Black Leaders Torn Over Clinton/Obama Endorsement: For Many, the Focus Is Electability

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Black Leaders Torn Over Endorsement
For Many, the Focus Is Electability
By Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 1, 2007; Page A06

....For black leaders such as (Joe Reed, chairman of the Alabama Democratic Conference) and (Jerome Gray, Reed's friend and longtime ADC colleague), the Clinton-Obama rivalry represents a moment of choice for the black political establishment that grew from the civil rights movement. With the African American vote potentially critical once the primary campaign extends beyond overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire, the divided loyalties are making for a complex landscape in heavily black states such as South Carolina, which will hold its primary Jan. 26, and Georgia and Alabama, which will vote Feb. 5.

Along with Reed, the Clinton camp includes pioneering black politicians such as Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), civil rights icon and Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, as well as younger leaders such as Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.). The former first lady leads Obama in Congressional Black Caucus endorsements, 15 to 12.

Obama has lined up his own A-list of black support, including the Rev. Joseph Lowery, a prominent civil rights figure. But much of his support is coming from a new breed of Democratic politicians such as Gov. Deval L. Patrick of Massachusetts and Columbus, Ohio, Mayor Michael B. Coleman. Patrick and Coleman, like Obama, are dynamic figures who won their offices with broad support that included independents and Republicans. Coleman was courted by both Clintons but chose Obama as "a one-of-a-kind who comes along only every few generations."...

The contest for black support is playing out across the country. On Thursday night at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem, comedian Chris Rock told the audience at an Obama fundraiser they would be "real embarrassed" if Obama won and they had been backing Clinton. One reason Reed and other black leaders are backing Clinton is they do not believe the country is ready to elect an African American president....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/30/AR2007113002257.html?nav=most_emailed

[Amerigo Vespucci]

1. If Huckabee gets the GOP nomination, the country had better be ready...

...to elect an African American president...

...or Hillary...

...or Edwards...

...whoever gets the Democratic nomination, or the "good work of George W. Bush" will continue for at least another four years.

Huckabee's platform includes the National Sales Tax. I'm not saying he'd have the juice to make it happen, but if he did, bye-bye middle class.