Will Ohio Black Republicans Back Barack Obama?
On April 29, 2006, the Hamilton County Democratic Party, led by it's white supremacist chairman, Timothy Burke, publicly demanded that then-gubernatorial candidate J. Kenneth Blackwell, a Black Republican, pull radio ads which urged Democrats to ask for Republican ballots during the primary election rather than the Democratic ballot or the issues only ballot which unregistered voters normally get. By taking the Republican ballot and voting for Blackwell, Blacks would thereby become registered Republicans. The Democrats argued that Blackwell's radio ads used "illegal and unethical political tactics." (source)
The Blackwell ads were run on Radio One stations all over Ohio, including WDBZ-AM (1230 "The Buzz") in Cincinnati. Several of the Buzz's talk show host, among them Lincoln Ware, Jay Love, and Ken Anderson, stood with Blackwell and pushed their listeners to become Republicans. They urged Blacks to vote for Blackwell and told them not to worry about the fact that by taking the Republican ballot they would be labelled a registered Republican.
The point of this blog is a simple one. Now that Barack Obama is running for president and the only way to vote for him in the primary is by taking the "Barack Ballot" (which means becoming a registered Democrat), I wonder if anyone on the Buzz will urge Black Republicans and Independents to switch parties.
8 comments:
Nate - I don't have answer to your question about what Radio One will do. However, I am interested in figuring out why Barack Obama continues to poll so far behind Hilary in Ohio and elsewhere ... even among Black voters. Any thoughts on that one?
peace, Villager
People don't know Barack Obama and he isn't doing enough to get to know them. On Barack's visits to Cincinnati he has spent his time attending fundraisers in downtown hotels or at private homes. He hasn't gone out among the people. That's a mistake. Just look at our Governor and see how he had enough sense to get out into the streets when he visited Cincinnati last week. And remember when Bill Clinton was the candidate how he'd make stops at a store or restaurant in whatever town he was in. Remember when he went into the Gold Star Chili place across from Findlay Market. Explain why John Edwards did a poverty tour earlier this year and Barack has yet to go out among them.
People know Bill and Hillary Clinton (or at least they think they know them). And to her credit, Hillary has thus far run a good campaign. For the most part, she has stayed on message. In some cases she has upstaged Barack by saying things that people like me think Barack should've said. Two examples, the other day Hillary weighed in on the Jenna 6 case. Barack has yet to do so. During the Tavis Smiley debate, Hillary said that if white women were suffering from something (I think a rise in HIV/AIDS) there would be a national demand that something be done. Barack is much too cautious.
I think many will switch back to Democrat in 2008. I hope they make the switch for Barack Obama and not for Hillary Clinton. I really don't want to see her on the November ballot.
Having always been an independent the buzz and especially Ken Anderson needs to show which side they are going to be on. Now Malcolm said their were two types of black folks House and Field. So far WDBZ has the house full. While the public remains in the field. I would never tell someone to vote for someone just because of the color of their skin. But here again the black guy is the one that makes the most sense when addressing the issues. And this thing about experience, Hilary was the presidents wife, how does that give her any more experience over someone who has been a politician. I just had to take a moment and say that. In my opinion a monkey could not be a worst president than the one we have right now. I say vote Obama he can't be that bad.
L.G's sister is also 24 with three children whom she really does not take care of and his other brother recently got out of a domestic violence charge with the mother of his two children.
No matter how much we would like to see Barak Obama or Hilary Clinton as President in 2008, the fact is that neither one of them stands a snowball's chance in hell of being elected. Even if every black person in America voted for Obama he still would not win without the support of mainstream white America .
In spite of all the money they've raised and the fact that they both happen to be qualified, they will never get the support of mainstream white America, and neither one will get much support from the southern belt. Mainstream white America is not ready to embrace a female or an Arfican American as President in 2008. The republican party is well aware of this, and would love to see an Obama/Hillary or Hillary/Obama ticket in 2008.
The republican candidate, whoever they decide to pick, would be a shoe in (as long as the candidate is a white male). So if the Democratic Party would like to see a Democrat as President in 2008, they would be better off with John Edwards as the Front Runner and maybe Hillary as the vp candidate. However, I do think that Obama would be apppointed to a top cabinet position if the democrats get in office, based on the number of delgates he will get in the primary.
In spite of the fact that we see many African Americans being elected to public office in local, state and federal government, America has demonstrated that racism and sexism is still alive and sick and (in 2008) is not yet ready to see a black man or female in the highest office in the land.
Peace Out
Politicians scare me. They seem to answer the same way... hope is good, we need a change, I did this, I'll make you happy, etc. I can't say who will be best for Black America, but I hope he's not picked for the color of his skin (Alberto Gonzales) or sex (Condoleezza Rice). If you look at the issues of freedom and liberty, all of the other candidates want to divide America. I'm voting for Doctor Ron Paul because he doesn't care what you believe, how you treat yourself, only that you don't impede on others rights. I'm sick of Actors and Lawyers anyhow. It's time for a Doctor. Dare to compare... that's what I did. And I'm not turning back.
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