Barack Obama's proven support for black and other minority-owned businesses

[zulchzulu]

There has been some releases about how Obama has snubbed the black entrepreneurial community in the past. Of course, after some Google searching for a couple minutes, that accusation appears to be completely fabricated. One story comes from Harry Alford of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, who is on record endorsing George Bush in 2004 (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_200408/ai_n9409692). His wife has contributed money to Hillary Clinton (http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/kay-alford.asp?cycle=06).

Featured in an upscale black publication in Chicago, an article featuring Barack and Michelle Obama has an article called "The Rise of Barack Obama", which featured his work helping black businesses there:

Barack and Michelle Obama appeared on the cover of Savoy Magazine when it re-launched in February 2005. The upscale African-American magazine began in 2000, but stopped publication in late 2003 after going bankrupt.

http://cbs2chicago.com/slideshows/20.316054.html?rid=60

Black Enterprise Magazine posted an article in 2004 illustrating Obama's strong history supporting minority-owned businesses:

Obama, who represents Illinois' 13th District on Chicago's South Side, has scored a number of political victories since he was elected to Illinois' State Senate in 1996. Key among them are his sponsorship of a racial profiling law that requires police departments in Illinois to record the race of stopped motorists so the data can be analyzed for irregular patterns, as well as a law requiring that interrogations and confessions in homicide cases be videotaped. He also co-sponsored a bill to raise the minimum wage in Illinois and was instrumental in expanding KidCare and FamilyCare, the children and family health insurance program in Illinois, to include 20,000 more children and 65,000 more families.

But it is Obama's strong record when it comes to supporting minority-owned businesses that has black business leaders working overtime to send the 42-year-old congressman to Washington. While some have sent the message by leveraging their dollars, others are spreading the word that Obama cares about black businesses.

“He's out there fighting for us,” says John Rogers, chairman and CEO of Chicago-based Ariel Capital Management (No. 1 on the BE Asset Managers list with $10.3 billion in assets under management). “He cares about minority entrepreneurship and minority advancement in the corporate world. I see him on Saturday mornings with Rev. Jackson and Operation Push where he's fighting
Obama, a pioneer in the respect that he was the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review, has been pushing doors open for black businesses since he's been in office.

“You have a generation of African American business leaders and entrepreneurs who have been trained in the best schools, have performed at high levels in the biggest corporations in the world, and who have started companies that are capable of competing with anybody,” Obama says. “What they don't have yet are enough partners in government to open doors for them so that they can compete. My focus since being in office has been to make sure that I am an effective partner in opening doors.”

Lou Holland, managing partner and Chief Investment Officer of Chicago-based Holland Capital Management (No. 11 on the BE Asset Managers list with $1.3 billion in assets under management), says his firm has enjoyed the direct benefits of Obama's commitment to black-owned businesses.

(snip)

In 1999, Obama was instrumental in the formation of a coalition of black investment firm owners and legislators in Illinois to create an initiative that would award black-owned firms with the management of some of the state's retirement funds. "He was a catalyst to pull together to create the initiative to have these organizations let minority firms do business with state funds," Holland says of Obama.

(snip)

But Obama does not stop at opening doors for black business leaders. He keeps them open, says Reynolds. “He not only has introduced opportunities for business, but he has stayed with it and he checks with you, he follows up to see if there are other things he can do to assist you,” Reynolds says.

http://www.blackenterprise.com/cms/exclusivesopen.aspx?id=529

Wait! There's more. Black Enterprise continues with its January 2008 feature on Obama called "Why Barack Obama Should be President":

In researching January's cover feature, BE spent months talking to
political analysts, and party activists and supporters to identify why
Obama has the right stuff to win:

-- A Message for All People. Obama has hit on universal themes that
resonate with voters across racial, gender, and demographic lines, an
approach necessary for a black candidate looking to be elected. He's
also been successful in garnering support from divergent
constituencies, including Hollywood, the Bible Belt, and corporate
America. In addition to the war, domestic issues, such as education and
employment, resonate without the usual Beltway rhetoric.

-- A Winning Team. Obama has assembled a multi-ethnic lineup of political
strategists and an all-star team of more than 200 policy advisers,
including heavy-hitters from the Clinton administration. His top-notch
team is making sure his campaign speeches, debate appearances, and
policy statements set him apart from the other Democratic contenders,
especially presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

(snip)

-- The Black Vote. Obama's major challenge for the black vote lies with
chief opponent, Hillary Clinton. She's garnered enormous loyalty and
name recognition within the black community largely due to the
popularity of her husband. But history may be on Obama's side. African
Americans tend to embrace black candidates -- particularly democratic
ones -- who speak to the general electorate and closely represent their
agenda.

-- Support from White America. Much has changed in America with the
emergence of several black mayors, governors, secretaries of state, and
CEOs -- suggesting that voters have become more comfortable with
African Americans as leaders. Traveling with his campaign in Iowa, BE
reporters witnessed first-hand how Obama's universal themes connect
with crowds. At events, Obama packs them in like a rock star: he drew
10,000 in Iowa City, 7,000 in Ames, and 4,500 in Davenport.

The January 2008 issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE hits newsstands on December 25, 2007.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/12-13-2007/0004722466&EDATE=

[cali]

1. thanks for doing this research, zz. n/t

[zulchzulu]

7. I figured if the story seems to come from the Clinton campaign...it IS usually BS

Chamber of Commerce peeps are usually Repugs anyway. I'll see who Alford has given money to...

[Ineedchange]

2. Are U saying the National Black Chamber of Commerce is a fake or front organization?

Mr. Alford is the co-founder, President and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce.

What is the disconnect between them or is the National Black Chamber of Commerce considered more conservative/GOPish.

http://www.nationalbcc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=199&Itemid=112

[cali]

4. Mr. alford is a damn right wingnut. duh. n/t

[zulchzulu]

8. Alford worked in the Evan Bayh administration in Indiana

http://www.nationalbcc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=49

His wife, the other half of NBCC, has given money to Hillary Clinton
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/kay-alford.asp?cycle=06

Links to Hillary are pretty obvious to me...

[zulchzulu]

6. Alford writes: "He isn’t a descendent of slaves, sharecroppers and victims of Jim Crow like us."

I can see where he stands...Obama isn't "black" enough for him.

As for the National Black Chamber of Commerce, they say wonderful things about him on their own web site:

10% Increase in CBC: The Congressional Black Caucus grew by more than 10% this past election with new representation in congressional districts in Wisconsin, Missouri and Texas. Of course a new senate seat in Illinois was won by the charismatic Barack Obama. There are now 43 members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Senator elect Obama has started without hesitation by hiring the top aide of former Senate Minority Leader Daschle as his Chief of Staff. He has also grabbed two “A” committee assignments, Environment and Public Works and Foreign Relations. Also, he has a “B” committee assignment on Veteran Affairs. We would like to congratulate Congressman Mel Watt as the new Chairman of the CBC and Congresswoman Corrine Brown as the Vice Chair.

http://www.nationalbcc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=317&Itemid=29

Does Alford feel slighted because Obama didn't stay at the New Orleans conference for a small afternoon seminar when he decided to tour the damage in New Orleans from Katrina? Why should he care since it appears Alford doesn't think Obama is "black" enough.

[chascarrillo]

3. Thanks for the fact-checking

Greatly appreciated.

[Nailzberg]

5. Thanks for compiling this

I never trusted any chamber of commerce - traditionally repub organizations.

[Bitwit1234]

9. If Obama is so out for black people

how come he told Ted Kennedy to quit. I suppose he is raking in the benefit of Ted Kennedy's fight for Civil Rights and now he wants to get rid of him. Is this what he will do to all the people who support him.

[Nailzberg]

10. link?

Obama never told Kennedy to quit, he told him to stand up, we need you. He called the aging warrior back to the battlefield. No one told him to quit.

Kennedy has had high praise for Obama, although he once accidentally stumbled on his name - started to call him Osama in front of the National Press Club.


Here's Kennedy on Fox Sunday 12/18/2006
KENNEDY: Well, first of all, my brothers are my heroes, and they're in a category by themselves. But Barack Obama is talented.

I think when you look at — I went to an interesting conference that looked back on presidents, and the historians talked about not only their legislative achievements but also their character, their ability to inspire. Abraham Lincoln, one term in the Congress of the United States and certainly one of our greatest presidents. President Buchanan had been in the Congress 10 terms, had been in the Cabinet, and one of our worst presidents.

They all come back to the question, then, of character, their sense of vision that they have for the country, their sense of purpose, and their ability to inspire a nation.

[zulchzulu]

11. Wow...look what crawled from under a rock

How's that loss treatin' ya? Ready for the next one?

:rofl: