Article: "Arrogant’ White Liberals Seek to Manage Black Voter Turnout"

[funkybutt]

Arrogant’ White Liberals Seek to Manage Black Voter Turnout
Posted on Oct 02, 2004 - 12:20 PM by blackvoice


Washington

By Hazel Trice Edney
NNPA Washington Correspondent


http://www.blackvoicenews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2425&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Money that normally goes to African-American grass-roots groups with a proven track record of successfully turning out the Black vote is being diverted this year to White-managed 527 groups that feel they have a better knowledge of how to turn out the African-American vote than experienced Blacks, a miscalculation that some experts feel could cause Democratic nominee John Kerry a victory on Nov. 2.

“The thing that is criminal about it is that we could lose the election because we’re not putting the resources into the hands of those who can mobilize the Black vote,” says University of Maryland political scientist Ronald Walters. “They’re making some serious errors with these resources by not connecting up to the people who can move this full apparatus. This is another form of colonialism – colonialism is about control.”

[cheshire]

1. Looks like the desperation on the rethug side is at an all time high. AWWW

Is this anywhere near what they have done and are still doing? Hell no. Is is legal? I bet it is. Oh the thrill of it all. Tough shit *.

[Salviati]

2. "'Racist' White Conservatives Seek to Supress Black Voter Turnout"

Funny how you don't see many articles with this headline...

[mcg]

3. Congressman Lewis slams Bush on Dred Scott ref and poor civil rights recor

From
<http://www.democrats.org/news/200410100002.html>

Congressman John Lewis slammed George Bush on his reference to the Dred Scott case and his record on civil rights. Lewis writes:

"On Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, he announced his opposition to the University of Michigan Affirmative Action program and called it a 'quota.' The day after he laid a wreath on Dr. King's grave, he appointed anti-civil rights judge Charles Pickering, who once described cross burning as a 'prank.'"

What Bush said in the debate:
"Another example would be the Dred Scott case, which is where judges, years ago, said that the Constitution allowed slavery because of personal property rights. That's a personal opinion. That's not what the Constitution says. The Constitution of the United States says we're all — you know, it doesn't say that. It doesn't speak to the equality of America."

Why is it that Bush either cannot remember 'created equal' and/or can't bring himself to say it? The wording is very strange and very telling.

[demwing]

4. Hazel Trice Edney is an African-American journalist

She doesn't appear to be a freeper type at all.

[gottaB]

8. short bio

"HAZEL TRICE EDNEY is Washington Correspondent for the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service. She is also a writer for NNPA's NorthStar Investigative Reporting Program. Edney was awarded a 1999-2000 congressional fellowship for journalists, sponsored by the American Political Science Association, during which she served as a legislative assistant to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Edney has a Master of Public Administration degree from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, where she was also awarded a press, politics and public policy fellowship. She is also a weekly columnist for the Richmond Free Press."

http://www.justicejournalism.org/Fellowships/california/cal_bio_edney.htm

[Johnny 99]

5. And I thought that only Democrats played the race card

n/t

[southlandshari]

6. Thanks for the link

This has actually been a concern for me. 527s have featured lots of flashy internet work, and pushed activities like having parties to call voters in "swing" states - all great when preaching to the choir. But I am convinced that there is nothing other than face-to-face, honest dialogue that will convince millions of potential black voters that it is worth their while to get out to the polls this year. This is also true for many of all races who see no reason to vote as it has never made an impact on their life in the past.

Leaders in black communities know their communities, and they are respected there. Marginalizing them is just plain stupid. I live in a southern community split fairly evenly between black and white (with a smattering of other races mostly tied to a local university). In this area, the value of talking to people at church, at family get-togethers - hell, knocking on doors unannounced - will all be a LOT more effective than anything on the internet at persuading people to vote.

I've also been very frustrated at the lack of attention many Dems (including those on this board) have given to any of the appearances Kerry has made on tv/radio shows or events that actually have real credibility in the African American community (such as Tom Joyner morning show, Congressional Black Caucaus annual convention dinner, etc...).

Man, we white, liberal Democrats love to refer to "the black vote" when discussing political strategy. But too few really ever go any deeper than that. And that, sadly, may well be our downfall, yet again.

[southlandshari]

9. Case in point

The few of my fellow DU'ers watching this thread along with me, mark my words - it won't make it above 25 posts (unless we all continue to post/kick it) before fading away into oblivion.

And this is a CRITICAL issue that should be important to anyone who wants Kerry to win in November. I think Ron Walters' views are at least worth a read and a comment, whether folks agree or not.

I hope I'm proven wrong about the interest level here. I'm not cynical by nature, just frustrated on this one.

[southlandshari]

26. I stand corrected, sort of!

Thread is at 26 posts after more than 24 hours (albeit six of which are mine). I'm still happy that at least a handful of DU'ers are interested in these issues.

[deckerd]

19. As Custer's guide said -- Whaddaya mean "we", white man?

Not serious, but I could have been. :shrug:

Bottom line is that white liberals flock to the Internet as a safe
haven for ideological soul mates, as do young white conservatives...

I anticipated something like this might happen -- there was an
excellent article in US News and World Report on how Kerry won
the Iowa caucuses, mostly detailing how Joe Trippi (Dean's net-savvy,
campaign manager who was paranoid of old media and paranoid of
traditional Democratic constituencies) lost.

(Turns out Trippi and some of his allies in the social-liberal wing of the Dean campaign were sniffy about reaching out to ethnic groups and downright hostile toward unions, going so far as to question AFSCME's endorsement which really surprised me.)

From living in a very liberal, boomer heavy area I can confirm that white liberal racism is alive and well, unfortunately. By which I mean simply that we are not immune to the serious ongoing problem of racial tension in this country. We've papered it over by outsourcing outreach to be done by black voter mobilization groups. Now I guess they're (affluent white groups like center-left Moveon.org) trying to take it back and take credit for a GOTV effort that, if it succeeds, will succeed mostly on the strength of popular sentiment in the black community.

[angee_is_mad]

20. Reality Check

and I have been saying the same thing. I was in the beauty parlor last week during the debates and this middle age, middle class woman said that she was not impress with Kerry and then proceeded to compare him to Clinton.

Some people on here need to wake the hell up and face reality. There are alot of black folk who are sick and tired of being sick and tired. They will not vote republican(maybe McClain?) but they will stay the hell home!

[southlandshari]

22. I may be crazy, but at least I have company!!

Thanks to "deckard" and "angee_is_mad" for your comments. Not because I was seeking validation - hell, I would have loved for someone to produce irrefutable evidence that I was full of hooey when I said white liberals weren't immune to careless racism.

That said, I said what I did from deep in the heart, and if others agree with my most personal and passionate of sentiments, I have to believe that they, like me, want to work together to change this world we find ourselves in!

Wake Up, Wake Up, Wake Up - friends, neighbors and fellow DU'ers!

Quit preaching to the choir and get out in the real world, or all you - we - will have to show for your earnest efforts of the past few weeks/months/years will be an empty choir robe.

[angee_is_mad]

24. low black turnout=

defeat! It is as simple and uncomplicated as that!

[southlandshari]

25. Amen!

Simple.

Simple.

Simple.



Will - can - Democrats catch on before it is too late?

[gottaB]

7. Jesse Jackson Joins DNC as Senior Advisor

Jesse Jackson Joins DNC as Senior Advisor.

Statement on the Kerry/Edwards blog: http://blog.johnkerry.com/blog/archives/002979.html


Saw a clip on the tube of Kerry campaigning in Florida with Jackson and Sharpton. Everybody was energized, looking good. The word "likeability" comes to mind. Here's one story:

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/politics/9886682.htm

Ron Walter's concerns about the 527s are a serious matter, but I think the Kerry campaign is doing okay.

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

10. This is something I'm sensitive to

I've done some voter registration drives in African-American communities, and while I've never gotten a negative response, I do wonder if any of them are thinking, "All you care about is our vote. Once the election is over we'll never hear from you again."

I agree GOTV should be managed by those who know the community best, and I'm willing to take a backstage role and help any way I can. But I gotta admit that the grassroots Kerry group in Dallas is mostly white. Not by design of course, it just is. I just hope there's an equally mobilized army in the minority communities.

[funkybutt]

11. I hope that interested parties read this whole article

and didnt' just read the 2 paragraph snippit posted above. I also hope that all parties involved in this discussion will learn from and adjust to better serve the community. Most of all, I hope that all these groups have more than their own self interest in mind. If this actually is an intentional power-play, it's a shame indeed.

I work with a small local 527 group and we're trying to apply these points at a smaller scale. Since we are mostly white individuals, we have teamed up with about a dozen local organizations that existed way before we did. Our local african american organizations are very organized and have always come through for us when we need them. Now that GOTV is in full effect, we're happy to take a backseat and volunteer whereever we're needed. Tonight we'll go out and door to door in some local housing developments where our work probably wouldnt be as effective without our multi-cultural alliances.

[Cheswick2.0]

12. I work for a 527

Half the staff at my office is African American and the community we are working in is maybe 2 percent African American. In Philly the ratio of AA employees is much higher. I have no idea where this article is getting the idea that this is a white people organization. They may not be funneling money into the old machine, but the old machine in this area was NOT turning out the vote. Voting percentages in AA communities has been going down for years.

[evilqueen]

13. It's not a matter of race.

Among the primary groups being crippled is the National Coalition for Black Civic Participation, of which Walters is a board member. Four years ago, NCBCP, which includes 84 member organizations, was able to raise $3 million for its Unity 2000 campaign for voter registration, says Melanie Campbell, the group’s president and chief executive officer. This year, with a matching number of ad hoc groups, Unity 2004 has struggled to meet its financial goals for registering and turning out the Black vote. “We’re way off from that,” says Campbell, who declined to give an exact figure. “Normally, we would have had all kinds of town hall meetings. We haven’t had any.”

If Walters is a board member, he should have organized town hall meetings and had more fundraisers. What's stopped him from doing so? The 527's aren't stopping his group from doing whatever his group was doing before.

Black groups are baffled that 527s, which are mostly Democratic-leaning, hire independent consultants to go in to the Black community and determine how to get out the vote.

Campbell says this insults groups that have been doing this for years.

So he's mad that they didn't hire him, or what?

This story just strikes me to be about someone who is upset that the 527 groups didn't first check in with him or "ask permission" to do their campaign fundraising, and then got miffed when they didn't hire him to be their consultant. And if, as he's said, his group didn't hold any townhall meetings... doesn't that show that his group isn't all that motivated to do the fundraising? So why hire him or members of his group as consultants?

Competence is not dependent on race.

[funkybutt]

14. I got the same impression.

This article raises a lot of questions. Is this just about funding issues? Why is it that the 527s decided not to utilize the "groups that have been doing this for years"? I can't imagine that the idea wasn't considered.

[evilqueen]

15. Indeed. n/t

[Cheswick2.0]

16. I am sure they would love to work with the established groups

so why haven't those people reached out to the 527s? All the 527s are doing is trying to get out the vote. They only people they can't and wont work with are the candidates.
How would they even know who the "groups who have been doing this for years" are? They should continue to do what they have always done and coordinated with ACT and the other 527s. They still could.

[southlandshari]

17. I'm glad others are more confident than I am

that all of the new 527 groups are inclusive in their approach to community organizing when it comes to folks who've been at it for years.

I'm sure some are. I remain convinced that others are not. Could Walters be angry he wasn't hired as a consultant? That his organization did not receive the same funding it has in past election years? Possibly. Probably, even.

That said, there is just no value in marginalizing grassroots activists who have established relationships and contacts in any "target" community. Even if the NCBCP's effectiveness has diminished over the years, to ignore the contributions they have made IS arrogant any way you look at it.

There are ways to bring in new ideas and approaches that maintain respect for the old ways of doing things - and more importantly the people that were doing those things. It sounds like diplomacy and tact may have been missing here more than anything.

[southlandshari]

18. 24 hours, 17 posts

at least three of which were mine. I rest my case.

I honestly don't mean to be argumentative. I am just very passionate about trying to focus the attention of the "majority" voice of the Democratic Party on the incredible partners we have in the African American community.

We will get as good as we give. I am fed up with lip service about the "black vote". Either we are one party, or we aren't. Which is it?


Oh heck...if anyone bothers to respond, this thread might actually make it to 20 posts!

[angee_is_mad]

21. Elitism

sees no party, as I have come to realize.

[Kipepeo]

23. The thing about the money going to 527s

with mostly white leadership instead of to black organizations like in the Gore and Clinton campaigns is something I heard discussion about on CSPAN last month. It was the "Nat'l Assn. of Black Owned Broadcasters Panel on Elections." I found the link on CSPAN's page if anyone is interested but I can't get it to open. Maybe you will have better luck. It's here (the last one on the page from 9/8/2004):

http://www.c-span.org/Search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=donna+brazile

I searched for Donna Brazile to find it b/c she was on the same panel and there is another entry on the same search results page titled:

Donna Brazile, Voting Rights Chair, Democratic National Committee
Donna Brazile, Voting Rights Chair of the Democratic National Committee, discusses her position that Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) does not have enough minorities working in his campaign's senior positions.
5/9/2004: WASHINGTON, DC: 45 min.

Deals with a similar subject...

If anyone can figure out how to open them let me know.

[gottaB]

30. these work for me

NABOB: rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/c04/c04090804_nabob.rm

Brazile: rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/c04/c04_wj050904_brazile.rm

If they're not working in your browser for some reason, try opening up realplayer and entering the urls.

:shrug:

hope that helps

[Kipepeo]

31. Thank You

The one from the NABOB deals with the subject of this thread. I encourage all to watch it. I think some people up-thread were insinuating that this issue is being brought up by Repukes but it's not...it's by Democrats asking why the party is taking the black vote for granted without putting money into black organizations that have traditionally brought out the vote.

Here's the video link again:

rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/c04/c04090804_nabob.rm

The whole thing is worth watching if you have time, but fast-forward to 1:12:05 for a question and then discussion about the Kerry campaign and how it differs from the Gore campaign on outreach to the black community in terms of funding.

[secular_warrior]

27. IMO, this is more of a problem the party has with it's BASE as a whole

The Democratic Party has a big problem as far as it's base (of which blacks are a major constituency) as a whole. The party leadership seems to be embarassed of the base, and usually distances themselves.

Just look at the way the party wanted nothing to do with the anti-war movement, or how they've neglected unions, or how they're afraid of "class warfare" rhetoric, or how they wanted nothing to do with the protesters at the RNC, or how they treat the suburban moderates so much better than any of us, or how they're afraid of the word "liberal"...etc. I could go on and on. How they deal with the black community is no different from how they treat the rest of the Democratic base.

The party has neglected the base, and the base is dysfunctional (more than the Dem base usually is) as a result. Other than kicking Bush out this time around, we don't have a sense of a shared mission: there is no strong, coherent platform that represents the wishes of the base, there is no strong party message that resonates with the base, there is no coordination between the different groups, etc.

The GOP is so successful because long ago they understood the value of reaching out to, nurturing and growing their base. The GOP is not ashamed of their base. Somehow they get the the gun nuts, the fundie wackjobs, the wall street wonks, the neocon chickenhawks, etc all working enthusiastically under the same tent together. The GOP leadership works at keeping their base happy first, as any successful political party should.

[evilqueen]

28. What do you see as some ways to solve the problems you've pointed out? nt

[secular_warrior]

29. We need to take back the party

The different groups within the base need to unite and form an advocacy group dedicated to ousting the party leadership and the DLC. We need to put down a set of basic rules that Dem candidates for any office must be held to, starting with being proud of the word "liberal". Liberal doesn't mean what it used to when McGovern ran for president, or even when Dukakis did. Liberalism is a very mainstream, responsible political ideology.