Solicitor General of the United States Elena Kagan has been, thanks to her recent nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, thrust into the spotlight. The media wants to learn more about her while Congress is unearthing her background to see if she’s fit to serve on the nation’s highest court. While Kagan waits to see if she’ll secure the spot, many are left wondering if her time serving as a clerk to former Supreme Court justice and civil rights icon Thurgood Marshall has in any way shaped her legal and world views. To conservatives, any influence Marshall may have had would be a bad thing. Champions of justice, however, hope Kagan has retained some of Marshall’s perspectives.

All elections are important but the May 18 primary election is exceptionally significant because the governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Senate races and two critical state representative seats are up for grabs.

Battling for the right to represent the Democratic Party in the U.S. Senate race are Joe Sestak and Arlen Specter. Both have impressive records and would make outstanding senators but we lean toward Specter because over the years when it wasn’t popular to do so in the GOP, he has proven to be a friend to the African-American community. He has, time after time, stood up for causes and offered solutions to some of the many problems facing the Black community. Sestak will have his day, but now is the time for us to support the man who has supported us so many times when it wasn’t the popular thing to do. We endorse Sen. Arlen Specter.

by James H. Buford

Black-on-Black crime is often seen but rarely do we do anything about it. This year the St. Louis area is already on track to have an increased crime rate due to homicide, youth and domestic violence. I believe that now is the time for our communities to take a stand and say enough is enough, rather than sitting on the sidelines talking about the violence.

During the early Civil Rights Movement, Black-on-Black crime was not a major problem because African-Americans had one common enemy: racism. Today, the enemy is within our own communities as minority youths steal, kill and destroy one another for money, drugs or power.

In 1952, I became a registered voter and have voted in each and every election since. Prior to my being eligible to vote, I had recognized the overwhelming importance and significance of being a sophisticated voter. Over the years we have too frequently voted against our own best interests by not taking time to analyze our candidates.

In every election the phrase is repeated that this election may be the most important in history, and I will repeat it again, “The election this year will be the most important election in the history of Pennsylvania.”