SEN. JOHN KERRY: Leave no American behind: Lessons learned from Hurricane

[Mass]

First time Kerry speaks about Katrina and its lessons at full lenghts, to my knowledge. A good read, in my opinion.

http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/commentary.cfm?ArticleID=2247

by Sen. John Kerry
September 12, 2005

The evidence that our nation was unprepared for hurricane Katrina is undeniable. Thousands of our fellow citizens losing their lives not to wind and water - but thirst and starvation. Rescue attempts failing to materialize days on end, leaving mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, to perish in ways embarrassing to fathom in this society: children running out of medication; elderly too long without dialysis; patients whose oxygen tanks went empty or respirators went offline. When people were stuck on those roofs, they weren’t just cut off from the floors beneath them. They were cut off from the world, including the nation that pledged to protect them.

...

The reality of what millions of Americans face every day was brought home this week. Americans saw on television the grave economic disparity that exists in this country. They were forced to confront the struggles that many African American families have faced for years due to lack of jobs and critical services to help open the doors of opportunity. They saw the people left behind literally and figuratively by the politicians who control Washington these days.

....

We all have to ask ourselves what it says about our nation, and our leadership, when only in a time of crisis we help people who need help most. Our nation’s real test after Katrina goes well beyond the rebuilding of New Orleans, Mississippi and Alabama. We will be judged by how we deal with the all the unmet challenges and injustices in our nation.

The lesson of Katrina is simple. We must always be honest about the challenges we face, and never reserve our compassion only for disasters. People must not allow the Administration to continue sugar-coating the true state of this nation.

....

[TayTay]

1. What is the publication and why write to it

I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS NOT IMPORTANT!

This is a genuine info request. Never heard of Chicago Defender. Why would Kerry write a Katrina piece for them before he wrote for any other paper, either in his home state or out of it.

Just curious, not intended as snark in any way. What makes them special? Is it audience specific or what?

[Mass]

2. I was asking myself the same question

May be somebody from Illinois can answer?

Is it possible that he submitted that to others and they did not answer?

[TayTay]

3. Entirely. I just saw a really nice piece from Uncle Ted in

the Lowell Sun. I wouldn't be surprised if the same piece, with minor modicificaitons, appears in other MA middle-sized newspapers. This could be the same case with Sen. Kerry's piece.

Again, not intended as snark in any way. I was just kind of surprised to see a piece appear in a middling size paper first.

[Mass]

4. Seems to be a newspaper for the African-American population of Chicago

http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/aboutus.cfm

History

Founded in 1905 by Robert Sengstacke Abbott, the Chicago Defender, for 100 years, has been the voice of the African-American Community in Chicago and across the United States. Using bold headlines and red ink, the Chicago Defender spoke out against lynching, racism, and segregation. The Chicago Defender led the movement known as the Great Migration; promoted the activities of pioneering aviatrix Bessie Coleman; led the charge to integrate the United States Armed Services; and promoted the careers of Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks and renowned author Langston Hughes

[TayTay]

6. That answers the question.

And thanks for doing the research. Again, not suggesting Sen. Kerry shouldn't publish anywheere he damn well feels like, just wondered why here.

Now we now.

[politicasista]

7. It is.

Good to see that Kerry is getting the word out about this. A lot of blacks rely on the cable news (CNN, MSNBC, and Faux) for news.

[politicasista]

5. I think he is trying to reach the minority/urban crowd

The Chicago Defender is an unban/black publication (i.e. Ebony, Blackamericaweb.com, etc) so it's possible they may have asked for some commentary (like the one he did for BAW.com about the Voting Rights Act) from the 2004 Democratic nominee.

[TayTay]

8. Thanks!

It was a sensitive question to ask. I wanted to know why the OpEd was posted on this site. Now we know. It makes sense.

I still bet that the same OpEd shows up in MA papers as well. It's a good piece and should be passed around.

And I'm glad that Dems are speaking to AA pubs. We need this dialogue, as you have pointed out so many times on this board.

[politicasista]

9. No problem.

It's all good. Dean has been doing the same thing, so I am glad too. :hi:

[sandnsea]

10. Oh that is so good

I wrote this piece on Clinton calling into the BET telethon the other day and somebody responded that Clinton did that sort of thing all the time. That he and people in his administration called into Tom Joyner all the time, stuff like that. I didn't know that so now I understand why Clinton is so loved in the African-American community. So this is good that Kerry is learning this lesson, if he didn't quite get it before.

[TayTay]

11. I agree with that

The program that he outlined as a legislative agenda to follow after Katrina ia excellent. He needs to get out and sell it to the American people.

Politicasister has often said that people in the AA community would like to know what Kerry has done for minority communities. Well, all these proposals would make a significant difference in how quickly people recover from this disaster and that includes a significant number of AA-owned businesses and businesses who employ heavily from minority communities. Kerry needs to be visible on this, because it's both a good thing in and of itself for Americans and because it is a dialogue with minority communities that says that this is what Democrats are doing for you.

I hope Kerry does stress this. It is important. And the * Admin is already starting to do damage control among AA voters by having very conservative preachers go out and pretend that * did the right thing. This must be countered.