CHARLOTTE, NC — Campaign 2016 is heating up for what could be the most unconventional debate series the country has ever seen. WCCB Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis weighs in on the wide range of issues that have been the focal points of both the Clinton and Trump campaigns
The Unique Issues in Campaign 2016
Aug312016
African-Americans Hear Trump Loud and Clear
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s so refreshing to know that Donald Trump cares about me. I was in that Charlotte crowd when he made one of his first outreach efforts to African-Americans. Because the supportive Trump fans gathered in the portioned-off section of the convention center included few actual African-Americans, he could very well have been talking just to me when he said Democrats and Hillary Clinton have totally taken African-American votes for granted. “What do you have to lose by trying something new?” he asked.
That appearance set the tone and backdrop for the Republican presidential nominee’s practice of talking about African-Americans to predominantly white audiences. Though I was joined by members of a local black church that has endorsed Trump, and we were all carefully watched by a diverse group of unsmiling security personnel whose glances I tried to avoid so I would not meet the same fate as an Indian-American Trump supporter tossed out of a rally when he was profiled as a potential troublemaker.
Aug292016
Trump’s Recent Pitch to Minority Voters
CHARLOTTE, NC — Donald Trump has been working to sway minority voters in recent days, and that includes backing off of his hard line immigration policy. WCCB Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis discusses the new approach Donald Trump has been taking and whether it will be effective in this long run.
Aug242016
The Latest With NC Voter ID Laws and the Upcoming Election
CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina’s Voter ID Law is in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, and Mecklenburg County residents are learning they could have less time to cast an early ballot in this year’s election.
WCCB Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis is weighing in on these voter issues and what they could mean as the election draws closer.
Aug172016
The Latest Possible Move to Oust Donald Trump
CHARLOTTE, NC — A petition is being circulated that is calling on the Republican National Committee to hold a special meeting to discuss replacing Donald Trump as the GOP Presidential Nominee. WCCB Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis weighs in on all of the twists and turns in Trump’s race for the White House.
Aug102016
Will Donald Trump Meet with Minority Journalists?
If he really wanted to boost his brand, to continue what put him on top, Republican presidential nominee Trump missed a prime opportunity this past weekend, turning down two invitations that surely had the potential to change the conversation far better than an economic address that was short on details that don’t quite add up.
Aug092016
Hillary Clinton and the Glass Ceiling
We heard a lot of talk about breaking the glass ceiling when Hillary Clinton became the first woman to be nominated by a major party to be their presidential candidate. In her acceptance speech she said, “when any barrier falls in America, for anyone, it clears the way for everyone.” So we’re going to look at how this nomination could affect other glass ceilings for women – in politics and business, and for feminism.
Guests
Kelly Finley – senior lecturer and undergraduate advisor, Women’s & Gender Studies, UNC Charlotte
Dr. Dawn Chandler – associate professor of Management, McColl School of Business, Queens University of Charlotte
Mary C. Curtis – journalist and columnist at Roll Call and NBCBLK; she is also a contributor to NPR’s Code Switch
Aug092016
Hollywood Celebrities Show Up in Support of DC Statehood
In a room sprinkled with celebrities—and there were quite a few, from Ashley Judd to David Schwimmer—one stood out for reasons other than a starring role on TV or in the movies.
Eleanor Holmes Norton has been on the front line of social-justice causes her whole life, and she has no problem uniting with more well-known faces if it means success for the issue of statehood for the District of Columbia. She isn’t mad at them at all.
“If you can get celebrities to highlight a cause, get eyeballs when you would not before, that’s fine,” she said. “If more people know who’s doing the talking, it’s better off for your cause.”
Jul272016
