Jesse Jackson: Only Edwards Speaks to African-Americans

Can Democrats get the votes they need simply because they're not Republicans? You might think so in this presidential campaign. African-American and urban votes are critical to any Democratic victory. Bill Clinton won two terms without winning the most white votes. His margin was the overwhelming support of black voters. George Bush learned that lesson; that's why his campaigns spent so much effort suppressing the black vote in key states like Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004. His victory margin was the tally of votes suppressed or uncounted.

Yet the Democratic candidates -- with the exception of John Edwards, who opened his campaign in New Orleans' Ninth Ward and has made addressing poverty central to his campaign -- have virtually ignored the plight of African Americans in this country. The catastrophic crisis that engulfs the African-American community goes without mention. No urban agenda is given priority. When thousands of African Americans marched in protest in Jena, La., not one candidate showed up.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/jackson/668053,CST-EDT-JESSE27.article

this afternoon of the South Carolina Black Ministers group.

Maybe Mrs Obama will go after this group of black ministers and tell them they are afraid to vote for a black man as she tried a couple of weeks ago. Maybe that tis the problem with Mrs Obama, she expects blacks to vote for Obama for the simple reason he is black and does not respect their ability to decide for themselves who is the better candidate they believe can do more for the black community.

As I posted in the Oprah section, I believe Oprah went about this all wrong. She supports Obama for the simple reason he is a black man running for president. Not the most experienced, most knowledgable and has all the attributes to be president from day one. In the old south that is what white folks did when a qualified black was on the ballot and whites voted for the white man simply because he was white, when the black candidate was more qualified.

Ben David

He was running a very positive, "hopefilled" campaign. That is very much in the "Oprah" style. I think he appealed to her for a variety of reasons.

That said, Edwards has a fine message, but he's not the ONLY one who speaks to ANY segment of American society.

I've solved this game of CLUE--Jesse with the Hyperbole in the Newspaper!

I prefer Kucinich and support him completely....but I'm also a realist....Edwards will inherit a completely destroyed economy, ruined by Bush for his crime family empire & the wealthy corporate greedy selfish disgusting republicans. True fascist are republicans!