Blacks urged to form independent political movement

[candy331]

Kind of thought this was going to be batted about since the forum on The State of Black America seen on c-Span sponsored by Tavis Smiley. No personal opinion by me yet on this.

Blacks urged to form independent political movement
by Hazel Trice Edney
May 31, 2005

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Growing disappointment with the Democratic Party, capped by a so-called Senate compromise last week that paved the way for the confirmation of at least three Right-wing judges, has prompted some activists to consider leaving the Democratic Party and forming an independent political movement.

"Everybody knows that Blacks are the most loyal folk to the Democratic Party. We have been loyal. And what do we get for our loyalty?" asks Mary Frances Berry, former chair of the U. S. Commission of Civil Rights. "African-Americans should form an independent political movement; not a party, but a movement and say, 'This is what our issues are and any candidate who supports these issues we will support. And if you don't support them, we won't support you.'

Over the past 30 years, Democrats have received more than 80 percent of the Black vote in every presidential election.

"When it comes to Black people, African-American people, Afro-American people - whatever we're calling ourselves this year, Negro, colored - there is no party, except the White party," says Thomas N. Todd a Chicago attorney and longtime civil rights activist



http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/national.cfm?ArticleID=920

[pocket]

1. That'll work...

Face it, African Americans have nowhere else to go but the Democratic Party.

[Toots]

3. Not true

Many have switched to the Republican Party because they have not seen anything lately from the Democrats. They also could just stay home and not even bother to vote. Why should they when they feel nobody represents their interests.

[Tinoire]

5. Lol... What a ridiculous & incredibly arrogant statement

After the evidence of that ridiculous and incredibly arrogant statement stares you in the face in 2008 and the spilt milk is splashed at your feet...

Blame Nader! :rofl:

The arrogance is simply astounding.

[FrenchieCat]

8. Nope, that's not true......

Many Black folks can just choose to sit their asses at home during elections.

Just cause we had to fight and die for the right to vote, doesn't mean we'll just keep on voting just cos!

If Black folks don't have a reason to vote, many won't.

I know....cos GOTV in predominantly African-American district is what I do at election time. Many feel like if it makes no difference, they just won't do it.

I love Mary Frances Berry (she's got balls unlike many others)! She's just saying that if you expect to see us standing in those 9 hours lines waiting to vote on that one voting machine, somebody's gonna have to give up something! Shi-et! No such thing as a free lunch, ya know!

[welshTerrier2]

2. "big tents only succeed IF ..."

the Democratic Party prides itself on being a "big tent" ... some in the Party exude an arrogance that "those fringe groups have nowhere else to go" ... and to a large extent, that's what the ABB movement was all about ...

but many of those so-called "fringe" groups (a hideous, disparaging, disrespectful label !!) are unlikely to buy into that way of thinking again anytime soon ... more and more, those outside the tyrannical party establishment are demanding a greater voice ...

it's blacks, it's women, it's Hispanics, it's anti-war and many other factions ... Howard Dean got it right last week when he said (paraphrasing do to poor memory) that Democrats have ignored blacks and must not continue to do so ...

the "big tent" is at a crossroads ... it will either be strengthened or it will tear ...

if you are a die-hard Democrat, i suggest you help think of ways to strengthen the tent's fabric ... here's a little hint: showing disrespect for those who don't feel represented by the Party is probably not going to be politically effective ... got that ??!!

tired of thinking of solutions already? just want to argue that "the haters" suck and your time would be better spent thinking of ways to insult them? well, that's OK ... here, let me give you a clue ...

what has to happen to strengthen the Party is, are you ready, that we have to make the Party more democratic (small "d") ... and how do we do that? we start listening to people instead of talking at people ... there's no requirement here that every interest group in the Party should get its way ... no one is talking about caving in to every special interest group ... but if you want a "big tent" you have to give every Democrat a chance to really be heard ... and you have to have an honest dialog ... and you have to understand that many in the Party do not feel like their elected representatives actually represent them ...

it has got to start with improved communication ... if you're a Democrat who demands blind loyalty to the Party, and far too many DU'ers do, you are going to end up weakening the fabric ... you don't have to agree with those who are critical of the Party; but failing to listen and failing to respect them makes you part of the problem; not part of the solution ...

[bvar22]

4. I hope LABOR and the Peace Movement...

...does the same thing.

I don't demand that the Democratic Party adopt my issues as Party Policy, but I do demand that the National party at least acknowledges them and discusses these issues on a NATIONAL level. I would love for the Democratic Party to say: "We hear YOUR voices. You are important to us."

The Democratic Platform 2004 was an insult to everyone to the LEFT of Barry Goldwater. I will not stick around for more of the same.
However, there is a small glimmer of light under the closed and locked door of the Democratic Party Policy Makers....The GRASSROOTS (those who work for a living) FORCED the Democratic Establishment to elect DEAN as Party Chair. Even though this is not a POLICY position (and the establishment has made this PERFECTLY CLEAR), it is an acknowlegement of our voices.

It also appears that the Democratic Party will NOT support CAFTA in the coming vote. SO FAR, only about 6 Democrats have sold their votes. The REST of the Party is showing some nervousness at supporting NAFTA on STEROIDS.

I AM hopeful that a small reform movement is growing inside the Democratic Party. There ARE some signs of hope. I DON'T YET support abandoning the Democratic Party, but I do support forming co-ordinated groups to strengthen the voice of LABOR, The Working Class, and the POOR in the Democratic Party. The PARTY HAS taken these voices for granted in pursuit of Corporate Money!

Support the Democrats who represent YOU! Send your money here:
http://www.pdamerica.org/

[Tinoire]

6. Interesting. I watched that forum too

It's unfortunate not enough people watched it. The discontentment of Black voters is going to stun a Democratic Party that has refused to care or even listen.

[MsTryska]

7. Hmm...this is essentially why i keep my voter registration

independent:

'This is what our issues are and any candidate who supports these issues we will support. And if you don't support them, we won't support you.'



it's a good policy imo.