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VIDEO: Senator-Elect Cory Booker Talks Future Plans on CNN

Newark Mayor and New Jersey's newly-minted United States Senator-Elect Cory Booker says he will continue his record of bipartisanship once he starts working in Washington.

"We [re]built New Jersey's biggest city Newark on bipartisanship," said the Senator-Elect this afternoon on CNN. Republican Governor Chris Christie "and I probably disagree on more stuff than we agree on. ... But the reality is this is my history. People said it couldn't be done and that the problems were too big. But we did it and I hope to join with others in Washington in a bipartisan spirit."

Watch the interview AFTER THE JUMP ...

Will Booker make a "big splash" in the Senate a la Rand Paul and Elizabeth Warren? Or will he choose a more "cautious" path, asked the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jonathan Tamari.

Booker will enter the chamber with assets few new senators enjoy: a national following, star-studded support, and a talent for theatrics. He's a dynamic figure with 1.4 million Twitter followers, cross-cultural appeal and is more well-known than most of his new peers. But after pitching himself as a single-handed force for change, Booker is joining an institution that over recent weeks has been a picture of snarled dysfunction.

It's also a body where newcomers are told to wait their turn, and where arcane rules, winding processes and unending roadblocks often chafe ex-mayors, governors and business leaders who are used to setting their own agenda - perhaps helping to explain why only nine of the 100 current senators have been mayors. ...

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), a former mayor, said, "it's very, very different, and it takes a lot of adjustment."

Something tells me that Sen. Booker will do just fine. Watch the interview AFTER THE JUMP ...

Al Sharpton Slams CNN Over "Dark Skinned" Suspect Description

CNN's John King was the first to report incorrectly on Wednesday that authorities had identified a suspect in Monday's bloody terrorist bombing at the Boston Marathon. King claimed authorities were looking for a "dark skinned male."

"I want to be very careful about this, because people get very sensitive when you say these things. I was told by one of these sources who is a law enforcement official that this is a dark-skinned male. I'm making a personal judgment—forgive me, I think it's the right judgment—not to try to inflame tensions. They say it's a dark-skinned male."

The suspect description and claims of an arrest were later found to be false. "CNN [incorrectly] reported an arrest and the Associated Press stated that a suspect was taken into custody and was expected at a Boston courthouse," adds CBS News.

Watch MSNBC's Al Sharpton slams CNN and John King's reporting AFTER THE JUMP ..

VIDEO: Former 49ers Player Kwame Harris Discusses Being Gay w/ CNN

Former San Francisco 49er player Kwame Harris discussed his sexuality with CNN Newsroom this morning. Harris discussed his years in the closet playing for the NFL.

"You want to escape the despair and turmoil and your mind goes to dark places," said Harris of being in the closet. "I'm happy today. The cost was great not speak candidly open about myself in complete manner. If I could have done it differently, I would have hoped I found the strength [to come out]."

Harris was an offensive tackle who played five seasons with the 49ers and one season with the Oakland Raiders. The footballer was outed in late January when he was charged with felony domestic violence and assault charges in connection with an August 2012 incident involving an ex-boyfriend. The court case happened only days before his former teammates at the 49ers were headed to the Super Bowl.

Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...

VIDEO: California Attorney General Kamala Harris Slams Prop 8 on CNN

California Attorney General Kamala Harris for the win. AG Harris delivered a fierce defense of the Constitution and equality after CNN's Candy Crowley demanded answers on why the State of California refused to defend Proposition 8. "It is one thing to read the polls ... but it is more important to read the Constitution," said AG Harris.

"I am absolutely against a ban on same-sex marriages because [bans] are simply unconstitutional. It is one thing to read the polls, which we have discussed which show again that a majority of Americans are in favor of same sex marriage, but it is more important to read the Constitution. The Constitution of the United States dictates, I believe, under every court precedent that we have discussed in terms of describing marriage as a fundamental right that the same-sex couples that are before the United states supreme court — Mrs. Windsor, Miss Perry — be allowed to have equal protection under the laws as any Americans when it comes to their ability to join themselves with their loving partners in marriage and raise their children. And 61% of Californians are in favor of same-sex marriage."

Harris is the former San Francisco District Attorney and a veteran equality advocate. Speaking in December 2010 at her first news conference as Attorney General-Elect, you'll recall she reiterated a core campaign promise: "We will not defend Proposition 8 because it is simply unconstitutional."

Via Think Progress, watch the fierceness AFTER THE JUMP ...

VIDEO: Barbour Claims Hurricane "Broke Romney's Momentum"

Who is to blame if Mitt Romney loses tomorrow's election? Don't blame Romney because Hurricane Sandy "broke his momentum," claims former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. Watch the spin AFTER THE JUMP ...

VIDEO: Stacey Dash Defends Romney Endorsement on CNN

Actress Stacey Dash appeared on CNN’s Piers Morgan to defend her controversial Twitter endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

"It's because of the state of the country. I want the next four years to be different,” said the former co-star of the film Clueless and television's Single Ladies. "When I watched the governor and his wife on Meet the Press with David Gregory, they spoke to me and they seemed authentic and genuine about what they said about this country about the need for us to be united and move forward."

Dash has been the subject of an immediate internet backlash from fans and supporters ever since she tweeted her support for Romney over the weekend. "You’re an unemployed black woman endorsing @MittRomney. You’re voting against yourself thrice. You poor beautiful idiot," read one tweet.

The actress also quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and said that she is backing Romney "not by the color of his skin but the content of his character."

Not sure what "content" Dash found in Romney's "character" besides repeatedly lying, contempt for working people and working to undermine a women's right to choose what to do with her own body. Keep telling yourself that, hun.

Watch the clip AFTER THE JUMP ...

VIDEO: LZ Granderson's TED Talk: "The Myth of the Gay Agenda"

ESPN senior writer and CNN contributor LZ Granderson delivers a wonderful TED Talk on the myth of the so-called "gay agenda." Love his "Torch Song Trilogy" intro. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

VIDEO: Jay-Z Supports President Obama on Equal Marriage

Jay-Z appeared on CNN to express his enthusiasm for President Obama's historic announcement on equal marriage: "It's the right thing to do."

"I’ve always thought it as something that was still holding the country back. What people do in their own homes is their business. Who you can choose to love whoever you love. That’s their business. It's no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination plain and simple. ... It's the right thing to do, so whether it costs him votes or not - again, it's not about votes. It's about people. It's the right thing to do as a human being."

Part owner of an NBA team, songwriting, producing records, designing a fashion line, husband to Beyoncé, a brand new father ... Jay-Z has 99 problems but same-sex marriage ain't one.

Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...

Roland Martin Returns to CNN

CNN announced that it has lifted its suspension on political analyst Roland S. Martin, reports Fishbowl DC.

CNN staff was alerted today on the 10 am conference call that Roland Martin‘s suspension has been lifted. Martin, who hosts “Washington Watch” and is a CNN Contributor, was suspended shortly after Super Bowl Sunday when he wrote tweets that were construed by some to be homophobic. He apologized, but CNN held fast to the suspension until today.

CNN suspended Martin indefinitely on February 8 for a series of "offensive, homophobic" tweets during the Super Bowl. This came after the Chicago-based radio host was the target of a social media action by GLAAD and the National Black Justice Coalition.

During his suspension, Martin met with GLAAD leadership. The group said the meeting signified the "beginning of an open and honest dialogue." Martin issued another boilerplate "apology", boasted of his support for gay adoption and repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and added, "I have no plan to abandon my goal as a truth teller on a variety of issues; and, yes, that includes those that may be on the LGBT agenda."

Martin has previously compared gays to alcoholics, defended Tracy Morgan's violent homophobic comedy skit and slammed "gay blogs" for "savagely attacking" anti-gay Miss California Carrie Prejean.

Martin's tweets about homophobic violence were delivered at the same time a young Black gay man was viciously attacked by a gang in Atlanta. Brandon White's brutal assault was videotaped, uploaded to the internet and went viral with millions of views. Three young men are in police custody. A fourth man was indicted but has not been arrested.

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CNN Suspends Roland Martin for Homophobic Tweets

CNN Suspends Roland Martin for "Offensive", Homophobic Tweets

CNN has suspended contributor Roland S. Martin for a homophobic series of tweets during the Super Bowl.

The Chicago-based radio host has been under fire since Sunday and the target of an social media action by GLAAD and the National Black Justice Coalition. CNN has been quiet until now when it released this statement:

Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.”

CNN took its time, but it clearly reached a strong decision here. What Martin had tweeted — advocating beatings for men who’d enjoyed the David Beckham underwear ad shown during the Super Bowl plus the same for a New England Patriot clad in a pink suit — was the equivalent of cheerleading for violence against gays.

"CNN today took a strong stand against anti-LGBT violence and language that demeans any community," said GLAAD spokesperson Rich Ferraro. "Yesterday, Martin also spoke out against anti-LGBT violence. We look forward to hearing from CNN and Roland Martin to discuss how we can work together as allies and achieve our common goal of reducing such violence as well as the language that contributes to it."

Roland Martin's homophobic comments should come as no surprise to R20 readers. Martin has previously compared gays to alcoholics, defended Tracy Morgan's violent homophobic comedy skit and slammed "gay blogs" for "savagely attacking" anti-gay Miss California Carrie Prejean.

More recently: Actor Boris Kodjoe criticized Roland Martin for describing homosexuality as a choice or "gay lifestyle."

Martin has a major platform across Black media—radio, television and magazines—and his words are particularly harmful to Black LGBTs. Despite his well-documented homophobic track record, a number of Black gay voices have defended Martin and attacked GLAAD and other activists. Rev. Kevin E. Taylor, the New Jersey-based pastor, gay activist, author and producer dissects this in an excellent op-ed at RollingOut.com:

Martin is the “crazy uncle” who we are used to coming into the room and saying stupid things. ... We are used to the Rolands of our world ranting about stuff in off-handed ways. [So] many Black gay men have learned to absorb the shock of these comments and keep it moving “cuz that’s just how he is."

We are often still so ensconced in our Black community ... because we still find more sanctuary in Blackness than in gayness. We would rather take off-the-chin remarks from the family "we know loves us" because we have at least had great memories of family gatherings that just happened to include the crazy uncles and the Bible-toting aunts who say they love us but not "that lifestyle." I am pissed off and disappointed at members of my own community because while I completely understand the need to be close to the family and stay close to home, we’ve got to be willing to grow up.

It's an excellent op-ed. Read it HERE.

Martin's "jokes" about homophobic violence were delivered at the same time a young Black gay man was viciously attacked by a gang in Atlanta. The video-taped gay-bashing has gone viral. The FBI has has joined the police investigation.

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