September 14, 2004
WHAT'S IN IT FOR US?:
Black leaders call on Kerry to refocus (Brian DeBose, 9/14/04, THE WASHINGTON TIMES)
Sen. John Kerry is losing the interest of black voters after spending several weeks defending his Vietnam service records and responding to attacks from fellow swift boat sailors, but black lawmakers said the Democratic challenger needs to get back to his domestic-policy ideas in order to boost black voter turnout on Nov. 2."He cannot let himself get sidetracked and taken off focus by Swift Boat ads. He must stick to the issues affecting African-Americans," said Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Maryland Democrat and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). By and large, he said, "We don't care about swift boats."
Perhaps the only worse way the Senator could spend his time, than talking about Vietnam, is addressing the issues that matter to the Black Caucus. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 14, 2004 3:07 PM
Somehow I don't see the kind of African-American turnout for Kerry as in 2000 for Gore.
Bad bad news for Kerry. I republicans could get 20% of the African American Vote, the Democratic party would cease to exist as a force on the national level.
Posted by: AML at September 14, 2004 3:24 PMPriceless. The Dems are accusing the GOP of attempting to suppress "the black vote" and it turns out it's their own unappealing candidate who's the real culprit.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at September 14, 2004 3:56 PMIn all the campaign shakeup, has Kerry named a single African-American to a top level post? Has any community been treated by Democrats with more disdain? Oh, I forgot. Tay-ray-za purports to be an African American.
Posted by: Morrie at September 14, 2004 4:07 PMIn the meantime, President Bush has appointed Colin Powell to the highest position ever held in the United States government by a black man, and Condoleeza Rice is arguably the most powerful black woman in all of human history.
Posted by: Mike Morley at September 14, 2004 4:13 PMHear, hear, Mike.
Posted by: Morrie at September 14, 2004 4:28 PMMike, Morrie:
But Oprah's a billionaire, giving away cars to her entire audience! When will Condi top that?
Posted by: ratbert at September 14, 2004 4:42 PMJesse "the Reverand" Jackson made a not so subtle hint to Kerry last week when he called Kerry's shake up a "Vanilla Shake."
Posted by: AML at September 14, 2004 5:33 PMWhen she becomes Secretary of State and 5th in the line of presidential succession, maybe? That's the buzz going around now, that she'll move to Foggy Bottom in the 2nd term after Colin Powell steps down. (This would not only be the most powerful position for a black woman in American history, but the most powerful position for a woman, period; Madeline Albright doesn't quite count because, being Czech-born, she was ineligible for the succession.)
Posted by: Joe at September 14, 2004 5:36 PM