Missing Democrats an 'affront' to NAACP (Miami Herald)

Delegates expect to see candidates, Mfume says
BY PETER WALLSTEN
pwallsten@herald.com

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.

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

Presidential Candidate Bob Graham will welcome the delegation at the NAACP National Convention and participate in a Presidential Forum

July 13-14, 2003

Miami Lakes, FL - Senator Graham will welcome the NAACP National Convention on Sunday July 13, 2003 at 6 p.m. Graham will discuss his vision of providing "Opportunity for All Americans" as he welcomes the delegation to his hometown of Miami. The NAACP Convention will take place at the Miami Convention Center, located at 400 SE Second Avenue.

On Monday July 14, Graham will participate in the NAACP Presidential Forum. The forum will take place from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. in Hall D of the Miami Convention Center.

"There has been no compassion in George Bush's conservatism," Senator Graham said today. "I look forward to speaking at the NAACP convention to a group of citizens who share my dedication to economic prosperity, educational investment and equal opportunity for ALL Americans."


http://www.grahamforpresident.com/news/0307/030711-1.html

Of all the candidates he's the one I know the least about.

I'm off to check on his webpage now....

It's as if Edwards, Gephardt, Lieberman and Kerry? don't want to present themselves in a forum not set up to their clear advantage...I'm not sure about Kucinich (important vote, I guess)...seems only Graham, Dean, Sharpton and Moseley-Braun are sufficiently impressed with the role the NAACP plays in Democratic politics.

Edwards had better come around if he hopes to make it into the "top tier." He already ducked out on Jesse Jackson. Snubbing Mfume makes no sense at all for him.

And Kerry needn't be such a wimp. He has a voting record he can talk about. And a vision for America's future. Whatever he's complaining about, he needs to get over it.

I suspect a party policy of letting Al and Carol register all the voters, while refusing to engage with them on the issues, and meanwhile smearing them in private conversations with the white press. They think come November 2004 demonizing Bush will be enough to get them into the White House. Not if everybody stays home it won't.

Stupid weenies.

They don't know which side their bread is buttered on.

Kudos to those who attend for actually trying to win an election.

(On edit: typo.)

I agree, all the candidates should make every effort to attend the NAACP meeting, but please have some mercy on the guys who are trying to cast votes in the Senate, and campaign around the country. Our unemployed candidates have nothing but time on their hands.

Kucinich votes, campaigns and will appear in Miami.

Kerry is active in the Senate, campaigns, and will appear in Miami.

Graham ditto.

Edwards? We'll see. The NAACP tried to accomodate his schedule, so....

Lieberman? He's been known to miss a few votes, you know.

Gephardt? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Stop it. You're killing me.


On balance, that's not a persuasive argument.

has the very same job and he will be there. Kerry will be there but won't actually do the debate. Sorry this dog won't hunt. If those Senators can be there so can Edwards and Lieberman.

Kerry's deputy campaign manager, Marcus Jadotte, said late Saturday that the senator was planning to attend the convention to meet with delegates, but that ``based on an agreement we have with the party and several of the other campaigns, we are working with the NAACP on a format for the public event that will allow Sen. Kerry to take part.''

But it was unclear Saturday that the agreement actually meant the candidates could not agree to more debates. A spokesman for the DNC, Tony Welch, said that candidates were free to schedule as many additional joint appearances as they desired.

Mfume suggested a different theory for the candidates' reluctance: 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.

That's gotta hurt.

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Dean '04