F9/11 White vs Black

[psyntist]

I saw a post a few days ago about the following scene and have been thinking about it alot since then. Here are my thoughts;

I have been thinking a lot about the scene in F9/11 that shows black representative after black representative standing in the senate lodging objections to the official certification of the president.

I have heard people say that the reason no senator stood up or signed any of these objections was that the party leadership had decided to not quarrel with the outcome. It was a move to help get the country past the election and try and return business to normal in Washington. That the black representatives should have just toed the party line and accepted the outcome.

I think I might have a problem with this reasoning. My problem is this. At the time of the scene there were no black senators. None. Obviously the black democrats did not agree with this position. Is it possible that these black leaders were actually and truly representing the blacks of America. The same blacks Americans that were denied their right to vote in this election. The same black Americans who were not allowed to express their choice for president.

How do you think this plays amongst the same black Americans today? Does it continue to reinforce the idea of all old white boys club that blacks are not allowed into? The more I think about the more I get upset by the whole process.

The idea that Micheal Moore is playing some game because he knows that the Democratic leadership had made the decision to not back the black reps objections is appalling. MM has always worked hard for those people that are disenfranchised. It is what he does. And these African Americans were seriously disenfranchised and none of the white leaders in this country gave a rat's ass about it.

And we wonder why racial tensions continue to exist. I sure hope Kerry has an effective strategy to win over the African American vote because they still remember that he sat there and watched as their leaders asked and begged for a voice.

[Nightjock]

1. That scene affected me deeply

I considered switching from a registered Dem to an Independent.I ould not believe how spineless my party was.
But I still want to vote in the primaries so I reluctantly stayed.

[ClassWarrior]

2. Four words: Senator Obama in 2004

Go Barak!!

[JHBowden]

13. WooHoo!

:toast:

[ihaveaquestion]

3. I've heard the explanation for this from a Senator

I forget which one, but it goes like this...

There were many discussions amoung democratic Senators and the Gore campaign about supporting the House resolution, but it was decided that for the good of the country no Senator would sign it. At the time - after weeks of contraversy over the election results - it seemed like the right thing to do. Hindsight is 20/20 and I know many, if not all, of them might have done things differently if they had known how bad the Bush administration would be.

The Bushies have done us one favor - they've shown us what they really are: Evil, money grubbing whores! (sorry, I can't come up with a more civil description)

[psyntist]

4. Sounds good but ...

Sounds all nice and good until you realize that the people making these decisions were the white guys. Obviously, the African Americans did not agree. You can see it on their faces in this scene.

[ihaveaquestion]

14. Oh, I agree. I'm angry about it and I'm white.

It was immoral and it stinks. To me, this was the height of the dems wimpiness. They gave up and I just cannot abide a quitter.

[AndyTiedye]

9. By That Time, Gore Had Given Up

Most likely, PNAC had explained to him that if he got in
either he was going to invade Iraq, or he would be killed
and Lieberman would do it.

What happened to Mel Carnahan may have been meant to show Gore
that they meant it.

Something like that might have a way of dampening one's enthusiasm.

:tinfoilhat:? Maybe. I hope so, but does anybody have a better explanation?

[Solly Mack]

10. Did they ever explain how it was good for the country?

this "good of the country" attitude that allows people to get away with crimes has always sounded like bullshit to me.

[Az]

5. Tactics over ideals leaves a party in name only

When people ask me how much of a Democrat I am I point at my fingernails. Thats all I have left. But I have come to realise that it is not entirely the party leaders fault. We The People have a part to play in this as well. We have left the fires of progressive ideals be tended by others in our stead. We have let corporations woo us with their siren songs of advertisement and let ourselves be placed in gilded cages. The leaders of the Democratic party are doing what they can to hang on to some semblance of power. Without an uprising of people to give them the backing they need to turn this country back torwards progress they will be over run with Lieberman's and Zell's.

I am still a Democrat. And I am using my finger nails to claw and scrape the party back to where it should be.

[Skittles]

6. the Black Caucus tried to save us

they knew what would happen. It wasn't just the disenfranchising - they were speaking up for AMERICA - for ALL OF US. They know their f***ing job and they perfomed admirably. I believe hisory will be very kind to them.

[LosinIt]

8. The Black Caucus was also very vocal against *'s War

I remember watching C-Span late at night when Representative after representative would speak from the floor to an empty chamber in opposition to this illegal war. They still operate on principal.

[psyntist]

15. One simple explanation

THe reason they stood their talking to an empty chamber was because they knew that this would hit their people the hardest.

[annak110]

7. I am very reluctantly staying too. The only real Democrats in Congress

are those who belong to the Black Caucus. Many times I have called them to express my appreciation and I will again. They are the only ones who have tried to help the thousands of disenfranchised African Americans, obviously Congress is heavily racist and sexist. The scene made me sick in the same way the situation did when it was happening. It also makes me sick to see any party blatantly disregarding its "traditional base" to kiss the asses of fellow Stupid White Men.

Michael Moore has mastered the art of "give them enough rope and they'll hang themselves" and it is very true that he has used this mastery in the service of people who have been disenfranchised by our "one-party" system. I thank him for it, may he continue to make arrangements to allow the stupid "Democratic Leadership" to hang itself!
I will be leaving this ineffectual "party" to join the growing number of independents who will, hopefully, coalesce into a real opposition force.

[Solly Mack]

11. I remember watching the CBC on TV and crying

I was so proud of them for standing up for America. I also remember thinking "it would be African-Americans that took the stand for America"....the black community knows all too well what disenfranchisement means and how much America would lose if nothing was done about Selection 2000.

And ....to be honest...I cursed all who were too afraid to take that same stand.

[goclark]

12. As an African American I was proud too

Really, every day in Congress it is the African American Representatives that will stand alone on the right side of the issue.

They stood up for Clinton when the going was truly rough.
Remember that Clinton had an African American lawyer that was brilliant during his impeachment issue.

These brave men and women in Congress need to be appreciated in a BIG way when Kerry/ Edwards are elected.

CBC you rock!!