BEST CASE SCENARIO (via Kevin Whited):

New 9th District stokes old tensions: Bell, Green trade allegations in racially charged Dem primary (JOHN WILLIAMS, March 5, 2004 Houston Chronicle)

The new district lines have created tension among Democrats in Texas and across the nation. Bell and Green both have support from black congressional leaders -- U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, for Bell and U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., for Green.

Bell supporters worry that Texas will have only one or two white Democratic House members after the 2004 elections. They complain that Republicans purposefully created the district to establish a wedge between whites and blacks.

"We can't just be party of minorities," said state Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston.

Green supporters argue that the Democratic Party has long ignored the efforts of blacks, who now deserve a shot at sending a third black to Congress from Texas. Incumbent black U.S. Reps. Johnson of Dallas and Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston are unopposed for re-election.

"We've propped up white Democrats for long enough," said state Rep. Ron Wilson, D-Houston. "When we get a chance to elect one of our own, we should."

Coleman and Wilson are black.

Whatever the result of Tuesday's vote, Birnberg worries that the wounds from the bitter campaign could scar his party at the same time Republicans have been trying to make inroads with African-Americans by raising money for black Democrats including Wilson and state Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston.

"The worst-case scenario is that there is sufficient alienation and antagonism between the African-American community and the Anglo community to undermine the way the Democratic Party comes together," Birnberg said.

The Democrats are a coalition of self-interested groups just waiting to be split into its constituent parts--a problem exacerbated by the fact that they are devoid of any ideas, let alone unifying themes.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 6, 2004 8:38 AM