Posted on 06/04/2010 12:34:24 AM PDT by pissant
Eighteen months after Barack Obama's presidential win seemed to usher in a new era in racial politics, a different reality has emerged: African American candidates in campaigns nationwide are struggling so much that it's possible that there will be no black governors or senators by next year.
The drubbing Tuesday of Rep. Artur Davis (D), who was running to be the first black governor of Alabama, was the latest in a series of defeats this year of African American politicians in primaries for statewide office. And two of the three who already hold major statewide posts are leaving them. One of the nation's two black governors, New York's David Paterson (D), who has been plagued by ethics scandals, opted not to run this fall -- the same decision made by the only black senator, Roland Burris (D-Ill.).
The only African American favored to win a gubernatorial or Senate race is Massachusetts Gov. Deval L. Patrick (D), who is running for a second term.
Aspiring black politicians, such as Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.), who is seeking a Senate seat, are underdogs in general-election contests. And while a number of black Republicans are running, many are losing in primaries.
The defeats suggest that Obama's victory did not herald greater success for other black politicians.
"We have had breakthroughs, but the obstacles are still there," said Christopher Edley, who was special adviser for the President's Initiative on Race in the Clinton administration and is now dean of the University of California at Berkeley's School of Law. "The bench is weak. If you look at lower office levels or state legislatures, I think the picture is dramatically better, but we haven't been able to bring enough people up from there."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Your race should not be the main factor to get elected; it should be what you stand for; your principles/character and are you going to uphold your oath of office and obey the constitution? Or you one of these Mexican sympathizer?
I was responding to the headline.
What a dumb article. Keeps talking about “black politicians,” without realizing, apparently, that there’s a big difference between Rat politicians and GOP/TEA politicians, especially this year.
There will be blacks elected, but it won’t be because they’re black. And they won’t be Democrats, I can guarantee that.
It’s the Rats who are going to get drubbed. Because they’re RED, that’s why!
Then what race are they?
Human.
But with regards to the candidates mentioned in this article, did they really think they would win solely because they happen to be black? Such racist thinking indeed.
I don't get why liberal blacks are so hung up about race. They keep whining that "we", presumably they mean whitey people, "must look beyond race" and yet they put race above all else when it comes to all things political.
That's the funny thing indeed. It is truly the conservative movement that looks beyond trivialities like race and sex when it comes to voting. All we care about is that our candidates love this country and adhere to the Constitution.
Ya think? The political correctness of putting a black man in office without any regard to his competence is now causing racisim. How ironic.
I’ll be more than happy to answer that. THEY ARE AMERICAN! Not Afro-Americans or Blacks.
...those who were already racists...stayed racists....one black man’s screwing up can change a person’s heart. It takes a heartless, hateful, Godless and cruel person to be a racist and those people come in every color. It is possible to be disgusted with this president without being a racist.
It is too bad for the blacks that Obama was the “First Black President” (not counting Clinton of course). First of all, he’s not a black ... so they sort of “fell” for that half of the story. Now we have proof that a black president isn’t much different that some of the “black presidents” we see in Africa. He is giving black politicians a bad name ... people are beginning to associate “black” with “socialist.” That’s too bad for a “real” black politician that might come along later. I can hear a voter say, “nah, we tried a black president ... remember Obama?” This will set blacks back politically for generations.
Yes, Herman Cain, a man with principles and understanding.
Thanks to BO, the”Never Again” purge is going to cut deep into this country’s mind set.
In a matter of months , Obama has set back the advances of black Americans a thousand times more than any so called “White Supremest” group could have ever even dreamed of.
What a guy.
I don't think too many people in Massachusetts seriously believe that Deval Patrick will win a second term.
Generally we have "black" Representatives because we have created "special" gerrymandered districts to make sure they are elected.
Maybe we need a couple of "special" gerrymandered states for the same reason?
YES WE CAN!!!!
Obama has already set race relations in the USA back 100 years.
Instead of working to bring people together as Americans first and foremost, he exploits petty differences and exacerbates existing disagreements while pursuing his agenda to bypass the Constitution and implement his brand of racist-socialism.
With his over reaching, his overt racism, and his airheaded incompetence he may well end up doing more to advance Americanism, traditional values and conservatism than any other major political figure in the last century.
Then what race are they?
American
.
Well, I’m not opposed to that argument. I agree. Frankly, in November 2008, when Blacks were jumping up and down for joy about the first Black President, I had no small amount of sadness knowing what a despicable man they had chosen for that honor.
There are good level headed Black men out there that could do a fine job, but they aren’t in the midst of the Democrat party. This guy has made that abundantly clear.
True. But there can be no doubt that racisim is rearing its ugly head again, precisely because our fear and guilt over racism led us to put a black man in office without any serious consideration of his qualifications.
Mark my words, left wing solidarity, of all colors, in defense of “The One”, created the purge that has only just begun.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.