Black groups endorse white candidate, over black candidate, for Alabama governor

[Syrinx]

We have two major candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for governor. One is the African-American congressman from the seventh district, Artur Davis. He is highly intelligent and well educated, and is an old friend of the President, and he periodically drives me mad. He could have held on to his congressional seat for the rest of his life, easily. But he constantly panders to the right wing, because he wants to be governor. I just said he's very smart. So, he's got to know that the right-wingers will never vote for him in a million years. I just don't get it.

He voted against Obama's health-care bill, and for the "bankruptcy reform bill" a few years ago.

The other Democrat trying to be elected governor is the white Agriculture Commissioner, Ron Sparks, who is trying to outflank Davis, moderately, on the left.

I plan on voting for Sparks in the primary, but will fully support Davis, should he win the nomination.

I don't know how much weight these endorsements have these days, but the two major groups of black Alabama Democrats, the Alabama Democratic Conference, and the Alabama New South Coalition, have both rejected Davis and endorsed his white opponent.

In a way, I think this is a healthy development.

Davis' strategy has offended some African-American leaders, particularly after he was the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus to vote against the federal health care bill.

"It's one thing to position ourselves to secure votes that we do not usually get in a statewide political race. It's another to stomp on our own people in the process. And Artur Davis has stomped on us time after time," said Democratic state Sen. Hank Sanders of Selma, president emeritus of the Alabama New South Coalition.

A founding member of the Alabama Democratic Conference, Democratic state Rep. Alvin Holmes of Montgomery, said: "He had it in his mind he could get the white vote if he took a position against black people, and somehow later the black people would come along and support him."

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/black_alabama_groups_endorse_w.html

[Dr Morbius]

1. Take any section of the population and for that segment,

if they get a whiff of a candidate who expects their vote because they're X, whether X means black, or gay, or conservative, or whatever, and that candidate has lost that vote. Voters HATE it when they're expected to vote for someone because they're X.

Democrats can't count on African-American or LGBT votes because they're Democrats, and they know it. Democrats in office have to do something for these constituencies or risk losing the vote. Which is as it should be.

So, a politician who's black and thinks all people of color will therefore vote for him is making a politically foolish assumption. He's insulting the intelligence of his constituency. Not surprising his opponent gets endorsements he might have expected.

[Syrinx]

4. I'm not fond of identity politics either

We're all in this together.

[babylonsister]

2. I think it's healthy, too. He was probably warned how his no-vote

on HCR would damage him; it's come to pass. Good. People shouldn't assume anything.

[Syrinx]

3. thanks

I like you.

[Wednesdays]

5. White groups endorse black candidate, over white candidate, for U.S. President

nt

[Solomon]

6. The thing that bothers me about this post is the underlying

assumption that blacks always vote for blacks. Simply not true. Blacks are used to voting for whites. D'uh! And I've voted white against black on the issues. I will admit that the unusual thing here is that both candidates are democrats.

[Syrinx]

10. I don't assume that blacks always vote for blacks

But I do know that it is surprising that these particular groups are supporting the white candidate over the first black candidate that has a real shot at being elected governor of Alabama. A long shot, I grant, but a real one. The point of the post was that Davis has cut off his nose to spite his face. He thought he could win by pandering to the right, who will never vote for him, and in the process he has alienated at least part of his base. It will be interesting to see how it comes out next month.

[Obamanaut]

7. Are they both "...highly intelligent and well educated..." ? nt

[Syrinx]

8. I can't really speak to Sparks' intelligence

I haven't heard him speak enough for that. As to education, Sparks is a graduate of Northeast Alabama Community College. Davis graduated magna cum laude from Harvard, and also from Harvard Law School. So I think it is safe to say that Davis is more highly educated than Sparks.

[ecstatic]

12. Interesting. Well, Sparks should try not to have a major gaffe before

election night. It would only take hours for everything to turn around.

[AllentownJake]

9. Plenty of African American groups endorsed Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama

It was about historical ties to the groups and policy positions they felt better suited their community.

I would expect NARAL and Gloria Steinem to endorse a white liberal middle aged male over an anti-choice female conservative democrat candidate.

I would expect the LGBT community to embrace a straight candidate that support marriage equality over a gay candidate that campaigns on civil unions.

Just because you share demographic information with someone, doesn't mean you share values and most voters vote with their values.

[Syrinx]

11. the black groups supported Hillary because they thought Obama couldn't win

Not because they thought Obama would be a worse president than Clinton.

edit: oops.

[AllentownJake]

13. I worked the primary

There was an aspect to that, however, by the time the primary rolled to PA, there were still African American groups supporting Senator Clinton when it was a foregone conclusion she was going to lose.

Before, anyone goes off on assumptions that does not know me here, I was on the Senator Obama team.

The fact the President pulled less support in Philadelphia than Ed Rendell did in 2002 in a primary is a reason we lost that primary. That is including African American districts which underperformed expectations. Than Senator Obama was over performing expectations in White suburbs.

[Lilyeye]

14. I need to send this to some repukes I know who claim black people only vote for blacks.

Yup...the same idiots who thought black people would consider the republican party because of Steele.