Lieberman, Gephardt, Kucinich make disingenuous apologies to NAACP

[Gringo]

It was reported on the local news here in Miami that Lieberman, Gephardt and Kucinich made brief speeches to the final night of the NAACP convention, and apologized for not showing up to the presidential forum on Monday.

I personally was not perturbed at their absence, and I believe that the NAACP blew it out of proportion a bit. Kucinich & Gephardt both had house votes to deal with, and I'm sure that Lieberman wasn't home playing violent pornographic video games...

But their apologies tonight were so profuse to the point of being patronizing. Lieberman especially acted as though he had burned a cross while sleepwalking. "I realize now that what I did was wrong, and I want to apologize to you now" and on and on.

The candidates who attended on Monday, especially Sharpton were great, but there deifinitely was a slight tone of patronization/pandering to the white candidates' speeches, but nowhere near as bad as today's apologies.

I would have simply said "I'm really sorry that I couldn't make it on Monday, it was a voting day. I'm so glad I could be here and will make every effort to listen to the concerns of the African American community in my campaign."

I guess Bill Clinton really was a rare animal, a white politician who can address a black crowd without coming off as a bit patronizing. Edwards, however, is nearly as good.

[sasquatch]

1. Kucinich will be forgiven

He has the best agenda for the Black Community so I think they will forgive him. He had a legitimate excuse, Lieberman is trying to appeal to voters(stealing from Jon Stewert)who want to vote for Bush, but don't think he is Jewish enough.

[JohnKleeb]

2. I think he will too

When one of the most respectable members of the Black Cancus and one of the most liked and liberal representives, Mr. John Conyers defends you I think they will understand and Conyers himself is a member.

[dsc]

3. Lieberman should have apologized

he missed for a really poor reason. Kucinich had a good one and I have no idea on Gephardt, several reports stated he missed for family reasons.

[NJCher]

4. the whole thing was embarrassing to the Democratic party

It was like official confirmation that the party takes African Americans for granted. This was their big shot at addressing that group. I just see no excuse for this whatsoever.


Cher

[Isome]

5. Kucinich is forgiven...

But, no one even expects any explanation from the other two.

Sadly, their dismissive attitude toward the event may serve as a catalyst to vote for a third party, or abstain from voting altogether for AAs who have been feeling as though the entire ethnicity is truly taken for granted by the party. Despite the dire and far reaching consequences of both of those courses of action, there are far too many who believe it's time to dump the Democrats.