OPINION
The
Chronicle
Ernest H. Pitt Publisher/Co-Founder
Elaine Pitt Business Manager
Michael A. Pitt Marketing
T. Kevin Walker Managing Editor
Norm Carolina
Press Aiioc aiion
Photo by Charlie Pfaff
Sen. Barack Obama can bring change.
0
Who We
Like
Part 2
It is not surprising that this year's -Contest for the
Democratic nomination for president has generated so much
excitement and passion. The two candidates seeking the nomi
nation. Sens Barack Ohama and Hillary Clinton, are forward
thinking, ready to lead and ready to make history as either the
first African-American or first female nominee of a major
American political party
Obama- promises that he will be a new type of president, one
that doesn't walk the party line but, instead reaches out to those
of all political stripes in order to foster change. We believe that
he will do this. For far too long, there has been a "red state"
America and a "blue state" America, with the two sides at odds.
Obama has the temperament and the vision to make the us one
nation, under God.
State Sen. Kay Hagan is the Democratic Party's best hope
to unseat U.S. Sen Elizabeth Dole in November. Hagan has a
long and distinguished career as a public servant and has used
her years in Raleigh to work steadfastly for positive change and
to build bridges and bonds with her legislative colleagues.
Hagan also has true, deep North Carolina roots, something that
Dole and some of those facing her in the Democratic primary
cannot claim. We think it is still important that those who rep
resent us in Washington have a bond with our state. That means
more than simply being born and raised in North Carolina and
then disappearing for decades and returning to fulfill political
aspirations
Roy Carter is also the best qualified candidate to take on
U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx in November. Foxx really needs an
early retirement from Capitol Hill, where she has done nothing
more than make the people of the Fifth District look foolish for
electing her in the first place. Carter, a retired coach and edu
cator. has the kind of small town values and common sense
ideas that characterize many in the vast district. He should be
able to connect easily with voters and convince them that it is
time for a change.
Three-term Wake County District Court Judge Kristin
Ruth is well prepared and suited to sit on the N.C. Court of
Appeals. The black community should be wary of judges who
wear their conservative credentials on their sleeves because
often those conservative stripes were earned at the detriment of
pieople of color.
Judge James Wynn deserves our active support as he tries
to retain his seat on the N .C,. Court of Appeals. He is one of this
state's most distinguished and experienced law men. He has
served us well and should be allowed to continue to do so.
S3EV
auwtoT es*as3fy*ruiNG>
e v^rcaKoouG. to >fcxjR
vm-"W so we Dacioeo to
u\/e -rv%a taasr of vav
UFe \M 3k PI-3ST\C
BOBfeUa.
iGuass
yeoRTUs
An Open Letter from Dr. Angelou
for Hillary Clinton
Maya
Angelou
Guest
Columnist
Dear Friend:
I am writing to tell you
about my friend, Hillary
Clinton, and why 1 am standing
with her in her campaign for
the presidency. I know the kind
of president Hillary Clinton
will be because I know the per
son she is.
I am inspired by her
courage and her honesty. She is
a reliable and trustworthy per
son. She is someone 1 not only
admire but one for whom I
have profound affection.
Hillary does not waver in
standing up for those who need
a champion. She has always
been a passionate protector of
families. As a child, she was
taught that all God's children
are equal, and as a mother, she
understood that her child was
n't safe unless all children were
safe.
As I wrote about Hillary
recently in a praise song: "She
is the prayer of every woman,
and every man who longs fot
fair play, healthy families, good
schools and a balanced econo
my."
It may be easy to view
Hillary Clinton through the nar
WFU Photo
Dr. Maya Angelou and Sen . Hillary Clinton at a recent campaign event at Wake Forest.
row lens of those who would
write her off or grind her down.
Hillary sees us as we are, black
and brown and white and yel
low and pink, and relishes our
differences, knowing that fun
damentally we are all more
alike than we are unalike. She
is able to look through com
plexion and see community.
She has endured great
scrutiny, and still she dares
greatly. Hillary Clinton will
not give up on you, and all she
asks is that you do not give up
on her. She is a long-distance
runner. I am honored to say I
am with her for the long run.
I am supporting Hillary
Clinton because I know that she
will make the most positive dif
ference in people's lives and
she will help our country
become what it can be.
Whether you are her supporter,
leaning towards her, undecided,
or supporting someone else, I
believe Hillary Clinton will
represent you - she will be a
president for all Americans. It
is no small thing that along the
way we will make history
together.
Vote for Hillary Clinton and
show your support at
www.hillaryclinton.com. 1
know she will make us proud.
a
Dr. Maya Angelou is a
world-renowed author, poet
and lecturer. A resident of
Winston-Salem, Angelou is the
Reynolds Professor of
American Studies at Wake
Forest University.
A Tax Code that Makes Sense
Barack
Obama
Guest
Columnist
For most Americans, this is a
time of economic uncertainty.
You are working harder for less.
You are paying nfore for every
thing from health care, to col
lege tuition, to filling up the gas
tank. Yet, our tax code favors
Wall Street over Main Street.
It's time for that to change. ?
For decades, Washington
hats given the wealthiest
Americans tax cuts that they
don't need and didn't ask for.
Special interests have success
fully lobbied to carve out over
$1 trillion in corporate tax
breaks. We've lost a sense of
fairness, and we've lost sight of
that simple truth that we're all in
this together as Americans.
I am running so that
Americans have a President
who makes decisions based on
their interests, not special inter
ests. When I am President, I will
restore fairness to the tax code.
We will close corporate loop
holes and give a tax cut to mid
dle cla&Americans ~ instead of
giving tax breaks to companies
that ship jobs overseas.
First, I'll give relief to work
ing people with a "Making
Work Pay" tax credit. This cred
it will offset your payroll tax.
providing up to $500 for
American workers, and $J ,000
for each working family. That
mejps ISO million Americans
will get a tax cut, including 4.4
million North Carolinians.
Second, I'll give homeown
ers relief. Owning a home
should be a source of stability -
not insecurity. That's why I've
proposed a universal mortgage
credit that will give homeown
ers who don't currently itemize
on their taxes a break of 10 per
cent off their mortgage interest
rate, including those hit by the
subprime crisis. This will bene-.-j
fit 10 million homeowners
nationwide.
Finally, every American
should be able to retire with the
dignity and security they have
earned. Yet, seniors are facing
rising costs. As President, I will
eliminate all income taxes for
seniors making under $50,000 a
year. This proposal will elimi
nate income taxes for seven mil
lion seniors, including over
150,000 North Carolina seniors,
and provide these seniors with
an average savings of $1,400
each year.
rf To pull through these uncer
tain times, it's time for
Americans to pull together. If
we do, we can bring fundamen
tal change to Washington, so
that it starts doing the peoples'
business instead of doing busi
ness with special interests.
That's why I'm running for
President. And it's why I will
make sure our tax code protects
the American Dream for all
Americans.
But the change we want to
see in our country depends on
you. The North Carolina pri
mary represents your chance to
vote for change. And this year.
North Carolina has something
new - One-Stop Early Voting.
From now until Saturday, May
3rd, you can vote at your county
Board of Elections office or at
other designated One-Stop
Early Voting locations. Even if
you're not currently registered
to vote or you've never voted
before, you can register and vote
all at once.
For more information on
how One-Stop Early Vote
works, or to find the voting loca
tion nearest you and hours of
operation, dial 1-888-NC
EARLY. You can also log onto
my North Carolina Web site:
nc barackobama .com .
Your vote and your voice
couldn't be more important.
Together, we will make the
change America needs.
Sen. Barack Obama is the
junior senator from Illinois. He
is seeking the Democratic nomi
nation for president.