A Presidential Perspective I

When I intially wrote this (7/10/04) my editors told me I couldn't publish this item because it was controversial. They told me as a journalist I couldn't give names. I've always tried to give honest assessments of the Black Political Process because few do. Check it out and then view Presidential Perspective II which was sanitized. Guest what? My editors thought that was too controversail. You be the judge and tell me which one you like.



The ultimate horse race of the year is apparently set. The Republicans have their standard barer and Senator John Kerry has picked Senator John Edwards as his running mate. Does anybody see anything wrong with this picture? Look real close and you will note that there is an absence of color, gender and that so called mosaic that we call America.

Can only white men offer solutions to the myriad of problems facing the United States? I doubt it. The citizenry needs to get over it’s obsession with the patriarchal society. Let’s get some new ideas into the mix in both parties. I for one am getting tired of the also rans in either party. Electibility seems to be this year’s mantra. Whoever wins this year’s Presidential election should end the stranglehold of "Caucasian men only" for the top office in the land.

By the time 2008 comes around new names need to emerge who will break the mold in both parties. Conventional wisdom will tell you that money is the key to launching a national campaign. I’ve argue that ideas are the capital that will sway the electorate. These new national names don’t have to be at the top of the ticket, but need to "be in the mix" when it comes time to select a vice president.

Jesse and Al please stay home, your time has come and gone we need new blood to rally behind. In the GOP, Alan Keyes, go get a real job. We are into our third generation of politicians. Brothers and sisters permeate every stratum of politics and business. Few will volunteer to run so I’ve drafted potential people who have varied experiences to run for the highest office.

As I see it there are four categories from which to pick.

1.) Career politicians – noted for their current and previous experience in political office.

Democrats

Alexis Herman – Former Labor Secretary – strength is she knows Black America and would give Black women something to rally behind.

Togo West – Former Secretary of Army – strength military background an important commodity in an era global terrorism.

Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. – one of the outspoken critics of the house who will join with republicans on some issues. Ford thinks outside the box.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick – he’s America’s "hip-hop mayor" who can roll with the punches. Last year there was a black out in Motown, people didn’t riot because the mayor told residents to chill with barbeques and candle-lit dinners.

Marc Morial – Urban League President – The former mayor of New Orleans has made the Urban League a strong political and vocal force in the African-American community. President Bush appears to favor the Urban League over the NAACP to speak, but he gets the same message when he’s in a private room with Morial.

Barack Obama - Initially when I wrote this he wasn't on this list. After interviewing him at the DNC and seeing his speech in Boston I can honestly say he is the real deal. I know he frieghtens Republicans and emblodens Democrats. In four years he will have worked in the U.S. Senate (trust me, he will win in Illinois) and that gives him clout. He's is a coalition builder and would shake up this nation.

Republican

Joe Rogers (Former Colorado Lt. Governor) – A back to basics politician. Rogers is tough on crime and punishment. He championed education when few in his own party would.

Michael Steele (Maryland, Lt. Governor) – Who would have thought that the first black elected statewide in Maryland would be a Republican? Steele has kept his roots in the Black community which would serve him well in a national campaign.


2.) Business – proven themselves in marketing their companies not just to the African-American community.

Democrats

Kenneth Chenault (President & COO, American Express) – in the business world he is a genius. If you own their stock you should thank Chenault. With its multitude of services and products he could maximize government and its services.

Sylvia Rhone (CEO, Electra Entertainment Group) – Rhone has it all beauty, brain and brawn. She can look at the big picture and create a strategic plan that will make improvements.
Earl Graves (CEO, Black Enterprise) – he’s trumpeted solutions in the pages of his magazine so let’s give him a shot (Steve Forbes, Forbes Magzine, thought he knew how to be president).

Republican

Joshua Smith (Pres. Maxima Corp.) – Smith has been ahead of the technology curve for years. Let’s take some of that talent and put it to good use.

3.) Academia/Non Traditional Jobs – These are people who’ve reached the zenith of their chosen professions and are looking for new challenges.

Dr. Ruth Brown (President, Brown University) – Dr. Brown has been breaking down barriers all her life and this would be the ultimate challenge.

Donna Brazile (Former Al Gore Campaign manager) – Brazile is the ultimate democratic operative. She’s setup her own consulting business and has a book. Isn’t that how most politicians start a campaign?

Rev. Floyd Flake (Allen A.M.E Church) - Left congress and returned to the pulpit. His church in Jamaica, New York not only preaches the gospel, but self help. Democrats and Republicans recognize how effective he is in community building.

4.) Unknown Quotient – They are loud, bodacious, and unconventional. They reach a constituency few people tap into on a regular basis and could challenge any traditional party leader.

Democrat

Shoshana Johnson – America’s first celebrated Black Female P.O.W. – War hero, single mom, she’s got something to say.

Russell Simmons- Co-Founder of Def Jam Records and founder of Rush Communications - Simmons introduced rap music and hip-hop culture to mainstream America. Let’s see if he can run a country.

Sean Combs – CEO, Bad Boy Entertainment – The ultimate producer of hype. He could fire up the hip-hop nation. Talk about fundraising all he would need is a tour.

Republican

Jim Brown – Activist – Brown has been challenging the status quo since his days as football player when he was re-writing records. No need for additional security his advocacy for former gang members has endured him to a population that needs a voice.

I’m quite certain that my list may not measure up to your own personal choices, but let’s not wait until 2008. If you want add some names I missed have at it, post them on this blog.

Now that you've taken the time to check out this one try Presidential Perspective II

A Presidential Perspective II

When I initally wrote this my editors thought I was going off the deepend. So I created this tamer version. If you're reading this for the first time go back to Presidential Perspective I.
I orginally wrote this back on July 15, 2004. I've share this with friends who found it facinating. Here goes !!!


The ultimate horse race of the year is apparently set. The Republicans have their standard barer and Senator John Kerry has picked Senator John Edwards as his running mate. Does anybody see anything wrong with this picture? Look real close and you will note that there is an absence of color, gender and that so called mosaic that we call America.
Can only white men offer solutions to the myriad of problems facing the United States? I doubt it. The citizenry needs to get over it’s obsession with the patriarchal society. Let’s get some new ideas into the mix in both parties. I for one am getting tired of the also rans in either party. Electibility seems to be this year’s mantra. Whoever wins this year’s Presidential election should end the stranglehold of "Caucasian men only" for the top office in the land.
By the time 2008 comes around new names need to emerge who will break the mold in both parties. Conventional wisdom will tell you that money is the key to launching a national campaign. I’ve argue that ideas are the capital that will sway the electorate. These new national names don’t have to be at the top of the ticket, but need to "be in the mix" when it comes time to select a vice president.

Jesse and Al please stay home, your time has come and gone we need new blood. In the GOP, Alan Keyes, go get a real job. We are into our third generation of politicians. Brothers and sisters permeate every stratum of politics and business. As I see it there are four categories from which to pick.

1.) Career politicians – noted for their current and previous experience in political office.

2.) Business – proven themselves in marketing their companies not just to the African-American community.

3.) Academia/Non Traditional Jobs – These are people who’ve reached the zenith of their chosen professions and are looking for new challenges.

4.) Unknown Quotient – They are loud, bodacious, and unconventional. They reach a constituency few people tap into on a regular basis and could challenge any traditional party leader

Visualize with me several fictional characters that have various characteristics from the above categories. They may peak the electorates interest and more importantly your interest. As a disclaimer any resemblance to any real person is purely co-incidental.

Ms. I Got What it Takes - Ms. Takes is a second generational civil rights advocate free from any scandal. She's paid her dues by advocating for education. This woman has put her own money up to create experimental schools that are affordable. She's taken this private company public and has become the darling of Wall Street. Fortune 500 companies frequently ask her to speak. Her favorite quote is "the next civil rights battle won't be in the street but for economic survial."

Mr. Don't Look at Me as a Black Man - Mr. Black Man was a close personal friend of Reginald Lewis and took to heart the title of his biography "Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun." He currently works for a Fortune 500 company. Well compensate by his firm he has no desire to jump into poltics, however after assessing the field of potential candidates for 2008 he believes he has to jump into the fray. It won’t be easy because his counterparts will besmirch his reputation as a beneficary of "Affirmative Action."

Mr. Who Says I Can't Run - Mr. Can't Run has re-written the shoe business. Run has been able to outfit rappers, moviestars, politicains and the general public in his personalized gear. Every new product is anticipate with the zeal of a movie premiere. His ability to tap into popular culture has made him a spokesperson for the under 25 generation. On a dare an established politician challenges Mr. Can't Run to run for president.

Rev. Ms. Lord Have Mercy - Rev. Mercy has shunned the televangilist route to preach her sermons but is good friends with T.D. Jakes and others of the cloth. She gains addtioanl crebibility because of her service in the military on the front lines in Iraq. Her church located in Detriot draws stars like Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Beyonce Knowles, and Condaleece Rice. The congreation's mantra is "You Go Girl." She's registered over a million single mothers and they have drafted her to run for president.

Mr. G.O.P Brother - Mr. Brother is the equivalent of Ralph Ellision's, Invisble Man. He's sat in on every major decision made by Republican Presidents since the 1980 and no one knew he was in the room. Brother attends an A.M.E. church in Prince Georges County which has kept him grounded. At the urging of Colin Powell he takes to the road helping young brothers in trouble get their G.E.D. and start them in business. His tour becomes a crusade to run for President.

Where are these fictional characters ? Some are composites of people I believe should consider running in 2008. You may have a different opinion. Now you have a chance to voice that opinion by writing here. For the uninitiated you have to create an online name (something close to your personality).

Thanks for listening and hearing my musings.

Black Republicans Trying to Find Hip-Hop

Can the genre associated with urban youth co-exist with the GOP? Not in this lifetime. Black Republicans may not get the language, the attitude, and the style, but they aren’t immune from the music. It’s a bit strange to see a Black Republicans “thro-in-it up” and doing the “lean back.” It’s out of ordinary to watch traditional Republicans "gettin down" with the newest star of the party, Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, at the 40-40 Club in Lower Manhattan. Steele invited his colleagues from the conservative wing of Maryland’s Republican Party to the event. Talk about fish out of water. “What’s that music they’re playing?” was heard by many of the lighter persuasion. Maryland State Senator Alex Mooney, who is as conservative as they come, was shooting pool in a backroom. He looked like an extra in the movie Scarface. (FYI, there was a poster of Tony Montana in a nearby room.)

Faces spotted in the crowd include New York Post Conservative Columnist, Robert George, Joe Phillips ( NPR’s Tavis Smiley Show Political Commentator), Regan Hooper (Steele Press Secretary), BET Reporters, Andre Showell and Stephanie Frederick, “Lazee” Lamont King of the Russ Parr Morning Show, and Comedian Cheryl Underwood.

King from the Russ Parr Show was amazed by the whole surrealism of the convention. “It’s very dull and staged (the convention). The protesters aren’t given even 30 seconds to protest. You’ve got the city on virtual lockdown. It’s different.” He compared his impressions of Black Republicans as “two sides to a coin.” According to him they were “either old and detached or young and out of touch.”

So where were the Hip-Hop Kings of New York? The only one to show his face was Shawn “P-Diddy” Combs, sporting a Mohawk hair cut (must be for a movie he’s shooting). He made the rounds of each network on Thursday promoting his “Vote or Die” campaign. The campaign kicked off in Boston during the Democratic Convention and will feature prominent artists wearing the t-shirts (50 Cent, and Queen Latifah just to name a few). During an interview with Bill O’Reilly, the conservative talk show host, Rielly tried to bait Combs into becoming a Republican.

“So let me get this, your mother raised you, kept you out of trouble, no one has ever given you a handout and you started your company on your own,” says O’Reilly, “So why aren’t you a Republican?” Puff Daddy responds, “Nah, we’re just an independent organization trying to awaken a sleeping giant.” Combs hands the host a t-shirt and is off to his next television interview. FYI, I bought one of the shirts in New York. It set me back $30.

In Harlem, Russell Simmons’ Phat Farm has taken out a huge billboard promoting hip-hop and voting. But on the street level the message and slogans are being squeezed by a skeptical audience.

Nov Felder, a street bookseller in Harlem, cut right to the chase, “’Vote or Die’ is a slogan and we have to educate our people so they will know what they are voting for…we need some kind of voter union to make sure our vote isn’t wasted.” Shauntay William, a New York actress, got the symbolism in the slogan. “If you think about it (the slogan) is right, if you go to war, you die.”

One thing is for certain, hip is about the only thing that young Black Republicans can look for in hip hop for the time being.

Lastly, there was the unlikely citing of Andre “Andre 3000” Benjamin of Outkast. He was interviewed outside the lock-up area for protesters. When asked why he was there, “One of my interns went down to the march and was arrested and I came to get him out.” What happened to the time when artist went to jail on principle and interns watched? It seems that infamous folk song has come to life, “The times are a changin.”

What's Up with Pastor Donnie McClurkin

Donnie McClurkin’s Coming Out Party



As I told you in my first blog I would try to get at the heart of Pastor Donnie McClurkin's conversion to "hetero-sexuality and the so call 'gay curse. '" I had the best opportunity to get the answer at Wednesday's morning's GOPAC Prayer breakfast hosted by former Republican Congressman J. C. Watts. As I proceed to go ask the singer some questions I was stopped by his publicist Irma Byrd who told be that pastor has decided not to do any more press in lieu of some recent bad publicity. When I asked her to clarify she made reference to a comment in the Style Section of the Washington Post. McClurkins sexual conversion isn't new news. Two years ago he came clean with his conversion saying he was sexually molested as a child by a relative.

Ms. Byrd who was adamant about keeping me away suggested that "there were too many questions about why he was coming and who invited him." As I probed a bit more the publicist point blank told me "the republicans invited and the democrats didn't call." Does this mean that he supports the Republicans? Does he even vote? That answer may not be forth coming.

"We just think doing print is wrong for McClurkin because they will edit what he says"...Da. "We might consider doing live television because that way no one can edit what you say." When pressed more about television he has done she mentioned Tavis Smiley's Show and a UPN Show. I know for a fact he's done CBN and CTN, two Christian networks.
I explained that I was working for MBC Network (soon to be named the Black Family Channel). "Sorry we're just not doing any taped interviews."

Literally, 15 minutes later McClurkin comes outside the breakfast and sees a white reporter (who I believed worked for CBN) and gave her an interview. What's wrong with that picture?

I have nothing wrong with Christian singers and those who are devoted religious people, but if you're going to step out on issues of faith and want the rest of Black America to go with you and not be questioned you will sadly be mistaken. I understand that Pastor McClurkin "ministers to people via song but blind faith is what got the Nazi's in trouble. Ministers and singers can positons on a wide variety of issues including faith. Know that "the lord don't like ugly."

....we fall down, but we get up.......

Swing for the Fence

Charles Robinson III


With the floor packed Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele Tuesday night answered the challenge from the Republican Party leadership, redefine Black Republicans. In a speech laced with metaphors and ante dotes Steel was able to mesmerized Black delegates, but failed to create any long term attention span for most white delegates on the floor. The lead-up to the speech probably created some unrealistic expectations and unfair comparisons to Barack Obama’s speech at the Democratic Convention. In private conversations with the Lieutenant Governor he confided he felt matching that speech word for word was a little over the top. Some of the poignant moments form the speech included the reference to his mother, “Mabel Turner always saw the hope that her kids would be better off then she was. And she channeled her hope for that legacy. Today Mabel Turner has a daughter who’s an accomplished pediatrician and a son who is the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland.”

Where the governor went off the proverbial “reservation,” were his references to John Kerry. It is the Republican National Convention and bashing Kerry has been a theme that has run through every speaker. Steele would have been better served if he offer an “invitation” to people of color to re-examine there own personal political views. Predictably, those in the Blacks in the crowd saw the speech in glowing terms as evident by the comments from Jacqueline Gordon of Bowie, Maryland, “This is a new day, Black Republicans have come of age.”

But it was the comments of Joseph Phillips, actor turn political commentator, that were a bit more cautious. “It (African-Americans becoming Republicans) is not going to happen overnight, but Black people are already considering it. Polls are showing Black people are leaving the Democratic Party, but there not flocking in large numbers to the Republican Party.” The work the party has to do is massive. They will have to find issues that click and make sense. Bashing the Democrats is not the answer.

Lastly while listening to the speech on the floor and doing interviews a crew from the History Channel started asking me questions about African-Americans and the GOP. For those of you who know me…they got a candid and blunt discussion about Black Republicans. The segment, if it doesn’t end up on the cutting room floor will air this Friday, September 3, 2004, 7 pm.

In the next installment Black Republicans and faith, and gay marriage the wedge issue that could pose a problem for church going African-Americans.

How Many Black Republicans Can You Fix Into One Room?

If you answered “not many” you would be absolutely correct. BAMPAC (Black America’s Political Action Committee) is charged with finding and delivering qualified candidates of the “darker persuasion.” It’s difficult but not necessarily impossible; especially at a reception Monday at the W Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. For some working the crowd it was chance to share success and challenges. They come from varied places Texas, Indianapolis, North Carolina and New Hampshire (I didn’t know there was a mass of Black Humanity in the New England State). The mantra from the success stories seems to be communication. “You’ve got to go into communities and talk to people,” according to Mayor Yvonne Brown of Tchula, Mississippi. Convincing African-Americans to listen is difficult. Personal relationships are different. There is an air of compatibility when you talk to someone with out the baggage of party.While BAMPAC has attracted major white donors they haven’t translated that into a real ground swell of support in the Black community. When you look at the supporters and founders of the political action committee some are lightening rods with negatives rivaling President George Bush. Included in that group are Armstrong Williams, Allen Keyes, and Jackie Cissell. What was interesting at this event is the new breed of GOP supporter. They are young, confident in their Blackness and yearning for acceptance beyond the party apparatus. Yes they are conservative and may be closer to “compassionate conservative” than the president. So who are some these new individuals. People like Joseph Phillips (you know him from the Cosby Show character Navy Lt. Martin Kendall) a frequent commentator on the Tavis Smiley Show; Alvin Williams the CEO of BAMPAC and more importantly the brother of Armstrong Williams; and Olga Morgan Wright of North Carolina who bucked the Democratic trend in the Tar Heel state and is running for the House of Representatives.One of the oddities spotted at this event was Washington, DC Mayor Anthony Williams. Williams has been challenged at home for his pro-republican stance on school vouchers. He sums up his support for this issue as standing up for the District of Columbia. “We need to have Black people in both parties,” according to his honor.One of the biggest disappoints for Black Women of the GOP was cancellation of the Black Women International Minority Forum and Reception Honoring Minorities in Business. “What’s up with that?”The major flap over Maryland's Governor Bob Erhlich’s comment calling the Maryland Democrats racist because they blindly take black vote for granted was a low point. I asked Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele his interpretation of the morning address by the governor and was literally stunned when he agreed. He framed the comment in these terms, “the last time I check the schools (Baltimore) were failing, the two populus ares of the state had the highest unemployment rates, and there was little creation of jobs.”Tomorrow get ready for reaction to Steele’s speech and the reaction.