A WEEK OF UPHEVAL

 (Baltimore, MD)  What a week. It began Sunday, 1/3/21, as a part of group of Journalist questioning Rep. James Clyburn (D) South Carolina for Journal-ism. During the Q and A, I asked Congressman Clyburn about a breaking news story regarding the President calling the Georgia Secretary of State and telling him to find more than 11-thousand votes to help overturn his election in the state. “I won’t put anything past the President,” said the South Carolina legislator (this idea would be revealed by Wednesday).

Tuesday, 1/4/21, I dropped in my office at the Annapolis State House preparing for the 2021 Maryland Legislative Session. In the area where I work, commonly referred to as “The Pit.” I have a pair of calendars on my desk. One shows the month, another shows the date. The date was March 20, 2020, the last time I was in State House. I did a Zoom call with colleagues, and snapped pictures of Lawyers Mall, where Justice Thurgood Marshall will return.

I head home to watch election results from the Georgia United States Senate. By 11 pm est. it was clear, Rev. Ralph Warnock, had defeated incumbent  Sen. Kelly Loeffler. There was uncertainty as to whether  Jon Ossoff  had defeated Sen. David Perdue (but it was trending in that direction). This election would  decide which party would control the Senate.

Rev. Ralph Warnock

I retire knowing Wednesday the Congress would begin counting the results of the Electoral College. Some members of the GOP in the House of Representatives [Jim Jordan (Ohio), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), and Louie Gohmert (Tex.)] were all in; in the Senate (Sen. Josh Hawley (MO)and  Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) went on record they would challenge the votes as well. They were urged on by the President who went on several social media sites (Twitter/Facebook/Parler) to urge supporters to come to Washington, DC to “stop the count.” There would be a rally outside the White House.

There were ominous signs, Mayor Mural asked DC residents, “avoid Downtown and confrontation,” Tuesday afternoon. The Mayor also put the National Guard on notice.

The  Hotel Harrington, which was frequented by members of “The Proud Boys,” announced it was closing it doors in anticipation of large crowds. Federal authorities arrest Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys Tuesday evening. These were signs.

Wednesday, 1/5/20, the day began with Vice President Mike Pence announcing he could not change the outcome of the election by selecting new electors. The President had urged him to do so, but the Vice President rejected this idea noting what the constitution spells out what his role is in this process. The President went on a twitter tirade. A letter was released by the Vice President to the public as to what his role is in this procedure. The process would begin at 1 pm.

At 11 am I begin watching the Electoral College count on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, BBC, and NBC. I switch over to monitor the March to Save America on FOX, OAN, and NEWSMAX and see they are showing a rally of Trump supporters outside the White House.

Featured speakers include Rudolph Giuliani, “Let’s have trial by combat.” “This isn’t their Republican Party anymore!” Donald Trump Jr. yelled. “This is Donald Trump’s Republican Party!”

The President appears on stage at 12 noon(1-hour rant of how the election was stolen). The President urged the crowd “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” Trump says he will march with them to the Capitol. He doesn’t, but monitors activities from a tent then just outside the White House. From Trump, “Because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong.”

The joint session of Congress convenes at 1 pm with Vice President Pence presiding. He begins to open the mahogany boxes which contains the votes of states. He stops on Arizona because there is a challenge. Each challenge will last 2 hours. AP calls race for Joss Ossoff in Georgia as they begin deliberations.

The chambers split and the challenge in each chamber begins. In a split screen you see the marchers heading to Capitol. The Capitol Police watch in horror as the crowd overwhelms the east and west side barricades. The group gains access to Inaugural staging area and on the grounds of the Capitol. That’s when things take a turn for the worst.

In the Senate, Secret Service remove the Vice President and Sen. Mitch McConnel. Over in the House of Representatives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is shepherd away. The remaining members are taken to the same secure locations as the mob breaks into the Capitol making their way into two chambers.

I am glued like you to the television, wondering how is this possible? I worked in the Capitol prior to 911. I have been back since and it’s difficult to enter. Why wasn’t their more security? All of the officers had guns. Why weren’t they used? Why was it taking so long for National Guard from Maryland and Virginia to arrive to secure the building? When additional police arrive, why was this mob allowed to leave and not be arrested?

Several Republican leaders urged the President to go before the cameras to ask his supporters to leave the Capitol. He appeared on Twitter via video only to rant about the election being stolen and tell his supporters to leave. A second video appeared where he said, “We love you, but it is time to leave.”

At 6 PM curfew was imposed in Washington, DC by Mayor Bowser. Police officers began to move the crowd away from the Capitol grounds. Control is re-established. President Elect Biden addresses the nation. The Cong/ress reconvenes and commences the process a little after 9 PM. The first challenge to Arizona is defeated at 11 PM. The others follow suit and Joe Biden is named the President.

Thursday 1/7/21, I plan to go to Washington, DC. I take my son, Julian. As we get closer to the Capitol there is security everywhere. The first thing we notice is the erection of an eight-foot-high fence. As we get to the Reflection Pond, we notice a number of Trump supporters berating  international journalist. These Trump supporters believe they have done nothing wrong and are willing to tell anyone how they feel. There continue to be caravans of cars, buses and trucks with Trump flags.

Despite universal condemnation, they are unwavering in their belief the election was stolen. On Capitol Hill there is discuss, and shock as to how this happen. The assessment is swift. The Sargent of Arm is fired, the Chief of the Capitol Police resigns, and it’s announced the fencing will stay up during the Inauguration. There is word the President has gone to Camp David. There is serious talk about invoking the 25^th Amendment where the President is removed from office by the Vice President and eight members of the Cabinet. Speaker Pelosi says if this does not take place she will consider a second Impeachment.

I talk to Democrat Rep. Anthony Brown of Maryland about the events of the siege, lessons learned, and what should happen.

Friday 1/8/21, things are moving fast. The President records another video saying what his supporters did at the Capitol was wrong (It’s seems he’s been told this looks bad.). Twitter/Instagram announces a ban for @RealDonaldTrump. Others follow their lead mostly ban information till after the Inauguration.

There are intense discussions about the how and the why of mob getting into Capitol. A number of high-profile people seen in videos are arrested. There are bi-partisan discussion about how to proceed if Articles of Impeachment are drawn up. Same members of the GOP are against the idea saying it would further divide the country. Speaker Pelosi mays a call to the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to inquiry about safe guards around the nation’s nuclear arsenal. The Chief assures her safeguards are in place.

The FBI, the Metropolitan Police, and Capitol Police begin an investigation. More video inside the Capitol is released and shows a mob “hell-bent” on entering and desecrating the institution. There are few days left in the Trump Administration.

The chorus of condemnation is growing. An alternate version of the events includes: it was Antifa, the mob was exercising their First Amendment, and these were individuals who were frustrated. Stop!!! You broke the law and this is treason. We saw it and the world saw it.

Per South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, “Anything is possible.”

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Curious Case of Alvin Greene

Baltimore – In the political season that many are calling a referendum on President Barack Obama it is curious that the season has produced Alvin Greene. Just to refresh those who have not heard of Greene he captured the Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate in South Carolina. It has people like me scratching my head, wondering why?

Here is a man who saved the $10,440 to file for the Democratic Primary. Congressional Members Black and White questioned his intentions suggesting he was merely a plant by the GOP (similar challenges in the Palmetto State are not uncommon). The leading Black Congressman for South Carolina, Representative James Clyburn suggested this(and others did as well) when they learned of the win.

Similarly, Greene’s primary opponent, Vic Rawl a Charleston County councilman and former judge, suggested something must be amiss in the election. Candidate Greene, who hails from Manning, a small town in South Carolina, was probably more shocked than anyone. He racked up nearly 30,000 votes. A number of political observers called it “a fluke.”

But the truth they same is sometimes stranger than fiction. Here is a sampling of comments heard from voters: “his name was the first on the ballot; I thought he was Reverend Al Greene (a soul singer from the 70’s); all I knew I wanted to replace the incumbent.” This last sentiment is plausible as we have seen various politicians whom seemed to have secure positions bounced by the electorate.

I’ve been reporting on this voter restlessness. In many instances it hasn’t affected most Black Politicians. The “Tea Party” has claimed a number of victims but not so much in Black Political circles. What is evident is the Black electorate has come of age. Where there is scandal the results don’t bode well for incumbents.

Examples include Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana where he was bounced for accepting millions of dollars in a telecommunications case (I still can’t believe he hid money in his freezer). The most recent victim is Rep. Caroline Kilpatrick of Detroit. She could not avoid the “sins of her son,” Former Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick. Waiting in the wings are a pair of veteran Black Politicians, Representatives Charles Rangel and Maxine Waters.

Congressman Rangel has a litany of problems. The allegations include asking for tax breaks on various homes, accumulating several rent controlled apartments in his district and taking sponsor paid junkets to the Caribbean. All these charges come as he seeks a 21st term in congress (the irony is Rangel is facing a challenge from Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. he replaced his father in 1970).

Congresswoman Waters’ situation is a little different. She was recently charged with ethics violations by the House Ethics Committee, but defended her position during an interview with Roland Martin on the Tom Joiner Morning Show.

These are all very curious cases and I believe are coming of age stories for Black Politics. The tried and true political aspirations for African-Americans are changing. The assault is not coming from the post Obama Generation struggle but rather from failure to heed that old adage, “all elections are about local issues.”Adding to this is the often quoted saying, “power concedes nothing without a demand.” Which brings me back to Alvin Greene case?

A Splash in a Bucket or a Wake in an Ocean

My initial thoughts on Greene mirrored much of America. Not very bright, not well spoken, elusive, a possible stooge ect… But listen to Greene his message is simple, it’s about jobs, education, and infrastructure (roads/sewer/energy).It’s not polish which is refreshing. I want to remind you this is a candidate who garnered 30,000 votes in a reliable Republican state.

I’ve come around to belief, “Why not Alvin Greene.” His back story would be a storied political tale. A 32-year-old unemployed military veteran seeks to bring back a state rank 49th in most surveys. You won’t hear that tale from the incumbent, Republican Senator Jim DeMint. His apparent claim to fame is the often quoted remark about health care being the president's "Waterloo" which would "break him."

What Greene doesn’t have is Black Political pedigree? So what is the pedigree in Black Politics. I believe it is a combination of things.

1. Name recognition from relative (think Ford’s – Harold Ford, Jackson’s- Jesse Jr., Kilpatrick etc…)

2. Wallowing in the fields. (Obama’s shunning of Wall Street to do activist work)

3. Mentoring by previous politicians.

4. Running for dog catcher, city council, state delegate, state senator etc…

5. Bring civil rights experience to bear on politics.

The New Black Political pedigree has few of these values.

1. They have the audacity to run without the political backing of “tried and true” political structures.

2. They espouse ideas that sound and may be Republican ideas.

3. They are young and unafraid of "Blacklash."

4. A lost is a win in their opinion

5. They can be Republican and Black at the same time.

6. Toppling an incumbent who they revere is the end all to be all.

This later pedigree so encompasses much of what Alvin Greene is about in my opinion and he is not alone. There are others of his ilk and my brethren and sisters who cover politics have not connected the dots to understand this shift.

Is This Race Close?

Here’s what The State, the Columbia South Carolina Paper reported on August 3, 2010 about a poll showing Greene down by 42 points. “Alvin Greene, the enigmatic U.S. Senate candidate, is drawing 20 percent support in a Rasmussen poll of 500 likely voters. U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, Greene's Republican opponent, is backed by 62 percent of voters.

Greene, who won the Democratic primary as a virtual unknown, is having trouble mustering Democratic support. Less than half of Democrats -- 46 percent -- say they plan to support Greene. Among Republicans, 96 percent say they plan to support DeMint's re-election bid.

DeMint has a 70-14 lead over Greene among independent voters.”

For uninitiated the Rasmussen Poll, is conducted out of New Jersey using random auto phone calls (when was the last time you did a survey with an automated voice). Several GOP candidates point to their polling which seems to favor their candidates when other polls which have actual people calling disagree. Hmmmm!!!

Lastly, does Greene have a chance? I don’t think so but remember what the new Black pedigree is all about. I’m going to watch and you should too. Will Sen. DeMint debate Greene?What’s the Senator got to loose? Will a restless electorate prove too much for an incumbent candidate who knows the public is looking to unleash anger at the status quo.

C3