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Dear Gov. Dean: Are You Ready to Lead?
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Posted By:
loyallady at 05/23/2008 1:35:49 PM
Comment:
This article was excellent. How wonderful to read such a well written unbiased piece. I wish I had found this sight sooner, but am glad I finally did. I never thought of youth in that way but it is exactly the right word to use to describe the new view that we see arising. Thank you for this article. I will be reading many more I hope. -
Posted By:
Nan at 05/18/2008 4:33:10 PM
Comment:
Just so more raceial stuff the black s want this man presidento bad Ithink they would go on a killng on white people for it. So can you s3ee what kind of goerment we will have Rev Wright and the muslins will have the country then The muslins have said several times they will get us from within. So give it to them. Our blood will be on your hands. -
Posted By:
LARRY at 05/16/2008 11:19:02 AM
Comment:
Are these Clintonites paid to visit sites like this and write their trash? I defy anyone to make a credible case that the Clinton's ever did anything for anyone who was not paying their bills, from the Sister Souljah insult to the Mark Rich pardon. Obama is so obviously a superior person to the corrupt Clintons, who are at core no differnt than the Bushes, it hard to believe that people can get up such passion for such soulless manipulators. People who use racial divisions for their own ends are racist. RFacism is a costruct which divides people so that they can be exploited for advantage. Hillary Clinton is a racist - and other racist have identified here as their leader in this campaign. -
Posted By:
debanne53 at 05/15/2008 1:29:56 PM
Comment:
The this letter is sheer "excellence" . Very well spoken.. -
Posted By:
jhncrsp at 05/14/2008 5:49:34 PM
Comment:
As a Black supporter of Hillary Clinton, I am absolutely livid that the Obama campaign, after having directed a steady stream of bogus "racism" charges at the Clintons ever since South Carolina, now has the absolute audacity, the pure, unmitigated gall, to now condescend to have Hillary stay in the race "as long as she doesn't attack Obama". Well, as a committed supporter of Hillary, I say that she should come out swinging and keep swinging until she either: 1) wins the nomination, or 2) damages him so badly that he won't be able to get elected dogcatcher! And Blacks, who just plain, flat-out kicked Hillary to the curb as soon some still damned near wholly unknown Black man with a smooth line suddenly popped out of nowhere, ought to be ASHAMED of themselves for so ruthlessly abandoning old friends. YOU ARE BEING USED! BIG TIME! No one still really knows a damned thing about this guy, except what we've been spoon-fed by his campaign. But, again, I'm telling you right now that we are being used - by those with an agenda who put an attractive Black face out front. And I'm telling you that that agenda does not necessarily correspond to Black interests. Disregard Obama for a moment - he's just the puppet. Black folks, think for one moment. WHO ARE THE PUPPET MASTERS BEHIND THIS GUY? What, precisely, is THEIR agenda? You think he's doing all of this on his own? You fools! Think again. JUST WHO IS THIS GUY? Since he's not been vetted AT ALL, just what does he really believe? Bottom line, JUST WHO THE HELL IS THIS GUY FRONTING FOR? It's someone, believe that, but who? Don't be stupid. Think! Just who are the powers behind this guy, and what do THEY want? Forget him! What do THEY want? -
Posted By:
lj55 at 05/14/2008 4:14:10 AM
Comment:
Hey, thanks for your open-minded thoughts (not one of which is backed up by ANY evidence or facts).
It is because of attitudes like yours that many of Hillary Clinton's supporters (and all those blue-collar, working class voters ACROSS THE COUNTRY) don't support Obama; just like they didn't support Michael Dukakis, Walter Mondale, Al Gore or John Kerry - although they came close for Al Gore.
You don't seem to get it that MOST of the voting populace in this country is a) blue-collar working class; b) over 45; c) Catholic or Jewish; d) lives outside of "urbia"; and e) does not have a college degree.
Obama's "coalition" is mostly smoke and mirrors (maybe with a good dollop of hopin' and wishin' sprinkled on for good measure).
You might want to review Andrew Kohut's latest opinion survey findings before you start 'dissin every major voting group in the country.
Finally, I used to find Barack Obama intriguing. I considered supporting him early on because I thought he might be different. He's not. He has mastered the art of slash and burn politics; in addition to being unqualified, he is deceptive, arrogant, rude, racist, sexist, has used right-wing talking points in his "stealth" campaign against Hillary Clinton, has pulled the race card each and every time he has faced a real challenge in the primaries - all the way back to New Hampshire.
His surrogates and followers are the most narrow-minded, rude, crass, obnoxious, toxic, juvenile, ill-mannered morons I have ever had the privilege to be exposed to in politics - and I've been a Democratic Party activist for 35 years. His supporters swarmed my caucus: they basically overran it; they intimidated voters; verbally trashed Hillary Clinton; tossed Clinton literature; pulled down Clinton signs; forced their way into precincts where they were not even registered or living; engaged in name-calling, innuendo, and sexism; and called Clinton and her supporters vulgar and inappropriate names.
From what I've seen, Obama's "devotees" are nothing short of a cult and more like storm troopers. Try spending any time in the o-godosphere to get even a hint of this behavior.
And your attitude is narrow-minded, bigoted, exclusive, dismissive, derisive, childish, and dangerous.
Yeah. The party's in trouble alright. But it's far from Hillary Clinton's fault. -
Posted By:
lj55 at 05/14/2008 3:57:35 AM
Comment:
Last time I checked blue-collar working class Democrats, union members, women, and seniors comprised a FAR GREATER SHARE of the voters than young, upscale, urban, "creative class", "educated" (Hey! So am I!) voters.
You might not like to face these uncomfortable facts, but truth isn't often comfortable.
While the country is indeed trending Democratic, voters 45+ DO NOT SUPPORT Barack Obama, which exit polls have shown in nearly all primary/caucus results. In addition, the "racist" whites you so snobbishly refer to have been conveniently lumped into yet another group by you and people like you to set up an "us vs. them" paradigm. I hardly call that the politics of change.
One more thing: it is because of the narrow-minded attitudes of people in Obama's camp, like you, who do great damage to the Democratic Party's value of inclusiveness, tolerance and acceptance. In fact, far from being the "coalition builder" that he wants people to believe he is, Barack Obama is as underhanded a politician as I have had the experience of seeing in my 35 years of Democratic Party activism. Through his surrogates and singularly, he has perfected the art of slash and burn politics. He has great charm, a wonderful smile, and terrific oratory, but he is no change candidate - as you will find out if he is the Democratic Party's nominee. That he completely ripped-off Hillary Clinton's economic and housing proposals, her "green" jobs talking points, and modified his health care plan from hers is despicable.
Thanks for your "educated" opinions - with little evidence or facts to back them up, but I'll pass on your race-baiting, narrow-minded, union-hating, working class hating, women-hating drivel, because it's just more of the same that is spouted and passed on by Obama's followers.
Good luck with your letter. I'm sure Howard Dean will be so impressed that you're from Princeton University... -
Posted By:
SethTE at 05/13/2008 2:12:24 PM
Comment:
At this point, I think Dean needs to use back channels to get Hillary out. There's no way the chair of the party can publically use his position to call for Hillary to drop out of the race, that would cause great conflict now, and set a very dangerous precedent for the future. Plus, the Clinton brand is still very good with a lot of Democrats, he can't hurt that. As much as Obama gets us to forget (or tries) we have to remember politics are a game, a tricky, dirty game. http://sethandray.wordpress.com -
Posted By:
Bahama mama for Obama at 05/11/2008 11:37:16 AM
Comment:
Enter Your CommentMs. Harris a quiet eloqent and true accessment of the democratic state of affairs. I agee 1000%. -
Posted By:
LARRY at 05/11/2008 1:33:19 AM
Comment:
Hey Donise - By way of saying thanks for that I wanted to mention (in case you check back here, and haven't seen it) that you should check out Alice Walker's piece on this site titled Lest We Forget: An open letter to my sisters who are brave. And I agree with with you - I have been saying unequivocally that Obama is our next president since Dec '06 and he has totally repaid my confidence in him.. -
Posted By:
Donise at 05/11/2008 12:50:59 AM
Comment:
I am new to theroot and I had to comment on your letter to Govenor Dean in that I just feel like Obama will be our next President. This is our time and he is the one who'll lead our nation through these trying times by pulling us together, I don't think there is anyone else who can. I'm so sick of the cynical politics that have defined our lives and those far from our shores and I believe with all my heart that Clinton epitomizes that. I think so too do a lot of folks. That's why she DOESN'T have the popular vote, the pledged delegates or the super delegates. And, that is why the excitement and enthusiasm and the hope is very real for Obama. People feel that so strongly. I agree with what Larry posted "your writings is powerful" . Very powerful. And, I too hope that you start this discussion out in tradation media land. -
Posted By:
Donise at 05/11/2008 12:45:29 AM
Comment:
I agree with Larry and I'm going to lend my voice with his in asking you to start this discussion based on your letter to Govenor Dean. It's the best break-down I've seen of where the party is, where it has been, and where it could be going with Obama as our President! Thanks so much for your voice!! -
Posted By:
LARRY at 05/11/2008 12:34:53 AM
Comment:
I heard you speak on the radio for Obama a few weeks back, and you are powerful. This first piece of writingof yours I have seen is just as powerful.
Admittedly on the basis of no evidence, I do believe that Dean is in the new party that Obama is creating out of the moribund old Democratic party. Like you I expect Dean to start taking things in hand as Nancy Pelosi has been doing. I feel Nancy Pelosi is the only possible VP for Obama, as life insurance, and as someone who has the same political genius that he has. You have a voice. Could you start this discussion? I have not seen it anywhere. -
Posted By:
Karen-in-LA-CA at 05/10/2008 11:31:18 AM
Comment:
Melissa -
We Clinton supporters are writing to Dean too. We are letting him know that the southern states Barack Obama carried ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
It is Clinton who won CA, TX, OH, PA, NY, NJ, MA, NV (ie, the states with the most votes). Just because you want to believe that Democrats will support the party candidate, does not make it so. I will never vote for Barack Obama.
Many of us Clinton supporters will be voting for McCain if Obama is the Democratic nominee.
I for one am turned off by the militant, self-righteous, indignant Obama supporters chanting for change without any REAL plans for change.
I agree with you that Dean and the party need to take a hard look at reality. The southern states (EXCEPT TEXAS) voted for Obama. These states vote Republican in the general election. These are facts. I live in reality and you all are in never-never land.
Los Angeles, CA -
Posted By:
Karen-in-LA-CA at 05/10/2008 11:30:05 AM
Comment:
Mellissa -
We Clinton supporters are writing to Dean too. We are letting him know that the southern states Barack Obama carried ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
It is Clinton who won CA, TX, OH, PA, NY, NJ, MA, NV (ie, the states with the most votes). Just because you want to believe that Democrats will support the party candidate, does not make it so. I will never vote for Barack Obama.
Many of us Clinton supporters will be voting for McCain if Obama is the Democratic nominee.
I for one am turned off by the militant, self-righteous, indignant Obama supporters chanting for change without any REAL plans for change.
I agree. Dean and the party need to take a hard look at reality. The southern states (EXCEPT TEXAS) voted for Obama. These states vote Republican in the general election. These are facts. I live in reality and you all are in never-never land.
Los Angeles, CA -
Posted By:
ColdLightning at 05/10/2008 9:31:06 AM
Comment:
The call for Chairman to take effective action is timely and well expressed, but he has no authority to demand her exit and her ambition overwhelms her considerable intellect. I forsee her being carried from the convention floor this summer by Dr. Dean, John Kerry, and Al Gore with her screaming at the top of her lungs while Bill collapses to the floor in a furious tantrum. But I wish her a long and productive career as a Senator from New York.
Dr. Harris-Lacewell's advice on coalition building is less persuasive. While the necessity to do more for the African American citizens in our nation is obvious, the Democratic Party will be writing its own obituary if it indulges in the same sort of gymnastic pandering the Republicans have been performing for the irrational religious right. Writing off elderly white men and the shrinking hourly working people is equally and morally suicidal. There are issues like health care, education, government regulations, veteran services, environment, infrastructure, fair trade, and foreign policy that have a broad appeal to the vast majority of American who are anxiously waiting for an eloquent and determined person to mount the "bully pulpit" with concrete visions and strong objectives. We need justice, not cold-blooded coalition building.
John McCarter -
Posted By:
rainydaiyz at 05/10/2008 7:41:16 AM
Comment:
Race doesn't matter?
Michelle Obama Staffer: We Need More White People
Apparently when Michelle Obama spoke at Carnegie University there weren't enough "white people" sitting behind her so a staffer fixed it.
From Carnegie Mellon Student newspaper The Tartan
While the crowd was indeed diverse, some students at the event questioned the practices of Mrs. Obama???s event coordinators, who handpicked the crowd sitting behind Mrs. Obama. The Tartan???s correspondents observed one event coordinator say to another, ???Get me more white people, we need more white people.??? To an Asian girl sitting in the back row, one coordinator said, ???We???re moving you, sorry. It???s going to look so pretty, though.???
???I didn???t know they would say, ???We need a white person here??? said attendee and senior psychology major Shayna Watson, who sat in the crowd behind Mrs. Obama. ???I understood they would want a show of diversity, but to pick up people and to reseat them, I didn???t know it would be so outright.??? -
Posted By:
rainydaiyz at 05/10/2008 7:25:46 AM
Comment:
Michelle Obama Staffer: We Need More White People
Apparently when Michelle Obama spoke at Carnegie University there weren't enough "white people" sitting behind her so a staffer fixed it.
From Carnegie Mellon Student newspaper The Tartan
While the crowd was indeed diverse, some students at the event questioned the practices of Mrs. Obama???s event coordinators, who handpicked the crowd sitting behind Mrs. Obama. The Tartan???s correspondents observed one event coordinator say to another, ???Get me more white people, we need more white people.??? To an Asian girl sitting in the back row, one coordinator said, ???We???re moving you, sorry. It???s going to look so pretty, though.???
???I didn???t know they would say, ???We need a white person here??? said attendee and senior psychology major Shayna Watson, who sat in the crowd behind Mrs. Obama. ???I understood they would want a show of diversity, but to pick up people and to reseat them, I didn???t know it would be so outright.??? -
Posted By:
JacksonWells at 05/09/2008 6:51:24 PM
Comment:
DO YOU KNOW WHY WE ARE LEAVING THE PARTY? IT'S CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS. I WILL BE VOTING FOR HILLARY NO MATTER WHOSE NAME IS IN THE DEMOCRAT SECTION. I CHANGED TO THE DEM PARTY TO VOTE FOR HILLARY, BUT I LIVE IN FLORIDA. IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THE DEM PARTY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT "THE PEOPLE". IF DEAN DOES TO THE REMAINING PRIMARY STATES WHAT HIS PARTY DID TO MY STATE (EVEN AFTER THE 2000 DEBACLE) AND MICHIGAN, IT WOULD CONFIRM WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT ALL POLITICAL PARTIES, THAT THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT PEOPLE, BUT THEY DO LIKE THEIR "RULES".
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW A BLACK PERSON COULD STILL NOT SUPPORT OBAMA, READ "THE MISEDUCATION OF THE NEGRO" BY CARTER G. WOODSON.
ALSO, I THINK THAT IT WAS BILL CLINTON THAT MADE THAT STATEMENT IN SC NOT HILLARY. WHY IS IT OK TO BLAME HILLARY FOR STATEMENTS OF OTHERS AROUND HER BUT WHEN REV. WRIGHT MADE STATEMENTS, YOU ALL JUSTIFIED WRIGHT'S BEING THROWN OUT WITH YESTERDAY'S GARBAGE IN ORDER TO PROTECT OBAMA, BUT MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE SHOULD NOT BE HELD INTO ACCOUNT? WE CANNOT DEFEAT RACISM WITH RACISM. -
Posted By:
isingbecauseimhappy at 05/09/2008 5:39:44 PM
Comment:
Thank you Malissa for leading. The most basic element of leadership is the ability to inspire in others a desire to follow. The American Democratic party has been so inspired by President Barack Obama's total package of leadership that if they are not led by appointed leadership they will suffer the abuse of neglected overiipe crops at harvest time. What happens to a people deferred?
While fantasising and leaderless Black youngsters have ballooned the cotten cloth industry's profits for the sake of their representative 'colors' and become the false icon of night time news pretend gangstas the inspiring master spirit of real American Gangsterism (White Racism) has taken control of the Republican and Democratic parties and is daring even God to cast it out..
The pretend "Black" Prez and his ole lady are down home, throoughbred, White racists, emitting the marshalling and mating calls to the core of the confederacy.
I'm not the candidate and therefore do not have to reject, repudiate, distance or denounce my grandad who said, "son you never know what's in a person 'til they get jostled." The XPrez and First Lady got jostled, and made in America White racism came gushing out.
America must not remain indefinitly dilusional about what has come out of Mr. and Mrs. KKKlinton. After all we have to clean up the mess.
If WE the people, are ready to stand up and be counted, and it appears that a sufficient broad coalition is ready, as President Obama suggested, when he spoke at Atlanta's Ebeneezer Baptist Church, to "speak with one voice" the walls erected to the ego of the false entitlements of White Supremacy will fall, all over the place.
Malissa has announced the song, it's key and page number. If not now, when? -
Posted By:
pathways at 05/09/2008 4:57:48 PM
Comment:
Ms. Lacewell, let's not put too much on Governor Dean. There is a process for selecting a nominee. Let the process decide, We have enough "Boss Men". Politics, as I was taught, is the "art of the possible" Mr. Obama seems capable of taking care of his business. He's got money, looks and a good looking wife. Takes a little sense (and providence) to hook up all that up. -
Posted By:
gbruer at 05/09/2008 3:26:58 PM
Comment:
Mr. Dean I'm sure is well aware that as a country and as Americans
togetherness has NO COLOR-----Senator Obama has a clue, I can't
believe that the rest of the country is clueless , can you??????
God be with us all. -
Posted By:
Kalestine at 05/09/2008 2:44:54 PM
Comment:
Great article Melissa.
I am dismayed by many of the comments on this blog regarding African American issues and Sen Oabama not addressing them in his platform. Maybe I'm confused, but does education, universal health, the economy, the housing market, and the war in Iraq not concern African Americans? All of these issues have a direct effect on African Americans, as it does all Americans. Let's work together to get Sen. Obama elected first, then we can look to President Obama and Congress to help US alleviate these problems in OUR communities. -
Posted By:
rayI at 05/09/2008 1:20:55 PM
Comment:
This Primary election has proved one thing and that is that at it's core America has serious race problems that have yet to be addressed and Hilary Clinton has been fanning the flames.
Any Black voter who now supports Clinton must ask themselves if they are voting for a Closet racist and from my perspective they are voting for more of the same Black Explotation.
It is obvious that there is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.
The code words used by the commentators makes my skin crawl and their failure by and large to use their exposure to the public to educate everyone Black and White to the harm this systemic racism does to America as a whole.
Part of the problem that faces America is the Politically Correct way everything is reported and covered. I have yet to read in the press or see on television anyone coming out with the truth.
Body lanuage alone tells me that they are uncomfortable with speaking about racism even when is right in their face.
Respect for every race should be the rock on which America is built.
Attitudes and feelings of the majority of Black people are not discussed or investigated by anyone outside the Black community.
Wake Up America unless you want to be thought of as totally out of touch with the the future developments in world history.
Lack of real and meaningful discussions on the subject of race in America since the Civil Rights Movements of the sixties is the reason that some 40 yrs later Blacks and Whites still have no real knowledge of how each group lives.
I married across racial lines and my children have been brought up with knowledge of their history both Black and White.
Racism is still alive and well and it is time that it was properly addressed by the whole nation
RayI -
Posted By:
J Cannon at 05/09/2008 1:09:23 PM
Comment:
Disclaimer -- White, 46-year-old, off the charts Bay Area Liberal speaking... This is a message to blacks who don't feel that Obama has done enough to work for your support. Whites like me and blacks are always taken for granted by the Democratic Party, and I don't have a problem with that. If the Democratic candidate gave one speech saying what I think is important, he/she would lose for sure (I agree with 90% of what the Reverend Wright said, I just wish he hadn't come back and repeated it all when he did). The problem is, that if we force a candidate to campaign for our votes, the rest of the country is going to say "ahhh, I don't think so", and we're back where we started. Bill Clinton's presidency, while disappointing on many levels from my standpoint and yours, was the best 8 years we've seen out of the last 28, and I can't see how an Obama presidency could be worse for blacks than that one was. We lost a chance to have the greenest president ever in 2000 because many didn't feel he was "liberal" enough. What kind of a difference just in environmental policy would that have made for the world? Please don't lose a chance at the first black president because you don't think he's "black" enough. The black community, the country and the world may never recover. -
Posted By:
hojo0710 at 05/09/2008 12:35:38 PM
Comment:
What do you mean by "Goldwater strategy"?
The most enjoyable result of seeing Obama ahead is to see what happens when the limousine liberals of the Democrat party have to prove that their vaunted broad-mindedness is more than lip deep. -
Posted By:
Pete at 05/09/2008 12:20:04 PM
Comment:
Where can I read about Goldwater's strategy in the 1964 election appeal to American racism? -
Posted By:
agency07 at 05/09/2008 11:48:35 AM
Comment:
WOW very profound and long overdue!! Very well said. I wonder would the questions of who is getting all the black votes and who is getting white votes would be emphasized if Obama were white.......Racial Division starts with US Government........from a bi-racial stand point of view (Irish Mom and African American Father) -
Posted By:
agency07 at 05/09/2008 11:46:58 AM
Comment:
I wonder if they would be harping on who has the black vote and who has the white vote if Obama was white. Racial Division starts in Government. -
Posted By:
Robin08 at 05/08/2008 9:10:09 PM
Comment:
I hope this letter did actually go to Gov. Dean. -
Posted By:
POLpursun at 05/08/2008 4:35:14 PM
Comment:
Try this and its related comments for another perspective:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/7/201747/8536 -
Posted By:
breukelyne at 05/08/2008 2:34:48 PM
Comment:
There is truly no reason to think that Howard Dean could end up backing Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama.
Dean had actually endorsed Obama 4 years ago when he formed his organization, Democracy for America, after dropping out of the Presidential race. Obama was one of the first "Dean Dozen" -- candidates who stood for real progressive values -- back when he was a political unknown.
There's also no love lost between Howard Dean and the Clintons. They did all they could to derail Dean's campaign because of the way Dean would have reformed the party, taking power away from the Democratic Leadership Council. And the way Hillary has pushed Michigan + Florida was a direct slap in the face to the DNC's rules/Howard Dean's leadership. Why on earth would he support her after that?
Obama is now succeeding where Dean had failed. They share a common vision of where the party should go. Dean may need to maintain an appearance of impartiality for the sake of party unity, but I am 100% certain he is secretly extremely pleased at the prospect of Obama as the nominee, and finally seeing the changes the Democratic Party desperately need happen. -
Posted By:
POLpursun at 05/08/2008 10:03:23 AM
Comment:
Yes, blacks have absolutely no reason to be swept up by Obama-mania. Nevertheless, one should not lose sight of the fact that mania re Obama and the absolute unacceptability of, let's call it, Clintonianism are two entirely different things, albeit that their effects should for blacks, I opine, produce the same outcome. That is, in November, vote Obama if his name is on the presidential section of the ballot or leave that section blank if his name is not. 'Twas yesterday when HRC responded to a question with the take-them-for-granted conventional wisdom: AA's WILL vote for the democrat in November. It's those that she can, but he can't, get. The ClintonS (yes the duo ----- THEIR strategy) strategy, initiated post-Iowa, stepped up at South Carolina and taken to full bloom just prior to Pennsylvania, continues. If AA's not gonna matter NOW, pray tell, WHEN? -
Posted By:
Kenneth Myron Bonnell at 05/08/2008 9:00:28 AM
Comment:
What will (Obama, Clinton, Bush, The Tooth Fairy, it matters not) he or she do for us? If that question is the only criteria one uses to decide who is best suited to lead this nation, then we will surely lose our country to outside interests. Give me what I want and forget the others is a sure way to get nothing in the end. I'm 80 years old and glad I'll not be here to see the awful ending of what was once a great nation. The sad part is that we Americans will have let it happen because of our own personal lust for political power and greed. -
Posted By:
Kenneth Myron Bonnell at 05/08/2008 8:55:56 AM
Comment:
Great article. I'm not sure Sen. Obama should be my leader. I AM sure Sen. Clinton should not. Being retired navy, I feel a kinship with McCain, but feel "Old School politics" revere the past and ignores that like it or not, the future lies ahead. We are a divided nation, black community, white community, hispanic community and we need not just a president, but a congress as well who would make this one nation, a nation in which we are all non-hyphenated Americans, and who are treated equally under the law, no matter who we are. But that is a dream. At 80 years old, what I see now is just a nightmare.-
Posted By:
reinadelaz at 05/08/2008 10:05:40 PM
Comment:
Thank you for your wisdom, sir. The hyphen could be the worst thing that ever happened to this country.
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Posted By:
choobop74 at 05/07/2008 11:51:08 PM
Comment:
BIG UP...Khathu and rainydaiyz...it's refreshing to see that there are a few clear headed brothers and sisters who haven't been swept up in Obamamania. My question to the community is what will Barak do for us? He's addressed the concerns of the Jews, Liberals, Students, Hispanics, unions, and blue collar whites directly (and rightfully so). However, I have yet to hear him address our concerns directly.
Barak may have been the best candidate, but he won't get my support unless and until he articulates an urban and african american vision. But I wont hold my breath waiting for that to happen. Mckinney 08 or Nader 08.-
Posted By:
Robin08 at 05/08/2008 9:00:47 PM
Comment:
On urban issues: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/urbanpolicy/
On African-American issue: http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/africanamerican.pdf-
Posted By:
isingbecauseimhappy at 05/09/2008 5:59:23 PM
Comment:
Robino '08, With all due respect: You are Irresponsible.
Thanks for sharing. -
Posted By:
isingbecauseimhappy at 05/09/2008 5:55:11 PM
Comment:
With all due respect: You are Irresponsible.
P.S. Thanks for sharing. -
Posted By:
agency07 at 05/09/2008 11:53:14 AM
Comment:
How can he effectively do that, without the media crushing it as if he is only in our corner. Mainstream Media would kill him. Can't you see that.........
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Posted By:
Khathu at 05/07/2008 11:19:16 PM
Comment:
We, as African Americans, talk about change but we ourselves have not change. It is a new day unfortunately we still do not understand politics. If we do not start demanding that the candidate we support presents his/her platform on addressing the issues that disproportinately affects our community before we give him/her our support/vote then our votes will always be taken for grant.
Support whomever but believe me Senator Obama is no different from any other politican. One does not get as far as he has without playing by the party rules. If facts based on how fast he has been able to achieve this status, let me know that is a little better in playing the game than more. -
Posted By:
rainydaiyz at 05/07/2008 10:14:25 PM
Comment:
People of color: Obama is not the answer. He is only being put in the position of power in order to PACIFY YOU -
Posted By:
rainydaiyz at 05/07/2008 9:40:07 PM
Comment:
BARACK IS IGNORING THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND TAKING THEIR VOTES FOR GRANTED SO HE'S NO DIFFERENT THAN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ITSELF -
Posted By:
POLpursun at 05/07/2008 9:02:55 PM
Comment:
Interesting to note that HRC expressed the opinion that AA's WILL vote for the democrat in November. The problem is the white (expressed euphemistically, of course) voters SHE can get but Barack can't. This, a part of a couple of days of non-stop proffering by talking heads en masse re Obama's difficulty with what I would refer to as insular whites.
Blacks need to ENSURE that they are NOT taken for granted here. Just as enough was enough at South Carolina, enough should be enough in November, if it comes to that. That is, if HRC is effective in this nonsense she is proffering re electability. -
Posted By:
pringlegirl at 05/07/2008 4:18:01 PM
Comment:
For 10 year I was a Bill Richardson supporter. I was prepared to vote for whoever was nominated on the Democratic ticket but recently I've been feeling if Obama does not get the nod then I will just write in Bill Richardson's name.
I voted for Ralph Nader the past two elections because the effort the Democratic party put into keeping him off the ballot seemed anti-democracy for me and here we are again with a party against democracy. -
Posted By:
jkl5 at 05/07/2008 3:49:13 PM
Comment:
Have you ever had a fleeting idea like, "I'm going to leave the Democratic party if Hillary gets the nomination, and I'm going to tell Howard Dean why"? Well, I sure have, but I don't think I need to tell Howard Dean why, because Melissa just broke it down!
My husband, who is an Independent (for many of the reasons you discuss), looked at me last night as we watched the primary returns and said, "Something's wrong with your party." You think?
Thanks for an excellent piece...now if he would just "man up" and lead... -
Posted By:
sunshinekj at 05/07/2008 1:31:08 PM
Comment:
Melissa your commentary is always on point! I am a 26 year old African-American female who is an independent and have been that way since I was first able to vote in the 2000 election. Most of my peers share the same view of the democratic "establishment" and their presumptuous view of the "African-American vote".
One of the major goals from here until October is to continue to mobilize the 18-29 year old vote because after a long time, this group matters again and we feel it. One thing about youth is when they feel needed and feel they can create change, they will. The opportunity is upon us.
The November election will be more about ageism than racism, more about empowering than polarizing.
Dean and the 'ol establishment had better start ending this soon because this time may never come again.
Kim in Houston, TX -
Posted By:
firewire at 05/07/2008 1:09:55 PM
Comment:
FABULOUS!
FABULOUS!!
FABULOUS!!!
You go girl. -
Posted By:
mruth at 05/07/2008 12:55:13 PM
Comment:
We don't want her to pull out before WV and KY. She'll win there no matter what anyone does or says. It would embarrass Obama. -
Posted By:
mruth at 05/07/2008 12:19:55 PM
Comment:
Obama can get the support of blue-collar voters with a strong and specific economic and healthcare message. He won't get all of them, but he should not burn that bridge. Hillary's out of money. Waiting for her to go out is a price worth paying to keep the door open to blue-collar white men and (especially) women. That's what Iowa is made of, by the way. -
Posted By:
RiffB at 05/07/2008 10:38:24 AM
Comment:
Great article. I agree. Nothing to add or subtract. Very well articulated. -
Posted By:
tinlizza at 05/07/2008 10:27:17 AM
Comment:
Gov. Her speech last night and the faces of her husband and daughter shows that they know. For the good of the Clintons, tell her to step down, before she goes down in history as a loser, and be picked on by the Republicans for years to come, who really kept her in the race this long. You owe it to the Democratic party to lock this up, before she destroys the party out of greed. She is spending, her own funds, because her proud has gotten in the way. Get with the superdelegates, and do the right thing. No need to wait out and see what happens June 3. End this in the next 5 to 7 days. Your party will unite together to defeat the republicans, I can assure you. -
Posted By:
nola_diva at 05/07/2008 10:18:36 AM
Comment:
I couldn't have said it better. Well done, Melissa! And you rocked on CNN last night! -
Posted By:
L215 at 05/07/2008 9:57:06 AM
Comment:
Testing comment system -
Posted By:
chandler at 05/07/2008 9:42:36 AM
Comment:
As DNC party chair, Gov. Dean has not taken the leadership role as you pointed out Mel. His position has been one of stoic figure head in my opinion. Playing it safe as not to disrupt the egg crate. I hope that for the sake of not further disenfranchising black Democratic voters the governor will put the issue to rest before the Clinton campaign further polarizes the party for the sake of her's and the former president's legacy in the history books at the expense of winning the blood fued with the GOP.
It should be expected, there are a few more plays yet to be ran from the Clinton playbook, ala "October Surprise", the Florida and Michigan delegate debacle waiting in the wings as a Clinton life buoy to further erode the loyalty to the party that African Americans have had and causing more to ebb toward Independant laisez-faire behavior.
Mel, I hope you request is honored by Gov. Dean. Unfortunately unlike Barack's it is not a, "Hope " I can believe in.
BTW, excellent job on CNN this am. The racial pandering of the Clinton campaign is not without notice thanks to you and very few brave others. -
Posted By:
kid5rivers at 05/07/2008 9:00:34 AM
Comment:
You might have to give him a harder nudge for him to rouse from sleep. -
Posted By:
lbell125 at 05/07/2008 8:32:16 AM
Comment:
Your commentary this morning is, beautiful, timely and to the point. Sen. Clinton continues to say all votes should count, i.e. Mich. and Fl., but at the some time she knows that the only way she can win is if the super delegates give it to her. So I guess she's saying, yea all the votes should count unless I lose, then only the super delegates votes should count. As Cameo would say: She's "Talking Out The Side Of Her Neck".
I saw you this morning on CNN great job.
Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
LaMonte Bell -
Posted By:
rsinger40 at 05/07/2008 8:24:14 AM
Comment:
I could not agree with you more. Perhaps we should begin a grass roots campaign to bombard Dean and DNC with e-mails, petitions, etc. so that they are pressured to make a decision and end Clinton's fear mongering. I felt neutral in January. Three things made me an enthusiastic Obama supporter: first and FOREMOST was Clinton's injection of race and fear into this campaign which shocked, saddened and then incensed me. Second was actually paying attention to Obama as a candidate. And third--and equally important--was witnessing the groundswell, the growth of a grassroots movement --something I haven't seen since my youth when I joined my parents on picket lines in the 1960s. This movement has restored a sense of , dare I say, hope. Unfortunately, this race has pulled back the layers of the onion and exposed this nation for what it is--a deeply racist one that has no chance of ever moving to a new, more equal place until we confront that fact. Obama's candidacy has sparked a passion across racial, class, ethnic and gender divides. -
Posted By:
Michael Davis-Dallas Progress at 05/07/2008 6:52:24 AM
Comment:
You're right, Melissa. This is the time for Dean to step up a be a leader. McCain is showing more weakness than ever at this time.
As stated on Huffington Post:
"In the GOP primaries in North Carolina and Indiana, the basically uncontested Republican nominee did not gain more than 80 percent of the vote.
In Indiana, McCain earned the backing of 78 percent of Republican primary voters, with exited candidates Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney gaining 10 percent and five percent respectively. Congressman Ron Paul, who is still in the race, has received seven percent of the vote.
The numbers were even worse in North Carolina, where McCain won 74 percent of the vote, with Huckabee earning 12 percent, Paul earning seven percent, and four percent of Republican primary goers simply voting "no preference."
NOW is the time to unify the party and compete against John McCain instead of each other. -
Posted By:
choobop74 at 05/07/2008 6:06:50 AM
Comment:
"if you allow Senator Clinton to take the party's nomination after ruthlessly deploying race" Melissa get a grip. If Hillary had indeed deployed race so ruthlessly, I sugest that she probably would have won the nomination.
I think that we need to grow up and stop seeing race where it doesn't exist. if we're being honest, it was Michelle Obama who first introduced race into the campaign, when she suggested that if we didn't support Barak it was because of some deeply ingrained inferiority complex.. (read the transcript of the MSNC "Morning Joe" interview back in October 07.
I have serious reservations about Barak because I have yet to hear him directly address the concerns of our community. We have complained for years about the Republicans ignoring us and the Democrats ignoring us...yet we allowed Barak to do ignore us..and we remained silent. Why? because he's one of "us". So, Please stop playing the race card. If 35-40 % of whites supported Barak and only 8 % of blacks supported Hillary and their positions on most issues are virtually the same, then who really has the "race" problems. Us or them?l-
Posted By:
agency07 at 05/09/2008 12:04:35 PM
Comment:
Mainstream Media would go to town with Barack if he addressed us NOW. Can he get in, the brother nows what we need, what WE as a people need to do. Do your research, he is the one that revised Death Penalty in Illinois State since it was disproportionate to minorities. Do your research, the Clintons have ridden the backs of minorities when in ESSENCE--what have they done for you. They have always played into the races, even hispanics. Google Clinton scandals. I for one, would not vote for Barack if Hillary is listed as VP. I too will go independent after 20 years!! Wake up my brothers and sisters, do your homework, you are on a computer, RESEARCH, STUDY, LISTEN!!
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Posted By:
justin at 05/07/2008 3:23:20 AM
Comment:
We're tired of Bhilllary Clinton's tactics......Clintons familly most withdraw now!
American from abroad -
Posted By:
lettie at 05/07/2008 1:52:29 AM
Comment:
Did you send the letter to him? He needs a hard copy
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