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HuffPost: Trump Is No Longer Entertainment

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N.Y. Times Compares Candidate With Past Demagogues

Fox News Suspends Two Over On-Air Obama Comments

Despite Financial Woes, “NABJ Is Thriving,” President Says

Video Shows Chicago Cops Tasing College Grad, Who Died

The Root to Examine Obama’s Legacy as Term Winds Down

Black Film Critics Group Picks “Straight Outta Compton”

When the National Guard Chaperoned the Street Dance

Short Takes

N.Y. Times Compares Candidate With Past Demagogues

“Earlier today, the candidate currently leading in the polls for the Republican presidential nomination called for a ‘total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,’ ” Arianna Huffington wrote Monday for the Huffington Post. “That was, of course, Donald Trump. As Jeffrey Goldberg just tweeted, ‘Donald Trump is now an actual threat to national security. He’s providing jihadists ammunition for their campaign to demonize the US.’

“On the heels of Trump’s proposed change for America, we will be changing how we cover him at The Huffington Post. Back in July, we announced our decision to put our coverage of Trump’s presidential campaign in our Entertainment section instead of our Politics section. ‘Our reason is simple,’ wrote Ryan Grim and Danny Shea. ‘Trump’s campaign is a sideshow.’

“Since then Trump’s campaign has certainly lived up to that billing. But as today’s vicious pronouncement makes abundantly clear, it’s also morphed into something else: an ugly and dangerous force in American politics. So we will no longer be covering his campaign in Entertainment. But that’s not to say we’ll be treating it as if it were a normal campaign. . . .”

In a rare and bluntly worded piece on the front page of the print edition of Sunday’s New York Times, Patrick Healy and Maggie Haberman compared Trump’s rhetoric with that of past figures considered by many to be demagogues.

“The dark power of words has become the defining feature of Mr. Trump’s bid for the White House to a degree rarely seen in modern politics, as he forgoes the usual campaign trappings — policy, endorsements, commercials, donations — and instead relies on potent language to connect with, and often stoke, the fears and grievances of Americans,” Healy and Haberman wrote.

They also said, “This pattern of elevating emotional appeals over rational ones is a rhetorical style that historians, psychologists and political scientists placed in the tradition of political figures like [Barry] Goldwater, George Wallace, Joseph McCarthy, Huey Long and Pat Buchanan, who used fiery language to try to win favor with struggling or scared Americans.

“Several historians watched Mr. Trump’s speeches last week, at the request of The Times, and observed techniques — like vilifying groups of people and stoking the insecurities of his audiences — that they associate with Wallace and McCarthy. . . .”

Trump’s latest salvo against Muslims led the editorial board of the Daily News in New York, no fan of Trump in any case, to write Monday, “A creature of ego, overweening ambition, barstool intellect and vision that extends no further than the mirror, Trump, the inquisitor, made a lie of America’ exceptionalism. Never could he take the oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution without committing perjury.”

Those words appeared under the headline, “Donald Trump: Shame of a nation.”

Fox News Suspends Two Over On-Air Obama Comments

“Two Fox News commentators were suspended on Monday for using profanities while criticizing President Obama on Monday,” Brian Stelter reported for CNNMoney.com.

“Ralph Peters, a Fox News ‘strategic analyst,’ called the president a ‘total pu—‘ who ‘doesn’t want to hurt our enemies.’

“A couple of hours later Stacey Dash, a Fox contributor, said the president ‘didn’t give a sh–‘ about Sunday night’s terrorism speech.

” ‘Earlier today, Fox contributors Lt. Col. Ralph Peters and Stacey Dash made comments on different programs that were completely inappropriate and unacceptable for our air,” Fox senior executive vice president Bill Shine said.

” ‘Fox Business Network and Fox News Channel do not condone the use of such language, and have suspended both Peters and Dash for two weeks,’ he said. . . .”

Despite Financial Woes, “NABJ Is Thriving,” President Says

A Huffington Post story Monday introduced those who haven’t followed the National Association of Black Journalists to its financial troubles, but the headline, “Why The Country’s Largest Minority-Journalism Group May Close,” is “deceptive,” NABJ President Sarah J. Glover messaged Journal-isms.

“The story has inaccuracies and the headline is deceptive. NABJ is thriving and making moves,” Glover wrote. “The response to the 2015-17 NABJ Board’s work and reorganization has been overwhelming positive.”

As reported in this space Oct. 30, “In a president’s message, Sarah J. Glover wrote, ‘At the 2015 NABJ Convention in Minneapolis, the previous NABJ Board of Directors informed the membership that NABJ was tracking to end the year with a nearly $250,000 deficit.

” ‘This comes on the heels of a $227,000 deficit in 2014, a $612,000 deficit in 2009 and a $60,000 deficit in 2012.

” ‘After an exhaustive review of NABJ’s financial position and a final accounting of all financial obligations from the 2015 convention, NABJ’s projected 2015 deficit will be higher than the previous board reported at the 2015 convention. The projected deficit is likely going to be nearly $380,000.

” ‘NABJ cannot have another deficit year in 2016. . . .’ “

Glover announced several “immediate steps to stabilize NABJ’s finances.” On Saturday afternoon, for example, NABJ is holding a 40th anniversary reception in Washington at $40 per ticket.

Gabriel Arana, Huffington Post’s senior media editor, wrote, “With an estimated shortfall of $380,000 in a budget of roughly $2.5 million, NABJ has slashed operating expenses, eliminated three staff positions — including that of Darryl Matthews, its executive director — and sold off $400,000-worth of its investments.

“In addition to adopting ‘zero-based budgeting,’ which requires managers to justify all of its expenses, it is considering closing its office in College Park, Maryland and operating in a virtual capacity. It has hired a consultant to help it weather its funding crisis. . . .”

Arana also wrote, “NABJ’s financial woes are worrisome enough. But the secretiveness of the association’s leadership around the shortfall should raise further red flags. NABJ’s board and staff have refused to answer questions about the deficit or provide financial disclosure forms, as required by law. The group is also considering dipping into grant funds earmarked for other purposes to cover the shortfall, according to a report from the organization’s treasurer — a practice that is widely considered unethical.

“Despite pledging to ‘stabilize the association’s financial position with transparency’ in a note to members, NABJ Board President Sarah Glover, social media editor for NBC Owned Television Stations, declined multiple requests to elaborate on the source of the shortfall, insisting only that the “2015 convention did not yield the projected revenue as outlined in the budget by the previous board.”

Arana also reported that the organization was considering an ethically questionable move with Ford Foundation funds. “NABJ recently received a $100,000 grant from the Ford Foundation for ‘strategic planning.’ The October treasurer’s report warns that unless the organization finds a way to shore up revenue by year’s end, ‘the $100,000 Ford Grant funds will need to be used to cover operating expense[s]’ with the promise that they will be replaced ‘once 2016 convention funding support and other revenues are received.’ . . .”

Glover told Journal-isms, “The $100,000 Ford grant will be used solely for NABJ’s strategic plan.”

In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Monday, columnist James E. Causey wrote that NABJ is “an organization that is so near and dear to my heart that for the last seven years, I have been the president of our local chapter of the Wisconsin Black Media Association.

Causey also wrote, “Every organization goes through financial woes, but I’m mostly bothered by NABJ’s lack of communication with the media about what’s happening and how it plans to get out of its financial hole. NABJ’s board and staff have refused to answer any questions about the deficit or provide financial disclosure forms, as required by law.”

Causey offered his own suggestion. “One way NABJ can generate funding is to offer quarterly meetings that are affordable for journalists to keep their skills sharp during these tough times. They can use the local chapters to help build an audience for such events. It would be a lot cheaper than the national convention, which can cost more than $1,000 when you factor in hotel, travel, food and registration costs.

“Members need to believe in NABJ, and in order for that to happen, transparency is a must. If that doesn’t happen, then the group will not be able to keep its lights on for future journalists. . . .”

Video Shows Chicago Cops Tasing College Grad, Who Died

“Amid a growing crisis over the Chicago Police Department’s use of force, the city late Monday released a video that shows officers in a Far South Side police lockup repeatedly using a Taser on a University of Chicago graduate and dragging him out of his cell in handcuffs,” (accessible via
search engine) Stacy St. Clair, Steve Mills and Todd Lighty reported Monday for the Chicago Tribune.

“The release of the video was accompanied by a prepared statement from embattled Mayor Rahm Emanuel saying that the treatment of Philip Coleman while he was in custody in December 2012 was unacceptable. Coleman died following a fatal reaction to an antipsychotic drug, but an autopsy showed that Coleman had experienced severe trauma, including more than 50 bruises and abrasions on his body from the top of his head to his lower legs. . . .”

President Obama addresses the nation on terrorism Sunday from the Oval Office. (video)

The Root to Examine Obama’s Legacy as Term Winds Down

“Barack Obama is going to be in the history books,” Danielle C. Belton wrote Monday for The Root.

“This will happen regardless of his critics or his fans, both of which are legion. It will happen regardless of who wins the White House in November 2016. It will happen whether you love him adoringly, deride him with cynicism or hate him with all your heart, or whether you somehow have managed to be one of the few who took no sides, choosing a nuanced take on the modern — marked by partisans, stymied by political gridlock — presidency.

“Maybe you don’t think he’s that great. Or maybe you have a picture of him hanging up in your living room next to a trio of faded portraits of Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Jesus. Regardless, he’s going into the history books because Barack Obama is the first African-American president, a feat once deemed so impossible, many thought that it wouldn’t be seen in their lifetimes.

“And come January 2017, that ‘is’ will turn into a ‘was’ as a new president is sworn in and into history Obama goes. But before we get to that moment, The Root  plans to take a good, long look at the highs and lows, feats and defeats, that make up the Obama presidency.

“And so we debut His Lasting Legacy, our new monthly series on that presidency. Each month until the election, The Root will examine some part of the Obama presidency — from race and foreign policy to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, the Affordable Care Act and more. We will examine his relationships, family, politics and promises to the American people.

“To kick things off, The Root spoke with two observers of Obama’s historic presidency: Andra Gillespie of Emory University, who teaches and researches African-American politics, particularly that of the post-civil-rights generation, and is finishing a book on Obama’s legacy — Symbol, Substance and Hope: Race and the Obama Administration — due out in late 2016 or early 2017; and Saladin Ambar, associate professor of political science at Lehigh University, who focuses on American politics, the presidency and governorship, and American political development. . . .”

Black Film Critics Group Picks “Straight Outta Compton”

“Straight Outta Compton,” the box office hit about the influential ’90s rap group N.W.A, was selected best picture of the year Monday by the African American Film Critics Assn.,” Susan King reported for the Los Angeles Times.

“The F. Gary Gray-directed film also won for ensemble and supporting actor for Jason Mitchell.

” ‘Creed’ also won three AAFCA awards Monday. Ryan Coogler, who earned the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn.’s New Generation Award on Sunday, received the director award, Michael B. Jordan won for breakout performance, and Tessa Thompson earned supporting actress honors.

“Will Smith received the lead actor award from the critics group for ‘Concussion,’ and Teyonah Parris was named best lead actress for Spike Lee’s ‘Chi-Raq.’

“Screenplay honors went to Rick Fumuyiwa for ‘Dope.’ ‘Chi-Raq’ received the award for independent film. ‘The Peanuts Movie’ won animated film, and ‘A Ballerina’s Tale’ earned documentary honors.

” ‘See You Again’ from ‘Furious 7’ won for song.

” ‘Our members found an interesting theme in many of the films released this year, giving a voice to communities who have generally been underserved and marginalized in society,’ said AAFCA president Gil Robertson in a statement Monday. . . .”

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