Beer Summit at the White House

Left to Right: Vice President Joe Biden, Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Sgt. James Crowley, and the President.

A Boston Police Officer Justin Barrett calls Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates "banana-eating jungle monkey"

(CNN) -- A Boston police officer who sent a mass e-mail referring to Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. as a "banana-eating jungle monkey" has apologized, saying he's not a racist.

Officer Justin Barrett told a Boston television station on Wednesday night that he was sorry for the e-mail.

"I regret that I used such words," Barrett told CNN affiliate WCVB-TV. "I have so many friends of every type of culture and race you can name. I am not a racist."

Barrett was placed on administrative leave after the e-mail surfaced, and he might lose his job as a result.

In a news conference held Thursday morning, Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis denounced the e-mail.

"We have a relationship to maintain with the community," he said. "Police officers certainly have First Amendment rights, but they can't cross the line. I believe this crosses the line."

Davis said he spoke Wednesday with Gates, who was "gracious and incredibly thankful that we took action."

Barrett, 36, who is also an active member of the National Guard, sent off a fiery e-mail to some fellow Guard members -- as well as The Boston Globe -- in which he vented about a July 22 Globe column about Gates controversial arrest.

Gates, a top African-American scholar, was arrested on July 16 and accused of disorderly conduct after police responded to a report of a possible burglary at his Cambridge home. The charge later was dropped. The incident sparked a debate about racial profiling and police procedures.

Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham supported Gates' actions, asking readers, "Would you stand for this kind of treatment, in your own home, by a police officer who by now clearly has no right to be there?"

In Barrett's e-mail, which was posted on a Boston television station's Web site, he declared that if he had "been the officer he verbally assaulted like a banana-eating jungle monkey, I would have sprayed him in the face with OC (oleoresin capsicum, or pepper spray) deserving of his belligerent non-compliance."

Barrett used the "jungle monkey" phrase four times, three times referring to Gates and once referring to Abraham's writing as "jungle monkey gibberish."

He also declared that he was "not a racist but I am prejudice [sic] towards people who are stupid and pretend to stand up and preach for something they say is freedom but it is merely attention because you do not get enough of it in your little fear-dwelling circle of on-the-bandwagon followers."

Barrett's comments were taken out of context, said his attorney, Peter Marano.

"Officer Barrett did not call professor Gates a jungle monkey or malign him racially," Marano said. "He said his behavior was like that of one. It was a characterization of the actions of that man."

According to a statement from Boston police, Commissioner Edward Davis took action immediately on learning of Barrett's remarks, stripping the officer of his gun and badge.

Barrett is "on administrative leave, pending the outcome of a termination hearing."

Davis wants Barrett, a two-year member of the Boston police, fired, a source close to the investigation said. But he will continue to be paid while on leave, and no date has been set for his termination hearing.

Deal reached for custody of Michael Jackson's kids

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's ex-wife and the mother of his two oldest children, Debbie Rowe, has agreed not to challenge the singer's mother for custody of the children, according to a joint statement from lawyers for Rowe and Katherine Jackson.

The agreement does not involve any financial payments to Rowe "apart from the continuation of spousal support payments" that Michael Jackson personally agreed to make to Rowe after their divorce, the lawyers said.

Rowe will get visitation rights with the children and the "timing, frequency and manner of visits shall be implemented according to the best interests of the children, as determined by a child psychologist selected jointly, and paid jointly," by Jackson and Rowe, the announcement said.
Rowe never publicly said if she would fight Jackson's 79-year-old mother for custody of her son and daughter -- ages 11 and 12 -- and a court hearing concerning custody was delayed several times this month while lawyers for the two talked. Jackson's youngest child, 7, was carried by a surrogate mother, whose name has not yet been released.

Katherine Jackson gained temporary guardianship of the three children soon after his death last month.

Analysis: Ethnic radio ratings drop more.

New PPM ratings versus old Diary ratings system - Link below or click title:
http://www.insideradio.com/goout.asp?u=http://ftp.media.radcity.net/ZMST/ArbitronPPM07-30.pdf

Minority-targeted broadcasters have been among PPM’s most vocal critics. A new analysis among adults 18-49 of the top ten stations across the first 20 commercialized markets puts some numbers behind those arguments. It shows their drop is more than double what general-market stations have seen.

A non-ethnic station’s rating has typically fallen 16% with its market rank holding steady. In nine PPM markets, the average general market station even went up in rank. In two markets, Washington, DC and Nassau Suffolk, the non-ethnic station average ratings didn't change at all from diary to PPM.

The situation is much different for formats targeting African Americans and Hispanics. The typical urban station watched its ratings fall 34% while Spanish-language formats were off 42%. Among Black-targeted stations, Chicago saw the biggest ratings decline (-63%) followed by Atlanta (-56%). Only in Los Angeles did urban stations go up in rank.

Not even a single Hispanic-targeted station moved higher. The average Spanish station in Dallas, Miami and San Diego lost more than 60% of its ratings. Philadelphia’s only top ten Hispanic station -- "Rumba 104.5" WUBA -- changed format to rock after PPM was introduced. Veteran Hispanic programmer Bill Tanner says, "It's not hard to see why Spanish stations are less than enthusiastic about PPM."

Consultant Randy Kabrich says, "No one really cares that a station ranked #22 is now #20 or #28 as that really has little impact in overall revenue. The top ten stations are where the revenue picture really is and how jaw-dropping the changes are."

In a call with investors last week, Arbitron CEO Michael Skarzynski says the company is "actively working" to make improvements and win MRC approval, noting the sample is adding more cell phone-only households and increasing delivery targets for minority listeners.

Letter from President Obama on Health Care Reform facts

Dear Friend,

If you’re like most Americans, there’s nothing more important to you about health care than peace of mind. Given the status quo, that’s understandable. The current system often denies insurance due to pre-existing conditions, charges steep out-of-pocket fees – and sometimes isn’t there at all if you become seriously ill. It’s time to fix our unsustainable insurance system and create a new foundation for health care security. That means guaranteeing your health care security and stability with eight basic consumer protections:

No discrimination for pre-existing conditions
No exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles or co-pays
No cost-sharing for preventive care
No dropping of coverage if you become seriously ill
No gender discrimination
No annual or lifetime caps on coverage
Extended coverage for young adults

Guaranteed insurance renewal so long as premiums are paid Learn more about these consumer protections at Whitehouse.gov. Over the next month there is going to be an avalanche of misinformation and scare tactics from those seeking to perpetuate the status quo. But we know the cost of doing nothing is too high. Health care costs will double over the next decade, millions more will become uninsured, and state and local governments will go bankrupt. It’s time to act and reform health insurance, drive down costs and guarantee the health care security and stability of every American family. You can help by putting these core principles of reform in the hands of your friends, your family, and the rest of your social network.

Thank you, Barack Obama

Fewer Minorities in Radio

story by Inside Radio

Estimates are minorities make up a third of America's population, but Hofstra University researchers find the radio industry's diversity is on the decline. Recent layoffs contributed to radio's minority workforce level to drop to 9% this year. Minorities made up nearly 15% of radio employees pre-consolidation.

Hofstra Department of Journalism, Media Studies and Public Relations chair Bob Papper tells Inside Radio the minority numbers in radio have trended down ever since the U.S. Appeals Court did away with the EEO guidelines in 2001. Since then, the FCC has struggled with ways to reverse the trend and its current rules require stations to widely distribute job openings.

Stations are required to file annual reports with the Commission, but those can only be used to "monitor industry employment trends" and not force any hiring decisions. Small stations are exempt from the rules.

Michael Vick reinstated into the NFL

NEW YORK (AP) - Michael Vick was reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday and could play in regular season games as early as October.

Vick can immediately participate in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games — if he can find a team that will sign him. A number of teams have already said they would not.

"Needless to say, your margin for error is extremely limited," Goodell said in a letter to Vick. "I urge you to take full advantage of the resources available to support you and to dedicate yourself to rebuilding your life and your career. If you do this, the NFL will support you."

Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely in August 2007 after the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback admitted bankrolling the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation. Goodell said then that Vick must show remorse and signs that he has changed before he would consider reinstating him.

Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19).

Goodell called a news conference for late Monday afternoon.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to commissioner Goodell for allowing me to be readmitted to the National Football League," Vick said through agent Joel Segal. "I fully understand that playing football in the NFL is a privilege, not a right, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have been given.

"As you can imagine, the last two years have given me time to re-evaluate my life, mature as an individual and fully understand the terrible mistakes I have made in the past and what type of life I must lead moving forward."

The announcement came after a busy first week of freedom for Vick, who met with union leaders and Goodell on consecutive days last week. His 23-month federal sentence ended when an electronic monitor was removed from his ankle early on July 20 at his home in Virginia.

Should Harvard Professor Louis "Skip" Gates file a lawsuit against the Cambridge Police Department and Sgt. James Crowley?

Two blogs down below is the police report of what happened according to Cambridge Police Sargeant James Crowley. Sgt. Crowley wrote his reasoning why handcuffing and booking Harvard Professor Louis "Skip" Gates was necessary. In Crowley's words the reason was that Gates..."being observed exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior." Gates was arrested in his own home after a female neighbor Lucia Whalen called the police about a burglary in progress at a near-by home, by two Black men. We know now that one of these two Black men was Professor Gates and the residence in question was his own. When Sgt. Crowley's narrative was written, Crowley was unaware that the entire incident's audio was recorded.

Crowley -- in his police report -- attempted to get "Skip" Gates outside, said that Skip "spoke of his momma saying, "ya, I'll speak with your momma outside." The "momma" statement is disputed by Gates Attorney Charles Olgetree not recorded on the audio tape. If Crowley fabricated the police report, then the lawsuit would be rather easy to win -- in normal situations. Normal meaning without the Judicial system trying the Police of the Judicial Legal system. We are fully aware that it is rare that Police of any nationality are placed under arrest and imprisoned, including murder of un-armed victims. Gates case is far less than murder, so what chance would Skip have to punish Crowley or the Cambridge police department, other than getting the story debated in the media. You can read the entire report two blogs down.

One of the statements in the police report was when Sgt. Crowley initially confronted Gates after knocking on the front door saying that he was "investigating a report of a break in progress" at this residence. Gates then opened his own front door and sarchastically replied: "Why, because I'm a black man in America?." Though scarchastic, I think the reader would agree that Gates then established that he was the owner or renter of the residence. At this moment Crowley should have asked "funny...is everything ok sir." Gates could then only answer "yes" or "no." End of story. But, most of you know, that is not what happened.

Professor Gates later stated that because of what he went through, that Skip will investigate as many cases and create a documentary on "Racial Profiling". However in talking with an long time activist friend of mine, an Ivy Leaguer, he brought up a good point. My friend stated that the problem is in part Racial Profiling. He said that, "Yes African-Americans and Latinos have more incidents with the police than other groups. But to a lesser extent the other groups in this country are also harrised by the police. The issue that should be dealt with, which includes Racisl Profiling is 'Police Supremacy'."

Early on in all of our lives as kids, someone sits you down and tells you how to react when confronted by police. Whether on the streets or being stopped in your car, I was told that you show your hands. In the car, you place both hands on top of the steering wheel. If you are standing take your hands out of your pockets showing both hands. I was also told to follow the polices' instructions. If asked to provide Drivers' License and registration, keep your hands in sight and slowly get both items. If standing then answer their questions without argument or provoking the police. The fear is that the policeman will either beat your ass, shoot you dead, or handcuff you and take you to jail.

Well, according to my activist friend there lies the problem. In Canada, the Police are called "Peace Officers" versus being called Police here in the United States. Why the word 'Police'?And with 2-million folks in prison, which is more than any country on earth, we can be easily be considered a "Police State". In short, we moreso have a "Police Supremacy" issue than a "Racial Profiling" problem.

In attacking a 'Police Superiority' problem, then we are solving the whole mal-behavior problem on behalf of Police throughout the United States.

Police have the heir of a Supreme God when confronting anyone. Me and you can argue a point to completion. Completion being one will prove their point or we will not just not agree, in near all cases in a peaceful manner without fists or bullets flying. People at work argue about a number of things. Argument are common with Husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and boyfriends and girlfriends. However, if you argue without a weapon (gun, stick, clinged fist) to a police officer, the first thing they do a over-talk you while threatening you with force or an arrest. Why is that? There are human...aren't they?

If they are not physically threatened by you, then why in return do they threaten you? Can't the police -- or a judge in court -- be human and discuss the issue like anyone else, even in an argumentive term? If a voice is raised, so what? With the police if you raise your voice, though you are heated about an issue, why is it when confronting the police there is no discussion, just getting your face bashed, arrested and booked, or shot dead.

Black men are especially profiled and belittled by police, and represent half of the prison population in the United States, though only thirteen percent of the total population.

The President had a chance to change the procedures of the Police nationally, but unfortunately that chance was blown when he back peddled from his "Cambridge Police acted stupidly" comment in the National Press Conference on Wednesday -- in referrence to the Police arresting Gates at his 'own home'. The President should not have back-peddled and further act as if the two (Sgt. Crowley and Prof. Gates) can come over his pad and have a beer.

Both Skip and James agreed to have a 'beer' with the President at the White House, and my inclination says that no lawsuit will be filed due to the relationship that Skip and the President has. Gates, in other words would not want this issue to hurt the President's quest for Universal Health Care, or embarrassment of being overly questioned by the press, or dampening the President's chance for re-election --- who knows the reason!

Yet on the other hand, the Cambridge Police Department continues to angrily demand that the President apologize to them and all police departments throughout the United States, as you would expect from the police, especially police in a dominant white community close to Harvard University.

Back to the Cambridge incident, Sergeant Crowley without a warrent entered Gates home, which is a sign of unlawfulness and disrespect on the part of the police. Crowley witnessed Gates calling the Cambridge Chief to outright complain about his policemans' being a racist police -- unwarranted in Skip's own home. Gates showed Crowley his ID as requested, which is proof that this was Skip's house. Crowley then asked Gates to step outside, and Skip rightfully refused. Question: What made Gates go outside? Was it fear of being roughed up?

So here we have Gates home being invaded by Sgt. James Crowley, and Gates felt forced to go outside. Gates then threatened back, stating that "this is not the last time that you (Crowley) will hear from me," and further "you do not know who you are messing with."

In this case, you see the point that I made before that there is an heir of Police Supremacy, even when you prove that this is your own residence. How can you burglarize your own home? When the licence was shown then, again, that should have ended the story. But nooooo! The police had to show their supremacy over an argumentive homeowner whose property rights here are continually violated. I guess with the Patriot Act and other intrusive policies, Police no longer need warrants anymore. Sgt. Crowley did not mention in his report that he was not invited into Skip's home. It was a given to him that he could just walk into someone else's home. Crowley in the police reports states, "Due to the tumultuous manner Gates had exhibited in his residence as well as his continued tumultuous behavior outside the residence in 'view of the public', I warned Gates that he was becoming disorderly."

Crowley saying "In view of the public," is this why Crowley forced Gates outside?

Crowley in the police report continued saying, "Gates ignored my warning and continued to yell, which drew the attention of both the police officers and citizens, who appeared surprised and alarmed by Gates's outburst. For a second time,,, I warned Gates to calm down while I withdrew my department issued handcuffs from their carrying case."

Instead of human beings discussing a manner to a very short completion, Crowley as the superior policeman gave Gates a WARNING. One human being in Gates -- who walks with a cane and in no way a physical threat to Crowley -- received a behavior WARNING from Crowley and according to the Sergeant, "Gates ignored his behavior warning." Why was a "Behavior Warning" needed with a short, cripple middle-aged man who walks with a cane?

Let's revisit the point of my activist Ivy League friend, that police are conditioned to believe that they are God. Police are Superior to any fellow citizen in the United States. Clearly, the Gates case is a case of Police Superiority. If Gates continued to state his case after the Supreme being's warning was given, then Gates risk the "opportunity" of being beaten; hit with a billy club; slammed into the wall; brought down to the ground face first; stripped naked; forced spread eagle on the street; kicked to the curb; or frankly shot dead. Luckily only part two occurred whereas the police handcuffed, took Skip to jail, mug shot taken, and booked. Now due to Skip calling his high-regarded resources, all charges were totally dropped.

Why were the charges dropped? Is that an admittance of guilt on behalf of the Cambridge Police Department? Or is this considered a behavior spanking to a Black man residing in a highly touted Harvard white-neighborhood? Either/Or, Professor Louis "Skip" Gates should sue the Cambridge Police Department.

Professor Gates sue them despite the friend you have in President Obama, who frankly is wishing that this thing goes away. But President, we African-Americans deserve a listen to our lobbying as it was the Black vote 'in the Swing States', that made the difference in you becoming the 44th President. Yes, there are questions to be answered about the Gates incident directed to the President grating though it may be, taking focus away from winning the Health Care Reform debate. It seems as if when there is a Black-only issue we are again asked to WAIT! We must wait until the President is re-elected, and during the campaign we along with the Democratic Party had to wait until the Inauguration.

Skip, your case (with the God-send comment from the President) in just as important -- to reform the way that Police train their fellow Police to refrain from considering themselves Superior to anyone that walks the face of the earth -- than this yet un-attainable 'Clinton-Kennedy-Obama' Health Care Reform.

Skip, the time could not be better than right now to blow the lid off Police Superiority and Police Profiling. We have waited long enough, and far too often we are requested by President Obama to wait. Just ask the Congressional Black Caucus and the Democratic Party brass how often the President has asked them to shut up during the campaign for President. No more shutten up Mr. President, the time is now! This is why we elected the President in the first place, and we are not waiting for a Second Presidential Term that is far from being guaranteed. It's time to deal with this issue now, and the first step is for Professor Louis "Skip" Gates to get with his Attorney Charles Olgetree and sue the Cambridge Police Department. Getting suckered into a beer party is too often offered, only to return to the glass ceiling. No more BSing.
.

Michael Jackson Advisor turns over 5.5 million dollars

story by AP

written by LINDA DEUTSCH and ANTHONY McCARTNEY

LOS ANGELES – A former financial advisor to Michael Jackson said Friday that he was the person who recently turned over to executors $5.5 million, which had been "a secret between Michael and me."

Dr. Tohme Tohme responded to an inquiry from The Associated Press about documents in which administrators of the estate said they had recovered $5.5 million and substantial amounts of personal property from an unnamed former financial adviser.

"It was not recovered," he said. "I had the money and I gave it to them. It was a secret between Michael and me."

He said the money, which came from recording residuals, was earmarked by Jackson for the purchase of what was to be his "dream home" in Las Vegas. He said he was in negotiations for the home when Jackson died.

"He said, 'Don't tell anyone about this money,'" Tohme recalled. "But when he passed away I told them I had this money, and I gave it to them."

He said he also turned over a large number of items from Jackson's Neverland estate that were once scheduled to be auctioned. When Jackson decided to call off the auction, Tohme said he had everything put into storage. He said he turned over that personal property to the executors as well.

Tohme is the financier who advised Jackson during the last year and half of his life and was instrumental in saving Neverland from foreclosure. He also was a key figure in negotiating the contracts for Jackson to do a series of comeback concerts in London.

The estate's receipt of the money was revealed in court documents released Friday.

Attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain are serving as temporary administrators as spelled out in the King of Pop's will. The men are finishing several deals that they expect will generate "tens of millions of dollars of revenues."

Professor Louis "Skip" Gates Cambridge Police Report -- Submitted by Sgt. James Crowley

Cambridge Police Department -- Cambridge, Ma .

Incident Report #9005127

Report Entered: 07/16/2009 13:21:34

Date/Time Reported
07/16/2009 12:44:00

Incident Type/Offense: DISORDERLY CONDUCT c272 S53 -

Reporting Officer: CROWLEY, JAMES (467)

Location: (Private#) WÄRE STREET

Approving Officer: WILSON III.JOSEPH

WITNESS: WHALEN, LUCIA

DEFENDANT GATES, HENRY MALE BLACK 58 •

Narrative - 1st

On Thursday July 16, 2009, Henry Gates, Jr. «^M» of «Ware Street, Cambridge MA) was placed under arrest at #Ware Street, after being observed exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior, in ;E.public: place directed at a uniformed police officer who was present investigating a report of a crime in progress. These actions on the behalf of Gates served no legitimate purpose and caused citizens passing by this location to stop and take notice while appearing surprised and alarmed. On the above time and date, I was on uniformed duty in an unmarked police cruiser assigned to the Administration Section, working from 7:00 AM-3:30 PM. At approximately 12:44 PM, I was operating my cruiser on Harvard Street near Ware Street. At that time, I overheard an ECC broadcast for a possible break in progress at <$ Ware Street. Due to my proximity, I responded. When I arrived at • Ware Street I radioed ECC and asked that they have the caller meet me at the front door to this residence. I was told that the caller was already outside. As I was getting this information, I climbed the porch stairs toward the front door. As I reached the door, a female voice called out to me. I turned and looked in the direction of the voice and observed a white female, later identified as Lucia Whalen. Whalen who was standing on the sidewalk in front of the residence, held a wireless telephone in her hand and told me that it was she who called She went on to tell me that she observed what appeared to be two black males with backpacks on the porch of ♦ Ware Street. She told me that her suspicions were aroused when she observed one of the men wedging his shoulder Into the door as if he was trying to force entry. Since I was the only police officer on location and had my back to the front door as I spoke with her, I asked that she wait for other responding officers while I investigated further. As I turned and faced the door, I could see an older black male standing in the foyer offe Ware Street. I made this observation through the glass paned front door. As I stood in plain view of this man. later identified as Gates, I asked if he would step out onto the porch and speak with me. He replied "no I will not". He then demanded to know who I was I told him that I was "Sgt. Crowley from the Cambridge Police" and that I was "investigating a report of a break in progress" at the residence. While I was making this statement, Gates opened the front door and exclaimed "why, because I'm a black man in America?". I then asked Gates if there was anyone else in the residence While yelling, he told me that It was none of my business and accused me of being a racist police officer I assured Gates that I was responding to a citizen's call to the Cambridge Police and that the caller was outside as we spoke. Gates seemed to ignore me and picked up a cordless telephone and dialed an unknown telephone number. As he did so, I radioed on channel 1 that I was off In the residence with someone who appeared to be a resident but very uncooperative. I then overheard Gates asking the person on the other end of his telephone call to "get the chief and "what's the chiefs name?". Gates was telling the person on the other end of the call that he was dealing with a racist police officer in his home. Gates then turned to me and told me that I had no idea who I was "messing" with and that I had not heard the last of it. While I was led to believe that Gates was lawfully In the residence, I was quite surprised and confused with the behavior he exhibited toward me I asked Gates to provide me with photo identification so that I could verify that he resided at V Ware Street and so that I could radio my findings to ECC. Gates initially refused, demanding that I show him identification but then did supply me with a Harvard University identification card. Upon learning that Gates was affiliated with Harvard, I radioed and requested the presence of the Harvard University Police. With the Harvard University identification in hand, I radioed my findings to ECC on channel two and prepared to leave. Gates again asked for my name which I began to provide. Gates began to yell over my spoken words by accusing nie of being a racist police officer and leveling threats that he wasn't someone to mess with. At some point during this exchange, I became aware that Off. Carlos Flgueroa was standing behind me. When Gates asked a third time for my name, I explained to him that I had provided It at his request two separate times. Gates continued to yell at me I told Gates that I was leaving his residence and that if he had any other questions regarding the matter, I would speak with him outside of the residence. As I began walking through the foyer toward the front door, I could hear Gates again demanding my name. I again told Gates that I would speak with him outside. My reason for wanting to leave the residence was that Gates was yelling very loud and the acoustics of the kitchen and foyer were making it difficult for me to transmit pertinent Information to ECC or other responding units. His reply was "ya, I'll speak with your mama outside" When I left the residence, I noted that there were several Cambridge and Harvard University police officers assembled on the sidewalk in front of the residence. Additionally, the caller, Ms. Walen and at least seven unidentified passers-by were looking in the direction of Gates, who had followed me outside of the residence. As I descended the stairs to the sidewalk. Gates continued to yell at me, accusing me of racial bias and continued to tell me that I had not heard the last of him. Due to the tumultuous manner Gates had exhibited In his residence as well as his continued tumultuous behavior outside the residence, In view of the public, I warned Gates that he was becoming disorderly. Gates ignored my warning and continued to yell, which drew the attention of both the police officers and citizens, who appeared surprised and alarmed by Gates's outburst. For a second time I warned Gates to calm down while I withdrew my department issued handcuffs from their carrying case. Gates again ignored my warning and continued to yell at me. It was at this time that I informed Gates that he was under arrest. I then stepped up the stairs, onto the porch and attempted to place handcuffs on Gates. Gates initially resisted my attempt to handcuff him, yelling that he was "disabled" and would fall without his cane. After the handcuffs were properly applied, Gates complained that they were too tight. I ordered Off. Ivey, who was among the responding officers, to handcuff Gates with his arms in front of him for his comfort while I secured a cane for Gates from within the residence. I then asked Gates if he would like an officer to take possession of his house key and secure his front door, which he left wide open. Gates told me that the door was un securable due to a previous break attempt at the residence. Shortly thereafter, a Harvard University maintenance person arrived on scene and appeared familiar with Gates. I asked Gates if he was comfortable with this Harvard University maintenance person securing his residence. He told me that he was. After a brief consultation with Sgt. Lashley and upon Gates's request, he was transported to 125 6th. Street in a police cruiser (Car 1, Offs Graham and Ivey) where he was booked and processed by Off. J. P. Crowley. Case Title DISORDERLY CONDUCT Date/Time Reported 07/16/2009 12:44:00

Reporting Officer
FIGUEROA, CARLOS (509)

Narrative - 2nd

On July 16 2009 at approximately 12:44 PM, I Officer Figueroa#509 responded to an ECC broadcast for a possible break at jj Ware St. When I arrived, I stepped into the residence and Sgt. Crowley had already entered and was speaking to a black male. . metí-as I stepped in I heard Sgt. Crowley ask for the gentleman's information which he stated NO I WILL NU l ! .
The gentleman'was shouting out to the Sgt. that the Sgt.. was a racist and yelled that "THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO BLACK MEN IN AMERICA!" As the Sgt. was trying to calm the gentleman, the gentleman shouted You dont know who your messing with!" I stepped out to gather the information from the reporting person, WHALEN, LUCIA. Ms. Whalen stated to me that she saw a man wedging his shoulder Into the front door as to pry the door open. As I returned to the residence, a group of onlookers were now on scene. The Sgt., along with the gentleman, were now on the porch oMT Ware St. and again he was shouting, now to the onlookers (about seven) ,'THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO BLACK MEN IN AMERICA"! The gentleman refused to listen to as to why the Cambridge Police were there.

While on the porch, the gentleman refused to be cooperative and continued shouting that the Sgt. Is racist police officer

President Obama: "I didn't mean to slight Cambridge Police"

story by CNN

WASHINGTON -- President Obama said Friday he spoke with the police officer who arrested a Harvard professor and told the officer he did not mean to malign the Cambridge Police Department when he said police acted stupidly.

The president acknowledged that his words "helped to contribute to ratcheting" up the situation when he criticized the manner in which Sgt. James Crowley arrested professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.

"I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department or Sgt. Crowley specifically," President Obama told reporters. "I could have calibrated those words differently, and I told this to Sgt. Crowley."

The President spoke about two hours after police unions in Massachusetts called on him to apologize.

Sgt. Crowley did not apologize for his remark but repeated that he believed his choice of words was unfortunate.

He reiterated his assertion that he believes police overreacted, but said Gates "probably overreacted as well."

"My sense is you have got two good people in a circumstance in which neither of them were able to resolve the incident in the way that it should have been resolved," he said.

President Obama also spoke briefly with the arrested professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr., who is a friend of the president, the White House reported. He and Gates had a "positive discussion" about his call to Crowley on Friday afternoon, the White House said. Obama also invited Gates "to join him with Sgt. Crowley at the White House in the near future."

In an e-mail Friday to CNN's Don Lemon, Gates wrote, "I was very pleased that the president called me today, and I was pleased that he proposed that I meet with Sgt. Crowley at the White House, since I had offered to meet with him since last Monday.

"I am eager for this to be used as a teaching moment to improve racial relations in America," said the e-mail. "This is certainly not about me."

His attorney, Charles Ogletree, told Lemon that he applauds the President's intervention and "I look forward to working this out with all parties amicably."

Asked if Gates plans to file suit, Ogletree said, "It depends on the response from everyone involved as to how we'll proceed."

Earlier Friday, police unions said President Obama should apologize to members of the Cambridge Police Department for saying they acted stupidly, the president of a city police union said.

Dennis O'Connor, president of the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association, also took aim at Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who reportedly has characterized the arrest as "every black man's nightmare and a reality for many black men."

Echoing the words of Crowley, O'Connor said he was dismayed that the president and governor would opine on the issue without all the details.

"It's noteworthy that both qualified their statements by saying they did not have all the facts," O'Connor said as members of his and another police union stood behind him. "Usually, when one hears those words, one would expect the next words to be 'so I cannot comment.' Instead, both officials, both admitted friends of professor Gates, proceeded to insult the handling of this case."

He further said Cambridge police resent the implication they allowed race to dictate their actions in the situation.

"We hope that [Presient Obama and Governor Patrick] will reflect upon their past comments and apologize to the men and women of the Cambridge Police Department," O'Connor said.

Steve Killian, president of the Cambridge Police Patrol Officers Association, also called on Obama to apologize to "all law enforcement personnel throughout the entire country that took offense to this."

Crowley previously said President Obama had offended police in Cambridge and elsewhere.

"I was a little surprised and disappointed that the President, who didn't have all of the facts by his own admission, then weighed in on the events of that night and made a comment that really offended not just officers in the Cambridge Police Department but officers around the country," Crowley told CNN affiliate WHDH-TV in Boston.

President Obama said earlier he was "surprised by the controversy surrounding" his comments.

"I think it was a pretty straightforward commentary that you probably don't need to handcuff a guy, a middle-aged man who uses a cane, who's in his own home," President Obama told ABC's "Nightline."

When President Obama waded into the story by answering a question about it during his news conference Wednesday night, he admitted that he "may be a little biased" because Gates is a friend. "I don't know all the facts," he also conceded.

He said he did not know what role race played, but "the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home."

But during his Friday remarks, the President said he hoped the controversy surrounding Gates' arrest provides Americans with "a teachable moment" on how they can improve "relations between police officers and minority communities."

Crowley, in the police report about the incident, said Gates refused to cooperate with him and repeatedly accusing him of racism when he went to Gates' home following a report of a possible break-in July 16.

Crowley said he tried to determine whether there was someone else at the home and wanted to ensure Gates' safety.

Gates, however, told him "that I had no idea who I was 'messing' with" and was being so loud, the sergeant said, that he could not give pertinent information to the department when he was calling in.

Authorities have said they may release tapes of the officer calling in, in which Gates is heard in the background

Crowley's report said that when he asked to speak with Gates outside, the professor at one point responded, "I'll speak with your mama outside."

Gates' attorney, Charles Ogletree, said the professor never made such a remark.

The full story will show that Gates did nothing wrong -- and that Crowley did not identify himself at first, Ogletree said.

Gates said Wednesday he would listen to Crowley "if he would tell the truth about what he did, about the distortions that he fabricated in the police report. I would be prepared as a human being to forgive him."

Crowley has said he will not apologize. The police incident report states that Crowley twice provided his name to Gates, who subsequently asked for it two more times.

Gates ultimately was arrested for disorderly conduct, but the department later dropped the charges.

Cambridge police Commissioner Robert Haas said he "deeply regrets" the arrest but stands by the procedures his department followed.

"I trust [Crowley's] judgment implicitly. He is a stellar officer," Haas said.

Haas added the department is "very proud about its diversity within this community and how hard we've worked over the years to build a strong, solid relationship [between] the department and the community."

Haas said he agreed with Crowley about President Obama's remarks.

"I have to tell you the officers take that very personally and basically feel hurt by that comment. We truly are trying to do the best service we can to the community and sometimes we make mistakes. We're human. But we learn from those mistakes and we move on," he said.

Numerous police officers, including African-Americans, have spoken up on Crowley's behalf and portrayed him as a good and fair officer. Crowley, who is white, had once been chosen by a black police officer to teach a police academy course on ways to avoid racial profiling.

The President said he had heard of Crowley's record, saying, "I don't know all the extenuating circumstances, and as I said, I respect what police officers do. From what I can tell, the sergeant who was involved is an outstanding police officer, but my suspicion is probably it would have been better if cooler heads prevailed."

Gates' legal team argues that authorities are misrepresenting the professor and the officer, and Gates has said he is determined to keep the issue alive despite the charges being dropped.

"This is not about me; this is about the vulnerability of black men in America," Gates said this week.

Ogletree said Gates may bring forward people who say they've had similar experiences with Crowley.

When asked for examples, Ogletree said only that they may come out in time depending on how the police department handles the situation moving forward.

"I think you will be hearing much more complex and different perspective on him [Crowley] in the coming days and weeks," Ogletree said, alleging that Crowley "is well-known among people, particularly young people, for some of his police practices."

Gates has no immediate plans to file a lawsuit against the department, the attorney said. Ogletree had said earlier Gates might sue the police.

President Obama rushes to quell racial uproar

story by AP
by Nancy Benaco

WASHINGTON – Knocked offstride by a racial uproar he helped stoke, President Barack Obama hastened Friday to try and tamp down the controversy. Obama, who had said Cambridge, Mass., police "acted stupidly" in arresting black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., declared the white arresting officer was a good man and invited him and the professor to the White House for a beer.

Obama conceded his words had been ill-chosen, but he stopped short of a public apology. He personally telephoned both Gates and Sgt. James Crowley, hoping to end the rancorous back-and-forth over what had transpired and what Obama had said about it. Trying to lighten the situation, he even commiserated with Crowley about reporters on his lawn.

Hours earlier, a multiracial group of police officers had stood with Crowley in Massachusetts and said the president should apologize.

It was a measure of the nation's keen sensitivities on matters of race that the fallout from a disorderly conduct charge in Massachusetts — and the remarks of America's first black president about it — had mushroomed to such an extent that he felt compelled to make a special appearance at the White House to try to put the matter to rest. The blowup had dominated national attention just as Obama was trying to marshal public pressure to get Congress to push through health care overhaul legislation — and as polls showed growing doubts about his performance.

"This has been ratcheting up, and I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up," Obama said of the racial controversy. "I want to make clear that in my choice of words, I think I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department and Sgt. Crowley specifically. And I could've calibrated those words differently."

The president did not back down from his contention that police had overreacted by arresting the Harvard professor for disorderly conduct after coming to his home to investigate a possible break-in. He added, though, that he thought Gates, too, had overreacted to the police who questioned him. The charge has been dropped.

Obama stirred up a hornet's nest when he said at a prime-time news conference this week that Cambridge police had "acted stupidly" by arresting Gates, a friend of the president's. Still, Obama said Friday he didn't regret stepping into the controversy and hoped the matter would end up being a "teachable moment" for the nation.

"The fact that this has garnered so much attention, I think, is testimony to the fact that these are issues that are still very sensitive here in America," Obama said.

Obama wryly took note of the distraction from his legislative efforts.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but nobody's been paying much attention to health care," the president said.

Obama, who has come under intense criticism from police organizations, said he had called Crowley to clear the air, and said the conversation confirmed his belief that the sergeant is an "outstanding police officer and a good man."

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs refused to say whether Obama had apologized to Crowley.

Asked repeatedly about that, Gibbs said: "If the president doesn't want to characterize it in a conversation that he hates having with you all, I'm not going to get ahead of him."
The story had taken on a life of its own, and the White House scrambled to keep up.
Gibbs said just Friday morning that the president had probably said most of what he was going to say, and that the only problem was media "obsession."

Hours later, Obama showed up to try to put the issue to rest.

Obama was lighter in tone in his public remarks about his phone conversation with Crowley.
He said the police officer "wanted to find out if there was a way of getting the press off his lawn."

"I informed him that I can't get the press off my lawn," Obama joked.
In his conversation with Gates, aides said, Obama and the professor had spoken about the president's statement to the press and his conversation with Crowley.

The case began on Monday, when word broke that Gates, 58, had been arrested five days earlier at the two-story home he rents from Harvard.

Supporters including Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson called the arrest an outrageous act of racial profiling. Public interest increased when a photograph surfaced of the handcuffed Gates being escorted off his porch amid three officers, two white and one black.

Cambridge police moved to drop the disorderly conduct charge on Tuesday — without apology, but calling the case "regrettable."

That didn't end the national debate: Some said Gates was responsible for his own arrest because of his response to Crowley, while others said Gates was justified to yell at the officer.

Obama's criticism of the police only added fuel to the racial debate.

Meanwhile, the police union and fellow officers, black and white, rallied around Crowley, a decorated officer who in 1993 tried to give lifesaving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to Reggie Lewis, a black Boston Celtics player who collapsed at practice. Lewis could not be revived.

Crowley, 42, had been selected to be a police academy instructor on how to avoid racial profiling.

A multiracial group of officers and union officials stood with Crowley on Friday at a news conference to show support and to ask Obama and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who is black, to apologize for their comments. Patrick had called Gates' arrest "every black man's nightmare."

Obama's take on the situation: "My sense is you've got two good people in a circumstance in which neither of them were able to resolve the incident in a way that it should have been resolved."

Democratic activists around the country were hopeful the president's latest remarks had done just that.

"Let's concentrate on the business at hand — fixing the economy and health care for everybody," said Florida state Rep. Luis Garcia, a vice chair of the state Democratic Party.
In Michigan, 19-year-old Mitchell Rivard, the president of the Michigan State University College Democrats, expressed hope the controversy would indeed be a learning experience for the country.

"I think it's going to make people talk about race relations around the United States and in their home towns," Rivard said. "This will be something that people are going to talk about across the nation in terms of how we can have better race relations."

President Barack Obama comments about Harvard Prof. Louis Gates Police incident

NEWS CONFERENCE BY THE PRESIDENT
East Room
July 22,2009

The President's statement about Professor Louis Gates

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Recently Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested at his home in Cambridge. What does that incident say to you and what does it say about race relations in America?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I should say at the outset that "Skip" Gates is a friend, so I may be a little biased here. I don't know all the facts. What's been reported, though, is that the guy forgot his keys, jimmied his way to get into the house, there was a report called into the police station that there might be a burglary taking place -- so far, so good, right? I mean, if I was trying to jigger into -- well, I guess this is my house now so -- (laughter) -- it probably wouldn't happen. But let's say my old house in Chicago -- (laughter) -- here I'd get shot. (Laughter.)

But so far, so good. They're reporting -- the police are doing what they should. There's a call, they go investigate what happens. My understanding is at that point Professor Gates is already in his house. The police officer comes in, I'm sure there's some exchange of words, but my understanding is, is that Professor Gates then shows his ID to show that this is his house. And at that point, he gets arrested for disorderly conduct -- charges which are later dropped.

Now, I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that, but I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry; number two, that the Cambridge Police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home; and number three, what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there is a long history in this country of African Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. That's just a fact.

As you know, Lynn, when I was in the state legislature in Illinois, we worked on a racial profiling bill because there was indisputable evidence that blacks and Hispanics were being stopped disproportionately. And that is a sign, an example of how, you know, race remains a factor in this society. That doesn't lessen the incredible progress that has been made. I am standing here as testimony to the progress that's been made.

And yet the fact of the matter is, is that this still haunts us. And even when there are honest misunderstandings, the fact that blacks and Hispanics are picked up more frequently and oftentime for no cause casts suspicion even when there is good cause. And that's why I think the more that we're working with local law enforcement to improve policing techniques so that we're eliminating potential bias, the safer everybody is going to be.

President Obama ‘Stupidly’ remark at last night's Press Conference disappoints Cambridge's Sergeant

Story by MSNBC.com
Editing, via respectfully adding 'President' in front of 'Obama', by Kirk Tanter

NATICK, Mass. - A white police sergeant James Crowley (AP photo left) who arrested renowned black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. says he's disappointed President Barack Obama said police acted "stupidly" without knowing all the facts.

Sgt. James Crowley responded to Gates' home near Harvard University last week to investigate a report of a burglary and demanded Gates show him identification. Police say Gates at first refused and accused the officer of racism.

Gates was charged with disorderly conduct. The charge was dropped Tuesday, and Gates has since demanded an apology from Crowley.

In an interview on WEEI on Thursday morning, Crowley said it was "disappointing that he waded into what should be a local issue."

President Obama, during a prime-time news conference Wednesday, said he didn't know what role race played in the incident but added that police in Cambridge, a city outside Boston, "acted stupidly" in arresting Gates even after he offered proof that he was in his own home.

"I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry," the President said. "Number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home. And number three — what I think we know separate and apart from this incident — is that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately, and that's just a fact."

President Obama said Gates' arrest was a reminder that the race issue "still haunts us" and that federal officials need to continue working with local law enforcement "to improve policing techniques so that we're eliminating potential bias."

'There will be no apology'

Crowley said he's grateful he has the support of his police force. He said he's not worried about any possible disciplinary action.

"There will be no apology," he said outside his home Wednesday.

The Boston Herald reported that Crowley gave dying Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in 1993. The 27-year-old forward suffered a fatal heart attack during an off-season practice at Brandeis University, where Crowley was a campus police officer.

"I wasn't working on Reggie Lewis the basketball star," Crowley told the newspaper. "I wasn't working on a black man. I was working on another human being."

Crowley, 42, said he harbored no "ill feelings toward the professor."

The Boston Herald reported that Crowley is an 11-year veteran of the force who oversees the evidence room, paid details and records unit. He also coaches youth basketball, baseball and softball.

In a statement expressing its "full and unqualified support" for Crowley, the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association called him a "highly respected veteran supervisor with a distinguished record", the newspaper said.

But there was plenty of blame being spread around by the public, through talk shows, blogs, newspaper online forums and watercooler chats. Even the hosts of a sports radio show in Boston spent much of Wednesday morning faulting Gates.

Gov. Deval Patrick, who is black, said he was troubled and upset over the incident. Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons, who also is black, has said she spoke with Gates and apologized on behalf of the city, and a statement from the city called the July 16 incident "regrettable and unfortunate."

Singer Chris Brown apologizes to Rihanna and fans

Letter from President Barack Obama

Dear Kirk,

As you read this, we are closer than ever to passing comprehensive health insurance reform that benefits American families and small businesses. Despite all the back and forth in the news right now, it is important to understand just how far we've come in this challenging process.

That's why I'm holding a press conference tonight at 8pm ET, and writing to let everyone know where we are, what's ahead, and why health insurance reform is so important.

Let me be clear: although Congress is still debating parts of the legislation we have achieved critical consensus on several key areas:


If you already have health insurance: reform will provide you with more security and stability. It will limit your own out of pocket costs and prevent your insurance company from dropping your coverage if you get too sick. You'll also have affordable insurance options if you lose or change your job. And it will cover preventive care like check-ups and mammograms that save lives and money.

If you don't have health insurance: you will finally have guaranteed access to quality, affordable health care, and you can choose the plan that best suits your family's needs. And no insurance company will be allowed to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition.


Now, I realize that the last few miles of any race are the hardest to run, but we can't stop now. There's no dispute about it: we cannot control our long-term fiscal health as a nation without health insurance reform. American families and small businesses understand that the health insurance status quo is taking away those things that they value most about health care. The stability and security that comes with knowing that you can get the treatment you need, when you need it. Without reform, we are consigning our children to a future of skyrocketing premiums and crushing deficits.

We have to seize this opportunity and pass health insurance reform this year. You can help by forwarding this email to your family and friends and letting them know what's at stake in this debate.

Thank you,
Barack Obama

P.S. Tune in to tonight's press conference on health insurance reform at 8pm ET on WhiteHouse.gov.

Harvard Professor & PBS filmmaker Loius Gates arrested at Cambridge home

story by the Boston Globe
written by Tracy Jan

Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., one of the nation's pre-eminent African-American scholars, was arrested Thursday afternoon at his home by Cambridge police investigating a possible break-in. The incident raised concerns among some Harvard faculty that Gates was a victim of racial profiling.


Police arrived at Gates’s Ware Street home near Harvard Square at 12:44 p.m. to question him. Gates, director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard, had trouble unlocking his door after it became jammed.

He was booked for disorderly conduct after “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior,” according to a police report. Gates accused the investigating officer of being a racist and told him he had "no idea who he was messing with,'' the report said.

Gates told the officer that he was being targeted because "I'm a black man in America.''

Friends of Gates said he was already in his home when police arrived. He showed his driver’s license and Harvard identification card, but was handcuffed and taken into police custody for several hours last Thursday, they said.

The police report said Gates was arrested after he yelled at the investigating officer repeatedly inside the residence then followed the officer outside, where Gates continued to upbraid him. "It was at that time that I informed Professor Gates that he was under arrest,'' the officer wrote in the report.

Gates, 58, declined to comment today when reached by phone.

The arrest of such a prominent scholar under what some described as dubious circumstances shook some members of the black Harvard community.

“He and I both raised the question of if he had been a white professor, whether this kind of thing would have happened to him, that they arrested him without any corroborating evidence,” said S. Allen Counter, a Harvard Medical School professor who spoke with Gates about the incident Friday. “I am deeply concerned about the way he was treated, and called him to express my deepest sadness and sympathy.”

Counter, who had called Gates from the Nobel Institute in Sweden, where Counter is on sabbatical, said that Gates was “shaken” and “horrified” by his arrest.

Counter has faced a similar situation himself. The well-known neuroscience professor, who is also black, was stopped by two Harvard police officers in 2004 after being mistaken for a robbery suspect as he crossed Harvard Yard. They threatened to arrest him when he could not produce identification.

That incident was among several that ignited criticism from black students and faculty, highlighting the prejudices that many black students say they continue to face at Harvard.

“This is very disturbing that this could happen to anyone, and not just to a person of such distinction,” Counter said. “He was just shocked that this had happened, at 12:44 in the afternoon, in broad daylight. It brings up the question of whether black males are being targeted by Cambridge police for harassment.”

Cambridge police would not comment on the arrest, citing an investigation into the incident by Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr. A spokesman for Leone said Gates is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 26 and said the office could not provide details on the arrest until that time.

Gates is being represented by Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree, who has taken on previous cases with racial implications.

Walter Cronkite dead at age 92

PBS Link below:
http://www.pbs.org/weta/reportingamericaatwar/reporters/cronkite/#

NPR Link below:
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/cronkite/

Michael Jackson's record sales top 9 million since his death

story by the Los Angeles Times
written by Chris Lee and Randy Lewis


The surge in sales of Michael Jackson's music catalog continued Wednesday with the announcement that his recordings dominated the pop charts for the third consecutive week, and a source told The Times that more than 9 million of Jackson's albums have been sold worldwide since his death June 25.

Nielsen SoundScan said Jackson's albums sold 1.1 million copies over the last seven days and had combined to sell an impressive 2.3 million in the U.S. in the nearly three weeks since he died.

Sony Music, which controls the catalog of his solo adult recordings, declines as a policy to comment on sales issues, but a spokeswoman for the label did not dispute the accuracy of the 9-million figure provided by the source, who has knowledge of Jackson's global album sales but is not authorized to speak on the matter. Jackson's music has also topped the pop charts in countries including France, Germany, Australia and the U.K. during the same period.

The dramatic influx of income for the singer's estate illustrates what's at stake in the legal battle to name an executor for Jackson's will.

Although Jackson was about $400 million in debt to various financial institutions, people with knowledge of the singer's business holdings say his assets outweigh his debt by at least $200 million -- and those assets are only increasing with the tremendous record sales.

In the meantime, the popularity of Jackson's music, memorabilia and even performances inspired by his body of work shows no sign of diminishing.

"We're seeing a real outpouring from fans and consumers who are looking to connect and get past what's happened -- the tragedy of his death -- through attaching themselves to his music," said Gary Arnold, senior entertainment officer for the national music retailer Best Buy.

Sales of Jackson's music have remained "exceedingly strong" in the weeks since his death, Arnold said. "They're buying a pretty broad spectrum of his work; they aren't just buying 'Thriller' but a broad range of titles from throughout Michael's career. Realistically we expect to see people connecting at unprecedented levels through Christmas."

Amazon.com typically doesn't discuss sales figures, but in the wake of Jackson's death company spokesman Andrew Herdener said "the customer response to Michael Jackson's death has been staggering and unprecedented -- we took more orders for Jackson CDs and MP3s in the first 24 hours after his death than we did in the previous 11 years of the Amazon music store."

There were other manifestations of the insatiable appetite for all things Jackson. The performer's songs were punched up just shy of 1 million times on the 38,000 jukeboxes operated by TouchTunes, the nation's leading jukebox supplier. Thirteen of his songs, either solo or with the Jackson 5, were in the company's Top 100 songs for the period, and his recordings occupied half the slots in the Top 10.

100 Years of the NAACP—Past It’s Prime

by Raynard Jackson

As the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) meets this week to celebrate its 100th anniversary, I am very conflicted. First, I want to congratulate them on their first 75 years. They did a marvelous job at a time when America needed a lot of nudging down the road towards equality. Their past 25 years, however, has not been so glorious.

After 100 years, I think it’s time to ponder whether this organization is still relevant. I say, it’s time to bury them because they no longer represent the vision of their founders. They have devolved into a stagnant group that is more focused on hyperbole, rather than substance. One definition of a great organization is one that makes itself increasingly unnecessary. The NAACP has done just the opposite. They have fostered an atmosphere of dependency among the less fortunate.

Like a human who has 100 years, the NAACP is moving very slowly, talks a lot about the past, but refuses to contemplate whether they can thrive in this brave new world. In the day, they fought for equality and full compliance to the constitution. Now, they are involved and support everything from gay marriage, expanded welfare programs and amnesty for illegals!

What I find amazing about their position on illegal immigration is the fact that the Hispanic community (specifically the Cuban) supports discrimination against people of color, especially Haitians.

Remember the “wet foot, dry foot policy? This was a policy stemming from the 1995 revision of the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966. The change basically states that a Cuban caught on the waters between the two nations would be sent home or to a third country. But one who makes it to shore gets a chance to remain in the U.S. and later would qualify for expedited “legal permanent resident” status and U.S. citizenship. This was put in place by the “first Black president,” Bill Clinton.

But, a Haitian in a similar situation get sent immediately back to Haiti. No hope of staying in the U.S. and no hope of citizenship. When I ask pro-amnesty Hispanics about their willingness to work with me on reversing the wet foot, dry foot policy if I supported their amnesty agenda, they all have said emphatically, “NO!”

So, again I ask how can the NAACP continue to allow itself to be used in such a manner. Furthermore, low skilled Black workers are the ones most hurt by this amnesty proposal. I can’t imagine the “old” NAACP leadership allowing themselves to be pimped in such a manner.

Sometimes, the longer an organization exists, they sometimes begin to drift away from their mission. The NAACP is a classic example of this all too common trend. Most of their funding comes from white corporations. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, but what does that say about the NAACP when the Black community won’t put their own dollars behind this group?

I will NEVER make a contribution to the NAACP as long as Julian Bond (Chairman of the Board of the NAACP) is associated with the group! His language towards former president Bush was beneath a person of his stature. In 2001, Bond said, "Instead of uniting us, the new administration almost daily separates and divides. They selected nominees from the Taliban wing of American politics, appeased the wretched appetites of the extreme right wing and chose Cabinet officials whose devotion to the Confederacy is nearly canine in its uncritical affection." Other statements made by Bond, "The Republican Party would have the American flag and the swastika flying side by side.” There are plenty of areas of disagreement with the former president, but this language is embarrassing and unacceptable. But, Bond conveniently omitted the fact that Bush appointed more Blacks to key positions than even Bill Clinton. So, by his own measurements, Bill Clinton was a racist! So, as long as the NAACP is run by the likes of Julian Bond, don’t count on my support in any form!

During the last 25 years of the group’s existence, it has been run by the most liberal of liberals. When they decided to appoint Bruce Gordon as its head in 2005, I thought the group finally “got it!” Boy, was I wrong.

Gordon was the first and only head of the NAACP with a business background. He was a high ranking executive with Verizon (telephone company) and served on the board of some of the best known companies in the U.S. It was as a direct result of Gordon’s shifting focus and reasonable tone that prompted then president Bush to accept his invitation to speak at their national convention (July 20, 2006).

Up to that point, Bush had refused to meet or speak to the group because of Bond’s involvement. Everyone knows that the NAACP is a vestige of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Gordon’s appointment created a positive buzz throughout corporate America. Unfortunately, Gordon only lasted less than two years as head of the group. Gordon was a “man” and would not let Bond or the other board members interfere in the day to day operations of his administration. This created immediate conflict with Bond.

So, in March of 2007 Gordon resigned his position. He basically said he didn’t need this headache. Corporate donations dried up immediately. According to Gordon, “I did not step into the role to be a caretaker, to be dictated to, I stepped into the role to understand as best I could the needs of the African American community and then to propose strategies and policies and programs and practices that could improve conditions for African Americans…. The things I had in mind were not consistent with what some — unfortunately, too many — on the board had in mind."

So, it’s no surprise that the NAACP would pick a 35 year old, Ben Jealous, to head the organization. You couldn’t find a more leftist person than Jealous. But, most importantly, Bond can control him because he doesn’t have the stature of a Bruce Gordon.

How can an organization be effective with a 64 member board of directors? It’s impossible to make timely decisions with that many people meddling in the day to day operations. Can the general public name anything the organization has accomplished within the past couple of years? It’s also noteworthy that few companies on Black Enterprise’s top 100 businesses donate any money to the group nor many professional athletes or entertainers.

Why should white America support something that our own people don’t support? After 100 years, maybe they have lived 25 years too long. Just something to think about.

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-based political consulting/government affairs firm.

Fairness Doctrine block fails

Along a 7-4 party line vote a House committee has rejected an amendment that would permanently ban use of the Fairness Doctrine. Co-sponsor Rep. Mike Pence (R-IL) says he is "profoundly disappointed" with the vote. FCC nominees Mignon Clyburn and Meredith Atwell Baker told the Senate today they don’t believe the agency should regulate content.

The new Disc Jockey and Commercial Eliminator

Hammacher and Schlemmer has come up with a table radio that will eliminate commercials and “annoying disc jockey banter” for uninterrupted music playback at home or using the detachable MP3 player. Just select your favorite FM station and the radio will learn the commercial patterns over two to three days.

When the learning period is over, it automatically records songs and uploads them to the included portable MP3 player. The MP3 player allows you to play, pause, skip, fast forward, and rewind songs and comes with a AUX cable for connection to a car or home stereo.
The radio uses digital signal processing and a couple of 3-inch speakers for crisp and clear audio. The MP3 player provides up to 12-hours of listening time and recharges via the dock. Each purchase comes with the headphones.

Health Care Bill HR3200

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAJORITY WHIP CONGRESSMAN JAMES CLYBURN LAUDS INTRODUCTION OF HOUSE BILL TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE QUALITY HEALTH CARE

WASHINGTON, DC—House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today commented on introduction of HR 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, by the Chairmen of the three committees with jurisdiction over health care, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor. The bill reduces out-of-control costs, encourages competition among insurance plans to improve choices for patients, and expands access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. It builds on what works in the current health care system by strengthening employer-provided care, while fixing what is broken.

“A Republican president, Theodore Roosevelt, introduced the idea of health care coverage for all, nearly 100 years ago. President Harry Truman tried to make it a reality more than 50 years ago, and we’ve been kicking the can down the road ever since. The rising cost of health care has damaged the fiscal health of American families, American business and the American economy. Today we’ve taken a major step forward in making the ideal a reality—quality, affordable health care for all Americans as well as long-term fiscal stability for the American people and the American economy.

“I am proud of the work of the TriCommittee Chairmen, and of this caucus in starting us off on the right foot. This plan builds on what works and fixes what is broken. It lowers costs for everyone, provides greater choice so job and health decisions are no longer based on keeping coverage, guarantees higher quality health care focusing on patients, not profits, and ensures stability and peace of mind that the care you need will not be denied.

“If you like your doctor or your plan, you can keep them—but we guarantee choice and coverage for those who don’t. Patients and doctors decide on the best health choices—not insurance companies, and not the government. No longer will a patient be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition. And out of pocket expenses are lowered—ending deductibles for preventive care, and rate increases for pre-existing conditions, gender or occupation.

“The status quo is not acceptable or sustainable. After decades of proposed health care coverage for all Americans, we are within striking distance to reality. Enacting this legislation will have the greatest impact on both the physical health of all Americans and the fiscal health of American families, businesses and the American economy.”

The health care reform legislation introduced today fulfills commitments made by this Congress and President Obama to reform health care. The plan offers:

LOWER COSTS FOR CONSUMERS

· No more co-pays or deductibles for preventive care

· An annual cap on out-of-pocket expenses—keeping Americans from financial ruin

· An end to rate increases for pre-existing conditions, gender or occupation

· Group rates of a national pool if you buy your own plan

· Guaranteed affordable oral health, hearing and vision care for kids

GREATER CHOICE

· If you like your doctor and current plan you can keep them

· More choice, with a public health insurance option competing with private insurers

STABILITY & PEACE OF MIND

· End to denials for pre-existing conditions like heart disease, cancer or diabetes

· Get needed care, no lifetime limits

· Job and life choices no longer based on health care coverage

HIGHER QUALITY

· Doctors, not insurance giants, in charge

· More family doctors and nurses entering the workforce, helping to guarantee access

· Benefits must include mental health

FCC backpedals on WAMO sale.

Pittsburgh's Black community isn't happy with Sheridan Broadcasting's decision to sell the venerable cluster including urban WAMO-FM (106.7), urban AC WAMO (860) and gospel WPGR (1510). Some have even petitioned the FCC to block the $7.8 million sale to Catholic operator St. Joseph Missions. The FCC approved the sale last Friday but inexplicably rescinded that decision yesterday.

Michael Jackson: A National Treasure

We just witnessed over the last two weeks the world's outpouring of love for a National Treasure, an American Icon, musical Messiah, and now a Martyr. The world will never see another Michael Jackson.

HR 600

Congresswoman and long-standing member of the Congressional Black Caucus Sheila Jackson Lee (Tx) presented, with a world audience at the Michael Jackson Memorial, an honorary resolution - HR 600. HR 600 is an official proclamation that Michael Jackson is an American Legend, a Musical Icon, and World Humanitarian...in essense "A National Treasure". Rep. Jackson Lee has pledged that the resolution -- now before the House Foreign Affairs Committee where she is a member -- would come to the full House for debate. Such honorary measures normally move quickly from committee to the full House and pass on a voice vote. But Jackson Lee's resolution is already in trouble early. It drew only one co-sponsor, Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif., and was 'not endorsed' by any other Black Caucus members.

To complicate matters more, the very next day after the Michael Jackson Memorial was seen around the world, including thousands of movie theaters, Speaker of the House Congresswoman from "California" (Michael Jackson's home state) Nancy Pelosi shut the door to the resolution honoring Michael Jackson because the debate on the symbolic measure could raise "contrary views" about the pop star's life. "Lawmakers are free to use House speeches to express their sympathy or their praise any time that they wish," said Pelosi, D-Calif. "I don't think it's necessary for us to have a resolution." What?

The world mourns Jackson's death in record numbers and Pelosi thinks it is not worth her time. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who posted a video on YouTube calling Michael Jackson a "pervert" and a "pedophile," has pledged to do all he could to block the resolution.

Unbowed, Jackson Lee said she will seek support from colleagues who thanked her when she introduced the measure June 26, one day after Michael Jackson died. She said honorary resolutions don't often 'pass the next day.' "On this floor we elevate people and doing that we have to work to tell your story," she said after a House vote. But she would need support from Democratic leadership for the resolution to advance to the full House from the committee where it is now.

International Respect

Michael Jackson's close friend England's late "Princess" Diana is the only human being ever that received a greater viewership for her Memorial. The world's love and adulation amounted for more than a billion people internationally that watched the Michael Jackson Memorial. Every major network carried Jackson's Memorial live without commercial interruption. Live clips of crowds watching the Michael Jackson Memorial on mega-sized exterior video screens and in thousands of movie theaters. Movie theaters here in 32 States showed the Michael Jackson Memorial. Twenty-four hour continuous news coverage (Internationally on CNN) enjoyed favorable ratings. Viacom's MTV played Michael Jackson's superb videos 24 hours a day. A multitude of radio stations worldwide played Michael Jackson songs for days. Satellite radio created a Michael Jackson channel. Major downloading, viewing, and social websites crashed, overloaded with people ordering Michael Jackson music, or viewing Jackson's videos, or posting billions of comments on social networks.

And why did President Barack Obama not make a public statement nor mention Michael Jackson in his past three Saturday weekly addresses? This also surprises me. In England, the Queen of England "respectfully" knighted Paul McCartney. Paul has a Sir as a surname, as in: Sir Paul McCartney.

Mainstream Media

What about the mainstream media? Despite Jackson being acquitted on 14 counts of Child Molestation charges, with the boy that accused Michael Jackson in 2003 of child molestation, re-canted, admitting that his father pushed him to "falsely-accuse" Jackson, yet the media continues its' onslaught of negative reporting calling Michael Jackson a pedophile, Child Molester, and consistently speaks of Michael Jackson as a drug attic complete with unsubstantiated accusations that Jackson had needle marks in his arm. Jackson's dermatologist stated publically on the popular Larry King show that just two weeks before MJ's death 'there was absolutely no needle marks.' A Kid recants; a dermatologist states no needle marks; and Jackson is acquitted in court by a mostly White jury of all 14 counts.

So what is going on here? Facts, the law, and overwhelming evidence no longer matter in the mainstream media? Why can't the news and entertainment media conclude that Michael Jackson really is innocent with the mountain of evidence to prove it, including one from the accuser? Maybe Michael Jackson 30-million dollars to mostly children's charities really means that he does care for children. Or is that nowadays all you have to be accused and no matter what a jury or judge concludes in court, a celebrity is guilty and not worthy of Congressional merits?

Michael Jackson's Lifetime of Fans

I can go on and on with proof on top of more evidence, but let's stop to ask: Why did the world stop and mourn in disbelief and respectful adoration when Michael Joseph Jackson died? What did Michael Jackson have where billions of people were glued for weeks to the news programs covering Michael Jackson's death, bought his music, and viewed his videos. Even moreso forty-eight of Billboards top 100 charted songs were Michael Jackson songs the week of his death, and record setting 68-thousand plays on US radio the week of Jackson's death, and more than a billion people worldwide watch the Michael Jackson Memorial? Why wasn't John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong, nor Frank Sinatra reverred as highly as Michael Jackson.

The difference between Michael Jackson and the other music icons is that Michael Jackson "consistently" stayed on top of the charts for the duration of his 40 years in the business. Michael Jackson was also a much better entertainer. Elvis, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Louis Armstrong all had their prime time but rarely topped the charts ever again. Elvis was hot in the 50's, the Beatles had their big hits in the 60's, Frank Sinatra in the 40's, Louis Armstrong in the 20's and 30's. But Michael Jackson came out of the box in 1969 with four consecutive number one hits as lead singer of the Jackson Five: "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There." And three decades later Michael Jackson in the 90's continued with international number one hits with "Black or White," "Heal the World," 'Jam", and "Scream" with accompanying memorable videos. That's Incredible!

During the early 70's the Jackson Five had a Saturday morning cartoon show to break their soon to be number on hits. Later in the 1970's decade it was "The Jacksons" variety television show. All of this un-paralleled success happened before Michael Jackson's first adult album "Off the Wall" with producer Quincy Jones (biggest selling R&B album at that point) dropped in 79. "Off the Wall" was the first of three Quincy Jones-produced albums. Again ten years after Jackson's first #1 song "I Want You Back". As in a Lexus after travelling 100-thousand miles, Michael was just getting started after a decade of many number one hits. Most recording artists careers are done, sharply declining, after ten years in the limelight.

Michael Jackson's ten year period that followed 1979's "Off the Wall" release, changed music and perception of how the world accepts black artists forever. The release of the "Thriller", "Bad", and "Dangerous" albums along with the eye-popping video, and the "Victory" tour with his brothers was a decade that will never be matched. To date the "Thriller" album is the number one selling album with 109 million albums sold internationally, more than twice the sells as the next album in line.

Michael Jackson - The Businessman

Micheal Jackson also found time to learn the business throughout his years in show business. In 1985, Jackson bought the publishing rights of the Beatles songs (and other acts in the same deal) for 47.5-MILLION dollars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Songs . For whatever reason, Paul McCartney of the Beatles refused to outbid Michael Jackson for the publishing of his music, though McCartney had close to a billion dollars in cash and assets. McCartney attempted to get Yoko Ono to join in the bid with him for his own songs, but Yoko Ono refused. Yoko Ono in fact stated after the sell was complete: "I just feel like a friend (Michael Jackson) has them and will do right for John." I guess the late John Lennon's wife had il feelings toward Paul McCartney.

Paul McCartney was asked how he felt about having Michael Jackson as his "boss" and "controller" of the song catalogue, McCartney replied, "I think he needs to give me a raise." McCartney reportedly did ask Jackson for a royalty increase, but Michael Jackson refused. McCartney further went on to say that, "Jackson pulled the rug from under his feet."

Privately, Mchael Jackson was reported to have expressed exasperation at McCartney's attitude; he felt that the musician should have paid for the songs he had written. At the time, McCartney was one of the richest entertainers in the world, with a net worth of $560 MILLION dollars and a royalty income of $41 MILLION annually. Jackson stated, "If Paul didn't want to invest $47.5 million in his own songs, then he shouldn't come crying to me now".

In an analysis of the acquisition, the Los Angeles Times noted that if "Yesterday" (a Beatles hit song) were to earn $100,000 a year in royalties, the Lennon estate and McCartney as writers would divide 50% of the income; $25,000 each. The publisher, Michael Joseph Jackson, would receive the other 50%; $50,000. Just that one song "Yesterday" would earn considerably more than $100,000 a year. The publisher would also control the use of the song in films, commercials and stage productions. Jackson went on to use the Beatles' songs in numerous commercials, feeling that it would enable a new generation of fans to enjoy the music.

Michael Jackson -- the Promotion Machine

During this spectacular Michael Jackson-time of the 1980's, not only did the kids (including my brother Kelly) -- and adults -- wear a Jackson-inspired glittered white glove on one hand, dark sunglasses, and the famed Michael Jackson red jacket all over the world, but Jackson also commanded that the best film makers create his incomparable videos/films. Michael Jackson's filmmakers included Steven Speilberg, Martin Scorcese, and John Landis, whom created those spectacular video/film presentations. The "Thriller" video for example played in movie theaters as a short film, and the video itself sold 9-million copies - a Guiness Book World Record http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/mediazone/pdfs/entertainment/061114_michael_jackson.pdf .
And to date after Michael Jackson's death, the "Thriller" video has been viewed by more than 55-MILLION people on http://www.youtube.com/. Also "Beat It" on youtube has 35-million views, "Can't Stop til' you get enough" 26-million views, "Smooth Criminal" 25-million views, "Billie Jean" 23-million, "Bad" 20-million, and "Black or White" 19-million views.

To say that Michael Jackson dominated the 80's is an understatement, he obliterated the 1980's - and any decade prior to and since the 1980's. Michael Jackson/Jackson Five dominated both the 70's and the 80's...And Michael Jackson was yet not finished!!!

In the 1990's Jackson performed at the SuperBowl; had a Captain EO ride at Disneyland/Disneyworld; erected Michael Jackson monuments throughout the world promoting the 1996 "HIStory" album release; and the very popular "Dangerous" album that came out in 1991 had transcending message songs like "Black or White", "Remember the Time", and "Heal the World" with memorable videos....of course.

In the 1990's, we get back to the Beatles catelog. While the media and Michael Jackson critics grinned at the fact that Michael Jackson was rumored to have to sell the Beatles catelog, Jackson silenced all by selling just half of his publishing of the Beatles (and the many other acts part of the same publishing deal) catelog for 95-MILLION dollars. I think he made his money back, yet still retained fifty percent of the Beatles music ownership.

Michael Jackson as a brilliant businessman is rarely mentioned. Oh, by the way, what are the other acts besides the Beatles catelog that Jackson owns, you may have asked yourself. Are you ready? The Sony/ATV partnership with Jackson as co-owner, is the third largest music publisher in the world, spelled W-O-R-L-D!!! The Sony/ATV partnership owns the music of not just the Beatles, but also Elvis Presley, Akon, John Mayer, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Eminem, Wyclef Jean, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Kraftwerk, Sly and the Family Stone, Barry White, all of writers/producers Lieber and Stoller songs. Jackson also owned Little Richard's songs, but Jackson gave Little Richard his songs to him, due to a lifetime of being snubbed.

Michael Jackson is a National Treasure

Neither the media nor the United States Political Leaders can tell us differently.

Martin Bandier, Chairman & CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said: "Michael was the kind of amazing talent that comes along once in a lifetime. He was an incredible recording artist, an insightful businessman, an unmatched performer, and a true icon. To all of us at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, he was also a trusted and passionate partner, who was very proud of our accomplishments. He will be dearly missed. We wish his children and entire family our deepest condolences."