Alabama Politics in
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NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and links to the columns are not typically otherwise available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.

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Senate Sketches # 1070

By

Senator Hank Sanders

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I stood at the podium in the “Star Wars Room.” It was a press conference. It involved endorsements in the Presidential Primary. It was a solemn duty.

We would be helping to decide not only who was better to lead our nation, but the world. We would also be deciding who was better for our people and our organization, Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC). It was a heady notion.

Women have been completely left out of presidential service since 1788 for our nearly 220 year history of electing presidents. Now one had a realistic chance to be president. That would be historical. Would she get the endorsement?

At the same time, African Americans have been left out of presidential service for the same 220 years. Now, one has a realistic chance to be President. That also would be historical. Would he get the endorsement?

While other candidates, such as Senator John Edwards and Congressman Dennis Kucinich, have their strong supporters in ANSC, I knew it would likely come down to Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama, two potential history makers. How does one decide between the two when both are well qualified, when either would serve very well, when either would open new doors for those left out?

I made it clear that I was not committed to any candidate. I made it clear that the ANSC endorsement was wide open. I made it clear that I did not know what the outcome would be. I made it clear that whomever ANSC endorsed I would support wholeheartedly. It would, however, be a defining moment.

I was proud of the extra efforts being made to insure that our youth participated in the process. I could just see in my mind some youth later in adulthood saying to their children or grandchildren, “I played a part in electing the first woman (or African American) as President of the United States. In fact, I participated in a convention when the endorsement was made.” I looked forward to the convention - the suspense, the debate, the action, the history.

As President Emeritus of ANSC, I chaired one session of the Presidential Endorsement Convention. There were presentations, questions, answers, and discussion. It was open. It was participatory.

None of the presidential candidates were present. Two sent representatives - Congressman Artur Davis for Senator Barack Obama and Dr. T. Lane Grant, National Co-Chair of the Clinton Campaign, represented Senator Hillary Clinton.

It was wonderful to see the youth ask questions. It was wonderful to see the not-so-young ask questions. Then it was wonderful to hear the participants debate and discuss the issues.

I tried to facilitate the presentations, questions, answers, and discussion to get as much on the table as possible. I wanted the result to be the decision of the body. Not my decision or the decision of a few.

The media reporters and visitors were allowed to stay in the meeting for the presentations, questions, answers, and discussions. That is until it was time to caucus and vote. Then, by ANSC’s Constitution, the session was closed.

Gender was a factor, but it was not the decisive factor. Race was a factor, but it was not the decisive factor. The decisive factor was hope - hope for the nation, hope for the world, hope for the organization.

My own family was symbolic of the division. My wife, Faya Rose Toure’, was for Senator Hillary Clinton. My daughter, Malika Sanders Fortier, was for Senator Barack Obama. Other ANSC leaders were divided. It, however, was all in good spirit. This time we were selecting from the greater of the good, not the lesser of the evils.

Can a woman win in this country at this time? Can an African American win in this country at this time? I don’t know, but hope transcends what was and what is. Hope helps forge a new present and a new future.

After the delegates met by congressional districts for further deliberation, the decision was made. Some were for endorsing Senator Hillary Clinton. Some were for endorsing Senator Barack Obama. Some were for endorsing both Clinton and Obama.

In the end, the ANSC Presidential endorsement Convention decided on Senator Obama. The decision rose on the wings of hope. The delegates left in the embrace of unity.

Now on to the Daily Diary.

Saturday - I returned from our Family Reunion in Baldwin County and went straight to work, handling many matters.

Sunday - I did Radio Sunday School with Dr. Margaret Hardy, Radio Education with Perry County School Superintendent John Heard, and Sunday Review. I participated in Sunday School and Church Service. I communicated with Gullah Gaines Sanders of Bibb County whose son was murdered on Thanksgiving Day. I met over dinner with Faya Rose Toure’ and Kindaka Sanders to discuss mass communication issues. I worked on Sketches and communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of Senate President Pro Tem Hinton Mitchem’s office; Barbara Pitts of Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC); and Dr. Margaret Hardy of the State Employment Office. I worked on various challenges.

Monday - I communicated with the following: my assistants, Ola Morrow and Khadijah Ishaq about community matters; Senate President Pro Tem Hinton Mitchem; Wayne Vardaman of the Selma Centre for Commerce; Phil Rawls of the Associated Press; Norris Green of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO); Dr. James Mitchell and Rita Lett of Wallace Community College Selma (WCCS); Selma City Councilwoman Jean Martin; Lowndes County Administrator Jackie Thomas; Angela Brown about the National Voting Rights Museum (NVRM); and Laureshia Bennett of ANSC. I traveled to Lowndes County where I talked with several leaders before returning to Selma to work further.

Tuesday - I talked with the following: Assistant State School Superintendent Craig Pouncey; Roderick West of Selma; Autherine Tyre of Selma; Dr. Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association (AEA); Roosevelt Landrum of Marengo County; Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb; Louise Petty of Huntsville about the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Senator Larry Means; Karen Smith of the Legislative Reference Service (LRS); Jessica Dent of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA); and Quentin Riggins of the Alabama Business Council. I traveled to Montgomery for an ANSC media conference on Presidential Primary Endorsements. I talked with Phil Rawls of the Associated Press, Dave White of the Birmingham News, M. J. Ellington of the Decatur Daily, and Sharon Calhoun of Montgomery. Before the media conference, I had lunch with Carolyn and Kirk Wheeler of Chattanooga and their daughter Sharon. I returned to Selma for the Selma Collaborative meeting and worked on various other matters.

Wednesday - I had a 7:30 a.m. breakfast meeting concerning the Selma Renaissance. I communicated with the following: Minyon Moore of the Hillary Clinton Campaign; Betty Carter of Uniontown; Superintendent Isaac Atkins and LaTanya Cockrell of the Greene County Board of Education; William Utsey of Choctaw County; businessman Jim Hodo of Selma; Felecia Jones of the Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF); Judge John England of Tuscaloosa; Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little; Becky Nichols of the Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign; Darryl Perkins and Tammy Maul of Congressman Artur Davis staff; Lester Brown of Greene County; and Sam Walker of Selma. I hosted the Radio Program, Law Lessons and participated in several other meetings. I worked to meet many challenges.

Thursday - I communicated with the following: Senator Del Marsh; National President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Charles Steele; ANSC President Robert Avery; Dr. Daniel Boyd and Yvette Patterson of the Lowndes County Board of Education; Joyce Bigbee of LFO; Margaret Bentley of the Black Belt Action Commission (BBAC); and Senator Lowell Barron. I had two conference calls with Alabama leaders and worked on many issues including Sketches.

Friday - I communicated with the following: Laddie Jones of the Greene County Democrat whose husband just died; Senator Quinton Ross; District Attorney Spence Walker of Clarke County; Judge Stuart Dubose of Clarke County; and businessman Frank Chestnut of Selma. I met by conference call with Alabama legislative budget chairs Senator Roger Bedford, Representative Richard Lindsey, Representative John Knight, and LFO staff Joyce Bigbee and Norris Green. I traveled to Lowndes County for a meeting before returning to Selma to work on various matters including Sketches and Senate Democratic Caucus matters. I traveled to Montgomery to meet with SCLC President Charles Steele and for the ANSC Presidential Endorsement Convention. I talked to leaders from across Alabama and around the country.

EPILOGUE - It is a real challenge to lead without preempting the judgment of those we are helping to lead. When we facilitate rather than dictate, we achieve unity whatever the decision. And it goes a long way in leadership.

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