Obama in Bama
I’ve heard it said that it is a sign a group is maturing into a new phase when its members and supporters do not have to be in lock step with one another.
The longtime field director of the Alabama Democratic Conference, Jerome Gray, has been named political director in Alabama for the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, even though the ADC has endorsed New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Rep. Alvin Holmes made no bones in the article about his belief that Obama is not electable.
… State Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery, said ADC made the right move in supporting Clinton.
“Obama is a nice young fellow and well educated. But due to racism in America, he’s not going to win,” Holmes said. “Our primary objective is to get a Democrat elected president of the United States. The average person in America knows he’s not going to get elected.”
Related, Obama is opening two field offices in Alabama this month, one in Montgomery and one in Birmingham.
And I wonder if Alvin Holmes is right. Does racism make Obama unelectable?
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Alvin Holmes represents the old way of thinking. He and his ilk have paralyzed the progress of black people and America by defining everything in terms of race.
Comment by Anonymous — November 20, 2007 @ 9:32 am
Alvin Holmes, by his statement, perpetuates the very thing he is complaining about.
Comment by Stephen — November 20, 2007 @ 9:52 am
I agree with you Anonymous, Alvin Holmes does represent “the old way of thinking”. Alvin Holmes is afraid to believe a black man is worthy of being the President of the United States of America. Alvin Holmes and other African Americans who think like him have been paralyzed by the institutional and systemic racism that continues to fester and plague our nation. Michelle Obama said in a television interview last week that African Americans should wake up and stop being afraid to believe in their self worth,to stop believing they don’t deserve a seat at the table and to stop believing they don’t have the same rights as any other American citizen. Alvin Holmes should stop being afraid to have hope and faith in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Comment by Bhmhomeboy — November 20, 2007 @ 10:06 am
I vote for black people.
I’ve campaigned for and contributed to black people running for office.
I won’t vote for Obama because of his policies, not his pigmentation.
Nice post, Homey…
Comment by Reactionary — November 20, 2007 @ 11:25 am
In Alabama, race is always a factor, but the increasing numbers of biracial children I see in the country suggest this is growing weak. Yet, at the same time, you can hear derogatory comments from both races if you listen carefully. Then there is the white flight issue.
In the Alabama primary he should do well especially if Clinton continues flubbing. To play my broken record, I think the key will how hard each will fight for the nomination here.
Comment by walt moffett — November 20, 2007 @ 11:34 am
I would vote for Obama before I would vote for Hillary. I think Holmes is wrong to tag the nation as racist, but then again, he lives to stir the pot.
Comment by Margaret — November 20, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
Fair post Reactionary. Can we discuss which Obama policies you disagree with?
Comment by Bhmhomeboy — November 20, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
I watched the debate last week - does Sen. Obama have any policies?
Just kidding. But he did give one of the longest non-sensical non-answers to the question about Yucca Mountain: ‘My nuclear waste policy is that we’re Americans!’ (paraphrased).
Here’s three (in no particular order):
1. The War - he proposes a time-table for the removal of “troops engaged in combat operations”, regardless of the situation on the ground. For all you Lefties - this does not mean all US troops leave Iraq - he will keep troops there for security, training, etc., etc…
2. “Barack Obama has played a leading role in crafting comprehensive immigration reform.” For example, he supports driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants…
3. “Our nation is confronted by two major energy challenges — global climate change and our dependence on foreign oil…”; “Global warming is real, is happening now and is the result of human activities.” I agree with reducing our dependence on foreign oil, but ‘man-made global warming’ is a scam.
His big plan is “cap and trade”: cap - Government places a ‘limit’ on carbon emissions (determined by central planners), and trade - creating financial derivatives (Enron?) that are taxed to fund R&D. Maybe that sounds good in theory, but like Yogi Berra said: “In theory, there’s no difference between theory and practice, in practice there is.”
The ‘European Union Emission Trading Scheme’ is an example of this: companies have been buying dubious external compliance credits (i.e., India and China) while doing little (or nothing) to curb emissions.
“Quotes” (except Yogi Berra) are from:
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php
Comment by Reactionary — November 20, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Voting patterns in the state display that Obama’s race will not hurt him.
In Jefferson County, the black Democrats who run countywide have actually fared better than the white Democrats. In 2000, when the GOP swept Supreme Court seats, Ralph Cook ran stronger than the white Democrats who ran.
Look at the recent Special election primary in Cullman where James Fields (a fine man) won 62% in the Democratic primary a county that is about 1% black. Fields is the odds on favorite to win this House seat.
But the real issue on Obama with black vote in Alabama is to watch on December 1 to see which candidate receives the endorsement of the New South Coalition. Leading figues in the NSC include Senator Hank Sanders and Senator Bobby Singleton. Mobile has a strong contingent of the New South Coalition. Who will win the endorsement? My guess is that Obama will win this endorsement.
On a side note, former Congressman Earl Hilliard is running as a Clinton delegate and his son, State Representative Earl Hilliard, Jr. is running as an Obama delegate. The man who defeated Hilliard Sr., Congressman Artur Davis, is supporting Obama
Comment by John Killian — November 20, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
One other question–in the past, rural white Democrats have supported people like John Glenn (1984 against Mondale and Jesse Jackson), Al Gore (1988 against Dukakis and Jesse Jackson). Will they rally behind John Edwards? What will rural white Democrats do in the primary?
Comment by John Killian — November 20, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Obama is for removing American troops from combat operations in Iraq, as are 75% of the American people. Our troops have no business in combat in Iraq, they don’t know who the enemy is and they don’t know what the mission is. I want to know how long “rightys” intend to keep our troops in combat operations in Iraq? Bush landed on the Aircraft Carrier over 4 years ago and declared major combat operations over in Iraq. Since that time over 3000 American soldiers have died in Iraq. Two more were killed today.
I don’t support issuing drivers license to illegals. The real issue is why is it so hard for people to become legal citizens? Instead of applying for drivers license they should be applying for citizenship.
There are over 12 million undocumented people in the United States. The drivers license for undocumented workers was the policy of New York Governor Elliott Spritzer in an attempt to at least know who was in the country and the state. He has given up on that policy, it was never Obama’s policy.
As far the other points you raised (Carbon emmission etc.)I’m going to admitt I don’t know what you are talking about. But I do know that two failed Oil Men are currently running our country and the price of gasoline is sky high.
Comment by bhmhomeboy — November 20, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
#10, John Killian, Good question what rural white democrats will do this spring. Not a whole lot of bumper stickers, campaign signs or anything tangible to say a candidate is favored in my part (North east) Alabama. From just talking and listening, there does not seem to a lot of talk about it. Deer session and the holidays seem to be taking priority.
How is it out your way?
Comment by walt moffett — November 20, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
Homey - “drivers license for undocumented workers… it was never Obama’s policy”
You should have watched the debate:
“On the issue that apparently tripped up Senator Clinton earlier, the issue of driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, I take it, Senator Obama, you support giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Is that right?” asked Blitzer.
“When I was a state senator in Illinois, I voted to require that illegal aliens get trained, get a license, get insurance to protect public safety
…
“Well, let’s go through everybody because I want to be precise,” said Blitzer. “Do you support or oppose driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants?”
Obama responded: “I am not proposing that that’s what we do. What I’m saying is that we can’t …”
At this evasion, the audience started laughing
…
Then Blitzer put the question to Obama again. “Senator Obama, yes or no?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Obama.
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200711/POL20071116b.html
Comment by Reactionary — November 20, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
About the war, Sen. Obama will leave tens of thousands of troops in Iraq… not “troops engaged in combat operations”, but troops getting shot at none the less…
About cap and trade - it means that gas prices will increase dramatically (sky higher) - if you don’t like the price now, just wait…
Comment by Reactionary — November 20, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
Still trying to figure out why either Hellary or Obama are considered worthy of the most powerful office in the world.
The dems are scraping the bottom of the barrel with those two candidates. Not that I would vote for any dem, but NOBODY can convince me that those two are any more qualified than Dennis “Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind” Kacinich is. I think Joe Biden is far more presidential timber than those three, but the fix is in for Hellary and thus the dems will lose yet another presidential contest.
Serves them… Right.
Comment by Scorpius — November 20, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
John Killian, in comment #9 you got my attention when you said that Fields was the odds-on favorite to win the House District 12 race. You think so? Many believe that HD 12 is waiting to be plucked by the Republicans, and you are the first I have heard to say that Fields is the favorite.
Comment by Danny — November 20, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
I don’t think anyone should be declared the favorite for the D12 House seat. It will be a very exciting race to watch.
Comment by SamfordDem — November 20, 2007 @ 11:41 pm
Danny, I am just basing my guess that James Fields is the favorite on the raw vote that he received in the primary. James received more than both Bill Floyd and Wayne Willingham together.
I certainly could be wrong.
Comment by John Killian — November 20, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
Reactionary, Obama tried to tell Wolf “Breathless” Blitzer that he was NOT proposing that illegals have driving license. Wolf (what a name) was playing the “Gotcha Game” and wanted a yes or no answer. That whole CNN debate was a staged joke, unfortunately the joke was on the American people and it certainly wasn’t funny.
Gas wasn’t almost $100.00 a barrel under a Democratic adminstration.
If James Fields can win an election in Cullman, Alabama then Obama stands a chance.
Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to All.
Comment by Bhmhomeboy — November 21, 2007 @ 10:48 am