Black Democrats back Michael Steele for Senate....

[Virginia Dare]

I'm so disheartened by this, it seems that they've fallen for the GOP's bait and switch. I realize there is bitterness over the failure of Kweise Mfume's candidacy, but in my opinion, this is not the way to handle it.

Al Sharpton was on Wolf Blitzer last night, and talked about this. He said that he can understand African Americans being upset about the Democratic Party not doing enough for them, but that the Republicans have done NOTHING for them, and they have nothing to gain by retaining a GOP majority rule. I guess this group didn't get the message.

By the way, I think the Democratic Party needs to give Al Sharpton a more prominent role. I rarely disagree with anything he says, he always makes a lot of sense, and he doesn't speak in political-ese.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103001057.html

The support from Curry, five County Council members and others barely a week before Election Day reflects their continued disappointment that the Democratic Party has no African American candidates at the top of the ticket

"They show us a pie, but we never get a slice," said Major F. Riddick Jr., a former aide to then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening and a former county executive candidate. "We are here today to say we've waited and we've waited and we're waiting no longer."

[KurtNYC]

1. I hear Steele is claiming to be a Democrat on his bumperstickers

They say: "Steele Democrat"

[LibertyLover]

2. Yeah,

he claims its the same thing as the Reagan bumper stickers "Another Democrat for Reagan". The five Democratic counsel members and Democratic former county executive who just came out and endorsed Steele are from Prince George's County where Steele lives, so there could be an element of favorite son to their endorsement.

[walldude]

3. Not just bumper stickers:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2523881
What an asshole.

[KurtNYC]

7. We need to Trademark "Democrat"

Send that a-hole a cease and desist.

[Sammy Pepys]

9. I hate to say it, but....

If it's all that takes for people to believe Steele is a Dem, then I have no pity for them.

[cyclezealot]

4. suckers born every day.

[qanda]

5. What are they talking about?

There are over 40 black Democrats running for Congress nationwide. I believe there are eight black Republicans running for Congress nationwide and those are probably hand picked by Karl Rove himself.

Ben Cardin has been in the Congress for a long time, it's almost a natural progression for him to move to the Senate. Why would we run a candidate just because they are black instead of just the best qualified? And I'm saying this as a black person living in Maryland.

[Virginia Dare]

6. Exactly....

and I think that is precisely why the GOP picked Steele to run for Senate, because he's black. I don't understand why these Democrats would think that he's on their side just because he has the same skin color. What possible positive outcome could there be for African Americans by retaining a majority GOP Senate?

:shrug:

[qanda]

10. If it's any consolation

Apparently Steele is not polling much better than 12% of the black vote and that's about how much he got when running as the Lt. Governor. Not all blacks are that easily fooled.

[formernaderite]

18. well 12% is all they needed to win the governors race

we're worried about a disengaged base, who may not come out to vote at all. So what,cardin has been in the congress for all that time, in terms of prestige and leadership qualities, Mfume towered over him. We all know why Mfume didn't get the nomination.

[Senator]

8. The Real Dems in that county need to get after this group

If any DUers live there, you've just become a Council candidate. (yes, really)

Start meeting every week. Find 4 more candidates. Then ask us all for help.

Taking your local Dem party back is far easier than you think.

These beltway-mindset Dems can run on the Lieberman Party ticket.

----

[WinkyDink]

11. Is this not racism; i.e., voting based on race and not principles?

[NorthernSpy]

13. whatever it is, black voters have consistently rejected such appeals...

The GOP has tried numerous times to field black candidates in hopes of splitting the black vote. But this strategy hasn't panned out. Racial appeals of this sort evidently don't work particularly well with black voters.

In fact, it's white voting patterns that change the most according to the race of the candidate. Blacks are consistently more willing to vote for whites than whites are to vote for blacks.

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:sxlD_QFLdu8J:stevegilliard.blogspot.com/2006/04/we-dont-vote-colored.html+black-republican+white-democrat+blacks+vote&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=6

(comments on Richard Morin's article on white flight at the ballot box)

[ellacott]

14. No it's not racism because it's based on just race

It is based on principles. The problem is that his party won't let him fullfill those principles.

He is in favor of increasing the minimum wage. He claims he will be focused on issues of poverty, jobs, and small business assistance.

The only way he will be able to do this is to caucus with the Democrats, hence the Steele Democrats, just like the Reagan Democrats.

The problem is that he will never be able to fulfill any of those promises while in the Republican party and I don't see him caucusing with the Democrats.

He sold them on a dream and that's why he got their support. The only way he can fulfill any of those promises is through pork appropriated to his district.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

22. it is. it is also misguided to believe that he will do anything to champion

minority needs

he is also a supreme idiot

[NorthernSpy]

12. forget what some handful of bigshots says, and look at past elections...

Just look at the recent history. When given a choice, blacks have consistently supported white Democrats over black Republicans. The few black Republicans who have been elected have represented majority white electorates.

Blacks have tended to vote as a unified block. But time and again, the assumption that there must be some kind of potentionally-exploitable kneejerk "racial loyalty" behind this has left Republican strategists disappointed after Election Day.

[oasis]

15. Hip Hopper Russell Simmons is campaigning with Steele. What a dope.

Just how would a GOP majority will help inner city kids?

[formernaderite]

19. I heard this too...I thought simmons was a true democrat?

disturbing...

[oasis]

23. Simmons is a true idiot. (n/t)

[kentuck]

16. I think this is mostly Repub propaganda...

There may be a few "Democrats" that go with Steele, but I seriously doubt there will be that many? I could be wrong. I thought Kwesi Mfume would have been a stronger candidate in the general but...

[ellacott]

17. Unfortunately Some feel he's a nutcase

By the way, I think the Democratic Party needs to give Al Sharpton a more prominent role. I rarely disagree with anything he says, he always makes a lot of sense, and he doesn't speak in political-ese.

Lawrence O'Donnell was on Scarbourough Country and called Sharpton a nutcase. That was a very foolish thing to say on national television. He mentioned Sharpton's past as justification for his statement. The was probably the worst thing he could have said on national television. Sharpton is currently helping to get out the votes, for democrats. I am so disappointed in Mr. O'Donnell.

I know many others in our party feel that way about Sharpton. Most of them probably don't listen to him as you do. He actually makes quite a bit of sense. I've seen him on O'Reilly's show and he holds his own against Bill. He even has Bill concededing to his point of view.

Because African Americans have been taken for granted by many democrats there are looking at the other side. The sad thing is that there's nothing over there either.

[WI_DEM]

20. That is what worries me, not so much Steele winning the African American

vote but that many decide to stay home because Mfume lost the primary.

[ellacott]

21. That is a troubling possibility n/t