. debates To put our viewership of this year’s first presidential debate in a different perspective, 111.3 million people watched the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl this year, still the highest rated TV broadcast in U.S. history.

As for the 2012 political conventions, according to Nielsen’s analysis of both the Republican and Democratic gatherings, nearly as many people (57 percent of all U.S. Households or 65.4 million homes) tuned into at least one of those political events as watched the first presidential debate.

That, however, is down from 64.5 percent (or 73.2 million homes) in 2008.

Taking a look at the viewership of each of the speech-

es by each candidate (given on the final night of each convention), President Obama had a slight edge, with 13.7 percent of viewers to Gov. Romney’s 12.5 percent. Breaking it down even further, both candidates were pretty much neck-inneck with people over age 55. Almost 26 percent of this demographic tuned in to watch Gov. Romney, and 25 percent of the same demo watched President Obama’s speech.

Voting with remote Are you seeing again how much your choice of what you watch matters? It is as though you are “voting” with your remote (only in terms of TV though, not the voting booth. There, you have to show up in person).

The political “games” will continue with one more presidential debate and, yes, intensified ads from both sides. In every column, I show you all the many ways in which you matter with every consumer choice you make. But, you matter more now than ever, and it does not matter whether you are blue or red.

According to the recent “African-AmericanConsumers: Still Vital, Still Growing’’ report, approximately 71 percent or 28 million of us are of voting age. So, whatever the color of your state, you’ve got the power. Make sure you use it on Nov. 6.

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil is senior vice president of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Nielsen. For more information and studies go to www. nielsenwire.com. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Health care is a civil right Our Constitution offers us “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,’’ but we can’t pursue anything if we are unhealthy. Yet, health disparities in the United States are a fact of life.

African-American people have shorter lives than Whites for three reasons. One has to do with income and poverty. Poor people (and 27 percent of African-Americans are poor, compared to about 10 percent of whites) have less money and less access, often having to make a choice between medical treatment and food to eat, prescription drugs and rent.

The second barrier to health equality is proximity and access. In other words, African-Americans are more likely to be located a distance from hospitals. There are fewer hospitals and clinics in the hood than in wealthier areas, and some preventative clinics (such as a diabetes clinic in Harlem) have been eliminated because of money.

Attitude adjustment

DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

cised her right to register and vote, died at 60 from untreated breast cancer. This woman climbed every mountain, cleared every hurdle, stood down the biggest and the baddest, in the majority community and in her own.

Still, she did not have access to the health care that might have saved her life. She could stare down the Democratic National Committee, but she could not stare down the breast cancer that killed her because she neither had the dollars or the access to treatment.

We don’t know what she might have done, but we know that she died too early.

That’s why I believe that health care is a civil right. If we have the right to a life with liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we have the right to be healthy enough to pursue happiness. The fight for the presidency is partly a fight for the pursuit of health and happiness. Which candidate supports the 47 percent in this fight?

Part of this year’s Presidential debate revolves around the issue of health care. Mitt Romney, the architect of Massachusetts health care system, which resembles the Obama health plan, is now jogging (at least that’s healthy) away from himself, rejecting plans he once championed. Or is he? Recently, he said he would preserve some asJulianne Malveaux is an economist pects of Obamacare, not others.

Fannie Lou Hamer, an international trea- and author based in Washington, DC. sure, a tribute to audacity, a woman who Click on this story at www.flcourier.com endured a brutal beating because she exer- to write your own response.

october 19 - october 25, 2012

Memories and lessons from the Million Man March This year will mark the 17th anniversary of the Million Man March on Washington convened by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and backed by grassroots leaders, activists, pastors, imams and religious leaders across the country.

It was one of the most powerful events in the history of this country and lifted a ceiling off of what was considered possible for popular participation in public events.

‘Million’ everything If you have heard of or participated in “Million”-anything from the Million Hoodie March, Million Mom March, Million Father March, Million Mom Challenge, Million Gun Challenge, Million T Shirt March, Million Mustache March, Million Letter March, Million March for Jesus, Million Marijuana March, Millions Musicians March for Peace, Million Big Gulp March, Million Pound March, Million Worker March, Million March Against Child Abuse, Million Youth March, Millions for Mumia, Millions for Reparations, to the Million Woman March, none of these events would have happened without the Million Man March.

The Million March concept has been duplicated in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Rome, Brazil, India, Argentina, Venezuela and Mexico.

Many who have heard the term “Million” don’t know where it comes from, nor the power the first march represented.

How it started When Min. Farrakhan called for the Million Man March on Oct. 16, 1995, it was during an inspired moment at the 369th St. Armory in Harlem in January 1994. Even the genesis of the march is telling.

In 1993, Min. Farrakhan wanted to speak at Yankee Stadium in New York, but the event would have been three days before voting in a tight mayoral race between Black incumbent David Dinkins and challenger Rudy Giuliani. Black leadership asked that Min. Farrakhan not come to the stadium, which held 65,000 people, saying Mr. Dinkins’ chances of winning could be hurt.

Min. Farrakhan humbly hon-

FINALCALLNEWS.COM GUEST COMMENTARY

ored this request, but the leaders did not make good on a promise to support him in a future New York speech. Mayor Dinkins lost by some 65,000 votes. Only the Rev. Al Sharpton supported the Javits Center speech in December 1993.

Men only meetings During his lecture, Min. Farrakhan asked if he came back to speak to men only, would the brothers come back. The crowd roared, “Yes!” In January 1994, some 14,000 men turned out for the 369th St. Armory meeting.

As he spoke about the harrowing plight of the Black community and asked Black men to stand with him against violence, he essentially said he wanted to take a million men to Washington, D.C. Min. Farrakhan quickly went to work to make his word bond by holding “Men Only” meetings across the country.

Idea took root The idea spread as Black nationalists, Muslims, Christians and Hebrews and ordinary Black men and women heard the call. It also followed efforts at operational unity embarked upon by then-Congressional Black Caucus chair Kweisi Mfume and NAACP head Ben Chavis, who was ousted for having the audacity to invite Farrakhan to dialog with Black leadership on Black problems. The ouster led to the civil rights leader eventually becoming the executive director of the Million Man March.

While most major and so-called established Black leaders, and many Christian denominations and groups kept away or condemned the march call, the White media ridiculed the idea. Black newspapers and radio hosts supported and pushed the concept and billionaire Robert Johnson, then owner of Black Entertainment Television, came out in support of the march.

ANTHONY L. HALL, ESQ. FLORIDA COURIER COLUMNIST

this person is an Obama supporter who believes his contention that Romney is just looking out for rich folks. But this is precisely what provoked me to ask why she finds it so incomprehensible that rich Blacks like Stacey would vote for him. Her White face turned beet-red as she tried to answer that question without conceding the obvious; namely, that she thinks Stacey should be voting for Obama just because he’s Black. Alas, this is the kind of reverse racism that far too many Blacks have allowed White liberals to think is cool with us.

Anyway, after she recovered her Turned beet-red color and composure, I suggestYou can probably guess that ed that the real wonder is that so

Black folks must use their collective economic weapon Now that the end of the presidential campaign is nearly upon us it is time to state once again that when it comes to promoting and protecting our individual and group interests in this country, we, as black people, have an extremely powerful – not influential – but powerful weapon which we don’t effectively use.

That weapon is our individual and group economic resources.

We spend too much time focusing on electoral politics and not nearly enough on wisely using the approaching trillion dollars that we gross annually in this country.

Somehow many of us, despite strong evidence to the contrary, believe with all our hearts and souls that the path to equal rights, equal justice and equal opportu-

Didn’t matter

Men of every faith and no faith were welcome; age, skin color, hair texture, sexual orientation or station in life didn’t matter. Men who were sick or needed to use the bathroom were hoisted high by their army of brothers and gently handed over the sea of humanA glorious day ity until their needs could be atDespite withering attacks, un- tended to. There was no room to

Lay off Stacey Dash for supporting Romney I usually avoid the goings-on in the Twitterverse like the plague.

But my civic duty compels me to chime in on the backlash “Clueless” actress Stacey Dash is suffering for publishing the following tweet on October 7: “Vote for Romney. The only choice for your future.”

The way she is being pilloried by Black, White and Brown Obama supporters, you’d think she caused more embarrassment for her fellow Blacks with this one tweet than Bernie Madoff caused for his fellow Jews with his $100 billion Ponzi scheme.

I suppose this is why it came as such a shock to the White person who shared this with me that I was more bothered by her presumption that I would damn Stacey as a traitor to our race than I was by her tweet.

bridled opposition and even charges that Min. Farrakhan was the anti-Christ, on a crisp Monday morning in Washington, D.C., some two million men gathered on the National Mall. Congress shut down for the day, though Black lawmakers spoke to the men assembled. President Bill Clinton left town.

There were real concerns about what would happen when Black men converged on D.C. They walked, flew, and drove to assemble for the mighty march. Black law enforcement officers manned buses that came down highways and motorcycle clubs had provided escorts.

But this was a different kind of march. Black religious leaders declared a “Holy Day of Atonement” as a way to heal wounds in homes, organizations, communities, the nation and the world.

The reason for the march was “Atonement, Reconciliation and Responsibility,” with the men appealing to God Himself for forgiveness for their shortcomings and for the strength and commitment to do better. There were no appeals to government here, but demands placed on the men by themselves.

The men pledged to harm no one except in self-defense. They pledged to support their families and respect their women. They pledged to build businesses and rebuild communities.

Black men hugged and cried.

Generations of men stood together. Fraternity brothers embraced.

Strangers became friends. Estranged fathers who had shown up at the homes of long-forgotten children stood with their sons in a major transformational moment.

Amazingly, Black mothers handed over their sons for this journey, despite painful experiences with the fathers.

A. Peter Bailey TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

nity lies mainly in electing people to political offices. Not so, says economist/ professor James Clingman and clergyman, Rev. Earl Trent, pastor of Florida Avenue Baptist Church in Washington D.C.

‘Wake up’ Insists Clingman: “We must wake up and then get up and be about the business of economic empowerment regardless of whom wins any election. We must

EDITORIAL VISUAL VIEWPOINT: ROMNEY’S ‘BIG BIRD’

ADAM ZYGLIS, THE BUFFALO NEWS

walk anywhere. Celebrities crowded the stage. One-time detractors and opponents of the march spoke to the crowd.

The day was a glimpse of heaven with no crime reported, and the men left the National Mall cleaner than when they arrived.

Much credit and respect is due to then-Mayor Marion Barry, a strong Black man who opened the resources of the city to his brothers, and his wife Cora Masters Barry, who was among Black women who strongly backed the men.

Women represented On the Great Day, the voices of Black women were heard – Dr. Dorothy Height and Dr. Betty Shabazz spoke, Dr. Maya Angelou read a poem. Civil rights matriarch Rosa Parks was there to see her sons, and other women stood proudly with their men and addressed the huge crowd.

At the 1963 March on Washington, only men spoke and gospel great Mahalia Jackson sang, but at the great gathering of men, women spoke and Min. Farrakhan issued a major statement condemning rape, violence against women, and incest.

After the march, crime went down in the Black community, thousands of children were adopted – one of the march platforms – businesses opened and Black men flocked to Black organizations and houses of worship.

An additional 1.7 Black men participated in the 1996 presidential election, beating back a Republican onslaught in Congress and re-

issues like homosexuality and abortion – which Jesus had nothing to say about – instead of voting on issues like caring for the sick (think Obamacare) and feeding the hungry (think food stamps), which he expressly commanded his followers to do.

(What is truly incomprehensible is that gays would vote for Romney; he not only professes a moral aversion to homosexuality but also promises to faithfully execute laws that deny gays their civil rights. But I digress.)

I’m an Obama supporter – notwithstanding that he has not done nearly as much to help poor Blacks (and Whites) as I had hoped. But I understand why it would have been politically imprudent for him to do so; and hope springs eternal that, once re-elected and relieved of the need to pander for votes, he will redeem his presidency in this respect.

It makes sense for every Black to vote for Obama – not because he’s Black, but because his polices are more progressive, humane, and in the spirit of what Jesus would do than Romney’s.

Christian contradiction As Bill Clinton delineated at the Never mind the contradiction Democratic National Convention, inherent in Christians voting on Democratic presidents have a remany poor Whites seem to think that a vote for Romney is a vote for their future. After all, Obama’s policies – from reforming healthcare to creating blue-collar jobs – will benefit them far more than Romney’s (which are aimed at making the rich richer in the vain hope that their money will trickle down in the form of investments that provide jobs for the poor).

She agreed.

What I did not say, to spare her feelings, is that many Black evangelicals might actually consider it their religious duty to vote for Romney. Romney’s policies – from opposition to gay marriage to opposition to abortion – are more consistent with their Christian values than Obama’s.

As I wrote in 2009, “The dark little secret is that far too many Blacks are every bit as homophobic as right-wing Christian Republicans, which Blacks demonstrated in brazen fashion four years ago by voicing moral opposition to the ordination of gay bishop Gene Robinson.”

not allow the hoopla of ‘making history’ to divert our attention from the real action and that action is building, owing and controlling our own income producing assets.”

Says Trent: “An economic agenda is the central agenda of all politics, for it determines who gets a slice of the pie, who gets the crumbs and who gets nothing.

The new agenda for Black America must consciously replace the social agenda with an economic agenda whose central focus is how we can improve the state of the Black economy.”

Their position is shared by Chancellor Williams, who wrote in his must-read book, “The Destruction of Black Civilization, Great Issues of a Race: 4500 B.C.2000 A.D.” that “The second great understanding should be that economic activities are so fundamental in any truly upward movement, so clearly indispensable at this stage in history that it should be unnecessary to state it even.

A5

The still existing slave mentality causes millions of us to shy away from these basics of life itself because it requires more initiative, training and work and less talk than politics...”

Mr. Williams provides concrete guidance of what should and can be done economically on page 371 of his book under the heading, “The Division of Economic Planning and Development.”

Automatic political power Those who are serious about promoting and protecting the interest of Black people should pay close attention to the essential point all three Brothers have made – which is that there can be no political power without economic power, only varying degrees of political influence. With economic power, there is automatic political power.

While on the subject economic achievement, it must be not-

turning Bill Clinton to office.

Ignored by ‘mainstream’ Reflections on the march are ignored by the majority press; why should they care? This was an independent effort which signaled an independent path for Black America. Pharaoh’s magicians always seek to keep the people blinded from the truth and divine men – in this era, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and his modern Aaron, Min. Farrakhan.

It is up to us to recite the history of that glorious day in 1995 and to stand on its principles. Reciting the stories from that day should remind us of what our unity can do, despite the efforts of those who oppose us.

All of the tenets of the march are necessary today. We still need atonement, reconciliation and responsibility. We still need to respect and protect our women. We still need to build our communities. We still need peace in the ‘hood and operational unity. We still need the favor of God and His blessings.

Let us not ignore our own great history, nor live in the past. Let us recover the vision of the Million Man March, embrace its principles and build on a 17-year-old foundation. The victory is ours if we are willing to claim it.

This commentary originally appeared in the Final Call newspaper. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response. assuring record of championing policies that create more middleclass jobs than Republican presidents, by far. All of which clearly belies the accusation that Blacks vote for Democratic presidents out of some congenitally slavish political loyalty.

Leave her alone Still I say, lay off Stacey! The civil rights movement was also about giving Blacks the same rights Whites have always enjoyed to vote with their pocketbook, instead of their race, in mind.

And I’m all too mindful that the perverse nature of celebrity these days is such that, far from feeling victimized by this backlash, Stacey is probably reveling in it.

Anthony L. Hall is a Bahamian native with an international law practice in Washington, D.C. Read his columns and daily weblog at www.theipinionsjournal.com. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response. ed that one of, if not the greatest Black achievements occurred on October 31, 1919. It was on that day that the first ship was launched by Marcus Garvey’s Black Steam Ship Corporation as thousands of people watched on the 125the Street pier in Harlem.

According to reports, White newspapers splashed the news in disbelief all over the world. Black people rejoiced... the Black Star Line was designed to show what self-reliance could do. It was financed from its shareholder, all of whom were Black and most were UNIA members…”

This was a classic example of pooling our economic resources can accomplish.

Contact A. Peter Bailey at apeterb@verizon.net, or 202716-4560. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

TOj A6

NATION

OCTOBER 19 – OCTOBER 25, 2012

The powerful men pushing to unseat Obama What you should know about Charles and David Koch

Charles and David Koch won’t say how much they are spending or specifically what they are doing to defeat President Obama, but it’s enough to prompt critics to question how much political influence one family should have.

BY BILL WILSON AND ROY WENZLE THE WICHITA EAGLE (MCT)

WICHITA, Kan. — In January 2009, just days after the inauguration of President Barack Obama, Charles and David Koch met in their company headquarters in Wichita with their longtime political strategist, Rich Fink.

The country was headed toward bankruptcy, they agreed. Fink told them bluntly that Obama’s administration represented the worst of what Charles and David fear most: a bloated, regulation-heavy, free-spending government that could plunge the country into another deep recession. That day, Fink advised two of the richest men in the nation that it would be the fight of their lives to stop the government spending spree and to change the course of the country, starting with the 2012 election.

“If we are going to do this, we should do it right or not at all,” Fink, 61, recalled telling the brothers. “But if we don’t do it right or if we don’t do it at all, we will be insignificant and we will just waste a lot of time and I would rather play golf.

“And if we do it right, then it is going to get very, very ugly.”

Three and a half years later, Obama accused the Koch brothers of engineering “a corporate takeover of our democracy.”

The brothers’ political spending and the network of conservative political organizations and think tanks they fund have

sparked protests.

Well-oiled political machine Two years of condemnations and criticism prompted Charles Koch to break his silence about politics.

In his most extensive interview in 15 years, Charles Koch, along with his family and friends, talked about why he wants to defeat Obama and elect members of Congress who will stop what he calls catastrophic overspending.

Government recklessness threatens the country and his business, he said.

The Kochs say the price for their political involvement has been high: Death threats, cyberattacks on their business, hundreds of news stories criticizing them, calls for boycotts of the company’s consumer goods, and what the brothers see as ongoing and unjustified public attacks from the Obama administration.

The Kochs aren’t finished. Win or lose in November, they plan to start a new fight. They are organizing dozens of business and grassroots groups to build support for eliminating all corporate and agri-

cultural subsidies.

The Kochs won’t say how much they are spending or specifically what they are doing to defeat Obama, but it’s enough to prompt critics to question how much political influence one family should have.

“The Koch political machine is the most elaborate, comprehensive financial dip into American politics since Standard Oil and the robber barons a century ago,” said Larry Jacobs, a political scientist at the University of Minnesota.

“This is the 21st-century version of how you buy yourself a government in America.”

Many millions spent Charles and David Koch, each worth an estimated $31 billion, directly support causes and candidates at the national or state level.

Charles Koch refuted early media reports that put their tab to defeat Obama at $200 million.

“Well, the Obama campaign said they were going to spend a billion. No, we’re not going to spend that much,” he said, referring to the $200 million.

“We’re going to partici-

BARACK OBAMA IS NOT JUST A PRESIDENT FOR SOME OF US.

HE’S FIGHTING FOR ALL OF US.

pate effectively in the election, let’s just put it that way,” David Koch said.

The Koch Industries Political Action Committee has spent $2.3 million in the 2012 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

They’ve spent more than $60 million lobbying Washington in the past decade and $12.7 million backing political candidates, usually Republicans, since 1990.

The total amount being spent isn’t public, thanks to campaign finance laws that allow nonprofit groups to keep the identity of their donors secret.

Americans for Prosperity plans to spend $110 million to defeat Obama, its director, Tim Phillips, told the national media in early August.

Both parties blamed The Kochs believe the country is racing inevitably to economic disaster. They blame Republicans and Democrats alike.

They say that overspending, coupled with future shortfalls in Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, along with interest on the national debt, will push

the country into bankruptcy, just as surely as a family that consistently spends more than it makes will end up broke.

“We’re running well over a trillion-dollar-a-year deficits with our national debt climbing inexorably to greater and greater level,” David Koch said. “The Federal Reserve, of course, is buying the bonds the federal government issues to finance the debt. And my God, if this continues to increase, we’re going to have ever-increasing inflation, it could become runaway inflation that would raise interest rates on our national debt enormously, and our country could spiral into bankruptcy.”

The interest alone that the United States will owe to China in 2025 is projected to be enough to fund that country’s entire military, Fink said.

The Kochs say neither Obama nor Romney will address overspending or expanding government.

“You go through history, the rate of increase in federal government has been almost the same under Republicans as under Democrats,” Charles Koch said. But he said that under Romney the country’s economic decline will proceed more slowly.

Although the Kochs have long complained about corporate subsidies, saying they increase taxes and the price of goods, their company accepts subsidies for production of ethanol. Not accepting them would put the company at a competitive disadvantage, they say.

Impoverishing middle class?

The Kochs think government is an obstacle to making money that should be removed, said Jim Steele, who with Don Barlett just released “The Betrayal

of the American Dream.”

The book accuses the “ruling elite” — including the Kochs — of impoverishing the American middle class by pushing initiatives such as deregulation, outsourcing and balanced budgets to enrich themselves.

The Kochs have spent more than three decades building a vast, sophisticated network of think tanks, university researchers and citizen groups to advocate for limited government, lower taxes and limited regulation.

“We feel that the views of the foundations that they support … have been really instrumental in undermining the economic wellbeing of the middle class,” Steele said.

Free markets to the Kochs mean freedom to make money, Steele said.

“I think they view government as an intrusion in their liberty to make money,” he said. “Any government regulation is seen as an intrusion that would interfere with that process.”

Steele said the Kochs are using money they gleaned from lower taxes on dividends and on the wealthy to finance a disinformation campaign against Obama.

Steele said claims by Republicans that Obama is responsible for the current budget deficit are preposterous.

“His predecessor ran up the deficit, and because of the issues with Bush II, the economy slows down, tax collections are down and that contributes to the deficit.

“So now they’re going to run ads basically with free money, the money they’ve saved not paying taxes on their dividends, to accuse him of the deficit problems.

“It’s truly preposterous.”

EARLY VOTING DATES:

OCT. 27TH – NOV. 3RD FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT VOTE.BARACKOBAMA.COM

I promised to be a President who would build a better future; who would move this nation forward; who would ensure that this generation—your generation—had the same chances and the same opportunities that our parents gave us. That’s what I’m here to do. That’s why I ran for President of the United States of America.

THERE’S MORE TO DO, BUT WE’RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

HEALTH FOOD || HEALTH TRAVEL | |MONEY SCIENCE | BOOKS | MOVIES | TV | AUTOS LIFE | FAITH | EVENTS | CLASSIFIEDS | ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS | FOOD October 19 - October 25, 2012

IFE/FAITH

A healthy addition for Halloween parties See page B3

SHARING BLACK LIFE, STATEWIDE

Black families remain sparse on TV See page B5

SOUTH FLORIDA / TREASURE COAST AREA www.flcourier.com

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SECTION

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For Valencia Robinson, it started with a small pea-sized nodule in her left breast.

Still sharing her story Editor’s note: This is one in a series of occasional stories about people who have survived personal tragedy and have become an inspiration to others. Valencia Robinson first shared her story about coping with breast cancer with the Florida Courier last year, which was featured in a story in the Dec. 2, 2011 issue. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

BY ASHLEY THOMAS FLORIDA COURIER

V

alencia Robinson was 33 years old when she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.

A native of Marianna now living in Daytona Beach, she speaks to groups locally and nationwide about the benefits of self-breast exams and the importance of regular visits to the doctor. Robinson is a graduate of BethuneCookman University and is a teacher in Volusia County.

The mother, wife, daughter and schoolteacher tells a story of her journey through diagnosis and survival in an effort to give hope to the millions of women who have been diagnosed or will be diagnosed with the disease.

“I have been speaking and sharing not only my battle with cancer, but also discussing healthy living. My oncologist and I on two separate occasions have spoken in the African-American community about healthy eating, exercise and breast health,” said Robinson, adding that she was to speak in her hometown at the Breast Cancer Awareness Symposium in Marianna on Thursday evening. “I will be the survivor sharing my story and the doctor that will be speaking is the past president of the American Cancer Society. This will be an exciting engagement.”

“Also on just last night, I spoke at the Salvation Army on Ballough Road in Daytona. (The Salvation Army that Robinson spoke about in her book is where her family volunteers during the holidays). It was great talking to them…and encouraging them with exercise and diet. These ladies are court ordered to be there and they were so inspired by my journey.”

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. It also is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women of all races. With no history of cancer in her family, the diagnosis of the disease came as a shock to Robinson and even more so as she learned she had triple negative breast cancer.

Kept notebooks of journey “Statistically, my chances of survival were not great, but I am very thankful to be alive to tell my amazing story,’’ Robinson said.

As she detailed her account of the disease, her eldest son, Devon Robinson, now 15, offered his perspective of the journey as well and the pair co-wrote the book, “Promise Me You Will.” A portion of the proceeds from the book is being donated to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program.

“Throughout my journey I kept notebooks of information so that I could tell my story in hope of helping others through their breast cancer journey. I am delighted to share my story along with my son, Devon. My children are indeed a part of this miraculous journey.

They gave me life, they helped me during my journey, and I am grateful to God for extending my days so that I can con-

COURTESY OF VALENCIA ROBINSON

Valencia Robinson is shown with son Devon holding a copy of the book they co-wrote, “Promise Me You Will.” The book details her family’s journey with her as she battled breast cancer. tinue being a part of their life and share my story.”

Still found reason to give thanks

Pea-sized nodule discovered in 2006

Looking back, Robinson told the Courier that her diagnosis was given around the holidays and “that Thanksgiving was very hard for us.”

“After we got home that evening, finished dinner and put the kids to bed, Jeff (her husband) and I talked about my diagnosis. He told me that I should take a few days off from school. I said that it is just not that easy taking days off while teaching. You have to get a sub, leave work for the students, and besides, I needed to reserve my days for any future surgery. As we lay in bed that night, I cried in his arms. He assured me that everything would be fine.”

Following the diagnosis, the teacher chose not to share the results with anyone at her school, Atlantic High School in Port Orange, and continued to work as normally as one could. In her book, she tells how she had one of the “best Thanksgivings that year with family from all over coming to our home.’’ They also continued an annual family event of serving the homeless at a Salvation Army.

Before the semester’s end, Robinson told her principal of her diagnosis as surgery would be scheduled in the upcoming weeks. Words of encouragement, cards and e-mails poured in from her co-workers as they learned of her diagnosis.

“It all began in October of 2006. I had an appointment with the midwife at the doctor’s office and she felt a small peasized nodule in my left breast. I had never felt this before because I was not doing my own breast exams. Having a great relationship with her because she delivered three of my four children, she immediately began to ask me questions like ‘How long has this been here? Do you perform your self-breast exams?

How many sodas do you drink and how much coffee do you consume daily?’

“Being very thorough and not dismissing my lump, she immediately called the nurse in and scheduled a mammogram for me. She would not let me leave the office until the appointment was scheduled. It took a lot of convincing because I was only 33 at the time, with no history of breast cancer in my family. The appointment was eventually scheduled and thus my journey began.”

At a follow-up appointment, Robinson was given a biopsy. Questions began to arise. “What if I really had cancer? What would I do? God, why is this happening to me? I am way too young to have these added pressures in my life right now.”

But by her next visit, the doctor would deliver the dreaded words – “You have cancer.”

See STORY, Page B2

For many sisters with breast cancer, Obamacare offers help

BY JONATHAN P. HICKS BET.COM

For Melanie Nix, the health care reform known as Obamacare is nothing more than a critical lifeline.

Nix, a triple negative breast cancer survivor, said that the Affordable Care Act, the formal name of the legislation, has a number of crucial components that will help her and other women who are dealing with breast cancer.

“I am emotional about the Affordable Care Act,” said Nix, who lives in the Washington suburb of University Park, Maryland. “Now, I don’t have to be scared about how my preexisting condition will affect my ability to be insured. This provides me comfort. It’s exciting and life changing.”

She underscored a point that has been widely applauded by breast cancer patients.

No coverage caps Under the Affordable Care Act, if a person has a pre-existing health condition, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny coverage based on that condition.

Equally important for Nix and others is the fact that the

Affordable Care Act does away with lifetime coverage caps, which is an important component of the reform for relatively young women, like Nix. “The Affordable Care Act eliminated lifetime limits on coverage, which is an incredible benefit for people like me,” she said, in an interview with BET.com. “I have a strong family history of breast cancer. And, when there are caps, you don’t know how long you’ll be able to get insurance coverage.”

Dying needlessly Nix is passionate about providing support to women with breast cancer. She is a cofounder of the Breast Cancer Comfort Site, which provides support and guidance to women with breast cancer. She is a fifth-generation breast cancer survivor. She has undertaken a vigorous public speaking schedule and has produced a line of greetings cards for breast cancer patients and survivors.

She pointed out that the Affordable Care Act is likely to be of great help to African-American women, who develop breast cancer in disproportionately higher levels than White women do.

In fact, a report by the Sinai

Higher death rate for Black women

HEATHER CHARLES/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

Betty Daniel, right, of Chicago, gets her routine yearly mammogram from mammography tech Stella Palmer at Mt. Sinai.

Urban Health Institute in Chicago indicated that Black women often lack information and access to preventative care. It states that poverty and disparities in preventative care are responsible for higher mortality rates among Black women.

The report said that roughly five Black women die needlessly each day from breast cancer because they lack the information and access to proper health care.

While many of the facets of Obamacare will not go into effect until 2014, it is already having impact, Nix and others say. Under the Affordable Care

Act, women on Medicare can get free mammograms, which Nix and others consider a vital provision that will encourage women to get the preventive care they need.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than 6 million women received free mammograms as part of their Medicare coverage.

“This eliminates a lot of barriers for a lot of African-American women to get diagnosed early,” Nix said, “and to get the services they need after they have been diagnosed.”

Approximately, 230,480 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed last year in women, resulting in nearly 40,000 deaths. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-most fatal cancer among Black women, according to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The incidence rate among African-American women is lower than that of their White counterparts.

From 2003-2007, there were 114 women diagnosed for every 100,000 or 6 percent lower than that of White women. However, in that same period African-American women had a 39 percent higher death rate from breast cancer.

Black women also have a higher incidence rate before 40 years of age and are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age. Breast cancer mortality is 41 percent higher among Black women than White females.

According to a recent study conducted by the Avon Foundation in partnership with the Sinai Urban Health Institute, the disparities in mortality between Black and White women are largely attributable to societal factors such as socioeconomic status and access to health care.

SOURCE: NNPA NEWS SERVICE

S

CALENDAR

B2

FLORIDA COMMUNITY CALENDAR Fort Lauderdale: The Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park is celebrating FireFest, an event about the importance of maintaining Florida’s natural habitats through prescribed fire use. Family-friendly activities, including a spooky trail, haunted hayrides, bounce house and swamp buggy tours, will be on site. A reduced park entrance fee is $5 per car. More information: 561-745-5551 or www.FloridaStateParks. org/JonathanDickinson.

West Palm Beach: Inspired by the hit movie “Drumline’’ and featuring musicians from various marching band programs, a performance

by DrumlineLive will parade out of the football stadium onto the stage with percussion, brass, and choreography with soul-infused interpretations of top 40 hits. The performance will be held at the Kravis Center Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. Admission $15.

Coral Gables: The Artisan Food Fest at Coral Gables Museum featuring over 30 vendors selling handcrafted items from granola to jams to sustainably grown greens to sausages will be held Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave. Miami: Compaigne de Danse, Haiti’s dance company under the direction of Jean René Delsoin, will perform

OCTOBER 19 - OCTOBER 25, 2012

STORY

WIZ KHALIFA

Wiz Khalifa’s (right) The 2050 tour stops by the Bank United Center, Coral Gables, Dec. 12 and the USF Sun Dome in Tampa Dec. 2 for 7:30 p.m. shows.

DARREN ANKENMAN

from B1 “The day of surgery brought a lot of anxiety. I spent the night before cleaning my home, organizing my children’s clothing so that my mom and husband would know what was what. I just couldn’t sleep, so I worked. I figured after surgery I wouldn’t be able to do anything so I might as well get it all done.”

BUDDY GUY

Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang will perform at the Seminole Coconut Creek Casino Nov. 11 at a 7 p.m. show.

From biopsies to reconstructive surgery

WHOOPI GOLDBERG

Tickets are now on sale for an 8 p.m. show featuring Whoopi Goldberg Jan. 11 at the Kravis Center, West Palm Beach. choreography capturing Haiti with movement to beats that migrated from West Africa to Haiti. The performance will be held at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. Admission $10 - $25.

ity Open will take place Oct. 20 at the President Country Club, 2300 Presidential Way. Proceeds will benefit scholarship funds. More information: 877-252-2577, ext: 222 or visit the website at www.gawlf4charity.org.

Palm Beach: Comedian John Witherspoon will hold a show at the Palm Beach Improv Nov. 2 at 8 p.m.

Hollywood: The “So You Think You Can Dance’’ Tour makes its way to Hollywood Dec. 5 at Hard Rock Live for a 7:30 p.m. show.

Miami: Funny man Bruce Bruce will be at the Miami Improv in Coconut Grove on Oct. 19 for an 8 p.m. show.

Miami: The Single Ladies Tour featuring R&B Superstar R. Kelly will stop at the James L. Knight Center, Miami on Oct. 21 for a 7:30 p.m. show.

Miami: Tyler Perry’s “Madea Gets a Job’’ makes a stop at the UCF Arena in Orlando on Nov. 8 and the American Airlines Arena in Miami Nov. 9-10.

West Palm Beach: The Gerald A. Williams Legacy Foundation Char-

Miami: Enjoy Movies on the Plaza, a free, family-friendly event sponsored by Brickell World Plaza each month.

A showing of “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” will be held Oct. 19 at 8 p.m., 600 Brickell Ave. Miami: The Miami Jazz Society presents a free weekly film series and a free monthly jazz series at the Miami Tower, 100 SE 2nd St., in downtown Miami. A complete schedule listing all show titles, artist names, dates and times of events can be found at www.miamijazzsociety.com. More

S

information: Keith Clarke, 305-684-4564.

Fort Lauderdale: Live jazz, blues, pop and everything in between along Hollywood’s signature 2.5 mile Broadwalk is every Friday of every month. More information: 954-924-2980.

Boca Raton: An open mic night for 18 and up featuring comedy, poetry and music is held every Monday at the Funky Biscuit in the back of Royal Palm Plaza, 303 SE Mizner Blvd. Signup is at 8 p.m. The show begins at 8:30 p.m. More information: Richy Lala 561-512-8472.

Miami: Miami-Dade County hosts a Downtown Harvest Market every Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Residents and visitors have the opportunity to purchase seasonal produce directly from Miami-Dade growers at the Stephen P. Clark Center’s Courtyard, 111 NW 1st St. More information: www. earth-learning.org.

BARACK OBAMA IS NOT JUST A PRESIDENT FOR SOME OF US.

HE’S FIGHTING FOR ALL OF US.

Robinson was to have surgery to remove lymph nodes in her body that the doctor believed housed most, if not all, of the cancer. She also went through added biopsies. “While waiting in the recovery room after the lumpectomy, lymph node removal and the node biopsy, I was thanking God for bringing me through this surgery. I thought this was going to be the only surgery that I would have to endure.

Little did I know I would be sitting in that same recovery room at least five more times, going through a series of surgeries related to my breast cancer.”

Robinson details the many surgeries she experienced in “Promise Me You Will” – from additional biopsies and lumpectomies to lymph node removals and the fixing of a gaping hole the size of a grapefruit in her chest cavity. Robinson endured an oophorectomy, mastectomy and an eventual breast reconstruction surgery.

She experienced the effects of chemotherapy and the pain and weakness brought on from the many drugs prescribed to rid her body of the cancer. She also experienced the side effect so many experience – she lost her hair.

“Not only did I lose the hair on my head, every stitch of hair on my body was gone.”

Resilient and inspirational Dr. Karin Bigman, who specializes in hematology and oncology in Ormond Beach and one of Robinson’s doctors had this to say after her diagnosis and journey with cancer: “What transpired over the next few years was a remarkable transformation from a petrified young woman to that of a resilient

and truly inspirational patient who I have come to regard as not only a strong voice in the community for breast cancer patients, but also a friend.”

“In over 21 years of practice treating breast cancer, many patients have touched my heart. Valencia has changed mine. She is my inspiration as I continue to fight this disease with the never-ending passion that Valencia and I experienced together.”

Thankful for support system Naming her mom, husband, children and various family members and friends, Robinson details the role her support system had in helping with her eventual survival of breast cancer. She was grateful for help with cooking, cleaning, running errands and shopping – even tasks that once seemed simple such as bathing and getting dressed.

Robinson notes that at one point when her body was extremely weak her four children – then ages 3 through 8 – would come running to her bed when she rang a bell for help.

“My husband and mom got me a bell to ring. If I ever needed anything, I was supposed to ring the bell. That worked very well. My kids would run right in every time I rang the bell. I got immediate assistance, especially if the kids were at home.”

Tears, tantrums and talks with God “It’s natural to be afraid, to cry, to be upset and to even question God. I experienced all of these emotions.

But after tears, tantrums and talks, I concluded that although I could not add years to my life, I certainly could add life to my years. And by adding life to my years, just maybe, I could add years to my life. I believed that I would survive,’’ Robinson explained.

Robinson continues her work as a teacher for the Volusia County school system as well as an adjunct professor at Daytona State College. She has been cancer free for five years.

“I recognize God daily in all that I do,” she remarked. “He is the only one that has kept me alive.”

For more information about Valencia Robinson’s journey, visit www.promisemeyouwill.com.

EARLY VOTING DATES:

OCT. 27TH – NOV. 3RD FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT VOTE.BARACKOBAMA.COM

I promised to be a President who would build a better future; who would move this nation forward; who would ensure that this generation—your generation—had the same chances and the same opportunities that our parents gave us. That’s what I’m here to do. That’s why I ran for President of the United States of America.

THERE’S MORE TO DO, BUT WE’RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

TOJ

OCTOBER 19 - OCTOBER 25, 2012

FOOD

B3

Watermelons are a healthy addition to any Halloween party.

They’re the lycopene leader among fresh produce, are an excel­ lent source of vitamins A and C, and contain 6 percent of the daily value for vitamin B6 — all of which boost your immune system.

FROM Family Features

his Halloween, why not put a fun twist on pumpkin carving by making some Jack O’Melons? Watermelons carve up bootifully, and you can eat the fruit right away, making it easy to scare up some delicious Halloween fun.

This Bat Jack O’Melon, Tiki Mask, and Jack O’Melon man can add a frightfully fun touch to a Halloween party — and the whole family can help carve them. To get more carving ideas and instruc­tions, visit www.watermelon.org.

Carving Tips

Tiki Mask Table Decoration 1 oblong seedless watermelon Pencil or green dry erase marker Melon baller Paring and kitchen knives Spoon Channel knife Toothpick Slice 1/4 inch off end of water­ melon to provide a stable base.

Use pencil to draw the face, making adjustments in scale to your particular watermelon.

Use melon baller to scoop out nostrils; use small paring knife to clean up edges.

Next use paring knife to cut out the inside mouth area, leaving room for the teeth.

Next cut individual teeth, using the same small paring knife, and use a spoon to dig out a large area of flesh for the mouth cavity.

Next carve out eyes, digging a deep cavity in each, for drama. Use a channel knife to carve details.

Use some carved out pieces to cut a “bone” decoration for top of head, and attach with a toothpick.

• Have the watermelon at room temperature when you carve. The cuts will be easier to make. You can chill the water­melon in the refrigerator after cutting and before serving.

• After you’ve drawn the design on the rind, insert toothpicks in key places to use as guides for your cuts.

• Use a sharp knife with a pointed tip — the sharper the knife, the easier and cleaner the cuts will be.

• When attaching cut pieces on the watermelon to make your design, use round toothpicks or skewers.

Flat toothpicks will often break due to the weight of the piece or the thickness of the rind.

Jack O’Melon 1 round watermelon Melon baller Pen Knife Toothpicks Cut a thin slice from the bottom of watermelon to provide a stable base.

Cut circular piece of the rind from the top, big enough to reach into to remove the flesh. Carefully remove that top section and reserve for later to be used as a lid.

Remove the flesh from inside the watermelon using melon baller, reserv­ing melon balls for snacking or a fruit salad.

Once flesh is removed, drain any excess liquid from inside watermelon.

Using pen or knife, draw or scratch the out­lines of eyes, nose, mouth, hair, ears or any other feature you want on the side of the water­melon, using a template as a guide. Then, following the outlines, cut the features into the

Bat Jack O’Melon 2 round watermelons, preferably yellow, for the body Kitchen and paring knives Cutting board Green dry-erase marker (preferably washable) Large bowl and spoon Candy corns 4 to 6-inch wooden skewers Toothpicks Candle or light Wash watermelons under cool running water and pat dry.

On a cutting board, place the roundest watermelon on its side and cut off 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the stem end, being careful not to cut too deep into the white part of the rind.

This will pro­vide a sturdy base.

Using dry-erase marker, draw two eyes, an oval for a nose and a smiling mouth that would resemble a bat.

watermelon and remove excess rind. To create a 3D effect with the features after you have cut them, push gently on the flaps of rind from inside the water­melon.

(You can use toothpicks to prop the rind, if you want.)

Draw two ears and an outline of a forehead, continuing the line around to make the top for the bat that will be removed.

Use a knife to carefully cut away inside of the eyes, nose and mouth and also around the top of watermelon.

Remove top and hollow out watermelon with spoon, reserving fruit to use in a fruit salad or punch.

On the second watermelon, use dry-erase marker to draw 2 bat wings (the top of the wings will have 2 points and the bottom of the wings will have 2 points.)

Use knife to carefully cut wings out, reserving inside of watermelon to make fruit salad or punch.

Attach wings to side of watermelon bat with wooden skewers, and use toothpicks to attach candy-corn as fangs.

Insert a candle to light up your bat.

A safe, battery-operated lamp can be firmly placed inside the watermelon to provide a haunting glow.

Place the circular piece of rind that you reserved back on top of the watermelon and your Jack O’Melon is ready to be displayed.

HEALTH

TOj B4

STOJ

OCTOBER 19 – OCTOBER 25, 2012

Your guide to vaccines WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

By Diane C. Lade/Sun Sentinel

lu season is officially here, and the “Flu shots today” signs are out in force at pharmacies, spermarkets and big-box discount stores.

Last year was one of the mildest flu seasons on record, said Dr. Lisa Grohskopf, a medical officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s influenza division. But she says consumers shouldn’t get complacent; the CDC still recommends everyone older than 6 months be vaccinated.

“We know the flu is unpredictable, so we can’t say what this season will be like,”

Grohskopf said.

Federal statistics projected drug manufacturers would produce up to 149 million vaccines for this season. The CDC does not anticipate shortages. About 132 million immunizations were given in 201112, covering about 45 percent of adults.

More people are getting immunized at the same places where they buy their groceries and fill their prescriptions rather than doctor’s offices. Many say they like the convenience. Retailers usually are set up to process insurance billing on-site, so customers with coverage or on Medicare

pay nothing out of pocket.

A CDC report found that in the 2010-11 flu season about 18 percent of adults received their flu shots in stores, while 40 percent went to their doctor’s office.

States regulate how vaccines are given outside of medical settings, and the CDC has no recommendations about the best place to get a shot. “We think it’s fortunate you now can get a flu vaccine in a wide variety of places,” Grohskopf said.

Here are answers to the most commonly asked flu questions:

Symptoms to consider when making your own preliminary diagnosis:

INFLUENZA Antiviral medications can help people feel better if taken within 48 hours of onset of symptoms Headache High fever Dry cough

Chest pains

Q: Do I need to be vaccinated against the flu?

A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone age 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine.

Those who most need immunization: seniors age 65 and older, pregnant women, patients with certain medical conditions, caregivers of patients who develop serious complications from contracting the flu.

Q: How does a flu shot work?

A: Seasonal influenza vaccines combine inactive strains of three flu viruses. The formula, when injected, encourages your immune system to build antibodies that fight infection. The vaccine works against the three most commonly circulating flu viruses: influenza B, the H1N1 A strain and the H3N2 A strain.

Q: Do I really need a vaccine every year?

A: Yes. That’s because public health officials annually look at which flu viruses will be most prevalent, then set a vaccine formula designed to thwart those particular strains. So the formula can change from year to year.

In fact, the 2012-13 vaccine cocktail is different from last year’s, meaning you could be unprotected if you skip this year’s shot.

Q: What about children?

A: Some children 6 months through 8 years of age require 2 doses of influenza vaccine, according to the CDC. Children in this age group who are getting vaccinated for the first time will need two doses. Some children who have received influenza vaccine previously will also need two doses. Your child’s health care provider can tell you wheth-

How to strengthen your immune system

for the high-dose and intra-dermal vaccines.

Q: When does flu season start?

Q: I hate needles!

Can I take a flu pill instead?

A: It typically begins in October and can last through May, with the season peaking in February. But flu is unpredictable, and seasonal peaks vary by region.

Q: Why should I get vaccinated?

A: The CDC advises people to be vaccinated as soon as shots are available, so they’ll be ready when flu season starts. Many providers began receiving vaccines as early as August, as manufacturers are shipping earlier.

Shots given now should protect you through the season, and you won’t have to worry about supply shortages later. It takes your body two weeks following the vaccine to form flu-fighting antibodies. But even if it’s later, the CDC suggests you still go ahead and get a shot.

Q: What about the new highdose shot for seniors?

A sound immune system makes it easier to fight infections during the current flu season:

* Walking with poles

FLUID Support metabolism and immune system by drinking lots of water or herbal tea; mucous membranes in mouth and nose stay humid and don’t dry out

MORE LIGHT Enjoy daylight as long as possible; light affects brain, immune system and hormones such as endorphins

SLEEP During fall and winter the body needs more energy; a good night’s sleep regenerates the immune system

WELLNESS Take a warm bath; add thyme oil to help the respiratory tract; don’t bathe longer than 15 minutes

SHOWER Switch between warm and cold showers in the morning; this improves circulation and nervous system

FOOD Lots of fruit, vegetables; low-fat nutrition with lots of vitamins; low alcohol intake

RELAX Stress damages the immune system; relax by reading, listening to music

OUTDOOR EXERCISE Hiking, running or Nordic walking* stimulates immune system, blood circulation, lungs and improves mental balance

er two doses are recommended for your child.

Source: Reuters, Stern, heath magazines

mct

A: The Fluzone High-Dose for people older than 65 first became available in 2010. It has four times the antigen of a standard shot to boost the immune response as the body loses the ability to produce antibodies as we age. More side effects have been reported with the highdose vs. the regular shot. People who have severe egg allergies or who had a serious reaction to a standard flu vaccine should not get the high dose.

Q: What about the nasal spray vaccine?

A: Sorry, no. But now there is an intradermal vaccine that uses a pin-prick needle, about 90 percent smaller than the standard model. It injects under the skin rather than deep into the muscle, causing less arm-ache afterward. People ages 18 to 64 can have intradermal vaccines.

Q: Does Medicare or my insurance cover vaccines?

A: Flu shots are covered under Medicare Part B and most private insurance plans. There usually are no out-of-pocket costs to consumers, but ask your provider.

Q: Where can I get immunized?

A: The majority of people get flu shots from their primary care physicians. Some local health departments also offer them. But many local retailers, drug stores and supermarkets are offering shot programs as well. Most don’t require appointments but allow you to make them.

Among those with vaccines: Walmart (walmart.com/pharmacy), Walgreens (walgreens. com/pharmacy) and CVS (cvs. com). Not all stores or retailers carry intradermal and high-dose shots, so call first.

Q: What are the risks?

Chills Severe fatigue Severe aches NOTE: H1N1 virus also causes some gastrointestinal distress

COLD Colds are caused by a different virus; symptoms are less severe — and they come on more gradually than flu Sneezing Stuffy nose Hacking cough Mild sore throat

Mild fatigue

STREP THROAT A sore throat, but no stuffy nose, may mean it’s a streptococcal bacterial infection — antibiotics can help High fever Pus on tonsils Very sore throat

STOMACH FLU Virus enters via mouth and multiplies in small intestine; symptoms can appear in a few hours, but usually take a day; food poisoning typically is a bacterial infection, such as E. coli

A: This vaccine is different from the shots in that it contains a live but weakened version of the flu virus. Healthy people ages 2 to 49 can use the spray. People with egg allergies and serious medical conditions or weakened immune systems — and their caregivers — should not use this vaccine or should check with a doctor first.

A: Serious complications from flu vaccines are rare. Common mild problems include: soreness or redness where the shot was given, fever, headache, faHeadache tigue and cough. Allergic reaction symptoms include: difficulty breathing, fast heart rate, dizVomiting ziness or hives. People with severe allergies, especially to eggs, should talk to their doctor before Sauna Use sauna Fatigue getting a shot. every second week;

Q: How much does it cost?

warm Diarrhea Q: Still haveand temperatures helps Source: U.S. questions? immune system fight Centers for

A: Seasonal shots cost around © 2009 MCT $25 to $35. Prices may be higher

shift between cold

A: Contact the CDC at 800infections 232-4636, or go to cdc.gov/flu.

Disease Control and Prevention mct

STOJ

OCTOBER 19 - OCTOBER 25, 2012

FINEST & ENTERTAINMENT

Meet some of

FLORIDA'S

finest

submitted for your approval

B5

Think you’re one of Florida’s Finest?

E-mail your high-resolution (200 dpi) digital photo in casual wear or bathing suit taken in front of a plain background with few distractions, to news@flcourier. com with a short biography of yourself and your contact information. (No nude/ glamour/ fashion photography, please!) In order to be considered, you must be at least 18 years of age. Acceptance of the photographs submitted is in the sole and absolute discretion of Florida Courier editors. We reserve the right to retain your photograph even if it is not published. If you are selected, you will be contacted by e-mail and further instructions will be given.

roland

chantel

Chantel Cherry, a 25-year-old aspiring fashion model, is from Portsmouth, Va. but now calls Orlando home. She won the title of Az 1 Model of the Year in 2011.

For booking and more information, email Chantel at ccherry1241@gmail.com.

CREDIT: DLOW MC ENT South Florida model and actor Roland does promotional work for Club Play in South Beach.

On a day off you can find him playing beach soccer or people watching. He would like to work on mainstream movies and write comedy in the near future. Contact Roland at: modelmidfielder@hotmail.com; Facebook: Roland Aaron Bullock; or on Twitter @rolandinho10.

CREDIT: JNAWSH photography

Not quite a prime time for Black families on network TV

BY GREG BRAXTON LOS ANGELES TIMES (MCT)

LOS ANGELES – On a recent Sunday at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME), an overflow crowd gathered hours after services to see a screening of TV Land’s “The Soul Man,” starring Cedric the Entertainer as a Las Vegas singer who uproots his family and moves to St. Louis after hearing a divine calling to become a pastor.

The well-dressed congregants gave a hero’s welcome to Cedric, co-star Niecy Nash and TV Land head Larry Jones. Their accomplishment? Putting on one of the few television shows that spotlights an African-American family.

“We’re excited about seeing role models for our community and for America,” FAME Pastor John J. Hunter said. “It’s very important for our youth to see the moral foundation of a family. ‘The Soul Man’ has to succeed so we can have more shows like this.”

Some diversity Despite the rally, Hunter’s faith may be tested in the coming months. “The Soul Man” may not return — executives have yet to

Shown above is the cast of TV Land’s “Soul Man.’’ The series may not return next season. give a green light for a second season. And that uncertainty underscores a chronic complaint: More than two decades after “The Cosby Show” broke new ground with its portrayal a loving two-parent black family into the pop culture mainstream, shows featuring nuclear Black families or families of color have all but vanished.

“The conventional wisdom in Hollywood is that building a show around a Black family would be a liability in terms of attracting a wider audience,” said

and the CW — are at their highest levels ever, with 31 roles. However, the vast majority of those characters are White; only seven are Black.

On the decline It’s also true that depictions of family life in general have been on the decline for years in television. But those that remain, including the returning “Parenthood,” “Up All Night,” The Middle,” “Last Man Standing” and “Raising Hope” typically revolve around White

families (One notable exception is ABC’s “Modern Family,” which includes a White and Latina couple.)

The only returning shows with ethnic families at the center are TBS’ “Are We There Yet” and Fox’s animated “The Cleveland Show.”

Of the new series with a major family component, including NBC’s “The New Normal” and “Revolution,” ABC’s “Malibu County” and Fox’s “Ben and Kate,” only one new show among the major network lineup — NBC’s “Guys with Kids”

Judge dismisses discrimination suit against ‘The Bachelor’

Beyonce to perform at Super Bowl XLVII A source familiar with the Super Bowl has said Beyonce will take the stage at the halftime show on Feb. 3, 2013, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

Beyonce, whose pop and R&B hits include “Crazy in Love,” ‘’Irreplaceable” and “Single

Darnell Hunt, director of UCLA’s Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies. “The executives feel that the mainstream or larger groups just would not be interested in a Black family.”

In some ways, TV has gotten more diverse. A study released by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLADD) recently concluded that the number of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters on the five broadcast networks — ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS

Beyonce Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” has won 16 Grammy Awards. The 31-year-old sang the national anthem at the 2004 Super Bowl in her hometown of Houston when the New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge on Monday dismissed a case filed by two Black men who claimed ABC’s “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” discriminated against casting participants of color.

U.S. District Court Judge Aleta Trauger’s ruling states that casting decisions by the network and the series’ producers are protected by the First Amendment and the case should not continue.

Nathaniel Claybrooks and Christopher John-

son sued the network in April, claiming their bids to appear on “The Bachelor” were never given serious consideration. They claimed the show and its spinoff “The Bachelorette” discriminated against nonwhite participants.

Trauger’s ruling calls the plaintiffs’ efforts “laudable” but says the lawsuit is aimed at regulating the show’s content, which is forbidden under the First Amendment.

Case ‘without merit’ “Ultimately, whatever messages ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette’ communicate or are intended to communicate – whether explicitly, implicitly, intentionally, or otherwise – the First Amendment protects the right of the producers of these shows to craft and control those messages, based on whatever considerations the producers wish to take into account,” Trauger wrote.

about three new fathers trying to hold onto their youth while confronting the responsibilities of parenthood — features a Black family.

But that family, with parents played by Anthony Anderson and Tempestt Bledsoe, are only one-third of an ensemble dominated by White characters. In the pilot episode, the Black family was given relatively short shrift while the White couples had more developed story arcs.

Subsequent episodes of the series, which so far has drawn lackluster ratings, have given more focus on the black family, and to Anderson and Bledsoe.

But the near-absence of Black families in primetime spotlights how race and cultural issues continue to shadow the TV arena, more than a decade after the four major networks were blasted by civil rights groups for fostering a “White landscape” in primetime.

The void continues even though African-Americans rank as one of TV’s most devoted audiences: A recent report by Nielsen revealed that the average African-American viewer watches nearly seven hours of TV daily, more than any other single demographic.

ABC lauded the ruling, saying, “We felt from the onset this case was completely without merit and we are pleased the Court has found in our favor.”

An email sent to attorney Byron Perkins, who represented Claybrooks and Johnson, was not immediately returned.

At the time of the lawsuit’s filing, all of the men given star billing in the first 16 seasons of “The Bachelor” were White. Through seven seasons of “The Bachelorette,” two male Hispanic contestants were selected winners and the rest were White.

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POLITICS

National Baptist voter push called mediocre

BY MAYNARD EATON AND CARRIE L. WILLIAMS TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

ATLANTA – Despite the fervent tones and solemn faces of the nation’s highest ranking Black Baptist leaders as they preached the importance of voting on Election Day Nov. 6, the National Baptist Convention USA (NBC) is being criticized for falling short of presenting a unified action plan by the close of its annual conference last month.

“It’s all rhetoric, it’s all talk,” said the Rev. Dr. Joseph L. Williams, 35, copastor of the Atlantabased Salem Bible Church East and West, with a congregation of approximately 5,000.

“If there was some kind of activity going on at this convention where people could learn, where information was shared, and they were able to be truly nonpartisan, I would be the first person to stand up and clap,” he said in an interview. Joseph preached at the NBC.

Looked unified The NBC leadership initially gave the impression of a collective action plan. That impression was given when the presidents of all five major Black Baptist church organizations appeared on stage together at an opening press conference. The organizations represented were the Lott Cary Foreign Mission Convention, the National Progressive Convention, the National Baptist International Convention of America, the National Missionary Baptist Convention, and the National Primitive Baptist Churches.

The collective organizations, representing at least 12 million parishioners, acknowledged the need for voter turnout in the likelihood of voter suppression and intimidation at the polls. Yet, no specific strategy was announced to battle the voter suppression.

“This is not so much about my leadership, as much as it is about the corporate leadership here in this room that is fully aware of the voter suppression that is Rev. Julius taking place Scruggs in the United States,” said the Rev. Julius Scruggs, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA. Scruggs was responding to media commendations for his role in corralling all of the national Black Baptist leaders.

No real details When pressed by the media about what specific actions Black faith leaders were taking - singly or collectively - the answers were vague and vacuous. “I ride a motorcycle and lead a caravan of people to the polls,” said the Rev. Gregory Moss, president of the Lott Cary Foreign Mission Convention and a Charlotte, N.C., pastor.

Scruggs made only passing mention of a potential collective gathering to discuss further action plans among the presidents. But he provided no details, only indicating that the NBC would partner with the NAACP’s voter mobilization efforts.

There were no visible listings of additional voter education/registration activities having taken place at the NBC, not on the online convention schedule at the NBC website, nor on the convention events schedule posted onsite at the Georgia World Congress Center.

The Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, the AME pastor of Baltimore’s Empowerment Temple, who is traveling the country registering voters in his “Empowerment Movement,” said he attended the Bap-

tists’ press conference to support.

“I was there at the press conference with all five of the Baptist leaders. Now, what they have done after that, I have no clue. I

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OCTOBER 19 – OCTOBER 25, 2012

don’t know what they have distributed out to their local body, but I was there at the press conference and I think that they’re in line to push the vote out in November. But I don’t know

what their strategy is,” Bryant said in an interview this week.

Letter of intent Following the mid-September conference, a let-

ter was posted on a webpage of the National Baptist Convention USA’s website, generally encouraging pastors to get their congregations out to vote. But, the “Dear Pastor” letter was not from a top leader of NBC or any of the other leading Baptist organizations. Rather it was from

the vice president at large of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, the Rev. Jesse Voyd Bottoms.

Trice Edney News Wire Editor-in-Chief Hazel Trice Edney contributed to this story.

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