July 13, 2004
No black Dems to speak in prime time at the DNC
Kweisi Mfume, President of the NAACP indicated on MSNBC's Hardball last night, that he would feel "slighted" if no black speakers were to speak in prime time during the Democratic National Convention.
MATTHEWS: Do you think there should be a Democratic convention this summer, where in the primetime hours, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, when the networks are covering it, maybe even Tuesday night, when no one who‘s African-American gets up on the stage?Well, maybe Mfume should get his protest shoes on.MFUME: Well, I hope that‘s not the case because if it does, then that would be a damning indictment of this party and would probably turn off a lot of voters. Again, on a close election, neither side can afford slippage. And if that is the case, then the Democratic Party will have to explain that‘s the case because where there are persons and individuals who clearly are qualified to address the convention and are not getting the opportunity, that would raise a significant question.
The agenda for the DNC has been released, and there are no black speakers scheduled for the prime-time hours. As a matter of fact, no black speakers are noted at all on the initial schedule.
But will the Mfume bitch about that as much as he has about the Administration or organizations like Project 21? I'm not holding my breath...
UPDATE: US Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH) has been added to the list on the first night of the convention to discuss "the plan to create new and better jobs at home and a stronger economy for the middle class."
Sounds like a token pat on the hand to keep the sheep happy if you ask me.
With the broadcast networks limiting themselves to an hour a night of coverage, Ms. Tubbs-Jones still won't make it onto the alphabet networks.
Gavel-to-gavel coverage will be on the cable news networks and PBS only.
Posted by mhking at July 13, 2004 10:56 PMHow did they manage to sideline Jesse?
Posted by: Laurence Simon at July 13, 2004 11:35 PMI am sure that once general word of this becomes more known, they will slip one or two through the back door.
Posted by: S Michael Moore at July 14, 2004 01:35 AMWell, he's in good company. Word is that even Hillary Marx-Clinton is missing from the speaker list.
Posted by: cole at July 14, 2004 07:26 AMYears ago I started telling people that the Dems were going to start publically sidelining Blacks. They can't try to become the "majority party" and continue to have Blacks in the picture the way they did.
Posted by: DarkStar at July 14, 2004 09:04 AMMore and more I'm wondering why am I staying in the Democrat party. I guess, it boils down to the fact that registered as an Independent in Maryland, one can't vote in the primaries. As long as there are people like Liebermann remaining in the party, I feel obligated to stick around.
Posted by: Lola at July 14, 2004 10:12 AMAnd Stephanie? I sure as heck don't recognize her name . . .
Posted by: Lola at July 14, 2004 10:14 AMIt was mentioned on Black Entertainment Television last night, so word has definitely spread. Where are black leaders to push for a black prime-time presence for the BIG NETWORKS? Blacks were almost 30% of total ballots cast for Al Gore in 2000, so the Dems better recognize! It's stuff like this is why I believe that blacks should be independent of ALL political parties, as loyalty ain't rewarded in politics.
Posted by: molotov at July 14, 2004 10:41 AMHmmm, I remember specifically that Kerry had agreed to let the Reverend Al speak. I joked at the time that he'd probably get the coveted 3:00 AM timeslot.
Posted by: Pat Curley at July 14, 2004 03:11 PMIn Maryland, if you don't choose a party, you are listed as non-aligned.
You can't vote in primaries unless it's a non-party contest like school board seats.
One year the Republican party let us vote in their primary and I did so.
But you pay the price for not kowtowing to a party in Maryland.
Posted by: DarkStar at July 14, 2004 04:39 PMWhen I first registered in SC (to vote for Clinton), I didn't choose a party, so they dumped in the "Independent" category, where I remain.
Posted by: La Shawn at July 14, 2004 05:46 PM