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Booing A Black lawmaker
Published by Pamela Gentry on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 11:32 am.
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’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.
Amazine site
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Amazine site
Thanks, webmaster.