Obama Calls Bush's Katrina Response 'Shameful'
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama has been busy these last few weeks, and the media has been equally as busy writing about him. Obama slammed the Bush administration in New Orleans Monday following a Senate field hearing on Gulf Coast rebuilding. He criticized Bush for promising to do "what it takes ... as long as it takes" to reconstruct the city, doing nothing, and failing to mention New Orleans in his State of the Union address. Who came to Bush's defense? Read more.
Was Obama's Audacity of Hope released to test his presidential chances? The Obama camp says no, but others are wondering if the first-term senator's blockbuster autobiography may have contributed to his decision to form a presidential exploratory committee. Read DiversityInc's Audacity of Hope review. Book sales afforded him rock-star status and ample opportunities for public interaction almost overnight. Did this prompt Obama to consider a presidential run, or did his advisers know Audacity of Hope would pave the way? Find out here.
Why Are Katie Couric's Ratings Low? Because She's a Woman?
CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus's explanation for Katie Couric's low ratings on the "CBS Evening News" is so primitive it borders on offensive. Why isn't anyone watching Couric? It's because she's a woman, says McManus, who submits Couric's gender means "she has to worry about what she looks like, what she's wearing—things the male anchor doesn't have to worry about." Doesn't image matter to everyone in broadcast television, McManus? Larry King agrees with him, calling the situation "sad." Now that we know how the men feel about what it's like to be a female anchor, what do the women have to say? Read more.
Indian Actress Wins Racist Reality Show
Racial bullying didn't deter Indian actress Shilpa Shetty from stepping up to win the British reality-TV show "Celebrity Big Brother"—she received 63 percent of viewers' votes Sunday. One opponent's racial jabs prompted more than 40,000 complaints—a new record—to media regulators. Despite consistent affronts to her race/ethnicity, Shetty defends her assailant. Why? Prime Minister Tony Blair has commented on the dastardly state of race relations in his country—but how will he address it? Read more.
IBM Takes Stance on Genetic Discrimination
If things were up to IBM, Title VII would include a nondiscrimination statement based on genetics. Genetic data is a viable diagnostic and preventative tool, but as testing becomes mainstream, employers must take care to ensure individuals' information remains private. Why? People predisposed to severe medical conditions or diseases may be denied health insurance or employment opportunities on the basis of their genetic makeup, which most certainly constitutes a form of discrimination. In October 2005, IBM became the first global company to include genetics in its nondiscrimination policy. Read it here. And now the tech behemoth will call on Congress to do the same. Learn more.
College President Criticized for Removing Cross
College of William & Mary President Gene Nichol decided to remove a historic cross, which has retained its position in Wren Chapel since 1940, unless its display is requested. He was met with a barrage of student and faculty criticism, which has stoked national debate about the role of religion at public universities. Nichol's point is that religious symbols need not have a constant presence on campus in order for them to be part of classroom discussion and student experience. How can a public university celebrate a particular religion without excluding others, he asks? Critics condemn his action under the umbrella of political correctness and a group of students and alumni are petitioning to have the policy reversed. Read more.
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