There is a growing list of right-wingers, who are calling Barack Obama "uppity". Yes that's right, uppity.

Ironic when right-wingers are supposed to support meritocratic policies.

My background on my mum's side is from Arkansas, so I know how often the word uppity is combined with "nigger".

On our side of the Atlantic, Richard Littlejohn and Fraser Nelson have so far called Barack Obama uppity.

Andrew Sullivan has highlighted many GOP politicians who are also calling Senator Obama uppity.

Whatever you think of Obama, we all know he is the first serious non-white contender for the presidency. When there are right-wingers who dismiss a black man who is a success story, and a role model for many black people trapped in poverty in the US, it only makes it ok for some black people to see successful black people as "coconuts". That is not good for integration in the US, reducing poverty in the US, or for social mobility in the US.

But the effect Obama has on many black people I know, suggests that there could be a similar impact here for many black people to succeed.

BTW I'm not at all stereotyping. It is just that people in poverty are disproportionately from a minority background.

Perhaps the most striking passage in Barack Obama's Berlin speech was the prominence he gave to his call for the goal of a world without nuclear weapons. That will sound radical to both American and European ears. But there is growing bipartisan and heavyweight support for this in the United States and elsewhere, including Britain, which trascends the controversial history of nuclear disarmament in British (and Labour) politics.

In this week's New Statesman, I argue that all minority shortlists would be a step backwards.

An alternative approach would seek to tackle barriers which candidates face across class, race and gender. Please share ideas about what that might mean in practice.

From Huffington Post.

It is, of course, brilliant. One of the most appropriate speeches I've ever read. This honest and challenging approach is why I'm a fan.

How things look for Senator Barack Obama from a Labour activist, stateside

Gordon Brown is well known for his fondness of US politics and for holidaying in the US, but as the Presidential primaries get underway, what would be his relationship with the next occupant of the White House?

Michelle Obama will be descending on London for a fundraiser for her husband’s campaign at the swanky Landmark Hotel, on Monday.  Her husband (above) will not be there as his team are reluctant to let him leave the U.S at this crucial time, so Michelle will be standing in.

The consensus seems to be that Clinton and Giuliani have got their parties' nominations in hand. But Obama can win the nomination. Because for the first time since 1960, African-Americans will have a major influence over a presidential election. They will be the key deciders of who gets the Democratic nomination. At the moment, they're split between Clinton and Obama, but leaning towards Hillary. Obama needs to win over this constituency, otherwise Hillary will win the primaries in a landslide. Otherwise, this may happen:

Now that Fred Thompson has entered the race it appears there are 7 big names in the contest to become President of the United States after George W Bush. Which one do you want to win?