Blacks don't owe the Clintons a thing

[VegasGuy]

Roland S. Martin


One of my all-time favorite TV shows is "The West Wing." On one particular episode, the Bartlet White House was pretty miffed that one of its past supporters, an influential Hispanic labor leader in California, was being courted by a potential rival.

When they see the man sitting courtside at a basketball game with their nemesis, they summon him to the White House. The White House aide (played by Rob Lowe) then begins to go after the guy, giving him menacing looks, and demanding to know why he was flirting with the other side when Bartlet's folks had done so much for him in the past.

"That was last time," he said. "What do I get this time?"

The storyline came to mind as I listened to many African-American political leaders, as well as everyday voters, go on about what African Americans owe the Clintons, believing that what took place during the administration of Bill Clinton is enough to warrant their full support for Sen. Hillary Clinton in her run for the White House.

What a bunch of hogwash.

Anyone knows that in politics, what you did last year is nice, but today is a different day.

And seven years after Clinton left the White House is a long time.

There is no doubt that African-Americans felt strongly about Bill Clinton. His poll numbers among blacks was sky high, and there was no group that he could count on more. He played the saxophone on Arsenio Hall's show, was as comfortable as an old-school preacher in black churches and relished when folks like Toni Morrison (foolishly) referred to him as America's first black president.

Now his wife is running, and the expectation is that the goodwill created by her husband should automatically go to Sen. Clinton.

You see, that's the kind of stuff that played well with the civil rights movement crowd. A (white) politician paid attention to a few black causes, and we provided them with lifelong support. Drop by a few black churches on your way to the ballot box, take a few pictures, and all is well. When that got old, a few political appointments here and there were enough to satisfy African Americans.

Some candidates have even run on the "my dad was good to African Americans" platform, leading ministers and civil rights leaders to toss their support their way, without demanding anything in return.

Today this generation is tired of the old games. "What have you done for me lately?" is the mantra, and it is one that various political constituencies demand of candidates.

Republicans spent a lot of time in the last election heavily courting Hispanics. But with so many in the GOP taking a strong anti-immigration stance, they are going to pay a dear price if they don't make amends before November 2008.

Mostly white evangelicals have held sway in politics the last 20 years, namely in the Republican Party. If a candidate doesn't speak aggressively to their issues -- pretty much limited to gays and abortion -- you can bet there will be political hell to pay.

Gays are a major force in the Democratic Party. Any presidential candidate who doesn't support gay rights -- including civil unions, gay adoption or inclusion of sexual orientation in hate crimes legislation -- can expect to feel the heat.

The point is everyone demands accountability, and if they don't get what they want, they make them pay at the ballot box.

Not African American political leaders, who have always talked loudly, but who run and hide when a few crumbs have been thrown their way.

That shouldn't be the case with Sen. Clinton. The love blacks have for her husband should be earned -- by her. If some want to ask Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., if he's "black enough," then they should have the courage to ask of Clinton, "What are you prepared to do for us?"

If she gives the same boilerplate speech, then they should go look for another candidate to support. She recently dropped $10,000 a month for the services of a prominent South Carolina state senator and pastor (Obama and others also tried to recruit him), hoping he will seal the deal for her with blacks in South Carolina.

Sen. Clinton, that's old school. And trust me, this generation doesn't play by the same rules as their mommas and daddies. They play for keeps. And as they say on the basketball courts in the 'hood, "You better bring it if you want to keep playing."

Roland S. Martin is executive editor of the Chicago Defender. His column is distributed by Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

link

-VG

 

[ronmch20]

Agree with every word!!!!

 

[VegasGuy]

Agree with every word!!!!

He's pretty clear about how we view this party as opposed to how most other political entities view political candidates. In the gay example, if you don't embrace shit they want, you get slammed. But for us if we want an appology for slavery and want reparations and the Clintons say they understand but don't do anything, that's good enough to get a vote. Maybe the "promise" is all we want.

-VG

 

[QueEx]

`

I hear him but I will believe the underlying message: "Today this generation is tired of the old games. "What have you done for me lately?" is the mantra, and it is one that various political constituencies demand of candidates" when I see it.

I agree wholeheartedly that we don't owe anyone shit, the Clinton's included. And I most certainly agree with the notion of "what have you done for me latetly" or "what will you do for us" if we support you. But I think Roland Martin is just spewing rhetoric when it comes to "today this generation is tired of the old games" and is demanding something more. I'll believe it when we start showing up at the polls in stronger numbers; and when, given choices, we begin to move, en masse, based on whats in OUR best interest, at the ballot box.

Until then, its just talk. Regrettably.

QueEx

 

[VegasGuy]

`

I hear him but I will believe the underlying message: "Today this generation is tired of the old games. "What have you done for me lately?" is the mantra, and it is one that various political constituencies demand of candidates" when I see it.

I agree wholeheartedly that we don't owe anyone shit, the Clinton's included. And I most certainly agree with the notion of "what have you done for me latetly" or "what will you do for us" if we support you. But I think Roland Martin is just spewing rhetoric when it comes to "today this generation is tired of the old games" and is demanding something more. I'll believe it when we start showing up at the polls in stronger numbers; and when, given choices, we begin to move, en masse, based on whats in OUR best interest, at the ballot box.

Until then, its just talk. Regrettably.

QueEx

Spewing retoric? What about?

-VG

 

[QueEx]

Didn't I quote it ???

QueEx

 

[muckraker10021]

<div align="left"><!-- MSTableType="layout" -->
<img src="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/contributors/john-ridley/headshot.jpg" align="left">
</div><font color="#000000" size="3">
&nbsp;&nbsp;John Ridley's post below offers some cogent views about this matter.</font>

<br>
<hr noshade color="#ff0000" size="6"></hr><p>
<font face="tahoma" size="4"><b><font color="#0000ff">Of Opinion Polls and Self-Hating Blacks</b></font></font>
<p><hr noshade color="#ff0000" size="6"></hr><p>

 

[VegasGuy]

<div align="left"><!-- MSTableType="layout" -->
<img src="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/contributors/john-ridley/headshot.jpg" align="left">
</div><font color="#000000" size="3">
&nbsp;&nbsp;John Ridley's post below offers some cogent views about this matter.</font>

<br>
<hr noshade color="#ff0000" size="6"></hr><p>
<font face="tahoma" size="4"><b><font color="#0000ff">Of Opinion Polls and Self-Hating Blacks</b></font></font>
<p><hr noshade color="#ff0000" size="6"></hr><p>

Damn, that was perfect Muck. And I've heard that same exact sediment from bruhs on this board saying that America isn't ready for a Black president and white woman hillary has a better shot. And based on that perception alone, the support automatically heads her way. They also make Obama to ride shotgun for the same reason, America isn't ready.

On balance, it's also a bit ignorant to say a Black president as opposed to a president who happens to be Black. For us to think of an Obama presidency that is to say more subtlety, "we prefer to vote for a white person to be president." If that is how it is, why not wear a button that says that?

I wonder where we would be in America if we all just accepted the opinion driven mostly by Jim Crow logic? Who gives a crap about what America isn't ready for, what are WE ready for and are we willing and serious enough to go to the next level?

@QueEx
I guess I don't understand your use of "spewing rhetoric". I think that what he said is fact and not rhetoric at all. And the people he's talking about are those progressives who don't view life from inside a fishbowl, i.e. the constraints of self-imposed limits simply based on the color of ones own skin. Obviously there are plenty that do.

-VG

 

[QueEx]

@QueEx

I guess I don't understand your use of "spewing rhetoric". I think that what he said is fact and not rhetoric at all. And the people he's talking about are those progressives who don't view life from inside a fishbowl, i.e. the constraints of self-imposed limits simply based on the color of ones own skin. Obviously there are plenty that do.

-VG

Sorry, I missed the above. To quote Ronald Martin: "today this generation is tired of the old games". I don't see anything significant that todays generation is "actively" doing. Of course, I'm not armed with statistics, but it just seems to me their only political activity is ... dropping out of political activity. I don't know that Todays Generation is tired of old games or just disinterested in politics. My guess would be the latter since the former should evoke a response other than .... nothing.

QueEx

 

[QueEx]

<font size="5"><center>
Obama’s Rise Strains Loyalty on Clinton Turf</font size></center>

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton speaking last week at the National Action Network convention in New York.


New York Times
By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ
Published: April 24, 2007


Only a few months ago, the vast majority of black elected officials in New York were expected to support the presidential candidacy of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. But no longer.

In a series of interviews, a significant number of those officials now say they are undecided about whether to back Mrs. Clinton or one of her main rivals for the Democratic nomination, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, the only black politician in the race.

The officials described themselves as impressed with the strength of Mr. Obama’s campaign in recent weeks, saying it reflected a grass-roots enthusiasm for Mr. Obama that many noticed among black voters in their own districts. And that could signal trouble for Mrs. Clinton, forcing her to devote precious attention to her home state, where blacks made up 20 percent of the Democratic primary vote in 2004, just as she has had to scramble to keep black support nationwide.

Facing a potential drift of black support, the Clinton campaign has recently taken several steps: dispatching former President Bill Clinton to speak before black and Hispanic lawmakers in Albany earlier this year, and then to address the Rev. Al Sharpton’s group, the National Action Network, in New York last week; using Bill Lynch, who was a top political adviser to former Mayor David N. Dinkins, to corral black support in New York City; and enlisting heavyweights from the black political establishment like Representative Charles B. Rangel, Democrat of New York, to help Mrs. Clinton court black leaders.

Many black New York officials have strongly supported Mrs. Clinton — not to mention her husband, starting with her first Senate campaign in 2000, when she was still in the White House and had only just established residency in the state.

But these officials said it had become increasingly clear to them that Mr. Obama, who has barely campaigned in New York, is no mere flash in the pan, and seems to possess the public approval ratings and campaign war chest needed to compete in a presidential contest.

“I would have supported Hillary if it were not for Barack Obama,” said Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, a leading figure in Harlem who said he had yet to make an endorsement. “He can identify with my African-American community in a way that no other candidate can.” Assemblywoman Crystal D. Peoples, who represents Buffalo, and who has been contacted by one of Mrs. Clinton’s top political lieutenants, said she was similarly divided. “It’s a very difficult decision,” Ms. Peoples said. “I’ll really do a lot of soul-searching on this one.”

Assemblyman N. Nick Perry, Democrat of Brooklyn, said many black politicians were mindful of what happened in 1988, when overwhelmingly large numbers of black primary voters in New York supported the presidential candidacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, to the surprise of black politicians who supported his rivals. He said that “there was a lot of atoning that had to be done” afterward among those politicians.

“This is bigger than Jesse Jackson,” Mr. Perry, who remained undecided, said of Mr. Obama’s candidacy. “When you look at Obama, his potential seems quite explosive.”

It is still early in the campaign, and Mrs. Clinton, whose political operation is aggressive and wide-reaching in the state, has plenty of time to consolidate her support among black New York leaders.

Speaking on behalf of the Clinton campaign, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Democrat of New York, acknowledged that Mr. Obama had stirred “an element of ethnic pride” among black elected officials. But in the end, Mr. Meeks said, Mrs. Clinton’s years of experience in the White House and in the Senate gave her an edge over Mr. Obama.

Perhaps the most important figure working to round up black support for Mrs. Clinton has been Mr. Rangel, the leading elected official in New York’s black political establishment.

Mr. Rangel, of Harlem, an early and important supporter of Mrs. Clinton’s first Senate campaign, invited black leaders in Upper Manhattan to a meeting in recent weeks, where Mrs. Clinton made a direct appeal for their support — even as she took a moment to praise Mr. Obama, according to one person who attended the event.

Assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright of Harlem, who attended the meeting and is undecided about the race, said Mr. Rangel “feels ownership” in Mrs. Clinton because of his past association with her and was “working overtime” to round up support for her presidential campaign.

“That’s quite formidable,” Mr. Wright said, referring to the clout Mr. Rangel brings in championing Mrs. Clinton’s cause.

And yet Mr. Wright, who is close to Mr. Rangel, acknowledged that “there is some conflict” among black leaders now that there is a choice between Mrs. Clinton, a longtime ally, and Mr. Obama.

“I’m certainly undecided right now,” Mr. Wright said, adding that Mr. Obama’s “candidacy is making me quite proud.”

In an interview, Mr. Rangel sought to play down the situation, and pointedly noted that he did not know of any elected official in New York who had actually endorsed Mr. Obama, though he acknowledged that Mr. Obama had substantial support in the state based on the money he has raised there.

“Everyone I talk with supports her,” said Mr. Rangel, who talks up Mrs. Clinton’s candidacy in television and radio appearances and who attends fund-raisers on her behalf. “I don’t know Obama supporters in New York.”

As for black leaders in New York who have not already backed her, Mr. Rangel seemed to suggest it was just a matter of time before they did. “There are a lot of people who are just waiting for her to ask them,” Mr. Rangel said, referring to Mrs. Clinton. But the fence-sitting among these black leaders is a potentially troubling sign for Mrs. Clinton, who, like Bill Clinton, has long enjoyed considerable support among blacks, who are a crucial component of her home-state base.

The vacillation among black leaders in New York was all the more striking as neither Mr. Obama nor his advisers appeared to be spending much, if any, time in the state trying to round up their support before the Feb. 5 primary.

Indeed, many of the leaders interviewed said they had not heard from Mr. Obama or officials in his campaign, though the state had moved its primary to the first Tuesday in February from the first Tuesday in March.

Mr. Obama even turned down a recent invitation to address the New York State Legislature’s black and Hispanic caucus. Still, in some cases, the political leaders said they had been hearing from constituents who support Obama.

Assemblyman Jeffrion L. Aubry of Queens said he had not endorsed Mrs. Clinton, though her camp had reached out to him, while Mr. Obama’s had not. He said that while Mrs. Clinton was “connected in special ways to the minority community,” Mr. Obama’s candidacy had profound appeal as well.

“His presence as a legitimate black politician at a national level brings a certain pride,” Mr. Aubry said. “It makes you have to make a choice.”

State Senator Kevin S. Parker, Democrat of Brooklyn, said he thought the “vast majority” of black leaders in New York would have already backed Mrs. Clinton if not for Mr. Obama.

“I do share the view that it has been complicated by Senator Obama’s presence,” Mr. Parker said, of the decision about whom to endorse. “I think people are split.”

Even Mr. Rangel, in the interview, acknowledged having “a lot of racial pride and identification” with Mr. Obama’s candidacy, and noted that he had actually encouraged Mr. Obama to run for president.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/us/politics/24clinton.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

 

[tebriel69]

very interesting thread. i never thought about it that way. i do remember how blacks folk love to say Clinton was the closet thing we've ever had to a black president, and now that we have the opportunity to actually HAVE one, it seems as if we're afraid to embrace that fact. instead we'd rather have someone who acts black and has similar interests as blacks? or do some people really think they owe allegiance of some sort to the Clintons...hm i think we should let the actual candidates actions and track records do the deciding for us. who will honestly be more beneficial to US and the USA as a whole? thats the main thing

 

[blackIpod]

Where did the idea that Black American's feel like they owe the Clinton's anything, come from Mars!
Is Dr King still alive thats the only person on earth besides my parents i "owe"
anything to!
Thats from a self betterment prospective.
Cause I owe GM a ton

 

[QueEx]

Where did the idea that Black American's feel like they owe the Clinton's anything, come from Mars!

I thought it came from people like you who constantly refer to people who differ from your point of view as: "you democrats this, you democrats that".

QueEx

 

[blackIpod]

Are you stuck on "YOU"

Don't take it Personal!

 

[QueEx]

<font size="5"><center>Clinton Gets Endorsements from Prominent Black
Men Including Bob Johnson, Willie Gary</font size></center>

Black America Web
Date: Tuesday, August 07, 2007
By: Michael H. Cottman

Sen. Hillary Clinton -- solidifying her political ties with some of the nation's most influential black men -- recently hosted an afternoon meeting with African-American men to discuss social and economic issues that impact black communities across the country.

And she picked up several key endorsements from high-profile brothers who say they support her 2008 presidential candidacy.

The meeting attracted a diverse and prominent group of 200 black men from the areas of business, entertainment, faith, government, political, and non-profit agencies. Music icon Quincy Jones, who announced his support for Clinton, offered a video tribute.

Alvin Brown, senior advisor and director of Urban Policy for the campaign, said the purpose of the African-American Men for Hillary lunch was to bring together a prominent group of black men from a wide variety of businesses and backgrounds.

"Across the country," Brown said, "there are African-American men who support Sen. Clinton, and this event was a snapshot of her supporters."

Traci Blunt, a spokeswoman for the Clinton campaign, told BlackAmericaWeb.com the luncheon was the first of several meetings Clinton plans to host with black men.

"It was a phenomenal event and a powerful visual," Blunt said. "It was a great opportunity for Sen. Clinton to speak with over 200 African-American men about her agenda for at-risk youth, education and her views about diversity on the Supreme Court."

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/clinton807

 

[QueEx]

<font size="4">
Blacks may not owe the Clintons a thing;
But, are paying a lot, nevertheless.

</font size>

 

[QueEx]

Hillary raises Oprah's Obama bash with a Magic party​

Celebrities dueling over politicians.
Or politicians dueling with politicians via celebrities.​

Los Angeles Times
Sunday, August 12, 2006

Either way it's a fun story. And here we go. Do you remember all the hubub a few weeks ago when talk show diva and black billionaire Oprah Winfrey announced her support for fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama and agreed to throw an exclusive fundraiser for him at her Santa Barbara area home on Sept. 8?

Well, Hillary Clinton's campaign will announce any minute now that Magic Johnson will host a fundraiser for her at HIS house six days later on Sept. 14. Co-hosts of the celebrity event will be musician Quincy Jones, a longtime supporter of both Clintons, Berry Gordy, the founder of the Motown music empire, and Clarence Avant, another longtime music industry executive who is also African American.

"Senator Hillary Clinton understands the domestic and international issues better than anyone," Johnson will say in the release. "and has the experience and knowledge to help lead our country and get us to a better place. We need a winner as our next president."

Clinton responded, "I am honored to have such Magical and fabulous support."

Gordy, Avant and Jones have similar glowing things to say. The event will be held at the home of Magic and Cookie Johnson.

And the nice thing for Hollywood's hard-pressed celebrities, being pressured to pick sides in this ongoing Democratic fray, is that the events are on different nights. So they can pay $2,300 apiece twice and will be unable to use a scheduling conflict as an excuse.

--Andrew Malcolm

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2007/08/hillary-tops-op.html

 

[QueEx]

b
u
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[QueEx]

bump