Before and After Debate: Blacks Play Key Role in Kerry Debate Campaign

[Catherine Vincent]

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/cottman930

Miami – When John F. Kerry stepped onto the University of Miami stage last night for the first of three presidential debates with George W. Bush, the fingerprints of Vernon Jordan were everywhere.

Jordan, the black lawyer and Washington insider who was President Clinton’s first friend, headed the team which negotiated the terms of the debates for Kerry – a role that put Jordan inside the Massachusetts senator’s innermost circle of advisers.

At a time when Republicans routinely criticize Democrats for taking blacks for granted, the list of Kerry’s black campaign aides is both long and impressive. In addition to Jordan, there is Susan Rice, a foreign affairs specialist who was the Clinton administration’s assistant secretary of state for African affairs. She helped coach Kerry for last night’s debate, which focus on foreign issues.

Kerry’s team of black advisers also includes Terry Edmonds, who made history when Clinton named him his top speechwriter. Now Edmonds is Kerry's lead speech writer. Bill Lynch, who was a top aide to former New York Mayor David Dinkins and former Labor secretary Alexis Herman are also key black advisers to Kerry.

[qwlauren35]

1. I had heard this earlier this morning.

Thanks for the confirmation...

I still don't understand why he has to trot out Jesse Jackson when he's got this kind of staff... but I guess the real players are camera shy...

If I saw Kerry with Jordan, Edmonds, Lynch and Herman sitting around a table getting ready for the debate, I'd be flashing that picture EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!

[JI7]

2. those behind the scenes are often the best and most influential

just like the white guys like michael whouley who hate getting public attention. but they are very good at what they do and most of it is in private.

the reason for jesse jackson probably has a lot to do with his complaining about the campaign. the funny thing is he was complaining about kerry not attending an unscheduled event he set up. but it was because kerry already had a scheduled event in a mostly black area with stephanie tubb jones and a large group of people were waiting for him.

[EEgrad2003]

3. Terry Edmonds is a..

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY Alumnus!! A great speech-writer from a great, but usually underestimated, college in Baltimore, MD.