Artur Davis featured in the February Playboy

[Syrinx]

He's one of the article's "No-Bullshit Caucus."

The article is by Jeff Greenfield, so the title is a bit of an oxymoron.

I think it makes Davis out to be a little more conservative than he is, but overall a nice bit.

If a state in the deep South ever sends an African-American to the U.S. Senate, 38-year-old Davis may be a likely contender. He won his office by defeating an incumbent black Democrat whose campaign questioned whether Davis was "black enough" and charged that the only thing Davis, a former federal prosecutor, had "done for black people is put them in jail." Despite the opposition of many members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Davis defeated the incumbent, and he continues to part company with many of the more liberal caucus members on a raft of topics.

*snip*

The challenge in 2008 is to do something with the nominating process, which now provides no meaningful opportunity for debate."

For what it's worth, the members of Greenfields NBC:

Artur Davis
Feingold
Hagel
Obama
Jeff Flake
Feinstein
McCain
Tom Coburn
Barney Frank
Mike Pence

[MelissaB]

1. I saw Artur Davis speak several months ago, and my

antennas went up when he said he was a member of the DLC (Congressional New Democrats).

[quaoar]

2. But Artur is a vast improvement

over Earl Hilliard.

[Syrinx]

3. tell the truth and stay in the church!

:)

[Syrinx]

4. he's far from perfect

But he's done more work on real issues, like Black Belt poverty, than Hilliard ever did.

Hilliard is a criminal, race-baiting, low-rent thug, while Davis is a reasonable gentleman, with whom I have a few serious disagreements. ;)

[peacebaby3]

5. I met Artur Davis when he originally ran against Hilliard at A Million Mom

March in B'Ham and thought he was a really genuine guy. He was also running in the 7th which at the time was my district. I couldn't bring myself to vote for him that time because Hilliard's voting record matches my positions about 90%, but I did vote for him the 2nd time he ran against Hilliard. I felt like Hilliard had gotten off track and I liked Davis. I actually questioned my vote after I made it, but since then I have gained a lot of respect for Davis. I heard him on AAR and he was really great. Intelligent and effective speaker with a clear, liberal message.

[Syrinx]

6. thanks for the observations

I think my positions probably line up largely with Hilliard's. Maybe even more than with Davis's.

But, as you say, Davis is so genuine. And, seemingly at least, honest.

I'd rather have an honest person up there that I agree with 80% of the time, than one who I agree with 100%, if he happens to be a sleazy guy, which Hilliard is.

Davis has a future. I could see him as a possible Presidential candidate in about twelve years.

[Daylin Byak]

7. What about the Senate?

I always keep hearing that Davis is thinking about running in 2008, so what are his chances? I think it's slim cause it's Alabama and there's another reason, but i'm not getting into it.

[Syrinx]

8. I think he'd have a decent shot at winning

People are getting fed up with the national GOP, even down here. (Anecodotally, I've been wearing a anti-Bush shirt around lately. I've gotten at least a dozen thumbs-up and positive comments. Not a single disapproving comment. Just yesterday I went to the supermarket, and there was this old, white man, about 85 years old, standing outside the store. His eyes lit up when he saw what I was wearing, and he said "That's a mighty fine t-shirt you're wearing there, son." That made my day.)

I think Davis could win. He's not perceived as a demagogue, or a race-baiter, or a crook, as Hilliard (rightfully) was. With an energized turnout by black voters, he'd just have to carry the rest of the Democratic base, and a few people that are just fed up with Republicans. I think it could be done.