Are Congressional blacks the only ones not afraid of the Repubs?

[qanda]

It seems that time after time the blacks in Congress are the only ones who stand up against what the Republicans are trying to perpetrate on this country. Is it that they don't have that much to lose or they just don't care what people have to say about them? But Congressional blacks are the ones who stood up in 2000, the ones who stood up against the war in Iraq and the ones who stood up today.

There seems to be a wimpiness with white Democrats that makes me sick to my stomach. I've even noticed it on this board-- we don't want anyone to think we're crazy and so there are some things that we just shouldn't talk about. I just don't get it. It seems that this is the attitude that has the Republicans holding all the power in our country-- their ability to not care what others think about what they say or do.

Somebody help me out here.

[msgadget]

1. You don't need any help, you put your finger right on it when you said,

It seems that this is the attitude that has the Republicans holding all the power in our country-- their ability to not care what others think about what they say or do.

The Democratic Party is desperately searching for a platform and until it finds firm footing is rooting around (sorta like Kerry and the 'swing' voter) for a middle ground that doesn't offend potential voters. Instead of aiming directly toward those who already vote for them, they're foolishly looking for a way to pull conservative votes their way. They pause to weigh each word and act against the potential for political gain. Blacks, otoh, are used to having to step out on a limb.

This doesn't even take into account how many dems actually agree with the right's policies or predilection for big business interests over those of citizens. As long as the other side is in power they take the blame, but trust me, the right didn't do all this damage by themselves and the slide downhill didn't start with this administration. Once you acknowledge that, the truth is plain to see and your expectations will be as low as mine.

It's up to us.

[angee_is_mad]

2. anything black

or working class just isn't in vogue. Blacks and the working class are basically taboo in this day and time. Nascar dads, security moms and the middle class is all the rage right now.Just look at the Democratic primary. The only one (white)that I remember talking about the poor and blacks was Edwards unless he was in a black environment.

I have noticed that the most liberal democrat isn't the most inclusive, especially when it comes to religion. It is almost a sin to be a Christian in a liberal environment and we know that the black church was and still is the backbone of the black community.

That is why black politicians are the only ones standing up for the disenfranchised. I really think that the white Dem's could care less, hell they are going to get our vote anyway! Where else can we go?

[FrenchieCat]

3. Sorry Angee,

But Edwards was not the only politician talking about the poor and Blacks. Wes Clark spoke plenty about issues that affect Black people directly such as lowering taxes, condemming the Confederate flag, defending affirmative action, and protecting rights for all citizens to vote......and so many other issues, until it's not even funny.

Andrew Young, Marie Frances Berry, Bobbie Rush, Charlie Rangel and a host of other Black activists and leaders did not endorse Wes Clark, Just because....

I understand that you may not have followed his campaign (and that's ok), but your post really is just inaccurate...

http://clark04.com/speeches/033/
the sad fact is that we have not overcome. When black Americans are twice as likely to be out of a job, twice as likely to live in poverty, and a third less likely to have health care - then we have not overcome.

When hundreds of thousands of black men sit behind bars and millions never finish school - then we have not overcome.

When our President has the audacity to visit the grave of Dr. King one day, then dishonor his memory the next by appointing an anti-civil rights, anti-voting rights, anti-justice, anti-American judge -then we have not overcome.

And when a political party can suppress the vote and steal a presidential election - when a man can sit in the White House when the only vote he's won took place in the U.S. Supreme Court - then my friends, we still have not overcome.

Today, 140 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, 40 years after Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, one person, one vote is still not a reality in America.

We saw it in the election of 2000, and right here in South Carolina in 2002, when African Americans were turned away from the polls, purged from the rolls, and intimidated when they showed up to vote.

Today, all too often, it's one person one vote if you live in the right county. And if you vote at the right machine. And if your name is on the right list. And if your skin is the right color.

Well, last I checked, there was no "if" in the 15th Amendment. Last I checked, one person one vote wasn't just a slogan - it was the highest law of this land. And I'm not going to rest until every single American can cast their vote and make their voice heard.

Because I grew up in Little Rock Arkansas - and I have a duty to ensure that those nine brave boys and girls from my hometown didn't face down a mob for nothing.

Because I spent 34 years in the United States military fighting for our freedoms, and I'm not going to stop now.

Because in my heart, I'm not a politician, I'm a soldier. I'm a proud product of the most integrated institution in America. That's why I've always believed in equal opportunity and affirmative action.

For three decades, I served side by side with brave men and women of all races, creeds and religions under one flag - the American Flag. We fought for that flag. I gave my blood and buried my men under that flag.

And let me tell you, no Charles Pickering or John Ashcroft or George W. Bush is going to take that flag away from us. No Tom DeLay or Dick Cheney or Trent Lott is going to take us down the sad, hate-filled path back to that other flag over there.

Half a century ago, Dr. Martin Luther King led us in a great struggle to redeem the promise of our Constitution for all our people - to create a nation where all of us are truly judged not "by the color of skin, but by the content of character."

And today, it's up to us to continue his work.

AND....
http://clark04.com/speeches/024/
In 2003, the African-American unemployment rate is 10.2 % -- nearly double the national average.

In 2003, 7 million African Americans don't have health insurance. The rate of African Americans without health insurance is a third higher than the national average.

In 2003, nearly a quarter of African Americans live in poverty -- twice the national average. And nearly 1 in 3 black children live in poverty - that's five million children.

And in 2003, as far as we've come, African Americans are still too often robbed of their most basic civil right: the right to vote.

That's what I want to talk about today.

In March 1965, now Congressman John Lewis led the famous voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, right over the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

On Bloody Sunday, hundreds of peaceful marchers were attacked by police, and many lost their lives.

But their sacrifice brought Lyndon Johnson the support he needed to sign the Voting Rights Act.

That Spring, addressing a Joint Session of Congress, Johnson stated for all the world to hear, that it wasn't just African Americans, but all Americans, "who must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice." And he promised the nation that "we shall overcome."

The sad truth is - we haven't.

In the year 2003, we are far from the fundamental ideal of "one person, one vote."

In America, your vote is your voice. That's what our democracy was built on. And our nation can't move forward if we silence the voices of any of our citizens.

We all know what happened in the 2000 election, when the only vote that George W. Bush won was the one that took place in the chambers of the United States Supreme Court.

It was an election marred by broken voting machines, outdated technology, and hanging chads.

It was an election where blacks and other minorities were disproportionately turned away from the polls, purged from the voting rolls, and intimidated when they showed up to vote.

And in the end, when it came to counting up the votes, the ballots cast by African Americans and other minorities were disproportionately undercounted. The victims of this debacle were people like Lavonna Lewis.

On Election Day 2000, Lavonna, an African American woman and first-time time voter, was told by a poll worker that the poll was closed.

As she turned to leave, that same poll worker allowed a white man to walk in and get in line to vote.

Sadly, Lavonna was just one of thousands of minorities who were shut out of the voting booth.

This is not what those four little girls gave their lives for.

And in many ways, the response to the election was as much of an injustice as the election itself.

After what happened in Florida, there was a whole lot of hand-wringing, but no real change.

People called for investigations, for election reform, for a complete overhaul of the voting system in America.

What did they get?

No serious investigation.

No election reform.

Nothing but a congressional bill that fewer than half the states have enforced.

The result is that today, it's only one person one vote if you live in the right county.

And if you vote at the right machine.

And if your name happens to be on the rolls.

Well, last I checked, there was no "if" in the 15th Amendment. One person one vote isn't just a slogan -- it's the highest law of this land.

We shouldn't have to wait for another Florida to fully fund election reform. Congress should get to work and put their money where their mouth is. And states need to buckle down now, and demand stiff penalties for election officials who turn away registered voters or purge them from the rolls.

As a candidate, I'm going to talk about this struggle every chance I get to make sure that in the 2004 election, we truly achieve one person one vote.

This is a very personal issue for me. I spent thirty-four years in the United States military defending this right - starting back in 1963, when I was a student at West Point. Back then, we were fighting to protect America from threats to our democracy abroad. And equally patriotic young people were fighting here on American soil to make sure we lived up to the ideals of that democracy.

We won our fight against communism. But the struggle against racial bigotry and ignorance is far from over.

AND....
General Wesley Clark Op-Ed for Detroit Free Press
General (ret.) Wesley K. Clark
October 22, 2003
As Appeared in The Op-Ed section of the Detroit Free Press
http://clark04.com/articles/010/
...In the University of Michigan affirmative action case this year, I joined military and political leaders in an amicus brief...
There is one thing the opponents of affirmative action have never wanted to admit: it works. I know this first-hand from my thirty-four years in the United States military. Affirmative action was essential to creating the diverse officer corps we need to defend our country. Throughout my career, I have seen the benefits of seeking out qualified minority candidates for leadership positions - and I am a beneficiary of their leadership.

My commitment to affirmative action is based on my belief in all that unites mankind. But I am also committed to affirmative action because it works. Our president, on the other hand, seems unable to pull himself away from his right wing advisors long enough to examine the facts. The Bush Administration argued against affirmative action in the Michigan case. And they've done everything possible to undermine diversity, not promote it.

Conservatives say they are opposed to affirmative action "on principle." They invoke "quotas" to scare people into thinking they will lose their place at the table. But this is a pessimistic view of America's future. If we make room for everybody, there will be more room for everybody. An integrated America, where each and every American is treated with the same dignity and respect, is a better America for everyone. Until that day arrives, every day the thousand small and not-so-small judgments, discriminations, and insults that some Americans must endure is an affront to us and all we stand for. And we are not going to remedy these injustices by ignoring them.

Georgia Mayors Support Clark
Little Rock - Today, Wes Clark's presidential campaign received the support of Mayor Floyd Griffin of Milledgeville, who joined General Clark in Savannah, and Mayor Jack Ellis of Macon.
http://clark04.com/press/release/147/

Wes Clark Welcomes Aboard Mayor Michael Coleman As Ohio State Chair
Little Rock - Today, Wes Clark proudly announced that Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman is joining the Clark campaign as a Senior Advisor and the Ohio State Chair:
http://clark04.com/press/release/140/

Young And Rangel To Serve As First Two Co-Chairs Of Clark's National Campaign Steering Committee
Little Rock - Today in Columbia, SC, the Clark campaign announced that Ambassador Andrew Young and Representative Charles Rangel will serve as the first two Co-Chairs of Wes Clark's National Campaign Steering Committee. The committee will provide guidance on major issues involving both policy and strategy and will help organize other leaders throughout the country.
http://clark04.com/press/release/138/

Date: December 11, 2003
Clark Turnaround Plan to Lift Two Million Children Out of Poverty
New York - Today, in Harlem, Wes Clark was joined by Congressman Charlie Rangel as he announced the fourth part of his Turnaround Plan for America. Clark pledged to lift two million children out of poverty by 2008.

"There is no issue more important than our children's future," Clark said. "And there is no issue where the Bush White House's failure of leadership is more evident."
http://clark04.com/press/release/121/


Wes Clark's Statement on DC Voting RIghts and Home Rule
"It is fundamentally unfair that the citizens of our nation's capital have no vote in Congress. Equal and meaningful representation is what inspired our fight for national independence. Taxation without representation was unacceptable to Americans two hundred years ago. It is just as unacceptable today.
http://clark04.com/press/release/110/

Also read his many policies and plans for urban renewal, child care, etc, etc, etc...

Native Americans and Hispanics also supported Wes clark in "droves". The Native American Times endorsed him, and many Hispanic leaders did as well.

You should read up on Wes Clark.... He is quite amazing!

[angee_is_mad]

4. I stand corrected

actually I was a supporter of Clark. I thought with his military background he could have beaten bush and he did not scare me like Dean did. I believe his biggest mistake was waiting so long to enter the race.

My post also stated bringing those issues up in an environmnent other than a black church. Or even in a black forum(rally, newspaper, radio, etc).

My point is Frenchie there are Democrats will not bring up race or the poor in a mainstram(white, middle class) forum. It is like their are afraid to appear to lefty and scaring off the moderates. Meanwhile the base(blks, working class) who go out and blindly vote for them are forgotten about until election time.

[FrenchieCat]

5. I understand what you are saying to some extent.....

But I think that many times "actions speak louder than words" and living your words prior to them being spoken are meaningful indicators as to what your true concerns are regarding issues.

Standing when everyone else is sitting, risking your own career for your beliefs, and being willing to speak out on issues that are not "popular" is what I am talking about.

The fact that Wes Clark helped write the Amicus Brief supporting Affirmative Action in the U of Michigan case; wrote OP-eds, which appeared in Major publications in support of having all Democrats "condemm" the Confederate Flag; named African-Americans to top spots in his campaign (Rangel, Andrew Young and Jamaal--his spokesperson, as well as others); promoted Black officers consistently in great numbers during his 35 years of service as an officer; and did speak of the "stolen" 2000 election elsewhere other than Black churches or Black venues; was the only high ranking officer who made major noise about what was happening in Rwanda at the time that it was happening; and wrote extensively on subjects such as Aid relief and recently Darfur ..... are all powerful acts of combined consistency in support of Black people (not just African Americans but Black people worldwide) and issues that affect them directly.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-01-05-clark-women_x.htm
Clark discusses women's rights, affirmative action
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — The head of the federal Commission on Civil Rights and several other prominent women endorsed retired general and presidential hopeful Wesley Clark on Sunday as he restated his support for affirmative action and women's rights.
http://www.texasforclark.com/affirmative.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-07-05-darfur-edit_x.htm
Out of time in Darfur By Wesley Clark and John Prendergast
For the past year, the international community has shamefully acquiesced to the crimes against humanity occurring daily in the Sudanese province of Darfur.

Jesse Jackson Sr. praises Clark's AIDS plan
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2003/12/3/182120/311
Bush approach to AIDS fight wastes time, money
December 2, 2003
BY JESSE JACKSON
As Printed in the Chicago SunTime
Democrats and many Republicans have called for a larger effort. Ironically, it took a general -- Gen. Wesley Clark -- to put forth a truly bold program. Clark would double Bush's commitment and build upon World Health Organization programs rather than spurn them.

He sees this as a centerpiece of what he calls a ''preventive engagement policy'' to make America a source of hope in the world. Perhaps it takes a general, knowing the scope and the limits of our military strength, to deal aggressively with a disease of mass destruction.

Waiting for the General
By Elizabeth Drew
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/16795
Clark displeased the defense secretary, Bill Cohen, and General Hugh Shelton, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, by arguing strenuously that—contrary to Clinton's decision— the option of using ground troops in Kosovo should remain open. But the problem seems to have gone further back. Some top military leaders objected to the idea of the US military fighting a war for humanitarian reasons. Clark had also favored military action against the genocide in Rwanda.

http://www.crookedtimber.org/archives/001104.html
Clark was almost alone in pushing for a humanitarian intervention in Rwanda.

Pulitzer award winning Samantha Power for her book "A Problem from Hell" : America and the Age of Genocide
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060541644/002-1246042-8961640?vi=sr=8-1
endorsed Wes Clark http://www.kiddingonthesquare.com/2003/12/redeeming_wes_c.html
The following excerpts from Power’s book give the details. The narrative surrounding the quotes was written by another person commenting on the book. Note especially Power's last comment below on Clark's pariah status in Washington:

General Clark is one of the heroes of Samantha Power's book. She introduces him on the second page of her chapter on Rwanda and describes his distress on learning about the genocide there and not being able to contact anyone in the Pentagon who really knew anything about it and/or about the Hutu and Tutsi.

She writes, "He frantically telephoned around the Pentagon for insight into the ethnic dimension of events in Rwanda. Unfortunately, Rwanda had never been of more than marginal concern to Washington's most influential planners" (p. 330) .

He advocated multinational action of some kind to stop the genocide. "Lieutenant General Wesley Clark looked to the White House for leadership. 'The Pentagon is always going to be the last to want to intervene,' he says. 'It is up to the civilians to tell us they want to do something and we'll figure out how to do it.' But with no powerful personalities or high-ranking officials arguing forcefully for meaningful action, midlevel Pentagon officials held sway, vetoing or stalling on hesitant proposals put forward by midlevel State Department and NSC officials" (p. 373).

According to Power, General Clark was already passionate about humanitarian concerns, especially genocide, before his appointment as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO forces in Europe.

She details his efforts in behalf of the Dayton Peace Accords and his brilliant command of NATO forces in Kosovo. Her chapter on Kosovo ends, "The man who probably contributed more than any other individual to Milosvevic's battlefield defeat was General Wesley Clark. The NATO bombing campaign succeeded in removing brutal Serb police units from Kosovo, in ensuring the return on 1.3 million Kosovo Albanians, and in securing for Albanians the right of self-governance."

"Yet in Washington Clark was a pariah. In July 1999 he was curtly informed that he would be replaced as supreme allied commander for Europe. This forced his retirement and ended thirty-four years of distinguished service. Favoring humanitarian intervention had never been a great career move."



I am sure that Edwards "did" something for Black folks apart from his "2 America" stump speech......but since I did not support him, I don't know what those acts were. When I did my research on Edwards, I did not find any significant contribution that he had made to any black cause. Even his stance on the Confederate flag was nuanced.

And I will point to the fact that it even appears that quite a few of DU's African American members supported Wes Clark in greater numbers than other candidates. When I check out those who post even on this forum......many are sporting Clark Avatars, or are known supporters of his.

So again, although your point is well taken, I think that credit ought to be given for more than including us in mere stump speeches.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Black people

have always been the "front line" soldiers.

[bobbieinok]

7. (from a 60+ white woman)....blacks know that keeping quiet doesn't

improve anything....

and know that those who have power don't just one day decide to 'play nice' and give it up....

also, there's less of a fear of 'loss of status or power'......ie, already been there....

in summary, blacks are realistic and don't live in some dream world ...and know if you want something, you have to fight for it; no one's going to hand it over on a silver platter in return for a pretty smile..

[emdee]

8. Hi qanda!

I agree with you. I'm sick of Dems not speaking out!

emdee

[msgadget]

9. Have you watched the Conyers Forum

on Medical Malpractice with Sheila Jackon Lee and Maxine Waters?

http://c-span.org/search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=conyers&image1.x=25&image1.y=9