Posted on 07/28/2017 10:41:39 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Democrats must strongly consider putting an African-American candidate on the ticket if they plan to win back the White House, a number of Black activists say.
The issue stands to be a topic of concern as hundreds of Black leaders gather in Baltimore, Md., this week for the NAACP’s 108th Annual National Convention, according to The News & Observer. This is the organization’s first major gathering since the contentious presidential election last fall.
The group already has a growing number of potential candidates on its list, including Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), former Attorney General Eric Holder and Deval Patrick, the former governor of Massachusetts.
For Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP’s Washington bureau, Democrats might struggle in the future without a Black politician on the 2020 ticket. However, Shelton told the paper that the African-American community is “very sophisticated” politics-wise and that a Black candidate isn’t essential if there are white candidates willing to address our interests.
“[They] are speaking our language, which means that they’re addressing our concerns [and] they’re going to get our support,” he said.
Other NAACP leaders disagreed with that notion, however.
Convention delegate Yvette Stone argued that African-American voter shouldn’t settle for anything less than a Democratic ticket featuring a Black politician in 2020.
“We have to represent what we want,” Stone, vice president of the NAACP’s Huntington, N.Y., branch, told The News & Observer. “We have to represent who we are. Everyone always comes for our vote, and what do we get in return?”
A recent study by the Pew Research Center showed that Black voter turnout fell for the first time in 20 years in a presidential election, sinking to just 60 percent after reaching a record high of 67 percent in 2012. The report also noted that the 7-point drop was the largest among any racial or ethnic group since white voter turnout fell in 1996.
For decades, Democratic candidates have struggled to win the Black vote — that is until former President Barack Obama announced his run for president in 2007, buoying Black voter turnout in 2008 and 2012. Today, motivating African-Americans to vote is essential as they, along with Latinos, now comprise a large majority of the Democratic coalition, party leaders say.
For this reason, NAACP convention-goers argued that a Black candidate is definitely needed on the upcoming ticket.
“We absolutely need a person of color on every single ticket for every single position in every county district, even the White House,” said Jennifer Jordan, another convention delegate from Huntington, N.Y.
Virginia resident James Jones, 81 agreed, telling The News & Observer that, “If there’s a Black person [on the ticket], it will make Black voters go to the polls.”
Gary Leavell, 71, former head of the Jeffersonville Clark County NAACP branch in Indiana, felt differently, however. He told the newspaper that ,while it’s desirable to have a Black candidate on the ticket, it’s not necessarily “essential.”
“We’ve shown through the presidency of Barack Obama that we are more than able to perform at that level,” Leavell said. “The question is finding someone who has the capability and someone who can draw not only African-Americans, but a greater society.”
Mad Maxine. Oh yes, please!
They’re going to get what they want. Kamala Harris will be the nominee.
How about a conservative black dude?
Oh, he HAS to be a communist America hating victim?
Nope.
Is America THAT far gone that those named Democrats could possibly have a chance?
Yes it is crucial they get that 12% which pct the hasn’t changed in decades.
Please use this strategy, dems
“They’re going to get what they want. Kamala Harris will be the nominee”.
I agree, and she is as nasty as they come.
Now that will surely save the party.
Well, looks like the Dems will never have two hetero whiteys on a presidential ticket again. I suppose we knew it would come to that, given that party’s focus.
Stupid white libs created that monster, and now it’s turning them into second class members of their own party. Eventually, they’ll be run out, altogether.
Like that’s a surprise?
Sure why not? That worked out so well the last time.
I predict there won’t be another president of color in my lifetime.
Kane was there for the Clown Vote in 2016?
An Afro- American? So they went one who’s American next time?
O.J. Simpson or Bill Cosby
Hilly and Mad Maxine on a ticket. I’d pay good money to watch that.
Cory is whiter than Obama, never married, only dates WHITE GIRLS, and is also corrupt and inept.
Partrick? ROTFLMSO !
Harris is the sort of "black" Hillary ( though with far less experience ) and has a white husband. The skeletons in HER closet are just begging to be let out.
Why not the brainless Maxine, 90 year old David, the men's room attendant, Dinkens, or either one of the Jesse Jacksons or the phony REV Sharpie Sharpton ?
Why haven't they mentioned JayZ? What's so "bad" about an ex-Drug pusher/pimp, who has a rap record a mile long and is a crazed billionaire? *snicker*
Corgi Booger or Kamala Embarrazz
You can go state-by-state over what Hillary won, and figure in a race with Trump...with McMuffin out...Kamala Harris will be lucky to win the same twenty as Hillary. I might even count out Colorado in an election like this (a Hillary win in 2016).
Is Senator Elizabeth Warren, also, 1/16th African-American?
I was talking to a nice respectful young construction "engineer" at work today and asked him about his student loan. He said that his and many many other black peoples student loans "got lost" accidently and wiped off the books by Obama and now he doesent owe...(whiteys pay full price)
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