Posted on 10/09/2002 1:57:31 AM PDT by kattracks
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Democrats long used to getting heavy support from New Jersey's black voters are shutting blacks out from top political decisions and ignoring their concerns, activists charged.
Black church and community leaders said Democrats should not expect blacks to vote lockstep with party leaders, especially after the shake-up in the Senate race.
They said community leaders felt shut out of the party decision to replace Sen. Robert Torricelli, who resigned as a candidate after months of talk about his personal ethics.
Leaders also said they were troubled by McGreevey's demand that Amiri Baraka, who is black, resign as state poet laureate after some claimed a Sept. 11 memorial poem was offensive and anti-Semetic.
McGreevey and legislators have promised swift action on bills that would allow the governor to fire Baraka and cut him from his two-year, $10,000 appointment.
Sen. Ronald L. Rice, D-Essex, was one of several legislators who said he was disappointed that more black party leaders were not consulted about the legislation, or about the selection of a new U.S. Senate candidate last week.
"We don't want to be a bunch of placeholders," Rice said. "I'm a good Democrat but I also believe I've earned the right to disagree."
The Rev. Reginald Jackson, executive director of the Black Ministers Council, said party leaders want blacks to vote, but offer them no reasons to support them after the election ends.
"It's insulting, it's demeaning and believe it or not younger African Americans are not toeing that line," he said. "And I think those who are going to expect us to be there in the future are in for a rude awakening."
Gov. James E. McGreevey, a Democrat, refused to discuss issues involving the senate selection process and concerns raised by black voters on Tuesday.
Walter Fields, a Democratic political consultant, said blacks are being shut out because Democrats have determined they risk losing no political support in the black community if they exclude blacks from decisions.
Blacks now have no leverage as a voting group because they consistently support Democrats and give no sign of changing, Fields said.
That allows mostly white power brokers to assume support from black voters without offering anything, or helping blacks into positions where they can become statewide candidates, he said.
"You not only don't have a guy on the short list, you're not even in the room when the decision is going to be made," Fields said. "Then you're told to vote for this person just because you're a Democrat."
Dissent between black voters and Democrats in New Jersey mirrors similar disputes in other states that have been going on for decades, political scientists and analysts said.
"Is one of those underlying issues that often affect race relations in general," said David Bositis, a senior analyst at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington. "There are people and issues and decisions that involve African Americans and their leaders and there's often a white political leadership that doesn't take into consideration and consult with and listen to African Americans."
Roger Wilkins, a professor at George Mason University, said blacks who weren't consulted have a major complaint if the party is depending on black voters to save the Senate seat.
But black voters must realize what party leaders faced trying to replace Torricelli, who quit with five weeks to go, Wilkins said.
"They didn't want it to be ragged, they wanted to get Torricelli behind them and they wanted a name and a face that was credible," he said.
Not all black leaders are worried.
"I think it's at least a non-issue. It's an issue to divide the Democratic party and to bring some doubt among our black leadership," said the Rev. Stanley Justice, another member of the Black Ministers Council.
Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Guess the Libs could not find a qualified Black candidate in all of NJ to run for the Senate. Maybe next time......maybe next time.
Oh, by the way, keep that 95% voting for Libs record going. Would not want to slip to maybe 94% and cause the Libs to think that blacks were not voting in lockstep with party leaders.
Note that in the Dim party, one has to earn the right to disagree. Very telling...JFK
Blacks now have no leverage as a voting group because they consistently support Democrats and give no sign of changing, Fields said.
Is anyone paying attention here? Yes, Mr. Fields, the pressure cooker is about to explode! Either get out of the way, or get knocked the hell out.
Ten to twenty percent. That's all I seek. Ten to twenty percent. I have no desire to try to convince all American blacks at one time. It's unnecessary. Ten to twenty percent of the black vote for the Pubs and the RATS can kiss power goodbye forever.
If we can convince this ten to twenty percent, more will follow later. In order for the RATS to become competitive again (and here's the most beautiful part), they will have to move to the right.
Ahh... I love the smell of vaporizing RATS in the morning!
We're not asking for your tears, you see? Conservative blacks such as mhking and myself are seeking 10-20% more of the American black vote into the conservative column. When this occurs, the RATS are doomed.
Now, the prospect of this should make conservatives everywhere salivate. So, I would hope that you would lend your support to our efforts. If not, no biggie, just don't depress the move. In other words (and by all means no offense), you can help by leading, following, or simply getting out of the way. That's all we ask.
Did we read the same article? I see no evidence in this column to support your claim.
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They want more power and control over the party or they're hinting at picking up their marbles and going home. Isn't that quite clear?
Duhhh!
90% of you vote for Democraps, regardless of how they treat you.
They can count on your votes and have to do nothing in return, why would they give you anything?
No, it's not.
Could it maybe, just maybe, be the fact that blacks are waking up to the fact that they are being used and are now saying it publicly?
It's amazing how we look at the same two sentences and come out with two completely different interpretations.
Only now, when it is too late, do black Democrats realize that nobody at the top of the New Jersey Democratic Party cares what they think.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
Only now, when it is too late, do black Democrats realize that nobody at the top of the New Jersey Democratic Party cares what they think.
When you conciously tie your fortunes to that of one party, this is what happens.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
Lately, I've been left with stunned looks on my face as I've read certain threads about voting for conservatives from non-white segments of society. It's been noted, and correctly so, that younger Jews trend towards the conservatives. Asians have gotten nods on this, and believe it or not, some Hispanics are given credence as well.
What's missing here? You decide.
But I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Correct. Now it stands to reason that the Pubs would take advantage of this, right? The piously principled would never admit it, but, all is fair in war and politics. When your enemy has an exposed weakness, you take advantage. But it doesn't look like it will be.
All I can now ask is, "Why not?" I'm talking about regular conservatives here. Fringe Right? Fuhgedaboudit. But why won't the GOP move on this?
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