Bush Kerry Black America

American Urban Radio Networks Airs Pre-Election Special

NEW YORK, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- President George W. Bush and Senator John F. Kerry take their messages to Black America in separate remarks, as part of American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) hour-long pre-election special, to air on urban radio stations across America later this week. Both candidates accepted AURN's invitation to explain why African Americans should vote for them. The remarks were followed by analysis from April Ryan, White House Correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks, Juan Williams of Fox Television, America's Black Forum and NPR, and DeWayne Wickham of USA Today and BlackAmericaWeb.Com.

In his remarks, President Bush touted the progress his administration has made with African Americans -- from improving educational opportunities, to providing additional tax relief, to making our streets safer. President Bush said "I believe that the policies of my administration, policies that empower individuals and communities, lift up free enterprise and respect the family, are good for our whole nation." The President urged African Americans to "Take a look at my agenda." He asked "Does the Democratic party take African American voters for granted? Plenty of politicians assume they have your vote, but do they earn it and do they deserve it?" Said Bush "If you dream of starting a small business, building a nest egg and passing something on to your children, take a look at my agenda. If you believe that schools should meet standards, instead of making excuses, take a look at my agenda."

For his part, Senator Kerry said "A hundred and forty years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, it's time to again emancipate this land, to live up to our ideals. It's time for a new moment of conscience in America." Among other things, Kerry is "determined to double to 30 billion dollars, America's contribution to the global fight against HIV/AIDS," which is among the leading causes of death for African American men and women in the United States. Said Kerry, "On November second we've got to come together to honor hard work and the hope of a better life, to give every child the best possible start in life, to bring back good jobs and give life to the pledge of liberty and justice for all and to reject politics of fear that have calculated to divide black from white, rich from poor, region from region." Senator Kerry promised African Americans that he will make sure their votes count in this election saying "We will not allow acts of voter suppression....We'll make sure that this time every vote counts and every vote is counted."

The one-hour election special, hosted by AURN's Ryan, has been distributed to over 700 radio stations across the country, and will air Thursday, October 28, 2004 through the weekend leading up to the November 2nd election.

About American Urban Radio Networks

American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) is the only African-American owned network radio company. It is the largest network reaching Urban America, with more than 25 million listeners each week. Through four programming networks and one marketing division, American Urban Radio Networks reaches more African-Americans than any other medium in America and produces more urban programming than all other broadcasting companies combined. American Urban Radio Networks broadcasts more than 300 weekly news, entertainment, sports and information programming to more than 475 radio stations nationwide. It is the only Black Broadcaster with a bureau in the White House. AURN has offices in New York, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and Washington, DC.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dawn Hill (212) 883-2106
Tene Croom (412) 456-4035

SOURCE American Urban Radio Networks

Political Jargon for an Election Year

Words for an Election Year -- Merriam-Webster Editors' Revealing Look at Political Jargon

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With the 2004 election fast upon us, the candidates have a lot to say-to their constituents, and to each other. How is a voter to decipher the political jargon? Merriam-Webster editors have selected some examples of words and phrases finding favor with spin doctors and pundits and are ready to tell all about their meanings and origins. Definitions and behind-the-scenes etymological histories for ten "Words for an Election Year" can be found on Merriam-Webster OnLine (http://www.merriam-webster.com/).

Speaking of pundits, the word experts at Merriam-Webster explain that the original pundits were highly respected teachers and leaders in India and that their name was taken from the Hindi word pandit, a term of respect for a wise person that is derived from the Sanskrit pandita, meaning "learned." At the other end of the spectrum, the mugwump, defined as "an independent in politics," was depicted by a 1930s humorist as "a bird who sits with its mug on one side of the fence and its wump on the other." And if you think dirty politics are new, the story of roorback, a term defined as "a defamatory falsehood published for political effect," takes us back to campaign strategies of the mid-seventeenth century.

spin doctor \SPIN-dahk-ter\ noun :

a person (as a political aide) responsible for ensuring that others interpret an event from a particular point of view

The Story Behind the Word English speakers have been putting a "spin" (meaning "a particular emphasis or interpretation") on things since the early 1980s. The expression "to put a spin on" appears to have originated in the movie industry, but it was quickly snatched up by the political world. "Spin doctor" itself was likely coined during the 1984 Reagan-Mondale campaign, and by 1988 it was well enough established that William F. Buckley Jr. had cause to write "I am much impressed by the effects of what we have come to call the 'spin-doctors,' which is to say those who make it their business to induce the desired reaction."

For the complete list of Merriam-Webster's Words for an Election Year, including definitions and word histories, please visit http://www.Merriam-Webster.com/info/election.htm. For additional information, or to arrange an interview on this topic with Merriam-Webster editors, please contact Arthur J. Bicknell, Senior Publicist, at the above address.

Merriam-Webster, Incorporated Merriam-Webster Inc. acquired the rights to revise and publish Noah Webster's dictionaries in 1843.

For more information about the company, and about the new Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, visit Merriam-Webster On Line at http://www.Merriam-Webster.com.

Arthur Bicknell, Senior Publicist
Merriam-Webster Inc.
Phone: (413) 734-3134 ext. 119
E-mail: abicknell@Merriam-Webster.com