Nutter: Just Cause I’m Black Doesn’t Mean I Can’t Support a White Lady

[Alamom]

http://www.phillymag.com/blogs/philly/2008/03/10/nutter-just-cause-im-black-doesnt-mean-i-cant-support-a-white-lady/

Nutter: Just Cause I’m Black Doesn’t Mean I Can’t Support a White Lady
3/10/08
Mayor Michael Nutter is probably going to get grilled more than most Hillary Clinton supporters in Pennsylvania over the next six weeks, for the sole reason that his pledge to back her automatically leaves him vulnerable to the question of whether he’s disrespecting his black constituency by not bouncing over to Obama.

First up to question the mayor about the issue is the Associated Press. In a piece headlined “Philly Mayor Sticking With Clinton,” which hit the wires a few hours ago, Nutter gives the appropriate hell-to-the-naw response, translated in the story as “This notion that somehow there is a monolithic black vote is just a myth.”


To probe whether Nutter’s stand could hurt him in the city, the AP dusts off former mayor Wilson Goode (Obama supporter, righteous), who says it’s way too early in Nutter’s tenure to have something like this completely destroy a reelection bid. Then the AP throws in a wildcard quote from Cam Carson, a 62-year-old Philadelphia lunchcart owner, who breaks it down like this: “Rallying support of a candidate is sort of tantamount to saying that this is the way he feels the people feel. And I don’t know if that’s the case.”

Maybe Mayor Nutter should think real hard about his decision this time around — losing the lunchcart-owning constituency in this city could be devastating.




Comments:

XXXX Says:

March 10th, 2008 at 4:15 pm

What’s up with Nutter? A brother has a chance to be president, and he can’t even support his own kind. I better rethink my support for him when he’s up for re-election. Or, maybe he’s just hoping for a cabinet level position.

Either way, this brother ain’t down for the struggle.



XXX Says:

March 10th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

This is not suppport for Obama. This is mob rule with a black face! My African American ancestors didn’t sacrifice their lives for my right to vote, so that I could be circumscribed by such an irrationally-narrow-minded point of view, posturing as some sort of authentic Black political thought!

[NorthernSpy]

1. this is the kind of self-serving dishonest spin that WILL get his ass tossed out...

... deservedly so.


His constituency want him to respect their vote, and not to use his superdelegate status to overrule that vote. He responds by going to the media to portray himself as the Good Black Who Dares To Go Against His Mindlessly Ethnically Loyal Brethren. He knows that that the press -- and you -- will eat that shit right up.


I think they should toss his ass out just for that.

[Bake]

4. The RULES that you all love to quote say just the opposite

The supers can vote for whoever they choose to. Nothing says they have to vote the way their "constitutents" demand.

The fact that Obama endorsed Nutter's opponent is enough to justify a little payback. Maybe Obama should have thought about that sooner, instead of just assuming he's entitled to the black vote.

Bake

[sandnsea]

14. And superdelegates are elected by We The People

As the Clinton people are so fond of saying. Well, that means We The People can kick their asses out if they vote against our wishes. Fair is fair.

[Zynx]

17. By the standards you love to apply so often, that doesn't matter for spit right now.

The rules are that a superdelegate can support whoever they so desire regardless of the will of the people in their constituency right now just as a delegation can, by the delegate apportionment rules as they stand now allow for state delegations that are not reflective of the will of the people of that state. In both cases, we can change them after the fact, but as you always like to point out, it doesn't really matter right now.

[sandnsea]

19. And the constituents can make their view known right now

The superdelegates can use whatever criteria they choose to make their vote, including the will of their constituents.

[polmaven]

24. So you will confirm that

Senators Kerry and Kennedy, as well as Obama National co-chair Governor Patrick should vote, with the people of Massatwoshits, for Senator Clinton?

[jackson_dem]

25. Notice Obama's campaign and his supporters only demand that black sd's follow their constiuents?

Kerry and Kennedy, for instance, are never asked to do the same thing. Racism anyone? It is ironic that the first viable black candidate has a separate and unequal standard for white superdelegates and black superdelegates.

[sandnsea]

26. Their constituents can certainly make that argument

to them. Just like the constituents of Washington state can make that argument to Murray and Cantwell, and after Oregon votes for Obama, we can make that argument to our governor as well.

[Nedsdag]

29. Just like,

Maryland's Governor Martin O'Malley, Lieutenant Governor Anthony Jones, and Senator Mikulski, should vote with the people in Maryland, when they voted for Senator Obama?

[Maribelle]

31. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Firstly, his constituency has not voted in the primary yet.

Secondly, Michael Nutter has record approval ratings in Philadelphia.

Thirdly, Obama supported the candidate Nutter royally defeated even after the candidate played the race, which upset many of the voters in Philadelphia - - and many of the constituents you pretend to speak for received mail from Obama begging for donations to the candidate that played the race card.

[MadBadger]

2. It doesnt help that Obama endorsed his opponent in the democratic mayorial primary I believe.

[Maribelle]

32. It doesn't help Obama. Obama will not win Philadelphia if Nutter can help it.

[Barack_America]

3. True. But having run on an "anti-corruption" platform means he shouldn't support a Clinton.

He's lined himself up with John Street, our ridiculously corrupt former Mayor (a Hillary delegate).

Obama's positions on transparency in government is much more in line with Nutter's beliefs. He's going to sorely regret his choice once the Clinton's tax returns (finally!) are released.

[NDambi]

5. He has the right as a black, green or blue man to support whom he chooses..and I say that

as an Obama supporter.

[Adelante]

22. I agree, he does

Just as a female super has the right to support her candidate of choice over Clinton.

However, any super with any sense is going to take into consideration the preferences of the people in his or her district and those constituents have a right to make those preferences known to the super. None are going to be thinking for themselves, simply, but for their future in office, as well. It's not a one way or another kind of thing. People like to simplify the process out of all relation to common sense. Sure, a super can do as he or she thinks best, but surely what's best for the super will include a political future.

[NDambi]

23. I agree completely with your post....there are possible consequences for exercising one's SD vote as

they see it.

[rodeodance]

6. Stand proud and tall Mayor Michael Nutter. Hillary is strong and you will also be.

[oviedodem]

7. Look, at the end of the day EVERYONE has the right to choose who they want but

There are some of us AA's that will vote for Obama simply b/c he is black.

HOWEVER, there is also some that will vote for Hillary simply b/c she is a women. It works both ways.

[jackson_dem]

8. The fact he even has to make this statement says it all

Obama is running arguably the most racist presidential campaign since his hero Reagan in 1980.

[susankh4]

15. You are correct....

and it is just about to lose the November election.

There are alot of white voters who have been supporting Mr. Obama. That will stop, abruptly, if they start to get the feeling they are being baited. And many of them are already questioning.

It's a fine line he's walking now....

[Maribelle]

33. I totally agree.

This presidential primary should have been a momentous opportunity for this nation, still scarred by the racial strife of prior generations, to produce a truly multiracial democracy where race did not define a voters choice for nominee. It has, instead, perhaps deepened political subdivisions.

The other day on GDP, the mocking of our senior citizens by Obama supporters convinced me that Obama supporters were more than willing to deepen the divide as much as they could to support their candidate, pretending Hillary supporters were to not dare mention the conduct of some of Obama supporters.

[elixir]

9. I believe this embodies the ridiculous discussion of race on this board.

[Upton]

10. You mean like the equally ridiculous discussion of gender?

if that's the case, I agree with you. Neither should be used as a reason to be for or against either candidate. Nor should it be used to attack supporters of a candidate you disagree with.

[Barack_America]

11. Good point. I'm waiting for you to get an answer on this too.

:popcorn:

[busymom]

12. I thought the election isn't about race....

Why is it just expected that Obama will win the african american vote and why...are any african americans who don't support him seen as traitors.

For Pete's sake...

[susankh4]

13. This is starting to get dangerous ...

for Obama's candidacy.

Heaven help him if he allows this to become a race war!

With 12% African Americans in the US, that is a war he won't win.

[ellacott]

16. That's pretty over the top

[foo_bar]

21. what is this, the comment section of YouTube?

[Adelante]

27. Ah, the race war rears up

Can advocating police brutality in Denver be far behind?

[Zynx]

18. To be perfectly fair to Mayor Nutter, he also represents a city that is as heavily white

as it is black. Granted, on balance I have no doubt that the city will vote for Obama, but still this point does need to be made. He does represent other constituencies. The fact he is being pressured by who he is should strike us as nothing short of shocking.

[Maribelle]

35. Additionally...

the intersection of competing ideas in the Black community of Philadelphia, arguably, became a critical point in the election which swept Nutter into office by a landslide vote - - it could also become a critical point in the upcoming Pennsylvania primary.

[Window]

20. That's Nutter's prerogative.

[Beacool]

28. Watch out mayor, incoming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The poor guy doesn't know what will be coming his way. How dare he support the person who he thinks is best for the job and not the Africn-American candidate??????

I can hear it now, the outrage, the threats, the pressure, I hope that he has developed a thick skin because he's going to need it!!!!!!!

:eyes:

[Maribelle]

30. Nutter said : I'm not conceding any section of the city or any constituency to Obama.

Philly mayor, Obama share no brotherly love

You'd think Barack Obama and Michael Nutter would be kindred souls. They are part of a new wave of black politicians. Both graduated from Ivy League schools. Obama has a law degree from Harvard; Nutter earned a degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business.

Last year, Nutter broke away from a crowded field of contenders in Philadelphia to win the Democratic Party's primary for mayor. He campaigned as a reformer and the candidate of change — and was swept into City Hall by landslide vote.


more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20080311/cm_usatoday/phillymayorobamasharenobrotherlylove

Did continuing to back Fattah up to the election show a lack of integrity on Obama’s part? Well it very could under the climate existing today created by the screaming of Obama's supporters.

After Obama backed Fattah, there was this candidates’ debate in Philadelphia which took a sour turn during a discussions of Nutter’s “stop and frisk” plan. The plan it seem was opposed by others because of the dangers the plan would allow “racial profiling”.

Back to Philadelphia:

All the candidates had abided by a pledge to avoid race- based appeals until a May 7 debate, when U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah, 50, who is black, accused Nutter of having ``to remind himself that he's an African-American.''

The Committee of 70 today condemned as ``blatantly racist'' another attack on Nutter. A television ad shows police confronting 1960s-era civil rights activists to criticize Nutter's proposal to allow police to stop and frisk people suspected of carrying guns. The committee that ran the ad, unaffiliated with any campaign, has received fundraising help from Street, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

During the debate, Fattah and the other three candidates said Nutter's idea might subject black residents to police abuse. Nutter responded that it's ``not about race, it's about criminals,'' adding, ``as a person who's been black for 49 years, I think I know a little bit about racial profiling.''
Fattah went too far, said Irv Randolph, 48, editor of the Philadelphia Tribune, the city's biggest black daily newspaper, which reports a circulation of about 223,000.

more...
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&refer=home&sid=aCj8UTSLuDd0

[Iceburg]

34. Looks like Obama stole a page from Fattah racial rhetoric...

"During the debate, Fattah and the other three candidates said Nutter's idea might subject black residents to police abuse. Nutter responded that it's ``not about race, it's about criminals,'' adding, ``as a person who's been black for 49 years, I think I know a little bit about racial profiling.''
Fattah went too far, said Irv Randolph, 48, editor of the Philadelphia Tribune, the city's biggest black daily newspaper, which reports a circulation of about 223,000. "

[Maribelle]

36. Fattah had the same campaign manager as Obama and Patrick.

Axlerod - hence the similarities in playing the race card, which all three have now done. This is truly no coincidence.

[Political Heretic]

37. I think its great. I think people should support who they believe is best for the country.

I support his right to choose, and not be disparaged based on race OR gender discussions.