Voters, The 2008 candidates mark the anniversary of a bloody 1965 civil rights march in Selma, Ala.

By Richard Fausset and Jenny Jarvie, Times Staff Writers

March 5, 2007

SELMA, ALA. "” Presidential candidate Barack Obama staked his claim to the African American experience Sunday, despite a personal background far from the bloodshed that was typified in this Deep South city during the struggle for civil rights.

Yes, the senator said, his grandfather was a Kenyan, but a racist system similar to America's limited him to work as a cook for whites. Yes, Obama said, his mother was a white woman from Kansas. But she learned colorblindness from the likes of Selma's 1965 freedom marchers, marrying the son of that cook in Hawaii.

All of that, Obama said, made him "the offspring of the movement" "” and it made his first visit to Selma a sort of homecoming.

"Don't tell me I'm not coming home when I come to Selma, Alabama," the Illinois Democrat said.

What it was not, however, was a coronation.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, was also here to celebrate the anniversary of the Edmund Pettus Bridge crossing, in which black protesters were beaten by white state troopers on March 7, 1965.

Clinton brought her husband, the former president, a beloved figure among many black voters who was inducted into the hall of fame of the National Voting Rights Museum. She too claimed to be a beneficiary of the civil rights era "” because it eventually led to advances for women.

To the veteran activists and civil rights sympathizers who gathered for the celebration, it was obvious that they were witnessing a different kind of struggle in Selma "” a struggle for the loyalty of African Americans, who in four decades had risen from a harassed and marginalized voting bloc to a key Democratic constituency.

It was the attack on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and a subsequent march to Montgomery led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., that prompted Congress to pass the landmark Voting Rights Act, which suspended the use of literacy tests, provided for federal voting examiners and led to the abolishment of poll taxes.

Both Obama and the Clintons are highly regarded here, and for many people, picking a favorite proved excruciating.

"This is very hard," said retired Air Force Maj. Carrie Barnes, 71, an African American who grew up in Selma. "It's kind of like choosing between Mom and Dad."

Though they have months to pick a candidate, on Sunday they had to pick a church. Obama and Clinton gave speeches simultaneously at historic black congregations separated by two blocks.

At Brown Chapel AME Church, Obama shared the stage with the Rev. Joseph Lowery, a founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who was beaten during the 1965 bridge crossing.

Much of Obama's speech dealt with doubts raised by the Rev. Al Sharpton and others that the candidate's unusual background was alien to black Americans descended from slaves.

The British in Africa, he said, called his grandfather "a houseboy. They wouldn't call him by his last name. Sound familiar?"

It was the civil rights protests in the American South, Obama said, that "sent a shout across oceans so that my grandfather began to imagine something different for his son. His son, who grew up herding goats in a small village in Africa, could suddenly set his sights a little higher and believe that maybe a black man in this world had a chance."

Obama said his father came to the United States as part of a program established by President Kennedy to help win "hearts and minds" in the face of negative publicity caused by civil rights protests. He mentioned the recent revelation that one of his mother's ancestors owned slaves. At a prayer breakfast, he stated, to great applause, "That's no surprise in America!"

His delivery, which started out lawyerly and dry in the morning, had by the afternoon flexed to fit the more traditional cadences of a black preacher. He repeated his calls for universal healthcare and increased education funding, and for personal responsibility among African Americans.

In particular, he said, parents need to take control of their children's education. "I don't know who taught them that reading and writing and conjugating your verbs was something white," he said. "We've got to get over that mentality."

At First Baptist Church, the senator from New York was pouring herself into the traditional Baptist service with gusto "” nodding her head, hollering "Amen," slapping her hand on her thigh and swaying from side to side. Her husband, widely perceived as a masterful orator in black churches, was not present.

The congregation received her warmly, clapping and applauding as she spoke of going to Chicago with her youth minister to hear King deliver his "Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution" sermon. She argued that the civil rights movement was not over. Inequality, she said, exists in education, healthcare and the economy. She received a standing ovation when she took up the plight of Hurricane Katrina victims.

The Voting Rights Act, she said, "is giving Sen. Obama the chance to run for president. And by its logic and spirit, it is giving the same chance to Gov. Bill Richardson, an Hispanic, and, yes, it is giving me that chance too.

"Before Selma and the Voting Rights Act put equality front and center, it was illegal under Alabama law for women to serve as jurors," she said. "I know where my chance came from, and I am grateful to all of you who gave it to me."

Later, the candidates spoke to a crowd outside. Both said they were happy to have the other along. As the crowd gathered to march across the bridge, former President Clinton showed up, sending a crushing pool of well-wishers his way. They then walked over the bridge, with the Clintons on one side of Lewis and Obama on the other, singing "We Shall Overcome."

The former president was inducted into the museum's hall of fame at the end of the bridge, affecting modesty as he stood by Obama and his wife.

"All the good speaking has been done by Hillary and Sen. Obama already," he said. "I'm just sort of bringing up the rear."

The former president's presence at the event was announced late in the week, and many observers figured it was a sign that the Clintons were going to fight hard to retain the inroads they had made among black Americans.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll Wednesday showed Clinton ahead of Obama. But it also showed that her lead was slipping as Obama picked up support among blacks.

"Why do you think Bill Clinton came down here?" chuckled Thomas Muhammad, a board member at the Voting Rights Museum. "Because Obama's doing so well with these crowds that she had to bring him. She had to bring her 'A' game."

Obama has his own obstacles to overcome with black voters. Some said they didn't know much about him. Others in the Selma crowd said they were trying to heed King's advice and make a decision on character, not skin color "” especially given their fondness for the Clintons.

People like Carl Galmon were worried that Obama could not win in a general election. The nation, they argued, was not ready to elect a black man.

"What are the chances Obama has of winning? Let's be practical about that," said Galmon, 66, a former New Orleans resident who moved to Atlanta after Hurricane Katrina. "With six years of George W. Bush in the White House, we can't afford to play with our future."

Many of the black voters who wondered about Obama's chances came from Selma or other pockets of the South where, decades after integration, obvious divisions remain.

Selma, a city of about 19,000, is 75% black and 25% white. The school system is more than 95% black. But the local country club has no black members.

At the eastern end of the Pettus Bridge, a billboard thanks visitors for supporting local Civil War tourist spots. It features a large Confederate battle flag and a portrait of Nathan Bedford Forrest "” a Confederate general and the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

Gloria Rembert, a veteran of civil rights protests in Sumter, S.C., said that a dark-skinned president would be positive for America. But it wouldn't mean the nation was healed.

"It would be a sign" that things are improving, she said. "Not the sign."
richard.fausset@latimes.com, jenny.jarvie@latimes.com

***************************************

The Days of Using Has Been Black Preachers, Useless Outdated Civil Rights Rhetoric, Black Elected Officials, in a Congressman John Lewis, the Clintons, a Barack Obama, etc., to convince the masses of the Black electorate to vote for a Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, etc., are Numbered!

While this tactic of using Black preachers in the pulpit, Congressman John Lewis, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, a Barack Obama, may be effective in the deep south, like an Alabama, the same may not be true in the Midwest, the North East, etc.

.....or even true as it applies to the Black masses of the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and/or Western U.S.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ML,

Black_Voters,_Obama,_and_the_Clintons.pdf (140 Kb, 77 downloads)

The days where your vote actually counts are over. The corporations(special interests) run BOTH the Republican and Democratic party. So what's your poinr?

quote:

Originally posted by Oshun Auset:
The days where your vote actually counts are over. The corporations(special interests) run BOTH the Republican and Democratic party. So what's your point?

....again, the people rule, and not elected officials, corporations, special interest groups, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the Independent Party, illegal immigrants, undocumented immigrants, etc., etc.

The only community to where elected officials continuously go unchecked, unchallenged, and/or slim chance exists that any misfit will be removed from a position of authority by their constituency continues to be the Black community, the Black community being the most dysfunctional community in the U.S.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ML,

quote:

Originally posted by ML:
....again, [b\]the people rule[/b], and not elected officials, corporations, special interest groups, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the Independent Party, illegal immigrants, undocumented immigrants, etc., etc.

Wow, do you actually believe that fairy tale? I knew that was propoganda as a child. Explain how the 'people rule' when Gore lost the election but won the popular vote? (Not like Gore would have been anything but a softer spoken cpaitalist...albeit ANYTHING is better that Bush's illiterate and therefore emarrassing ass.)

quote:

The only community to where elected officials continuously go unchecked, unchallenged, and/or slim chance exists that any misfit will be removed from a position of authority by their constituency continues to be the Black community, the Black community being the most dysfunctional community in the U.S.

So are you trying to tell Africans in Amerikkka that if they vote Republican, the party that doesn't even pretend to like 'us', that all of our institutional problems will magically dissapear?

If you believe that one I have a Bridge to sell you in Brooklyn...

...same response, the response being...

....again, the people rule, and not elected officials, corporations, special interest groups, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the Independent Party, illegal immigrants, undocumented immigrants, etc., etc.

The only community to where elected officials continuously go unchecked, unchallenged, and/or slim chance exists that any misfit will be removed from a position of authority by their constituency continues to be the Black community, the Black community being the most dysfunctional community in the U.S.

.....be it Democrat, Republican, or otherwise, unless the electorate represented take an active part in the process to hold their leaders accountable.....

......a Roosevelt Dorn, William Jefferson, a Merv Dymally, a Brentwood Burke, a Boss Tweed, etc., etc., will remain in a position of authority.

....but Oh Well, let the typical dysfunctional Black voters tell it, an Oshun Auset, etc.....

......and a misfit in Congressman William Jefferson hold elected office because of racist Caucasians, the Republican Party, 400 Years of Slavery, Corporate America, U.S. citizens don't have any rights, the writing is all over the wall that Congressman William Jefferson is a thief....
......but the Black electorate bought into his foolishness anyway and it is still "Whitey's fault, institutional mega-problems, Congressman William Jefferson was duped into stealing from Black folks, etc., etc., etc., lame excuses to the megga 10th power,....

Commentary: Bless Their Hearts, but Louisiana's Voters are Either Masochists or Just Stupid for Re-Electing Jefferson

Date: Wednesday, December 13, 2006, By Tonyaa Weathersbee, BlackAmericaWeb.com

......to which the reality of it proves otherwise, namely that the truly dysfunctional in our own community re-elected William Jefferson into the position of Congressman.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ML,

ML:

Give it time.
As more Progressive politicians are elected and thus the "enemy power" is now one that they have elected - those with consciousness will realize that change is afoot. Sadly the most diehard will continue in their current form:

http://withintheblackcommunity.blogspot.com/


I saw a documentary about the homeless in Philadelphia. Despite the fact that Philly is an 80% Democratic city the actor-vists had no choice but to register blame upon these Democratic officials. Oh don't get me wrong - when the Philly police began to videotape their marches for the sake of surveillance some in the crowd blamed Bush and his Patriot Act for causing this - we all know how much Mayor Street is a big fan and follower of Bush.

Once again I ask - What happens when you GET WHAT YOU WANT in elected officials BUT YOUR CONDITION DOES NOT CHANGE? At this point do you acknowledge that YOU HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT ACHIEVING what your plan had called for BUT THAT IN TOTAL "YOUR PLAN" has been flawed because it made wrong assumptions? (ie: VOTE your way into prosperity and freedom)

If you want JOBS then by all means be lead by someone who has a history in creating jobs. Someone who's resume has him exclusively protesting AGAINST entities that create jobs is not the right strategy.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Constructive Feedback:


Once again I ask - What happens when you GET WHAT YOU WANT in elected officials BUT YOUR CONDITION DOES NOT CHANGE? QUOTE]

*that means you did not get what you wanted.....at all.....

"Once again I ask - What happens when you GET WHAT YOU WANT in elected officials BUT YOUR CONDITION DOES NOT CHANGE?" by CF

"...that means you did not get what you wanted.....at all" by Kevin41

.......and Kevin41, we've been at odds before, but with that comment, I must concur. There would not be any point in recalling, showing contempt for, running against, and/or impeaching an individual if:

The individual who holds elected office is what the majority of the people want.

Any elected official sworn in under oath, and whose oath of office demands protecting the lawful rights of his or her constituency, who instead refuses to protect the lawful rights of his or her constituency, would indeed maintain the status quo....

......to which his or her constituency would have good reason to exercise their voting rights to recall, impeach, seek political office against, and/or promote a truly responsible replacement to remove any individual who ignores the will of his or her constituency.

.....you can't have it both ways. Slim chance exists to where, on one hand a constituency would be satisfied with an individual, and on the other not be served at all. The two conditions are not compatable, and "that means you did not get what you wanted.....at all....." by Kevin41

**************************************

The Job of the Congressman

There are cases where an individual has been wrongfully treated by his government and about the only way, unless the individual resorts to court, and even in some cases the courts are not able to give proper relief, the only area or avenue open to the individual is through his representative. When you find a bona fide error has been made, I suggest that you make a maximum effort to remedy it. This I feel is a vital and important function of those of us in the House of Representatives.

Authors: Donald G. Tacheron and Morris Udall, from the book entitled, "The Job of the Congressman", pages 65 and 66.

(The above excerpt "The Job of the Congressman" holds true for any elected office holder, and/or U.S. citizen)


***********************************

.......Heck, if any elected Black leader were to make use of this ideal to the fullest, as it concerns this most important function of an elected representative......

.......taking into consideration all the blatantly illegal acts perpetrated by agents and official of government against lawful Black people, the Black community would become very wealthy. Any elected official who served his or her community in this manner would be praised, worshipped, honored, respected, be worthy of re-election, etc.

In my experience, and/or the experiences of numerous other individuals, finding one elected Black leader who served the Black community in this fashion would be:

A. History making, and worth cheering for.

B. A miracle.

C. Very noteworthy, and honorable.

D. A rare breed.

E. Extremely scarce.

F. One occurance would definitely be very unbelievable.

G. A stand alone accomplishment over and beyond all the achievements of any Black leader, be it past, present, and in the event it still does not register with our inept elected Black leadership, and/or the dysfunctional voting Black electorate who are satified with individual(s) who have no intention of competently representing their constituency........

....the future.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ML,

The_Job_of_the_Congressman.pdf (27 Kb, 76 downloads)

quote:

*that means you did not get what you wanted.....at all.....

This man says that he EDUCATES others.


Once again the CLAIM has been "Vote for SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE YOU, who holds your INTERESTS AND THUS WILL REPRESENT THEM".

In the cities of New Orleans, Philly, DC, Baltimore, Camden, Newark, Detroit, Gary, East St Louis, Benton Harbor and many, many others THIS IS THE CASE!!!

The VOTING and SUPPORTING part of the plan has been SUCCESSFULLY ENACTED.

If you are too blind to see that despite having the ACTION element of the DICTATE fulfilled by the BLACK COMMUNITY has not lead to the FRUIT that was promised there there is no use to attempt to have a rational conversation with you.

IT IS CLEAR that there has ALWAYS BEEN more elements in the SOLUTION SET than what the "Kneegrow On Stage With A Mic In His Hand" has told you there were. VOTING alone DID NOT DO IT. (If you are honest you would also consider if in fact YOU WERE USED for his purposes)

But you know what Kevin41 - Round 1 is OVER WITH. There is a tremendous transition going on before your eyes in the POST-CIVIL RIGHTS ERA. The situation has only gotten MORE complex.

I now look to you to be a man and begin to DO SOME INSPECTION of the past assumptions that were put forth to you. This will distinguish you from having the interests of forwarding your ideological/partisan/provincial interests OR show that you are indeed attempting to produce EFFECTIVE AND MEASURABLE CHANGE. Inspect the person who TOLD YOU that which you believe and who REINFORCE these concepts by pointing out certain things (racist acts) that STRENGTHEN these notions in your mind while ignoring other important elements that would tend to WEAKEN these points. This is where my PROPORTIONALITY concept comes into mind. Until you step back and assess the situation in its entirety Kevin41 you will AWAYS be lead around by someone who's intent is to PLAY ON that common point of VICTIMIZATION that you share but will always be "this short" of a solution "but for" the actions of the force that is seemingly always at your finger tips but is always so elusive.

I can't believe that you made the opening statement that you did. This naturally results in you seeking to TRY HARDER, doing the very same things that you have done. What do you ask of the people who are navigating for you with respect to SHOWING RESULTS?

The Job of the Congressman

There are cases where an individual has been wrongfully treated by his government and about the only way, unless the individual resorts to court, and even in some cases the courts are not able to give proper relief, the only area or avenue open to the individual is through his representative. When you find a bona fide error has been made, I suggest that you make a maximum effort to remedy it. This I feel is a vital and important function of those of us in the House of Representatives.

Authors: Donald G. Tacheron and Morris Udall, from the book entitled, "The Job of the Congressman", pages 65 and 66.

(The above excerpt "The Job of the Congressman" holds true for any elected office holder, and/or U.S. citizen)


***********************************

.......Heck, if any elected Black leader were to make use of this ideal to the fullest, as it concerns this most important function of an elected representative......

.......taking into consideration all the blatantly illegal acts perpetrated by agents and officials of government against lawful Black people, the Black community would become very wealthy. Any elected official who serves his or her community in this manner would be praised, worshipped, honored, respected, be worthy of re-election, etc.

In my experience, and/or the experiences of numerous other individuals, finding one elected Black leader who serves the Black community in this fashion would be:

A. History making, and worth cheering for.

B. A miracle.

C. Very noteworthy, and honorable.

D. A rare breed.

E. Extremely scarce.

F. One occurance would definitely be very unbelievable.

G. A stand alone accomplishment over and beyond all the achievements of any Black leader, be it past, present, and in the event it still does not register with our inept elected Black leadership, and/or the dysfunctional voting Black electorate who are satified with individual(s) who have no intention of competently representing their constituency........

....the future.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ML,

CF...go get an education and quit kissing white azz to be a coffee pouring flunkie boy...when you make little snide comments like the ones your girls probably use at their age...makes you appear to be a little girl just like them.......a real flamer...just like armstrong and elder...as punkazz as a black man couldever get....are the little girls raising you or is it the other way around? Think about my answer literally...one did not get what they wanted...plain and simple....

you posted:

Once again I ask - What happens when you GET WHAT YOU WANT in elected officials BUT YOUR CONDITION DOES NOT CHANGE?


** If one was voting for change.....and it did not happen....they did not get what they voted for (wanted)....dumbazz chump.....what the fuck is so complicated about that? quit acting like a simpleton....you are acting huh?

With respect to Katrina, New Orleans, etc., etc., more so than President Bush, the primary failure is with Mayor Ray Nagin........

*****************************

Plight of blacks in New Orleans

March 2, 2007

Re "Black anger and the Big Easy," Opinion, Feb. 28

Erin Aubry Kaplan implores black people to be angry. Like too many black leaders, Kaplan's advice perpetuates the problem by blaming America while accepting no responsibility for bad decisions and bad behavior.

Part of the problem in New Orleans was the incompetence of Mayor C. Ray Nagin, who was elected in part because his campaign implored the people of New Orleans to vote for him because he was black.

Every study verifies the increasing percentage of blacks who have joined the middle class. But it serves the interest of Kaplan to ignore the positives and encourage "black rage."

JOE STEVENS

Playa del Rey

Whining about a problem is easier than taking responsibility for it. Kaplan makes no mention of the wisdom of building a life on land that lies below sea level, the myriad official orders to evacuate or the competency of the local elected black politicians.

Instead of being an act of God, Kaplan cherry-picks information to make it appear that Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath are prejudiced against "black folk." I would like to know why it is that after the storm so many Latino laborers migrated to the area to help rebuild when so many able-bodied young black men are unemployed?

MARK AARON

Santa Monica

The will of the people of New Orleans is wearing so thin because the help they need is not forthcoming. I am so disgusted with our government; all this time later the city is still in disarray and despair. Maybe the French Quarter is OK, but the mostly black neighborhoods are not, and our government still does nothing significant.

Residents should have been given the opportunity to rebuild their neighborhoods, clean up the ugliness and regain their lives and dignity. Instead, they were scattered to unfamiliar places and pretty much left on their own. I cannot understand why people from other countries were brought in for the rebuilding and not the residents themselves.

The horror of Katrina is forever indelible in our minds, but it is high time that some real attention be paid to the Crescent City. This city has such a rich history of culture, food and music and a unique and heartfelt place in our society. New Orleans' citizens need more help and a whopping dose of compassion and respect.

LORRAINE B. KIRK

Rancho Palos Verdes

If only we could get black people across the country to put some organization and motion behind their emotions and help us Katrina survivors try to hold on to what's left of our so-called lives. Where is the love, where is the fight-back, where is the soul?

FREDDIE G. MONROE

Woodland Hills

The writer is a displaced Katrina survivor.

Copyright 2007 Los Angeles Times

*****************************

President George Bush, Condoleeza Rice, the Bush Administration.

vs.

An Obama, a William Jefferson, the Congressional Black Democratic Caucus, and/or those who praise them!

quote:

Originally posted by Kevin41:

** If one was voting for change.....and it did not happen....they did not get what they voted for (wanted)....dumbazz chump.....what the fuck is so complicated about that? quit acting like a simpleton....you are acting huh?

You are the SIMPLETON.

The FACT IS that the Black Quasi-Socialist Progressive Fundamentalist Racism Chasers have told the black voting public that

the placement of BLACK PROGRESSIVES (People who look like you and understand your interests) INTO ELECTIVE POWER will be the gateway to HAVING THE BLACK COMMUNITY TO PROGRESS FORWARD

You play DUMB if you want to but the fact is - the IF/THEN scenario was clearly established but has FAILED to come forth.

So again I make the case that the DEMANDS PLACED UPON THE BLACK COMMUNITY WERE MET. The Black community DID INDEED VOTE FOR THE BLACK PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE.

The RESULT THAT WAS PROMISED HAS NOT COME.

Your claim is that "thus we didn't get what we wanted". Your analysis is FLAWED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again the RESULT was to be expressed from WHAT WE WERE TOLD TO DO - VOTE.

NOTHING within the mandate from the Kneegrow On Stage With A Mic In His Hand talked about OTHER FACTORS that ALSO must be addressed in order for this BENEFIT TO FLOW INTO THE BLACK COMMUNITY - only voting for the "Right Man" was the key (and supporting him and defending him REGARDLESS of what he did. AKA - Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell who now sits in a jail cell. )

If you can't understand and distinguish the point then you are more clueless than I thought before.

I think you could give a schit less about black people...and you are just a miserable little hater mad because black people en masse does not subscribe to your tommin and self-loathing...i mean think about it....you and Lofty are sitting here celebrating failure and hoping for the worse to prove your point...kinda like me and amerikkka with those who run it off of racism and evil here and abroad.....you know...having poor folks die in wars that make them rich.....and your folks who look like you is just another one os your stupid azz, trumped-up philosophies that you imply on behalf of blacks...like many other things you do when you try to make black people look stupid for your own gratification used to raise your lowered self-esteem and view of self-worth.....that what you said is really stupid because if it applied based on race...we would be as happy with uncle tom-as...as we were with Thorougood......another black man.......and you talk about clueless.....say the dumb shit you say in public and watch your azz get proverbially kicked up around your neck....you'll smell your own azz everytime you inhale....black people analyze politics like we should.....white people who are poor and vote republican vote that way because the party is lilly white..and it a way to identify with whiteness by being diametrically opposed to anything niggers stand for...that is why a dirt-poor white will vote republican before a six-figure black person.....when in reality it should be the other way around from an economic standpoint.....but unlike you selfish azz loathing cons......the ,majority of black people care for other black people and do not try to get theirs politically at the expense of other blacks......if I was like you i'd give a shit less about affirmative action because I have 2.5 careers going and all of my credentials equal to anyone else....but unlike you I understand how racism has held many back....when they have made the same efforts as anyone else in this society...educationally, professionally and otherwise...and like that black professor said.....it is time to end AA when as many mediocre black people are hired as there are mediocre whites already placed in every sector of this society......my thing is that we all get the same rewards for the same efforts.......

quote:

I think you could give a schit less about black people...and you are just a miserable little hater mad because black people en masse does not subscribe to your tommin and self-loathing...i mean think about it....you and Lofty are sitting here celebrating failure and hoping for the worse to prove your point

What an academic piece you compose.

Now follow the logic folks......

First Kevin41 (and Kweli) tell me about how much I owe my EDUCATION and my exposure to BUSINESS to the HARD FOUGHT BATTLES that Civil Rights Leaders and my ancestors have waged on my behalf to open the doors. (I AGREE WITH THEM ON THIS POINT).

NOW however - I am SUPPOSED to deny my training on economic truth, turn by back on the MANAGEMENT experience that I have attained, ignore my ability to ANALYZE plans and critique them, FOREWARNING about the flaws INHERENT TO THEM.

I am supposed to GET ON BOARD, GO WITH THE FLOW. Most of all BE SILENT!!!

For me to make note that some of the POLICIES of the PROGRESSIVE is ANTITHETICAL to that which he wants - Jobs, Quality Education, Safe Streets and Healthy Lifestyles. I AM THE ONE THAT CAUSED THEIR PLAN TO FAIL!!!!!!

Now get this Kevin41 and crowd tell me how much of an irrelevant minority point of view that I have in the Black Community. They tell me that I COULD NEVER GET ELECTED IN A MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT. Doesn't this implicitly point to the FACT that there are OTHER FORCES THAT DOMINATE THE BLACK COMMUNITY that are different than what my perspective holds? You would think that KEVIN41 would be seeking change and course correction FROM WITHIN THEM rather than worrying about an irrelevant perspective. If you did think this you would be sadly mistaken.

I have long said that Kneegrows like Kevin would prefer a Black man who AGREES WITH HIM but who, when challenged could not effectively defend his position THAN HE DOES to a Black man who DISAGREES with him and who can FULLY defend his position EVEN IF KEVIN DOES NOT AGREE WITH HIS POSITION.

This is the consequence of FAKE UNITY EFFORTS among Black People. Just like the NAACP - Kevin41 is UNACCOUNTABLE to ANYTHING. As long as they are FIGHTING THE OUTWARD FIGHT then they will have appeal among those who are interested in the FIGHT more than the EFFECTIVE RESULTS.

The traditional notions of democracy are lost on Kevin41 from an INTERNAL perspective. To allow his theories to be put up to the test is to expose himself to the possibility that the cornerstone of his THEORIES might be subject to CHANGE if he were to factor in the REAL WORLD OF TODAY rather than defining himself by VICTIMHOOD and OPPRESSION.

If ONLY you (and other Black Quasi=Socialist Progressive Fundamentalist Racism Chasers) would STAND ACCOUNTABLE WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY I would have little to comment on. You could point to the HIGH PERFORMING government operated schools and tell the masses to TOTALLY IGNORE my request for COMPETITION because they are working fine and don't need to be touched. IF ONLY you could point to a booming economy in the areas where BQPFRCs have been elected in the mayor's office and City Council and point to the rampid job creation and the economic health.

Instead you don't have this to point to. You only have WINDMILLS for your people to chase after. Once one is captured but the thrill is less than anticipated YOU WANT TO CHASE AFTER ANOTHER.

What is left in the wake is the question of YOUR MANAGEMENT SKILLS once you take over and YOUR PEOPLE now look to your leadership to provide them with RESOURCES. The results have not been favorable. Your goal is to take the focus off of you and to NATIONALIZE everything - hoping that the aggrieved masses will join you for yet another run.

Sorry dude I AM NOT BUYING IT.
PRODUCE OR GET THE HELL OFF OF THE STAGE IN FRONT OF MY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We can't afford any more missed opportunities or any JACK LEG preachers any longer pumping out false hope and UNITY via connection with our shared missery.

CF...it all means you are talking allot but not saying shit...how often is it demonstrated to you that you are off-topic, lying and stating false info, or making up things on behalf of others and then arguing as if they said it....no one that does these things will ever have any credibility....their whole life is one big lie....it really is....and you keep talking about what YOU did when brothers that accomplished waaaay more were excluded....so you have been accommodated and fail to acknowledge as much....but that is the nature of the black con...like MLK said on Boondocks......you are a walking contradiction....

With respect to Katrina, New Orleans, etc., etc., more so than President Bush, the primary failure is with Mayor Ray Nagin........

*****************************

Plight of blacks in New Orleans

March 2, 2007

Re "Black anger and the Big Easy," Opinion, Feb. 28

Erin Aubry Kaplan implores black people to be angry. Like too many black leaders, Kaplan's advice perpetuates the problem by blaming America while accepting no responsibility for bad decisions and bad behavior.

Part of the problem in New Orleans was the incompetence of Mayor C. Ray Nagin, who was elected in part because his campaign implored the people of New Orleans to vote for him because he was black.

Every study verifies the increasing percentage of blacks who have joined the middle class. But it serves the interest of Kaplan to ignore the positives and encourage "black rage."

JOE STEVENS

Playa del Rey

Whining about a problem is easier than taking responsibility for it. Kaplan makes no mention of the wisdom of building a life on land that lies below sea level, the myriad official orders to evacuate or the competency of the local elected black politicians.

Instead of being an act of God, Kaplan cherry-picks information to make it appear that Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath are prejudiced against "black folk." I would like to know why it is that after the storm so many Latino laborers migrated to the area to help rebuild when so many able-bodied young black men are unemployed?

MARK AARON

Santa Monica

The will of the people of New Orleans is wearing so thin because the help they need is not forthcoming. I am so disgusted with our government; all this time later the city is still in disarray and despair. Maybe the French Quarter is OK, but the mostly black neighborhoods are not, and our government still does nothing significant.

Residents should have been given the opportunity to rebuild their neighborhoods, clean up the ugliness and regain their lives and dignity. Instead, they were scattered to unfamiliar places and pretty much left on their own. I cannot understand why people from other countries were brought in for the rebuilding and not the residents themselves.

The horror of Katrina is forever indelible in our minds, but it is high time that some real attention be paid to the Crescent City. This city has such a rich history of culture, food and music and a unique and heartfelt place in our society. New Orleans' citizens need more help and a whopping dose of compassion and respect.

LORRAINE B. KIRK

Rancho Palos Verdes

If only we could get black people across the country to put some organization and motion behind their emotions and help us Katrina survivors try to hold on to what's left of our so-called lives. Where is the love, where is the fight-back, where is the soul?

FREDDIE G. MONROE

Woodland Hills

The writer is a displaced Katrina survivor.

Copyright 2007 Los Angeles Times

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President George Bush, Condoleeza Rice, the Bush Administration.

vs.

An Obama, a William Jefferson, the Congressional Black Democratic Caucus, and/or those who praise them!