Two Black Presidential Candidates

Dr. Ron Walters offers an interesting take on the Braun and Sharpton candidacies.

Rev. Sharpton has announced that he is running to change the direction of the Democratic Party and I don’t think that Moseley-Braun would disagree with the need for the party to be more responsive to the Black community. In fact, rather than fight, it would be better if there were a Sharpton/Moseley-Braun team on this question which would neutralize the issue within the Black community. They could present a “united front” on this question against the other six or seven presidential candidates. This would not necessarily be a ticket—you know, one for president, the other for vice president—but they could have the same position on this question.

Also, as far as I know, both potential Black presidential candidates are against the war with Iraq, the Bush tax plan, his budget and his approach to social issues. So what would be the difference that is so severe that it would cause a conflict? I don’t know.

Well, I rather suspect Dr. Walters does know of some policy differences, but his point is a good one. On the issues that really matter both Sharpton and Braun, each in thier own way, are leading the effort to steer the Democratic party back on course--where the current is deep and strong.

Why are only black candidates being told to co opt each other? Is a party that has 1 out of 4 of its voters being black voters too small to have 2 black candidates? That seems to me to be what he is saying. I think they have many relevant style and federalism differences. She doesn't seem to with to amend the constitution like he does. That is a pretty large difference.

... having never been elected to any public office.

The way I read it Walters is looking at the issue from the perspective of the need for black leadership. The question that he's addressing is whether blacks need to vote as a unified bloc in order to get their message across. Do they have a message, a set of core concerns that most every African American can agree upon? Pretty much, I'd say. Naturally those concerns aren't the only thing that matters. But they do matter. The problem is how to get them addressed. That's a matter of strategy.

As you probably know, Sharpton's agenda hinges upon his getting a majority of the black vote. Or so some of his supporters have argued. But the leadership in the black community, and on a national level, for the most part haven't endorsed either him or Braun, or they speak in favor of both candidates. I'm talking like Jesse or Elijah Cummings, the present Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Now, some will say that if the black vote isn't unified and energized, Sharpton's message of racial justice won't be heard in the Democratic Party. Cedric Muhammed over at Black Commentator for instance. And that feeling is partly behind the claim that Braun's candidacy represents a betrayal by her, by Donna Brazile, and by the DNC.

Walters is taking a different view. To Sharpton supporters, he's saying, in effect, You may have to be satisfied with a plurality of the black vote and not a majority. But that doesn't mean your message isn't being heard. Braun is also carrying your message of social justice. Not in its entirity, not in Sharpton's style, but they do share some fundamental views. On voting rights, on the death penalty, on funding education, on healh care, on job creation, on Affirmative Action, on an end to stupid wars, on a host of issues that matter to African American communities, the two candidates are basically in agreement.

When you point out the diffences, for example, on their views of the Consitution and the exercize of power at the federal level, you are absolutely correct. Keep in mind, however, that Sharpton isn't really expecting to be elected President. He wants votes, you bet, but he isn't picking out patterns for the China Room. His campaign is more of a protest march. He knows that, and speaks accordingly.

Braun, on the other hand, makes no public statements to suggest she isn't serious about winning. She does of course acknowledge the real obstacles facing her campaign. But she consistently claims that she can win.

issues that affect African Americans. A disproportionate number of individuals in the criminal justice system are African American. I think we should impose quotas and disallow any more arrests of African Americans until the whites take up their fair share of prison cells and especially until whites take up their fair share of cells on death row.

;-)

On the Party, I agree. That's why it's vital that Braun, Kucinich and Sharpton aren't excluded from the debates, because they're the only clearly progressive candidates on criminal justice issues (among other concerns.)

I think I'll post a new thread on the death penalty.

Disallow any more arrests of African Americans? If someone commits a crime, regardless of skin color or gender, they should do the time. You are never going to have a prison system that is 71% white, 13% hispanic, and 13% black. Take a statistics class.

Dennis Kucinich with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez at the Santa Ana rally.