BET Wire: Americans Divided on State of Race Relations

Plus, Tavis Smiley accuses Obama of lecturing Blacks.

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 - Blacks and whites differ on the progress of race relations, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman scolded the U.S. for "targeting" African-Americans; the love story of Barack and Michelle Obama may be coming to a screen near you – and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)(Photo: BET)

A Difference of Opinion - A CBS poll released Dec. 10 found that just one in five Americans think race relations are improving in the U.S. and 36 percent of respondents said they're getting worse. Overall, 45 percent said that race relations are generally good, but 54 percent of Black respondents described them as bad. People of all races have been protesting the death of Eric Garner, but 14 percent of whites and 3 percent of African-Americans say the use of force was justified. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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A Difference of Opinion - A CBS poll released Dec. 10 found that just one in five Americans think race relations are improving in the U.S. and 36 percent of respondents said they're getting worse. Overall, 45 percent said that race relations are generally good, but 54 percent of Black respondents described them as bad. People of all races have been protesting the death of Eric Garner, but 14 percent of whites and 3 percent of African-Americans say the use of force was justified. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Progress Report - Obama defended his record on equality in an interview with Univision on Dec. 10. "I think that because of our policies, there's more equality than when I came in," he said. "With respect to health care, with respect to access to college, with respect to opportunity. I think because of the work Eric Holder has done under my direction, I think the criminal justice system has improved.(Photo: Univision/Fusion)

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Progress Report - Obama defended his record on equality in an interview with Univision on Dec. 10. "I think that because of our policies, there's more equality than when I came in," he said. "With respect to health care, with respect to access to college, with respect to opportunity. I think because of the work Eric Holder has done under my direction, I think the criminal justice system has improved.(Photo: Univision/Fusion)

Power to the People - In an exclusive interview with BET that aired Dec. 8, the president praised the activists who've been protesting the police-involved deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. "[The] old adage, power concedes nothing without a fight — I think that's true," he said. "But what's also true is that a country's conscience sometimes has to be triggered by some inconvenience, because I think a lot of people who saw the Eric Garner video are troubled, even if they haven't had that same experience themselves. Even if they're not African-American or Latino." (Photo: BET)

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Power to the People - In an exclusive interview with BET that aired Dec. 8, the president praised the activists who've been protesting the police-involved deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. "[The] old adage, power concedes nothing without a fight — I think that's true," he said. "But what's also true is that a country's conscience sometimes has to be triggered by some inconvenience, because I think a lot of people who saw the Eric Garner video are troubled, even if they haven't had that same experience themselves. Even if they're not African-American or Latino." (Photo: BET)

Pot Meet Kettle? - Marzoyeh Afkham, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, responded to the Brown and Garner killings and the protests in response to them, condemning the U.S. for discriminating against African-Americans. "The targeted discrimination against the black in America by the US police and the judicial system and the suppression of protesters… are clear instances of violations of human rights of people of color in the US,” she said on Dec. 9.(Photo: Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua/Landov)

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Pot Meet Kettle? - Marzoyeh Afkham, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, responded to the Brown and Garner killings and the protests in response to them, condemning the U.S. for discriminating against African-Americans. "The targeted discrimination against the black in America by the US police and the judicial system and the suppression of protesters… are clear instances of violations of human rights of people of color in the US,” she said on Dec. 9.(Photo: Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua/Landov)

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A Fireable Offense - Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul thinks that Daniel Pantaleo, the police officer who choked Garner, should lose his job. “While the grand jury has made its decision, whether or not a policeman who accidentally kills someone while stopping them from distributing cigarettes, that’s probably a lack of discretion and you probably shouldn’t have the power to be a policeman any more,” Paul said, The Clarion-Ledger reports.(Photo: Yuri Gripas/Landov)

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A Fireable Offense - Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul thinks that Daniel Pantaleo, the police officer who choked Garner, should lose his job. “While the grand jury has made its decision, whether or not a policeman who accidentally kills someone while stopping them from distributing cigarettes, that’s probably a lack of discretion and you probably shouldn’t have the power to be a policeman any more,” Paul said, The Clarion-Ledger reports.(Photo: Yuri Gripas/Landov)

With All Due Respect - Tavis Smiley, in an appearance on The Sean Hannity Show, accused the president of "lecturing" African-Americans during his BET interview. "With all due respect to our president, Barack Obama, Black folk don't need lectures on Black Entertainment Television. You go to Black Entertainment Television, Mr. President — respectfully — to lecture Black folk, and then you're wrong — respectfully — when you tell them that these things take time," he said referring to Obama's observation that it will take time to deal with the nation's race issues.(Photo: Fox News)

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With All Due Respect - Tavis Smiley, in an appearance on The Sean Hannity Show, accused the president of "lecturing" African-Americans during his BET interview. "With all due respect to our president, Barack Obama, Black folk don't need lectures on Black Entertainment Television. You go to Black Entertainment Television, Mr. President — respectfully — to lecture Black folk, and then you're wrong — respectfully — when you tell them that these things take time," he said referring to Obama's observation that it will take time to deal with the nation's race issues.(Photo: Fox News)

Coming Out Swinging - Incoming Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has begun to lay out his agenda for when the GOP takes over the Senate in January. Topping the list is a repeal of Obamacare, which he acknowledges will be largely symbolic. "It is a statement to the obvious, however, that Obama – of Obamacare – is the president of the United States, so I don't want people to have [unrealistic] expectations about what may actually become law with Obama – of Obamacare – in the White House," he told Roll Call. "But we intend to keep our commitment to the American people." (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

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Coming Out Swinging - Incoming Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has begun to lay out his agenda for when the GOP takes over the Senate in January. Topping the list is a repeal of Obamacare, which he acknowledges will be largely symbolic. "It is a statement to the obvious, however, that Obama – of Obamacare – is the president of the United States, so I don't want people to have [unrealistic] expectations about what may actually become law with Obama – of Obamacare – in the White House," he told Roll Call. "But we intend to keep our commitment to the American people." (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

When Barack Met Michelle - The love story of Barack and Michelle Obama is the subject of an upcoming film, titled Southside With You, written and directed by Richard Tanne. Tika Sumpter has been tapped to play the young Michelle Robinson, but the man who will fill the role of the future president is still to be determined.(Photo: Barack Obama via Tumblr)

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When Barack Met Michelle - The love story of Barack and Michelle Obama is the subject of an upcoming film, titled Southside With You, written and directed by Richard Tanne. Tika Sumpter has been tapped to play the young Michelle Robinson, but the man who will fill the role of the future president is still to be determined.(Photo: Barack Obama via Tumblr)

Bye, Michele - Minnesota Republican Michele Bachmann bid her House colleagues adieu on Dec. 9, but none of them hung around to listen to her final speech on the floor. They'll hear from her again, because she plans to stay involved in politics. "I occupy a very unique space," she told the Associated Press. "I am the only woman who has been in presidential debates on the Republican ticket." (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Bye, Michele - Minnesota Republican Michele Bachmann bid her House colleagues adieu on Dec. 9, but none of them hung around to listen to her final speech on the floor. They'll hear from her again, because she plans to stay involved in politics. "I occupy a very unique space," she told the Associated Press. "I am the only woman who has been in presidential debates on the Republican ticket." (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)