July 2009
You are browsing the archive for July 2009.
Congress trying to save ‘clash for clunkers’ sales
The House raced Friday to pass legislation pouring an additional $2 billion into the popular — but financially strapped — “cash for clunkers” car purchase program. Reps. Sander Levin, D-Mich., and Betty Sutton, D-Ohio, revealed the floor plan after he and other lawmakers were assured by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that the program would continue [...]
Obama to award Presidential Medal of Freedom to 16
President Barack Obama is awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 16 people, including political ally Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, tennis legend Billie Jean King and retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. The White House announced the list of recipients Thursday. The medals, representing the nation’s highest honor for a civilian, are the first [...]
Tenn. mayor resigns to focus on congressional race
The first elected black mayor of Memphis has officially resigned after a record 18 years in office to focus on his run for Congress. Willie Herenton submitted his resignation letter Thursday. He says he wants to focus on the race against U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in the August 2010 Democratic primary. Herenton was the first [...]
Black cop at Gates home regrets ‘Uncle Tom’ label
A black sergeant who was at the home of Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. when he was arrested says he’s been maligned as an “Uncle Tom” for supporting the actions of the white arresting officer. Cambridge Sgt. Leon Lashley gave a letter to Sgt. James Crowley to give to President Barack Obama during their [...]
Poll: Obama mishandled comments on race
President Barack Obama’s approval rating among white Americans has fallen as they have watched him wade into the racially tinged dispute between a white Cambridge, Mass., police officer and a well-known black Harvard scholar, according to a poll released Thursday. The July 16 arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. for disorderly conduct in his own [...]
