Free Republic

President Barack Obama's state dinner Wednesday evening for Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife, Margarita Zavala, will be attended by a who's who of powerful and politically connected Hispanic-Americans. Topping the list are Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Democratic Reps. Xavier Becerra (Calif.), Silvestre Reyes (Texas), and Nydia Velázquez (N.Y.), and Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Actors Eva Longoria-Parker and George Lopez will attend, as will New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. Goya Foods president Robert Unanue will also attend, according to the White House. Other notable guests will include Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, actress Whoopi Goldberg, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and American Express CEO Ken...

A recent influx of black residents in Metro Councilwoman Martha Jane Tassin’s district could complicate her re-election bid this fall. When Tassin — a white Republican — was re-elected in 2004, black voters outnumbered white voters by about 500. Today, voter registration records show that there are some 3,530 more black voters than white voters in District 6. Some black leaders such as Councilman Ulysses “Bones” Addison are already targeting Tassin, claiming her district should be represented by an African-American. “It’s nothing personal against Mrs. Tassin, she’s a fine lady. But that seat should be held by a person of...

UNI TRIES TO OUST PROFESSOR Macquarie University vice-chancellor Di Yerbury has denounced the racist views of its controversial Sydney law professor as repugnant. But Professor Yerbury denied that asking Associate Professor Andrew Fraser to bring forward his retirement was penalising him for expressing his views. Macquarie University said today it had invited the Canadian-born law professor to speed up his retirement, which was due to take effect from July 2006. Prof Fraser, who has taught at the university for 29 years, was last week cautioned over a letter in his local suburban newspaper in which he claimed Australia was becoming...