The topics in the “All American Debate” were new, but the responses were so predictable. 

Howard University’s campus hosted the presidential debate with style.  The Blackburn Center auditorium was filled with 500 guests representing a broad range of stars from the African-American community.  Like most political events in Washington, D.C., getting a ticket wasn’t an easy task.   One insider told me that each candidate was given 50 tickets, and the remaining 100 seats were to be divided between PBS, the host Tavis Smiley and Howard University. 

Watching the debate from the “spin room” was an education all its own.  Few of my White counterparts recognized the faces being flashed across the jumbo screen during the debate. 

“Who’s that?”  One reporter asked me, “Victoria Rowell,” I responded.  Another reporter saw me jotting down names feverishly, and looked at me curiously. I mouthed “Vernon Jordan.”  

The audience was filled with faces spanning several generations.  Howard gave tickets to some college students; Smiley invited some youth folks from Florida.  But other faces inplace were quite familiar: activist/actors Harry Belafonte and Ruby Dee; author Terri McMillan; and activists Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, the Rev. Al Shapton, Dorothy Height President of National Council of Negro Women, and Ted Shaw of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. 

After the debate, the room filled with spin doctors, making sure we knew who were the frontrunners.  Surrogates for senators Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Chris Dodd and Joe Biden (D-Del.) and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) were stressing their candidates’ strengths. 

Rep. Dennis Kuchnich (D-Ohio), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and former Sen. Mike Gravel (D-Ak.) met with reporters face to face.

The crowd pleaser and most popular African-American celebrity was Professor Cornel West. His crowd, and his stream of reporters and photographers, grew larger and larger at the Obama stakeout.

Host Tavis Smiley stopped by too; he said he was pleased that a debate had finally moved beyond Iraq to issues more pertinent to Black America. “We haven’t had enough of these questions asked,” he said.  

The room started to thin about 30 minutes after the spin began.  I overheard folks from each camp claiming some level of victory.

I heard a few reporters say that they weren’t sure what the shining moment was tonight. 

For me, the shining moment was seeing all of these Black folks gathered at Howard University for a presidential debate.

 – Pamela Gentry, BET News

Candidates have been asked about education, AIDS/HIV and racism in America - the first Democratic debate that has not been foucsed on the War in Iraq.  ”I got tested for AIDS I know Barack got tested for AIDS, there’s no shame in being tested for AIDS,” Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) brought laughter to the media room, as did Obama’s response, “I got tested with Michelle,” he said.  The loudest laughter was reserved for the cut-a-way of Rev. Al Sharpton who had a scoll on his face.  Finally a little levity in the debate. 

9:33

The press isn’t seated in the auditorium and I guess we should be thankful.  It must be extreamly hot, folks in the audience and on the stage are sweating.  Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) leads Sen. Barack Obama on the brow meter.

The PBS debate  is underway and my first thoughts  are the three introductions of the event only detracted from the amount time for the candidates to debate.  Tom Joyer, Tavis Smiley and Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Mass.) should have made their remarks brief.  The media room is full but not crowded, and the spin locations are clearly marked on a red carpert in the center of the room.  The absence of ground rules before starting could be disruptive as the debate continues.  In the first few minutes during the opening photo op with candiates, there was a clear level of discomfort from candidates with shouts for Obama from the audience. 

Democratic presidential candidates  debated at Howard University  last night– but did we hear anything new? 

 Last night the Dems came together for their third televised presidential debate.  PBS’s “All-American Presidential Forum” took place at historically Black Howard University and was moderated by Tavis Smiley.
 

The debates thus far have concentrated on the war in Iraq. Wasl this one any different?  I’ve heard criticism from Black lawmakers who argue that candidates aren’t addressing topics more important to African Americans because so much emphasis is being placed on the war. The domestic issues, like health care, jobs, education, affordable housing and rebuilding after Katrina have been left out.

Did they talk about any of the issues important to you?

Pamela Gentry, BET News Senior Producer, Blogging Live from Howard U.
 

 Brown vs. Board of Education is under attack, and the newly appointed conservative members of the court are making diversity a dirty word. Democratic leaders in Congress, especially members of the Black Caucus, were hoping mad over the Supreme Court decision that essentially derailed the enforcement of Brown vs. Board of Education. 

 The Supreme Court Justices of the United States

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Carolyn Kilpatrick [(D-Mich.) pictured below: right] told me  “this heinous ruling not only topples more than half a century of progress achieved under the Brown v. the Topeka, Kansas Board of Education decision, it encourages separation and segregation in private industry and government as well as in education.’’ She pointed to the dissenting remarks by Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer who warned that  “this is a decision that the Court and the Nation will come to regret.”  Kilpatrick said the  Congressional Black Caucus will continue to fight for quality education for all children; will confront the crises posed to us by the Supreme Court ruling, and will continue the legacy established by NAACP attorney and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall to ensure that all American children attend and receive a quality education.” 

Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings (D) (pictured below) agreed. He said“today’s school integration ruling was a major setback for this nation’s movement toward diversity.”  “Since the Brown decision, increased integration of schools has benefited students of all backgrounds. Research shows that a diverse learning environment improves the problem solving and communication skills of all students, which better prepares our nation to succeed in the global economy.” 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she is “extremely disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision overriding the efforts of local communities to grapple with the complex issue of diversity in our schools.  This decision is a retreat from our nation’s commitment to opportunity and equality in our schools and a retreat from the fundamental values of our country.”Leading Democratic presidential candidates  Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama said they would do better if elected in appointing judges who have a commitment to civil rights.

 Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said “this wrong-headed ruling underscores the critical importance of a president’s appointments to the Supreme Court and a Justice Department’s commitment to civil rights enforcement.   “I filed a brief in these cases, along with several of my colleagues in the Senate, which explained to the Court that a racially diverse learning environment has a profoundly positive educational impact on all students, and I remain devoted to working toward this goal.  The Congress has the constitutional power and responsibility to address the resegregation of our schools, and I am committed to using that authority.” Sen. Hillary Clinton, (D-N.Y.) said, “Once again, the [John] Roberts (pictured right) Court has shown its willingness to erode core constitutional guarantees. It is a set back for all of us who are on the long march toward racial equality and the building of a stronger more unified America. As president, I will fight to restore Brown’s promise and create an education system where all children have an equal chance to learn and excel together.”

 – Pamela Gentry, Blogging from Capitol Hill