Black Voters Align With Democrats Against Bush

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17737-2004Feb29.html

ATLANTA -- In the heart of downtown Atlanta, a majority black city that boasts a thriving middle class, only a sprinkling of African Americans joined the dozens of supporters who filled an ornate room at the Georgia Capitol last week to hear Sen. John Edwards (N.C.). A few days earlier, Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) drew more than 1,000 to a lively town hall meeting in the city's Buckhead section, and except for the dozen or so black leaders who sat behind him on stage, the audience was mostly white.

But that does not mean that black voters such as Antonio Bolton are uninterested in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary. Bolton, 40, a father of two who counts himself fortunate to have a well-paying job, said he is furious at President Bush, blaming him for running up the federal deficit and dragging the country into war with Iraq. He studied the Democratic candidates by watching televised debates, reading newspapers and surfing the Internet. He has decided to vote for Kerry.

"He's the strongest Democratic candidate we have, and we need to get the Republicans out of there," said Bolton, who lives in the East Point section of Atlanta.

With little prodding from the two major candidates, black voters have joined the Democratic Party's quest to take back the White House this year. Turnout among black voters in states that have held primaries is 10 to 20 percent higher than it was in 1992, the last time the party had a real contest for the nomination, according to the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington-based liberal think tank.

...more...

[Gman]

1. The GOP will be putting up extra signs about paying outstanding

tickets and checking for warrants before they allow Blacks to vote.

[napsi]

2. Atlanta Voters

I used to live in Atlanta. Atlanta has a huge African American population that has crossed the economic lines and moved to suburbia. They live in 300-500K homes in quiet subdivisions. Their kids go to private schools and they vote republican. To many in their old communities they are viewed as traitors. To others they are viewed as an example of things coming together...finally.

This is not to say that Atlanta is full of African American republicans but it's not the democrat "glory hole" of years past.

[onehandle]

5. I've lived here all of my life...

...and I can comfortably say you are wrong.

That is a small, small minority here.

[napsi]

6. I lived there until August of 2003

I was born in ATL in 1961. I lived there for 41+ years. I've seen Allen, Massell, Jackson, Young, Campbell and now, Franklin. Btw, I think Shirley Franklin is doing a beautiful job with what she inherited. My point is correct and it would serve the democrats well in GA if they don't isolate these people. They are a growing force in Atlanta. They have money and they are well educated. They ignore the "victim" message. I will vote for Kerry on Tuesday.....holding my nose........

[UpInArms]

7. Welcome to DU napsi!

:hi:

[napsi]

8. Glad to be here!

Thanks!!!!!

[Democat]

11. Yes, because all rich people vote Republican!

Keep telling yourself that, you might start believing it.

[KeepItReal]

3. Little to no emotional attachment sums it up...

"African Americans who say they will vote for Kerry explain their support in pragmatic terms, displaying little emotional attachment to the candidate"

That would be me...assuming Sen. Kerry gets the nod.

Gov. Dean still gets my absentee vote here in Cali's Democratic Primary. I'll vote for the whomever the Democratic nominee is in November, though.

[onehandle]

4. Georgia is nearly 30% African-American.

I am going to Hammer our party here to get that vote to the polls. Ralph Reed will be hammering the confederate (traitors) flag loving white people to the polls.

If only half of the eligible African-American voters got to the polls and voted Democratic, Georgia would go nearly solid Blue.

[jburton]

9. Two parts to this in November

The part we will see: the Repuke Minstrel Show featuring "non-uppity" minorities who support *

The part we won't see: 3am intimidating phone calls, vote list purging, etc.

[ngGale]

10. Go Atlanta--after Bush's despicable act of...

putting in Pickering after getting booed in Atlanta at MLK's grave.
Better watch for vote purge--I am.