Missing Democrats an 'affront' to NAACP

The NAACP's top leadership lashed out Saturday at several of the major
Democratic candidates for president, calling their intention to skip
Monday's candidate forum an ''affront'' to the nation's oldest civil rights
organization.

As many as four of the nine candidates have refused to participate in
the forum, expressing reluctance to appear on stage with their rivals in
a debate format, NAACP officials said.

As of late Saturday, Sens. John Edwards of North Carolina and Joseph
Lieberman of Connecticut and Reps. Richard Gephardt of Missouri and
Dennis Kucinich of Ohio were not expected to attend. Sen. Bob Graham
of Florida was scheduled to attend, along with former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, former Illinois
Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and the Rev. Al Sharpton. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry plans to go to
the convention, but his campaign is pressing for a change in the debate format.

The actions drew outrage Saturday from NAACP President Kweisi Mfume and Chairman Julian
Bond, who told The Herald that any candidate who skipped the forum would lose credibility with
black voters.

source: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6291857.htm

"object to the debate format"

Translation : They are scared of Dean, they dont want to debate their vote to invade Iraq.



Cowards.

not just getting rid of Bush. One of the things, Sharpton said last week was that even if he didn't win, his aim is to get more people registered and interested in voting. I want to see Lieberman and Edwards convince someone in the hip hop generation to register and vote. There are a lot of voters that need to be reached. We have to support our grassroots candidates and organizations.

USA??? Why not speak out about Powell and Condolessa? Why not stand behind Nelson Mandela?? How much credibility does this give to Black voters???

*

Although I have respect for their chosen leader they missed an opportunity to speak out against Bush's Africa tour of lies and smirks. Do you really think Bush is gonna care about africans in africa if he doesn't care about african americans here?? Visited the city lately? Things ain't good!!!
Funk de dumb stuff.

about Black issues because of under-representation at DU. Thank you for saying that clearly.

I too have tremendous respect for Kweisi Mfume but the NAACP as a whole comes across like a traffic cop on valium these days. Where were they for Cynthia McKinney? Where were they for Baraka? And as you pointed out- where are they NOW? Where is their outrage when Bush says African slaves came to America in search for freedom?

Someone needs to get more caffeine into whatever diluted coffee they're drinking over there!

these milque-toast would-be candidates??

What happened is the NAACP took the bridge that W built back to the 80s' along with the rest of America. It's why everythings so f*cked up now.

The NAACP holds a Democratic candidates' forum and several chose to miss the forum. The NAACP issues a press release expressing disappointment and takes the mia's to task.
Because YOU have never seen a press release or report expressing disapproval of Powell or Rice or *'s trip to Africa you say they are wrong to criticize the missing?

The US whore press is not likely to make this a big story. Here you go

Kweisi Mfume

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/07/14/2003059364

"Cynics have argued that Bush's tour amounts to little more than a high-speed PR junket, high on rhetoric but low in substance.

Among the unimpressed was Kweisi Mfume, head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, who charged that the White House had repeatedly turned down requests to meet with NAACP leaders.

"I think it's a little ironic that the president would go to Africa to meet with black leaders but he won't meet with black leaders here in the US," Mfume said at an NAACP convention yesterday in Miami, Florida.

Bush's travels did "very little to boost confidence on the continent that Africans would be able to engage the administration on the need for the US to change its policies and practices toward Africa," said a letter to Bush this week released by a coalition of Africa trade union groups."

http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Jul/07132003/nation_w/75110.asp

http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/politics/story/941510p-6575220c.html

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/1992109

Julian Bond

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,996651,00.html

The fact that he's going at all is welcomed," said Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People. "But the trip's photo-op nature, and the administration's history of artful visual presentations, and opposition to equity, makes you wonder."

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/news/070303/0703bushafrica_cox.html

"As to Bush's photo safari to Africa, one has to be thankful for small favors," said Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation's largest and oldest civil rights organization.

"The fact that he's going at all is welcomed," said Bond. "But the trip's photo-op nature, and the administration's history of artful visual presentations, and opposition to equity, makes you wonder."


Here's more stuff on the GOP and Bush by NAACP leaders

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030714-121535-2713r.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/07/10/bond.naacp.cnna/

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/topstory/1486111

And I believe Julian Bond has said that Powell And Rice allow themselves to be used as human sheilds to the administration on it's horrid civil rights record.

Patrick Schoeb

I kind of expect it from Liberman and Gephardt this is like them. Edwards has been killing himself lately with things like this. At the begining of the year I thought he may have had some answers and was a hope for the party, but that has since faded in the last 5 months.

That people powered Howard thing is going to get more powerful with things like this. He does not miss these kinds of things, he does not make the excuse that he was to busy campaigning or had to not vote in another sesion of congress in D.C.

I think the best voices and visions of the Democratic party will be there, except Kucinich. I like what Kucincih has said in the past, but things like missing this will come back to haunt him. Big mistake Dennis.

One solution would be to allow those candidates who can not be at the forum in person to address the forum through satellite tv or the internet. This provides those candidates who need to be in Washington with the opportunity to address voters while still representing their constituents.

I like it, but how many would do that? I do think Kucinich would be willing, and I think if Dean could not be there he would be game, I don't think Lieberman would. Kerry I am not sure what he would do.

I think he wants to get his message out and is smart enough to take advantage of any forum that would allow him to speak out. I agree that Dean also would agree to do this if he could not show up. I think he is very comfortable with technology. I do not know about the others (Lieberman, Edwards, etc) but I would hope that they would be smart enough take advantage of this technology.

I would have to wonder about any candidate who refused an opportunity to address potential voters, especially if he or she did not have to use precious campaign funds in the process. No matter who the Democratic candidate is, he or she is not going to be able to raise the same amount of money that Bush will nor will the Democratic candidate receive the same free media attention that Bush does. We need a candidate who is smart enough to realize these facts and takes advantage of every opportunity that is offered to get his or her message out there.

But since it is a debate maybe that wasn't offered as a option

he did appear on the Presidential Candidates' Forum sponsored by the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and hosted by Tavis Smiley. Most of them did and personally, I think Tavis Smiley has more influence on grass-root voters then the NAACP these days.

NAACP is too big and out of touch. But yes, it's a mistake and I hope he manages to make it.

that theres something big in congress that night I bet.

Does anyone remember seeing this? If I remember right, Kerry, Lieberman and Edwards weren't there.

Is was the Rainbow Coalition one.

You can bet something was up if he wasn't there! Things have been HOT in the House lately in case no one has noticed.

:shrug:

On the one hand, as I recall one quarter of the dem vote in 2000 was from the black community and that demands respect and consideration from the candidates. On the other hand, Mifume and Bond are sounding incredibly pompous to castigate men like Kucinich, Gephardt, and Lieberman in such fashion.

As I pointed out in another thread on this topic, I would like to see all the candidates attend, but the ones who aren't committed to the NAACP event are trying to do their work in the House and Senate and campaign around the country. Dean, Sharpton, Mosely Braun got nothing but time on their hands.

. . .who is also blowing off this event. And furthermore those who are blowing this off sure as hell better be at their jobs on Monday. . .if not this point is invalid.

that I believe that COngress does not traditionally do business (congressional hearings for floor activity) on either Mondays or Fridays - to allow congressional folks to get back to the districts.

and are just making excuses...

as I replied to you in that other thread, it doesn't wash.

If only Dean, Sharpton, and Moseley Braun were available to debate, it might be worth considering. But Kerry and Graham are definitely attending. The NAACP accomodated Edwards schedule, so if he tries to use that as an excuse, I wouldn't believe him.

Lieberman has missed votes before. So has Gephardt. Gephardt has missed so many votes, it's ridiculous to suppose that he would miss an important campaign event because of the pressures of his job.

It doesn't wash.

within their constituency (the NAACP constituency) that some democrats take the vote forgranted.

And to be fair - these leaders were very vocal when certain repubs skipped speaking to their audience at the time when those GOPers were claiming to be reaching out to minority voters.

with African American forums.

Democrats have been taking the Black vote for granted and not giving the Black community or Black issues the attention they deserve.

The abandonment of Cynthia McKinney (GA) and Earl Hilliard (AL) is just one issue where Blacks were slapped in the face. There are many more and the Democratic Party won't really care until someone sits down to analyze where all the votes went.

from Michigan - in 1990;

Pretty popular dem governor James Blanchard, up for reelection. Doesn't want to over identify with Detroit (you know, not white). Pretty much ignored the whole city - knowing that Coleman Young's dem machine always delivered the votes.

Well he ran as he was perceived to have govern, with a bit of a deaf ear towards Detroit (because the rest of the state's voters might get the wrong idea had he been responsive, you know).

Low and behold on election day - the dem machine in Detroit had been turned off. No active campaigning against Blanchard - but not the usual hard core get out the vote efforts - and the voter turnout in dependable ole Detroit was greatly depressed. And suddenly the long shot, former senate leader (rep) John Engler narrowly squeaked in as Governor of Michigan.

Sadly when I have retold this experience, some who continue to perpetuate the take forgranted game, look to it as a message of "look at what the Blacks got - they got what they deserved" rather than recognizing that a little more work on Blanchard's behalf would have safely ensured his reelection.

Interesting story. I'm not surprised.

I hope the party heads take notice, but I'm not holding my breath.

But come election time, all the candidates will be down there promising 40 ACRES AND A MULE ALL OVER AGAIN!

Hell, we still don't have them from the first time!

when they appear to take the Black vote for granted, and the absence of major candidates only reinforces that perception. This is a major concern among politically aware Black voters. I don't think they're being pompous; they're genuinely pissed off, and they're only reflecting the feelings of a lot of their constituency. Frankly I am am amazed that major Dem candidates would take a pas on the NAACP merely because they didn't like the format. That's both stupid and wussy, IMO. I'm surprised at Kucinich, but not so much at the others.

All promises aside what have they delivered?

of course, I would expect any of these candidates worth their salt to be able to defend their record on issues of interest to African-Americans.

Not sure what the reason is but just did a google Kucinich + Naacp and found this


Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio is unsure whether he will attend.
http://www.theunionleader.com/Articles_show.html?article=23528

he has been nearly everywhere at once. I believe his only limitation is logistics. No way is he hiding from them, but his schedule, combined with air travel possibilities may make it a difficult pull. We should all be impressed by the ground he is covering, and making sure that his presence and message are publicized. The mainstream media will not do it willingly, if AT ALL, and that should be enough to tell you where he is coming from.

scheduled debates? Does the DNC not yet realize its obligation to black voters? Why not be eager to interact with such a large portion of the Dem party? It's hard to imagine that so many candidates don't!

The only one missing that offers anything close to an acceptable excuse is Kucinich. He hasn't missed any votes in the House while some of the Senators in the race have missed large percentages of theirs. But unless his vote is crucial on whatever issue, I'd prefer to see him at this event.

. . .:kick:

What am I missing here? Afraid Black people will cut straight through the bull? Are they so unable to debate sincerely and with passionate conviction?

I guess the last sentence in your post is pretty clear!

a fear of matching wits with Sharpton or Dean, whose lively style and support for positions backed by the NAACP are likely to win enthusiastic applause.

Dean will actually answer the question that is asked. Sharpton will actually answer the question that is asked. Both will do so powerfully and succinctly. That obviates the appeal of platitudes and stories and all the other bullshit they pull to avoid giving a straight answer to a straight question.

Ask LIeberman what he will do about urban community issues and he will tell you about his freedom ride 40 years ago.

I like rousing one-liners as much as the next guy, but I think that some candidates depend more than others on conveying the substance behind their ideas, and are at a disadvantage in this kind of setting.

A town-hall format works better with some candidates' styles.

Plus, no one looks good following Sharpton. :-)

n/t

I am a Dean supporter, but I find it hard to believe that someone like Kucinich and Edwards will not be there.

Those not showing up - bu-bye!

Guess what he started his speech with ?

You guessed it. "My Dad was a milk-man, a teamster......


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, Gebfart is a great cure for insomnia......

Guess what he started his speech with ?

You guessed it. "My Dad was a milk-man, a teamster......


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, Gebfart is a great cure for insomnia......

His stock just went up a few points with me.

"We think those who come show by their presence that they're interested in these votes," said NAACP Chairman Julian Bond. "It's a perfect chance for them to air their opinions about what is a major concern of many, many Americans, and that's the state of race relations.

"We don't want platitudes," he added. "We want proposals and plans."
http://www.theunionleader.com/Articles_show.html?article=23528

Black people can smell bull-shit a mile away. Has something to do with that tired promise about 40 acres and a mule they dust off every election season.

But true.

Eloriel

Kuchinich considers it not a high enough priority?? Edwards thinks he can rally the Southern Afro-American vote? "According to NAACP officials, at least two campaigns -- Kerry and Edwards -- were involved in intense negotiations with the organization late Saturday, urging it to prevent a format in which the candidates appeared together." Whoa, what does that tell you?

Important, very important article.

Why is taking sides here? Saying he think the candidates are afraid of Dean and Sharpton doesn't exactly suggest the candidates will be treated evenly. Candidates may have any number of legitimate reasons for not attending. (Just as the NAACP may have legitimate reasons for settling their Florida voting case instead of going for the kill.) Don't know much about Mfume anyway, but I'm disappointed in Julian Bond if he backs up Mfume's statements. On the other hand, the Miami Herald is a Republican paper, isn't it? Maybe we should all just wait for more information from better sources.

First of all, the NAACP does not report to the Democratic National Committee and has historically provided a forum for candidates of both major political parties for debates during the Presidential season.

The fact that these three could not adjust their schedules in respect to one of the nation's oldest and finest social/justice advocacy organizations is truly shocking.

Even Republican Presidential candidates have somehow found a way to address the NAACP which, as one can imagine, was not always a picnic for them to do so. They still showed respect for this sterling organization.

The NAACP deserves more than a snub by these three candidates. There is no single organization that parallels its near century of struggle for people of color, women, immigrants and even homosexuals. From the early days of the great W.E.B. DuBois, to the legal advocacy of the brilliant and fearless Thurgood Marshall to its roster of members whose very names makes one's heart swell with gratitude and devotion like Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers and Jesse Jackson, the NAACP has been there standing up to tyrany and injustice.

It's not the political stupidity of the noshow by these three candidates that upsests me, rather it is the insult and disrespect that takes my breath away.

I'm with Kweisi Mfume, who I also greatly admire. If he says they are "persona non grata", then that's what they are with me.