"The race that nobody's talking about -- yet"

[Clark4VotingRights]

"As the New York Times wrote of Dean's efforts to attract more of a diverse following: " was not active in the civil rights movement, and has neither the political network of black ministers and community leaders nor the personal relationships that have helped other white candidates. His campaign's heavy use of the Internet has largely bypassed poorer pockets of African-Americans and Latinos, and issues like crime, drugs and failing public schools have not been centerpieces of his message."

But measuring by an ability to attract African-American followers to events, none of Dean's competitors has been significantly more successful. At an event in Harlem several weeks ago for Clark, U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., announced his endorsement for Clark and introduced a number of elected minority officials from New York City to do the same. Virtually all of the VIPs at the front of the room -- an impressive group that included veterans of the Harlem Hellfighters and Tuskegee Airmen, celebrated black military units from an era before integration -- were black or Latino. The audience was almost entirely white.
...
Not only are prominent endorsements spread among the candidates, but many experts also feel that the impact of endorsements on a primary election is somewhat limited in any case. "One thing we've learned from recent elections is that support from black leadership is important in terms of turnout, and maybe goosing the vote a little bit in their area, but isn't as important as it once was in terms of swaying the vote," said Parent. "I know for fact that when black leaders support one Democratic candidate from a list, that candidate doesn't necessarily go to the top. And compounding that this year is that those endorsements are all over the place."

So what would it take to galvanize the black vote? As far as some Democrats are concerned, the most important thing any candidate can do right now to win broad support from African-Americans is simply to show an ability to win in November. "This is a sophisticated electorate," said Hollowell, the Michigan party chair. "The country as whole has suffered under this president, but the Africa-American community has really been damaged by George Bush's policies ... You have to be able to convey that you believe in advocating issues that will lift up this community, but at the same time, people want to know that you can take those ideas and win with them. I think the most effective candidate is going to win the support of the African-American community."

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/01/13/black_vote/index.html

[displacedtexan]

1. Go, Butch!

Butch Hollowell's grandfather was MLK's attorney, and Butch was Gore's attorney in Florida. National Dems really need to listen to Butch. He's the real deal, not a Colin clone!

[JNelson6563]

5. I suspect he will soon be trumped

By none other than the fabulous Jennifer Granholm. We'll see.

The co-chair, Mark Brewer will be up our way Thurs., wonder which way he's leaning.

BTW, I think it's embarrassing these two men are in such a battle for power they share the state chair.

Julie

On edit: Want to make clear, I'd prefer Butch over Brewer as Chair.

[patricia92243]

2. Dean has the most Black endorsements than other main candidate.

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. And the most Hispanic endorsements as well

:party:

[anti-bush]

8. Which the article said weren't important

If you read the point of the article, the endorsements of minorities don't really matter anymore.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. They are superdelegates

And that certainly matters in my book.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. One thing that would bring out the minority vote

would be to have Carol Mosely-Braun running as VP. That lady has class, and would attract minorities.

[beaconess]

13. I like CMB, but she has WAY too much baggage

that would be used to drag the ticket down.

[HFishbine]

4. Huh?

"Dean's efforts to attract more of a diverse following: " was not active in the civil rights movement..."

How can a current day effort have been involved in the civil rights movement?

"crime, drugs and failing public schools have not been centerpieces of his message."

Indeed, not like, um, er. Which candidate is it again who's made these issues the cenerpiece of his campaign?

"The audience was almost entirely white."

This is a good thing for Clark?

[izzie]

6. I think the blacks will go with any Dem. but the real worry is.....

Who will take the Southern Republican that used to be Dem. Does anyone really think that, since the civil rights days, these people have put on another coat?

[anti-bush]

9. No.

But certain candidates will get out the vote, where others may not. The African Americans got out the vote for Clinton and Gore because they energized the community.

[beaconess]

14. This is the attitude I keep questioning . . .

I keep seeing people here saying, I think the blacks will go with any Dem while at the same time, people insist that if Dean supporters don't get their way, they will walk and not support anyone.

Why is it that the Dems are supposed to kiss the asses of Dean supporters to keep them happy while black voters are taken for granted under the assumption that they'll just "go with any Dem?"

[ShimokitaJer]

15. It's not just blacks.

It's the assumption that anyone who believes in progressive goals must vote for the Democratic nominee, whoever it is. We see it on DU all the time when Greens are accused of disloyalty for not giving their vote to the Democratic candidate.

You paint them as two sides of an issue, but really it's the same thing. The assumption the Dean supporters will naturally support the eventual candidate, whoever it is, is as invalid as the assumption that blacks will do so. There are some here who have chosen to demand ABB loyalty oaths, but it is merely a product of the party's insistence on loyalty from traditionally Democratic demographics, be that labor, minorities, environmentalists, women, etc., regardless of the party's actual platform.

I share your disgust, but believe it is misplaced to aim it at Dean's campaign.

[Hep]

11. Salon doesn't mention that the NYT got it wrong from the start

More clowning get's past the Democratic Defenses.

[Snivi Yllom]

12. I could care less about endorsements

It's about who I believe in.