Barack’s Not in Memphis, and I can’t say I Blame Him…

As Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and several other black luminaries gather today in Memphis to commerate the 40th Anniversary of MLK’s assassination, two of the three people still vying for the opportunity to be President will be there, but not the two you would expect. That’s because Hillary Clinton and John McCain will be marching with Al Sharpton today, but the African-American Candidate, Barack Obama, who gave a speech at King’s old church on Martin Luther King’s Birthday by the way, will not. At first I was a little bothered by that, just like when he did not attend Tavis Smiley’s “Black State of the Union” Broadcast, but after a little introspection, I said to myself, you know what? He is right not to go.

Why you ask? Well, because he would have to answer too many questions. Questions that he shouldn’t have to answer. Can you imagine what our friends at the Fox Network would do if they got a hold of some video with Barack and Al Sharpton? The Rev. Wright Marathon that they showed 24 hours a day would pale in comparison to the Al Sharpton sequel. No one holds White People’s feet to the fire more than Al, and any association between Sharpton and Obama would spark a disinformation campaign that would end up with Obama as a card-carrying member of the Black Panthers. Do you remember what people said when Farrakhan endorsed Obama? Well let me tell you, for a certain segment of the population, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are just as much the “jew-hating” “Anti-Americans” that Farrakhan is. The sad part is, that FOX network’s own Sean Hannity, John McCain, and Hillary Clinton will be there and no one will question their patriotism, or call them a racist. As a matter of fact, they will be praised for “remembering” Martin Luther King’s legacy, and “Building Bridges” with the black community. Why don’t they have to answer the same questions that Barack would if he showed up? Do you think that Barack should have gone to Memphis? Speak Out!

Poll Watch: 3/4 of Americans Think we are Ready for a Black President…

The results of a new CNN/Essence poll were released today,

and one of the questions that they asked was “Do you think America is ready for a Black President?” As far as I am concerned, the results were quite positive, with 76% of those polled responding in the affirmative. (That’s an increase of 14 points from a poll taken in December 2006) While this poll doesn’t give us the percentage of individuals who say they would vote for a black president themselves, a number that I would really be interested in seeing, it is good to see that more people see it as possible.

Right now, in the major presidential “On Deck” positions, which I would designate as a State Governor, U.S. Senator, or Vice-President, there are only three African-Americans, one Senator, who is Barack Obama of Illinois, and two Governors, Deval Patrick of Masschusetts, and David Paterson of New York, who gained his post via a scandal. So because we have so few people in positions that traditionally win the White House, the fact that we even have a Black candidate with a real chance to win the Presidential nomination and quite possibly the Presidency, is remarkable.

The reason I mention that, is because there is no doubt that the Obama campaign has given people a new attitude towards the prospect of a black president, even in the black community. When Barack’s campaign first began, a good amount of African-Americans would not even allow themselves to think about him winning, for fear of another letdown in a series of seemingly perpetual disappointments. However, when he won the Iowa contest, and several others following that one, people started to believe, and the possibility of what many wanted all along seemed to be more tangible. I know that an Obama in the White House would not solve all the issues of race in this country, in fact like Rep. Cleaver said, it may create new ones, but it’s something that I think we are definitely ready for, for a whole host of reasons.

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The Youth Vote: “Like A Storm”

By Leon Walker-Freelance Writer  leonwalker@cox.net

I am amazed at what I have seen among young voters in this country. I am equally amazed that this is being ignored or overlooked in the media in favor of such nonsense as passports and preachers.  These snacks of political mischief that our media continues to serve us.  Something I like to call “the devil’s Hors d’oeuvres”.  Of all of the political stories of this campaign season, the story of America’s youth activism and participation is both awe inspiring and historically significant. 

The other day I was watching a live news report from the campus of a small college in North Carolina as I lay in bed.  At that moment I felt as if I was actually watching a Saturday pregame sports rally.  As a backdrop for the news commentators, there were several hundred excited students with signs, cheering in support of Senator Barack Obama and anticipating his forthcoming speech on their campus.  Now get this… It was 11:57 PM here in the Panhandle of Florida where I was resting comfortably.  Meaning of course, that it was nearly 1:00 AM in North Carolina!  Let me say this a different way.  When a bunch of college kids are hanging out at 1:00 AM awaiting a political rally I find that striking.  They were not at home studying, or partying or surfing the internet.  They were organizing and participating politically!  Perhaps this is not particularly significant to you.   So let me delicately suggest that you start paying attention.

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews asks: Does Obama connect with “Regular People” or just African Americans and College Grads?

During last night’s edition of “Hardball” (Apr.1st) Chris Matthews asked his guest the following:

“Let me ask you about how he — how’s he connect with regular people? Does he? Or does he only appeal to people who come from the African-American community and from the people who have college or advanced degrees?”

At the beginning of the show he teased his Obama segement by saying the following:

“[C]an Obama woo more regular voters — you know, the ones who actually do know how to bowl?”

The night before he had this to say:

“[T]his gets very ethnic, but the fact that he’s good at basketball doesn’t surprise anybody, but the fact that he’s that terrible at bowling does make you wonder.”

What makes me wonder, is how he equates the sport of bowling with “regular people.” I guess that “regular people” don’t play basketball either…I also wonder if he is going to ask Barack about bowling tonight when he appears on his show? Hmmm…

Reference: MediaMatters (Includes video of the broadcast quoted)

Clinton camp continues the “Wright-Wash”

MSNBC is reporting that Harold Ickes, a Senior Aide to the Clinton campaign has admitted to pushing the Jeremiah Wright issue with undecided superdelegates. While it probably would be naive to think that they wouldn’t, it just lends more creditability to the idea that the Clinton backers are waging their own version of the GOP’s old “Southern Strategy.” I just hope that the superdelegates see through this and realize that the Wright issue will not be very valuable to the GOP, due to Obama’s skillful handling of the issue. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same about Hillary and her “Sniper Fire” story.

Reference: MSNBC

Black Congressman Downplays Obama’s Speaking Ability..but says he’ll win..

In a radio interview given to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver downplayed Barack Obama’s speaking ability, saying that compared to other African-American public speakers “he may not even measure up.” He told the interviewer that White Voters are drawn to Obama because they like the idea of a black man who “is articulate”, and they feel that by supporting him they can get the uncomfortable conversation of race off the table. Here’s a quote from Cleaver:

“I think for many white Americans, they are looking at Barack Obama and saying ‘This is our chance to demonstrate that we have been able to get this boogeyman called race behind us,’” Cleaver said. “And so they are going to vote for him, whether he has credentials or not, whether he has any experience — I think all that’s out the window.”

He went on to say that electing Obama as president would most likely harm efforts to stop racial injustice, because it would allow White people to dismiss racial concerns. He also said, despite being a Clinton supporter, that he would be surprised if Obama lost the election. Do you think that a President Obama would allow White People to dismiss the remaining racial concerns in America? Speak out!

Reference: AP

Hillary Clinton: Lies Have Short Legs

Here’s another jewel from our friend Leon Walker: leonwalker@cox.net

Senator Hillary Clinton’s repeated telling of a shocking fabricated and later recanted story of her arrival in a Bosnian combat zone “under sniper fire” is absolutely ghastly. This horrific fabrication is not only a very telling indictment of her credibility and integrity; it reveals a clear vision of a ruthless woman lost in self consumption.

I have no apprehension for having made the aforementioned scalding comments because two decades ago I myself served. At one point in my career I was a crewmember aboard the carrier “United States Ship Independence”. During my service on that vessel we were required to launch aircraft and drop bombs on the nations of Grenada and Lebanon. Tensions were high and in Lebanon our aircraft were engaged and one was shot down. Through it all I never felt particularly threatened. Why? Because I was an Air Traffic Controller and I sat comfortably in my air conditioned work center, dozens of miles off shore, deep within the skin of a well protected ship. That my fellow Americans, is the maximum extent to which I can embellish these events. Oh wait! When “Battle Stations” were announced, I did have to put on my ball cap and tuck my pants into my socks.

Video: Author Alice Walker endorses Obama

Is America ready to take “The Great Leap”?

Maybe Rep. John Lewis is optimistic about this country’s readiness to elect a black president, but forgive me if i’m somewhat skeptical about that. This past weekend, at a forum held to comemorate Martin Luther King’s last sermon before his assassination, Rep. Lewis said that he felt America would make Barack Obama America’s first black president if he won the party’s nomination. Here’s his Quote:

“I believe in my gut that the American people are ready and prepared to take a great leap,”

Well, I guess that brings me to my question…are we really? If there is one thing that this election has taught me, it is that we as a country still have a great leap to make. A leap to where, you may ask? Well in one word, equality. On April 4th 1968, Martin Luther King died while trying to tell america that Negroes were created equally and should be treated equally, and just about 40 years later many are still trying to make that point. Now, i’m not saying that we haven’t made progress, but progress is not the same as being equal.

Progress is having a Black nominee with an actual chance to become president, but equality is that nominee not having to answer for being black. Equality is having your patriotism taken for granted just like a white person’s. Equality is not having a good part of the country not vote for you because they don’t have any friends that look like you. Can we take that leap? The answer is Yes. But forgive me for allowing the doubting thomas inside of me have to see it in order to believe it. Are we ready to take that leap? What do you think? Speak out!

Reference: Politico

Super Delegates Heading To Obama

Thanks to our new friend Leon A. Walker for contributing this insightful op-ed piece..

By Leon A. Walker-Guest Contributor

(March 31, 2008) I believe we are currently witnessing an exquisite political strategy being executed by the Democratic Party Leadership. This, in the form of an orchestrated trickle of Super Delegates publicly indicating support for Senator Barack Obama. The recent endorsements in favor of Senator Obama by Bill Richardson and Bob Casey are among the first key indicators. Additionally, that trickle I have suggested may well develop into a stunning trend even before the important primary contest in Pennsylvania. If I am right, not only will this influence the Pennsylvania voting, it will send a clear message of doom to Senator Clinton.

Clearly there is no direct or clear path for either candidate to gain the required number of delegates prior to the Democratic National Convention. This alone, without considering any of the many further impacts is simple grounds for the contest to continue. However there is an obvious and growing advantage in favor of Senator Obama in terms of sheer numbers. This is the basis for the many discussions and comments about the necessity for Senator Clinton to concede and withdraw. Under the current rules she simply can not expect to catch up. Basically, the voters have already spoken. She may say what she likes but a decision (Clinton Nomination) at the convention is nothing more than a pipe dream.