Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The BIG Black Vote



If you have been watching television pundits talk about voters in this election, you have been watching a one-sided conversation. White voters are always described as Church Going Folk, Gun Toting Folk, Soccer Moms, Blue Collar Workers, Wine Sipping Elitists, White Woman Baby Boomers and NASCAR Fans. Black voters are described simply as..... well.......um.......ah...... Black Voters? Blacks are viewed as a monolithic race that spends a bulk of their time in Churches, Barbershops, Beauty Salons and any store that sells Barack Obama, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr t-shirts. Why do we only get the "barbershop vote" category, when white folks get so many to choose from. One of my childhood buddies played soccer back in the day. He was light skinned but still qualified as black. I have black folks at my church that hunt wild animals. They even asked my wife to come out with them sometime to hunt. She has a problem deer hunting, but geese and ducks are okay. Bambi touched her heart but Daffy and Donald get no love. There are plenty of black folks that have blue collar jobs. The list would be too plentiful to name if I sat here thinking about it. Don't get me started on wine drinkers either. Black folks drink more than just Thunderbird and Olde English.
Why can't we get some diverse categories too? Why do I have to be lumped in with 45 year old Tyrone, who is a first time voter because he thinks there will be a BBQ on the White House lawn if Obama wins. I have been voting ever since I was old enough to vote. I'm not trying to sound like I'm bragging, but all black folks don't look alike (except between the hours of 6pm and 6:15pm on the local news) and we don't all act alike (except on Def Comedy Jam). You have blue collar blacks, white collar blacks, church going blacks and ones that go to Bedside Baptist with Rev A. Larm Clock.
The media and the Hillary Clinton Campaign have dismissed us as Jim Jones-ish followers who have drunk from the Thelma Evans kool-aid and will follow Barack Obama to the end of the earth. Clinton will tell you that white folks are only voting for her because she is a rooting tooting, drinking, gun carrying, good ole girl. Laura Bush is from Texas and even she doesn't walk around like Calamity Jane 2008. Now you have Calamity Jane 2008 and Pecos Bill (formerly known as the 1st black President) running from state to state giving white folks the wink and nod about voting for the "big black man". He's not going to win, he is not "your" kind of people, he doesn't relate to how "you" live. Basically giving people permission to not vote for a black guy because well - he's black. Then they will tell you that blacks only vote for him because he is black. Also that black folks and uppity white folks are not a strong enough coalition to send a Democrat into the White House. That's really funny because black folks helped put Pecos Bill in office. He didn't even get a large percentage of white male votes when he was running for office (not that many Democrats running for President, do but they don't talk about that though).
After all these many years of standing by the Democrats in record numbers this is how black folks get repaid by getting played. This is another example of why we need an independent media view from a minority stand point. Sorry BET, but having Lil’ Jon interviewing skrippers at The Players Club on Middle Eastern Affairs won't cut it. We need a news program that can ask the questions that the "mainstream" media won't.


1) Why isn't the Republican Party attempting to reach out to blacks? This is the perfect time for the Republicans to reach out to black folks in order to change their image. Why won't they use the abuse and neglect by the Clintons as an example of why blacks should give them a look. They seem content of being the party of "white" men instead of a "multicultural" party. The world is changing and those that can't adapt will be left behind.


2) Why does Barack Obama need to pay off Hillary's debt? This is a dumb concept that must have been thought up by a crazed Hillary supporter. If Hillary Clinton is broke that is her own fault. She was the favorite to win this whole thing, but now she is the underdog. Voting on the war, feeling they were entitled, and poor planning is the reason why she is behind and almost broke. Hillary reminds me of a punch drunk fighter that doesn't know when to quit. She keeps calling herself Rocky but she isn't the Italian Stallion. She reminds me of Apollo Creed when he tried to fight Ivan Drago. Remember what happened to Apollo Creed......


3) How will the Democrats put all the broken pieces back together? I'm tired of all these pundits that want this campaign to go on. Are you people stupid??? This has been a very destructive process that has worn down both candidates. Hillary has looked more like a racist as the days go on and Obama looks like he has been rode wet and put up hard. After Obama won in the majority white states, Hillary has put the word out that white folks don't vote for Obama. The sad part is that some white folks are buying what she is selling. When Hillary is not drinking with the locals, she is crying that the media is sexist. White women have united behind Hillary's war cry and they are ANGRY! I haven't seen white women this upset since Ally McBeal went off the air. White women are looking at Obama as if he was O.J. Simpson with the knife and those Isotoners.
I was listening to a reporter talking to an African American minister and I could not believe what I heard. The minister said if Bill Clinton was on fire he wouldn't even give him a glass of water. A minister!!! When a man of God won't show you love, you are in trouble. My mother (a self claimed #1 Obama supporter) who was a Clinton fan back when he was in office has changed sides. I come from a family of Democrats that have supported the party since JFK was in office. In the living room, we have an autographed picture of my parents with Former Governor Chuck Robb. Usually when black folks have a picture of a white person it’s the one with the "white Jesus". My mother, who is upset with the way the Clintons are running the campaign is fighting back. She sent an email containing a letter for us to send to the Democratic National Convention complaining about the Clintons. It actually involved a court case that the Clintons are involved in that no one is talking about. I've seen my mother go head to head with a white woman before and it wasn't pretty. I don't worry about the Clinton supporters hurting her but I do worry about her hurting them.
Do you really think black folks will come out in large numbers if Hillary steals this election? Our voting record is already spotty at best. The younger voters of all nationalities (1st timers) will feel like they have been robbed as well. They might not come out to vote either. Black folks have been the backbone of the Democratic Party. When white men and women have voted against their best interests, blacks have stood by the party religiously. Don't dismiss us because you think we are small in number. Remember that they have local elections as well.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen, Amen, Amen brother. I'll tell you this much: The first election that I was able to vote in was 2000 and we all know the story of the butterfly ballot in FL. So I said "ok, let me learn a little more about this so called 'democratic' process".

Enter 2004: Here I am a well educated young woman ready to stand with John Kerry and make a change and what happens? You guessed it...snubbed by our 'democratic' process again.

With that being said, if there are ESTABLISHED rules that the DNC has agreed upon (upfront BEFORE the election no less) then those rules need to be adhered to. Don't come crying about Florida, Michigan, etc now. If you have a man that is leading in delegates, states, superdelegates, finances, popular vote (need I go on?) then why are we even having this discussion?

I am remorse to say that if the tables were turned there wouldn't be any apprehension of going to the black man and telling him to "let it go". But since this America, and the thought of a black man leading the most powerful nation on the planet horrifies our melanin defficient cohabitants then we are stuck where we are.

Repeatedly the media is telling us that there is NO WAY mathematically this chick can come back and win so why (oh why?) is she still out here spending money (that she doesn't have)campaigning and alienating this party? I'll tell you why...because SOMEONE has told her that she still has a chance. Who might that someone be? I'll tell you this much, it sure ain't Billy boy (she stopped listening to him after he got the stains out that Oval office chair, but I digress).

Regardless...if the DNC finds some way to NOT nominate the LEADER IN EVERY possible CATEGORY for President then I will officially loose my faith in the "democratic process" and not vote at all. Me and my daddy (who has not voted since 1988) will hang out on November 4th and toast to John McCain.

The Uppity Negro said...

I'm not excusing MSM media for lumping us all together as "the Black vote" but, honestly, many of us do operate off of "barbershop philosophy and theology." Now I can't speak for whites and their philosophies and theologies seeing as how I don't hang around many white folk, but most blacks that I talk to fail to do critical analysis of the issues. Aside from the black blogosphere, I don't think we have a consistent intellectual outlet.

Meh, we have a Roland Martin, Donna Brazile, Clarence Page, and yes, even Juan Williams (who I lost all but a little respect for after the Chris Williams' Barack Obama interview), but they don't OWN the media outlets.

And I will say this, if Republicans began courting blacks, lets say on the basis of capitalism and appealing to their money sense, it would force America to view blacks as more than just monolithic as you correctly alledge.

Also mad ups for noticing that HRC is doing this interesting double-speak appealing to white voters and their white voting senses. She seems to be pulling a page from black candidates who historically have often had to speak in coded language to let the black electorate know that they were still on our side.

And whats up with this one big block paragraph? lol

JLL

Citizen Ojo said...

The Block Style comes from posting early in the morning, watching polling results and being half way asleep. It's all the rage. Don't trip if you see it being used in the Wall Street Journal... ha ha ha

I can't believe MSNBC turned a one state primary into a 24 hour marathon. Somedays it seems like the Media is in love with Obama and other days they are trying to run him out of town.

Uppity, The political process in American could use an overhaul. The two party system is the worst. It is odd that a capitalist society would only have two parties. What ever happened to competition? The Republicans do have alot of work to do but you also have the Green Party, (also alot of Libertarians are out there) If the American people demand it and support it a change will be in the air. Yeah Hillary is not as slick as her husband. She is so transparent. You wouldn't be comparing her to some of our life long AA politicians (the Alderman Fred C. Davis of the world) would you. Ha Ha Ha.

jd, The voting process (i.e. machines, paper ballots) That is about as flawed as you can get. If this is a close race look for it to be contested. I don't really think Obama will be robbed. The future of the democratic party is at stake. On the off chance that you might be toasting in honor of John McCain, make sure you are drinking ensure.

Anonymous said...

Always trying to define who and what Black America is. Though within communities there may be monolithic tendencies, the fact of the matter is that the Black American race doesn't all live in ONE community. And then, even within communities, you may have some Repub's and some Dem's. Some liberals and some conservatives. What is pretty monolithic, is the objective to aid, assist and uplift the plight of all AA's (African Americans) --- those who are descendent's of slavery on this country and continent.

Ironically - White American writers and corporations won't recognize this diversity within our race. American writers and corporations won't even consciously and vocally recognize what unifies us (the plight to assist and uplift). They would rather say that we're "unAmerican" if we strive to not uplift and assist ALL Americans! ha ... And suddenly the 'unpatriotic' slams start coming out from left and right.

White Amerikkkan corporations only want to define Black America, not so that Black Americans will learn more about themselves (I can go to any Black church for that), but White American defines the Black race for White Americans!!!! This allows for the unification of their minds AGAINST people of color, AND engrains in their minds a spirit of superiority.
http://monkeyfist.com/pipermail/bonobos/Week-of-Mon-20010625/000194.html


************

Now what's this news about Obama paying Hill's bills???? Bullcrap!! In an unfair match, where Hill played DIRTY against Obama and Obama STILL came out the winner and victor and popular favorite amongst level-headed Americans (not racist uneducated low down and dirty trashy rednecks in states like WV).... Even when Obama played fair, he STILL beats the crap out of hill!!! But someone has the nerve to suggest that he should compensate her for her losses! Ludicrous!

The Clintons are the prototypical American political family - based, rooted and bread in the traditions that build and support their $100million+ life and lifestyle. Again, and as always, they will do anything - - ANYTHING - - to retain that power and influence they wield on the sphere of politikkks and white global dominance.

But they are just people. Their reputation can be tarnished just as quickly as can any other person or group of people. Sooner or later, these "angry white women" will see the Clinton's injustices. Whether or not they will admit to the injustices is another thing... but the dirtiness is being revealed and exposed over time, for every one to see!
dg

Anonymous said...

It's been more than a year since I posted that "whiteness" link --- did you notice that it was taken down?? In fact, the entire website is gone.

Does anyone have that article??? If so, would you please post it. Thank you.