Roland Martin talks with Congressman Elijah Cummings about the Tax bill that passed in the House late Thursday night. Now that the bill has passed both the House and Senate, Cummings stated that President Obama is expected to sign the bill some time on Friday.

Congressman Cummings also discusses the Omnibus spending bill being pulled, the possibility of passing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the Dream Act.

LISTEN:

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Roland Martin talks with Clarence Lusane about his new book The Black History of the White House.

Lusane explained that one of his motivations for writing the book revolves around conservatives and Tea Party members talking about taking back America. Lusane told Roland, “what they are really saying is take America backwards. For some of them, they want to go not only before the 1960s some want to go before the 1860s.” Lusane also said, “they [Tea Party members and Conservatives] make the argument that there was a time in this country when there was no racial conflict and everything was fine.” Lusane said each generation is obligated to repeat and remind ourselves of the real history of the country.

After President Obama was elected, there was a lot of discussion about America being a period where racism no longer existed. Lusane said that it was important to contextualize how President Obama ended up in the White House and the long unknown history of the Black presence in, around and through the White House.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Clarence Lusane. For more information and to order The Black History of the White House, visit www.citylights.com.

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Edna Glover, center, mother of Henry Glover, who three current and former police officers were convicted of shooting and burning his body in a car in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, talks to reporters with family and supporters outside the courthouse after a jury reached a split verdict against the men in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. – Gerald Herbert/AP Photo

Roland Martin talks with A.C. Thompson from ProPublica.com about members of the New Orleans police murdering African-Americans.

Thompson details the events surrounding a police shooting involving Henry Glover. In 2005 right after the Hurricane Katrina, Glover was shot by a police officer. His friends and brother attempted to get him some help not knowing he was shot by a police officer until they took him to another group of police officers. According to Thompson the second group of police officers allowed Glover to bleed to death, then took his body, dumped it on the banks of the Mississippi River and burned it.

Five years later, the officers involved in this incident went to trial. Three of them were convicted. One for the shooting, one for the burning and one for writing false police reports and misleading the FBI. The other two officers were exonerated. Of these two police officers, one is still on the police force and has a long history of problems. A day before the Glover was killed, Lt. Dwayne Scheuermann used an assault rifle to shoot an unarmed man.

Thompson explained that Lt. Dwayne Scheuermann has been involved in fifteen shootings and has more than fifty complaints filed against him. Thompson saidn, “None of which have been sustained.” Lt. Dwayne Scheuermann has also been accused in a civil suit of conducting a search for a shotgun on a one year old female and having his officers conduct a cavity search of the infant.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with A.C. Thompson of ProPublica.com.

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Roland Martin talks with Major General (Ret.) John Hawkins about repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

According to a Pentagon study two-thirds of the military say that allowing gays to openly serve will not inhibit them from doing their job. Roland asks Major General Hawkins if he thinks Congress will eventually pass the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and how does he believe leadership will implement it. Maj. Gen. Hawkins told Roland he believes Congress will eventually pass the repeal.

Maj. Gen. Hawkins said, “It will sort of be like shutting the door after the horses are out of the barn.” According to Maj. Gen. Hawkins it has been estimated that close to two percent of the military “fall into this category.” He also explained these numbers came from polling soldiers who had certain beliefs about other soldiers. “Oddly enough, their percentages of acceptance are extremely high when it comes to those who have served with those that they believe to be openly gay or lesbian,” Maj. Gen. Hawkins said.

Tom Joyner asked the Maj. Gen. Hawkins if a person is willing to risk their life to defend this country why should it matter what their sexual orientation is. Maj. Gen. responded, “I can’t agree with you more.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Major General (Ret.) John Hawkins. Roland and Maj. Gen. Hawkins also discuss how soldiers on the front lines feel about serving with openly gay or lesbian soldiers.

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Roland Martin talks with Congressman James Clyburn about the Democratic caucus’ reaction to President Obama’s tax cut compromise and yesterday’s vote to stop the measure from reaching the floor unless there are changes.

Congressman Clyburn explained to Roland that there were some things that were taken off the table and should be put back. Congressman Clyburn named renewables as one of the things that needed to be put back on the table. Clyburn said, “I live in a part of the country where we are trying to add tax cuts for those people who are going to make investments in new green energy.”

According to Congressman Clyburn the Senate put tax credits for renewables back on the table.

Congressman Clyburn explained that issues surrounding inheritance taxes need to be addressed. Clyburn said, “That is the thing that’s really in everybody’s craw.” Clyburn expressed outrage that as a result of this compromise, $68 billion dollars would be given to 39,00 households. Clyburn said, “That is a bit much to swallow.”

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Yesterday the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Dr. Terry Mason joined Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to talks about the disease and diagnosis of Aretha Franklin.

Dr. Mason explained pancreatic cancer is considered to be the deadliest form of cancer because there is no way to diagnose it. He also explained the function of the pancreas, stating that it helps produce insulin and that it makes digestive juices to break food down. It is that part of the pancreas where the cancer develops in. Dr. Mason said, “There is no way to detect it earlier so the overall survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only 4 to 5 percent.”

Dr. Mason also expressed that the survival rate of pancreatic cancer can be 5 years. Dr. Mason said that “it can be 20 percent which means 1 in 5 people survive.” He also said,  “in those that survive are the ones where you are actually looking for something else and you happen to discover a small bump in the pancreas.” Dr. Mason told Roland that “you usually see that on something like an ultrasound or a specialized x-ray of the body called a CAT scan.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s TJMS interview with Dr. Terry Mason.

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Actor Wesley Snipes joined Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to discuss his misdemeanor convictions for not filing tax returns in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Snipes has been ordered to report to McKean Federal Correctional Institution in Lewis Run, Pennsylvania, Thursday to begin serving a three-year sentence for failing to file tax returns.

With so many rumors floating around concerning exactly what Snipes was charged and convicted on, Roland asked Snipes if he was convicted of tax evasion. Snipes replied, “Not only was I not convicted of tax evasion, I was never charged with tax evasion and I was never charged with not paying.” Snipes went on to say that he was “charged with conspiracy to defraud and failing to file.”

Snipes explained that he was charged with six misdemeanors of willful failure to file. He said that he was convicted on three charges and acquitted on the other three charges.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire exclusive TJMS interview with actor Wesley Snipes. Snipes discusses information that he feels was incorrectly reported about his case, jurors coming forward to say that that he was denied due process and being denied a fair trial.

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Congressman Charles Rangel joins Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to discuss the ethics committee trial, verdict and subsequent ruling to censure him.

Roland asked Congressman Rangel what has been the sentiment expressed to him from his continuance, fellow members of Congress after what took place this past Thursday. Congressman Rangel told Roland “my wife and community now know the nightmare is over.”

Rangel explained the reason behind he referred the case to the committee was to show that he was not self-enriched, he did not make any money and did not deliberately avoid paying taxes or try to deceive any of his holdings. He also highlighted that the chief council of the committee said that there was no corruption and that his biggest problem was that he was over zealous in trying to raise money for the students of the City College of New York, sloppy and depended upon others to do things that he should have done himself.

When asked what was next for him, Rangel said, “I think we have a lot of work, I want to pick up the pieces, I want to move forward and then we’ll see what the future holds. But I think it would be dramatically unfair to the people who had confidence in me and voted for me to just wake up and quit at a time when they need me the most.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire interview with Congressman Charles Rangel. Roland and Congressman Rangel discuss if Rangel had admitted to the various charges made against him would things have ended the way that it did, the proposed settlement agreement and the CBC’s claims of being unfairly targeted.

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Roland Martin talks with April Ryan, White House Correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks about the censure of Charles Rangel and the debate of the Bush tax cuts.

Yesterday, Congress voted overwhelmingly the House voted to censure Rangel 333 – 79. Ryan explained that many in Washington have said that this could have ended a long time ago with out this embarrassment.

According to Ryan the ethics panel asked Rangel to give them all of the information to avoid the full extent of a trial. At the last minute, Rangel gave them a little bit of information but not everything that they needed.

Ryan told Roland that the censure is just for this session of Congress. Rangel cannot serve as a ranking member or chairman of any committee until January. Ryan said, “It all goes away in January with the 112 Congress.” Rangel can run in January for a ranking member position but cannot run for Chairman of any committee.

Roland and Ryan also discussed yesterday’s vote on the Bush tax cuts. Democrats voted to extend the tax cuts for Americans making less than $250,000 a year. Roland asked Ryan if President Obama will hold the line on the tax cuts for the wealthy or will he compromise on this issue and accept the GOP “so called compromise” to extend the tax cuts for everyone.

Ryan said, “I don’t know if he will cave, but right now its in the area of compromise.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with April Ryan.

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Roland Martin talks with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about the historic Black farmer settlement.

Sec. Vilsack stated “it took far too long for the USDA and for the U.S. Government to acknowledge the wrongs that have occasioned Black Farmers.”

Vilsack explained that once President Obama signs this bill into law the USDA will be required to work with the plaintiffs lawyers for the Black farmers and the department of justice to appoint a neutral arbitrator to oversee the process. The arbitrator will have to accept claims from Black farmers, review those claims and make sure that they are legitimate.

Once the claim has been verified one of two options will be made available to them Either they can take $50,000 from the settlement fund, receive tax relief up to $12,500 because there may be a tax liability and if they have a direct loan with the USDA, the loan will be forgiven.

The second option, if individuals feel that they have been wronged to an extent beyond $50,000 they can go on track B. If they select this option, they may be able to obtain up to $250,000.

Roland asked Secretary Vilsack about Republicans trashing the Black farmers by claiming that there is massive fraud taking place. Vilsack said “it is very very frustrating to me because there is virtually no proof of any such allegations. First of all you can’t allege fraud in this particular circumstance because we haven’t yet handled a single claim. So how can you determine there is fraud in advance is amazing.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack.

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Roland Martin talks with Marcus Dupree about the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, The Best That Never Was.

In 1981, college athletic recruiting changed forever as a dozen big-time football programs sat waiting for the decision by a physically powerful and lightning-quick high school running back named Marcus Dupree. On his way to eclipsing Herschel Walker’s record for the most touchdowns in high school history, Dupree attracted recruiters from schools in every major conference to his hometown of Philadelphia, Miss. More than a decade removed from being a flashpoint in the civil-rights struggle, Philadelphia was once again thrust back into the national spotlight. Dupree took the attention in stride, and committed to Oklahoma. What followed, though, was a forgettable college career littered with conflict, injury and oversized expectations. Eight-time Emmy Award winner Jonathan Hock will examine why this star burned out so young and how he ultimately used football to redeem himself.

Source: ESPN

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Roland Martin talks Lisa Jackson, the Administrator of the EPA about about the organizations 40^th birthday and how vital the organization is to Americans.

Jackson explained that the EPA is the air that you breathe. According to Jackson air pollution is down 50 percent from 1970, when the EPA was founded. As a result of actions taken by the EPA lead is no longer in gasoline, which would end up in our air and subsequently in our lungs as well as in our children’s brains. DDT and other pesticides are no longer on our fruits and vegetables. Jackson also detailed that the eastern half of the United State used to have acid rain problems, which is now under control as a result of actions taken by the EPA.

Now that Republicans have taken control of the House and the EPA now has a bull’s eye on it. Republicans have state that Jackson and the EPA have overstepped their bounds in protecting the environment. Jackson stated the American people want their government to protect them.

Roland asked Jackson how important is it that minority youth focus on science and technology because many African-Americans are missing in those critical jobs and environmental jobs are taking off all across the country. Jackson told Roland that it is “absolutely vital.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Lisa Jackson, the administrator of the EPA.

Download audio file (martintjmslisajackson113010.mp3)

Julianne Malveaux joins Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to discuss the current conditions in Haiti. Malveaux explained that she had an opportunity to visit one of the tent camps while in Haiti. She said “you can’t imagine anything more demoralizing – ditry water, people just crowded on top of each another …”

Roland asked Malveaux about the lack of international aid coming to Haiti. Malveaux said, “People are extraordinarily frustrated.” When she was in Haiti back in October, Malveaux stated that she had a meeting with the US ambassador to Haiti and they were still talking about planning. Malveaux explained that the first contract to remove rubble was not set until August and the first contractor to remove rubble was not on the ground until October 15th. Malveaux said, “No money is flowing.”

According to Malveaux there are very competent people on the ground from the United States and there are some real issues. “People believe that Haiti is corrupt so they don’t want to give them the money. So actually the US is asking people to prove they’re not corrupt,” said Malveaux. She also explained the international community had committed over $5 billion dollars and very little of it has been given to Haiti.

The United States has committed $1.5 billion dollars to aid in rebuilding Haiti, but Congress is currently holding up the money.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire interview with Julianne Malveaux.

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CNN’s Ali Velshi joins Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to discuss General Motors return to the New York Stock Exchange, profitability and IPO.

Ali Velshi explained that taxpayers were into GM for $50 billion and some people were asking if it was really worth it. GM paid some of the money back from their profits and yesterday, the US Treasury, as part of GM’s initial public offering, sold 75 percent of the stock that it holds in the company.

As a result of the sale, GM now owes the public about $27 billion dollars. Velshi said there is “still a long way to go.” GM cut its debt in half and the interest that the US taxpayer holds in GM dropped from two-thirds down to a third.

Republicans were against the auto bailouts saying that this was not something that Americans wanted done. Velshi expressed if GM had went into bankruptcy it could have been “taken down” the other two American automakers in the process.

When asked if this was a victory for President Obama, Velshi said, “This President has a great deal of difficulty claiming victories because they seem to get painted into corners no matter what, but yesterday he called it a victory and said ‘it shows good decisions paid off.’ Absolutely it was the right decision to make.”

Velshi went on to say, “It’s not over yet … I wouldn’t say that it is a victory but we are well on our way to victory on this one, but there is still work to be done.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s TJMS interview with CNN’s Ali Velshi.

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Roland Martin talks with former Congressman, Harold Ford about his new book More Davids Than Goliaths.

In More Davids Than Goliaths, Ford reflects on what he’s learned from his extended political family, the slings and arrows of the campaign trail, and those across our nation who inspire him.

During the TJMS interview, Ford recounts a conversation that he had with his father as an intern in his father’s office. His father told him, “You should always remember there are more Davids than Goliaths … remember all Goliaths are not bad but all Davids are good and if you are fortunate to be in politics your job is to always give voice and to follow through on what you promised to do for David.”

Ford also discussed the political landscape after the midterm elections and what President Obama needs to do to position himself for 2012. Ford said people want President Obama to focus on jobs and described this moment as “halftime moment.” Ford said, “The President started the game with a great plan … he’s now down maybe a touchdown if not more. He has to go in the locker room and a great coach drafts a new plan. He still has the intention of winning the game but he’s got to adjust to what his opponent is doing on the other side.”

When asked about the Bush tax cuts, Ford said that all of the tax cuts should be extended for two years. At the end of the two years the highest earners at $1 million dollars and above should be taxed at 39.5 percent; the top rate that it was when President Clinton was in office.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Harold Ford.

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Roland Martin talks to Errol Louis, political anchor of NY1 about Charles Rangel being found guilty on eleven of twelve counts of ethics violations. Louis details the punishment that Rangel could face as a result of the ethics committee’s judgment.

Louis told Roland, “out of the eleven counts, eight or nine of them are related to raising money for a school in his district, the City University in New York, to create a public service center that would be called the Charles Rangel Center. Other than the name he wasn’t going to benefit from it in any way …”

According to Louis raising money is not illegal, even if its from corporations that have business before Congress. Rangel was supposed to ask for permission and get it cleared before doing so but he did not.

Louis said, “there is a lot of sloppy reporting going on out there,” and ethics groups are saying that Rangel should step down as if he had been convicted of a crime. Louis explained that Rangel has not been convicted of a crime.

Roland asked Louis for his thoughts about Rangel claiming that he did no have due process and that this is not fair. Louis said, “I think he was playing to the cameras and to posterity and to the folks back home … he either knows the rules or he wrote the rules …”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with NY1’s Errol Louis.

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Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joins Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to discuss a recent report concerning the education of young African-American males. According to this report, The proficiency gap between African-American boys and their Caucasian counterparts is widening.

Sec. Duncan called the findings of the report “deeply disturbing” and said, “I think it speaks to the critical importance of this teacher recruitment campaign that we’re working so hard to bring in the next generation of Black males to be teachers in the classroom.” Duncan also highlighted that less than 2% of all teachers are black males.

According to Duncan, the national teacher recruitment campaign is critically important to closing the achievement gap. Duncan also said as a result of 200,000 baby boomer teachers retiring each year we will need 1 million new teachers over the next 5 to 7 years.

For more information on the teacher initiative visit www.teach.gov.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

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Roland Martin talks with Charles Robinson from Maryland Public Television about Prince George’s County Executive, Jack B. Johnson and his wife, Leslie Johnson, who were arrested Friday on charges of trying to conceal tens thousands of dollars payoffs from a developer.

Jack Johnson allegedly instructed his wife, Leslie, to flush a $100,000 check down a toilet and stuff her underwear with more $79,000 in cash as FBI agents closed in on their home.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Charles Robinson.

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Roland Martin talks with  Jonecia Keels and Jazmine Miller of Spelman College who won the 2010 AT&T Big Mobile on Campus Challenge with their next generation e-learning mobile application, HBCU Buddy.  In past challenges, students from Harvard and MIT had won the competition.

Many people are touting the importance of African-Americans, especially women, getting involved in science, technology and engineering. Roland explained that these are areas where jobs will be coming from. Roland then asked Miller what would she say to African-American boys and girls who may not be in to science. Miller encouraged them not to be intimidated by computer science because “there is absolutely nothing that you can’t reach.” Miller also said, “If you have a genuine desire to do it, just continue to do it and do it at full speed …”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Jonecia Keels and Jazmine Miller from Spelmen College, winners of the 2010 AT&T Big Mobile on Campus Challenge.

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Roland Martin appears on the Tom Joyner Morning Show and discusses some of the latest developments in the Congress.

Roland explained that there is a major battle going on in Congress between House Majority Whip, James Clyburn and Steny Hoyer. If Hoyer wins the No. 2 position, there will not be any African-Americans in leadership of the House.

The vote for this position is likely to take place on November 18th.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS commentary.

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Roland Martin talks with Eric Legette, founder of Fathers With Voices, about his Fathers Standing Up Bootcamp (F.S.U.).

Leggette explained that the F.S.U. Boot Camp is designed to provide a series of workshops to address issues related to the challenges that some separated and(or) divorced fathers face. The bootcamp helps fathers navigate the leagal system or overcoming obstacles with the next spouse. Leggette told Roland these workshops are put in place to help fathers put the drama in its proper place in order to enjoy consistent involvement in their sons and daughters lives.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Eric Legette, founder of Fathers With Voices.

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Roland Martin talks with Randall Pinkett about his new book “Black Faces in White Places.”

For generations, African-Americans have been told that to succeed, they need to work twice as hard as everyone else. But as millions of black Americans were reminded by Pinkett’s experience, sometimes hard work is not enough. Black Faces in White Places is about “the game”—that is, the competitive world in which we all live and work. The book offers 10 revolutionary strategies for playing, mastering, and changing the game for the current generation, while undertaking a wholesale redefinition of the rules for those who will follow. It is not only about shattering the old “glass ceiling,” but also about examining the four dimensions of the contemporary black experience: identity, society, meritocracy, and opportunity. Ultimately, it is about changing the very concept of success itself.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire interview with Randall Pinkett.

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Roland Martin talks with Republican National Committee Chairman, Michael Steele about the results of the 2010-midterm elections.

Steele explained where Republicans were just a year ago, saying the GOP had lost a lot of their base supporters and walked away from their message. In getting back to their message, Steele said he decided to “put the party in the streets.”

Steele told Roland on his second day as RNC Chair, he went to Harlem and people asked why he went there. Steele said because voters are there, “the goal was to put the party where it was uncomfortable with itself because it had to get outside of its comfort zone and go to people and talk to people it hadn’t done before and because we did I think we won.”

Roland asked Steele about Mitch McConnell’s comments about making President Obama a one-term president. Steele said, “I think McConnell was talking in political terms. Look, at the end of the day he is the opposition leader. His goal is not to sit there and say, ‘Oh yeah I’m going to be supporting the re-election of the opposition. So you have to put it in context.” Steele also explained, “it is part of the politics and the political aspects of both Obama’s job and Mitch McConnell’s job.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with RNC Chair, Michael Steele. Roland and Steele discuss Republican engaging minority voters, African-American Republicans who were elected to office this past Tuesday, what are Republicans going to do to get America back to work as well as get the economy back on track and how Republicans and Democrats can work together.

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Roland Martin talks with top Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher about what President Obama and the Democratic Party should do next.

Roland, Tom Joyner and Cornell Belcher agreed that President Obama should continue campaigning. Belcher explained wherever President Obama campaigned, races tightened.

Belcher told Roland, “Arguably for the last year while Democrats were legislating, Republicans were campaigning.” Belcher also stated one lesson the White House should have learned is that “you got to sell, sell, sell, you can not stop selling.” Belcher said, “we can’t just put out good legislation and think, oh, people are going to get it. Oh health care reform, they’re going to get it because they want it.” Belcher cautioned against allowing Republicans to define the debate. He said, “if the Republicans define the debate we’re going to lose the debate, so we have got to be a lot more aggressive about that.”

Roland explained, if you ask any Republican across the country why they are Republican, they will say, “lower taxes, less government. If you ask Democrats the same question, you will likely get two paragraphs and probably nine different answers.

Belcher stated, “We’ve got to brand our party like a corporation, like Pepsi or Coke brands itself so people know exactly what we stand for. Then we operate from that brand or schematic.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with top Democratic pollster, Cornell Belcher.

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Roland Martin appears on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to discuss midterm election results. Roland said, “If there was one word the could describe last night for Democrats – absolute massacre, all across this country.”

Roland explained that Democratic losses went beyond congressional races and the US Senate. Ten to fifteen state houses flipped for the first time since the 1870’s. On the state level, Republicans gained control of state houses, state senates and Democrats lost governors’ mansions.

Republicans also took control of President Barack Obama’s former US senate seat in Illinois as Alexi Giannoulias lost to Republican Mark Kirk.

Listen to Roland Martin’s analysis of the 2010-midterm election results.

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Roland Martin details some very important and tight races that are taking place across the country.

Races to watch:

• • The California Attorney General race featuring Kamala Harris. Karl Rove has pumped over $1 million into the race just to keep her winning.
  • Michael Thurmond running for United States Senate in Georgia.
  • Georgia gubernatorial race, Republican, Nathan Deal has talked about ghetto grandmothers and voter ID cards has said he is proud of voting against the voter rights act faces off against former governor, Democrat Roy Barnes.
  • Florida Senate race between Marco Rubio, Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek.
  • Republican Tim Scott will be the first Black Republican in Congress since J.C. Watts.
  • Florida gubernatorial race between Democrat Alex Sink and Republican Rick Scott.
  • The ballot initiatives in Florida, which will determine how congressional districts are drawn. The NAACP is for this initiative while Congresswoman Corinne Brown is against the measure.
  • Reasons why you never vote straight Democrat or Republican Texas Democrat Keisha Rogers who wants to impeach President Obama and is a Lyndon LaRouche supporter.
  • In Indiana the Secretary of State race featuring Democrat Vop Osili. This race is important because the secretary of state determines election rules in any election
  • Harry Reid faces off against Sharron Angle in a very tight and important senate race
  • Ohio’s tight gubernatorial race between Democrat Ted Strickland and Republican John Kasich
  • Massachusetts governor’s race featuring Democrat Deval Patrick

Roland also explained voters should not only focus on the various governors races and congressional races. Roland said, “The down-ballot races are just as critical. I’m talking about state reps, state senators, people over water districts, tax districts.” He also put a special emphasis on judge races to make sure there is a “compassionate judge sitting behind that bench.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s analysis of the 2010 midterm elections and races of interest taking place across the nation.

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Roland Martin talks with Alexi Giannoulias about his run for US Senate seat in Illinois. Giannoulias is running for President Barack Obama’s old senate seat that is being vacated by Roland Burris.

This particular senate race has been branded as one of the nastiest and sleaziest race in the nation. Giannoulias told Roland, “I have been trying to talk about ideas from the very beginning. I believe in public service. I believe that we should offer ideas about what we are going to do to create jobs, how we are going to make college more affordable, how we’re going to invest in urban communities, how we’re going to invest in jobs of the 21st century …” Giannoulias also said that Karl Rove has spent more secret donor money in Illinois than in any other state and want to make this election a referendum on President Barack Obama.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Alexi Giannoulias. Roland and Giannoulias discuss aspects of an urban agenda and the African-American voter turnout on November 2nd.

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Roland Martin talks with Kendrick Meek about claims of him dropping out of the Florida US Senate race. Meek began the interview by denying reports that former President Clinton had tried to persuade him to drop out.

Meek told Roland, “If I was going to drop out it would have been a long time ago prior to qualifying. But I’m running because people in the state of Florida are suffering and I’m not going to sell out on them.”

Meek also detailed a conversation with Charlie Crist in which he told Crist, “If your pathway to victory is me getting out of this race, then you’re not going to win.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s TJMS interview with Kendrick Meek. Meek discusses events leading up to the controversial claims that he would drop out of the race and his commitment to win this race.

Download audio file (maritntjmskendrickmeek102910.mp3)

Roland Martin talks with Joe Sestak who is running for US Senate in the state of Pennsylvania. During the interview Sestak explained what he intends to do if he is elected to the US Senate.

Sestak said, “Down here in Philadelphia, we have communities, that we have only 28% of our African-American males graduating from high school, somethings wrong.” He also explained that he intends to become a friend of the community, make sure everyone gets a fair opportunity and make sure that America is a much more prosperous economy and nation.

In speaking about the November 2nd elections and the change that then Sen. Obama talked about, Sestak said “… you don’t vote once for change, you fight for change.”

Sestak told Roland that we are now in an economic arms race and “we got to get everyone with the right health security, education security, economic security because national security truly begins at home …”

For more information about Joe Sestak’s campaign for US Senate visit http://www.JoeSestak.com

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Joe Sestak. Sestak discusses the Democratic enthusiasm gap and what his campaign is doing to motivate voters to get to the polls on November 2nd.

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Roland Martin talks with Barbara R. Arnwine the Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights about voter protection.

Arnwine explains one the most important things that voters should pay attention to is robocalls. There are a series of calls going out telling democratic voters not to vote.

Arnwine also discusses the various tactics being employed by unscrupulous individuals at the polls and what voters should do if the experience any irregularity at the polls.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire interview with Barbara R. Arnwine.

To make sure you have the right voting information, 1-866- OUR-VOTE.

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Roland Martin talks with Kamala Harris who is running for Attorney General in California. Members of the Republican Party are pouring millions of dollars into the campaign of her opponent to keep her from winning the election.

Harris explained to Roland that Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie who was with the Bush administration have raised $1.1 million dollars to create an attack piece against her campaign. The campaign will be focused in Los Angeles.

Harris said, “… it shocks many people, there is a lot of speculation about why, but clearly they know we can win and they don’t want us to win.”

Harris gave reasons why Republicans are against her campaign saying that she is a supporter of President Obama and what he has done to reform health care. Her opponent has stated that he would weigh in on the lawsuit challenging health care reform.”

She also highlighted that her opposition probably did not like the fact that President Obama has campaigned for her and that she is a proponent of reforming the criminal justice system. Harris said, “its not working, we need to reform it in a way that recognizes that we have to react to crime and certainly convict after a crime has occurred but we also need to prevent crime if we want to create public safety.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Kamala Harris. Harris discusses aspects of her campaign, Republicans trying to stop her campaign, the California gubernatorial race and other important races that can affect President Obama’s policies being implemented.

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November 2nd is only a week away and there are already complaints alleging acts of voter intimidation in Texas. Roland Martin talks with the General Counsel of the Texas Democratic Party, Chad Dunn about the claims.

Chad Dunn explains that the King Street Patriots, a major Tea Party organization in Texas, has sent groups of “poll watchers” to African-American and Latino polling locations to engage in voter intimidation. According to Dunn, these “poll watchers” use hand signals to communicate with each other, huddle behind voters and stand over voters while they are trying to get checked in. This practice has been noted according to Dunn as taking place in Houston and in Dallas.

Poll watchers are allowed to stand anywhere in the polling location to observe the activity but they cannot interact with the voters in any kind of way to make voters feel intimidated. They cannot stand close enough to where they can see someone’s ballot selections.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Chad Dunn, General Counsel of the Texas Democratic Party.

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Roland Martin talks with DNC Chair Tim Kaine about the November 2^nd midterm elections along with a $1 million dollar advertising campaign being aimed at Latino communities.

Chairman Kaine explains that the DNC has been putting on this plan together for a while. Kaine told Roland they were able to increase the amount of funds being spent on Black owned media by $3 million, which is ten times more that what was spent during the previous midterm elections.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entirety TJMS interview with DNC Chairman Tim Kaine. Kaine details Democratic campaign efforts and the role  minority voters will play on November 2^nd.

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Roland Martin talks with Florida Congresswoman Corrine Brown about ballot initiative in Florida that would create compact congressional districts as opposed to the bugsplat districts. Congresswoman Brown is against this measure because it would reslut in fewer minorities in Congress.

Congresswoman Brown told Roland if this measure passes African-Americans “will have less members, not just in Congress but every level.” She also said, “… if you have this measure in the Constitution, then the voting rights measure does not apply. And so we could regress …”

Brown said, “It is very important that we as a people don’t go back.” She explained there is a similar measure in California that would affect African-Americans as well as Latinos because “… we do not live in compact districts.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Congresswoman Corrine Brown. Roland and Congresswoman Corrine Brown continue the discussion on bugsplat districts and the effect it could have on African-American political power.

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Roland Martin talks with Devin Burghart about a study released by the Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights called Tea Party Nationalism. The report uses hard data to detail the racial elements that are tied to the Tea Party.

In speaking about the report, and the ties between the Tea Party and the alleged racist groups, Burghart told Roland the ties between the Tea Party and racist elements are extensive. He said, “Unfortunately we find them growing. What we have also noticed is a kind of two-way transfer between the Tea Party and more white nationalist elements.”

Burghart said, “Both white nationalists trying to infiltrate the Tea Party and find themselves a home amongst willing white folks. Also national Tea Party groups giving a platform to racists, anti-Semites and other bigots.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Devin Burghart. Roland and Burghart discuss the response to the 96-page report and the list of individuals compiled in the report.

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Roland Martin talks with Matt A. Barreto, Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington about the voting power and enthusiasm of Hispanic voters.

Barreto is leading a tracking poll entitled, The Latinos Decisions Tracking Poll that shows where Latinos stand as it relates to the November 2nd election. Barreto told Roland, “This is something that has never been done before. You’ve seen things like the Gallup tracking poll but there has never been a specific over sample looking at one specific minority group.”

Barreto explained that if you go back a few months it was not looking that good for Democrats. Latino enthusiasm was very low and according to Barreto, they did not think Latinos would vote for Democrats in November. He explained that in the last couple of weeks they have seen a little up tick in voter enthusiasm.

Barreto said the Democratic numbers are starting to come up but they have not reach the 2008 level. Barreto said, “If they [Latinos] can go to the polls, it looks like they’re definitely going to vote Democrat. Its just getting people to the polls and getting that vote out.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entirety TJMS interview with Matt Barreto. Roland and Barreto discuss issues that are important to Latino voters, the lack of attention paid to those issues and getting the vote out for November 2nd.

For more information about Latino Decisions visit http://latinodecisions.wordpress.com/

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The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies released a report last week detailing how African-American voters could make the difference in 20 House races.

Roland Martin talks with David A. Bositis, Senior Analyst for the Joint Center Political and Economic Studies about the potential impact the African-American vote could have on November 2nd.

Bositis explained there are several districts, which have a large number of African-American voters can make a big difference if they come to the polls in November.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with David Bositis of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Roland and Bositis discuss several Congressional races that have the potential to change the balance of power Washington, DC.

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The November 2nd midterm election is just a few weeks away and some are predicting that Democrats could lose the House but they might be able to hold on to the Senate.

Congressman James Clyburn joins Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to discuss the races that will be critical for African-Americans, as it relates to voter turnout.

Congressman Clyburn told Roland, “turnout is going to be very very important.” He explained that those who opposed health care and financial reform are “a little more energized than the people who felt that we did not do enough.”

Clyburn explained, Democrats need to remind voters of the their accomplishments. He told Roland that they did not get the public option or the single payer system but they did get rid of discrimination because of diabetes as well as other catastrophic illnesses. He said, “we laid a good foundation … Keep Democrats on the field and when we come back next year, maybe we will get to the public option.”

Roland asked Congressman Clyburn about those Democrats who are running away from the monumental bills that were passed and afraid to run on those accomplishments because Republicans are hitting them on those issues. Clyburn told Roland, “That’s a big mistake…”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Congressman James Clyburn. Congressman Clyburn also discusses the controversy surrounding foreign donations being pumped into Congressional races.

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Roland Martin talks with Elizabeth Warren about the foreclosure crisis and how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can protect average Americans.

Wall street did not want to see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created, Roland asks Warren what is the main role and how can the agency protect everyday average Americans. Warren told Roland; this bureau is going to make sure that families have easy to read credit products, credit cards and mortgages.

Warren said, “They can see them, they can read them, they can see right up front what they cost. No hidden tricks and traps, no fine print and they can make comparisons from one to another so they can get the cheapest one.”

Warren told Roland if there is anybody following the housing crisis that thinks we did not need a consumer financial protection bureau about three or four years ago, “its only because they somehow figured out a way to make a lot of money on [it].”

She also explained that if we had a consumer financial protection bureau in place, “the business of targeting families for sub prime mortgages and particularly for targeting African-American families for sub prime mortgages never would have started.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Elizabeth Warren. Roland and Warren discuss the beginning of the mortgage crisis. The opposition to making Warren head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, staving off the devastation from the foreclosure crisis and the possibility of 50 percent of Black wealth being wiped out as a result of the foreclosure crisis.

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Caron Butler of the Dallas Mavericks has not only been focused on developing his skills on the court but also focusing on business off the court. Butler is the owner of six Burger King franchises.

Roland Martin talks with Caron Butler about preparing for a career after the NBA and how to go from working in a Burger King to owning a Burger King.

Roland asks Butler how important was it for him to think about his career after the NBA verses waiting until that day has come. Butler explained one of the things he wanted the ability to do was maintain the same lifestyle that he has in the NBA. He told Roland as rookies, NBA players take classes on how to manage money and making the right investments.

Butler said its easy to get accustomed to “giving handouts, obviously with family, loved ones … because your lifestyle changes immediately.” Butler explained, “Once you come into the NBA you are now your own corporation. You’re now the president of your corporation. That happens so fast but ,at the same time you got to think for the long haul and the years to come. You can’t get accustomed to giving handouts because you’ll wind up broke.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Caron Butler of the Dallas Mavericks. Butler discusses his road to the NBA, the adversity he experienced growing up, running with the wrong crowd and then turning his life around.

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Jason L. Riley recently wrote a piece in the Wall Street Journal that questioned the need for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Lezli Baskerville, NAFEO President & CEO, joined Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner morning show to discuss Riley’s piece in the Wall Street Journal and the role of HBCUs.

When asked what Baskerville thought of the piece, she told Roland that she was astounded by the tone of the piece. She said, “it was venomous and incendiary and it was ripe with misinformation.”

Baskerville explained Riley’s article talks about HBCUs failing and being academically inferior. According to Baskerville, “HBCUs are making tremendous progress and are shifting to meet today’s needs.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Lezli Baskerville. Roland and Lezli Baskerville continue to discuss the Riley article and the status of NAFEO’s commitment made during measuring the Movement.

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Roland Martin talks with Democratic pollster, Ron Lester, about President Barack Obama and Democrats recently targeting African-American voters.

During the TJMS interview, Lester told Roland that there has never been anyone who can get Black people to vote like President Barack Obama. He explained that what we saw in 2008 was “remarkable.” There were some congressional districts that saw 100,000 more voters in 2008 as opposed to the turnout in 2006. Lester said, “this is why he [President Obama] had to get out there and beat the pavement.”

Roland asked Lester if it was a mistake for Democrats to wait until the last minute to build their base of voters. Lester told Roland, “the reason they are putting so much emphasis on the base right now is that its campaign time.”

Lester said, “I think now what they are doing is strategically going in to the locations where the Black vote has been …”

When asked if money is being spent in these locations, locally and nationally, Lester explained that people will see money being spent on radio and on TV. Lester also said text messages and emails will be sent out from Obama for America. These messages will be sent to a list that was selected during the Obama campaign.

Lester highlighted several tight races being run across the country, which include the California gubernatorial race as well as Harry Reid’s and Kendrick Meek’s races. Lester told Roland a big “Obama turnout” would secure Democratic victory.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Ron Lester, Democratic pollster. Roland and Lester continue the conversation about the Democratic push for the 2010 midterm elections.

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Roland Martin talks with Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile about the upcoming 2010-midterm elections, which are just a month away.

Brazile has been critical of Democrats in saying they should stop attacking their base by telling them to stop whining and stop complaining. Attacking their base is not going to get voters to the polls in November.

Brazile told Roland, voters need to know exactly what Democrats have done for them. She said, “They [Democrats] need to talk about the issues. They need to go back and explain to these voters that it has been the Democrats that have moved America forward. It has been Democrats that have put policy forward for job creation, job growth, education, health care, the environment. They need to talk about what will happen if Republicans take control of the Congress.”

“If people don’t get out and vote … we’re going to be in a whole lot of trouble. They’ll be whining and complaining for sure, but this time the whining will be starting at the top not just the people in the neighborhood,” said Brazile.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Donna Brazile as she and Roland discuss what Democrats need to do to keep Republicans from taking over the Congress, Sen. Tom Coburn, Sen. Richard Shelby, Sen. Jim Bunning and individuals that want to see President Barack Obama fail.

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Roland Martin discusses Sen. Tom Coburn blocking relief funds for earthquake ravaged island nation of Haiti. Coburn has also block the settlement funds for the Black farmers. Coburn has been able to block the funds because he has placed a hold on these actions causing everything to be shutdown.

Roland requested that listeners call all of Sen. Coburn’s offices to let the senator know how you feel about what he is doing.

Call Sen. Tom Coburn’s offices
Washington, DC: 202-224-5754
Tulsa: 918-581-7651
Oklahoma City: 405-231-4941

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS commentary and don’t forget to call Sen. Coburn’s offices to let him know how you feel about what he has done.

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Roland Martin talks with Ronald M. Gauthier author of the book, “Killing Time: An 18-Year Odyssey from Death Row to Freedom.”

Killing Time chronicles the case of John Thompson, a twenty-two-year-old African-American man, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Two Philadelphia lawyers, Michael Banks and Gordon Cooney undertake Thompson’s case pro bono and were able to determine with blood evidence and thirteen pieces of evidence that was withheld from Thompson’s original attorney that John Thompson was innocent.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Ron Gauthier as he discusses various elements of the case, attorneys that worked for the District Attorney’s office who knew there was evidence that would prove John Thompson was innocent.

For more information about the book and Ronald M. Gauthier visit the Killing Time Facebook page.

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Roland Martin talks with Shanae Hall radio personality from Los Angeles and former NFL wife about her new book, “Why Do I Have To Think Like A Man?: How To Think Like A Lady And Still Get The Man.” Hall stated that her book is the response to Steve Harvey’s book, “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man”

In the book, Hall conducted over 300 interviews where she emphasized that women should be women and not try to think like a man. Hall told Roland, “Unless times have changed from biblical times to where now we have to think like a man to get a man. I never thought that was our area of needing help.”

Roland asks Hall if she think part of the problem when men and women are looking for someone is that people are looking for the one thing that somehow will be like manna from heaven, drop from the sky and be the one solution, when it is really a series of things where people are attracted to one another. Hall explained that she agreed with that statement and that is why people are going out buying the male books because they think ‘my goodness if I can think like a man, now I’m in the head of a man … and I can go out and find marital bliss.” Hall said, “Finding a man is finding yourself first. Getting yourself esteem, your standards and your life together and then going out and saying this is what I’m worth.” She also said, “You attract whatever it is that your value deems you should have … that is not something that a man can give you.”

When looking for a mate or spouse Hall states that in her book there is a chapter called Setting Your Standards, which helps women outline what it is that they want in a man. She said, “When you go through that, its spiritual, its emotional, its physical, its everything that you personally want. So if you have a navigation of what you’re looking for you can find it a whole lot easier…” According to Haul its easier because you know what you are looking for.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Shanae Hall as she and Roland discuss wants verses needs, is there enough Black men as well as men and women wanting to be in relationships.

For more information about Shanae Hall and her book, “Why Do I Have To Think Like A Man?: How To Think Like A Lady And Still Get The Man” visit http://www.lovingmefirst.com

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Roland Martin talks with Amy DuBois Barnett about celebrating the 65th anniversary edition of Ebony magazine.

Roland asked Barnett what she is looking to do and create with the magazine and how is she trying to put her stamp on it as editor-in-chief. Barnett told Roland she wants to “build off of the great work that everybody has done at Ebony” and make it relevant for the next generation.

Barnett explained the Ebony brand is “very important historically, culturally and frankly economically.” She said the brand was built on the idea that we can take our best thinkers, most interesting products, cultural events, political events, news and put them in one place to offer the community like no other media outlet or publication can. Barnett expressed she does not want to change those things but make the tone and vernacular used in the magazine “relevant to a new generation.”

Ebony has created a face off feature where opinion makers debate a critical issue. Roland asks Barnett to explain the edginess in dealing with the dialog surrounding political, social and cultural issues. Barnett said, “I want to start conversations about issues that are important to our community.” She also said, “if Ebony magazine does not come out and talk about issues that are critical to the African-American community, offer information, offer diverse opinions, offer solutions, then frankly the brand becomes useless.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS with Amy Dubois Barnett and visit http://www.ebonyjet.com for more information about the 65th Anniversary of Ebony. The 65th Anniversary edition of Ebony will be on stands October 12th, 2010.

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Roland Martin talks with Ed Gordon about his new show premiering on BET Sunday, entitled “Weekly with Ed Gordon.”

In speaking about the show, Gordon said they are going to “try to take on Sunday morning with a bang.”

When asked about the possible competition between “Washington Watch” and Gordon’s new show, Gordon said, “we as Black people have always for too long been satisfied with one seat, whether it’s the Supreme Court seat, whether its one seat on a particular mainstream show.” He also said, “we ought to be able to understand that they pie is so large that if we’re only worried about one slice then we’re all in trouble. And we’re all better for more programming.” Gordon told Roland, “You and I don’t see it as a competition so other people shouldn’t.”

Gordon’s first guest will be Congressman Charles Rangel . Gordon highlights the problems that Rangel has recently had and explains the roundtable of guests that will appear on the show. Gordon said, “each week the roundtable is gong to consist of political and social leaders, entertainers, sports figures. We’re going to talk about everything form politics to pop culture, of course we’ll talk about the Eddie Long situation … we’re going to talk about redemption and Michael Vick and whether winning cures all.” He said, “We’re going to talk about a little bit of everything on this show.”

“Weekly with Ed Gordon” airs at 12 PM EST., Sundays on BET. For more information about the show visit BET.

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Roland Martin talks with Gary Flowers head of the Black Leadership Forum about the One Nation march taking place on Saturday, October 2nd, 2010.

Prior to discussing the One Nation march, Roland and Flowers discuss the Black farmers settlement that was blocked yet again by Republicans. Flowers told Roland, “Today’s Republicans are yesterday’s Confederates …those who would block such legislation for Black farmers do not see a broader America.”

Flowers said the 10.2.10 march is “to bring about a better America,” highlighting the need for jobs, justice, education, homes that are not being foreclosed on.

He also stated if you marched “marched in 1950 in Montgomery, or marched in 1963 for jobs and freedom, or marched in 1965 for voting rights or ’68 for housing or ’97 for affirmative action or 2006 against the war, people should come out Saturday.”

Flowers explained the march has to drive people to the polls in November. He said, “for those who think they voted for change in 2008 … we have to continually vote every cycle and so we have to come out in big numbers on November 2nd.”

Roland asked Flowers about the differences between progressives as it relates to achieving jobs, justices and education. Flowers said, “of 118 industrialized nations, most nations fully fund public education form their federal government. The United States only puts in 9 percent. So 91 percent comes from state, county and local. And because of that we have school systems across the country that are jacked up, which now gives rise to the argument of charter schools.” Flowers also explained that he does not have problems with charter schools but wants the public schools system fixed first.

Flowers told Roland, “all students should be protected by equal opportunity under the law. You can’t just take the top students for charter school and leave the rest of the students on the bad side of town in a dilapidated school.” Flowers continued to explain that all students need the opportunities that are given to kids in the charter schools because “you never know when the next solution for cancer is coming from.”

For more information about the One Nation march visit OneNationWorkingTogether.org or call 202.263.4568.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Gary Flowers and don’t forget to attend or support the One Nation march on Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 in Washington D.C.

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Roland Martin discusses a letter he received from a friend who details trials and tribulations surrounding her father who never went to the doctor for a check up.

In the letter, the writer explained that if her father had received regular check ups the disease that her father is facing might have been avoidable. Currently he is suffering from a cancerous mass in his stomach that is not responding to chemotherapy. The cancer is spreading to other organs and he is too weak to endure stronger doses of radiation.

After reading the letter from Rene E. Amos Pettis, Roland challenged African-American men stating, “Don’t put your wives and your daughters and your sons and your family through this. If you truly love them you will go to the doctor. You will get checked up. It is not just about you being scared or you don’t want to hear the bad news.”

During Roland’s interview with Dr. James B. Benton, the doctor explained, when we get check ups we catch prostate cancer early. We catch these things early and we can have preventative care. Roland went on to say, “If these folks truly love their loved ones they will understand that if this happens I’m now incapacitated. Now their whole lives are now impacted by your selfish decision. You have to go to the doctor if you really care about the folks who are around you.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire comments and the letter, which was read on air to understand the importance as well as the consequences of not going to the doctor for regular check ups.

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Roland Martin talks with Dr. James B. Benton about getting men tested for prostate cancer and getting African-American men to the doctor.

Dr. Benton told Roland that African-American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world. Benton explained the test for prostate cancer is the “simplest test that you can get.” The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test is a simple test that should be taken at 40-years-old and should be done according to Dr. Benton every year.

The National Cancer Society says men should have a PSA test at 45 but Dr. Benton stated for African-American men or those with a family history of prostate cancer should take the PSA test at 40.

Dr. Benton told Roland men should take the PSA test and the digital rectal exam because in 20 percent of men the PSA may come back normal. He said, “it’s a key to combine both of those exams, but if you had to choose one. I would choose the PSA.” The digital rectal exam should also be done at 40.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Dr. James B. Benton as they discuss various aspects of detection, how diet can increase the risk of prostate cancer and possible treatments of the disease.

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Roland Martin talked with Karen Finney about the comments Bishop Eddie Long made before his congregation at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday, September 26, 2010.

After listening to an audio clip of Long’s comments on Sunday stating that he is not a perfect man and his intent to “fight this”, Finney told Roland, “that statement makes it pretty clear that something is going on. Because if there was nothing going on he would have been able to come out and say its not true and you’re going to learn that in the coming days.”

According to Finney, addressing the congregation from the pulpit was an attempt to intimidate the young men that filed suit against Long. Finney said, “perhaps he is gong to try to make some kind of deal on the side and he believes that he can kind of come back to the congregation and ask for forgiveness at some point.”

Roland asked Finny if she believes the approach being taken is the proper one considering how significant the allegations against Bishop Long are. Finney explained if “it’s not true then let’s say that and let’s get that out there.” She also said Long did not say that so maybe there is something there.

Finney explained that she would have advised him to go in the direction of getting the information out there to get ahead of it so that “we’re framing public opinion on what happen.” Finney expressed that Long kind of did that by stating he is not a perfect man.

She told Roland that she would have advised Long to sit down with a trusted media reporter in the market and get it out there. Finney also said, “clearly he felt like he wants to be defiant” framing this as David verses Goliath saying “he’s got five rocks he hadn’t thrown yet.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Karen Finney discussing Bishop Eddie Long’s comments before his congregation on Sunday September 26th, 2010.

Download audio file (martintjmskarenfinneybishoplong.mp3)

Roland Martin talks with Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League about the One Nation Rally taking place in Washington D.C. on October 2nd. Morial explained that he wants to see come out of the rally. He told Roland he wanted to see a large turnout of people from multiple races and a strong show of support for jobs and justice.

Morial explained there is a new activism on the right wing and “that activism not only has to be responded to, we have to be proactive and support what we’re for. And I think it is incumbent on those of us and the many who are listening who do want change in this nation. Who do want this nation to be rebuilt not to sit down, not to only sit in our homes. Not to remain silent but this is a way for us to express our voices collectively.”

According to Morial, the rally on October 2nd could be the largest gathering on the Mall in Washington D.C. since the 1963 march. Morial expressed the importance of being a part of the rally requesting people to be there and if they can not do so to follow the event online, in the media or take part in local events taking place across the nation.

There is a movement to “push the hands of time back with a lot of coded rhetoric.” Morial said the rally on October 2nd is an “effort to respond to that but also an effort for us to say that jobs, justice and education – those issues are the guides of future America.”

Morial also discusses Democratic enthusiasmts for the 2010-midterm elections. Morial said, “we can not stay home during the November elections, a lot is at stake.” He highlighted that African-American and Latino voter turnout will be pivotal in those states that have contested senate races.

In speaking about President Obama, Morial said the president does not have a magic wand and he has “encountered stiff turbulence and resistance primarily the senate filibuster.” He said, “we can’t give up hope because this battle to rebuild the nation and make it more inclusive has to go on.”

Roland and Morial are both critical of progressive, Democrats and liberal leaning organizations for doing a poor job getting out the African-American and Latino vote.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Marc Morial.

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Roland Martin talks with Craig Gillen, Bishop Eddie Long’s attorney about the lawsuits filed against Eddie Long. Bishop Long had agreed to appear on the Tom Joyner Morning Show but after a third lawsuit was filed on September 22, 2010, Long cancelled his scheduled interview with Roland Martin and press conference at the request of Gillen.

Before taking questions from Roland, Gillen read a prepared statement from Bishop Long. In the statement, Long expressed the charges being brought against him and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church are false and the false allegations “hurt him deeply.” Long asked for patience and categorically denied “each and everyone of these ugly charges.”

At the close of the prepared remarks, read by Gillen, Long stated he would address these charges on Sunday, September 26, in front of his congregation.

Gillen, Long’s attorney explained why there would not be a press conference this morning and told Roland that he is the reason why Long cancelled this morning’s scheduled appearances. “No lawyer likes to have his client in a situation where charges are made and the lawyer does not have control.”

Gillen said, “These false allegations are an attack on Bishop Long, personally. They are an attack on New Birth, the entire church and all of its 25,0000 good people.” He also said that it is an attack on the mentoring program that has “helped thousands of young men.” Gillen said that it is “deeply unfortunate that these allegations have been made.”

Roland asked Gillen why Bishop Long waited 48 hours to release a statement and ultimately waiting until Sunday to respond to allegations made against him. Gillen told Roland, “it is important for the bishop to make sure that as many folks as possible in that church understand and know he is going to be talking with them directly on Sunday morning.”

Gillen also answered questions about the three young men traveling with Long stating travel “is part of the mentoring program.” Gillen also explained the mentoring process as it relates to travel was not exclusive to the three plaintiffs who have filed suit against Bishop Long.

Before the interview ended, Roland asked Gillen if BJ Bernstein approached them about a settlement prior to the public release of the lawsuits. Gillen replied the only correspondence he has had with Bernstein is when he wrote her to say he felt that her conduct was in “violation of state bar rules.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s exclusive TJMS interview with Craig Gillen, the lawyer for Bishop Eddie Long.

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Roland Martin talks to BJ Bernstein, the attorney for the two men who have filed a lawsuit against New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Pastor, Bishop Eddie Long.

In this particular lawsuit Bernstein details Bishop Long sexually coerced the two young men as well as other young men related to the church. Roland asks Bernstein when did she become involved in this case and when are the plaintiffs stating the sexual acts took place.

Bernstein told Roland she got involved a few weeks ago after she got a phone call from one of the young men involved in the case. She explained that once she spoke with the boys she decided to get involved. Bernstein explained that her first reaction was not to “just go file a lawsuit” but to call federal authorities. She said, “I was shaken by the seriousness of these allegations.”

According to Bernstein the families of the two men moved to the area just to join the church and got to know Bishop Long through the Longfellow Academy starting when they were 14 years old. By the time they where 17 years old, according to Bernstein, Bishop Long started to change and “move toward more sexual contact. Including moving one of the young men into a home owned by a church member where certain acts occurred.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with BJ Bernstein the attorney for the two men that have filed suit against Bishop Eddie Long. Bernstein answers questions about travel and phone records as well as the young men being enticed by cars, clothes and jewelry. Bernstein discusses the two young men being put on New Birth Missionary Baptist Church’s payroll and the various sexual acts alleged in the lawsuit.

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Roland Martin talks with Michelle Singletary nationally syndicated columnist for the Washington Post about the end of the recession.

Singletary explained that she is not making too much of the reports that the recession is over. She said, “When you look at the numbers they say that it ended in 2009,but we may have entered into another recession.”

Singletary told Roland that government cannot force people to create jobs, “what more can the government do?” Singletary details a recent report that explained many business owners are sitting on money and could actually hire people. She said these business that are criticizing the Obama administration and the government “need to step up their game.”

Singletary said that President Obama is doing all that he can with some of the resources and things that have been set in place. Roland and Singletary both posed the question of what more can the government do to fix the economy. She said, “How much more debt can this country get into to fix this problem. Debt doesn’t solve anything.”

She also posShe told Roland “I think that Obama is doing what he could with some of the resources and things that he has in place. How much more debt can this country go into to fix this problem. Debt doesn’t solve anything.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Michelle Singletary. Singletary also discusses educating prison inmates on personal finance and the role that many Americans played in creating the recession.

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For more information about Michelle Singletary visit http://www.MichelleSingletary.com

Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, the federal government’s point man for the Gulf Coast oil disaster, said Sunday that BP’s well “is effectively dead” and posed no further threat to the Gulf.

Roland Martin talks with Admiral Thad Allen about the BP oil well being shut down and the effects of the oil spill on the Gulf Coast. Admiral Allen told Roland “this is not the end of the line for the well itself because there is another process called plugging and abandonment.” Allen explained their focus is now on cleaning up the marshes and the beaches as well as looking for sub-sea oil.

Roland asked Admiral Allen how are they monitoring the health of Gulf Coast clean up worker’s. Allen said he “signed a memorandum of understanding with OSHA … to make sure that we had proper workplace monitoring.” Admiral Allen also stated, “we have inspectors looking at work sites to make sure that people are using the proper protective equipment and we are taking the proper precautions.”

When asked how long the situation in the Gulf could last Admiral Allen said, “It’s difficult to say, but it’s going to go on for a while. What we have is a plan for each state and in Louisiana with each of the parish presidents to basically validate or verify how we call, ‘how clean is clean’.

Admiral Allen explained oil clean up efforts would continue until there is no more oil to recover or it is not the right way to proceed. He highlighted that in “some marsh areas where you want to let the natural flushing action of Mother Nature do it. If you go in and try to remove the oil you actually damage the marsh worse than you would if you let the oil naturally flush itself out.”

Since the oil spill began a large portion of the Gulf Coast has been closed to fishing. Admiral Allen told Roland, “a large number of areas remain closed right around the well site, but to the extent that NOAA has not observed oil for 30 days and there has been sufficient sea food testing with the Food and Drug Administration areas are being opened not only in federal but sate waters.” Admiral Allen said, “We would like to see it all open and get these fishermen back to work.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Admiral Thad Allen as he continues to discuss the next steps in cleaning up the BP oil spill and the long-term effects on the Gulf Coast.

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Roland Martin talks with Julieanna Richardson about a special project by HistoryMakers where 200 Black history makers will head back to school. The project aptly entitled “Back to School with the HistoryMakers” will allow prominent African-Americans to talk directly to young people in schools around the nation.

Richardson explained the premise behind today’s events saying, “we wanted them [The HistoryMakers] to give back.” She also said, many schools have written to The HistoryMakers saying the students are in need of “uplifting or someone to look up to.”

Some of the participants in today’s special events include former New York City Mayor, David Dinkins, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, Rev. Al Sharpton, Marla Gibbs and Fred Shuttlesworth just to name a few. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Rev. Alsharpton and Roger Wilkins with be at the Dorothy Height Charter School in Washington DC.

For more information about the The HistoryMakers visit http://www.thehistorymakers.com.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Julieanna Richardson.

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Roland Martin talks with Ben Jealous about the October 2nd rally in Washington DC. A number of progressive organizations are calling their members together to rally around three critical issues, jobs, justice and education.

Jealous told Roland there are 70 groups that are coming together to call out the “obstructionist in the Senate and say that job creation has to be job one.”

Roland asks Jealous about the midterm elections and enthusiasm levels of the Republican and Democratic parties. Jealous said, “ in a low turnout, small numbers of votes matter. Every single vote counts, we’ve got to stand up, we’ve got to remember that the majority of people in this country believe in inclusion. The majority of people in this country want to see folks in Washington solving problems and creating jobs and that the majority of the people in this country seem to have gone nowhere but back to the couch and we’ve got to get them off the couch.”

For more information about the 10.2.10 rally on Washington visit OneNationWorkingTogether.org or visit NAACP.org

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire interview with NAACP president, Ben Jealous.

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Roland Martin talks with Congressman James Clyburn about last night’s primary results.

Everyone keeps talking about how Democrats are going to be in trouble in November but after last night’s primaries it seems the Republican Party is going to be in trouble in November because the Tea Party is hijacking many of their top races.

Congressman Clyburn told Roland the Republicans “are paying for what they have put together. They thought they would be able to keep these people over in the corner, keep the quiet and just turn them out on election day, but these people are showing them that they too have a plan.”

According to Clyburn the Republican Party is splintered, “they are all over the place, they’ve got three or four different factions within the Republican Party.” Clyburn explained he has told his colleagues all the Democrats have to do is “stay focused.”

Clyburn explained that they Democrats are trying to get the country moving back in the right direction and President Obama is in fact doing that. In speaking on the economy, Clyburn said, “all the experts that have looked at what we’re doing are saying we did the right thing. If we had not done what we did this economy would have gone over the cliff.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Congressman James Clyburn. Clyburn also discusses conservative commentator, Christine Christine O’Donnell’s primary victory in Delaware, Karl Rove’s comments against O’Donnell, Congressman Charlie Rangel’s primary victory in Harlem and firing up the Democratic base for the 2010 midterm elections.

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Roland Martin talks with Kevin Powell about a face off article between he and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson. The article, featured in Ebony Magazine, takes on the issue of just how sensitive America is since the election of the nation’s first Black President and how the Obama administration and other Black leaders are gingerly handling the new reality.

Dr. Michael Eric Dyson argues, President Obama is politically naive for ignoring racial aspects of all forms of public policy. Kevin Powell believes that the community has its own responsibility to develop the next generation of Black Leaders.

Powell explains that though he loves the president, in November of 2008 he was not voting for him to be the “president of Black America nor of Hip Hop America nor of young America. He is the president of the United States of America.” Powell said, “It is always movements that are local, that have developed local leaders, be it Dr. King in the South, Malcolm X in Harlem or the range of young leaders that I mentioned in my Ebony piece that are doing phenomenal work around the country that are going to effect change.”

Powell told Roland, “they have put that kind of responsibility on Barack Obama simply because he is a Black man.” According to Powell that is “completely unfair” and takes away from what African-Americans have to do in our communities.

Powell who is from Brooklyn, NY, explained the real challenge is not President Obama not taking a position on race but, “this ghetto dictatorship that seems to control every inner city in Black America, where folks sit in office forever, where ministers that have large mega-churches that don’t really serve their communities and we have horrific levels of high school dropouts, HIV/AIDS … so the solutions have got to happen in Houston and Dallas and LA and New York from people who are really serious about changing and transforming our people.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s TJMS interview with Kevin Powell.

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Don’t miss “Is Black Leadership Dead.”

For more information about Kevin Powell visit http://www.kevinpowell.net.

Roland Martin talks to Dr. Rachael about the recent study from a university in Turkey says that chubby men last longer in bed with an average of 7.3 minutes and skinny men lasting an average of 1.8 minutes.

Roland asked Dr. Rachael what did she think of this study. Dr. Rachael told Roland “What studies have always shown is that guys who stay in the gym and are physically fit tend to actually last a shorter time in bed than the bigger guys.”

Dr. Rachael explained that as men get bigger, there is an enzyme called Aromatase that converts testosterone to estrogen. Dr. Rachael said, “What they are finding is that the bigger guys have a little more estrogen than the smaller guys and we’re thinking that the estrogen, the thing that makes you have a few more female characteristics actually is what makes you last a little longer in bed.”

Dr. Rachael also details that there is a drawback to this. She said, “higher estrogen levels in men are actually linked to a lot of bad things like heart disease, prostate enlargement. So its not necessarily a great thing.”

Roland and Dr. Rachael also discuss the flamboyant male dancing report. Dr. Rachael told Roland, “Historically speaking women always are going to gravitate to the guys who appear to have more resources, more power and more status.” She said “we see this in the animal kingdom. When a male can dance, that is what attracts us [women] to them.”

For more information about Dr. Rachael visit http://www.drrachael.com.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Dr. Rachael about chubby men lasting longer in bed than skinny men.

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Roland Martin talks with CNN’s Soledad O’Brien about her interview last night with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf on Larry King Live.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf framed this in terms of national security, saying that if they are forced to move it will embolden Muslims extremist around the world. O’Brien said, “I think what he was saying that Americans have to realize that Muslims around the globe watch everything that we do and say here.” O’Brien continued saying, “While he certainly regretted and I think would if he could take back the decision” to build the Islamic center near Ground Zero.

O’Brien explained that extremist may use this controversy to say Americans hate Muslims and America is at war with Islam. O’Brien said this could “fuel other extremist events and attacks.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Soledad O’Brien.

Download audio file (martintjms090910soledadobrienimam.mp3)

Roland Martin talks with Reggie Rock Bythewood about his ESPN 30 For 30 documentary “One Night in Vegas.” Bythewood’s documentary details the relationship between heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson and rapper Tupac Shakur.

Reggie Rock Bythewood explained the amazing thing he discovered while doing this documentary is that Tyson and Tupac had an “amazing friendship.” Bythewood said their friendship “became the anchor of the documentary that is coming on the air tonight.”

Bythewood discussed some of the people interviewed for the documentary, which include Michael Erick Dyson and Maya Angelou. Bythewood said, “The most significant moment of the entire documentary is Dr. Maya Angelou. She discusses the first time she meet Tupac on the set of ‘Poetic Justice’…” Bythewood also details a meeting between Angelou and Tyson when she visited him in jail. Bythewood told Roland, “We kind of get into the grit of this world but on the other side, we’re just kind of reflecting another piece of the story that no one has ever seen before.”

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with Reggie Rock Bythewood.

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DON’T MISS “One Night in Vegas” tonight on ESPN at 8 PM EST.

Roland Martin talks with Congressman Kendrick Meek at the TJMS Family Reunion, Friday, September 3, 2010.

Congressman Meek recently won the Democratic nomination to run for US Senate in the state of Florida in the 2010 midterm elections.

Roland began his conversation with Meek by asking him what is the number one issue in the upcoming elections, is it the economy, terrorism, healthcare, the ground zero mosque, is President Obama a Muslim and what would he do about jobs if he were to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

Meek told Roland, “The economy is going to be the driving issue and it will be until we get no only Florida back to work but this country back to work.” He continued to explain there are corporations that are withholding money, not investing, not hiring. Meek said, “I think they are waiting until the end of the election, but we must stimulate the middle class.”

Meek commented on the U.S. deficit saying, “No was concerned about a deficit when it was time to go to war. Everyone was [like] let’s borrow the money, let’s go to war, let’s do whatever we have to do but when it comes down to domestic investment and infrastructure and training and making sure that we stand up for those that are looking for jobs right now folks are having a problem with it.” Meek highlighted that that Democrats passed PAYGO, where if government spends money they have to pay for it. Meek said, “… its very important that we go head to head on that argument.”

Yesterday Al Lawson, a prominent African-American state Democratic leader, endorsed Meek’s opponent Charlie Crist. If Congressman Meek is not elected there will be no African-Americans in the Senate. Roland asked Meek how did he feel about Democrats in his own state who are not willing to support the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate? Meek replied. “It’s disappointing … he endorsed a Republican in my opinion.”

Meek is scheduled to debate Marco Rubio this Sunday on Meet The Press.

For more information about Congressman Kendrick Meek visit KendrickMeek.com.

Listen to Roland Martin’s TJMS interview with Congressman Kendrick Meek from the Tom Joyner Family Reunion.

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Roland Martin talked with RNC Chairman Michael Steele on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Wednesday September 1st, 2010.

Roland began the interview by asking Steele about President Obama’s address and ending the war in Iraq. Steele told Roland that last night President Obama touched on a key point saying that an effort to bring some degree of stabilization to Iraq has been meet. Steel highlighted the troop surge by stating, “…as a result of the surge under the Bush term to actually push more deeply in to secure the province better went a long way to doing that.”

Steel explained that one of the concerns he had with President Obama’s speech is that the President should have laid out what the next steps are, what is the United States role in the war on terrorism in dealing with our partners and those who work against us in that part of the world. Steele said, “In that sense … I thought it was a missed opportunity to directly define for the American people the next steps. Not just in Afghanistan.” Steele also said, “We’ve got serious issues that are still on the table with North Korea.” Steel added, “We can not take our eyes off what is going on in Iran.”

Steele expressed concern over the status of Iraq saying, “… while everyone notes the turning of a page, they do so holding their breath because they’re not sure how long or how sustainable this new climate will be there.”

When the conversation switched to the economy, Roland asked Steele how can Republicans not support a small business jobs bill, which we know that’s where most jobs come from in this country? Steel said, “I agree it sounds great on the headline on top of newspaper, but the reality of it is, look at the bill and does it do for small businesses what small businesses need to have done.” Steel continued in his response saying, “How much credit and capital is it made accessible to them,” he also questioned the regulatory burdens put on those small businesses as well as the new regulatory burdens that will begin in January when the fiscal note on health care is due.

Tom Joyner asked Steele what are the Republicans doing for Black people. Steele said,” The Republicans aren’t the ones who control the committees and the votes and the programs that are coming out of the Administration.” He noted that “… that will all change come January of next year.”

The Black farmers’ settlement was also discussed during the interview with Steele stating “… Harry Reid could move this thing in a heartbeat. The President could release $100 million that’s already free and clear in a heartbeat. They haven’t. Republicans are working with John Boyd and the Black farmers to get that done.” Roland responded by explaining that $100 million could be released but that sill would leave $1.4 billion owed to the Black farmers.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire TJMS interview with RNC Chair Michael Steele as they discuss the end of the Iraq War, 2010 midterm elections and the Black farmers settlement.

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Roland Martin talks with Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine about what Democrats have to do to keep Republicans from taking over the House and possibly the Senate.

Prior to discussing the 2010 midterm elections, Roland asks Chairman Kaine what should President Obama tell the American people about the draw down of troops in Iraq during his address this evening from the Oval Office. Kaine told Roland President Obama should focus on the promise that he made during his presidential campaign and that it is a promise that he kept.

Roland opens the discussion about the midterm elections by stating a “generic Republican” is beating a Democrat by 10 percent and suddenly Democrats are saying that we could lose the House. Roland highlights that most of the Legislation being passed is has done in the House. Roland said, “If you lose the House and we have the constant Senate stalemate, we could have more gridlock over the next two years.” Kaine replied, “if we lose the House there’s gonna be challenges.”

Tom Joyner asked Kaine what are Democrats doing to solidify the African-American vote for the 2010 midterm elections. Kaine explained that he has done or will do events in the African-American community and said that he was “… working very closely with the Congressional Black Caucus.” He continued to explain that they have started an national ad buy on African-American radio stations that will begin the week after Labor Day and a newspaper ad buy the following week.

Kaine said, “The point that we’re just going to make over and over again is that the other side wants to take the country back. We’ve got to have the President’s back. We don’t need people who are going to trifle with him about whether he was born in the United States or has the legitimate ability to speak to school children on the opening day of class, much less fighting him on every policy that he is trying to do to get this nation turned around.”

Roland asked Kaine if African-Americans, who have the expertise, are being hired in critical positions to get the Black vote out. Kaine explained that he has been working with the Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network. He went on to say that they have a very prominent African-American polling firm that is polling and conducting focus groups all over the country. The ads that are being produced are “based on the extensive polling and research that we’ve done in the African-American community…” Kaine stated that they are conducting an extensive church outreach in the African-American community as well.

Listen to Roland Martin’s entire interview with Democratic Party Chairman Tim Kaine.

Sound off: Do you think the Democratic Party is doing enough to get out the Black vote? Can they hold on to the House and the Senate?

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Roland Martin discusses Glenn Beck, the “self-professed rodeo clown” and the Restoring Honor Rally that took place on Saturday August 28 2010.

After watching mainstream media treat the rally as if it was some kind of massive movement and call Beck the an intriguing person of the week, Roland decided to put what took place on Saturday into perspective.

Listen to Roland Martin’s analysis of the entire weekend starting with Beck’s interview on Friday with Joe Madison.

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Roland Martin talks with form New Orleans mayor, Ray Nagin about the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Roland asks Mayor Nagin what issues that stand out as the most important and urgent need for New Orleans. Nagin told Roland that there are a lot of issues, “we’re basically rebounding, it’s an incredible come back in effect right now but we still have a long, long way to go.”

Mayor Nagin went on to highlight the problems with the Road Home Fast Track Program and discrimination against certain neighborhoods in the city of New Orleans. Nagin said, “That’s probably the biggest challenge, to make sure that those citizens, all citizens get their fair share of the Road Home grants.”

Roland asks Mayor Nagin his detractors who feel enough was done and what did he think was a major accomplishment in the wake of Katrina. Nagin replied, that his detractors should look at the Brookins Institute report that points to the city being in recovering and described the city as being in transformation. He cited another report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, which stated 74 percent of the citizens in New Orleans think that the recovery is headed in the right direction.

Roland also asked Nagin in we have seen the dismantling of Black political power process in New Orleans in the wake of the hurricane. Nagin told Roland that he would not describe it crumbling as crumbling. Nagin said, “I think we are going through a transition.” He explained to Roland that many people were displaced by the hurricane and they are moving back. Prior to Katrina, New Orleans was about 67 percent black and right now they are at about 62 percent African-American.

Nagin addressed the conspiracy theory about African-Americans being forced out of New Orleans. He also commented on Mayor Landrieu calling in the Department of Justice to overturn what many describe as an absolute corrupt and out of control police department.

Listen to the entire interview with former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.

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Last week the Schott Foundation released a report stating that the American educational system is systematically failing black male students. According to the Schott report, 47 percent of African-American males graduate from high school. (New York City 28 percent, Philadelphia 28 percent, Broward County Florida 39 percent, Washington D.C., Chicago 44 percent, Nashville 47 percent).

Roland Martin talks with John H. Jackson, President and CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education about the low high school graduation rates for African-American males and what can be done to reverse the trend.

John H. Jackson expressed that he was shocked when saw these numbers and stated “we are going in the wrong direction with these numbers.” As a result of African-American males not graduating, in New York City, over 50 percent of Black males are unemployed and in Chicago, 5000 Black males are lost each year. “They are not in school, they are not employed and no one can say that that doesn’t impact the crime that is happening across the city.”

Jackson referred to the low graduation rates among African-American males as a “system failure.” He told Roland, where the system is working, states and cities have insured that Black males have access to early childhood education, highly effective teachers, a college bound curriculum and equitable instructional resources. Jackson said, “This has to be dealt with at the systems level.”

Roland stated that it is also a community issue, there have to be people at home driving the issue and Black men at home handling their business.

To view the Schott report and to get more information visit http://blackboysreport.org/

Listen to the entire interview with John H. Jackson, President and CEO of the Schott Foundation.

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Roland Martin talks to top pollster, Cornell Belcher about what we can expect in the midterm elections this November and the Florida primary results.

Belcher told Roland that Florida is huge when it comes to the midterm elections and setting up 2012. He explained that the Tea Party might have helped the Democrats by knocking off some of the established Republican candidates in primaries across the country. “Arguably the weaker candidate for the general election has come out of the Republican primary and it’s going to be really helpful for the Democrats…”

Belcher highlighted the other thing that stood out about last night’s primaries is money. “Jeff Greene spent $30 million and come up short against Kendrick.” Belcher said, “Kendrick was helped out a lot in the end by President Clinton and President Obama bringing home the base of the Democratic Party.” On the Republican side, Scott spent $40 million dollars to win the Republican primary in Florida, which Belcher called “incredible.”

Belcher detailed the path to victory for Kendrick Meek in the upcoming three-way race for Senate in Florida. Belcher told Roland, “I think the three-way makes it a easier task for Kendrick there in Florida …” He went on to say that Charllie Crist who was probably gong to be a heavy favorite had he won the Republican nomination was forced out by the Tea Party as a result of showing President Obama some respect. According to Belcher the Tea Party viewed that as an “unforgivable sin.”

Belcher said, “If Meek runs a good campaign, which I’m sure he will and if he gets the backing of the Democratic establishment with money and he can tap into that Obama, new third electorate in Florida … I give him a fighters chance.”

Listen to the entire interview with Cornell Belcher and his analysis of the upcoming general election in Florida.

Download audio file (martintjmscornellbelcherfloridaprimary082510.mp3)

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Last week the Pew Center released a report that showed18 percent of Americans believe that President Barack Obama is a Muslim. This figure is up from 11 percent last year. In last year’s poll, 48 percent thought that he was a Christian, this year only 34 percent believe that he is a Christian. 43 percent claimed they have no idea what President Obama’s faith is.

Roland Martin talks with Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell about Americans questioning President Obama’s faith and could this have a political impact on him. Pastor Caldwell is the pastor of the largest Methodist church in the country, Windsor Village. He was spiritual adviser to President George W. Bush and has often prayed with President Barack Obama.

Pastor Caldwell calls this controversy “amazingly ridiculous.” 60 percent of those polled said they got the information about President Obama being a Muslim from the media. Caldwell said he was glad that the “Tom Joyner show and brother Roland Martin are addressing this issue head on.”

Caldwell told Roland, “At the end of the day, we all know that if your opponent can attack what you do and who you are they have laid the foundation for your defeat. So this whole politics of personal faith destruction is simply a strategy to defeat who the president says he is.”

Listen to Roland’s entire interview with Pastor Kirby Jon Caldwell.

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Roland Martin talks with Congressman Kendrick Meek about his campaign for U.S. Senate and his opponent, billionaire, Jeff Greene.

According to the poling data at the time of this interview, Congressman Meek had an 11-point lead in the polls. Roland asks Congressman Meek what has happened in the last few weeks of his campaign.

Meek states that people have gravitated to the campaign’s message of getting people back to work, health care and protecting the environment. He told Roland that there were two visits, one from President Clinton and President Obama, who came to Florida to raise money for the Democratic Party.

Meek said, “the President and I were able to grab a sandwich after that event and that made news and we have been working hard throughout the state.”

According to Meek, Jeff Greene is outspending him 6 to 1 by pumping $27 million into the campaign. Meek explains that his campaign has put very little into it because of limited resources.

Roland said, “This is a national election because … when Roland Burris leaves there will be no African-Americans in the U.S. Senate,” unless Meek is able to win in Florida. That makes this race a “huge deal beyond just the State of Florida.”

Meek requested that the people of Florida get out and vote on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 between 7 am and 7 pm.

For more information about Kendrick Meek and to support his campaign visit KendrickMeek.com

Download audio file (martintjmskendrickmeek082310.mp3)

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Roland Martin talked with Spike Lee about his new documentary “If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise”, which airs on HBO August 23rd and 24th. This documentary is a follow up to Lee’s award winning documentary, “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts”, which detailed the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Lee explained the one thing that stood out to him and connected “When the Levees Broke” with his new documentary is greed. He said, people are so greedy it ends up with people getting hurt and killed, “It was the greed of the Army Corps of Engineers and cutting corners that brought about the dismantling of the levees and … BP threw caution and safety to the wind for profits. And eleven families now have lost members because of total out and out greed.”

Lee stated he wanted people to be aware that “this is a great part of this country and for too long people just pushed New Orleans, Louisiana and the Gulf states to the side like they didn’t matter.” Lee said, “Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, every year they fight off, neck and neck for the poorest, worst educated … so whatever is last those three states are always battling it out.”

Don’t miss Spike Lee’s new documentary, “If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise” August 23rd and 24th on HBO.

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Roland Martin discusses the controversy surrounding the building of a mosque near Ground Zero. President Barack Obama is being criticized because he spoke out about the controversy saying, that it is the American ideal, it is in our constitution to have religious freedom in this country. And that Muslims have the same right as any other religion to build a house of worship and to practice their religion without any form of discrimination.

Republicans and Democrats, mainly conservative Republicans have been angered by this decision. Polling data shows that the majority of Americans do not believe the mosque should be built because feelings are too raw from September 11th, although they feel that Muslims have the right to build the mosque.

Roland said, “how can we stand here and talk about our troops fighting for freedom and democracy across the world, in Iraq, in Afghanistan. And then we stand here and say we’re not going to practice that very democracy in this country. This to me makes no sense.”

“What you have is a bunch of people … who do not like Muslims. They want to group all of them in to the same category.” Roland went on to say, “it is not right, it is not fair and it is wrong.”

“As somebody who believes in Jesus Christ, I can not stand here and say it is OK for us to discriminate against Muslims because we don’t like the fact that they are building in a certain place.” Roland said, “I will not stand silent as people seek to demonize fellow Americans because I would not like it if somebody did it to African-Americans or other Christians.”

“If they want to build this mosque there then so be it. That’s why we fight for American ideals. That’s why we fight for the Constitution for all of us to have those rights as Americans, equal citizens under the law.”

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Yesterday MediaMatters.org posted the transcript and audio of Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s on air discussion with a Black woman where the n-word was used several times.

Dr. Laura made the point during the on air conversation that, “Black guys use it all the time. Turn on HBO listen to a Black comic and all you hear is n*****, n*****, n*****”. She also said, “if anybody with not enough melanin says it it’s a horrible thing, but when Black people say it its affectionate”. Dr. Laura also accused the caller of having a chip a chip on her shoulder by saying some people are hypersensitive.

Roland explains that African-American comedians do say the word it all the time. Comedians say things about Black people, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, gays, white men, white women, “but it doesn’t mean you come right back on your radio show and just say hey, they use it all the time”.

He goes on to ask the question, how would Dr. Laura like it if her husband’s friends went around using the c-word, the b-word or the k-word which is a negative connotation regarding Jews? Would she say that you have a chip on your shoulder?

“This is the thing that people keep missing in this whole conversation, that it is offensive.” Roland said African-Americans should stop using the n-word. “We can’t continue to sit here and say oh its ok for us to use it, but if you are someone that’s white, you can’t use it”. He also said that is a separate conversation from Dr. Laura, being a radio talk-show host, throwing the word out there and then telling the caller you have a chip on your shoulder.

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Comedian George Wilborn was recently denied an opportunity to buy a $1.7 million home in Bridgeport, IL. The Department of Urban Housing and Development has filed a administrative complaint against the homeowners, the real estate agent and his firm, Prudential Rubloff Properties.

Roland Martin talks with James Perry, Board Member and Executive Director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center about how you can protect yourself from housing discrimination.

Yearly, millions of people are victims of housing discrimination. Perry explains that even though there are four million violations of the Federal Fair Housing Act every year, only 30,000 claims are actually filed. Perry said, “people experience discrimination, but they don’t act on it”.

The most important thing anyone can do, if they fell that they have been discriminated against, is to call the National Fair Housing Alliance or HUD and file a complaint. There is an investigation process in place to determine whether or not a person has been discriminated against.

For more information about housing discrimination visit NationalFairhousing.org.

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