Kent Ninomiya History & Politics

Martial Arts Wandering

2009-06-17T01:21:00.000-05:00

The study of martial arts should ideally be done under the tutelage of a single qualified master. However, in today's modern society people move, schools close, and students get bored.
A lifelong student of martial arts may need to transition to several different martial arts programs in their lifetime. This can be incredibly difficult if you study a somewhat obscure martial art like hapkido. There are very few hapkido schools, so finding one when you move is a challenge. This is why tae kwon do is a good martial art to study if you plan to move a lot. No martial art is more pervasive in America today. The two largest factions of tae kwon do are the World Taekwondo Federation and the International Taekwon-do Federation. Their systems are somewhat standardized. If you study WTF or ITF tae kwon do, you should be able to find another school teaching pretty much the same way in another city. Your rank will also transfer to the new school. This allows you to continue your studies unabated.

What's in a Name?

2009-06-12T18:29:00.001-05:00

I am often asked the differences between tae kwon do, taekwondo, taekwon-do, tang soo do, moo duk kwon, jhoon rhee, etc. They are all descended from Korean martial arts masters developing their own styles following World War II. These masters were influenced by Japanese karate, but decided to take their arts in their own direction. This evolution continued as tae kwon do spread to American and around the world. You might find several martial arts schools in your neighborhood teaching a variety of these styles. They are all essentially teaching the same thing. They may have different forms, techniques, and belt systems, but at the end of the day it is all about punching and kicking. This tae kwon do topic page strives to encompass ideas from all these styles and freely exchange ideas without judgement. It also strives to reach out to cousin martial arts such as karate, hapkido, and MMA. Tae kwon do sits somewhere between karate and hapkido/MMA on the martial arts evolutionary scale. Whatever you decide to study, make sure that it suits your interests. Also remember that you can study more than one style. Perhaps someday you will start your own martial art.

The Future of Journalism

2008-06-10T00:55:00.001-05:00

We are entering a new era in journalism. The future belongs to the citizen journalist. Newspapers are shutting down all over the country. TV stations are downsizing or getting rid of news altogether. Magazines subscriptions are dwindling. Each of us now has unprecedented access to a worldwide audience through the internet. Anyone can write an article or shoot a video and have it viewed around the planet instantly. No longer does an affluent elite hold the reigns to the flow of information. A stampede of competing opinion is on the loose spreading long silenced voices across the globe for everyone to hear.
With this awesome new power comes responsibility. There is an unwritten code of journalism ethics. Like most ethics they are subject to broad interpretation. The spread of citizen journalism is making those interpretations even broader. Internet journalism is far more anonymous and brazen. Many so-called journalists are nothing more than gossips who represent blatant lies as fact. These people give all journalists a bad name and contribute to public mistrust of the industry. Real journalists seek the truth and only communicate what they can confirm as the truth at the time. As a journalist you are the gatekeeper of information. It is your duty to sift through it and distinguish verifiable facts from rumor and innuendo. A true journalists verifies facts through secondary sources, gets responses from all sides and has no agenda but to get to the truth. If enough of us stick to that mantra we will win the public’s trust because they know we are fair.
Experience must be your guide to determine what is right or wrong. There is a lot of grey area in news. In our zeal to get a story out first we often cut corners and get sloppy with details. Some of that has to be expected in a time sensitive industry but how much is too much? Every journalist has their own tolerance for ethics compromises and it often shifts from day to day, story to story, and throughout a career. The latest technology allows citizen journalists to upload articles and pictures effortlessly. That leaves less time for contemplation and that can get you in trouble. You can’t take back something once it goes out over the internet, airways or press. There is an inexhaustible supply of attorneys out there lining up to sue journalists. Say something that isn’t true about someone and they’ll go after you for liable, defamation or slander. Don’t let that scare you though. They can all be avoided if you understand how they are defined. Journalists also sue other journalists. Copy something someone else wrote and they’ll go after you for plagiarism. This too can be easily avoided if you are diligent and honest. Knowing the law will help you tremendously as a journalist. In fact, I advise aspiring journalists not to write a word for publication before researching the basics of media law. The most important things are to remember that you are a professional and to act like one.
Journalists are taking a lot of heat these days. From the tabloid hacks screaming half truths for your attention to the network reporters who said there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to the paparazzi blamed for Princess Diana’s death. Journalists are blamed for many of society’s ills. To a large degree this is a matter of “shooting the messenger.” The public has a voracious appetite for news yet reels in disgust when it doesn’t appeal to them. Despite what you may think, this is actually a good thing. This outwardly dysfunctional relationship between journalists and the public is what makes journalism such a noble profession.
Think of the old days before journalism. People lived out their lives knowing only the information others told them and views of an average person didn‘t spread very far or very fast. Then Johannes Gutenberg started printing books. Suddenly there was a reason to read and people with ideas started spreading them. People with opposing views started printing their opinions and spreading those. Journalism was born. The written word became the forum for conflicting views and outrage. It launched mankind toward enlightenment, introspection and social change. Journalists will never be loved by all, but they’re not supposed to be. If you are doing your job right then someone will be upset by your words. Journalists have a duty to bring facts hiding in the shadows into the light even if people don’t want to see what’s lurking there.
What kind of world do you think we would live in without journalists? Reporters wield the mighty power of public opinion. It’s been used to bring down the corrupt, no matter how rich and powerful they may be. Journalists strive to keep our leaders honest, businesses from cheating us and our world clean, safe and fair. Do you think all that would happen without journalists? We are a necessary part of a vibrant free thinking society.
To be a good journalist you must be multi talented. First and foremost you must be a proficient writer, but you also need to be able to identify a good story, understand how to dig up vital facts and learn the right questions to ask. You must also learn to listen. A lot of people talk but few listen. Journalists need to know when to stop talking and soak in what’s going on around them. Also remember that the news is not about you. A journalist is expected to have a stance and style, but objectivity is essential. Think of yourself as the conduit through which news flows, not the holy grail of news itself.
Media consumers are more savvy than ever these days. They can read between the lines and flush out a pretender. They may read the National Enquirer for fun but go to the New York Times for the truth. This has everything to do with reputation and history. People trust those who are honest with them over the long haul. It’s a relationship built over the years and through countless daily stories. As a citizen journalist, you must ask yourself if you want to be the Enquirer or the Times. Whatever you decide to do, do it well. Take full advantage of this amazing time we live in. Spread your words, views, voice and pictures around your community and around the world. Make a difference.
Kent Ninomiya

Superdelegate Coup

2008-04-23T00:33:00.003-05:00

by Kent Ninomiya

Hillary Clinton's 10 point victory in Pennsylvania extends an already epic political battle with Barack Obama. Just when you think Hillary is down for the count... she gets back up. Prior to Pennsylvania Clinton pulled out "must wins" in Ohio and New Hampshire. In each instance the experts declared her finished if she didn't win. Everyone expected Clinton to win Pennsylvania. The demographics favor her and she went in with a 31 point lead. By the time the votes were cast she won by 10. Any less and Clinton's victory would have been seen as a defeat. A close loss by Obama would be seen as evidence that Clinton's momentum was gone. As it turns out she has just enough to muscle through another primary and keep the race going. There's little doubt now that this will come down to which candidate can convince the superdelagates to crown them the nominee.

This is NOT how we should be electing a president. It essentially gives each superdelegate the power of thousands of voters. That's not democracy. What could end up happening is a candidate who loses the delegate count and popular vote could be awarded the nomination anyway. The United States has a long history of "liberating" countries with the justification of giving their people "democracy." How then do we justify party leaders deciding who might be our next president?

Remember the 2000 presidential election? Remember hanging chads in Florida? George Bush was awarded the presidency by the Supreme Court and Florida election officials. Thanks to them Bush won the electoral vote despite losing the popular vote. The mess left a lot of Americans angry with the process and screaming "fix!" Keep in mind that the electoral college is mandated by the constitution. It is backed up by history and law. Superdelegates date back to 1984 and exist at the whim of democratic party leaders. Imagine how upset voters will be if their will is ignored by superdelegates. It's the equivalent of a coup by party leaders.

It's any one's guess how this will all turn out. Maybe the superdelates will get it right. Maybe they wont. The only thing certain is that a lot of people will be unhappy with what happens. Before the United States goes around telling other countries how to pick their leaders, maybe we should figure it out ourselves.

*** Kent Ninomiya ***

How Petty Can They Be?

2008-04-12T23:06:00.005-05:00

by Kent Ninomiya -

How sad is it when candidates for President of the United States of America reduce the election to a "he said she said" worthy of an elementary school student council race. Hillary Clinton wants to be president so bad, she is eager to take a comment made by Barack Obama out of context and suggest it makes him unworthy of being commander in chief. John McCain piled on, agreeing with Clinton. Last Sunday, Obama made private comments at a San Francisco fundraiser. He was trying to explain why it's so hard to win over some working-class voters because they are frustrated by economic conditions. Obama said, "It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Clinton now says Obama is "elitist and out of touch" because he went to Harvard. Never mind she went to Yale law school. She isn't arguing that there was something inherently inaccurate in his statement, only that he is acting superior to working class voters so is somehow unworthy of the presidency. Let me be clear. If Obama was reacting this way to a Clinton statement I would be calling him on it as well. My only point here is that this election isn't about issues, it's about perceptions. While it can be argued that all elections are about perceptions, that doesn't mean they should be. The media works in perceptions. Candidates should focus on issues. When a candidate openly seeks votes by reenforcing a false perception, it crosses the line. It's the same thing Clinton did on the race issue involving Obama's former pastor. At this point it's obvious Clinton will say just about anything to get votes, regardless of whether it is about a legitimate issue or not. While that may get her some votes (and the jury is still out on that) it's costing her a lot of respect points with people who thought she cared. *** Kent Ninomiya ***

Currency Crisis - Kent Ninomiya

2008-04-11T20:04:00.000-05:00

Right now is arguably the worst time in memory for Americans to travel overseas. The dollar is at record lows against many currencies around the world. Gone are the days when you could travel to “cheap” countries where the mighty dollar pounded the “monopoly money” of an economically weaker nation. America’s bully currency is now itself being bullied. The humiliation is humbling. I recently had to change an airline ticket in Europe. Even though I originally purchased the ticket in dollars, the airline demanded I pay the change fee in a more stable currency… Polish zloty. Business in third world countries often takes place in “hard” currencies instead of the inflation prone local money. Until now the dollar was the gold standard of hard currency. No more. I spoke to a friend of mine in Africa the other day who says no one wants dollars anymore. I remember back in the early 1980’s when a dollar was worth ten francs and nearly equal to the British pound. Americans ran off to Italy then Greece then Turkey chasing cheaper and cheaper sunspots where they could lounge on the beach while their dollars stretched further and further. If you believe in karma then this is just America getting payback. The euro came and did away with the lire and drachma. Southern Europe was no longer cheap. Our economy is now in the toilet and the United States is suddenly the travel bargain for international tourists, not the other way around. Could the day be coming when we have droves of Europeans talking loudly in our restaurants demanding to know why we don’t speak French or Hungarian or Swedish? If you believe in karma, it would only be fair. *** Kent Ninomiya

The Race Card - Kent Ninomiya

2008-03-26T19:37:00.001-05:00

Since when does something someone else says automatically mean you endorse it? Since when do you have to agree with everything an authority figure believes in order to respect him? Since when does a stupid statement another person makes reflect on you?

All of us have friends and relatives who have beliefs different than our own. Think of all the elders, teachers, preachers, and role models you know. Do you agree with each and every thing that they all say? Of course not, but that doesn't mean they aren't important influences in your life.

Indeed, that is what we are supposed to do in life. We are influenced by others. We adopt beliefs we agree with and reject those we oppose. So why is Barack Obama being blamed for Reverend Jerimiah Wright's inflamatory statements? If you listen to someone making anti-American statements does that make you anti-American? Of course not. Obama's statement that he could no more disown his long time pastor than he could his racist grandmother is reasonable. Most of us can relate to that.

That's what makes Hillary Clinton's comments all the more disturbing. After staying out of the fray for a week enjoying the heat focused on Obama, Clinton decides to chime in on Rev. Wright. Could it be because she was caught exhaggerating the danger she faced during a visit to Bosnia? Clinton now says she would have disowned Wright. It guaranteed the issue would stay in the news another day and turn the focus back on Obama.

As strange as it might sound, Clinton is playing the race card. Obama enjoys wide support among white voters who see him as an unthreatning black man. The Rev Wright issue plants seeds of doubt in the minds of many white voters. Could Obama really be a radical black activist in politically correct clothing? Clinton would love for voters to think so.

I am disillusioned with the Clintons. I bring Bill into the equation because he is on TV every day as the blunt instrument of Hillary's campaign. The two are politically entwined and of like mind. That's a fact on the record, not my opinion. Throughout the Bill Clinton presidency they were outspoken advocates for equal rights. I remember doing a story about Bill being named the first "black" president for his tireless work for the African American community. However POWER seems to be a more tempting motivation for the Clintons. They are proving they are willing to sacrifice some of their core values just to get elected. Not only are they standing by while a black man is unfairly maligned, they are actively exploiting latent racist fears among white voters for their political advantage.

If Hillary Clinton suggests that Obama should be held accountable for Reverend Wright's comments then she should be held accountable for Geraldine Ferraro's comments. To suggest that Obama has it easy as a candidate because he's a black man is the height of idiocy. Since when do black men get anything easy in our society? If it was true, then we should have had lots of black male presidents by now. You can't have it both ways Hillary. Politics is a nasty game with few rules, but going to the racial game when you're a woman is a new low. It plays prejudices off of prejudices. A true advocate for civil rights speaks out against bias in all forms at all times. There is no free pass for presidential elections.

Kent Ninomiya

Politics or Tabloid? - Kent Ninomiya

2008-03-15T22:09:00.001-05:00

Kent Ninomiya - If you watched TV or read a newspaper in the past week, you might be under the impression that we are no longer at war, the economy is no longer in a downward spiral and gasoline prices are no longer hitting all time highs. It would seem that the sexual habits of New York's governor, an off hand racial comment by a former vice presidential candidate to a small newspaper, and sermons by a pastor who knows a presidential candidate are the most pressing issues facing our nation. Journalists en mass are flocking to the scandalous and away from what's important. Sidebars about celebrities who cheat and debriefing so-called experts about why men go to prostitutes produces very little useful information for the average American. Convincing the public that a "scandal" results from comments made by people only slightly connected to a presidential campaign is a gross misrepresentation. Why are we not focusing on things the presidential candidates are actually saying? Why are the sexual activities of the Governor of New York important to anyone not living in New York? Journalists have a duty to put news in context. What we cover is considered important just because we cover it. When we skew public perception by chasing the tabloids. Meanwhile people are dying in war, families can't pay their mortgages and the price of everything is going up because gas prices are at an all time high. Compared to those things, who really cares about the New York governor's sex life? Kent Ninomiya

Obama Sweeps the Weekend - Kent Ninomiya

2008-02-10T22:55:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - So how was your weekend? As good as it might have been, Barack Obama's was better. He swept all the primaries and caucuses this weekend, making an already tight race for the democratic nomination even tighter. Obama won the Maine caucus Sunday after taking Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington on Saturday. He now has all the momentum going into the Maryland, Virginia and D.C. primaries on February 12. Clinton did her best to brush it off and appear like a front runner. She didn't directly address her losses instead attacking Republican front runner John McCain. There is no question Hillary's campaign is in trouble, but don't count her out just yet. Remember when everyone did that in New Hampshire? The Clintons are survivors and Obama is running against two of them. It's looking more and more like this nomination may come down to a slug fest on the convention floor. The only thing certain here is that this is the most facinating presidential race of our lifetimes. Kent Ninomiya

Don't Mind the Politicalman - Kent Ninomiya

2008-02-07T00:20:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Who would have ever guessed we would be where we are now? A few months ago all the political experts predicted Hillary Clinton had a lock on the Democratic nomination. No problem. Then they pronounced her campaign dead before the New Hampshire primary. Now she is in a virtual dead heat with Barack Obama. A few months ago John McCain was running out of money. All the political experts predicted he would drop out soon. Now he's the presumptive Republican nominee. Predicting politics is like predicting the weather. People who claim they can do it are usually wrong. Just like the weatherman, the "politicalman" can be wrong most of the time and isn't held accountable. The public expects them to be wrong, yet still listens to what he has to say. Funny how that is. I'm just glad that the race is interesting. Obama and Clinton could very well take their duel to the convention. Imagine the viewer interest in the Democratic convention if that happened. John McCain is a republican who arch republicans hate and many democrats like. Wont that make for an interesting general election. Kent Ninomiya

Super Match Up - Kent Ninomiya

2008-02-05T13:20:00.001-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - The slugfest that was Super Bowl XLII attracted more viewers than any other Super Bowl in history. Nielsen Media Research says 97.5 million viewers tuned in. Likewise, I predict more voters will take part in this presidential election than any other in history. Just like the scrappy underdog Giants taking on the seemingly invincible Patriots hoping to cap off a perfect season, the Obama-Clinton matchup is intriguing. It captures the imagination of even the most apathetic citizen. We have had black candidates before. We have had women candidates before. We have never had one of each battle each other at the top of the polls. This is the first time in history that a woman and an African American have a legitimate shot at the White House. It's exciting to many, threatning to some, interesting to all. Expect record turnouts on this Super Tuesday and an even higher turnout for the general election in November. We are witnessing history and everyone wants to be in on the action. Kent Ninomiya

A Year of Upsets - Kent Ninomiya

2008-02-04T12:19:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - It was as unlikely as the wife of a former president or a black first term senator becoming president of the United States. The New York Giants defeat the then undefeated New England Patriots by a mere 3 points in the closing minutes of Super Bowl XLII. This Super Bowl was indeed a "super" football game just as Super Tuesday promises to be a "super" political contest. History shows that both tend to disappoint. The Super Bowl is usually a blow out and Super Tuesday often is a coronation rather than a competition. However, 2008 is turning out to be a "super" year for head to head battles. That is very good news for the news business where conflict is king. It gives us plenty to talk about and analyze and get wrong. That's right... "wrong!" How many of the experts picked New York to win the Super Bowl? Not many gave them a prayer. Remember the New Hampshire primary? The experts said it would be the end of Hillary's campaign. I don't like the cliche "that's why they play the games," but it really is appropriate here. We can expand that to "that's why they hold the primaries." Kent Ninomiya

State of the Union - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-29T17:07:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - President George W. Bush's final State of the Union speech seemed more about his legacy than the state of our union. He expended great effort to give his spin on the war in Iraq. Bush realizes that history will judge him by the outcome of the Iraq war. Convincing the masses that the cause was just, will determine whether Bush goes down in history as a great leader or a butcher. Bush even floated a Mid East peace agreement. Bill Clinton wanted that to be his legacy but failed. Bush hopes to one-up his predecessor. What the State of the Union speech was NOT... was politics. Bush did not overtly press a republican agenda that could help GOP candidates for president. None of the candidates want to be associated with Bush. The president is remarkably unpopular these days. It's quite a change from his nearly 90% approval rating he enjoyed just after 9-11. That's a similarity he shares with his father. George H.W. Bush was hugely popular following the first Gulf War only to leave office after one term when the economy went belly up. How will history judge "W?" That depends on how the Iraq war eventually wraps up. Kent Ninomiya

Internet Lynch Mob - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-27T17:07:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - When we look at dark chapters of our history, we shake our heads at the Inquisition, Salem witch trials, and lynchings of African Americans. We wonder how people could do such things.

The modern day equivalent of a lynch mob is sweeping the Internet. Instead of wielding pitchforks and torches, they brandish mouses and motherboards. Take the case of a 21-year-old junior at Portland, Oregon's Lewis & Clark University. A 19-year-old former girlfriend contacted him one night resulting in an invitation to come to his room. She went there willingly. Both admit to drinking and say the visit turned sexual. What happened after that is unclear, but days later the woman told some friends she felt forced. Instead of going to the police, her friends started a Facebook group naming the man and labeling him a rapist. Irresponsible Internet bloggers then picked up the story and postings spread like wildfire across the country. Just like that, the man's reputation is destroyed forever.

In response to the Internet traffic, University administrators asked the woman to come forward and press charges. Only then did she file a complaint. The man was suspended from school. Even though sexual assault allegations are supposed to be confidential, the man was very publicly hung out to dry. Keep in mind, he has NOT been arrested or charged with any crime. This woman did not go to the police immediately following the alleged incident when some physical evidence could have been recovered. The two have a sexual history, she initiated contact, willingly went to his room and was under the influence of alcohol despite being underage. Instead of going through proper channels, her friends went to the Internet and hundreds of anonymous bloggers piled on to destroy this guy without a trial or proof that he did anything wrong.

I do not know if this man is guilty or innocent of rape. The fact is, none of us do. What makes America great is that we are supposed to have due process. The accused are considered innocent until proven guilty. You can't throw people in jail without charging them and you can't toss them in prison without a conviction. Citizens are also not allowed to take the law into their own hands. You can't gather up a posse and lynch someone because you think they did something wrong. So how is an Internet lynching different than one with a rope? In one the victim dies. In the other his reputation and freedoms die. Other than that there is no difference. Our society needs to address this issue. All our freedoms suffer while this can go on. If we don't deal with it, future generations will shake their heads at us and wonder how we could let this happen. Kent Ninomiya

Campaign Trail "Erupts?" - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-25T02:10:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - The Daily Show is always brilliant. Tonight they were especially inspired. They notched up their commentary on media responsibility showing anchor after anchor crowing on and on about outbursts and meltdowns on the presidential campaign trail. The anchors suggested Bill Clinton and Mitt Romney "lost it" on reporters. Jon Stewart then, in a way only he could, showed what really happened. Both men were calm and rational. Both discussed their point of views in a controlled manner. The Daily Show called the news industry on their tendency to exaggerate. It was funny and it made us look foolish. No wonder no one believes us anymore when we say the sky is falling. "Chicken Little" should be required reading in J-school. Being a journalist is a tough job. We are supposed to make news interesting as well as informative. This is especially challenging when the news really isn't very interesting. The problem is when we go too far and make story into something it is not. When we do that we lose the public trust. Thank you Jon Stewart for reminding us to keep it real. Kent Ninomiya

Prepare to be Annoyed - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-23T23:42:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - If you live in a state where your presidential primary election hasn't been held yet, prepare yourself to be annoyed. You will likely be inundated by robotic telephone calls asking you to support one candidate or another. Since there are lots of candidates on the ballot expect to get lots of calls. Nothing is more annoying than a machine interrupting your meal, sleep, family time, etc. Now imagine getting multiple calls for days in a row prior to election day. Candidates are turning to robo-calls because they are cheap and efficient. Volunteers used to make the calls but they were slow and limited by the number of people you could round up at your phone bank. Machines can call every number in the phone book and never take a bathroom break. If you think being on the "do not call" list will protect you guess again. Sales calls always get past the list and the sheer volume of political calls guarantees that more will slip through. Some states are making efforts to limit robo calls but effectiveness varies.

Here's my take on the trend. I am so annoyed when I get a robotic sales call I vow never to do business with whomever calls. Likewise, I'm sure many voters will decide against candidates who sanction robotic calls to their homes. This whole robo call thing could backfire on presidential hopefuls. Kent Ninomiya

Who's the Front Runner? - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-20T14:23:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - So who is the Republican front runner now? Romney won the mostly uncontested Nevada caucus Saturday but McCain picked up the coveted South Carolina primary. Since 1980, every Republican who won South Carolina got the party nomination. However, Romney still leads in delegates. To complicate the situation even more, Rudy Giuliani is betting it all on the upcoming Florida primary, and Iowa caucus winner Mike Huckabee is hanging in there. So who's the front runner? That depends who you ask. It's a fun time to be a journalist or political junkie. It's any one's race in both parties and no one has any idea who will be the next president. Kent Ninomiya

Haven't We Seen This Before? - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-19T00:27:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - It's the economy, stupid! Remember when that was the rallying cry of the Clinton campaign? That's Bill Clinton. Back in 1992 that slogan helped him defeat George Herbert Walker Bush and move into the White House. It's ironic that 16 years later another Clinton hopes to replace another Bush with the economy becoming a pivotal issue in the campaign. There are more parallels. In 1992, a war with Iraq was fresh in our minds. Most potential candidates for president assumed that would be the prevailing issue in the campaign. Since George H.W. Bush was immensely popular for his handling of the war, none of the Democratic heavy hitters wanted to take him on. Only a little known governor from Arkansas had the audacity to think he could become President of the United States. What helped him do it? The economy went south and Clinton wouldn't let voters forget it. As we elect a new president in 2008, those lessons should be heeded by the candidates. When voters are out of work, watching their portfolios wither, and unable to buy or sell a home, a war on the other side of the world becomes less relevant. The Dow plunged more than 307 points on Thursday. It's down more than 1100 points this year. Housing construction is the worst its been in 16 years with home values plummeting. Oil topped $100/barrel and the dollar is losing value against every major currency around the world. These are significant numbers reflecting pervasive issues. There is no issue more pervasive than a thinning wallet. The first George Bush made the mistake of under estimating the impact of a bad economy on voters. I doubt very much the successors of the second George Bush will make the same mistake. Kent Ninomiya

Romney Wins Michigan - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-16T12:54:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Never mind those bickering Democrats. The Republican race for president is getting more interesting by the day. Mitt Romney wins the Michigan primary making him the third Republican winner in four early races. Romney also won Wyoming even though no one noticed. John McCain won New Hampshire and Mike Huckabee won Iowa. Romney suggests his Michigan victory is a mandate for him to lead the nation. The other candidates take issue with that. After all, Michigan is Romney's home state and he campaigned harder than anyone there. A loss there would have all but ended his run. The truth is there is no Republican front runner and they all know it. South Carolina should thin the field a bit if there's a clear winner. If there's not we could be in for a state by state dog fight through Super Tuesday. With a similar dynamic on the Democratic side this is a fun time to be a journalist. Clear front runners and slam dunk primaries are bad for business. Kent Ninomiya

Political History - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-15T18:13:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - This presidential election could conceivably be the most historic of our era. There is much at stake. Our economy is at a critical turning point, the environmental debate is at a fever pitch and the war in Iraq threatens to divide our country the likes of which we haven't seen in a generation. To give the race for the White House the attention it deserves, I will be devoting this blog to political issues through the end of the election and perhaps beyond. After all, politics is history and history is political. Thanks. Kent Ninomiya

This Day In History

2008-01-13T01:13:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-10T14:03:00.001-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Here's a link to a blog you might find interesting. The author seems to have a good grasp on some pressing sports issues of our time. http://oldschool.tblog.com/post/1969970957#comment_anchor

Painful Words - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-09T12:27:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Should someone lose their job and career for saying the wrong thing? Is it right that years of unblemished service be wiped out by a single off hand comment? The answer is... it depends. Last Friday, Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman said young pro golfers trying to catch up to Tiger Woods should "lynch him in a back alley." Naturally this comment sparked outrage since Tiger Woods is part African American. The anger further intensified as Tilghman was allowed to appear on the air all day Saturday as if nothing happened. She issued an on-air apology Sunday and said he apologized directly to Tiger Woods, however she remained on the air that day. The Golf Channel issued a statement saying "we regret if any viewers were offended by Kelly's choice of words."Tiger Woods is apparently taking the high road and not making an issue out of it. Woods' agent is quotes as saying "It is a complete non-issue. Kelly and Tiger are friends. It might have been a poor choice of words, but there was absolutely no ill intent whatsoever."It is entirely reasonable to assume that Tilghman did not mean to offend anyone and is not a racist. It was most likely a slip of the tongue and she did not realize the context of the word "lynch" when she said it. So then, what should be her "punishment" if anything? The Golf Channel is obviously concentrating on intent. Since she has no ill will then it's a simple matter of apologizing. The fact that their viewer base is primarily white and not overall offended by her remark anyway also limits their motivation to dole out any punishment. To some this makes the Golf Channel seem apathetic and racist. Other groups out there are horribly offended and want Tilghman's head. It doesn't matter to them that Woods himself says he's not offended and is willing to drop the matter. They want to make an example out of Tilghman as if punishing her will stop others from making slips of the tongue in the future.I have worked in television for more than 20 years now. Many comments have passed my lips that came out differently than I intended them. When you talk for a living on live television you sometimes say stupid and inadvertently offensive things without realizing it. Is that a punishable offense? One time in San Francisco I was chatting on air with my co anchor about a man who found several stolen Oscar statues in a trash dumpster. His reward for returning them was an invitation to the Academy Awards ceremony in the next day or two. I commented that I hoped he had time to find something nice to wear since the Academy Awards are all about what people are wearing. The man happened to be African American. One viewer was greatly offended by my comment and wrote a letter accusing me of being a blatant racist. He said I claimed African Americans are too poor and stupid to dress themselves. I have quite honestly never had that thought in my life and was not thinking about the man's race at all when making the comment. I was talking about clothes. Despite this the viewer was irate. I personally expressed my regret to the viewer if my comments offended him and explained that I did not mean what he believed I did. It did not satisfy him and he continued to be angry and convinced I was a racist. Nothing I could say or do would satisfy him. He just wanted to be offended.I have also been on the other side of misspoken words. I was hired to be a primary anchor at a television station in Minneapolis and partnered with an African American woman. The general manager who hired me was a visionary. He was willing to create an all minority main anchor team in an overwhelmingly white market. When asked about this, he said when it comes to anchors it didn't matter the color of their skin or the "slant" of their eyes. Columnists and Asian American groups around the country took it upon themselves to be offended by the "slant" comment. Some called for the general manager's firing. They didn't bother to ask me if I was offended. I wasn't. I knew this man to be honorable and brave. He took a huge risk hiring me and was in no way a racist. His words came out wrong. That's all. The story diminished what should have been a hugely positive story about the landmark all minority anchor team in Minnesota. Those who were so offended missed an opportunity to focus on a positive accomplishment by being petty and negative.The bottom line here is that words are powerful, but they're just words. A sum of a person's character and accomplishments can not be reduced to a single inadvertent comment no matter what it is. If there's a pattern of offensive behavior or words, that's different. If it's a single off hand statement then it should be judged in the context under which it is said. Making a big deal about an innocent statement harms the movement for equality. If the mainstream sees minorities as over sensitive and unreasonable then they will ignore legitimate complaints. Likewise, the mainstream needs to understand that offensive comments do harm us all and use these incidents as opportunities to focus on removing them from our lexicon. There is work to do on both sides. Kent Ninomiya

Hillary Not History Yet - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-08T22:41:00.001-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Despite news pundit forecasts of her political demise, Hillary Clinton defies the so-called experts and wins the New Hampshire primary. Her 3% squeeker victory is just the latest dip in this already thrilling roller coaster ride of a primary election season. The swings are amplified by the all news channels making grandiose predictions about outcomes. They were all wrong. The polls predicted a double digit loss to Barack Obama. Political commentators declared that Hillary was on the ropes and had to completely retool her campaign if she wanted to survive. Clinton did retool her message a bit on the day of the New Hampshire primary but it was far from a complete refit of her strategy. The bottom line here is that predicting politics is like predicting the weather. Forcasters are so often wrong that people don't even notice or hold them accountable for their predictions. Now that the race for the Democratic nomination is hot again they will have much more to talk about. They will have much more to get wrong too. Kent Ninomiya

How Will History Remember Clemens? - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-08T00:59:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - What is an innocent man supposed to sound like? Do we know? If I asked what a guilty man sounds like I'm sure I would get all sorts of answers, but an innocent man is harder to identify. This is the no win situation facing Roger Clemens. No matter what he does he will look and sound guilty to many just because he was accused. This is the gross injustice inflicted by our media culture. While the courts are supposed to assume innocence until guilt is proven, it is the opposite in the media. Public perception is always to assume guilt. The tragedy is that even if a celebrity is later proved to be innocent, people generally don't remember that. Roger Clemens seems to realize that he is ruined no matter what he does. Still he is releasing statements, holding news conferences and suing his accuser. He is doing what he can to clear his name even though he realizes it will never be enough. Celebrity is an unforgiving double edged sword. It will slice you a path to the front of the line then cut you down where you stand. In my career I've witnessed countless lives ruined by unsubstantiated accusations. I do not know if Roger Clemens is guilty or not, but I will strive to give him the benefit of the doubt while due process is observed. I do this even though I know my media colleagues wont. I urge my fellow journalists to consider what they do on a daily basis. Our job as journalists is to uncover the truth and report the facts. Giving false impressions by repeating unproven accusations as fact is wrong. Let's do the right thing. Kent Ninomiya