January 25, 2010
for Immediate Release
Contact: Earl Ofari Hutchinson
323-383-6145

Press Advisory:

White House Designates Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable As An Official Viewing Site for President Obama’s State of the Union Address

Conference Call with Obama Campaign Manager and Advisor David PlouffeWill Precede the Address

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson announced Monday, January 25 that the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable has been designated by the White House as an official viewing site in Los Angeles for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address. The address is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27 at 6:00 PM. The address will be preceded by a conference call with David Plouffe, Obama’s Campaign Manager and White House Advisor.

“This is a great opportunity for the community to get a personal preview of President Obama’s first and most crucial State of the Union Address from Obama’s campaign manager and White House advisor” says Hutchinson, “As well as to hear and see the address and then react to the President’s views in a community discussion afterwards.”

Plouffe Conference Call at 5:15 PM.

FDR knew he was in a political life and death, take no prisoners war with his political enemies– the GOP, ultra conservative Democrats, Wall Street, the big bankers and big manufacturers. He repeatedly lambasted them as obstructionists and economic royalists. Obama is in the same war. They make absolutely no effort to mask their loath of his policies and presidency, and have made it clear they will stop at nothing to bounce him from office. This was before Scott Brown’s win. They’ll be even more bellicose, intransigent and war like against him and his agenda now.
FDR didn’t just hit back, and hit back hard, against the economic royalists. He did not make weak appeals and empty threats to banks and Wall Street to be responsible, do the right thing, and ramp up lending to businesses, farm and homeowners, and pump money into job creation efforts. He imposed tough regulations on them. One of the toughest was the Glass Steagall Act. The congressional gut of Glass-Steagall unleashed the orgy of Wall Street freeboot speculation, trading, swaps, and scams of investors, borrowers and the government that nearly wrecked the economy.

FDR’s bank and Wall Street rein in sent the blunt message that he meant business on financial reform and that this was a key to job creation, saving homes, and getting businesses up and going. FDR spent, and spent, and spent some more on jobs, housing, and social service, public works in the right way. FDR did not resort to smoke and mirror photo-op, PR, showpiece White House jobs summits, conferences, and imploring business councils to expand and create jobs. He put the money directly in the hands of the needy through the litany of alphabet recovery programs.

Obama has belatedly acknowledged that Glass-Steagall must be reinstated. That’s only a start. Obama should do what FDR did and plough stimulus dollars directly into government run job training programs, job banks, and public works projects.
FDR’s economic brain trust were tough, reform minded academics and public officials, not Wall Street, and corporate shills. Obama should put the same team around him. That means asking for the immediate resignation of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. His bumbles, manipulation and outright lies as New York Federal Reserve Chairman and as treasury secretary to cover up the malfeasance of AIG, Goldman, Sachs and other Wall Street wheeler dealers have done more to taint Obama as a hopeless captive of Wall Street. Giving Geithner the boot would reinforce a tough message that Wall Street and the banks must toe the administration line on reform.
FDR would quickly pull the plug if something didn’t work or worked badly to advance his agenda. The health care reform bill is that something. Obama should yank it off the Senate table. His mistake was not to battle for health care reform, but to battle for it at the wrong time and on the wrong terms. It was a fight that was preordained to be long, contentious, embittered, and ultimately shamelessly compromised; a fight that let a GOP, flat on its back, off the canvas. He should revisit the issue later and this time write the bill himself with a fully functioning public option, firm cost containment measures, and tough monitoring provisions. Then quietly and patiently sell congressional leaders and the public on it.

FDR made sure that when he went to war it was truly the right war in the right place at the right time. He had America’s allies and the American people firmly behind him. Afghanistan and certainly Iraq are not the right wars, and only for a brief moment did they have the full cooperation of America’s allies, and the American public firmly behind them. Obama should set and stick to a firm date for withdrawal, call a regional conference of allies to inform them of the exit plan, and then demand that they make regional security, containment, and peace as much their responsibility as the US’s. He should then announce that the billions saved from disengagement will go directly into a massive program of jobs, education, housing expansion and infrastructure rebuilding—in America.

FDR did not substitute rock star photo op, stagey, high profile media posturing for tough leadership. When the GOP and the press wrote the epitaph for him midway through his second term in 1938 and a decade later wrote the same epitaph for Truman both came out swinging. FDR took to the airwaves and blasted the economic royalists. Truman tooled through the nation with his famed whistle stop train campaign and hammered the do nothing GOP congress.

FDR and Truman fired up their base, inspired millions of Americans, continued to push reform, and kept the presidency. Obama could do the same. But only if he really acts like FDR.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His latest book, How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge (Middle Passage Press) is NOW available – http://www.amazon.com/How-Obama-Governed-Crisis-Challenge/dp/1439259925

How Obama Governed by Earl Ofari Hutchinson – Now Available

Author Says Obama Faces New Crisis with Election Loss of Top Democrats

Author Says Terror War Is Obama’s New Nightmare

Author Says Terror War Poses Major Challenge to Obama’s Leadership

Author Tells Why Obama Flopped on Health Care Reform

Explanation of Why Obama’s Popularity Has Plunged Faster Than Bush

Political Analyst and Author Earl Ofari Hutchinson Dissects Obama’s First Year in Office

He examines the attacks and counterattacks from the GOP and the Democrats on Obama. He delineates the differences and similarities between Obama and Bush in waging the war on terrorism. He assesses the towering battles over health care, the economy, racial attacks, the GOP counterinsurgency, Afghanistan, and the Henry Louis Gates flap. He provides readers with a guide as to how Obama will continue to govern.

How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge offers a virtual political clinic on the crisis and challenges that the nation and its first African-American president faced his first year in the White House.

About Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Dr Earl Ofari Hutchinson featured interviews and comments on race and politics have appeared in: Time Newsweek New York Times ABC’s World News Tonight. He has been a guest analyst on: Fox News John Gibson Show, O’Reilly Show, Hannity & Colmes, Glenn Beck Show, PBS Lehrer Report, NPR’s Talk of the Nation and CNN News Shows. He is the National Political Writer for New America Media and a regular contributor to: the Huffington Post

His three most recent books are:
* How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge
* How Obama Won
* The Ethnic Presidency: How Race decides the Race to the White House

To book Earl Ofari Hutchinson for an interview and/or commentary on the promise and pitfalls of Obama’s first year in office. Call 1-323-383-6145 to schedule. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a nationally acclaimed author and political analyst. Hutchinson is the author of ten books on race and politics in America.

Title – How Obama Governed
Author – Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Author’s website link – http://www.howobamagoverned.com
Publisher – Middle Passage Press
Genre or category – US Politics
ISBN-10: 1439259925
ISBN-13: 978-1439259924
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/How-Obama-Governed-Crisis-Challenge/dp/1439259925

January 18, 2010
for Immediate Release
Contact:

Earl Ofari Hutchinson (323) 383-6145

Nikki Leigh (540) 466-4699 or nikki@nikkileigh.com

Author Interview Availability:

(323) 383-6145

Author Says Haiti Is Obama’s New Foreign Policy Challenge

The catastrophic Haitian earthquake will be another foreign policy woe for President Obama, author and political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson. Hutchinson predicted in his new book, How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge that Obama would face many new and unforeseen challenges that would do much to determine whether Obama could response effectively to foreign challenges. Hutchinson specifically pinpointed wars, disasters, and governmental turmoil in poor Third World nations as the likely places where the unforeseen disasters would occur. The Haitian disaster amply fulfills Hutchinson’s prediction.

Hutchinson notes that the challenge to Obama will be two fold.  He will have to decide whether to spend untold sums of governmental funds to aid the stricken. This at a time when the nation faces double digit unemployment, continued financial uncertainty, and a soaring national deficit. The second challenge is the commitment of US troops to help with disaster relief. This comes at a time when US forces are stretched to the limit in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other potential military hot spots globally.

Hutchinson says that how Obama meets the fresh challenges could help or more wound his administration in the eyes of millions of voters. Hutchinson’s best guess is that the likely outcome for Obama and his political fate will be far from a win-win.

In How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge, Hutchinson gives a no holds barred assessment of the make and break issues that confront Obama in 2010. These are the issues that will determine whether Obama can really deliver on his lofty promise of hope and change.

January 14, 2010
for Immediate Release
Contact:

Earl Ofari Hutchinson

323-383-6145

323-296-6331

Press Advisory:

Operation Haitian Missing Person Launched on Airwaves

Will help Haitians in the US Find Missing Family Members

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson will launch Operation Haitian Missing Person on his radio shows on KTYM –AM and KPFK FM on Friday and Saturday, January 15 and 16

Hutchinson will urge Haitians in Los Angeles and throughout the country who have relatives or family members missing in the earthquake to call his show and he will provide information on assistance in the search for the missing.

“We have gotten numerous calls from Haitians in Los Angeles of missing relatives and family members in Haiti,” says Hutchinson, “The shows will be on air forums for those who have missing relatives to come forth and get assistance in helping to locate their relatives. Not knowing where a relative or family member is when a disaster strikes is one of the most stressful experiences that a family can suffer.”

Airtimes:

KTYM 1460 AM, Friday, 9:30 to 10:00 AM, January 15

KPFK   90.7 FM Noon to 1:00 PM Saturday, January 16

Press Conference:

When: Thursday, January 14, 10:00 AM

Where: Lucy Florence Coffeehouse, 3351 W. 43^rd St., Los Angeles 90008 Leimert Park

Civil Rights Leaders Launch Emergency Operation Haitian Missing Person

Will Assist Haitians in Los Angeles in Locating Missing Relatives in Haiti

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson and other civil rights leaders on Thursday, January 14 will launch Operation Haitian Missing Person. They invite Haitians in Los Angeles who have relatives in Haiti who are missing or they have not been heard from since the earthquake to come to Lucy Florence Coffeehouse with their names and last known address. The Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable will collect the names of missing persons for relief agencies.

“We have gotten reports from Haitians in Los Angeles of missing relatives and family members in Haiti,” says Hutchinson, “This is a call for those who have missing relatives to come forth and get assistance in helping to locate their relatives. Not knowing where a relative or family member is when a disaster strikes is one of the most stressful experiences that a family can suffer.”

Endorsed:

NAACP National Board Member Willis Edwards

Lita Herron Youth Advocacy Coalition

Eddie Jones Los Angeles Civil Rights Assn

January 13, 2010 for Immediate Release Contact: Earl Ofari Hutchinson323-383-6145

Press Conference:

When: Wednesday, January 13, Noon

Where: Lucy Florence Coffeehouse, 3351 W. 43rd St., Los Angeles 90008 Leimert Park

Civil Rights Leaders Launch Emergency Los Angeles Haitian Earthquake Relief Effort

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson and other civil rights leaders on Wednesday, January 13 will announce the launch of a Haitian relief effort campaign in Los Angeles. They will tell what Los Angeles residents can do to aid Haitian disaster relief. They will provide a list of local agencies where residents can donate food, clothing, medical supplies and financial aid that will go directly to needy Haitians.

“Haiti is one of the poorest and neediest nations in the world,” says Hutchinson, “The devastating earthquake has drastically increased the nation’s misery. The emergency relief effort is an opportunity for Los Angeles residents to do their part to aid the stricken nation.”

Endorsed:

NAACP National Board Member Willis Edwards

Lita Herron Youth Advocacy Coalition

Eddie Jones Los Angeles Civil Rights Assn

January 12, 2010
for Immediate Release
Contact:

Earl Ofari Hutchinson

323-383-6145

Author Interview Availability:

323-383-6145

Author Says Racial Controversies Will Continue to Dog Obama

The racially loaded quips by Nevada Senator Harry Reid and former President Bill Clinton are symptomatic of a problem that will continue to dog President Obama. The problem is racial controversy says author and political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson.

In his new book How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge, Hutchinson details how race has always lurked at or near the surface during the presidential campaign and how the issue continues to pose problems and challenges for Obama.  In his chapter, “Obama’s Racial Trainwreck,” he discusses the lingering impact that the flap over the racially incendiary remarks by Obama’s former pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, has had on White House policy regarding racial issues.

Hutchinson predicted that there would be a continuing parade of overt and subtle racial digs, quips and comments regarding Obama from GOP officials and even Democrats. Hutchinson also notes that Obama will be challenged by African-American leaders to do and say more about race and civil rights.

Though race did not hamper Obama’s election efforts, says Hutchinson, it has always been a compelling and sensitive public policy issue for many Americans. Hutchinson notes that there was no chance that Obama could totally escape being drawn into the middle of racial issues.

Hutchinson predicted in How Obama Governed that there will be more racial controversies during Obama’s term. They will spark even greater public debate about the role of race in American life and equally important the role it plays in how Obama governs.

In How Obama Governed, Hutchinson gives a no holds barred assessment of the make and break issues that confront Obama in 2010. These are the issues that will determine whether Obama can really deliver on his lofty promise of hope and change.

January 8, 2009
for Immediate Release
Contact:

Earl Ofari Hutchinson 323-383-6145

Or Nikki Leigh 540-466-4699

Author Interview Availability:

323-383-6145 or 540-466-4699

Author Says Obama Faces New Crisis with Election Loss of Top Democrats

The announcement that Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Dodd and other leading Democrats won’t run for re-election puts poses a new crisis President Obama. In his new book How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge, author and political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson predicted that there would be major losses among Democrats in 2010. He noted that some of those losses would be among top Democrats.

Hutchinson notes that this could cripple Obama’s efforts to get his agenda on immigration, cap and trade, implementing health care reforms, and his judicial appointments through Congress. It will also mortally wound Obama’s efforts to make bi-partisanship the watchword of his administration.

“The loss, defection, and potential defeat of top Democrats in 2010 will stiffen the GOP in its opposition to much of Obama’s agenda,” says Hutchinson, “It will also put Democrats on the political defensive. This will present yet another major challenge to Obama’s administration to stem the tide of political reverses.”

In How Obama Won, Hutchinson gives a no holds barred assessment of the make and break issues that confront Obama in 2010. These are the issues that will determine whether Obama can really deliver on his lofty promise of hope and change.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His latest book, How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge (Middle Passage Press) is NOW available – http://www.amazon.com/How-Obama-Governed-Crisis-Challenge/dp/1439259925