Democrats worry as young blacks drift from party

[Nambe]

From The New York Times

-- Eddings's comments were emblematic of what some Democratic strategists fear may be a growing problem: The party is perilously out of touch with a large swath of black voters - those aged 18 to 35, who grew up after the groundbreaking years of the civil rights movement.

It is a group too important and complex to ignore, many caution, when analysts are predicting another close election in which every vote counts.

Democrats have traditionally counted on more than 90 percent of the black vote. Post-civil-rights-era blacks make up roughly 40 percent of the black voting-age population, but turnout among young blacks was so low in the 2000 elections that they made up only 2 percent of the entire vote. ---

[David__77]

1. They've been saying this for almost twney years...

and there is some truth to it. But it doesn't mean that the GOP is somehow going to benefit. If anything, I think Black voters would be more receptive to a more left, progressive message. That's the problem. And Lieberman's "solution" for the Democrats will destroy the relationship with Black, Latino and labor communities.

[kwolf68]

2. Young blacks may well one day be Republicans

Furs, diamonds, hordes of money permeate so much of black pop culture (rap music and such) these days.

In many ways Rock N Roll continues to be anti-estblishment, taking of social justice and such...WHERE are the black singers talking about it? All I see is videos by Nelly essentially having sex w/ dollar bills.

Its sickening. I long for the days of Public Enemy instead of this gross bullshit of today.

Young black kids are no less susceptible than white kids, but their "heroes" don't exist anymore...like they did with Aretha, Marvin Gaye and the political rap of the 1980s...

its now shallow, materialistic perversion.

[Dan]

5. Never worry about that

There are a lot of issues within the Black community - but the possibility of young Blacks voting GOP - is a long way away.

The Black community has had historical dealings with con men - Bush is an old con, and not even a good one. This talk tough, tax cuts for the rich, etc., I think that the Black community has already figured out that Bush ain't nothing but a 'ho, and Karl is his pimp.

[study_war_no_more]

Jobs ,unemployment,drugs, gangs, incarceration

young blacks will become anarchists before going Repuke, which doesn't help either party but who can blame them? Both parties are out of touch exception being Al Sharpton.

[dolo amber]

17. Have a look at this

:) http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=76936

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. But the Black Community has always...

been in favor of progressive policies and justice. Democrats need to reach out to them and let them know that they count. They cannot just be obsessed with material goods. If they do, then they will be lost like the majority of Americans who have become either disaffected with the political process or just don't give a damn because they are too busy playing with their wallets!

[librechik]

4. no, the party is drifting away from young blacks

The solution is obvious--quit trying to be Republicans, DNC. Stand up and be proud to be the necessary opposition and your base will return!

[stanwyck]

12. Agree!

Well said. Agree 100%.

[dsc]

6. Blacks are more socially conservative

which is one of the problems. THey are more likely to favor vouchers, less likely to favor gay rights, more likely to be pro life. The racist ways of the Repubican party have always tended to make this group more Democratic than it should be on issues like these. Add in the money worship ethic that some rappers have and we could have some real trouble.

[midnitemoleman]

7. They will be back, just as their fathers before them.

Once they get screwed buy the republicans, they will understand. And this is a little off subject, but I think the media is underestimating how smart the real California voter is. Do they really think they have forgoten getting bent over the electic metter by ALL of the republicans in Texas and every where else. Arnold mite win LA, but not all of Cal.

[study_war_no_more]

9. A prayer and a promise from politicians

I don't think there is any diffenrnce at all in their feelings towards politics. Selling water by the river. Nothing from nothing leaves nothing and nothing is what is on the screen for the future of young blacks in this country.

[genius]

8. Tha's because we didn't have a liberal message in 2002,

We need Dennis in 2004.

[genius]

11. African Americans are a large part of Dennis's campaign

Also, Moseley-braun is on his short list for VP

[JohnKleeb]

23. isnt Barbara Lee too

[Chico Man]

10. African Americans for Dean

http://www.africanamericansfordean.com/AA/

[Voltaire99]

13. Happy with yourselves, Fromm and Lieberman?

If you're young and black, today both parties promise you the same shake: crappy schools, diminished social programs, the truncheon of the Drug War, farcical employment, incarceration and disenfranchisement. It's a hell of a platform. Is it any wonder the Democratic Party looks just like The Man?

Thank the DLC! This was the plan--discard the base, court the corporate dollar, woo back the Reagan Democrats, peddle the creed of greed, soothe right wing ideologues while praising your surrender as "bipartisanship".

It's not only young blacks drifting from this mess...

[bread_and_roses]

24. You said it

"If you're young and black, today both parties promise you the same shake: crappy schools, diminished social programs, the truncheon of the Drug War, farcical employment, incarceration and disenfranchisement. It's a hell of a platform. Is it any wonder the Democratic Party looks just like The Man?"

I live in one of the lowest crime cities in the nation, and still even most of the local Dem candidates talk of nothing but being "tough on crime and drugs." It is code for racism, repression, more incarceration.

[maggrwaggr]

14. "Democrats worry as young whites drift from party"

It ain't just the blacks.

How many votes did Ralph Nader get?

[preocupied]

15. When the Democratic party produces a solid black Presidential candidate..

and they are not considered tokens, blacks will stay home with the party but thus far we only have a bunch of tokens who we take for granted.....

Look at Sharpton, he's perfect to secure the black Democratic base, yeah let's ride that bull like no tomorrow, yeeee haaawwwww.... We know he's wasting his time, after all, what black Democrat will ever get our nomination, we just make them squeal like a pig, and bring that black vote home.

Guys and gals, quit the nonsense and stop riding black Democrats unless you truly believe in them and they can get your vote/support.

[UnapologeticLiberal]

20. That is not quite fair

I think there are a lot of people, myself included, who do not like Sharpton but would love to see a black candidate for president. The problem is, right now I do not believe we have any black governors or senators or other politicians with national name recognition. I am hoping that in the next few election cycles, we can change that. I see a few promising opportunities to nominate and possibly elect black senators, and I think that is important, because a) it is a scandal that blacks comprise 13% of the population and have not a single senate seat, and b) by electing black senators and governors, we can stack the bench with some future presidential candidates who are not plagued by scandal and have a legitimate shot. I am not sure if the country is ready to elect a black president (I would hope it would be but I have a feeling to say so would be naive), but I think the Democratic Party is ready to nominate one, if we have the right candidate. So I do not think it is fair to accuse the Democratic Party of bigotry just because Al Sharpton probably will not get the nomination.

[bodhisattava]

16. Unless Lieberman and the DLC gang

Are removed from any say in the formulation of democratic policies, they will doom the democratic party's future relationship with blacks, hispanics and other minorities. These two segments, blacks and hispanics, are a growing part of the electorate. Lieberman's solution which is to put together the same intolerant coalition of right wing whites, anti- (arab/muslim) jews and religious fundamentalists as the republicans is a prescription for disaster for the democrats.

With Dean's surge and Al Gore's excellent speech we now have two important true democrats who can purge the democratic party of these trojan horses.

[Democat]

18. Who isn't the Democratic Party out of touch with today?

There is a crisis of leadership in the Democratic Party right now.

How many groups are excited about the Democratic Party compared to how many are excited about the Republican Party?

It's a sad situation.

[UnapologeticLiberal]

19. It is, and that is exactly why I am for Dean

I do not want to turn this thread into a Dean v. Kerry flame war, but what you posted struck a cord with me that helps me articulate why I am supporting Dean. I am very different from many in our camp - I am not disgusted with the party or its leadership, I am proud and excited to be a Democrat, and I do not believe that one vote out of thousands cast, for a war that has already been waged and cannot be turned back upon now, should be a major factor in picking a candidate.

So I do not fit the profile of the typical Dean supporter at all. But the thing is, while I still am proud to be a Democrat, I see so many people who vote Democrat because they view it as the lesser of two evils, or do not vote at all because they don't see the difference between the two parties. I think it is more a matter of style than issue differences, because other than the war, there is not that huge of a difference between Dean and the other candidates on the issues. But he is the only one I have seen who really seems to excite a lot of people. He is bringing in support from people who have never voted or have stopped voting, people who have voted but have never donated or volunteered before, and people who were so disillusioned that they had abandoned the Democratic Party and voted Green or stayed home in 2000 and 2002. He is reaching out to young people and getting us involved, a critical step to party building for the future that most short-term minded politicians feel is a waste of time. It is not that he is so much more liberal than the others, because he is not. But he is a fiery speaker, a straight-shooter (for the most part!) and someone with a proven record of taking unpopular positions and standing by them. I think that a lot of people respect politicians who are willing to take risks and stand on principle even if they disagree with them, and I think that is a large part of Dean's appeal. I have never seen as much enthusiasm from people my age about politics as I have seen from my fellow student Dean supporters, and I think that if he were our nominee, a lot more people would be proud to be Democrats, and more Democrats would vote, and fewer people would view our party and our candidate as merely the lesser of two evils. Even I, the eternally proud Democrat with my eyes set on beating Bush, am having an increasingly hard time envisioning volunteering for another candidate next year and having as much enthusiasm as I have now. My grandfather told me that in 1972, he and my grandmother voted for McGovern knowing he would lose but wondering if they would ever again be able to vote for a candidate they liked so much. Now, as I get more and more involved with the Dean campaign, I find myself asking the very same question.

(P.S. I am NOT in any way comparing Dean to McGovern in terms of his electability...so fellow supporters please do not jump on me!)

[wellst0nev0ter]

21. Haven't You Heard? Democrats Have A Problem With "Identity Politics"

That's why everyone was pouring man-juice all over their desks when Clinton denounced Sista Soulja for saying something that was basically true ("would whites stand it if their children were being murdered by the thousands every year?")

Don't worry, blacks aren't single-issue dipshit voters like the pro-life crowd. Whenever they go to the polls, they will vote overwhemingly Democratic every time. As the Black Commentator says, blacks aren't flocking to the Republican party, they just have trouble identifying with a wish-washy Democratic party and label themselves as "Independents".

But I do agree that the real problem with black youths is that they don't vote enough. They probably believe that "politics as usual" isn't going to help them too much, and if they do vote for a candidate they believe in, that candidate will be crucified by both Democrats, Republicans and the unforgiving press (look at Sharpton, McKinney, etc.)

But now, the Democratic candidates haven't shied away from reaching out to black groups, they've even been apologetic when they missed certain functions. Let's hope they keep this up.

[aquart]

22. Taking the party right ain't gonna solve that problem.

Taking it back to the people would.