A blast from the past...

[politicasista]

I don't know if anyone remembers me posting about the interview that JK did back in 2004 with an urban magazine called Essence (the November 04 issue), but it was a nice interview. Lots of things I wasn't familiar with until I read the article. Looks like the corporate media edited out a lot.

It's bittersweet but worth sharing:

snip:

Kerry Talks with Essence
By ZZ Packer

The Democratic presidential nominee Senator John Kerry sat down writer ZZ Packer for an exclusive interview at the NAACP Convention this summer. Here is a transcript of her interview with Kerry.

PACKER: So you’re here at the 95th NAACP convention and Bush is not. How did you react when you found out that Bush was opting out of the convention?

SEN. KERRY: I was surprised. I think the President of the United States should take advantage of the chance to talk to Americans and bring people together.

PACKER: We talked a bit about your plans for implementing domestic policies and that would help Americans in general and African-Americans in particular. But many African-Americans commentators have noted that blacks tend to think that a politician of any race who lacks real-life connection with African-Americans communities can’t be sensitive enough to blacks’ daily struggle to put any teeth in those polices, or determined enough to enforce those policies. So, given all this, what would you say your point of connection is to African-American community?

SEN. KERRY: I’ve had a connection to the African-Americans community since I was a kid.

PACKER: In what way?

SEN. KERRY: Beginning with my service in – well, beginning with my involvement in the civil rights movement in 1963 and’64 when I became a supporter of the Mississippi voter registration drive and we marched and demonstrated for civil rights (when) I was an undergraduate in college, to my involvement in the military. I mean, I had African-Americans in my crew. They were my friends—as well as the people I served with. When I came back from Vietnam my co-coordinator of the Vietnam Veterans Fighting Against the War was an African-American. And we worked very closely together with minority vets who were particularly disillusioned by the war and by their return home.

I spoke of racism that was occurring in the military in 1971, publicly, to the Congress. And every since then, throughout my political life I campaigned (for them). When I ran for District Attorney’s office, I hired African-Americans prosecutors in affirmative action. I reached out, went out and found them. So we got a representation that was reflective of the community. Likewise, as a Senator, all my life I’ve had (African-American) people on my staff. My longest serving staff member on my staff in Boston, who ran my entire constituent service, was black. My current political director of Massachusetts is black. My campaign political director, Brian Burke is black. My deputy campaign manager Marcus Jadotte is black.

PACKER: Why do you think so many people have said your campaign doesn’t reflect—

SEN. KERRY: Because people didn’t know… and because people sounded off for their own agenda without looking before they found it out.

I mean, as a member of the Steering Committee, when I was Chairman of the Steering Committee for the US Senate, we reached out regularly to the Black Caucus. I started the first ever meetings of the United States Senate with a Congressional Black Caucus on a regular basis. When I secured the nomination, my second this year, the first people I met with on Capitol Hill, before I went back to see my colleagues in the Senate, before I saw the Senate leader—anybody—was with Jim Clyburn and Elijah Cummings and the Congressional Black Caucus. So I’ve made, you know, a very strong effort to reach out.

And I think we have very strong representation in the campaign. Alexis Herman is working with us today. My trip director is Setti Warren, I can run a long list. I’ve got the most diverse presidential campaign in the history of the country.

One side note: In the magazine, (it's now discarded :-( ), the interviewer (Ms. Packer) commented on how well he looked after cancer surgery and how after every question, he would quickly answer, it seemed "arrogant" at first, but knew that it was cause he was used to the questions being asked like the smartest person in the class. :) Another woman named Devona Doolittle had a nice response on the "Kerry couldn't relate to AA" spin, saying "that that was the media's depiction rather than reality," noting that she observed the opposite.

It's 4 pages long, so here is the rest of the link. The comments are very good also.

http://www.essence.com/essence/lifestyle/voices/0,16109,725819-1,00.html

[ginnyinWI]

1. And he got, what, 90% of the AA vote?

The media should just give it a rest, already. As if they were going to convince anybody that * was a friend to the AA community.

[politicasista]

2. I agree.

Blinky was NEVER a friend to the AA community.

[JohnKleeb]

3. First I heard him talk about Sudan

He really is well informed on several issues and I think that really is why he'd make a great president.

[karynnj]

4. Thanks for posting this - this is a great interview

Answering quickly must be a regional thing. What I noticed is that he paused briefly then answered questions. One he started an answer, it was full blown and very smoothly presented.

[TayTay]

5. Geez, hon, I told you this was so.

Every staff member that attended the DCI in Worcester this past March was AA. Every single one was in a 'position of power' within that Senate office and were bright, accomplished and very loyal staff people. Very, very loyal staff people.

I talked with people who did Mass minority and community outreach for Mr. Kerry. Ahm, Latinos and AA folks working with and very easily interacting with the 'tall, patrician, aloof and reserved' Senator from Massachusetts. We heard the stories of his friend from Lawrence (a poor and majority minority city, btw) whom Mr. Kerry consulted with and called, 'a second father' ever since his race in the 5th Congressional district in '72.

What's it gonna take for this to sink in?

[politicasista]

6. I feel like DUH!

It doesn't take long to sink in. Just need some positive reinforcement sometimes. :hi:

[politicasista]

7. And some nice comments....

My people, My people, My people... Where did Clinton have us?


-K.C



I know John Kerry that you will be our next President,please remember the people that are without jobs and bring our boys home from the war.I'll continue to pray for you and your family.

I would like for you to worship with us at Grant African Methodist Church

1906 Washington St. Boston,Ma.

Rev. Roland C. McCall Pastor

I am one of the officiers and also the women Missionary President


-Phyllis B. Horsley



First, I would like to say a special "thank you" to Essence Magazine and Edward Lewis for providing this wonderful opportunity for women of color to show our strength in numbers. However, what happens after this is a major concern to me. How are we going to utilize the potential and the unique opportunity to go the next step/next level. How are we then going to create the impact, the importance, and the movement to unite as a people to create change. I am very worried about making sure that this stance, the Vote or Die mo


-Geraldine David



What an excellent interview! All of the right questions were asked. all of my concerns were voiced and answered! Thank you!!


-Cassandra Ramey-Salaam



We are inprayer that Kerry/Edwards wins this election. We want Kerry/Edwards to lead American back to where Clinton had us.


-Ellen Walton



Packer should have questioned Sen. Kerry's position on the sanctity of human life (ABORTION), the definition of marriage (MAN & WOMAN), the protection of the family (HOMOSEXUALS RAISING KIDS), national sovereignty, and the strength of our military.



-Renee Carter



i think this candidate speaks more for regular people and is sensitive to our needs as people of color.


-Christal Murray-Ells



I found this interview to be an excellent one that I hope many subscribers had an opportunity to read. After studying John Kerry, he was the obvious choice for me and my family!


-Vickie Hodnett



The questions Packer ask Mr. Kerry, are some that have share great insight into questions on the minds many. I find that Mr. Kerry answered the questions put forth to him humanly and direct. He even quoted time, people and places to back up his statements.


-Nancy Henry