January 30, 2003
DO DEMOCRATS BELIEVE IN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OR NOT?:
Ex-Illinois senator to visit D.M. (THOMAS BEAUMONT, 01/29/2003, Des Moines Register)Former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois said Tuesday she will visit Iowa next month as she considers a potential run for president in 2004.Moseley-Braun said she would run in Iowa's precinct caucuses should she decide to seek the Democratic nomination, because they invite one-on-one campaigning with voters. Moseley-Braun, who is the only black woman ever elected to the Senate, expects to decide by Feb. 20.
"If I were to do this, it would make sense for me to come to Iowa," she said in a telephone interview with The Des Moines Register on Tuesday. "To talk about issues is what I like best. That's what motivates me about the whole set of challenges that a national campaign would represent." [...]
Elected to the Senate in 1992, Moseley-Braun was dogged by questions on campaign finance and ethics throughout her term. Republican Peter Fitzgerald defeated her bid for re-election in 1998.
Moseley-Braun told Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe two weeks ago she would not run for her old Senate seat in 2004 and was considering a presidential bid. Last week she discussed a potential presidential run with Democratic organizer Pete D'Alessandro, who managed former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley's 2000 caucus campaign and other Iowa campaigns.
She met Monday with McAuliffe and influential Illinois Democrats about a potential presidential candidacy.
Moseley-Braun agreed Tuesday to speak at 1 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Hotel Fort Des Moines at an event sponsored by American Women Presidents, a group that encourages female White House aspirants. She agreed to headline events sponsored by the same group on Feb. 16 in New Hampshire and Feb. 17 in South Carolina, a Moseley-Braun adviser said Tuesday.
In keeping with their commitment to affirmative action, wouldn't it be appropriate for at least one, if not all, of the white male Democrats to bow out of the race, in order to increase the likelihood or even guarantee genuine diversity at the top of the ticket? Posted by Orrin Judd at January 30, 2003 2:57 PM
It's quite true that the Democratic field should "look like America," and that it's currently heavy with white males. Thus, recruitment of a token black female.
What's little known, however, except among professional ethicists, is that the nominated candidate should also "look like America." For this reason, the Democrats are also seeking transgendered candidates who are 1/8 black, 1/8 Hispanic, 5/8 caucasian, and 1/8 other.
It's discriminatory that every candidate must start at zero votes. What the Democrats should do is set up a schedule of free votes for its candidate-- black--10,000, woman -- 7,500, asian -- 5,000, jewish -- 2,500, etc. Could even have penalties for categories like "obnoxious clergy" -- -5,000 and "lawyer (any variety)" -- -20,000. Sort of like the points awarded when you apply to the U of Mich.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at January 30, 2003 7:33 PMpj:
Tigress Woods?