West Virginia Mayor Resigns After Racist Facebook Post About Michelle Obama

Clay County Mayor Beverly Whaling who faced backlash after agreeing with a racist comment about Michelle Obama on Facebook has resigned. The racist comment refereed to our elegant, intelligent, and classy First Lady Michelle Obama as an "ape in heels".

The Clay Town Council accepted Mayor Beverly Whaling’s resignation in a meeting late Tuesday afternoon and said it would act quickly to name a replacement for the remaining three years of her term.

Council member Jason Hubbard issued a brief statement condemning the “horrific” post and said “racial intolerance isn’t what this community is about.” He apologized on behalf of the town to anyone who is offended, including Michelle Obama.

Carson declined cabinet position offer from Trump

Many of us who thought that Ben Carson was all book sense and no common sense may have to admit that he may have an ounce of the latter. Ben Carson declined an offer from President-elect Donald Trump to join his cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services on the basis that he like Donald Trump has no experience running a government agency. George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Carson confidant Armstrong Williams said the former neurosurgeon and top Trump surrogate will continue to advise Trump from outside the White House but declined Trump's offer to join his administration as a cabinet-level official.

"He's never run an agency and it's a lot to ask. He's a neophyte and that's not his strength," Williams said, despite the fact that Carson vied for the Republican nomination to be the next president of the United States.

Williams told The Hill newspaper, "Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience, he's never run a federal agency. The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency."

Carson told The Washington Post that he is "leaning" toward working "from the outside and not from the inside."

"I want to have the freedom to work on many issues and not be pigeonholed into one particular area," he told the newspaper.

[SOURCE:CNN]

Keith Ellison formally announces his bid for DNC Chair

Congressman Keith Ellison (Minn) has formally announced his bid to run for chair of the Democratic National Committee. He already has the endorsements of U.S Senators like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Schumer, and other members of congress John Conyers, and Bonnie Watson Coleman. Read his statement below and learn more about Ellison's campaign for the DNC chair here: https://keithfordnc.org/:

Democrats win when we harness the power of everyday people and fight for the issues they care about. It is not enough for Democrats to ask for voter's support every two years. We must be with them through every lost paycheck, every tuition hike, and every time they are a victim of a hate crime. When voters know what Democrats stand for, we can improve the lives of all Americans, not matter what race, religion, or sexual orientation.

To do that, we must begin the rebuilding process now.

This election cycle, we did not motivate enough people to the ballot box. we must champion the challenges of working families and give voters a reason to show up at the polls in 2018 and beyond. We must build a bench not just for federal candidates, but for state and local candidates across the nation.

We also need a robust party organization in every state that prioritizes voter relationships over everything else. we must invest in and empower our state and local parties by creating effective field operations, an enhanced and advanced voter file, and a culture of collaboration between candidates at every level. Let's put voters first.

I am proud to announce my candidacy for Chair of the Democratic National Committee, and if given the opportunity to serve, I will work tirelessly to make the Democratic Party an organization that brings us together and advances an agenda that improves people's lives.

PBS host Gwen Ifill Dies at 61

Gwen Ifill, the longtime PBS news anchor who had served as a co-host of PBS’s NewsHour and as moderator of “Washington Week,” has died after a battle with cancer. She was 61.

One of the most visible African American female broadcast journalists, she received more than 20 honorary doctorates, had been honored by the Peabody awards, Radio and Television News Directors Association, Harvard's Joan Shorenstein Center, and The National Association of Black Journalists among others. She also served on the boards of the News Literacy Project, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and was a fellow with the American Academy of Sciences.[SOURCE]

PBS released the following statement:

It is with extremely heavy hearts that we must share that our dear friend and beloved colleague Gwen Ifill passed away this afternoon following several months of cancer treatment. She was surrounded by loving family and many friends whom we ask that you keep in your thoughts and prayers.

A note from Sara Just, PBS NewsHour executive producer and WETA SVP

“Gwen was a standard bearer for courage, fairness and integrity in an industry going through seismic change. She was a mentor to so many across the industry and her professionalism was respected across the political spectrum. She was a journalist’s journalist and set an example for all around her.

So many people in the audience felt that they knew and adored her. She had a tremendous combination of warmth and authority. She was stopped on the street routinely by people who just wanted to give her a hug and considered her a friend after years of seeing her on TV.

We will forever miss her terribly.”

Senator Cory Booker: Ready to fight against Trump agenda

During an interview Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) told Meet the Press host, Chuck Todd that he's prepared to respectfully fight against the Trump agenda, give those Americans who didn't support Trump hope going forward, and that a true progressive should head the DNC. Watch that interview below.