Jack & Jill Politics

In the news:

* 2 members of the Congressional Black Caucus from Florida — Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL) are speaking out on the handling of the Foley matter. They are demanding an independent investigation.

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL):
“The House leadership should let us know what they knew, when they knew it and what kind of action was taken,” Meek said. (Source: BlackAmericaWeb)

* President Bush signs the Secure Fence Act over the objections of Latino organizations like MALDEF, NCLR and LULAC.

“Constructing a wall will not deter illegal immigration to the United States, however it will result in more tragic deaths along the U.S. – Mexico border as immigrants are forced into more dangerous crossing points. Only comprehensive immigration reform that includes a legal avenue for immigrants to come to this country along with border security measures will result in a reduction of undocumented crossings into the United States. Building a wall is a waste of taxpayers’ money and will not stop undocumented immigration,” stated Brent Wilkes, Executive Director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). (Source: LULAC Press Release)

But Hadrian’s Wall and the Great Wall of China both worked so well in keeping out the barbarians…ahem, I mean illegal immigrants. Won’t this wall be at least as effective???

* Colin Powell puts the smackdown on the Bush Admistration on the Iraq war. In Iraq, “staying the course isn’t good enough because a course has to have an end,” Powell said. Nice to see some gumption and moral fortitude again, General. I might have to stop referring to you as Uncle Tom’s Colin. (Source: MyDD)

* Peter Norman, Australian sprinter, dies. He was a brother to a couple of famous brothers and shows that a desire to join the fraternity of human rights knows no color, no division. He shared space in a photograph that shocked 2 nations and promoted social change for the better.

“I couldn’t see why a black man wasn’t allowed to drink out of the same water fountain or sit in the same bus or go to the same schools as a white guy,” Norman said. “That was just social injustice that I couldn’t do anything about from where I was, but I certainly abhorred it.”

Norman also recalled an almost surreal detail before the medal ceremony. “The guys probably don’t even remember, but it was my suggestion that they split Tommie’s gloves,” Norman said. (Source: Washington Post)