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Stephen M. Davidson: What Should Progressives Do?

2009-12-21T00:44:22Z

Not surprisingly, progressives are disappointed at the turn the battle over health care reform has taken. The Senate is considering a bill that is much watered down even from the House-passed bill, which also left a lot to be desired.

While both would add 30 million or more Americans to the roles of the insured, provide subsidies to make coverage affordable for many of them, and prohibit insurers from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions, they don't do much to keep down the costs of either insurance or medical care.

Some see it as a windfall for private insurers who, not satisfied with the revenues from those 30 million new customers, have lobbied hard to limit their exposure for the cost of care. The result is that, for some plans, the insurer will be on the hook for only 60% of the cost of care, leaving the policyholder responsible for a whopping 40%.

Since those are the only policies many of the new customers will be able to afford, we are in danger of creating a new cohort of underinsured Americans - mandated by the federal government. We already know what will happen to them because many of today's underinsured cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs and decide to forgo services they need. And they are people who, despite their limited incomes, value insurance enough to have purchased it.

So, given this situation, progressives are, not unreasonably, disappointed. Should they, therefore, do as Howard Dean recommends and reject the current bills in the hope of electing more progressives in the midterm elections and starting again? My answer is no, and here is why.

First, having studied the history of past reform attempts for my new book, Still Broken: Understanding the U. S. Health Care System," (due out in the spring), I may be more aware than most of the enormity of the political accomplishment to date. Less than a year into President Obama's term, a bill has already passed the House and there is at least a fair chance that the Senate will pass one, too.

Harry Truman, John Kennedy, and Bill Clinton were not even able to get floor votes on their reform proposals. Only Lyndon Johnson, in the wake of both President Kennedy's assassination and his own landslide victory in 1964, was able to accomplish that. Even with those favorable conditions, however, it took the exercise of his formidable legislative skills for him to induce the Congress to enact Medicare and Medicaid. Not only do those conditions not obtain now, but also the Congress is a vastly different place today. Close may only count in horseshoes, but the events to date argue for trying to get as good a bill as possible, and then, passing it.

Secondly, it is extremely risky to think that the midterm elections will produce a stronger Democratic majority in the Senate than the present one. If it happens, that result will differ from the norm in which the majority party loses seats in midterm elections.

Third, if the Democratic majority does not increase, how soon will another president want to make the effort given how hard it has been to get even this far?

Fourth, we must not ignore the nature of the legislative process in the Senate. Last week, with the Medicare buy-in for 55-year-olds and a weakened public option, the leadership was only 2 votes shy of the 60 - not 51 - needed to pass the bill. Given a process dominated by the threat of a filibuster, those last 2 senators - whoever they are - have enormous influence.

There are at least 2 reasons to work to improve this bill, and then to vote for whatever version is on the table. One is the undeniable good the bill will do. It may not be as much as we would like, but it is real nonetheless. And given the history, it needs to be recognized as a substantial accomplishment.

The second reason is that the new law may change the politics of reform in ways that could make a better bill possible in the future. The key to real reform is finding a way to mobilize public opinion to counter the power of special economic interests as well as the narrow political interests of a Republican opposition determined to kill any reform.

The new law will create a group of 30 million or more who will buy coverage they did not have previously because the law requires them to do so. Then, imagine how they will feel when, having laid out some of their limited funds for insurance premiums, they discover that they must also pay out-of-pocket 40 percent of their medical bills. They will be ripe for organizing by a group which, like AARP does for Medicare beneficiaries, focuses on issues of great concern to them and can bring the influence of those 30 million people to bear until their representatives improve the law.

Add to Medicare beneficiaries and the 30 million newly underinsured the millions of others who fear change today because they are afraid of losing the coverage they have. A much more concerted effort is needed to persuade them that they are operating under an illusion. Even if they expect to retain coverage because they work for a large employer, they need to be reminded of the extent to which that coverage has already been weakened by recent increases in out-of-pocket costs and the imposition of more administrative hurdles before the insurers will pay their doctors for services rendered.

So, we should see this episode as part of a continuing saga, rather than as a process that ends with the President's signature on a new law enacted by this Congress. This is a bill worth supporting. Then, on the day after it passes, begin to organize to make it better.

Tamar Abrams: Washington's Snow and the Lack of Community Spirit

2009-12-20T14:38:50Z

The snow that overwhelmed the Washington area yesterday has left behind great beauty as well as an indicator of what is essentially wrong with American society. I know that's a lot to pin on a weather event, but I believe it's true. Let me preface this by saying few people in the DC area are natives, and many of us are rattled by a few inches of the frozen stuff. Over the course of 24 hours, we were slammed with anywhere between 15-20 inches of snow. It literally shut down public transportation, restaurants and shops, postal and newspaper delivery. Forced to remain in our homes, many people baked or cleaned or wrapped gifts or shopped online. I decided in late afternoon to shovel the sidewalk in front of my home so I could make a dent in the blizzard-like drifts.

This morning dawned clear and bright. A picture postcard day with snow covering cars and roads. But it is also the last weekend day before Christmas and my neighbors were hard at work shoveling their cars out of the snow left by nature and by the snowplows. No easy task. I noticed that my portion of the sidewalk is the only one that's been shoveled as I joined the masses clearing a way for their cars to hit the road. At one point, I walked over to my neighbor who never shovels his walk as he was working hard on freeing his car.

"Are you going to shovel your sidewalk?" I asked, indicating where my property line ended as did visible pavement. "No," he replied. "I'm not planning to use it." I pointed out that our stretch of the block leads to the elementary school -- which his children attend -- and that a cleared sidewalk meant they wouldn't have to walk in the street. He shrugged and said he didn't think he would have time to do it as he returned to digging out his car.

I hope I am not turning into Mrs. Kravitz the judgmental neighbor, but it seems to me that snow affords us a good opportunity to care for one another. We can shovel for our neighbor who is elderly and homebound, we can bake extra cookies for the mom stuck at home with small children, and we can make it possible for pedestrians to navigate safely. Community is about everyone doing their part to keep things going. It's about sharing the responsibility as we share in the rewards.

The best of America is reflected in our can-do spirit, our ability to pick ourselves -- and each other -- up and dust ourselves off after things go awry. We are a country that has been blessed with many gifts which, it seems to me, requires us to share. That's why the current health care bill is so pathetic -- it could have been written by my neighbor. I'm not planning to use a public option... my kids don't need CHIP -- so why should I bother? Don't get me started on greenhouse gases! The point is that whether we're talking about shoveling a sidewalk so others don't get hurt or about providing decent health care to all Americans -- we are a nation that could use a big dose of altruism this season. But it's not coming down the chimney -- it needs to come from the heart of each of us.

Winter Storm BLASTS East Coast (PHOTOS)

2009-12-20T04:07:44Z

A major snowstorm has been blasting the east coast, leaving people stranded in airports and travel plans in disarray. What's a person (or First Dog) to do? Some tried skiing, playing football, or just a good ol' fashion snowball fight. If you're stuck inside, here's a look at what you're missing:

Cop Brings Gun To Snowball Fight

2009-12-19T17:30:10Z

According to an eyewitness, a D.C. Police detective went nuts after kids pelted his Hummer with snowballs at 14th and U Streets NW this afternoon. The cop got out of his car and started waving his gun around. He did not immediately identify himself as a police officer. He calmed down once his fellow police arrived. Apparently, someone called 911 to report a man with gun. The snowball fight had been well hyped on Twitter. The news of the incident first broke there. We caught up with an eyewitness moments ago. Photos and video to come.

Robyn Griggs Lawrence: White House Guests See Green at Blair House and State Department Magazine Holiday Design Showcase Reception

2009-12-17T18:13:32Z

Imagine you get invited to decorate one of the nation's most historic and prestigious houses for the holidays--and you have three weeks to do it. First, you panic. Then, you get busy.

This has been the Natural Home team's reality over the past month. We found out in mid-November that we were one of six magazines invited to decorate rooms at the U.S. State Department and Blair House, the president's guest house--and we had to get gorgeous, green decor installed by December 4. We immediately got on the phone with a few of our favorite vendors--including Viva Terra and Ten Thousand Villages--and called in the most talented designers we know to help. Denver-based Associates III, a pioneering design firm that literally wrote the book on green interiors, took on the Jackson Conference Room and Entry at Blair House, while Washington, D.C.-based J.D. Ireland got to work on the Monroe Room at the State Department. Our staff members started crafting many of the DIY Christmas projects we've featured in the magazine over the years.

Homemade decoupaged glass balls adorned live Christmas trees. Photo by Rob Cardillo.

We went for simple, stylish and sustainable elegance--decorations that would respect and enhance these beautiful rooms without competing with their classic decor. We wanted to show that Christmas doesn't have to be about excess, so we kept our decorations tasteful and relatively minimal, choosing every item with care. Our rooms feature only decorations with a story to tell: angels made from old oil drums by Haitian artisans, fragrant eucalyptus mistletoe balls made by a Peruvian cooperative, jars and bells made from recycled glass. We hung homemade citrus slice ornaments and decoupaged glass balls on live Christmas trees that lent festivity to the rooms--and will continue to bring cheer when they're planted outside come spring.

We decorated the Blair House's traditional annual 9-foot Christmas tree with natural quartz crystals, LED lights and a big white bow. Photo by Rob Cardillo.

We debuted our decorations during a State Department reception last Monday, which honored the families of dignitaries and diplomats unable to be home for the holidays and showcased its evergreen goal of encouraging international peace and diplomacy. We could think of no better way to convey those wishes than by choosing fair trade, artisan-made items that benefit our planet and its citizens. During the reception--where we got to show off our work to, among others, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton--people were mesmerized by our 9-foot Christmas tree, dazzling with bright white LED lights (which use 75 to 80 percent less energy than traditional bulbs), quartz crystals and a big white bow. The crystals (which I'm now coveting for my own tree) are said to bring spiritual clarity--not a bad thing for passersby to glimpse through the window as they head down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

Peace be with you.

Michelle Obama Effect? 41% Think She's Changed Fashion For The Better (POLL)

2009-12-16T11:01:32Z

We've been talking about the 'Michelle Obama Effect' since the term was introduced, but there's finally some semi-scientific research charting the First Lady's impact on the fashion world. Marist recently polled the public, compiling their opinions on this significant issue. Here's the findings:

41% of registered voters believe Michelle Obama has changed fashion for the better.

8% think she has impacted it negatively.

39% say she has had no impact on it at all.

12% are unsure.

While in April:

37% of voters said Mrs. Obama's style had a positive affect on fashion.
5% thought she made it worse.
34% said she had little impact on it.
24% were unsure.

So what do you think?

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DC: Gay Marriage Vote PASSES City Council

2009-12-15T14:44:21Z

WASHINGTON — After suffering setbacks from California to New York, Maine to New Jersey, same-sex marriage supporters got a victory Tuesday with the City Council's vote to legalize gay marriage in the District of Columbia.

Gay couples could begin tying the knot in the district as early as March. The only hurdles left to clear are the city's mayor, who has promised to sign the bill, and Congress, which has final say over laws in the nation's capital. The district's nonvoting delegate to Congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton, said she expects no opposition there.

Diane Tucker: What's an Underemployed Gal to Do? Run For Office.

2009-12-15T12:45:58Z

Since the recession began, millions of women have found themselves underemployed, working in survival jobs for which they're overqualified. If you're in the process of making similar life changes, why not run for office? America needs more women in politics.

Because why?

"Governments with more women legislators are more productive," noted the World Economic Forum.

"National parliaments with the largest numbers of women have the lowest levels of corruption," reported the World Bank.

It's a shame more American women aren't thinking outside the box, by putting their names inside the ballot box. Men still dramatically outnumber women in the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, state legislatures, and city councils. The U.S. ranks a pathetic 71st out of 189 countries in the proportion of women in national legislatures. American women aren't even close to the magical 33% tipping point where we could begin to change the conversation.

No wonder the big stimulus winner in 2009 was Wall Street. The Old Boy's Club decided that if we bailed out Wall Street, the problems on Main Street would take care of themselves. "Nonsense!" said my gal pals, but few politicians heard them.

More women in politics -- that's change I can believe in.

I know, I know, it means we would have to knock on doors ... and we would have to raise money ... mean people might diss us ... and ... and ...

Ladies, it's time to stop eliminating ourselves from positions of power. Today I spoke with a woman who took the plunge, got elected, loves her new career, and is happy to share lessons learned. Anne Doyle was one of the first women in the U.S. to gain access to professional locker rooms as a sports reporter for CBS-TV in Detroit. Years later, she rose through the ranks of Ford Motor Company to become director of North America Communications. In 2009 she ran for a seat on the Auburn Hills City Council -- and won.

* * *

Politicians live in a fishbowl. Weren't you afraid of becoming so visible a target?

Anne Doyle: No, not at all, but I understand what you're saying. Fear is a huge barrier for women. I worked for three decades in sportscasting and the auto industry, places where people didn't always want me. I'm not afraid anymore.

But don't you think a lot of women are too thin-skinned for politics?

Women are better able than men to receive emotional messages. It's one of our strengths, but it also makes us more vulnerable. If we're going to put ourselves out there and become leaders, we simply have to accept that a certain number of people aren't going to like us. You grow thick skin like bark on a tree -- it takes time. The more you let the criticisms go, the better you get at it.

Is fundraising another huge barrier for women?

I had no problem raising money at all. In fact, and this is funny, I was so successful at raising money the other candidates started saying, "Hey, she's trying to buy the election!"

Well then, you're the right person to ask for advice on soliciting campaign contributions.

You start with people who believe in you. I wrote a personal letter outlining what I wanted to do, and asking for help. In response, several friends wrote sizable checks and it turbo-charged me. A California woman learned about me online and mailed a check. That was huge! We all have to write bigger checks for other women. It's in our best interest to get more women into politics.

Why is 33% considered the tipping point?

It's critical mass -- the point at which an environment changes in such a way, it can no longer go back to what it was. Take the Supreme Court, for example. One woman justice is newsworthy -- she's first. Two women are still the exception, not the rule. When you have three women on the bench, it stops being unusual.

Whether you're talking about the halls of Congress or a board of directors, until women achieve 33% we're just tokens. Our numbers are too small to influence men to see things in a completely different way. It's not that women are better, it's that balance among the two genders is better. Across the board in a variety of professions, the number of women in leadership positions today is only 18%. We have a long way to go. That's why it's all about numbers now.

How do we move the needle?

We can move the needle the fastest by getting more women elected to political office, because that's where female leaders are the most visible.

I was surprised to learn that women's progress into leadership positions has been stagnating for more than a decade.

We made tremendous progress in the 70s and 80s, but in the 90s and 2000s the numbers got bigger only in the middle. Today we have more women doctors, more women lawyers, more women with graduate degrees, but we are stalled in terms of progress into leadership positions that shape the culture. How many women CEOs are there today? That number has barely changed in 20 years, even though there is a perception that it has.

Let's say I want to throw my hat in the ring. What are the first three things I should do?

First, start talking about it. I guarantee you'll be amazed at the encouragement you get. Next, become very clear about why you want to run. One way to do this is by developing your candidate website. It doesn't have to be fancy, but the process will force you to put into concise words who you are and what you stand for. Finally, make a list of people you can ask for campaign contributions, because you'll need money for postage, a Web site, and campaign materials.

On the slim chance I raise more than $2 in campaign contributions, what's next?

I highly recommend the White House Project training. It's a national, non-partisan initiative focused on dramatically increasing the number of women running for office. They've already trained over 9,000 women candidates, and hope to train well over 36,000 by 2013. I enrolled in their Debate Boot Camp, where I learned how to refine my message and present it to a large group.

You took the risk and ran for office. What was the reward?

Knocking on doors, I met the incredible people who are my neighbors. It created a powerful sense of community. That was the richest reward for me. You can't imagine how it feels, seeing your yard sign on the front lawn of people you've never met. I would jump out of my car and introduce myself. After the election, I was keenly aware these people were counting on me.

How does being a politician compare to being a journalist or a corporate executive?

Journalists are independent operators -- they develop and write a story, it's their own work -- and corporate executives make many decisions unilaterally. Political leaders, however, can't get much done by themselves. You have to collaborate. You have to influence people. Somebody called politics the art of the possible. It's about getting people to evolve together. Where's our common ground?

Can women excel at this?

The experience of running convinced me that women have a tremendous natural ability for politics. We just have to get over our fear of it and go for the brass ring. The good news is that there's been a dramatic change in attitude about women in leadership positions. I want to say to women, "C'mon, let's go!"

Have you run for political office? Are you thinking about running in 2010? In 2012? What is the best advice you would give women thinking of running for a first time? Share your questions, concerns, and experiences with us and other women in the Comments thread below.

DC Armory Wants Group To Pay $77,000 To Host Free Medical Clinic

2009-12-12T04:20:25Z

A non-profit group that provides free medical treatment to those in need is running into fees and regulations that could derail its plans to treat thousands at a temporary clinic in Washington, D.C. next month.

The Washington Convention And Sports Authority, a quasi-public group overseen by a board mostly appointed by D.C.'s mayor, wants to charge the non-profit group Remote Area Medical $77,000 to use the D.C. Armory for three days in January 2010. RAM, which typically treats thousands of uninsured and under-insured patients at temporary free clinics nationwide, says it cannot afford to pay that large a fee for the space. The Washington Post reports:

Founder Stan Brock said RAM has never been asked by other site operators to pay anything approaching that fee. The cost is "prohibitively high" and still climbing, Brock said in a telephone interview this week from Knoxville, Tenn., where RAM is headquartered. "We just don't know what the bottom line is going to be. There are things that just keep coming up."

But costs aren't the only obstacle that could keep RAM out of D.C. City health officials, who say they're concerned with patients' "continuing care" after the clinic, may require RAM to submit a Certificate Of Need, detailing why there's a need for RAM's services. A review of the certificate could take up to 90 days.

RAM's plan to host the clinic next month might be viewed as a political move by some. Thousands would presumably turnout for care and the image of Americans lined up for treatment in the nation's capital could be a potent one used by lawmakers at what stands to be the height of the health care debate.

While Washington, D.C.'s rate of insured residents places the district among the top-five states with the most insured residents (90.2 percent had some form of health insurance in 2008), the greater metropolitan area surrounding D.C. includes counties where nearly 1 in 5 are uninsured.

Victor Keane, the chief executive for a non-profit group that runs clinics for Washington, D.C. told the Washington Post that a temporary clinic creates "a hoopla event...that doesn't solve more systematic problems."

This year RAM has hosted events in Tennessee, Kentucky, Utah, Virginia, and Los Angeles. NBC Nightly News reported on the massive turnout at RAM's temporary clinic in Los Angeles this past August.

WATCH:

Watch a local news report about RAM's push for a D.C. clinic:

Suspicious Package Causes Delays For Pentagon City, Crystal City

2009-12-11T10:59:35Z

UPDATE (11:10 a.m.): The Washington Post reports the situation has been resolved but delays continue in both directions.

Reports circulated Twitter this morning of disruptions in Washington D.C. Metro Area Transit Authority service due to a suspicious package.

Both the Pentagon City Metrorail station and Crystal City station were said to be affected.

The incident was first cited in tweets just after 10 a.m. local time:

@ryanjreilly: Stuck at Crystal City Metro due to suspicious package at Pentagon City.

@Tiff_Tastic: So there is a suspicious package at pentagon city metro stop...great

10:27 a.m.: The Washington D.C. Metro Area Transit Authority Twitter feed (@metroopensdoors) posts, "Blue-Yellow: Pentagon City closed due to a suspicious package. Shuttle bus service requested btwn Braddock Rd & Pentagon."

10:28 a.m.: The Washington Post metro Twitter feed (@postmetro) retweets the Metro Opens Doors feed.

10:59 a.m.: The NBC local affiliate in Washington, D.C. (@nbclocaldc) tweets, "Pentagon City and Crystal City Metrorail stations closed due to suspicious package on tracks."

Liz Glover: Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, on Producing 'The Young Victoria' and her Thoughts on DC

2009-12-09T19:42:56Z

Designer Douglas Hannant Disses Michelle Obama, Says She's No Jackie O.

2009-12-09T10:07:02Z

UPDATE:

Hannant's publicist has emailed the Huffington Post with the following statement from the designer:

"I did say 'Michelle Obama is not another Jackie Kennedy and I do not consider to be a style icon.' But in addition, I also said 'She has so much more to her and has mass appeal. I admire her as a role model and think she will achieve great things in her position as First Lady.' And by the way, I voted for Obama."

****
Page Six notes that not everyone is a fan of Michelle Obama's style. On Monday, at Tobi Rubinstein Schneier's House of Faith & Fashion discussion, designer Douglas Hannant had this to say about the first lady: "Everyone compares her to Jackie O--she is not the next Jackie O." His comments were reportedly met with some gasps.

Hannant has dressed Charlize Theron, Beyonce and Sarah Jessica Parker and his collection is available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and other fine boutiques.

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Google Connects DC's Low-Income Families With Free Wireless

2009-12-08T21:47:49Z

Google giving airports nationwide with free WiFi this holiday season may inspire good cheer, but the company is taking social philanthropy even further by delivering free wireless broadband for low-income families in Washington, D.C. through a program called Project Change Access.

Google has teamed up with One Economy, Qualcomm and Cricket Wireless to bring free wireless broadband cards and Internet service for two years to 1,000 low-income families. Many of these families will be receiving Internet in their homes for the very first time.

From the Google Public Policy blog:

Today's announcement grew out of a pilot program launched last year by One Economy and Cricket to provide free wireless broadband to several hundred low-income families in Portland, Oregon. Students who previously lacked Internet access were able to online resources to help them with their homework. Their parents were able to learn English online, access online job resources, research health care information, and more.

The project is furthered by the efforts of the Change Access Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing broadband wireless technology to low-income families across the nation. The project is borne out of a belief that "every American should have access to the immense social and economic benefits of the web," according to the Google blog.

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Reproductive Justice: Out of the Closet, Out in the Cold: Gay Marriage and the Catholic Archdiocese in DC

2009-12-07T18:42:05Z

Documentary-short by Hunter Stuart

Article by Eric Sheptock, Advocate for the Homeless, Washington DC

Washington, DC has joined several other states in its quest for same-sex marriage. The DC Council voted 11 to 2 in favor of same-sex marriage on December 1st. According to DC Law, they must vote a second time on December 15th and then the bill goes to Capitol Hill for Congressional review. Congress then has 30 days to vote on it, or it becomes law by default.

When news of the impending vote came out in early November, the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, DC threatened to end all social service contracts that Catholic Charities has with the city if the same-sex marriage bill becomes law. They don't want to pay spousal benefits to the partners of their gay and lesbian employees. Neither do they want to allow gay or lesbian couples to adopt children through their adoption services. All in all, the Catholic church doesn't want to honor same-sex marriage rights in any way, shape, form or fashion. As a church, they are entitled to their opinion and their stance on same-sex marriage.

However, Catholic Charities is not just the social service branch of the Catholic church. It is also a non-profit which receives funding from the DC Government. Churches don't have to perform same-sex marriages or allow them to be performed in their space. But businesses may not discriminate against the LGBT community. Therefore, the crux of the issue is whether Catholic Charities should be allowed to assert its position as a branch of the Catholic Church and get a special exemption that doesn't require them to honor same-sex marriage rights or if they should be treated as a business and not be allowed to discriminate against gays and lesbians, pedophile priests notwithstanding.

The Catholic Church is fighting an inward battle with two of its own tenets being pitted against each other -- caring for the needy vs. being against same-sex marriage. If they remain under contract with the city to deliver social services, they'll have to recognize and honor gay marriage. If they end their social service contracts with the city, then many of Catholic Charities' programs wouldn't have enough funding to remain operational. In essence, they would be letting down the 68,000 poor Washingtonians that they serve, of which 2,000 are homeless people seeking shelter. The loss of 2,000 shelter beds during hypothermia could be catastrophic for DC's 6,000 plus homeless people. That said, which is the lesser of two evils: accommodating a few gays and lesbians while providing for 68,000 needy people or leaving all of those needy people high and dry for the sake of making a statement against gay marriage? The fact of the matter is that, short of making a heretofore unmentioned compromise, the church would need to forgo one of its tenets in order to support the other. We'll know by Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2010 which way they went. Let's hope that they make the right choice.

My fellow homeless advocates and I will continue to raise awareness on the issue in hopes of instilling some sympathy in the hearts of the affluent for those who are less fortunate. Let's keep on keepin' on!!!

Eric Sheptock began advocating for the homeless in June 2006 when he and about 10 other men formed the Committee to Save Franklin Shelter (CSFS) and began to rally, protest and meet with DC Government officials so as to stop the closure. Since then, Mayor Fenty has taken office and closed Franklin, and the original CSFS has disbanded; Eric has joined forces with other homeless advocates and continues to fight for better shelter conditions and more affordable housing for the poor and homeless of DC. He has 2 blogs, writes for 2 papers and has been featured on CNN, WPFW Radio, NPR Radio and Russian television. Eric hopes to change DC Government's paradigm for how they deal with homelessness and won't stop advocating until the last person is housed because "HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT".

Originally published on rhrealitycheck.org

8 Michelle Obama Wardrobe Repeats: Which Way Looks Best? (PHOTOS, POLL)

2009-12-04T14:48:27Z

Perhaps the best part of watching Michelle Obama's wardrobe is finding out which items she adores so much that they resurface again and again. Before, she couldn't get enough of her Azzedine Alaia belt and green inauguration Jimmy Choos. Now she still loves her J. Crew, Rick Owens and Maria Pinto, but she manages to reinvent the looks with old-fashion accessorizing. Take a look which piece from Michelle's wardrobe do double duty and tell us which way she wore it best.

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Senator Bob Corker Praises Police, OnStar For Their Work After Carjacking [AUDIO]

2009-12-03T16:24:02Z

Last night, Julia Corker, the eldest daughter of Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) was carjacked by a pair of suspects in Washington, DC's Penn Quarter neighborhood. I'm very glad to note that while Corker was roughed up when she was dragged out of her car and thrown on the pavement, she escaped the incident without serious injury. And happily, law enforcement authorities apprehended two suspects in short order and returned the stolen car.

Our own Ryan Grim was among a group of reporters who got to talk with Senator Corker about the incident, and the senator (who lives in the neighborhood where the incident occurred and was quick to come to his daughter's aid) offered up a bracing account of the evening, where he explained what went down and praised police for their efforts. Based upon Corker's account, which Grim recorded, the key aid seems to have been rendered by the folks at OnStar.

[Click to listen.]

CORKER: She was shaken up, but she remembered that she had OnStar. You know, this was my campaign car, back in 2005. It's got 180,000 miles on it. And every month, you know, I keep thinking, I'm not going to pay the OnStar bill again -- it's like 12 bucks or something --

REPORTER: Wow. You're like a commercial for OnStar!

[...]

CORKER: The OnStar folks [snaps fingers] found them just like this.

That would be a great testimonial for an OnStar commercial. And it would go a long way to alleviating the concerns of people who think OnStar is some sort of tyrannical government intrusion:

[WATCH]

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Washington D.C. LIVE On Twitter

2009-12-03T08:59:30Z

Follow the latest in Washington D.C. LIVE through our curated Twitter lists: local news, local sports, and local people via tweets.

Do you know a tweeter who's perfect for one of these lists? Email us at twitterlists@huffingtonpost.com!

Find local lists for other American cities here.

Timothy Cooper: Omarion: The Birth of a Mogul

2009-12-02T12:37:11Z

Omarion's star power was on full wattage as he prepared for a 20-minute interview at the Grand Hyatt in Washington D.C. While completing a couple of rounds of press before taking the stage at the WPGC 95.5 Family First Expo, the melodic sensation, thespian and entrepreneur's charisma filled the mid-sized hotel suite of his patient record company representative. Dressed in a chic wind breaker, crisp jeans and his signature "Loc" shades, the self-assured superstar offered the simple, yet cool greeting of "Gents" as he strolled into the room -- pinpointing his target of lights, camera and action. Of course, this routine is nothing new to the music industry veteran.

Born in Inglewood, California and raised in Los Angeles, Omari Grandberry has witnessed the entertainment business firsthand, as he saw hordes of talent come and go in a city whose avenues are paved with the debris of broken dreams. Encouraged by his mother to develop his talents, Omarion started to take his craft seriously at the tender age of five. It wasn't long before the majors would come knocking, with record producer and manager Chris Stokes being the first one at the door. After seeing success with his group Immature -- a young R&B trio he put together in the early 90's -- Stokes struck gold (and platinum) again when he recruited Omarion to head up a R&B-Pop quartet called B2K in 2001. But after multi-platinum success and worldwide distinction, the group disbanded in 2004 to pursue their solo careers.

Today, Stokes remains a steady force in Omarion's personal and business life as an adviser and father figure. Through all of the ups and downs -- including an unfounded charge of sexual molestation by former B2K member De'Mario "Raz B" Thornton against Stokes that put the manager front and center in the court of public opinion -- Omarion has stayed loyal to his mentor. He even released a statement that supported Stokes and denied the allegations, with Thornton later recanting his accusations and issuing an apology to Stokes and his family. Even during this extraordinary series of events, Omarion focused on advancing his career in music and even dabbled in acting -- lining up several prime roles in films such as Fat Albert, Somebody Help Me and the dance flick You Got Served. The latter would feature one of the last collaborations with his B2K band mates.

Deciding to concentrate exclusively on music for the time being, and with a Grammy nomination and a gold plaque already under his belt as a solo artist, the soulful maestro is looking to cultivate creatively and financially with the release of his third solo album, Ollusion. As the airwaves knock to his lead single, I Get It In, which features the scorching-hot Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane, Omarion is looking to establish himself as a major force in the industry. For his album, he penned all of the material and even directed the video for the first single. Call it a concurrence, but just as Omarion decides to explore his personal experiences in the music business on this album, it will be the first release under his StarrWorld Entertainment imprint with EMI. This perfect mixture of circumstances should make for an exciting and emotional project, but it won't stray far away from Omarion's core, which is entertainment. With the passing of Michael Jackson in June, Omarion was one of the artists that I thought would be greatly affected by the legend's death. He even confessed that if there was a bloodline of performers, he would definitely come from Jackson's. But his artistic DNA would also incorporate the genetics of Sammy Davis Jr., Fred Astaire, James Brown and The Nicholas Brothers--entertainers whose ingenuity and fluid movement created a unique harmony.

As his business acumen was formed under the tutelage of Chris Stokes, and working extensively with powerhouse brands such as Timbaland and Lil Wayne, Omarion is intent on making his StarrWorld label a necessity in the current musiconomy. After a deal with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment fell through, EMI stepped to the plate and presented the 25-year old mogul a deal that would allow his creativity to flow and for him to walk away with his own masters.

With the bright beginnings of a New Year dawning upon us, and his album release date quickly approaching, Omarion now sees the love of music continuing to trickle down his family line. During his down time, he occasionally observes his one-year old niece move to the beat of music whenever it's in her earshot, bringing back the memories of when he first fell in love with entertainment. As he watches his baby niece's star power grow in its infancy, Omarion's should shine brighter with each innovative and decisive leap he takes.

Tareq Slahi And Michaele Salahi Charity In Disaray: Land Rover America's Polo Cup Owes $500,000

2009-12-02T00:49:49Z

Tareq and Michaele Salahi's signature social event, the annual Land Rover America's Polo Cup, bills itself as the "world's most prestigious and largest . . . charity polo event," benefiting the Salahi-run charity Journey for the Cure. Its next U.S. gala is scheduled for June on the Mall...

But many sponsors listed by America's Cup for 2010 -- including Land Rover, Cartier, the St. Regis Hotel in Washington and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. -- say they are not sponsors for that event.

David Ernesto Munar: For World AIDS Day, Obama Should Keep Promise On Syringe Exchange

2009-12-01T12:01:58Z

President Barack Obama should urge House and Senate negotiators to end
the ban against federal funding for syringe exchange in order to curb
HIV and viral hepatitis infections in the US. This was his position as
a candidate for the White House and the position he reiterated upon
assuming office earlier this year.

Without White House intervention, House and Senate appropriators are
likely to negotiate a final bill that fails to embrace a provision
championed by House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-WI) to end the
decades-old funding ban.

Moreover, the District of Columbia, where HIV prevalence rates rival
those in Sub-Saharan Africa, could be hamstrung in its efforts to combat
the nation's worst HIV epidemic. Just last year, Washington, DC secured
the legal authority in legislation signed by President George W. Bush to
spend municipal taxpayer dollars on syringe-exchange services as part of
a comprehensive response to the epidemic. It would be an embarrassment
for President Obama if the District of Columbia were to again be
restricted by law from responding to the needs of its residents.

The Obama Administration is taking a bold step by leading efforts to
develop the nation's first-ever National HIV/AIDS Strategy, but progress
against syringe-related HIV infections must not wait for this planning
process to produce yet another government recommendation that public
policy follow the science. Put plainly, syringe exchange effectively
and cheaply prevents cases of HIV and viral hepatitis without increasing
drug use or crime. The lack of adequate access to sterile syringes and
addiction treatment services remains an egregious gap in our public
response to preventable diseases. Foregoing effective interventions has
already generated significant medical costs and caused immeasurable
human suffering.

Congressional negotiators are likely to listen to the President if he
urges them to end the ban and other restrictive provisions against
syringe-exchange access. The question now is whether Mr. Obama intends
to keep his promise.

Sincerely,

David Ernesto Munar, Vice President
AIDS Foundation of Chicago

Katie Caldwell, President/CEO
Legacy Community Health Services
Houston, TX

Mark Cloutier
CEO, San Francisco AIDS Foundation
President, Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation
San Francisco, CA

Kandy Ferree, President/CEO
National AIDS Fund
Washington, DC

Rebecca Haag, CEO/President
AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts
Boston, MA

Marjorie Hill, PhD, President/CEO
Gay Men's Health Crisis
New York, NY

David Holtgrave, PhD
Baltimore, MD

Mark Ishaug, President/CEO
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Chicago, IL

Paul Kawata, Executive Director
National Minority AIDS Council
Washington, DC

Dr. Celia Maxwell
Howard University Hospital
Washington, DC

Craig E. Thompson, Executive Director
AIDS Project Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

Phill Wilson, Executive Director
Black AIDS Institute
Los Angeles, CA

The twelve authors are leading AIDS advocate working with local, state,
and national partners to advance the fight against HIV/AIDS in the U.S.

Robyn Griggs Lawrence: Natural Home Decorates Blair House For Magazine Holiday Design Showcase

2009-11-30T15:00:51Z

So, this is cool. Natural Home
has been invited to decorate rooms in Blair House, the President’s
guest house that hardly anyone ever gets to see, and the U.S. State
Department’s Harry S. Truman Building in Washington, DC. We’re among
six magazines participating in the first-ever Magazine Holiday Design Showcase,
a partnership between the U.S. State Department and the Magazine
Publishers of America. The State Department is giving us unprecedented
access to rooms that are rarely open to the public—an elegant and
prestigious way to showcase green decor. The rooms will be highlighted
in the press and visited by foreign leaders, diplomats, Senators,
Congressmen and dignitaries during the month of December. It’s a nice
holiday gift.

Natural Home will bring stylish, sustainable home decor to the Jackson Conference Room and the Adams Room. Photos Courtesy MPA.

We’re working with Associates III of Denver to decorate the Jackson Conference Room at Blair House.
If you know D.C., this is the room with the big bay window facing the
White House. We’re decking a 9-foot Christmas tree (that came with the
room) with quartz and LED lights, playing with handmade and recycled ornaments, recycled and organic ribbon and a few live Christmas trees. Over at the State Department, Washington-based J.D. Ireland is
helping us pull together a stunning yet serene mix of handmade
decorations, candles and topiaries for the Monroe Conference Room. Our
colleagues at Mother Earth News are ordering bushels of heirloom apples for the State Department’s Adams Room.

Natural Home's
Christmas trees will be adorned with beautiful handmade and recycled
ornaments, such as this pewter ornament from Ten Thousand Villages.
Photo Courtesy Ten Thousand Villages.

We’re in esteemed company. In addition to our sister publication Mother Earth News, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, This Old House and Traditional Home
are decorating rooms. With ours, we aim to show that simple, elegant,
and responsibly made holiday décor is an attainable and viable option
for everyone. This is our chance to show Washington—and beyond—how
beautiful green can be.

We’ll be hauling out the organic holly next week. Follow along on our website and please do send ideas our way. Watch for photos and videos after the Magazine Holiday Design Showcase debuts on December 7.

Michelle Obama Beats Carla Bruni On French Elle's Best-Dressed List

2009-11-30T11:37:35Z

In more fashion news from France aujourd'hui, Michelle Obama topped Carla Bruni as best-dressed: politique chic in this month's French Elle. This is the second time that Carla has lost to another country's first lady, after Syria's first lady Asma Assad took last year's title.

Other winners are: Penelope Cruz for "Red Carpet," Scarlett Johansson for "Sexy Bombe," Alexa Chung for "British Girl" and Natalia Vodianova for "Fashion Pointue."

Remember when Michelle met Carla? We do! Take a trip down first lady memory lane.

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9/11 Text Messages Released: Wikileaks Publishes Intercepted Government Pager Texts As They Were Sent

2009-11-25T00:13:59Z

Government employees sent more than 500,000 text pager messages In the hours before and after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. At 3 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, November 25, those intercepted messages will be published online at Wikileaks. The messages will be published at the same times that they were originally sent on 9/11.

Wikileaks, a journalistic endeavor that promotes better government through transparency , says that the messages were intercepted by a organization that has been archiving US telecommunications prior to 9/11. Wikileaks says that the sources of the messages range from Pentagon employees to messages sent by the NYPD, and even automated messages relayed by computers to their operators.

Below are examples of what Wikileaks will publish. Visit their site for more information.

8:36:03 AM
IRAQ SAYS IT SHOOTS DOWN U.S. RECONNAISSANCE PLANE
8:51:31 AM
Andrew.Terzakis@pentagon.af.mil|Please call Pentagon Weather|UNCLASSIFIED Please call Pentagon Weather.......reference 1030 Meeting.....703-695-0406 ANDREW J. TERZAKIS, Lt Col, USAF D
8:53:44 AM
"NYPD Ops Div" <|1 PCT WORLD TRADE CENTER|--- 1 PCT - WORLD TRADE CENTER - POSSIBLE EXPLOSION WORLD TRADE CENTER BUILDING. LEVEL 3 MOBILIZATION TO CHURCH AND VESSY.
9:24:48 AM
DOLLAR TUMBLES VS EURO, YEN AFTER WTC EXPLOSION
9:24:59 AM
NYC WTC'S: WMS TKT 191100495. SWITCHES SEEM TO BE OKAY . OVERLOADS IN SM 9 OF SOUTH TOWER FROM HIGH
9:31:51 AM
N.Y.C. TKT#191100488 - WTC HAS BEEN HIT BY AN AIRPLANE AND A BOMB. CURRENTLY B6 IS BEING EVACUATED. NCC HAS RECEIVED MULTIPLE ALARMS OPTICAL / ENVIORNMENTAL. UPDATES WILL FOLLOW. RYAN P/L NCC 800-824-8049
9:32:52 AM
FANNIE MAE DELAYS BENCHMARK BILL,CALLABLE NOTE ANNOUNCEMENT DUE TO WTC BLASTS
9:50:03 AM
it's reported that a US military helicopter circled the building then crashed into or next to the Pentagon - it's not clear to whether it was the White House or the Pentagon - they are being evacuated
7:05:57 AM
Please don't leave the building. One of the towers just collapsed! PLease, please be careful. Repeat,
11:00:30 AM
BOMB SQUAD PLS REPORT TO EDIC..PER T913..OPS/JL
11:13:04 AM
Lines to Washington & Saudi are blocked or jammed. Couldn't get thru. Jim at the FBI had no info - he suggested we watch Fox or CNN. Chris.
11:20:52 AM
Eddie and Paul are okay. Paul is still trapped in his building which is next to the WTC.
11:29:13 AM
pewells|I'm OK. I saw the whole thing. Was on the roof looking at the first fire when I saw the second plane plow into the second tower. Unbelievable, literally...I was inside when they collapsed. Still in my apt, nowhere to go...This is the end of the world as we know it...
11:39:47 AM
jtamer|You are needed in the WAR room asap.
3:25:54 PM
im not dealing with this shit today....i will call johnston in early......ford shut down there plants and im not answering why we are still working....fuck this. FROM: RYDER LITTLEJOHN (x18914) (3
5:20:30 PM
Honey wanted to tell you how much i love you. I was alittle worried.I Don't want to lose you now that I got you back. You mean everything to me. You have my whole heart and life. Ilove you so much,
6:05:05 PM
We are bombing Afganistan. Pene
6:58:58 PM
1) my nephew's ok, 2) there's a dead body at the main gate, 3) US denies responsibility for bombing in Afghanistan. Over and out.

Obamas Welcome Guests With Curry At State Dinner

2009-11-24T22:02:57Z

WASHINGTON — The first state dinner of the Obama White House had it all: Oscar-winning entertainers, Hollywood moguls, a knockout guest chef and even a wardrobe malfunction.

Traditional evening gowns vied with saris of vibrant colors Tuesday night at the high-glitz dinner in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. There were turbans and bindis as well as diamonds and brocades.

Philip N. Cohen: What Ails Black Women, Part 2: Health and Life

2009-11-24T18:21:31Z

The employment and wage disparities now widening between Black and White women appear alongside substantial - and possibly increasing - health disparities. As the recent concern over breast cancer advice shows, Black and White women often inhabit different worlds in our healthcare system.

Consider the infant mortality rate, a good measure of women's health and healthcare. The Black infant mortality rate (13.63) is 2.4-times the White rate overall of 5.76 (a shade worse than 10 years ago). Teen motherhood doesn't explain this, as the race gap is actually smallest for mothers under age 20 - if there were more Black teen mothers, the overall gap would be smaller.

Source: National Vital Statistics Report (2005 data).

Even controlling for income, education, obesity, smoking, and some diseases, Black infant mortality is significantly higher. This presumably indicates worse healthcare, although some suspect the "physiologic effects of experiencing lifelong racism."

The most striking of the recent reports was a scary analysis released earlier this year showing that Black women have been getting shorter: absolutely and relative to White women, and the same is not true of Black men.

Height within a group varies according to genetics, but height differences between groups indicate health and nutrition inequalities during childhood. Black women born in 1965 reached an average height of 5'4-1/2" (Michelle Obama is about 5'11"). Each cohort since then has been shorter, and the average for those born in 1980 is less than 5'4". Black men and White men and women all grew taller during this period. Black men and White men are now separated by less than a quarter inch, but White women have opened up a gap of three-quarters of an inch.

The author of the analysis, John Komlos, believes obesity is the main factor driving the disparity, compounded by inequities in health care access and quality. He concludes:

The decline in [Black women's] height is most likely related to the obesity epidemic caused by inadequate dietary balance. Black women in the age range 20-39 weigh some 9.5 kg (21.0 lb) more than their white counterparts. It appears that black females are experiencing a double jeopardy in the sense that both their increasing weight and the diminution of their physical stature are both substantial and are both probably associated with negative health consequences.

In some urban areas, the disparities between Black and White women are especially stark. That is the case in Washington, D.C., which pairs a disproportionately poor Black population with an above-average-income White population. There, Black women are more than 3-times more likely to be overweight or obese than Latina or Asian women, 5-times more likely than White women.
Obesity doesn't explain everything, of course, and neither does other health behavior such as smoking. At just 17.3%, Black women have lower smoking rates than White women (21.5%).

Racism and discrimination are the hard to measure elephants in the room on both employment and health matters. That's coming in the next entry.

Before: Work and wages

Today: Health and life

Next: Discrimination and repercussions

Cross posted from Family Inequality.