Booing A Black lawmaker
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
Posted April 2, 2008 – I really hate to say, “I told you so,” but the reception Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) received from her own constituents last weekend during the Texas Democratic Convention isn’t surprising.
Lee is an ardent and vocal supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), but the folks she “reps” don’t agree with her presidential pick. They, like most African Americans, are for the freshman Democratic senator from Illinois, Barack Obama.
On Feb. 11, I predicted that this is precisely what would happen. I warned that Black lawmakers who were out of step with their constituents at this historic time in American politics might just see their voter base dwindle and lose their seats in the future.
Some Black lawmakers, realizing that their political futures are far more important than their allegiance to Clintons, quickly changed their endorsements from Hillary to the popular candidate of their constituents, Obama. Georgia Congressmen David Scott and John Lewis were among the first to flip-flop for the sake of the people they represent – and for their own political lives.
Lewis, a longtime friend of the Clintons, said when he switched, “”Something’s happening in America, something some of us did not see coming. Barack Obama has tapped into something that is extraordinary. “
Lee, one of Clinton’s national co-chairs, is seen as having a disconnect with the folks who sent her to Washington. During an interview on Fox News earlier this month, she confirmed she was sticking with Clinton – regardless of her constituents’ choice.
The booing began the moment Lee rose during the Texas Democratic Convention to speak to the crowd. The 18th district, which is predominantly Black, delivered 90 percent of its vote for the Illinois senator in the Texas primary.
KHOU’s Web site has video and sound of the audience’s boos and chants for the Illinois senator. You can hear Obama supporters calling out Obama’s name as she tries to address the convention.
I doubt this reaction was expected by Lee, but it could be a sign of things to come. Lee is the first to get feedback so quickly, and this could signal to her and other elected “super delegates” just how big the stakes are if they decide not to follow the wishes of the folks who put them in office.
Following this latest development, she told reporters, “What would I be if I went back on my word to an individual that I’ve worked with for more than a decade and who sat down talked to me about her vision for America?”
The answer: politically brilliant.
It is SO wonderful to see!! Now that you have a real stake in the future of your country, African Americans (and everyone else whose fed up with the status quo) are becoming more involved and more aware of their political landscape - on every level! The African Diaspora in the UK are rooting for you. Keep the fire burning! OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!!!!
Yes, thanks UK!
OBAMA is the guy we have been waiting for… Thanks for your support.
I think all these Black politicians should be ashamed of themselves for not backing Obama they are all haters,especially Bob Johnson what’s up with him?
I think the people know what’s going on in american politics and they know there is a movement with Obama and they are afraid to hop on the train because they don’t want to face the the consequences.
IT’S SAD TO SEE HOW QUICKLY WE FORGET AS A BLACK RACE WHEN WE GET IN HIGH POSITIONS AND STILL DON’T SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE. ALL OF THE BLACK’S SUPPORTING THE CLINTON’S SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY’RE BEING USED BY THE CLINTONS.
WHAT HILLARY CLINTON SAID ABOUT THE LATE MARTIN L. KING & BILL CLINTON ABOUT OBAMA WINNING IN THE MOST BLACK DOMINATE STATES SHOULD BE A SLAP IN THE FACE. HOW CAN THEY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HER WHEN SHE HAS NO LOYALITY TO YOU.
WAKE UP MY BROTHER’S AND SISTER’S IS TIME TO CHOOSE SOMEONE WHO STANDS FOR TRUTH AND HONESTY.
OBAMA WILL WIN IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME, AND ALL YOU LOYAL CLINTON BACKER’S WILL SEE WHAT A GREAT MISTAKE YOU MADE.
OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT 2008!!!!
I can’t believe the ignorance of some black people. I guess Represesntative Lee should have sold her sould to the devil and changed her heartfelt choice and switched to
Barack Obama just because he’s the BLACK candidate? I can’t wait to see “IF” Obama becomes President what he’s going to do for all the African-Americans who voted for him just because he’s black. As soon as he’s forced to make descisions that Black people don’t agree with they’ll be calling him a sell out too….GET OVER YOUR RACISOM BLACK FOLK!
Hats off to you Brother Charles
Where is my comment, Is there some restriction on how a comment is worded or who it is from. I have had this problem before. Stop sending me emails if you are not going to post my comments
My Comment PLEASE
Go Obama!
Tyrone is right, I personally at different times, left up to FOUR comments which were not posted. Then I typed GO OBAMA on the comment that has Talishs’a name on it to see if that would get posted. It did. I guess BET shows their bias again since my other comments were Pro-Hillary.
HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT REP, LEE WAS AN UNCLE TOM! HOW SHE CAN BACK THESE PHONY PEOPLE WHO ARE OR SHOULD I SAY WERE TRYING TO USE THE BLACK VOTE IN UNBELIEVABLE! PEOPLE LIKE THIS ONLY CARE ABOUT THEMSELVES AND WHAT THEY CAN GET OUT OF WHO THEIR CATERING TO!
Charles get off your high horse and face reality,how mwny people in the polls have indicated they would not vote for Barack because he is black and they would vote for Hilary or Mcain coz of their color,and on the other hand you have blacks like you(that is if you are even black)saying they will not even consider Obama’s color.The blacks in France are watching and we say to you bro that is reality,so you have a choice to bury your own or continue what has been done for the 500 yrs blacks have been in the country,uphold the white man as superior just becoz they have programmed you to think so.With this kind of mentality the so called advanced USA will for ever lag behind all developed nations when it comes to following their own professed equality for all.They need to do what they preach to other nations coz the world is watching!!!
Let’s tell the truth, Hillary Rodman Clinton has been using Bill Clinton’S Presendecy for her political gains;she was not from New York,but she won that senate seat.Now,she is running for Presidency of the United States.When will she stop, riding on Bill’s shirt tails.I personally think being married to a former President should disqualify you from running-especially when he is still alive,because it really destroys his(President)legacy,when he has to be out campaigning and Scrutinized on what ever he says…Poor Bill:-(…and I use to like the guy..BUT NOBODY TALKS ABOUT OBAMA…
I think its a sad time in American History when so many young people of color Brown, Hispanic, Asia etc must feel pressured to vote based on color, relatives or friends. I am Young, Female and Afrian American and proud to be a supporter of Hilary Clinton. I’m also proud that so many of us (people of color) are trying to understand politics and why its important to vote but we should also understand that it is our personal vote, NOT THE VOTE OF OUR PEERS!
This is disappointing to me. This is America and people can vote for and support whoever they want. Every black person does not have to vote for Barack Obama. Just because an African American does not vote for Obama does not mean they are a Uncle Tom. Regardless of who we choose to vote for we have to stand together as a people because we are going to have to support whoever wins…which may not even be Obama. Frankly I have more respect for Lee for sticking to what she believes.
Why is that everytime, a black man or black woman do or say something which is their right,against the grain of other black people. Most of us are supporting Obama. If others are not please they are not uncle Toms. Just individual with their own opinions.
Yes, she should be ashamed,were does she think the clintons machine is going to but her, anywhere but the front of the bus. More like the back of a police car. then she might remeber that she is actully black?
She is doing what is righ im black and i personally like the Clintons and im supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton for President. Let me see you boo Robert Johnson for supporting Hillary Clinton.
I’m not getting all the arguing over Clinton/Obama. Calling people Unclue Toms and sell outs if they don’t vote this way or that.
I could maybe understand if they were in different parties but they are both democrats and in the end they will both use blacks and other people of color to get what they want because that is their prime voter base.
And NO I’m not saying jump ship and vote for the white guy but stop trying to act like Obama is the great black hope. He’s just a man with an agenda to get ahead like everybody else in politics.
I REALLY hope THIS gets posted cause i like tyrone have written important issues with me and its not posted other people write books on here and it is posted!!! People do have the right to VOTE 4 who they want but no Election should be based on favoritism from other elected officials just because of their relationships with the Clintons in the past!~!It isnt because Obama is a black man that many people are rooting for him! He offers a NEW Vision which i believe would not have been truly recognized or possible if it were not for the increase in young people now registered to vote and still registering because of this historic moment. REMEMBER: OBAMA is taking alot of flack and he still stands, for ALL the people not just black!
Right Mr.DJ we have tried everything else we might as well try the great black hope as well.
Can’t be any worst than what we have now.
Get over this black thing and let’s get America Back from what they intended it to be. go forward and let’s live again, where everybody can work and have whatever they can afford. We are tired of this government. Let’s change it.
Brother Charles needs to learn how to spell before he can comment on who is a racist or not.
RACISOM is not spelled that way my brother, it is spelled RACISM……
Maybe with a black president you will get a better education.
All of the Aunt Jemimas and Uncle Toms ( Charles, Gwen, John, Mai Robertson, Phil-Up, Daqavise and DJ ) are for the lying deceitful clintons in “08″. Go Obama go,Black Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey, I’m “white”,
but it’s just so obvious that Obama is the best canidate..(by far!!)
..whether, he was Black or White…….it wouldn’t matter…he’s the best: he’s intelligent, kind, and decent……..and America (and the world) would be blessed to have him as president.
Clinton & McCain are the same… the same old, same old…
This country needs a change.
This country needs Obama!
It’s difficult to overlook the fact that Obama’s black - but that’s not how he got where he is. The statistics prove it time & again that people believe in what he stands for. People are pouring in millions of dollars to support his campaign - these are people that believe! The man is brilliant! With the state of our economy - we NEED a president that knows how to speak and knows how to bring people together for a common cause! If Obama can make our country stop and think about race relations - without causing riots - imagine what he can do to bring our allies back… OBAMA! OBAMA!
GO OBAMA
A saying popular in our society is, “It takes a village to raise a child.” My question is, “Who will raise the village.”
Any black person voting for Clinton, and supporting Clinton, are uncle toms and auntie toms, especially seeing as how they’ve consistently used the race card all throughout this primary. Black men who are supporting Clinton, are playerhating black men, who don’t want to see another black man rise to the top, seeing as how they think so little of black male authority. Black women who are supporting Clinton, are putting their gender above their race, not realizing that regardless of whether a white woman, or a white man gets in the white house, the same effect will occur: THE WHITE HOUSE WILL STILL BE WHITE.
Also these black women have a deep down resentment towards black men, and don’t want to see the black man stand up and be strong.
It amazing me that when we as Black voter were supporting Clinton, Gore, and Kerry at 85-90 percent, no one scolded us about who we were supporting, but now we have a quilified candidate who who is Black, we are not suppose to support him. I watch people like Ed Rendell make comments about white people not voting for Obama because of his skin color and I wonder if the Blacks in PA hadn’t supported Rendell, who is white, then a Black man, Lynn Swan would be governor now. This shows you that we don’t always support the Black candidate. We support the candidate that we feel is most qualified.
SHE IS PART OF THE WASHINGTON MACHINE, IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE AND OBAMA REPRENTS THAT CHANGE. HILLARY SEEMS TO SAY WHAT EVER SHE WANTS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT ALONG WITH HER HUSBAND THINK THAT HILLARY IS OWED THE OFFICE. GUESS WHAT SHE IS NOT
As a black person we should not be made to feel as if we have to vote for Obama just because he is black . The people booing Rep Lee should be ashamed of themselves.
I respect everyone’s opinion and think they are all valid. I personally will be voting for Obama, not because he is black, but because he represents the change that this country needs. I think he is honest and trustworthy. I can’t say I feel that way about Clinton and McCain.
um to jacie dont believe all dat crap da media be sayin they jus messy and always want sumthin to start. but i personally feel for obama and im proud to see that a black man is running for pres. but i think that we shouldnt get to caught up in it and if people wanna go for clinton let them go cuz u have to know who you feel confortable for and ot jus a black person runnin. but ill make it specific lata on shoot holla. BT I WANNA GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO ALL MY HOMIES @ BJH COUGARS STAND UP AND REP DIS BIH AND HEY CHRISTIE GUL!!!!!
AND IF THEY BOO SOMEBODY ONE MO TYME…………
i am ashamed to have the same name as that fool….how did you get this far by votes not by being friends with hillary …since you value her more than you hertiage and the the blacks who voted you in ,maybe you should be on the unemployment lines
What ever you say Uncle tony tom (Uncle tom/Black cracker)…self-help in “08″…Black Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My my…. I respect Mrs. Lee, but this is a chance of a life time.
The way I see it is that if every black person voted for Obama and every white for Hillary Obama would have never came this far. And many of these comments clearly go against everything Dr. King fought for. These comments seem as if they were written 40+ years ago. Sure he would be happy a black man was running but he wouldnt like it that just because he is black we’re voting for him. We need to be more like Shelia Jackson Lee and less like John Lewis.
Are you familiar with the book RON BROWN’S BODY: How One Man;s Death Saved The Clinton Presidency and Hillary’s Future by Jack Cashill?
Having served in the U.S.M.C. I can honestly tell anyone the enemy in war is not concerned with any american’s skin color. I challange all american’s to find one (1) blind person in need of help and see if they’re concerned with your skin color…they’re only concern will be one’s honesty, integrity and loyalty. Now pick your vote. P.S. 5 Brooklyn, New York taught we had two strikes 1) Black 2) Poor…I’ve eliminated one and woouldn’t replace my blackness for all the “Money” on Wall St.
Having served in the U.S.M.C. I can honestly tell anyone the enemy in war is not concerned with any american’s skin color. I challange all american’s to find one (1) blind person in need of help and see if they’re concerned with your skin color…they’re only concern will be one’s honesty, integrity and loyalty. Now pick your vote. P.S. 5 Brooklyn, New York taught we had two strikes 1) Black 2) Poor…I’ve eliminated one and wouldn’t replace my blackness for all the “Money” on Wall St.
Mike H.
Gov.Rendell won the last election because white republicans did not vote for Lynn Swann.That is the samething that happened in Ohio and Maryland.
You are correct in questioning people that don’t understand why Blacks are supporting Sen. Obama,it’s not just his skin,it is also his mindset.