BET Wire: Two Big Steps Ahead for Diversity, a Big One Behind – and More

Political news from the Beltway and beyond.

In Case You Missed It - Republicans leave President Obama scratching his head; Ben Carson kind of blames the spread of measles on immigrants; one lawmaker thinks it's OK if your food service worker doesn't wash his hands after a bathroom break — and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)

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In Case You Missed It - President Obama appoints two African-American lawmakers to powerful posts, a small-town Michigan official uses the N-word, Kwame Kilpatrick's mother attends a "hearing" on UFOs and Congress and Obama end long airport lines almost as quickly as they started. – Joyce Jones

Diversity - Obama has chosen two African-Americans for key positions. On April 29 he nominated Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx to serve as transportation secretary and later in the week named North Carolina Congressman Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency.   (Photos from left: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images, AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Diversity - Obama has chosen two African-Americans for key positions. On April 29 he nominated Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx to serve as transportation secretary and later in the week named North Carolina Congressman Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency. (Photos from left: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images, AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Photo By Photos from left: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Caught on Tape - Some people want Buena Vista township clerk Gloria Platko to step down after she was caught on tape calling township supervisor Dwayne Parker "an arrogant n----r." The 63-year-old says it was just a "slip of the tongue" and that she's not racist because she's eaten Thanksgiving dinner with Blacks. Platko is refusing to step down.  (Photo: ABC12)

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Caught on Tape - Some people want Buena Vista township clerk Gloria Platko to step down after she was caught on tape calling township supervisor Dwayne Parker "an arrogant n----r." The 63-year-old says it was just a "slip of the tongue" and that she's not racist because she's eaten Thanksgiving dinner with Blacks. Platko is refusing to step down. (Photo: ABC12)

Photo By Photo: ABC12

Gracias! - During his visit to Mexico, Obama gave a shout out to the growing influence of Latino voters in the U.S. "In fact without the support of Latinos, including so many Mexican Americans, I would not be standing here today as president of the United States. That's the truth," Obama told students at the National Museum of Anthropology. He won 71 percent of the Latino vote in 2012.    (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Gracias! - During his visit to Mexico, Obama gave a shout out to the growing influence of Latino voters in the U.S. "In fact without the support of Latinos, including so many Mexican Americans, I would not be standing here today as president of the United States. That's the truth," Obama told students at the National Museum of Anthropology. He won 71 percent of the Latino vote in 2012.   (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Just Getting Started - Obama is not done fighting for a gun control measure to expand background checks and has pledged to continue lobbying Congress on the issue. "This was just the first round," he told reporters following a bilateral summit in Mexico City. "I believe we'll eventually get that done. We'll keep on trying."  (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Just Getting Started - Obama is not done fighting for a gun control measure to expand background checks and has pledged to continue lobbying Congress on the issue. "This was just the first round," he told reporters following a bilateral summit in Mexico City. "I believe we'll eventually get that done. We'll keep on trying." (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Saying It With Flowers - While New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte struggles to defend her controversial vote against a gun control measure to expand background checks, Arizona Sen. John McCain was showered with roses for supporting it. At a town hall meeting, he received 19 roses representing the 19 people wounded or killed in the 2011 mass shooting in Tuscon for supporting the legislation. By contrast, Ayotte and others who blocked the bill are plummeting in the polls.   (Photos from left: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta,AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

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Saying It With Flowers - While New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte struggles to defend her controversial vote against a gun control measure to expand background checks, Arizona Sen. John McCain was showered with roses for supporting it. At a town hall meeting, he received 19 roses representing the 19 people wounded or killed in the 2011 mass shooting in Tuscon for supporting the legislation. By contrast, Ayotte and others who blocked the bill are plummeting in the polls. (Photos from left: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta,AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Queued Up - After receiving countless customer and industry complaints over the long lines and delays at airports as a result of sequestration, congressional lawmakers wasted no time in passing a bill that allows the Federal Aviation Administration to suspend furloughs for air traffic controllers. They were back at work a week after the mandatory unpaid days off began, causing other agencies and federally funded programs to cry not fair.(Photo: Joshua Lott/Getty Images)

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Queued Up - After receiving countless customer and industry complaints over the long lines and delays at airports as a result of sequestration, congressional lawmakers wasted no time in passing a bill that allows the Federal Aviation Administration to suspend furloughs for air traffic controllers. They were back at work a week after the mandatory unpaid days off began, causing other agencies and federally funded programs to cry not fair.(Photo: Joshua Lott/Getty Images)

Back on the Trail - First Lady Michelle Obama is hitting the campaign trail this month to support Massachusetts senatorial candidate Rep. Ed Markey. She will attend a fundraiser in Boston, for which tickets cost up to $37,600, the Boston Globe reports.  (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Back on the Trail - First Lady Michelle Obama is hitting the campaign trail this month to support Massachusetts senatorial candidate Rep. Ed Markey. She will attend a fundraiser in Boston, for which tickets cost up to $37,600, the Boston Globe reports. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

No Regrets - Six months after Superstorm Sandy tore down on his state, Gov. Chris Christie told the hosts of MSNBC's Morning Joe that he doesn't regret working with or expressing gratitude to Obama on recovery efforts. "The president has kept every promise that he made," said Christie, who as a result, is now viewed as a turncoat by some members of the GOP. (Photo: AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

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No Regrets - Six months after Superstorm Sandy tore down on his state, Gov. Chris Christie told the hosts of MSNBC's Morning Joe that he doesn't regret working with or expressing gratitude to Obama on recovery efforts. "The president has kept every promise that he made," said Christie, who as a result, is now viewed as a turncoat by some members of the GOP. (Photo: AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

A Webby for Obama - The Obama for America 2012 campaign has won the "breakout of the year" Webby award for its use of savvy political and tech genius" to target voters across the country.   (Photo: Webby Awards)

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A Webby for Obama - The Obama for America 2012 campaign has won the "breakout of the year" Webby award for its use of savvy political and tech genius" to target voters across the country. (Photo: Webby Awards)

Photo By Photo: Webby Awards

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Cheers! - After Obama joked at the White House Correspondents' Dinner about having a drink with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky lawmaker responded with his own brand of humor. McConnell was photographed sitting at a bar with a beer before him and next to him and a glass of red wine in front of an empty chair beside him, à la Clint Eastwood.   (Photo: Mitch McConnell via Twitter)

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Cheers! - After Obama joked at the White House Correspondents' Dinner about having a drink with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky lawmaker responded with his own brand of humor. McConnell was photographed sitting at a bar with a beer before him and next to him and a glass of red wine in front of an empty chair beside him, à la Clint Eastwood. (Photo: Mitch McConnell via Twitter)

Kilpatrick, Come Home! - Former congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, mother of disgraced ex-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, returned to Washington on April 30 to participate in a congressional hearing-type conference about the existence of extraterrestrials and UFOs that lawmakers are trying to withhold. She was paid $20,000 for her appearance. (Photo: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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Kilpatrick, Come Home! - Former congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, mother of disgraced ex-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, returned to Washington on April 30 to participate in a congressional hearing-type conference about the existence of extraterrestrials and UFOs that lawmakers are trying to withhold. She was paid $20,000 for her appearance. (Photo: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Dems Can Hope - A new poll from Quinnipiac University is undoubtedly good news for congressional Democrats. The survey found that 48 percent of voters want one party to control the House and Senate and 41 percent said they'll vote for Democrats in 2014, while 37 percent will vote Republican.  (Photo: Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

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Dems Can Hope - A new poll from Quinnipiac University is undoubtedly good news for congressional Democrats. The survey found that 48 percent of voters want one party to control the House and Senate and 41 percent said they'll vote for Democrats in 2014, while 37 percent will vote Republican. (Photo: Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

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What Would King Do? - The North Carolina NAACP led an act of civil disobedience on April 29. Seventeen protesters were arrested, including state president William Barber, and will likely be charged with disorderly conduct, second-degree trespassing and violation of building rules. The pray-in, Barber told WRAL-TV, was "to protest "an avalanche of extremist policies that threaten health care, that threaten education, that threaten the poor." (Photo: All In With Chris Hayes via MSNBC)

Photo By All In With Chris Hayes via MSNBC

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Blacks and the GOP - NAACP president Ben Jealous in an opinion piece on CNN.com surmised that it's not impossible for the Republican Party to win over African-American voters, but action speaks louder than words. “Republicans will not win Black votes by paying lip service to party history while attacking social programs and voting rights.”  (Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images)

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Run, Hansen, Run! - Redistricting cost first-term Detroit congressman Hanson Clarke his seat, but Rep. Gary Peters' announcement to seek a seat in the U.S. Senate could be an opportunity for him to return to Capitol Hill. A group of citizens has launched an effort to build support and encourage him to run again. (Photo: WikiCommons)