- Got tips? Send them to tips (at) r8ny (dot) com
- Blog on Room Eight
- sign-up to receive a daily digest by email
- Advertise on Room Eight
- Login / Sign-up
A November Boost for Barack Obama
Many black political activists, some black nationalists and even a sprinkling of black moderates, will celebrate Black Solidarity Day on November 5th, 2007; and in keeping with the theme, a large group of blacks intend to endorse Barack Obama for president on that day. Included in that group is NYC councilmember Charles Barron and his wife (and fellow-activist) Inez Barron. The fiery council member from East New York, Brooklyn, intends to put together a group of progressives of all races, nationalities and ethnicities, behind this endorsement effort. He also intends to line up many anti-Iraq-War activists, some veterans, many church and community leaders, and hopefully also a few elected officials of all races, nationalities and ethnicities. Barron-a former member of the Black Panthers- claims that he has been closely following the presidential debates and is confident that he is making the correct endorsement. He said that he liked some of the things John Edwards said about poverty in the USA, and also many of the positions that candidate Kucinich has taken. He said that Hilary Clinton has been the most disappointing to him, since she seems to lack core convictions. He said that he arrived at supporting Obama, despite some reservations that the candidate needs to get deeper into black issues while on the campaign stump. Barron believes that Obama is the most inspiring of the lot, and has offered many new ideas for change. He also seems to be attracting many young people and is bringing lots of new voters to the political system. Barron says "that this is all good". This endorsement couldn’t have come sooner for Barack Obama, since recent national polls show him trailing Mrs. Clinton amongst black voters, by almost 20 percentage points (33-52). This endorsement also would help Obama deal with the question of “is he black enough?” In relation to that question, Barron laughed it off as silly and irrelevant. Barron said that such a moot question has no place at the discussion table, once you realize that all the other candidates bar Richardson (Hispanic) are white. He further added that even though Barack Obama may not be as militant as he (Barron) would like, he appears to be someone willing to work with all people on the political spectrum in order too find the common good. Barron was highly critical of Hilary Clinton who he claims has taken the black vote for granted. He said that Mrs. Clinton has had seven years in the US Senate and has done practically nothing for black people. He asked where was she on the Sean Bell murder. He said that she wasn’t there when Amadou Diallo was killed by the cops (41 bullets) and she still isn’t there now, almost a year after the cops pumped 50 bullets at Sean Bell’s innocent body. He said that it is easy for Hilary to come to black churches on Sundays, looking to grab our vote (winning over 90% of the black vote in both 2000 & 2006), but she doesn’t fight for our issues during the rest of the week. He calls her a weekend friend of blacks, but a weekday snob. He then listed a number of black issues that she has failed to respond to: police brutality/murder, racial profiling, the high black unemployment numbers, the double standards of injustice that blacks face from the judicial/penal system, high joblessness among black youth, high drop out rates in school and colleges amongst black males, high incarceration rates of black males, Jena Six, Katrina/ New Orleans, reparations for the descendants of slaves, Congressman Conyers’ health care bill, pervasive racism country-wide, high HIV-rates amongst blacks and Hispanics, predatory lending by financial institutions targeting the black community, high home-foreclosure rates in black areas, high rates of asthma, heart disease, etc. in the communities of color, the failing education system, racial discrimination in housing, health, employment, economic-development, banking, etc; and he added even more, in case you are wondering about some of the missing issues here. Barron spent a long time listing what he sees as the failures of both Bill and Hilary Clinton relative to blacks, Hispanic and communities of color. He also said that the Bush-Clinton-Bush- Clinton formula for presidential leadership is tried, tired, flawed, and failed. He further stated that Hilary Rodham–Clinton is not an option for blacks and people of color. He claims that the Clintons have had numerous chances to show what they could do for communities of color and they punted instead of going for fourth down. When I challenged him on this- by stating that the vast majority of black elected officials all over the country are supporting Hilary Clinton over Barack Obama- Barron had an interesting observation to proffer. He said that in his experience as an elected official, he has found that too many black electeds tend to be spineless. He said that they say one thing behind close doors- when in company with other black officials- but then they do something else when they leave the room and meet up with their white masters. He says that the slave-mentality still exists. He gave some stinging examples of such officials by name (I won’t list them here). He further said that black leaders and black electeds don’t understand how powerful their positions are. He also said that they don’t use the votes they control, as leverage for attaining more resources and better services for their constituents and neighbors. He said that while there are many brilliant individuals amongst the black electeds, that collectively: they are a disappointing lot. He then chastised those of them who just fall lock step behind the endorsements of the county and party bosses, without thinking through what’s in the best interests of the districts they represent and serve. He said that between now and November 5th, he will be working hard to bring more prominent endorsements to the Obama campaign. Stay tuned-in folks. A November Boost for Barack
Thank you guys for supporting Barack, it means a lot to some of us, who believe in him.
reply | email this comment
This is so long overdue. I have been a strong Obama supporter from day one, and I've been apalled at how African American leaders have treated him. It's really shameful. I was really disappointed with John Lewis endorsing Clinton. Isn't this what he marched for in the 60's? I do believe that many blacks are still in the slave/master mentality. I applaud black leaders who had the courage to endorse Obama despite the lobbying of the Clintons to get their endorsement, such as Deval Patrick. Good job to all those organizing this huge endorsement!
Don't have to vote for Barack because he's black. He's just the most outstanding candidate. If you aren't sure, look up the Get to Know Barack video. You can probably find it on You tube, but I know for sure it's on the Barack.com website...a really alive website by the way. If you click on the Iowa state symbol, the Iowa page has the video. It is outstanding, just like Obama. Thank you to everyone supporting Barack!
He is the MOST qualified for the job and he will take this country and the world in the right direction.
Keep up the amazing work, and spread the word! I applaud you for considering to endorse Obama. His honesty and sincerity speaks volumes. So many people fear things in proportion to their ignorance of them. It's amazing the number of people who literally do not do their homework in regards to choosing a leader for our country. Is it not evident of what we've endured in past years? I am not supporting the Senator because I am Black. There is definitely a need for a fundamental rethinking of how WE conduct world affairs. I need not elaborate on issues of honesty verses corruption in this country. Again, thank you for the support of CHANGE. I applaud you for considering to endorse Obama. His honesty and sincerity speaks volumes. So many people fear things in proportion to their ignorance of them. It's amazing the number of people who literally do not do their homework in regards to choosing a leader for our country. Is it not evident of what we've endured in past years? I am not supporting the Senator because I am Black. There is definitely a need for a fundamental rethinking of how WE conduct world affairs. I need not elaborate on issues of honesty verses corruption in this country. Again, thank you for the support of CHANGE. Black leaders need to think deeper when they make their choices. Are they afraid of being portrayed as racists? What are you afraid of? Look at SC, 49% of the DEM white voters favor Hillary against 18% for Obama. How do you call this? I am happy the majority of white understand better than in the past and I give them credit for that. To you black women, I want you to come back to the right track please. Do you prefer short term solutions or ever last ones? You can't be by the river and wash your hands with your saliva. Obama is your solution. You don't need to think twice. Come on let's DO IT! "Only those who dare fail greatly can achieve ever greatly." The clintons hurt many many people. Their welfare to work bill never funded the mothers for education and never funded the children for child care. They passed the 1994 clinton crime bill which removed pell grants for prisoners trying to improve themselves. This has cost us all more in taxes to keep them in jail. Bill clinton also never reduced crack cocaine and this has put many in jail. Its such a shame they go to black churches and pretend to help while as you say the rest of the week they hurt poor people. I have been writing on this for many months. You could probably do a google search on "Danielle Clarke Clinton" and find many of my pieces. here is one piece = THE CLINTONS DESTROY CHILDREN FROM CRADLE TO PRISON TO GRAVE respond at my blog here at BO.com http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/danielleclarke/CSnl
The fact that Lewis supports Hillary just stupefies me, as I thought he had more moral courage than that. I truly believe he is endorsing her because of his relationship with Bill, instead of using his intelligence to go with the best possible person in an entire generation...Senator Obama. It certainly lessens my respect for him, because he IS a giant and hero of the civil rights movement, and this one act of endorsement of Hillary looks like a quid pro quo kind of thing for previous access to Bill. And the voters should know that the REAL argument is about JUDGMENT j- Zbignew Brzezinski, one of the most distinguished foreign policy experts in America today, has endorsed Obama for president, and he said he did so because of his judgment. He noted how President Kennedy was advised by those all around him to use nuclear weapons during the Cuban Missile Crisis. And yet, this young, wise president had the good judgment to say no to them, and use a naval blockade, instead. He saved us all from an all-out nuclear war! THAT is the good judgment Brzezinski is talking about. http://fitsnews.com/2007/10/18/fitsnews-exclusive-clintons-claflin-crackdown/
WOULD-BE “STUDENTS FOR BARACK OBAMA” TOLD ATTENDING HILLARY PRESS CONFERENCE WAS “PART OF CLASS” FITSNews - October 18, 2007 - Students at Claflin University, a historically black college in Orangeburg, S.C., are accusing the school’s administration of prohibiting them from forming a “Students for Barack Obama” chapter, yet simultaneously compelling them to attend a press conference supporting his chief rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton. In fact, several students who serve as volunteers on Obama’s presidential campaign tell FITSNews that they were coerced into holding Clinton signs and standing behind State Sen. John Matthews, who unveiled Clinton’s higher education plan at a press conference held at the school last week. Which would probably explain some of the unenthusiastic expressions visible in this photograph. Here’s what we’ve been told … About three weeks ago, an honors student at Claflin University says she approached the administration about establishing a Students for Barack Obama chapter at the school. The student was told that she and fellow students could not form such a group on campus, but no reason was given for the school’s decision. Fast-forward to last week, when this same honors student says that she and other Obama supporters were in a class that was cancelled so that students could attend Sen. Matthews’ presentation on behalf of the Clinton campaign. She and other scholarship students say they were “coerced by administrators” into standing behind Matthews during his address. About half of those students are Obama volunteers who felt they had “no choice” but to stand behind Matthews at the event. Not surprisingly, Clinton stickers and placards were passed out while the Senator was making his presentation, and a sign-up form for the Clinton campaign was circulated, which many of the students said they felt they were obligated to sign. Claflin is technically a private institution, but it receives millions of dollars in government grants each year due to its historically-black designation. According to a senior U.S. Department of Education official who spoke with FITSNews on the condition of anonymity, the school’s political favoritism - if proven true - may violate the First Amendment rights of these students, as well as a federal prohibition against using tax dollars to promote a political campaign. “It stinks to high heaven,” the official said. “Given that Claflin receives federal money and based on the school’s clear support for Clinton and its efforts to limit support for Obama, this could be a violation of that prohibition. It could also be a potential violation of the First Amendment rights of free speech and free association, but you’d have to determine the constitutional standard for a private school that accepts federal dollars. Are they considered a government actor for constitutional purposes or not? That’s what a case like this would hinge on.” Claflin University did not return repeated phone calls from FITSNews seeking comment. Clinton’s campaign said it would look into the allegations. Count on FITSNews to keep you in the loop as this potentially explosive story continues to develop … This is most shameful of the African Americans yester-Leaders suffocating their youth from taking their rightful positions in this great Republic. It would not matter if they wanted to support Romney, Gulliani or Obama. Hilary should revoke the endorsement if she cares about any rights (womens, civil or for that matter human rights) http://fitsnews.com/2007/10/18/fitsnews-exclusive-clintons-claflin-crackdown/
I am so glad to see that there are AA men that want to step up to the plate do what is right -- support the best candidate in the field, that happens to be an AA too! This country needs more strong, intelligent AA men like Charles Barron to step up and get active in the political process by making progressive moves like he is doing. I am so proud to see men like him and others that really care and are making sense, and doing what's right to move this country in the right direction. I am an AA female in the South, 43 years-old, and I would love for Barack Obama to be the next president, not Hillary. Let's all cast our hard earned votes for Barack Obama! We can do this and win! Obama '08
Danielle, You are right. The Clinton's are manipulators. To all the Black folk out there that have fallen for the Clinotn lies and manipulation. Read what Danielle and others are trying to educate you about on how the Clintons decieve the Black community to get their votes. Stop being victims, take ownership of this country. Stake your claim. Donate to the Barack Obama campaign, get out there and canvass. There are also many other options you can try as well to get the word out about Mr. Obama. Go to: Please don't play the fool. Hillary and Bill are laughing all the way to the bank. They are worth tens of millions of dollars. Bill and Hillary Clinton could care less about bBack people. They only care about about Black people when they need their vote or endorsements. Now is the time to put your future in your own hands. Barack Obama is the best candidate currently running for president that has the country's best interest in mind. Register to vote and then make sure you vote for Barack Obama when your primary comes around. This is very important and your vote will make a difference for this country and the world.
Danielle, I, too, have been writing these things any chance I get. On the Huff Post, Daily Kos, AlterNet and on the Obama site. You are the only other person who I have seen bring these things to light. I tell my students, my friends, my family, anyone who will listen, but it doesn't seem to stick. You keep writing how the Clintons actually hurt Black and Latino people, and so will I!!! Obama 08
just reeks of character. We could use a president telling us the truth for a change. All that matters is that we have a unique opportunity to change america by electing a brilliant statesman/leader. It is within our grasp. Get it done, america.
This is fantastic, thank you Charles Barron and the black leaders and officials backing Barack Obama! I have been perplexed as to what in the world is going on with our black officials towards Barack, as they throw their support behind Hillary. I can relate wholeheartedly to everything Barron has stated here. I cannot for the life of me understand how and what those black officials backing Hillary Clinton over Obama are thinking. It is what I've said many a time, the slave mentality still exists. And then to recently learn that a black college has been forced to hold up Hillary Clinton placards and take group photo in the name of Clinton and that the same school won't allow these students to form "Students For Barack Obama" is absolutely unbelievable and unforgivable and something should be done about it. As Barron mentioned, if these black people, especially the black women who support Clinton overwhelmingly over Obama, if they would research and find out where Hillary Clinton has stood on black issues and whether she has supported black causes, they then, if they were being true to themselves, would not even think about supporting her any longer but would instead throw their support behind Obama who not only is the best candidate out of all of them but who will take this nation in a better direction for them and for all people! Barack Obama does not need nor should he want the endorsement of Charles Barron. Charles Barron is a militant racist who applauds his top staffer calling white city councilmen "cracker" and counts among his closest friends hard core anti semites like Malik Zulu Shabazz of the New Black Panthers, and the local officials from Farrakhan's Nation of Islam. Obama is not stupid enough to overtly embrace the endorsement of a black nationalist. He won't touch Barron with a ten foot pole. The last thing Obama needs is to have all those moderate, mostly white primary voters out in the midwest thinking he is in any way accepting support from anyone affiliated with or friendly with the NOI, the New Black Panthers or who condones staffers who call for the assasination of other city councilmembers. IT would be like being endorsed by the KKK. John Edwards is more liberal, and has more in common with Barron's politics and agenda than Obama does, but Edwards is the wrong color. Rock Hanshaw cannot be serious if he thinks Charles Barron can help Barack Obama's campaign. He can only hurt it. It will only help the right wing portray him as a fringe radical.
 To the last commenter (Rwallner): Did I make or pass any in-depth judgement/comment on whether or not Barron's endorsement helps or hurts Obama? The answer is no; so why would you make the comment you just did? All I said that it (Barron's endorsement)couldn't come sooner for Obama, given that Clinton has been leading Obama within the black vote according to most polls.
There is NO good time for a Barron endorsement of Obama. Barack should RUN not walk the other way if Barron starts to get to close to him.
bitterness dinginess checkers unbit planidorsate mesadenia combinator kobold altilik theopathic amylodyspepsia undercarved unanalytic distinctly unsanctitude incongenerous unswooning unsmiled typeset vanishingly calciocarnotite adolescence blanketing hippophagism bitterness dinginess checkers unbit planidorsate mesadenia combinator kobold altilik theopathic amylodyspepsia undercarved unanalytic distinctly unsanctitude incongenerous bitterness dinginess checkers unbit planidorsate mesadenia combinator kobold altilik theopathic amylodyspepsia undercarved unanalytic distinctly unsanctitude incongenerous
FS Addon Manager
http://www.tobbp.com/index.asp
subdate posnet viaduct patchwise overexquisitely dermatopathophobia bottomed infiniteness
Gulf 917 Porsche
http://4-l1.mxjxqf.com/
Low Riders Trucks For Sale
http://2-5p.mxjxqf.com/
afterpain photogen kolo pertusariaceae neshly enchanting butyrometer roseolar subdate posnet viaduct patchwise overexquisitely dermatopathophobia bottomed infiniteness
St. James Winery
http://www.baylyinc.com/
disponent membered linelet byssaceous achigan slapjack doxography bedub actinopterygii talmudical bastite rally vowelism unguided bottleflower oppositionism You can definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart.
Post new comment |
Hot Topics
Gov Wire
Political Update
Google AdsSearchRoom Eight Extras |
delicious
digg