What is Smiley true agenda for going to Washington DC on January 13, 2011?

Is Travis Smiley Using Race to Undermine President Obama? 

On January 13, 2011, Tavis Smiley will lead a three hour discussion titled in America Next Chapter subtitled Recovering America Greatness. Even the title of his forum sounds a lot like Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor Rally.” Is Smiley like Beck trying to undermine President Obama’s presidency by using race?

Vera Richardson

I NEED AND WANT “OBAMACARE”

I am African-American and one of the tens of millions of poor people in a depressed economy. I am struggling on a fixed income because of an illness of work-related depression and anxiety.

I broke my shoulder bone after falling on a sidewalk in Houston, TX. My injury required an emergency transport by ambulance to a local ER and surgery. My co-pay before the operation would be performed was approximately $900.00 with Medicare Part A and B.

Vera Richardson

My Book Screwed by Former New York Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer

“Screwed by Former New York Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer”  is a non-fiction account of Vera Richardson’s David and Goliath battle with Eliot Spitzer. The book details Richardson’s humble, and poverty stricken childhood, her determination to obtain a middle-class lifestyle for herself and her family, obtaining her dream of graduating from college and becoming a professional only to have that dream shattered by New York State Department of Correctional Services and Eliot Spitzer.

Imagine if you hadn’t done anything to deserve it and you lost everything because of your sex and race. By losing everything I mean your job, career, friends, relationship with family members, and physical and mental health. Imagine complaining of employment discrimination at your work place for three years and the discrimination and retaliation escalating instead of ceasing.

Imagine filing an employment discrimination lawsuit without an attorney. Imagine having your employer New York State Department of Correctional Services represented by New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and his staff of over 450 attorneys. Imagine the New York State Attorney General’s Office an agency with a Civil Rights Bureau violating the Civil Right Act of 1964 as amended during your employment discrimination lawsuit.

Imagine your Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VII case being thrown out of court because of perjured declarations filed by Eliot Spitzer. Imagine appealing the clearly unjust dismissal of your lawsuit without an attorney to all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Imagine the United States Supreme Court denying you justice by refusing to even review your case.


Imagine contacting the United States Department of Justice and having that agency agree that Eliot Spitzer filed perjured declarations in a federal court of law. Imagine the United States Department of Justice referring your case to the FBI for an investigation and Eliot Spitzer and/or his staff not being charged or held accountable for their actions.

More importantly, Screwed by Former Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is an example of the resiliency of an African-American woman to receive peace and justice for herself and other victims of employment discrimination and retaliation.

Vera Richardson
Author of “Screwed by Former New York Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer”

African-Americans Vote and Stop Behaving Like the Children of Israel

I believe that during the November 2, 2010, mid-term elections African-Americans behaved like the children of Israel after they were delivered from slavery. Exodus 14:12 of King James Version of the Bible: “Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt; saying Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.”

After witnessing all of the never ending opposition to President Obama by the Republican Party I believe that many minorities feel like Velma Hart. Velma an African- American woman stated during a September 20, 2010, town hall meeting that she is exhausted from defending President Obama and his agenda.

Other minorities believe that race relations have gotten worse since President Obama’s election. Some middle class minorities believe that they were doing better before Obama’s presidency.

President Obama said that change wouldn't come easy in this country and the November 2, 2010, midterms proved that fact. President Obama can’t get weary and give up and we can’t get weary and give up either.

The poor, African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, the under educated, and women need President Obama to continue fighting for us and his agenda. We must trust God and know that just like He delivered the children of Israel He will protect and deliver us too.

We must vote in every election as if it’s a presidential election. Additionally, I want President Obama to know that he is loved by Jesus, my family, me, and millions in this country and around the world.


September 7, 2014 UPDATE
Hispanic Americans, President Obama's decisions to delay (not use an Executive Action) on Immigration Reform until after the midterms is necessary politics. Stop behaving like children of Israel. He appointed Justice Sotomayor, used an Executive Order for the Dreamers, elevated Mayor
Vera Richardson

Preview and/or buy my book Screwed by Former Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer
I believe God created me to shed light on employment discrimination and for that light to cause POUS to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 again. Amending the Act again who protect victims from summary judgment motions that deny them a jury trial and justice.

THE REPUBLICIANS CAN’T HAVE THIS COUNTRY BACK

We will take our country back is one of the slogans that Republicans and Tea Party candidates have used to controlled the midterm election debate. Like many other African-Americans the thought of going back is unacceptable to me.

The tone and words of the Republicans and/or Tea Party candidates sound like Governor George Wallace in his 1963 Inaugural Address: “Today I have stood, where once Jefferson Davis stood, and took an oath to my people. It is very appropriate then that from this Cradle of the Confederacy, this very Heart of the Great Anglo-Saxon Southland, that today we sound the drum for freedom as have our generations of forebears before us done, time and time again through history. Let us rise to the call of freedom-loving blood that is in us and send our answer to the tyranny that clanks its chains upon the South. In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny . . . and I say . . . segregation today . . . segregation tomorrow . . . segregation forever.

On Friday October 29 – October 31, 2010, I attended the 35th anniversary of the Alpha Kappa Alpha establishing a chapter at the University of Florida. Founded in 1853 the University of Florida is the oldest university in Florida. African-Americans were allowed to attend until September 1958. I was accepted to attend Fall of 1972 freshman class at the University of FL.

My recent visit to the University of Florida was one of the best weekends of my life. I enjoyed reconnecting with the women that pledged with me 35 years ago. More importantly I enjoyed and rejoice in the beautiful young women who are currently attending U of F. These women will join other Alpha Kappa Alpha women who are doctors, lawyers, teachers, superintendents of school districts, business owners, and writers as they continue to become more productive American citizens.


The same people who want to take their country back want to abolish the Department of Education. They want to return education to individual states. The possibility that minority children will not have the opportunity to obtain a quality education and minority adults will not have the opportunity to have rewarding productive careers and lives is the reason that the Republican Party Can’t take this country back.

Vera Richardson
Preview and/or buy book "Screwed by Former Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer" to START a factual race conversation that can change Americ

I Voted During Early Voting for the Democratic Party!

October 18, 2010, was the first day of early voting in Houston, TX.  I it also the day that I finally had a chance to cast my vote for Democratic candidates. Prior to casting my vote a Democratic volunteer told me that as of 11:00 am over ten thousand people had voted and the turnout was 5 to 1 in favor of the Republicans.


Although I was disappointed with the early statistics I am confident that more Democrats will flood the polls before the October 29, 2010, deadline for early voting and on November 2, 2010. Those of you who believe in equality, justice, and President Obama and his vision for America please come out in record numbers during the 2010 midterm elections.

Vera Richardson
Preview/buy my book Screwed by Former Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer

Calling out Anderson Cooper, Andrew Cuomo, Eliot Spitzer and CNN

Keeping Anderson Cooper, Eliot Spitzer, Andrew Cuomo and CNN Honest.  On September 28th and 29th 2010, Anderson Cooper in his Keeping Them Honest segment covered the story of Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox’s failure to discipline and/or terminate Andrew Shirvell, Asst. Attorney General of Michigan for “bullying” and harassing Chris Armstrong who is gay and the President of University of Michigan.

I am going to hold CNN and Anderson Cooper to the same standard. Why isn’t Anderson Cooper or CNN Eliot Spitzer current employer demanding that Cuomo investigate, discipline and/or terminated Russo for his actions that have left me broken emotionally and financially? Why did CNN hire Spitzer although my factual allegations which I have posted numerous times on CNN I-Report site could be easily investigated and substantiated?

Under Eliot Spitzer supervision Mike Russo, Asst NYS Attorney General filed several perjured declarations that denied this writer an African-American woman her right to have a jury trial during my Title VII employment discrimination and retaliation lawsuit. (97-cv-818(E). Why hasn’t CNN or Cooper featured my story that includes the fact that Eliot Spitzer in his role of New York Attorney General employed Mike Russo who is currently Acting Attorney General in charge of the Regional Office? Why is Mike Russo still employed by Andrew Cuomo?

On May 28, 2005, an Erie County, New York Assistant District Attorney reviewed my documentation of multiple perjury allegations against New York Attorney General's Office and various New York employees. After his reviewed he informed me that I should contact the New York State Attorney General Office because my allegations of perjury were supported by the documents that I submitted to his office. I informed him that New York State Attorney General’s Office including Eliot Spitzer was aware of my case and the factual perjury allegations.

The Asst DA told me that I should contact the United States Justice Department. I contacted the United States Justice Department and at their telephone request e-mailed extensive documentation on May 29, 30, and 31, 2005. In July 2005 Jane Wolfe and Allison Gioia both US Justice Department attorneys, reviewed my perjury allegations and direct evidence supporting the allegations and agreed with the Erie County Asst DA.

The United States Justice Department attorneys informed me that they were referring my case to the FBI for an investigation. I telephoned the FBI and was told that they could not confirm or deny the fact that my allegations were being investigated because of confidentiality rules. The FBI and United States Justice Department did not charge anyone with perjury in my case.

Could the answer be that Spitzer, Cuomo, the United States Justice Department, and CNN have a double standard because I am African-American?

Vera Richardson