If this is true LOOK FOR A BLACK BACKLASH, DNC WORKED TO DEFEAT NAGIN

[wndycty]

Go ahead bash the current source (Drudge), but if it breaks in other media outlets the DNC has some explaining to do.

Full disclosure: I backed the effort to nominate Tammy Duckworth, which we know was backed by the DCCC, however I think its different when we are talking about an incumbent, especially when we feel the party takes us for granted. Wow!

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE WORKED TO DEFEAT NAGIN

**Exclusive**

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) secretly placed political operatives in the city of New Orleans to work against the reelection efforts of incumbent Democrat Mayor Ray Nagin, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean made the decision himself to back mayoral candidate and sitting Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu (D-LA), sources reveal.

Dean came to the decision to back the white challenger, over the African-American incumbent Nagin, despite concerns amongst senior black officials in the Party that the DNC should stay neutral.

The DNC teams actively worked to defeat Nagin under the auspice of the committee's voting rights program.
-snip-

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash5no.htm

[bemildred]

1. And if it's false, then what? nt

[wndycty]

5. When that happens we will deal with it. . .

. . .until then lets discuss.

[bemildred]

54. Well, it's good to know this is not frivilous propaganda. nt

[jackbourassa]

71. This is a story planted by the Clinton wing to discredit Dean

They are attempting to turn black Democrats away from Dean. The article includes a "Democratic source" who criticized Deans "ground operation" (aka the Clintonistas).

It's so transparent.

Too bad it isn't true. Or so says Donna Brazille. Nice try though.

[tishaLA]

73. Where did Ms. Brazille [sic]

say this wasn't true? Was it someplace where she changed the spelling of her name?

[wndycty]

80. Typical. . .Dean is the Chairman of the DNC but. . .

. . .HE AINT RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIT! Typical.

[killerbush]

2. Someone in here will blame the DLC for this. You watch

[wyldwolf]

75. wait...wait...wait... I have the connection!

When Dean was a member of the DLC, they planted a chip in his head. They activated it...and...

[Clark2008]

3. Well, according to some DUers, Nagin is the DLC-type

candidate. But, then again, so was Landreau, so I don't see what difference it made.

:shrug:

[killerbush]

43. Well, some Du'ers are wrong

Nagin is no moderate

[rucky]

4. A Drudge exclusive!

expect it to be repeated on FOX news in 5...4...3...

[wndycty]

6. And if it appears in more credible sources?

:kick:

[rucky]

15. we should be pissed. n/t

[bahrbearian]

7. Why didn't Nagin ,spend the night in the Super Dome

Just asking... Why was he a repug? Why did he change parties?

[wndycty]

8. Keep it up, go right ahead. . .

:kick:

[bahrbearian]

17. OK.. or what?

just asking

[wndycty]

20. No threats. . .just saying keep it up. . .

. . .there is really nothing anyone can do, which is sort of like the attitude the DNC would be taking if this is true. "We can fuck over African Americans because there is nothing they can do." So yeah keep it up.

[The Magistrate]

25. As A Matter Of Curiousity, Sir

Of what signifigance is it that he is Black?

If he is a poor ornament to his office, should he not be dispatched from it?

[wndycty]

27. Nationally African American Democrats backed him. . .

. . .he came to Chicago and a ton of powerful African Americans showed up and gave BIG! If this is true its a HUGE FUCK YOU to that crowd. I'm constantly trying to sell or better yet defend the Dems to my friends, all of who feel the Democratic party takes us for granted. . .if this is true they will just give up on the Dems. Most of us might not be familiar with the local politics of New Orleans, but on a national scale this will be taken as a huge FUCK YOU to many African Americans.

PERSONALLY, I'm not sure how I feel about the action, but I'm real concerned about the perception that it will create in African American circles. It will be interesting to see how the BLACK PRESS will handle this.

[Kahuna]

30. The question is, why did they back him? Did they back him because

he's black or because they thought he was doing a good job? It can't be the later. So, let's discuss if it's wrong for blacks to back folks just because they're black. Or for that matter if whites should back folks just because they're white. The issue of race shouldn't even come up in the year 2006. So I wonder why it's coming up with you and your friends. BTW, in case you don't know or have forgotten, I'm black. And I can assure you that if any of my friends told me that they were backing a candidate because he's black vs. the best candidate, I'd question them and try to make them realize that race should not be the issue. Because if it is, we could end up with Condoleeza Rice as president, and I sure as hell wouldn't want that.

[wndycty]

37. As I said I more concerned with the perception as opposed to the action. .

. . .maybe Nagin did not deserve to be re-elected, I honestly don't know what happens on the ground in NO, HOWEVER I understand perception. Increasing African Americans are becoming frustrated with the DNC if this story is true it will only make matters worse. Its irrelevent if he deserved to be re-elected or not. If the perception is the DNC does not support Black candidates it will be very damaging. I'm talking right v. wrong, Nagin v. Landreu I'm talking strategy.

[Kahuna]

41. I don't know whether he "deserved" it or not either. That was solely

for the NO voters to decide and they have made their decision. That's the end of the story for me.

[Ammonium]

49. I respectfully disagree

Maybe you were not aware Nagin use to be a republican? Mitch landrieu has been a life long dem and came from a family of dems. Landrieu's race in this matter should be of little importants in this 2006. What should be considered is in NOLA's mayoral campaign is the issues and Nagin's performance pre and post katrina. Having spend some time in NOLA both before and after katrina I would say he's done a pretty poor job.

The police force was known for their coruption, the poverty was astonishing, and the only thing that was really important was the bourbon street was semi-clean and that there were people going there. Beyond that, the lower 9th ward and all the other places of lower/middle class income were shit holes. Then katrina came and it only got worse. There has been no clean up. Lower 9th ward and the rest of the lower/middle class areas still have no been cleaned up and there are no signs of a clean up planned for the furture.

Nagin, though a dem in name, has a lot of upper class republican leaning support for his position on taxes. Nagin favors a republican style approach to taxes. He can talk all this tall about making NOLA "chocolate" again but when the rubber meets the road he falls far shorter. He's allowed outside private corporations to come in and "clean up" while the local businesses who could do the same, maybe a slightly higher cost, are left out to dry.

I don't see NOLA getting better anytime soon and the road to recovery is indeed a long one. God forbid there is another hurricane and Nagin's plan of doing nothing to evacuate is put into action.

[Bridget Burke]

83. Nagin's former party affiliation was discussed months ago....

Back before you became a DU'er.

The people of NOLA picked him. Perhaps they are tired of Bush's friends accusing him of all the post-Katrina problems.

[MaineDem]

86. Nagin said he has been a life-long Democrat

I don't buy all the media spin surrounding his party affiliation (being a Republican.) He's a Democrat and says he always has been.

Is there proof otherwise?

[Ammonium]

94. Well

Nagin was a business exec at Cox Communications, which in and of itself means nothing, but was a republican in his life before becoming mayor of New Orleans. Also, as a democrat, Nagin campaigned for Republican Bobby Jindal in his bid for governor back in 2003/4. Jindal lost to sitting democratic governor Kathleen Blanco.

Nagin also gave contributions to Bush and Billy Tauzin(a democrat turn republican) in 2000.

[beaconess]

59. How do you define "African American Democrats?"

Some African American Democrats supported Nagin. Some didn't.

Nagin was extremely unpopular among many Blacks in New Orleans who saw him as an Uncle Tom Republican masquerading as a Democrat.

Please don't lump all Blacks together - we are not a monolith.

[jackbourassa]

72. Hey Wndycty, how about giving Dean the benefit of the doubt?

Because apparently it isn't even true. So isn't possible that some Democrat, NOT CLOSE TO DEAN (i'll allow you to speculate who that might be) may have leaked this story as an attempt to undermine him?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

100. Was significance is it that he's black?

Good question.

Last I heard, Nagin got some 80%+ of New Orleans evacuated before Katrina when the best estimates by disaster experts were projecting some 65-70%. If Nagin were republican and white, wouldn't he have been lauded as a hero by the media instead of an incomptent boob? Would the vote have been so split along racial lines?

[Kahuna]

28. LOL! I have a lot of respect for you. You're a good brother...But..

what's the deal here? I'm not used to seeing you get your boxers in a twist over something unimportant like this. I hope all is well with you. :hug:

[bahrbearian]

33. You must have the DNC confused with the RNC.

Or your keyboard is Fucked-Up I will keep it up .. I spent time in a life raft with my Captain. and I have been overboard ,Twice. I can keep it up.

[bahrbearian]

21. I've spent some time on the High Seas

and a Captain is the last Man to the life Boat... I've been in a life boat.

[Erika]

14. The mayor is tied in closely with the NO good old boys

The ones who own the fancy houses and need cheap labor. Yes, he wants to make the city "chocolate" but maybe for the wrong reasons.

[Bridget Burke]

85. And a Landrieu is a political virgin?

Son of a former Mayor of NOLA & brother to Mary Landrieu--one of the most conservative Democratic senators?

[Kahuna]

9. Isn't it against the rules to post Drudge as a news source?

:shrug: Somebody?

[wndycty]

11. If it is so be it. . .

. . .and when and if this story is reported in more credible news sources are we not going to discuss. You can bash the source or we can discuss the allegation. So go ahead, feel free, alert on me, shut down this thread but what are you going to do if this pops up elsewhere?

[Kahuna]

22. Yo! If you don't mind posting shit by Drudge, not even with a legitimate

link as the source and looking foolish who am I to complain? :shrug:
I don't give Drudge rumors the time of day. But that's just me. :shrug:

[wndycty]

24. And when and if it appears elsewhere?

We can debate the source or we can debate the issue.

[Kahuna]

26. Jeez wndycty!!!! They do this shit every time a black candidate runs!

They make up some off the wall kkrap made up by Drudge and/or the RNC mob. You should be used to it by now. Man!!! :eyes:

on edit: If it turns out to be true than I won't see it as a race issue. I'll see it as a image issue or a strategy issue. It would be no different than what was pulled on Paul Hackett. It's the way politics is played. Heck! You're from Chicago, and I'm from NJ! God knows we should both be used to back room politics by now.

[ruggerson]

42. I think that's only a rule for LBN n/t

[The Magistrate]

10. To My View, Sir, There Would Be Nothing Wrong With Such An Effort

Mr. Nagin performed pretty poorly in the crisis, and is not deserving of re-election. His being in a position of national prominence, as the focus on the disaster has left hin in some degree, is not of benefit to the Party.

[rucky]

16. the alternative being...?

not supporting is one thing. actively working against is another.

[The Magistrate]

19. Things Are Best Done To The Hilt, Sir, If Done At All

The idea that the leadership of the Party should not act in what it considers the best interests of the Party baffles me.

[rucky]

32. And it didn't work.

what does that say about the voters?

edit: for the record, i don't even think this story is true.

[The Magistrate]

35. As Mr. Swearingen Said, Sir

"Not every fracas is a victory, Chief."

[rucky]

46. fair enough, but you get my point...

if the party intereferes with, it is inevitable they will alienate one camp. in this case, a very high-profile - and very black - camp.

I think we hashed through this during the Brown/Hackett flap.

[bahrbearian]

39. We've got GW Bush

[IndyOp]

12. IF it appears in more credible sources, THEN I need to hear from Dean -

Please keep in mind that the GOP is DESPERATE to destroy the Dems. They are doing it by disenfranchising Black and Native American and Hispanic and other Dem voters - they are doing it by f*'ing with the voting machines and by controlling the the media and by whipping up hatred of illegal immigrants and people on welfare and gays and liberals...

Before 1,000,000's of voters walk away enraged. Ask what happens after they walk. Does the GOP take statehouses and the US Congress? If the GOP has the US Congress they WILL install ALL aspects of fascism.

Guess who is going to the posh new Halliburton-built detention camps? All of their political rivals and targets of the racism, homophobia, religious bigotry...

2006. Do or Die.

All of us together to take it back and rearrange the Dem Party anyway we see fit in future or lose it, lost it all.

Just my humble, and sincere, and frightened opinion.

And, by the way, who is going to vote Congessman Conyers back into office so he can reign over impeachment hearings?

Just imagine what a coup it would be for the GOP to fan the flames of distrust that so deservedly exist between African American voters and the Dem leadership.

[lojasmo]

13. This is a non starter.

IF it were to be printed by a reputable news source, then it would be worthy of any debate. Untill it is, I'll treat it as what it is....uter bovine scatology.

[madfloridian]

18. It appears Republican and right wing religious groups backed Nagin..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2639172

Maybe there is more to the story?

[madfloridian]

23. The voting rights program is under Brazile, isn't it?

So what does that mean? Am I wrong on that? I think she is the head of the DNC voting rights commission.

[shance]

29. And your point is? Nagin only plays a Democrat on television.

n/t

[madfloridian]

31. Well, Nagin had Greater New Orleans Republicans backing him.

"So, with Boulet, Couhig and an influential group of GOP activists, the Greater New Orleans Republicans, now throwing their support behind Nagin, the Mayor’s goal of getting 20% of the white vote is in reach."

http://www.bayoubuzz.com/articles.aspx?aid=7096

I am not trying to defend this yet, but the program Donna Brazile is in charge of and the DNC are accused of supporting a Democrat...while the Repubs are backing Nagin...and the Catholic church appeared to be greatly backing him as well.

I need to see more to feel the outrage.

[wndycty]

34. You do realize in a general election between two DEMOCRATS, they . . .

. . .have to vote for somebody. If Landreau had won he would have needed GOP votes as well.

[madfloridian]

61. The Republicans pushed Nagin over the finish line...they are bragging.

What in the world is the outrage about?

[wndycty]

81. You really believe Republicans supported the man who PIMP SLAPPED. . .

. . .Bush during the whole Katrina mess? Anything to protect Dean.

[LA lady]

66. Did you read all the Bayou buzz?

Earlier this week, the leading Republican in the mayor’s race, Rob Couhig, endorsed incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin. Later on the same day, the Orleans Parish Republican Party endorsed Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu

[madrchsod]

36. what i heard from a npr report

after the run off is that nagin would be the favorite with the black voters and wouldn`t work well with the feds. landrieu would get more white voters and would be able to get more federal dollars because he has more experience in dealing with the feds.
if dean backed landrieu it would have been on the federal angle and not a racial issue. we will see what happens but the real story is that the people of new orleans voted for the person they thought best represented them. there is to much work to do than to worry about dean or anyone else.

[wndycty]

38. The DNC's reasons for backing Landrieu are irrelevent. . .

. . .the Black vote is still largely driven by race. In Chicago Black and Hispanics are looking for a Black or Hispanic candidate to run for Mayor, they are not too concerned with ideology, there are concerned with race.

[Kahuna]

47. So in Chicago if a black candidate like Ken Blackwell, or a hispanic

like that stooge, toadie Alberto Gonzalez ran, folks would vote for them just because they are the same race? That is scary. That's why it's up to folks like us who are more politically enlightened to try to hip our friends and associates that they should leave race out of the equation. Because one day really soon, we are really going to have to face a choice like that, just like the black voters in Ohio do. To think that they would blindly vote for Blackwell who deprived them of their vote just because he's black is very very scary. Though I'm sure that there will be a lot of them who will.

[wndycty]

52. Do you ever listen to Black radio, do you ever read Black papers?

In Chicago its a little different because this is Democrat v. Democrat, but its getting ugly. In the Governor's race the Black candidate did not have enough to win but could take away enough votes from the Democratic Governor for the GOP nominee to win. Fortunately we avoided that problem, the Black candidate dropped out on Friday.

[ruggerson]

40. So blacks are going to vote in droves for the Repub

next time around in response to Howard Dean???

Can I have some of what yer smokin'?

[wndycty]

45. That's a pretty messed up attitude to take. . .

. . ."shit on the Black vote because what are they going to do? Vote Republican?" In Illinois we just dodged a 3rd party candidacy for Governor by a Black state senator/Reverend. Oh he would not have won, but he could have taken enough votes from the Democrat in hotly contested race to hand the contest to the GOP. He was slated to announce on Saturday, but the Governor cut a last minute deal to keep him out of the race. But take the attitude "shit on the Black vote because what are they going to do? Vote Republican?"

[ruggerson]

48. I'm being realistic

And he recently dumped on gays too, remember? They aren't going to stop voting Dem either because of Howard Dean.

In general, black folks, gay folks, women, hispanics, etc would be voting against their own self interest by voting for Republicans. They would literally have to be insane to do that.

So, you take Dr. Dean with a grain of salt. He is not the be all and end all of the Democratic party. He does some good things and some wildly stupid ones.

[wndycty]

51. Believe it or not, I'm not calling for the ouster of Dean. . .

. . .I agree with you he has done some good things and some bad things. I really like the 50 state strategy. I view the Democrats like I view sports teams. I love the White Sox, Bears and Bulls. I support the team (the Democrats), and the coaches (Dean, Emanuel and Schumer) when they win and do the right thing I cheer, when the FUCK UP, I believe in telling them they FUCKED up and holding their feet to the fire. It seems that the minute any of them do something certain DEMS don't like some people call for their head.

HOWEVER I find it blatantly hypocritical when they applaud or ignore when Dean does shit they jumped all over the previous chairman about or in this case, if true, what he did is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENT than what Rahm Emanuel did in the Illinois 6th. I have already admitted I backed that effort. I'm not sure if Dean did the wrong thing, but I think it was very risky because of the race issue. If you notice, I'm not talking right v. wrong here, I'm talking perception and strategy.

[ruggerson]

58. I agree totally

and I'm not wild about what the entire crew did to Hackett in Ohio, either.

But, we're never going to win every battle to our liking. And I think you and I both know that our lives would be far better off under the Dems.

Having said that, I couldn't disagree more strongly at times with some behind the scenes maneuvers and inept strategy.

[wisteria]

44. I think it is more likely that the Rebublicans worked to defeat Nagin. n/t

[slor]

50. I am AA and believe me...

I had no qualms with Nagin being sent packing. He failed just as catastrophically as the chimp, IMHO. I also believe that he is a recent member of the Dem Party, when it became politically expedient to change. In any event, he fucked up during Katrina, and I did not know anybody in my community that felt differently. If I had lived there, I would have voted for Landrieu.

[AtomicKitten]

53. Well, in the end, the only thing that matters

is what the voters decide, and they chose Nagin. End of story.

[BluegrassDem]

55. Dean's gonna have hell to pay if this true!

He better hope that Drudge is wrong, cause there's gonna be a whole lotta upset black folk if he helped to try to defeat Nagin. I'm pissed about it myself. And Dean already has the reputation of not being color-friendly, so this only solidifies it.

[madfloridian]

57. The Republicans worked for Nagin.

So why not be upset with that?

[AtomicKitten]

62. did they?

That seems out of synch with their rampant criticism of him. It would seem more logical to want him out of office since they blamed him for the tragedy during Katrina.

[madfloridian]

64. I posted it here in this thread and another post.

Make your own mind up.

[AtomicKitten]

65. I'm apprehensive

but it seems the alleged support is inconsequential since it was the majority of the black vote as well as the absentee ballots that decided his win.

It just doesn't make any sense to me to support someone that has been vilified and used as a scapegoat for Bush's failures. Ousting him would seem the M.O. under the circumstances.

[wndycty]

82. I see you are making shit up again?

Go ahead Nagin haters, MAKE SHIT UP to bash him. This is not from Drudge bue the New Orleans Times=Picayune. I'm not even going to pretend that Landrieu is a Republican, but I raise this point for those who want to call Nagin a Republican. I think there has been a lot of MISINFORMATION thrown out there to do Nagin in. So many people have called Nagin a Republican, then why the FUCK did the GOP endorse his opponent? Lets not let the facts get in the way of mudslinging.

-snip-
Landrieu, meanwhile, picked up endorsements from the Republican Party, a large contingent of elected officials of both races, and Bishop Paul Morton, pastor of the state's largest black church.

The results Saturday suggest that Nagin managed to build back a sizable portion of his once-enviable white base, an accomplishment that likely put him over the top.
-snip-

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tpupdates/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tpupdates/archives/2006_05_20.html

[madfloridian]

97. Whoa....there. I gave sources for what I said. Drudge recanted.

Don't you think you should ask this be locked now?

[Kahuna]

68. Most black people...and white people for that matter will never

ever hear about this.

[Rowdyboy]

56. Sorry, man, I agree with you 99 times out of 100 but not here....Landrieu

was the Democrat. Nagin was the conservative, establishment candidate favored by the White House (oro Christ's sake, you know how much Dubya hates Mary Landrieu. He could only despise her brother more)

I wish Mitch had won but he didn't. I'd also be willing to bet that a majority of Landrieu's votes came from black voters and also that most Nagin voters are white. Black vs white politics doesn't play here like it does in the rest of the country. Nawlin's is a very strange, and very wonderful city..

[madfloridian]

60. Amazing! Last week Dean was a homophobe, now he's a racist?

And the people he hires are picking their noses? More is at play here, folks.

[KC21304]

63. Nagin has never previously gotten the majority of

Black votes. What's the bid deal now ? I can't see anyone but Republicans try to make a story out of this.

[tishaLA]

67. Disappointing

I'm no fan of Nagin, but I don't think the DNC needs to get itself involved in races like this--if the story is, in fact, true. It's really not good for the party and it's a waste of funds we can use elsewhere.

Oh and the "strategy," such as it was, didn't work, either. Too bad we have such inefficiency.

[newsguyatl]

69. too bad they didn't succeed

nagin's nuts.

black, white, chocolate, whatever... he's a freak.

[madfloridian]

70. This Catholic blogger nailed it....it is a bad omen.

I listened to the new show on AAR today about the takeover of the religious communities, and I watched the History Channel last night about Opus Dei. I got the shivers, as I saw the "takeover" of my Southern Baptist church into something hateful and spiteful.

This is a comment that tells what we were up against, and will be up against.

http://catholicanalysis.blogspot.com/2006/05/explaining-new-orleans-election.html

"As one black political analyst put it, Nagin won with a "shotgun marriage" coalition of white conservatives and black voters. That's the nightmare of Howard Dean and the Democrat National Committee. I am sure they are also stunned today.

Personally, I could see how the Mitch Landrieu candidacy would further enhance the political fortunes of a very prominent pro-abortion Catholic Senator. So I did whatever I could, including praying, to enhance Nagin's chances in my own very small way. That's why I argued regularly for Nagin in that New Orleans web forum. There was a great political miracle Saturday night in New Orleans. Some of us prayed for it.

In short, the closest thing to the Republican conservative candidate won the mayor's election in New Orleans."

The churches here are going crazy with the abortion and gay issues this week.

[wndycty]

93. You left out the word "progressive"

From today's Chicago Sun-Times:

-snip-
"After the Martin Luther King comments and his post-Katrina comments, political obituary had been written," analyst Silas Lee said. But Nagin won with "an unusual political shotgun marriage between conservative whites and progressive African Americans."
-snip-

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-new22.html

Aren't you supposed to be the progressive activist? If so I would think you wouldn't dismiss the progressive African American voters of New Orleans? You seem to be contradicting your stance on the Illinois 6th, in which you were so concerned with the fate of the local progressives. Or do only white local progressives matter to you?

I have stated a few times that I'm not if what the DNC might have done in N.O. is the wrong thing, it may very well have been the right thing. My concern was with the perception that strategy may give off.

[madfloridian]

98. Drudge was wrong. He got a letter from the DNC lawyers.

You need to ask this be locked.

[w4rma]

74. If they did, they should have tried harder, imho.

Whatever ethnicity either one of the candidates are.

[wyldwolf]

76. YAY DEAN! Howard speaks for ME. LOL! I wish Nagin had lost!

Since a DRUDGE story started all this, I'm going ro refer briefly to another rightwing source - but just briefly. Nagin was at one time a vice president and general manager at Cox Communications, a cable company and subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. Cox Enterprise owns the Neal Boortz show. Boortz claims Nagin was a Republican when he worked for Cox. Not a big issue unto itself if true. I've back a former Republican before.

But this ia where the story taks another turn. Rightwing sources turned off. Clicking on Wikipedia.

Wiki says Nagin is a lifelong Democrat, although he did give contributions periodically to candidates of both parties, including, President George W. Bush. Now, news like this is usually enough to get blood boiling at DU... but wait, there's more!

Nagin controversially endorsed conservative Republican Bobby Jindal over Democratic Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Blanco in the 2003 runoff for governor. He only reluctantly endorsed the Democratic candidate, U.S. Senator John Kerry, in the 2004 presidential race.

I say Howard Dean and the DNC, if the story is true, didn't do enough to oust him.

But wait! There's more.

At a town hall meeting in October 2005, Nagin said: "I can see in your eyes, you want to know, 'How do I take advantage of this incredible opportunity? How do I make sure New Orleans is not overrun with Mexican workers?'"

Now, I actually agree with this statement. He wanted to save the jobs for American workers. But many considered it racist anyway, including the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

In an interview with Public Radio International's Tavis Smiley originally broadcast on January 13, 2006, Nagin said that he has never been a Republican and is a "life-long Democrat." However, NPR discribed him as a former Republican in a 2002 story. Also in that interview, Nagin used the phrase "chocolate city" in reference to New Orleans' future demographics, a term that would become troublesome for him just a few days later.

Kathleen Blanco is quoted describing Nagin as "a total void" and "falling apart".

Nagin, like Pat Robertson, apparantly has a direct line to God. Nagin stated that New Orleans "will be a majority African-American city. It's the way God wants it to be." <17> As most New Orleanians knew the city had been majority African American for decades before Katrina, some found the implication of Nagin feigning to know God's will more troubling than the suggested return of pre-Katrina demographics.

In the same speech, Nagin further stirred controversy by claiming that "God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it's destroyed and put stress on this country....Surely he doesn't approve of us being in Iraq under false pretenses. But surely he is upset at black America also. We're not taking care of ourselves." Nagin then went on to relate an imagined conversation with the deceased Rev. Martin Luther King regarding both the response to Katrina and the modern problems of black America which he believes offended God.

Upthread, someone said that the DNC not backing Nagin would offend Africa-Americans nationally because a "he came to Chicago and a ton of powerful African Americans showed up and gave BIG!"

So what? This was a local municipal race. Not a state race. Not a national race.

The better candidate did not win this one.

[win_in_06]

77. The black vote is our #1 loyal constituency and we continue to take

them for granted. Dean has to be careful, this will be used against the party.

We can't afford to lose even 5% of this voting base to the repugs.

[bklyncowgirl]

78. Divide and Conquer

Folks, just remember the source before jumping off the handle and throwing out accusations.

It's Drudge. The right wing propeganda machine's mouthpiece to the world.

The Republicans want nothing better than for Democrats to start fighting each other and throwing out accusations about the DNC trying to undermine a black candidate for mayor drives a wedge into several cracks in the Democratic facade.

Black Democrats get to be outraged that they are being taken for granted and used. The anti-Dean crowd, some of who want him out of the way to make it easier for Hillary Clinton to win the nomination, get to throw accusations at Dean and add fuel to the fire they're building for his ouster.

Take this one with a big grain of salt. The goal is to divide and conquer and anyone who thought the Republicans were going down easy is nuts.

[LizW]

79. Bingo. n/t

[LynneSin]

84. I am not upset about Nagin losing

He was not that great of a mayor and in fact, ENDORSED the republican running for governor in the last LA governor election.

He tried to do his best for New Orleans after Katrina but I think it's time for fresh blood in that city

[MaineDem]

87. I thought he won? n/t

[LynneSin]

88. He did - shows how much news I've been watching lately

:cry:

I get my news from here - my bad

But I don't take back what I said - we need fresh blood in Louisiana.

[Bridget Burke]

90. Nagin didn't lose.

The people of NOLA made their choice.

Of course Landrieu's daddy was mayor of NOLA & his sister is one of the most conservative Democratic senators. Fresh blood or same old same old?

[LynneSin]

91. Mary Landrieu conservative?

Outside of the oil industry, which is a major part of Louisana, Landrieu has been a great senator. I'd be happy to have her represent me (Here in Delaware instead of oil she'd be supporting the Credit Card industry)

[Bridget Burke]

92. Pretty conservative...

Landrieu supports eliminating the estate tax permanently, and voted for the tax cut passed in 2001. On November 17, 2005, she was one of only four Democrats to vote against repealing the portions of the tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003 that more liberal Democrats have charged unfairly benefit the wealthy. She voted for the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 and the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. In 2004, Landrieu was one of only six Democrats to vote against renewing the ban on semi-automatic firearms. She has been one of the few Democrats to support drilling in the ANWR.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Landrieu

I can understand that she probably can't be a fire-breathing liberal & get elected from Louisiana.

[Mass]

89. Drudge? Seriously?

This must be true then.

[madfloridian]

95. Since Drudge sort of kind of retracted and apologized....

after getting a letter from DNC lawyers...shouldn't this be put away now as a lesson learned?

[NYCGirl]

96. So you did see that Drudge retracted the story, right, Wndycty??

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2640874&mesg_id=2640874

[AtomicKitten]

99. Drudge sorta kinda retracted this BS.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2640874&mesg_id=2640874

[keopeli]

101. Don't believe Drudge - EVER! He's a propogandist.

I'm not saying to ignore his posts. A wise person can weed through his tripe and find gems, but I save that job for the pig farmers who don't mind meddling in muck.

Drudge has issued a half-hearted apology.

Reality interpretation of Drudge's pseudo-apology:

(Drudge) I don't retract my statement even though they have been proven erroneous. I don't feel I have to defend my position but rather that the DNC must defend themselves against me. Since their lawyers contacted me, I don't plan to say anything else about this. Believe what you will.


Does that sound about right?

[dsc]

102. When are you going to apologize for lying to us

You posted a total, complete, utter lie. You were warned repeatedly it was likely to be a lie. You were told repeatedly the story was removed. Allowing it to stand is letting a lie stand. You owe each and every reader of DU an abject apology.

[proud patriot]

103. I'm locking this thread

Drudge has been proven wrong on this .

proud patriot moderator
Democratic underground