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To My Colleague Brent Budowsky, On the NAACP and Race
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07/16/07 07:43 AM ET
I had the opportunity to read Mr. Budowsky’s post over the weekend and am happy to keep this important dialogue alive — the results of which may well surprise Brent.
First, I think candidates from both sides of the aisle make a major mistake of not attending conventions/functions sponsored by groups such as the Urban League and the NAACP. I think that the Democrats have taken the black vote for granted over the years and show up just in time for an election to pander for the vote. Republicans, for their part, tend to ignore such gatherings altogether.
If one wants to be the president of the United States or any other elected official, he or she ought to find the time to meet with as many potential constituents as possible. My friend, former Rep. J.C. Watts, is absolutely right in urging Republicans to attend such meetings as the NAACP and Urban League candidate forums. Couldn’t agree with him or Brent more there.
As far as the Harold Ford ad is concerned, I thought the whole thing was rather amusing — as did Ford himself. I am offended by ads such as the one former Sen. Jesse Helms ran years back, in which a black hand was pictured on the screen in a blatant attempt to encourage voters not to vote for the black candidate. You can attack someone all you want based on the issues, but blatant race-baiting has no time or place in America in the 21st century. Period.
I think our respective columns/posts indicate that race, unfortunately, is still a factor when voters go to the polls and candidates decide which speaking invitations to accept and which to decline. For my part, I will continue to push the Republican Party and those seeking elected office to actively solicit voices from persons of color not when their votes are needed but when their input on substantive issues could help shape domestic and international policy matters.
Here’s hoping that both major political parties solicit input from communities of color to help bring this country together rather than pull us apart based on something as superficial as the color of one’s skin.
First, I think candidates from both sides of the aisle make a major mistake of not attending conventions/functions sponsored by groups such as the Urban League and the NAACP. I think that the Democrats have taken the black vote for granted over the years and show up just in time for an election to pander for the vote. Republicans, for their part, tend to ignore such gatherings altogether.
If one wants to be the president of the United States or any other elected official, he or she ought to find the time to meet with as many potential constituents as possible. My friend, former Rep. J.C. Watts, is absolutely right in urging Republicans to attend such meetings as the NAACP and Urban League candidate forums. Couldn’t agree with him or Brent more there.
As far as the Harold Ford ad is concerned, I thought the whole thing was rather amusing — as did Ford himself. I am offended by ads such as the one former Sen. Jesse Helms ran years back, in which a black hand was pictured on the screen in a blatant attempt to encourage voters not to vote for the black candidate. You can attack someone all you want based on the issues, but blatant race-baiting has no time or place in America in the 21st century. Period.
I think our respective columns/posts indicate that race, unfortunately, is still a factor when voters go to the polls and candidates decide which speaking invitations to accept and which to decline. For my part, I will continue to push the Republican Party and those seeking elected office to actively solicit voices from persons of color not when their votes are needed but when their input on substantive issues could help shape domestic and international policy matters.
Here’s hoping that both major political parties solicit input from communities of color to help bring this country together rather than pull us apart based on something as superficial as the color of one’s skin.
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