Black voters favor Clark ?

[kentuck]

As we know, Charlie Rangel was an early supporter of Clark. Do not be surprised if Al Sharpton does the same when he drops from the race. Why would black voters like Clark over the others? Why would they pick a General over lifetime liberals?

Basically, and this is only my opinion, the General has spent a lifetime in the military and the black community respects the military moreso than any other group of people in this country because it is the military that has practiced affirmative action and blacks could get equal opportunity in the military that they could not find anywhere else in our society. That is one of the reasons they respect General Clark. They respect where he has come from.

[CMT]

1. Clark may very well do well with African-Americans

but Dean is scoring many high profile endorsements as well in that community: Cummings, Owens, Jackson, Jr., the vast majority of DC council, among many others.

Also the recent Pew poll out of SC indicates that Dean and Clark are garnering the same percentage of black votes right now--each gets 6% with Sharpton and Edwards leading.

[AP]

2. Edwards has more support from black voters than Clark right now.

Check teh recent SC polls.

Also, search NPR's archives for Edwards's interview on Tavis Smiley. Smiley notes that Sharpton was a fan of Edwards's. Remember the debate when Sharpton said Edwards should be applauded for his biography because it shows a kid from the ghetto he can reach beyond the horizons he can see from the ghetto.

[Ripley]

6. Great pics AP...Edwards was probably

Homecoming King too. While Smirky was a girly-boy cheerleader! Hah.

[OKNancy]

3. He was out front about the AA lawsuit in Michigan

long before he was a candidate. I think they respect that. So many poiticians skirt around the AA issue, but everythime it's mentioned Clark says, "I believe in it, It works"

And of course, the kiss of the Clintons doesn't hurt.

[CWebster]

4. bullshit

So why all the Black leaders in the Dean campaign?

What is the fucking point of this unfounded speaculation. What does Clark have, 1 endorsement from a person of color while Dean has Jesse, Jr? Like Sharpton is going to endorse Clark after Clark supported the Viegues bombing and Sharpton spent time in prison protesting it. No love lost there, especially since Clark was going on yesterday about all the important and significant war games he played while Sharpton was spending his time brushing up on his "oratory". I am sure Sharpton appreciated that snide remark.

[kentuck]

9. I did state it was "only my opinion"....

Are opinions out of bounds now? That is why it is in GD and not in LBN. I posted it as a talking point because it could be a salient point in the days and weeks ahead. I am only trying to offer some foresight into the future. I am trying ot keep DU ahead of the curve. Sorry that you were offended by it.

[CWebster]

13. For who?

talking points for who based on something you pulled out of your ass?

[kentuck]

14. I could pull it out of my ass and it would still make more sense...

than what you are saying...

[CWebster]

25. Not to mention

you didn't even address how Blacks often have more limited economic options, and disproportionately join up to get an education--or a job, and end up being the cannon fodder for American corporate interests.

[kentuck]

28. That's a risk they take to get the equality and respect...

...they deserve...But I do not disagree with your basic point.

[Ripley]

5. Do blacks like Nixon and his strategies?

Clark supported Nixon.

[NYYFan]

7. Not this Black voter

n/t

[HFishbine]

10. NYY

and the Tennessee Titans? Two arch enemies for this Braves/Panthers fan. (At least you know how to pick winners.)

[Doctor_J]

8. And southerners

and veterans and women and media whores and guys with giant flags on their F-150's. You're right, it's hard to find a more color-blind organization than the US military. Clark would have hordes of African-American soldiers campaigning for him.

The General is pro-reproductive rights, pro-affirmative action, pro-public schools, anti-vouchers, pro-gay rights and pro-gun control. That should put to rest any doubt about which party is heart lies with. Yet many here call him a Republican because he served in the military and voted for Reagan 20 years ago.

There is no demographic that Smirk will have an advantage with over Clark, except maybe the fundies.

[Bombtrack]

11. Well, unlike Dean he hasn't said " I've got soul"

and he didn't have soulbrother Al Gore start an introduction in Harlem to him by saying "I played basketball the last time I was here". How condecending can you get? Why didn't he just invite them all for some fried chicken and watermelon after the speech?

[Ripley]

15. Oh, so now it's racist for a white guy to say he played BB?

What the hell is that? As I recall Al broke his damn leg playing the game, perhaps even there in New York. What's wrong with him saying he did that with the guy? The black man nodded, like he knew what he was talking about.

Keerist.

[wndycty]

16. Its not racist. . .but its pandering. . .

Think about Bill Clinton his connection with the Black community was authenic it was not forced. Bill Clinton did not have to cite his Black supporters the way the Dean did. Its a very subtle thing but it speaks volumes. Do you remember when they asked Bush about his record on Civil Rights and he mentioned that he has two high profile African Americans working for him?

[Bombtrack]

18. Did you read about his background supporter quota?

How he need the perfect multi-ethnic, and gender-equal ratio.

It sort of reminds me of Arnold's backdrop of younger women supporters post-gropegate

[Ripley]

20. Who are you talking about?

The above slam was towards Al Gore. I do not think Al Gore is a racist and was mocking blacks in New York by making a "basketball" pandering statement whatever the hell that is.

[kentuck]

24. The Harlem Globetrotters are the most famous basketball team

in the world. A lot of people associate Harlem with basketball. There's nothing racist about it.

[Bombtrack]

32. nobody called him a racist

but opening you're speech with "We shot basketball the last time I was here" is obviously his attempt to relate to the brothers and sisters, and it was obvious

[Bombtrack]

17. I didn't say he's racist I said he's condescending

embarassingly so. Gore more than any white guy whenever he gets up in front of black audiences. His cadence completely changes. He drops the g's off of his words, and he just looks like the whitest guy on the planet

[Ripley]

21. He just looks like the whitest guy on the planet?

Could you be anymore racist yourself?

[Bombtrack]

27. I reserve the universal right to make fun of my own race

it's how the world works. I didn't call anyone racist.

[Ripley]

30. Fried chicken and watermelon are not "racial" references?

Could have fooled me.

[Bombtrack]

34. They are, they're stereotypes. Just like blacks having "soul"

and being obsessed with basketball. And so are southernors having confederate flags on their pickup trucks, and being ignorant racists. All stereotypes the Dean campaign has embraced and exploited to appeal to the starbucks liberals who vote in these primaries, NOT the groups he's stereotyping

[Cheswick2.0]

39. yeah and the AA community must hate him for it

notice how they punished him in the 2000 election.

[Cheswick2.0]

37. maybe he played basketball the last time he was there?

:shrug: My kids are white and they play basketball almost everyday. I don't get the issue.

[Bombtrack]

40. He opened his speech with "I shot basketball the last time I was here"

Sorry but if Bush said that there are alot of people here who would call an embarrassingly bad pander an embarrassingly bad pander

[chimpymustgo]

41. It was an embarassingly bad pander. I cringed when I heard it.

Gut reaction.

And poor Gore still hasn't learned to clap on the beat.

[wndycty]

12. Many of Clark's biggest DU supporters are Black

I will let everyone check in on their own. But you can count me as one his biggest supporters in the African American community. In the Illinois grassroots movement there are a lot of African Americans involved.

I am behind him because of his stance on most issues (do not agree with his position on the flag), however one thing I like about General Clark on the matter of of race is that he is authenic. Race has never been an issue for Clark, he has not had to reach out the African American community because like Clinton he has there is something about him that many Black voters connect with. You look at the work he has done with the Boys & Girls Clubs in Arkansas, you look at his support of Affirmative Action, you look at his experiences in the military and you just feel that this man understands and connects with the African American community.

[chimpymustgo]

29. Many black C-SPAN callers today said they are supporting Clark.

Hardly a scientifitic poll LOL - but I think Edwards and Clark have a natural ease with blacks that NONE of the other white candidates have.

Dean has shown a profound lack of "it". Announcing "I got soul" is like saying, "I am cool, dude". You are - by definition - NOT!

I think Edwards really has it. I have read some very funny stories about things he and his black friends wrote to each other in their yearbooks.

One reason I really like a Clark/Edwards, Edwards/Clark ticket.

[wndycty]

33. It also goes to the southern Democrat. . .

. . .a progressive southern Democrat connects well with African Americans.

[kentuck]

35. I agree wndycty...

That's a point I think many Democrats tend to overlook.

[wndycty]

36. While Clark has never held statewide elective office. . .

. . .or any elected office for that matter, Clinton and Edwards were elected by all the residents of their respective states and for them to do that they had to prove their bona fides to Black voters. As for Clark is military record as well as his work in Little Rock with the Boys and Girls Club has done a lot to help him with Black voters

[ibegurpard]

19. What's on the talking point list for tomorrow?

Yesterday it was an endorsement "before even one vote had been cast," today it's "Dean can't connect with the African-American community." I need to start marking this stuff on the calender to see how long it takes before we complete a cycle and start over again.

[kentuck]

22. If Clark does well with the black voters.....

then only another reason for Dean to consider him for the VP spot. :)

[Ripley]

23. There are many reasons Clark would be a great VP pick for

Dean. I agree.

[unfrigginreal]

26. What a load of crap

Polls indicate that Edwards and Lieberman are the most popular with Blacks. Nice confident assertion though.:eyes:

[kentuck]

31. One person's "load of crap" is.....

another person's wagon of fertilizer....:)

[bitchkitty]

38. Interesting theory -

but I don't think it holds water. If the Army were full of black generals and other officers, your argument might hold water.

As I recall, during the Vietnam War black men died in disproportionate numbers. When you don't have a rich and influential daddy, choices are limited.

[OKNancy]

42. Who has a rich and influential Daddy?

You really stepped in it there.
Rich and influential Daddy: Bush and Dean
No dad and step-dad poor: Clark
Poor dad: Edwards

[bitchkitty]

43. Stepped in what?

I wasn't talking about any of the candidates, as you well knew. I know that Dean was able to get a medical deferrment. I also know that he was honest about it, something that I respect and treasure. What's your problem?