By BONNIE ERBE, Scripps Howard News Service
Obama and the case for affirmative action
It's a pretty safe bet that the majority of Obama supporters also champion affirmative action or racial and gender preferences in employment, college admissions and government contracting.
Cruelty to walking horses
Courtesy of Michael Vick, most Americans have now been exposed to the sordid, underground world of dog fighting. Coverage of cock-fighting and state or county bans against the horrendous practice in most venues have made us aware of the sadistic truculence some sorry humans impose on these poor birds.
Should Powell endore Obama?
Will Gen. Colin Powell endorse Sen. Barack Obama? It's the question rippling through Washington's chattering class conversations. These conversations were sparked by the National Journal's report that the two met privately on June 18 in Powell's Alexandria, Va. office and talked for about an hour.
Horse racing industry regulation
There are few if any admirable political figures in Washington, D.C. these days. But one whose under-the-radar work calls for high praise is Ed Whitfield , R-Ky. Whitfield's stalwart concern for horses is nothing short of spectacular, particularly given the fact he hails from the bluegrass state.
Changing notions of 'family'
Two fascinating new legal trends reflect society's sea change in attitude toward family and interpersonal relationships. The first is collaborative divorce, which sounds like an oxymoron but is actually a brilliant concept. The second, which I'll get to below, is "legalized friendships."
It's time for Hillary Clinton to bow out
God knows what Sen. Hillary Clinton really wants to extract from the Democratic Party in exchange for her departure from the nomination process. But let's hope it's not what most of the media are reporting: that she wants -- Sen. Barack Obama to add her to his ticket as his vice presidential pick.
Race, gender permeate presidential race
A victory in Oregon, yes, but a 35-point thrashing in Kentucky on Tuesday for presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama. Although both states are populated predominantly by white voters, together they prove white comes in many different shades.
Racism emerges in the Democratic primaries
A telling point about white, working class voters and how some of them will vote when (and it looks like when, not if) Sen. Barack Obama becomes the Democratic nominee was made in an article in this week's Washington Post.
End the mistreatment of race horses
If you, as I, cannot get that horrific image of Eight Belles being put to death at Churchill Downs last weekend out of your head, you can take action to help quell the horror.
The kitchen ad
If you haven't viewed the "attack" ad that is generating so much anger against Hillary Rodham Clinton, at least in the Ivory Tower offices of The New York Times and among many Barack Obama supporters, you owe it to yourself to watch it.It's at http://www.hillaryclinton.com/video/169.aspx.
