Democrats "unabashedly using racial-solidarity politics to animate voters"

[bigtree]

from NYT columnist Charles Blow: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/opinion/16blow.html?pagewanted=print


Threat Response

THE president and fellow Democrats have taken a page from the Republican playbook. They’re unabashedly using racial-solidarity politics to animate voters. In this case, the Democrats’ appeal is to black voters, the most unwavering portion of President Obama’s base, and the message is simple: The president is under attack, and black voters must mobilize to protect him.

The Democratic National Committee is spending an unprecedented $3 million on advertising aimed at African-Americans for the midterms this year. As part of that effort, the committee has cut a new radio ad featuring the Rev. Joseph Lowery, the civil rights leader, that outlines the threat and the call to action: “When young people took to the streets, we elected our first African-American president. Right now, there are those doing everything in their power to block the president’s agenda. And that’s why we’re counting on you to vote. In 2008, we changed the guard. This year, we must guard the change.”

Other ads, on black radio and in black newspapers, simply extol their audiences to “stand with President Obama.”

These ads aren’t about policy. They’re personal appeals on behalf of the president. You don’t have to be engaged to get it. This November you’re voting for Obama, again . . .

This strategy could prove extremely effective ---


read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/opinion/16blow.html?pagewanted=print

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd/Good! And the black voters will have the benefit of voting

for the very best person. Fight fire with fire-racial solidarity, and I hope we can include Latinos in this mix, too.

[bigtree]

6. I think in the last election

. . . participation by black voters increased about 2%.

The rest of the challenge is to get the same increase we saw in the last election in the white youth vote which saw a record number voting for a Democrat - outstripping support for the republican candidate for the first time, I think (54% to McCain's 44%)

[babylonsister]

8. I think it's possible; there are a lot of people not being

counted in the polls, including the youth vote w/cell phones. I'm hoping. I definitely believe the media as a whole has their own agenda which accounts for all the negativeness we're seeing/hearing. This won't ever change - damn this info age. I wish everyone could just report straight news/facts, but what would they do with the other 23 hours?

[babylonsister]

2. Dupe. nt

[classysassy]

3. Black voters

can do more than support the president,we can save America from a great threat,a republican majority in congress.If poor whites and blacks unite we can stop the madness that a republican majority will bring to Washington.

[bigtree]

11. I ask myself whether that support is justified to black voters

. . . outside of support for this President? Is Congress adequately addressing or recognizing the needs, concerns of black voters; or even the advice of the Black Caucus?

But, you are correct that allowing republicans to advance and entrench themselves in office is a greater danger than dealing with recalcitrant Democrats.

[classysassy]

12. Congress

has never met the need or expectation of black voters or any other minority voter.As dismal as the record of congress when it come to black and other minority voters,the thought of a republican majority.conjures up thoughts that are indeed frightening.

[Pirate Smile]

13. Great post at the link below: "What's happening in the Black community"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x478368

[rurallib]

4. You sure this isn't the Onion?

[babylonsister]

5. Why? nt

[liberal N proud]

7. Power of the President

[bigtree]

9. power of this president

[EFerrari]

10. Now if they could only animate the Senate. n/t

[bigtree]

14. kick