Democrats and civil rights groups are trying to raise turnout among African-American voters around the country today by invoking a familiar and painful image: Ferguson.
The civil rights group ColorofChange.org said Monday it has distributed fliers to black voters in seven states, including Illinois, with a photo of protests in Ferguson overwritten by the headline, “Enough.”
“The people we elect on November 4th will be in charge of our police departments,” the flier says. “If we want to end senseless killings, like Michael Brown in Ferguson, we need to vote.” The flyer also says conservatives “hijacked the Supreme Court and struck down key provisions in the Voting Rights Act,” and accuses Republicans of trying to impeach President Barack Obama.
The fliers, along with similar ones by Democratic Party groups, have raised debates over whether the invocation of the death of Michael Brown, killed by Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson, and that of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, is fair politics or race-baiting.
I think that this might have been what Ben Stein was alluding to in the post yesterday that inspired him to call the President the "most racist President there has ever been in America." Though how this tactic can be linked back to the President is unknown to me.
I have to say that I completely understand why this seems like a reasonable way in which to inspire minorities to come to the polls, however I am also aware that it might come off as a little unseemly and insensitive.
However I will leave it up to you all to share your thoughts and to tell us if this goes too far, or not far enough.
OT, Sarah I just happened to read this ongoing issue about you and your family that happened at the Anchorage birthday party. You know that incident that won't go away:
ReplyDeleteJohn McCain Knows Who Is To Blame For Palin Brawl: Katie Couric, Probably
“Shit happens, you know?” — John McCain, mostly.
John McCain was minding John McCain’s own business, getting interviewed on the teevee, as one does when one is John McCain and it is a day. But darn the liberal media at Phoenix television station KTVK! They just would not stop asking him about the fact that the woman he chose as his vice presidential running mate has birthed a passel of failing, crying, shoeless hillbillies who crash people’s parties and sucker-punch the host!
(Read more)
http://wonkette.com/565169/john-mccain-knows-who-is-to-blame-for-palin-brawl-katie-couric-probably
Unfortunately, this tragedy became political. It should have been - was the officer justified in killing this young man? But - when it comes to the killing of black men it always seems to end up being political.
ReplyDeleteAs to who is using this situation to promote their agenda - it would seem any sane person would say - something was wrong here and in so many other killings. Are you a Repub or a Dem? Does it matter - or should it?
Pat Padrnos
Shouldn't matter. I think there is a real problem in many communities, and we should mourn the death of ANY young person. I also think that it is disgraceful that so many deaths occur, everyday, black or white, but NO ONE CARES, unless a black person was killed by a white person. Then we can have outrage, looting, and everyone wants change. How about the hundreds of our young thatare killed every year...no, nothing on that. It stinks.
DeleteAgreed with both of you. Glad there are still some people out there that understand the whole picture and aren't afraid to call out bullshit.
DeleteIMO Dems need to use everything at their disposal, and if what happened in Ferguson isn't a very strong - and very appropriate - inducement to use to get African-Americans to vote, then I don't know what is!
ReplyDeleteRace-baiting?! BULLSHIT! I would call it fighting fire with fire, if the fight weren't so tragically one-sided -- so totally stacked against African-Americans.
Exactly!
DeleteViolent victimization, in the hands of the police or otherwise, is a huge issue in the African American community. I think this makes a lot of sense. Why is this any different from appealing to women's desire to control their own bodies or to the middle class's need to affordable health care?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't advise it, but if you were to go in the comment section of a place like Briebart.com, you'd see the rampant racism among many Republicans. After Trayvon Martin was murdered and then Michael Brown was murdered, many anonymous Republicans went on racist feeding frenzies.
Telling the African American community that they are likely to do better if they elect Democrats vs. Republicans is not going too far.
I'm still miffed that the mother of a sitting President, while flying on US1 over New Orleans after Katrina, with people unburied still in the streets, and tons warehoused in a sports stadium said something to the effect of "See all them down there? They're going to do just fine after my son is done with them" . I STILL want to smack the white dots off that damn dress till it's solid blue and drop her where she was pointing.
Delete2:52 here. Sorry for my typos.
DeleteAnd, Anita Winecooler, I agree with you 100%.
Good for them in using it. What was brought to light in Ferguson should be talked about and good for the black folks in using it. I would think it would indeed get folks out to vote!
ReplyDeleteI'm 100% sure there are other towns in the USA that are as horrible as the cops in Ferguson were shown to be against their black residents.
Fair game. There's a direct link between voting and having a police department and justice system that represents, respects, and protects you.
ReplyDeleteI think this and the examples of Dems distancing themselves from Obama and making videos of themselves shooting guns and driving pickup trucks is symptomatic of a growing syndrome where Dems are trying too hard to follow the Republican "formula for success".
ReplyDeleteThe problem is, Republican tactics only work on people with Conservative Brain Disorder. Trying to terrorize liberal minds into compliance is going to backfire big time.
Dems need to be proud to be Dems and stop trying to answer to conservative criticisms or worse, present themselves as some kind of pseudo republicans, because it's just not going to work.
The people whose opinions matter the most are Michael Brown's family. From their keep it classy demeanor and urging peaceful protest, it's very probable they'd approve of voter registration efforts and get out the vote activities. Perhaps their attorney will speak to this effort, if there's a reporter out there asking the right questions.
ReplyDeleteMcConnell wins in Kentucky.
ReplyDeleteI hope this is not a harbinger of things to come.
I'm pissed. The guy is an asshole!!!
DeleteWTF is WRONG with people ???This asshole is crooked and has voted against anything that would help people .Triple face palm.
DeleteGo read Jim Wright at Stonekettle Station about the Balance of Power and you'll feel much better. The guy is a very gifted writer and hits it out of the park as to where this country is headed. Don't get depressed. Pledge to start working tomorrow on the next election.
DeleteEff word.
DeleteI was going to miss Jon Stewart's impressions...guess we'll have them for 6 more years.
Deleteahh - I wish we were privvy to the cease and desist order to keep Saray from appearing in public to support (curse) the carpetbagger Sullivan. The only good thing I can ever say about Karl Rove and his ilk - they really know how to make Paline sit down and shut up.
ReplyDelete"A little unseemly and insensitive" to use this issue to get more black people to vote? Really, Gryphen? What is "unseemly and insensitive" is the fact that young black men are being shot down and killed because their skin is not the right color!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNo THAT is horrific.
DeleteAnd by saying I understand how some might see this as unseemly or insensitive did not mean that I found it so in any way.
Just playing the devil's advocate card a bit.
What did they say that wasn't 100% true?
ReplyDeleteI am not black, but I can only imagine what it has done to their spirits to always have to lie low, act nice, and not feel safe enough to speak out loudly and clearly about the horrible indignities they have had to suffer.
Plain talk that didn't pussy-foot around and gets people out to vote down those who would do them and their children harm.
Good for them!
OT: This is interesting regarding the ANG scandal, especially the comments.
ReplyDeletehttp://whatdoino-steve.blogspot.com/2014/11/an-explanation-for-nancy-dahlstrom.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FoJTgpu+%28What+Do+I+Know%3F%29
Fair game. Seriously. I agree with Anon 2:45. The Dems do need to use everything at their disposal. Just consider the strategy that the rethugs have employed since Obama took office:
ReplyDeleteIt's a fact that when people are mad at government, the incumbents are at risk. So, the gotp sunk to new, unprecedented, cynical lows and obstructed in order to rile up the uninformed and/or misinformed to vote out the incumbents in the senate, which are mostly Democrats.
Their strategy will probably work. But what will the whiny, petulant, devious rethugs do when they control congress? My guess is nothing good for their constituents.
The level of political ignorance in this country is disgusting. I am so sick of stupid voters.
Oh hell no. The black majority in Ferguson needs to get politically active. How does a community that is mostly black get a T-party mayor and police chief?
ReplyDeleteLike black teens are only lawful target practice in Ferguson?
ReplyDeleteInsensitive and insane is shooting a young black man in a Walmart who was leaning against a toy gun with his back turned to cops who were brought to the store by a liar.
ReplyDeleteInsensitive is shooting a young black man seven times in the back in Utah and getting away with it.
Insenstive is shooting a black kid coming home with skittles.
Insensitive is coming up with a story about how a handcuffed black kid shot himself in the back of his own head in a cop car.
Any fucking thing that reminds us that our young black males can be blown away for no damned reason at any minute is ok by me.
Amen Angela!
DeleteHEY SARAH, YOU TAKING THIS CRAP?
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:34
They just would not stop asking him about the fact that the woman he chose as his vice presidential running mate has birthed a passel of failing, crying, shoeless hillbillies who crash people’s parties and sucker-punch the host!
Sarah they are saying you birthed a passel of failing, crying, shoeless hillbillies!
Grizzly mama are you taking that?
I guess you and your family are scared hoohas.
You're missing the point. The point is to reverse the trend of whites governing majority black communities. If people don't vote locally, then they end up with poorly funded schools and racist police forces. Why do you think whites turn out to vote? Typically, they want to protect and preserve their own interests, which usually are racially motivated, as in how can we keep all the resources for ourselves. It's interesting that only whites are supposed to protect their interests, and blacks have to always defend and explain their political motivations. Why is that? This midterm election is more about whites protecting their privileges than anything else. It's about time that the Ferguson voters exercised their political power.
ReplyDeleteAnything that makes "news" shouldn't be off limits if we want to move this country forward. My opinion has been and is that we democrats dropped the ball with the Treyvon Martin case by letting it fade. I can't speak for Ben Stein, but he either needs to explain his words or apologize. One would think someone named "Stein" would have SOME grasp of bigotry and injustice, but then he "passes" for "white" while the President clearly doesn't (white privilege, don't leave home without it).
ReplyDeleteThis is just my opinion, nothing more, nothing less and I know if I say I'm "White" eyes will roll and people will call ME a racist, but that's their problem.
It is an embarassing tactic that will more than likely backfire on them. It instantly marginalizes an entire minority group and separates them from the rest of America as if they don't share the same voting concerns, or life concerns as the rest of their fellow Americans. The real kicker is when and how and why did the unresolved police shooting become political?
ReplyDelete