http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/index/ en michaelfauntroy@crimsonmedia.net Copyright 2012 2012-01-29T03:00:05+00:00 http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/the_real_problem_with_romneys_wealth/ http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/the_real_problem_with_romneys_wealth/#When:02:00:05Z Mitt Romney’s recent release of his tax federal tax filings reveals a real problem for him and the Republican Party. It’s not just the amount of his vast wealth, or his former Swiss bank account, or his money stashed away in the Cayman Islands. The problem is that these three elements combine to reinforce the narrative that Romney is the living embodiment of a political-economic nexus that creates few winners and an increasing number of losers. He is the fat cat who is so despised by many Americans. The fact that he is still the likely nominee, with his moderate record, a healthcare plan that is the basis of the national reform law hated by most Republicans, and a religion many fundamentalist Christian conservatives view as a cult, shows just how desperate the Grand Old Party is to unseat President Barack Obama. There is a difference between capitalism and vulture capitalism. Romney is on the wrong side of the divide and reasonable people can see the difference. Romney’s brand of capitalism has helped to create a chasm between people and the country and is more responsible for the job loss, growing inequality, and societal anger. And yet, the Republican establishment is bending over backwards to help ensure he overcomes Newt Gingrich’s onslaught. His campaign and likely nomination will make it far more difficult for Republicans to make the argument that they have the ideas and positions that will create real opportunity for Americans. They have never been the party of regular, working class people, notwithstanding their mendacious rhetoric and their policies. American voters, who need a reality check on what “middle-class” really means, will not need much priming to be reminded that the Republican nominee is an ultra rich guy who sees more than $300,000 in speaking fees as “not much” money. His belated response to all the talk about his taxes – own his success and highlight his charitable donations – is too late to help. Saying “yeah, I’m rich” is not the way to win friends and influence people. But it is completely in line with Republican orthodoxy. Michael K. Fauntroy is associate professor of public policy at George Mason University. He specializes in party politics and African American politics. He blogs at MichaelFauntroy.com. 2012-01-29T02:00:05+00:00 http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/new_video_michael_fauntroy_comments_on_new_hampshire_primary/ http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/new_video_michael_fauntroy_comments_on_new_hampshire_primary/#When:16:31:20Z Happy again to go on CTV News. This time, we talked about the New Hampshire primary. 2012-01-09T16:31:20+00:00 http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/new_video_michael_fauntroy_comments_on_race_in_the_gop_nomination_fight/ http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/new_video_michael_fauntroy_comments_on_race_in_the_gop_nomination_fight/#When:16:09:42Z Here is a clip of me on WUSA-9 in Washington, DC discussing race in the GOP nomination fight. 2012-01-09T16:09:42+00:00 http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/michael_fauntroy_reflects_on_romneys_caucus_win_and_gop_voter_id_hypocrisy/ http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/michael_fauntroy_reflects_on_romneys_caucus_win_and_gop_voter_id_hypocrisy/#When:16:49:37Z There is no way to spin it. The Iowa caucus results cannot be seen by Governor Mitt Romney and his supporters as anything other than disappointing. He has been running for the nomination for half a decade and he got the same percentage in 2012 that he got in 2008. This is made worse by the quality of the 2012 Republican field which, to be charitable, is not impressive. Romney’s showing is hardly what momentum is made of. Romney will ultimately be fine. He has the money, the organization, and the good fortune to be in a race with others who are either unelectable, uninspiring, and unorganized. While Sen. Rick Santorum appears to be emerging as the conservative alternative to Romney, I cannot yet see a scenario in which he beats Romney for the nomination. Santorum is to Romney what Pat Buchanan was to Sen. Bob Dole: a hard base candidate who cannot win the support of others. One observation that I thing has been flying under the radar: The Republican Party of Iowa did not verify identification of caucus goers. This flies in the face of the wave of voter ID bills being pushed around the country by Republicans to hold down Democratic votes. Hypocrisy knows no shame. Michael Fauntroy.com MKFauntroy Dr. Michael K. Fauntroy 2012-01-04T16:49:37+00:00 http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/new_audio_michael_fauntroy_previews_the_2012_iowa_caucuses_on_minnesota_pub/ http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/new_audio_michael_fauntroy_previews_the_2012_iowa_caucuses_on_minnesota_pub/#When:01:11:41Z It’s always good to be on Minnesota Public Radio’s “Midmorning” with Kerri Miller. This time, Steve Kornacki of Salon and I preview the 2012 Iowa caucuses. We also responded to listener calls. 2012-01-03T01:11:41+00:00 http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/new_video_michael_fauntroy_on_ctv_to_discuss_the_iowa_caucuses/ http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/new_video_michael_fauntroy_on_ctv_to_discuss_the_iowa_caucuses/#When:21:23:47Z I appeared on CTV News in Toronto, Canada to discuss the Iowa Caucuses. Canadians are paying close attention to the election and I was happy to contribute to CTV’s coverage. 2011-12-30T21:23:47+00:00 http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/new_audio_michael_fauntroy_on_nprs_tell_me_more/ http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/new_audio_michael_fauntroy_on_nprs_tell_me_more/#When:19:15:40Z I had the pleasure of discussing the week’s politics with Kevin Williamson, deputy managing editor of the National Review on NPR’s “Tell Me More” with Michel Martin. We discussed Ron Paul’s racist newsletters, the Iowa caucuses, and the state of the GOP nomination fight. 2011-12-29T19:15:40+00:00 http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/michael_fauntroys_updated_youtube_channel/ http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/michael_fauntroys_updated_youtube_channel/#When:18:24:09Z I have recently added a bunch of new video to my YouTube channel. Please check it out when you get a minute! 2011-12-22T18:24:09+00:00 http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/herman_cains_legacy/ http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/herman_cains_legacy/#When:15:35:12Z Here are some thoughts on Herman Cain and what his candidacy means for Black conservatives. 2011-12-22T15:35:12+00:00 http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/really_funny_trump_says_he_could_win_significant_portion_of_black_vote/ http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/site/index.php/site/really_funny_trump_says_he_could_win_significant_portion_of_black_vote/#When:14:33:04Z Donald Trump appeared on Greta van Susteren’s Fox News show and dropped a whopper: He could do “very well” among Black voters (you may recall him saying earlier in 2011 that he as a “great relationship with the Blacks”). Trump is delusion on so many levels. Anyway, here is my video commentary on Trump’s comments. 2011-12-22T14:33:04+00:00