FATAL ATTRACTION (via Kevin Whited):

Black church could be a factor in Kirk's loss (Alberta Phillips, November 11, 2002, Austin Statesman)

Several factors combined for Kirk's defeat. A factor that should not be discounted or overlooked is the black church.

Weeks before the election, prominent Dallas preacher Stephen C. Nash urged African Americans to "cast a vote for God" in the Senate and governor's races. Nash is senior pastor of Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas. But his influence reaches across Texas to 2,700 pastors who are members of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance. Nash is president of the alliance that has member churches in Dallas, Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Beaumont, Lubbock, Odessa, Tyler and other cities.

In a letter, Nash directed congregations to skip the state's two top races pitting Kirk against GOP candidate John Cornyn, and Democrat Tony Sanchez against Republican Gov. Rick Perry.

"We will not vote for Tony Sanchez or Ron Kirk in the Governor and Senate races ... OUR VOTE WILL BE FOR GOD in both of these races." [...]

"In years past, the political operatives have gotten paid major dollars to deliver the black vote," Nash wrote. "Many of them have no following but have convinced politicians that they have inroads to the people through the preachers. They have picked a few select preachers whom they have given pennies (in comparison to what they have received) for their services."

It is understandable that Nash and many other church and community leaders are upset with a plantation-style system Democrats have crafted to get out the black vote — a strong and reliable base. Money is steered to political operatives, typically elected state representatives or high-profile leaders. Those operatives in turn generate get-out-the-vote efforts, and they have been stingy in spreading around money to churches and community organizations that do the canvassing, block-walking and grunt work.

Basically, Nash demanded that campaigns eliminate the middlemen and deal directly with preachers to turn out their congregations.

If blacks actually begin using the power they have--to determine whether Democrats win election--in ways that will benefit their own interests, the Democrats are in deep, deep trouble. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 12, 2002 9:54 AM