Today's DU Front Page....

Plaid Adder nails another one...

Snip:

Now there are many who would say that the Reverend Al Sharpton is unelectable not because he is an African-American, but because he is the Reverend Al Sharpton. And indeed, in a sane country, these people would have a point. Despite unexpectedly strong showings in several local Democratic primaries, Sharpton has no experience holding public office. He is better known for his one-liners than for his policies. He has been accused of anti-Semitism. And thanks to some skeletons in his closet, he is seen by most people who know his name not as a credible politician, but as an irresponsible attention-seeking celebrity.

To all of which I have a three-word rebuttal: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Similarly, you could argue that as an ordained Pentecostal minister, Sharpton would be unduly influenced by a Christian zeal that might lead to poor decision making in the global arena and the erosion of the separation of church and state at home; or that his somewhat unorthodox resume might leave him unprepared to handle the tremendous demands that the job of President of the United States would make on him.

To all of which I have a three-and-a-fraction word rebuttal: President George W. Bush.

and I REALLY wish more time here would be spent talking about how to get Dems more active on the issues she raises. They are absolutely central, in my opinion, to the problems we are experiencing as a nation. And unless we are willing to make changes, we are complicit in what is starting to look more and more like genocide...yes, I know, a loaded word, but we are not far off. I can't remember if she mentions the HIV/AIDS rates in the minority community, but they are appalling indicators of neglect and active oppression. This is so much more important than Dean/Kerry etc...and I hold the Democrats accountable for abandoning a constituency while counting on their votes.

I was starting to wonder if anyone was reading the damn thing...

I have noticed that nobody at DU seems to want to talk about race except as a stick to bash right-wing politicians (or rival Democratic candidates)with. I find that very discouraging, and I was hoping that by doing that column I could at least get people talking about it, even if it was just to flame me...but it didn't work. Alas.

However, you can generate 200 responses right away by taking a position on whether Dean was right to reach out to the guys with Confederate flags on their trucks. I do think we need to think about what that means.

Ah well,

The Plaid Adder

their candidates stance/programs/ideological leanings on the issues raised in this article? What can those of us active in minority communities say that your candidate will do to make a dent in the race-based injustice in this country? What is his/her plan for reducing the rate of incarceration among black/African American men? The rate of HIV/AIDS infections? The poverty rate in the minority communities? The third world conditions of our inner cities?