Next weekend (May 8-11) our team will launch the 3rd annual Blatino Oasis MEN’s Retreat & Getaway in beautiful, sexy and sunny Palm Springs, California. Our goal is to create a vacation that will transport men away from urban life into a uniquely beautiful and tropical desert oasis resort city unlike any place in the world.
This legendary Hollywood getaway to the stars is just a short drive from Los Angeles and boasts 350 days each year of sunshine and the highest concentration of gay/bisexual people in America.
With all of the challenges that our nation is facing from the ongoing recession, health issues and location safety, we know how important it is to provide our attendees with a quality, safe and friendly environment for your travel dollars. We are confident that your trip to Palm Springs will be a welcome escape.
We have taken great care to assure that we provide a unique MEN’s event that is upscale, scenic, entertaining, erotic and relaxing .
For those of you who are unable to attend this year, we hope to see you in 2010! However, If you will be attending this year, you won’t be disappointed. See you in Palm Springs, California.
Obsessed clawed its way to the top of the weekend box office with a fierce $28.6 million, or nearly as much as the debuts of Fighting, The Soloist and Earth combined. Overall, the weekend was among the most attended ever for the end of April, and business surged 25 percent over the same timeframe last year. Unleashed on approximately 3,000 screens at 2,514 sites, Obsessed boasted the highest-grossing opening on record for a psycho stalker, erotic or "blank from hell" thriller. That's because the sub-genres' heyday of the late '80s/early '90s, which included Fatal Attraction and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, was a period when movies played at fewer theaters and had less opening weekend emphasis than they do today. Obsessed, though, outdrew any recent comparable title by a vast margin, such as Lakeview Terrace, Perfect Stranger, SwimFan and Enough. Brandishing the tagline "All is fair when love is war," Obsessed was marketed as an over-the-top Fatal Attracton redux, inviting audiences to proclaim "Oh, no, she didn't!" and root for Beyonce to take out the psycho (Ali Larter) who's after her man. As rote as the picture may be, this type of storyline is enduring and relatable, and the trailer clearly spelled out the entire movie. Distributor Sony Pictures' exit polling suggested that 58 percent of the audience was female and 51 percent was over 25 years old.
The other nationwide debuts weren't nearly as impressive as Obsessed, but they rated at least passable by the standards of their sub-genres
What next? Mexico seems to be reeling from a tourism nightmare.
Alarmed Mexican officials, scrambling to control a swine flu outbreak that has killed as many as 68 people and infected possibly 1,000 more in recent weeks, canceled more public events Saturday in and around the capital and said they were considering keeping schools for millions of students closed into next week.
This health scare comes on the heels of reports that the Pentagon and Homeland Security Department are developing contingency plans to send National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexican border under a $350 million initiative that would expand the U.S. military's role in the drug war, according to Obama administration officials.
Tourism is soft across Mexico this spring and the region is taking an extraordinary beating as a result of the global economic crisis, reports of warring drug cartels, and now the swine flu scare.
The U.S. State Department recently warned travelers of increased violence in Mexico along the U.S. border causing spring breakers to stay away. That's bad news for the economy, Mexico's third-largest source of foreign income after oil and remittances.
The number of foreign tourists visiting Mexico rose 6 percent to 23 million last year, helping offset falling oil prices. Cancun is expected to draw about 25,000 spring breakers this year, down from about 27,000 last year, said Rodrigo de la Pena, president of the Cancun Hotel Association. Hotel occupancy in March fell to 82 percent from 85 percent last year, though that was partly because the city added hotel rooms in the last year. However these statistics were released prior to the Swine Flu announcement.
Puerto Vallarta's hotel occupancy was about 75 percent in March, down from about 90 percent last year, said Oscar Rivero, president of the city's hotel association. He estimates spring breakers occupied less than half those rooms, compared to about 60 percent last year.
One Tree Hill's Antwon Tanner has pleaded not guilty to participating in a Social Security scam . The 34-year-old actor was busted in a sting operation and charged with selling sixteen Social Security numbers and three counterfeit cards to a middleman between December 2005 and July 2008 .
Tanner surrendered late last week and entered his plea in Brooklyn Federal court. He was released after posting $250,000 bail . If convicted he faces up to five years in prison . Antwon Tanner plays Antwon "Skills" Taylor on the CW's One Tree Hill and also appeared in the film Coach Carter and the catchy "Da Da Da" Volkswagen commercial .
Faison. 12.6 Blessing or a Curse is an exciting, erotic thrill ride into Faison’s life as a former high priced gigolo whom has been Blessed (or cursed) with a 12 inch penis.
12.6 reveals an intimate account of the trials, wealth and power that comes to one with such a large penis. 12.6 answers the questions: What is Big? Why is it that society feels Bigger is Better? Ultimately posing the question: Is having a 12.6 penis a blessing or a curse? You decide!!!
There will be an advanced book launching party during Blatino Oasis in Palm Springs, California May 8-11. Faison will also perform two nude erotic shows. For more information click here.
Join filmmaker and artist j.s. Ingram for the world premiere of his 22 minute short "ALMOST HUMAN" which tells the story of a man with a successful career, adored by many, but has made one mistake. Can he right the wrong or is it too late? See this screening on Sunday, May 11.
A christian organization that describes itself as follows: "Gay Christian Movement Watch (GCMW) is a cutting edge Christian ministry whose mission is to monitor, analyze and publish (MAP) the activities, leaders and public theological positions of the gay christian movement,” is reporting that a new book written by gay author E. Patrick Johnson, a professor at Northwestern University in Evanston,IL contains a rather overt assertion that gospel music industry worker Walter Hawkins and his brother Edwin are homosexuals.
The Hawkins brothers are gospel music industry “icons” and leaders of the Music and Arts conference. But they are also in Johnson’s book Sweet Tea . The book uses an “oral history” format to tell the stories of homosexual men in the south. The author contends these stories needed to be “documented.” One of the interviewees describes meeting Bishop Walter Hawkins and brother Edwin and the late Rev. James Cleveland; click here for excerpt.
The Royal cops are not supposed to shake hands, but the two brothers couldn't resist the historic moment. The black royal cop never imagined in his wildest dream that he would usher a black American president into the British corridors of power. Nice.
Not losing the weight you want, even though you are working out? Since January I have lost 20 pounds. Ten of those pounds dropped of just from changing how I eat. One small bag of chips could be adding 360 calories to your body.
It is important that you know what you're consuming. Eat This, Not That! scoured the delis and the sub shops from coast to coast to come up with this list of the worst sandwiches in America. We’re not the least bit willing to give up our handheld food of choice (grilled cheese and turkey sandwiches are basically American birthrights, after all), so we’ve provided you with plenty of ways to get your fix--without mainlining calories. Herewith, our best and worst list. And while you’re at it, make sure you're not washing down the vast majority of your lunch with one of these high-calorie drinks.
WORST BREAKFAST SANDWICH Au Bon Pain Sausage, Egg and Cheddar on Asiago Bagel810 calories47 g fat (23 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)58 g carbs1,540 mg sodium A healthy breakfast sandwich can be a great start to your day—the protein-packed eggs and meat will keep you feeling fuller longer. But Au Bon Pain’s breakfast bagel isn’t what we had in mind. Cut calories by switching to bacon and Swiss there, and cut carbs by choosing an English muffin over a bagel, roll, or croissant.
WORST TURKEY SANDWICH Atlanta Bread Company Turkey Bacon Rustica960 calories56 g fat (19 g saturated)62 g carbs2,480 mg sodium Sandwiches shouldn’t top much more than 500 calories; this one gobbles up almost half your daily allowance. While it’s loaded with protein, it’s also packed with saturated fat and more than a day’s worth of sodium (the blame falls largely on the one-two punch of mayo and pesto). EAT THIS, INSTEAD! Turkey on Nine Grain370 calories6 g fat (2 g saturated)50 g carbs1,240 mg sodium WORST STEAK SANDWICH Quizno’s Prime Rib Cheesesteak Sub, Large1,490 calories92 g fat (22.5 g saturated, 2 g trans)102 g carbs2,620 mg sodium At 670 calories, even the small version of this sub is pushing the bounds of reasonable consumption. But in this big guy, you’re taking in a day’s worth of sodium, along with a day’s worth of saturated fat, and nearly a whole day’s caloric intake as well. A survival strategy for eating at Quiznos: If you’re going to order a sub, order it small and without dressing or cheese. Better yet, skip the subs altogether in favor of the more restrained Sammies. You’d be better off with two of them than with most regular-sized sandwiches at Quiznos.
EAT THIS, INSTEAD! Bistro Steak Melt Flatbread Sammie280 calories13 g fat (4 g saturated)26 g carbs645 mg sodium WORST GRILLED CHICKEN SANDWICHRomano’s Macaroni Grill Grilled Chicken and Artichoke Sandwich1,260 calories80 g fat (17 g saturated)71 g carbs2,990 mg sodium Most people know by now that grilled equals good in the world of chicken, but Romano’s somehow manages to challenge that well-established nutritional tenet. The heavy-handed Italian chain takes two reasonable foods—lean chicken and nutrient-rich artichoke—and turns them into a monster of a fat-laden sandwich that comes with almost a day-and-a-half’s worth of sodium and the caloric equivalent of 27 chicken McNuggets.
EAT THIS, INSTEAD! Pollo Magro 320 calories5 g fat (1.5 g saturated)29 g carbs1,630 mg sodium WORST FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH Chili’s Cajun Crisper Bites Sandwich1,410 calories79 g fat (18 g saturated)124 g carbs3,930 mg sodium Words on the Chili’s menu to avoid: “Cajun” and “Crisper.” In Chili’s land, they translate to fat- and calorie-packed sauces and frying oil. Put them between two slices of bread, and you’ve got one of the worst sandwiches we’ve found on all counts—with the sodium equivalent of 120 saltine crackers and the same number of calories as you’ll find in 56 strips of bacon. Taste the same bold flavors and save more than 1,000 calories and 2,000 milligrams of sodium by opting for the Fajita Pita instead.
EAT THIS, INSTEAD! Fajita Pita Chicken380 calories12 g fat (2 g saturated)1570 mg sodium WORST VEGGIE SANDWICH Blimpie Special Vegetarian 12 Inch1,186 calories60 g fat (19 g saturated)131 g carbs3,532 mg sodium “Vegetarian” doesn’t automatically translate to “healthy” (the same holds true for salads—check out this list of America’s worst salads to see what we mean). Sure, this sandwich has vegetables, but it’s also loaded with fatty oils and sauce, and it’s on bread that’s 12 inches long. No wonder it contains over half a day’s worth of calories and an explosion of carbs. Portion control is key to keeping weight off. Your strategy with this sandwich: Share it with a Little League team.
EAT THIS, INSTEAD! VeggieMax 6 Inch522 calories20 g fat (6 g saturated)56 g carbs1,272 mg sodium WORST “HEALTHY” SANDWICH Noah’s Deli Chicken Salad Sandwich1,150 calories95 g fat (14 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)61 g carbs1,190 mg sodium Don’t be fooled because it’s got the word “salad” in its name. This trans-fatty Noah’s sandwich is not a healthy choice for your arteries or your waistline. (Click here for an indispensable list of other health food imposters.)
EAT THIS, INSTEAD! California Chicken Sandwich360 calories7 g fat (2 g saturated)49 g carbs840 mg sodium WORST SANDWICH IN AMERICA Quizno’s Tuna Melt, large1,760 calories133 g fat (25 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)92 g carbs2,120 mg sodium Tuna melts are scary because they sound so harmless—in almost all other forms, tuna is usually a smart and healthy choice. So what’s with the insane caloric overload? Blame the fat-packed mayo the tuna is mixed with, along with Quizno’s larger-than-life portion sizes. Even though they’ve managed to trim this melt down from the original 2,000-plus calorie mark when we first tested it, it still remains the worst sandwich we’ve found.
EAT THIS, INSTEAD! Sonoma Turkey Flatbread Sammie280 calories14 g fat (4 g saturated)26 g carbs760 mg sodium We hope this list will help you sidestep diet disasters when you’re ordering out. You might also enjoy our list of the best fast food meals under 500 calories and our 10 ways to make fast food healthy. Swaps like these can help you lose 10, 20, or 30 pounds in a year! - - - - - - - - - - - - - Are you watching what you eat and looking to lose weight even faster? Try the Belly-Off Diet and join the club that’s lost 2 million pounds and counting! Also, sign up for the Eat This, Not That! Premium site, where you’ll find nutrition information for all your favorite restaurants and grocery items. It’s like having a nutritionist on call, 24/7! And try our FREE biweekly Eat This, Not That! Newsletter for hundreds of tips, tricks, recipes and other nutrition secrets, delivered straight to your inbox! Get more nutrition, health, and fitness secrets from Men's Health: Subscribe today with this special offer and save 50% off the cover price. Build wealth, beat stress, and live at the top of your game! Tap the money, romance, and weight-loss power of Best Life. Save 80% off the cover price!
Including today's 13 fatalities in NYC, a string of violent attacks in the U.S. in the last month left 44 people dead in all.
A gunman killed 10 people and himself in Samson, Ala.; a traffic stop shootout in Oakland, Calif., left four police officers and the gunman dead; an apparent murder-suicide in Santa Clara, Calif., left six dead; and a gunman went on a rampage at a nursing home Sunday, killing seven elderly residents and a nurse who cared for them. Not to mention the many gun related homocides that happen in homes and in urban streets across America...makes one wonder...what would Jesus do? Hmmm.....
Yesterday marked the first full day of Dinah Shore Weekend (April 2-6), where the wild women roam. The event is a series of parties, concerts and brunches held during the Kraft Nabisco Championship golf tournament, which was once named after the late entertainer and desert resident Dinah Shore.
The party began 1991 as a modest, grassroots event. It has since grown into the largest lesbian gathering in the world. More than 15,000 women from around the globe are expected to attend this year's festivities. Revelers include fashionable power lesbians, scantily clad go-go dancers, A-list celebrities and scores of corporate sponsors. “This weekend means so much to my community,” says Mariah Hanson, Club Skirts party promoter. “It's a beautiful and organic celebration of our lives. We're making a powerful statement just by getting together.”
For 14 years, Hanson worked with Sandy Sachs and Robin Gans of Girl Bar Inc. to produce the annual Dinah events. The trio split in 2005. Since then, there have been two sets of Dinah parties — Club Skirts and Girl Bar — for double the fun.
Recession revelry
The economy is this year's uninvited guest, says Gans, Girl Bar's promoter. “I'm not going to lie. It's made things tough this year,” she says. “It's obviously something that affected every one of us, and so it's affected every part of the planning.”
To combat the recession, Gans and partner Sachs pulled in the reins. They reduced ticket prices, created special package deals and chose more intimate venues. “Our weekend has always been about the girls, and that's our top priority,” Gans says. “Everything else is icing.”
DINAH IN COLOR
Partners Gail P. Christian and Lucy A. Debardelaben host "Dinah In Color" which focuses on providing women of color (particulary African American women) with events that cater to their taste.
As an alternative to the traditional Dinah circuit, Christian and her partner, Lucy Debardelaben, started their own parties six years ago and promoted them on their Web site, LucyandGail.com.
The first year was a simple gathering at their house, a place for lesbians of color to relax and hang out. It has since expanded to seven events at three venues, with 500 to 600 women expected to attend this weekend.
Their events include a jazz brunch, a blues barbecue, Korean drummers, Hawaiian dancers and readings by African-American writers. It attracts a diverse crowd of younger and older lesbians representing many different ethnic groups.
Christian and Debardelaben hope to expand their "Dinah in Color" offerings next year to include theater, seminars and panel discussions. "We can't out-party the big promoters. Instead, we see our Dinah Shore going in the direction of an arts and cultural festival," Christian said. "We want to have a party with a purpose."
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – A gunman entered an immigration services center in downtown Binghamton on Friday, shot at least four people and took as many as 41 hostage, according to media reports.
Mayor Matthew Ryan told the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin that there was a hostage situation involving a gunman with a high-powered rifle.
The condition of the victims wasn't immediately clear. A Binghamton police dispatcher who spoke to The Associated Press wouldn't confirm a number of people shot or injured. The newspaper reported 41 hostages in the building of the American Civic Association and said apartments were being evacuated.
Emergency dispatchers were in contact with some people inside by phone, WBNG-TV reported. The gunman might still be in the building, the newspaper reported.
Four people were removed from the building on stretchers and taken to hospitals, and 10 more ambulances were called, the newspaper reported. The Binghamton SWAT team responded. Linda Miller, a spokeswoman at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, confirmed that a student from Binghamton University was being treated at the emergency room. Miller said she didn't know the nature of the injuries.
"We're on full alert anticipating we're going to get additional casualties," Miller said. The area is a commercial stretch on the west side of the Chenango River. Police have locked down a nearby high school and advised local business owners to stay inside. People escaped to the basement of the building and more than a dozen people hid in a closet, WBNG reported.
The American Civic Association describes itself as helping immigrants and refugees with counseling, resettlement, citizenship, family reunification and translators. It also intervenes with emergencies, including fighting, hunger and homelessness, according to information from the association's Web site.
DES MOINES — Iowa became the first state in the Midwest to approve same-sex marriage on Friday, after the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously decided that a 1998 law limiting marriage to a man and a woman was unconstitutional.
The decision was the culmination of a four-year legal battle that began in the lower courts. The Supreme Court said same-sex marriages could begin in Iowa in as soon as 21 days. The case here was being closely followed by advocates on both sides of the issue. While the same-sex marriage debate has played out on both coasts, the Midwest — where no states had permitted same-sex marriage — was seen as entirely different. In the past, at least six states in the Midwest were among those around the country that adopted amendments to their state constitutions banning same-sex marriage.
“The Iowa statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution,” the justices said in a summary of their decision. And later in the ruling, they said: “Equal protection under the Iowa Constitution is essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike. Since territorial times, Iowa has given meaning to this constitutional provision, striking blows to slavery and segregation, and recognizing women’s rights. The court found the issue of same-sex marriage comes to it with the same importance as the landmark cases of the past.”
In a hotel in Des Moines, several of the same-sex couples who were involved in the suit wept, teared up and embraced as they learned about the decision from their lawyers. “I’d like to introduce you to my fiancee,” said Kate Varnum, 34, reaching over to Trish Varnum. “Today I am proud to be a lifelong Iowan.” “We are blessed to live in Iowa,” she added.
Opponents of same-sex marriage criticized the ruling.“The decision made by the Iowa Supreme Court today to allow gay marriage in Iowa is disappointing on many levels," State Senator Paul McKinley, the Republican leader, said in a statement on The Des Moines Register’s Web site. "I believe marriage should only be between one man and one woman and I am confident the majority of Iowans want traditional marriage to be legally recognized in this state."
BOSTON, Massachusetts (CNN) -- A federal immigration judge says President Obama's aunt, who has stayed in the United States illegally for years, will be allowed to remain in the country until at least next year.
Judge Leonard Shapiro said Wednesday he would hear Zeituni Onyango's political asylum case on February 4, 2010.
Onyango, who is the half sister of the president's late father, applied for political asylum in 2002 due to violence in her native Kenya, according to her spokesman, Mike Rogers. Onyango was a legal resident of the United States at the time and had received a Social Security card a year earlier.
Onyango's asylum request was turned down in 2004, and she has been living in the U.S. illegally since then, after twice appealing and twice being ordered to leave. Wednesday's hearing at the U.S. Immigration Court in Boston was closed to the media at the request of Margaret Wong, Onyango's attorney. Lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security are defending an order to deport Onyango.
White House spokesman Ben LaBolt says President Obama is staying out of the matter and that "the president believes that the case should run its ordinary course." When the initial appearance was over, Onyango, wearing a red wig and dark glasses, was escorted through a side door of the courthouse to avoid news cameras staking out the main entrances.
Onyango lives in public housing in South Boston and volunteers as a health advocate for people in her housing complex. She reportedly attended inauguration events for her nephew in January accompanied by her lawyer.
Referred to as the "Lion of Chelsea" there are those who say that no one loves Michael Lukas more than Michael Lukas. However, there are quite a few people who were not feeling him this past weekend at the GAVN's in San Francisco.
I didn't report on this earlier because, I was focused on the "black people" issue, but the Gay Porn Times didn't miss a beat by reporting the drama that I observed when I attended the Gay Adult Video Network (GAYVN) Awards over the weekend.
Michael Lucas (always the diva) launched from the crowd onto the stage, grabbed the mic and went straight for porn star Brent Corrigan (not physically) and brought the show to a screeching halt when he bumrushed the stage, commandeered the open microphone and denounced Mr. Corrigan, whose controversial past as an underage performer, accordng to Mr. Lucas, sets an unwelcome precedent. “Shame on you,” he said to the GAYVN judges who nominated Mr. Corrigan so many times tonight."
Some in the crowd, momentarily taken aback, began to boo and catcall, while others applauded. My partner and I just looked at each other and laughed. As a matter of fact the Brent Corrigan guy (never heard of him until then) won quite a few awards if I remember correctly that night.
Was this a case of jelousy or was Mr. Lukas waiting for that moment in time to report child abuse.
Barack Obama and his wife departed for the UK earlier this week, and, while the president is tending to serious business-- the G20 economic summit in London and, from there, a week of meetings in five different countries--Michelle Obama is along for more jovial pursuits.
She's playing high-style dress up, sitting for tea, giving official gifts, and even meeting the Queen.
So, what is she wearing? Thus far, no big surprises: She's sticking to favorite designers Jason Wu, Thakoon, and J.Crew; her usual cool color palette; kitten heels; pearls and brooches, and as for beauty, minimal makeup and soft hair. She looks feminine, stylish, and appropriate, but also totally safe. The only outfit I found rather dull and matronly is the Isabel Toledo ensemble she chose to meet the Queen. There was something almost waitress-like about its dull black and white, the skirt is an awkward length, and although Mrs.O did cover her arms with an Azzedine Alaïa cardigan and the look is fitting for the event, I think she can do better.
Oprah Winfrey says she is "disheartened" that her elite boarding school for girls in South Africa has been rocked by its second sex scandal in fewer than two years.
"I'm disappointed that several of our students chose to disregard the school's rules. It's disheartening when any student has to be suspended or expelled and it's a process that involves serious review and consideration," Winfrey said in a statement to "Entertainment Tonight" Tuesday. "Indiscretions resulting in disciplinary action are common in schools all over the world. Unfortunately, because of my name these common infractions place the Academy in the media spotlight."
Seven students were suspended last week for sexually harassing their schoolmates, the "Afrikaans on Sunday" newspaper reported. One 15-year-old was accused of preying on another pupil and forcing other girls to lie to investigators about it, the paper reported.
"You have been found guilty of physical contact of a sexual nature with another pupil on campus, harassment, bullying other girls on campus and of being dishonest by not telling investigators the whole truth," a letter to her parents read. Other girls were caught fondling each other or trying to get other girls to join them in lesbian liasons, the paper reported.
Oprah's spokesperson, Lisa Halliday, confirmed the girls had been suspended from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy School for Girls - but gave few details. "It is because they contravened the school's code of conduct," she said. "We regard the incident as confidential."
Winfrey called it the proudest moment of her life when she opened the $46 million school near Johannesburg in January 2007 to help high achieving but poor South African girls. Nelson Mandela dedicated the school and luminaries ranging from songbirds Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige to filmmaker Spike Lee and actor Sidney Poitier attended the opening.
The school, which aims to house 450 girls in grades 7 through 12 by 2011, offered free tuition, books and uniforms, as well as room and board. In return, the girls were required to follow the rules. Ten months later, Winfrey sobbed uncontrollably after 15 girls eported they had been sexually abused by a matron who was supposed to be watching over them.
The talk show queen said the sex abuse charges hit her especially hard because she was raped and molested by a cousin, uncle and family friend when she was 9. "I am a mama bear when it comes to protecting my children," she said at the time. "These girls are like my children. That's not just rhetoric for me. I take their futures and the possibility for what their futures hold very seriously."
Dorm matron Virginia Tiny Makgobo, 27, was charged with indecent assault, common assault, soliciting a minor to perform an indecent act and verbal abuse of girls at the school. She denies the charges and is due back in court on June 1. Vowing to "clean house," Winfrey also fired the school's headmistress and announced she would hand out cell phones - with her number on speed dial - to each student.
It was not clear if any students used their phones to report the latest outrage.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John McCain wants a presidential pardon for Jack Johnson, who became the nation's first black heavyweight boxing champion 100 years before Barack Obama became its first black president.
McCain feels Johnson was wronged by a 1913 conviction of violating the Mann Act by having a consensual relationship with a white woman — a conviction widely seen as racially motivated. "I've been a very big fight fan, I was a mediocre boxer myself," McCain, R-Ariz., said in a telephone interview. "I had admired Jack Johnson's prowess in the ring. And the more I found out about him, the more I thought a grave injustice was done."
On Wednesday, McCain will join Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., filmmaker Ken Burns and Johnson's great niece, Linda Haywood, at a Capitol Hill news conference to unveil a resolution urging a presidential pardon for Johnson. Similar legislation offered in 2004 and last year failed to pass both chambers of Congress.
King, a recreational boxer, said a pardon would "remove a cloud that's been over the American sporting scene ever since (Johnson) was convicted on these trumped-up charges." "I think the moment is now," King said. Presidential pardons for the dead are rare.
In 1999, President Bill Clinton pardoned Lt. Henry O. Flipper, the Army's first black commissioned officer, who was drummed out of the military in 1882 after white officers accused him of embezzling $3,800 in commissary funds. Last year, President George W. Bush pardoned Charles Winters, who was convicted of violating the Neutrality Act when he conspired in 1948 to export aircraft to a foreign country in aid of Israel.
The Justice Department and the White House declined to comment on this latest Johnson pardon effort. Complete story at source>>>
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