Racial politics: The 7th CD and Cook County Board President races; Dr. King’s Dream; President Obama and his opposition;stopping racial discrimination
Revised text and links to shows with Cook County Board President Candidates and others added on Friday at 3:40 pm
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Cong. Danny K. Davis (D-Chicago, 7th CD) said he was “seriously concerned about the African-American community and…its political empowerment,” and he would not …”participate in any activity…that [would] fracture the African-American community and allow it to deny itself of a certain kind of representation.” [Listen here, about 15 minutes into the audio tape].
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Can State Rep. Ford have his cake and eat it, too?
Rich Miller reported yesterday in the print version of Capitol Fax that State Rep. LaShawn Ford [Watch here] would file for both his state house seat and the 7th CD Democratic Primary. Although Rep. Ford suggested last month on his radio program that he might circulate nominating petitions for both offices, it seems that an Illinois judicial ruling of about eight years ago that held [in a lawsuit brought by Frank Avila, Jr.] that Martin Sandoval could not run at the same time both for the State Senate and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board would probably apply even more strongly to a dual run by State Rep. Ford for both the State House and Congress. This reporter was unable to reach State Rep. Ford yesterday for comment.
Cong. Danny Davis-- the wild card: Feeding his ego or helping the people?
Of course, as Rich Miller notes, the wild card in the 7th CD is thirteen-year incumbent Democratic congressman Danny K. Davis (D-Chicago, 7th CD), who has been circulating re-election petitions for the House at the same time as he has been circulating petitions for Cook County Board President. Thus, the uncertainty among the would be U. S. Reps. in the 7th CD. Although Cong. Davis touts the 50K, or so, he has spent to open offices in support of his run for Cook County President, if the poll numbers turned against him, the opportunity to keep his current congressional seat might look pretty inviting. After all, 50 K or 200K, for that matter, in sunk costs shouldn't affect Davis' decision about the future.
If Cong. Davis decides at the last minute to abandon his Cook County Board President filing and run for re-election to Congress instead, it is likely most, if not all, of the current 7th CD candidates would fold their tents, in the same way the 4th CD congressional hopefuls did when Cong. Luis Gutierrez dropped his bid to challenge the Mayor in favor of running for re-election in 2006. At the end of the day, whether Davis' run for County Board President is about ego or helping the people, neither is helped if he can't win, and he clearly doesn't want to be known as the spoiler for one of the other African-American presidential candidates.
Rep. Collins: Playing the best option
State Rep. Annazette Collins, another 7th CD hopeful, taped “Public Affairs,” on August 30, 2009, as she had told this reporter weeks earlier that she was a candidate in the 7th CD Democratic Primary to replace Cong. Danny Davis. During the show, which you can watch here, Rep. Collins discussed almost exclusively national domestic and foreign public policy issues. But, if Cong. Davis decided to stay put in the 7th CD, Annazette would return her focus to state issues and her State Rep. seat, in a heartbeat. That's the way of the world.
The Danny Davis decision: Racial politics or political empowerment?
On State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford’s WVON Sunday night radio show, “The Voice of the People with LaShawn K. Ford,” (airs weekly 9:00 pm to 10: 00 pm) on August 23, Cong. Davis responded to questions from this journalist [co-hosting that evening] about why Davis was circulating petitions for both offices. Cong. Davis said he was “seriously concerned about the African-American community and…its political empowerment,” and he would not …”participate in any activity…that [would] fracture the African-American community and allow it to deny itself of a certain kind of representation.” [Listen here, about 15 minutes into the audio tape].
Race and the 7th CD race
On the program broadcast, this journalist thought Cong. Davis might be referring to the possibility of a non African-American candidate winning the 7th CD Democratic Primary. In addition to State Reps. Ford and Collins, it is currently thought that additional African-American candidates filing in that race might include Chief Deputy Recorder of Deeds Darlena Williams-Burnett [watch here], Ald. Dixon, Senator Hendon and Rev. Hatch. Whites who may file include Jim Ascot (who has said he is running) and Ald. Fioretti (who has responded to this journalist’s inquiries about his interest in running in the 7th CD with a “no comment.”). Of course, in the event that Cong. Davis decides to run for re-election, it is doubtful that he would face opposition from any of the above candidates.
Race and the Cook County Board President’s race
However, after listening to and reflecting on the substance of the radio show, it is clear that Cong. Davis is more concerned that African-Americans could so split the vote for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary that a non African-American candidate could win that race. The currently announced African-American candidates for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary include President Todd Stroger, Chicago Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown and Cong. Davis. The only announced white candidate in that race is Terry O'Brien, President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for the last thirteen years.
I believe it was Laura Washington who said of the Cook County Board President Democratic Primary in 2006 between Forrest Claypool (white) and the late John Stroger (The African-American who first won that office in 1994) that “once an office goes black, it never goes back.” Apparently, Cong. Davis is concerned that in 2010 the Cook County Board Presidency might “go back,” to someone who is white, or at least not African-American. The likely winner in the Republican Primary for that office is former State Senator Roger Keats, who is white, but who says he has a history of trying to assist low income blacks by supporting "enterprise zones," and other ways to empower the African-American community.
Dr. King’s Dream
When this journalist, quoting from Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous dream speech, questioned Cong. Davis as to whether he thought people should judge candidates “by the content of their character and not the color of their skin,” Cong. Davis essentially dodged the question, but did note that “race and ethnicity is not as much a part of the factors that individuals use to select factors and vote for people.”
Playing Survivor
Cong. Davis did make clear that “he guaranteed,” not all of the above mentioned potential candidates for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary—Davis, Preckwinkle, Stroger, Brown and O”Brien-- would actually file, but he declined to indicate which ones would not run. Cong. Davis did emphasize, “There are some people who know that they don’t have much chance of winning.”
Race and national politics
The manner in which race was discussed on last month’s show with Cong. Davis is an interesting contrast to the manner in which race has emerged as a national issue in the last few weeks. Liberal media pundits, e.g., Hardball’s Chris Matthews and a number of his guests (Politico’s James Martin) and those on the other MSNBC cable shows have been promoting for the last week or two the notion that much of the opposition to President Obama’s healthcare reform proposals is racially based or motivated. There seems to be little evidence to support that thesis but former President Carter has now joined the liberal media chorus on that issue. President Obama, on the other hand, has rejected the argument that his opposition is racially driven.
Race and local politics
Closer to home, we have Cong. Davis explicitly defend the selection of candidates based on race—as appropriate “ethnic or racial empowerment,” with citations to the history of reconstruction and its aftermath following the Civil War, as well as the Voting Rights Act as a justification for such racial politics. This journalist’s suggestion that we try to follow Dr. King’s goal of judging people and candidates by the content of their character [and ideas] and not the color of their skin was almost laughed at as hopelessly naïve.
How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?
It seemed to this journalist that Cong. Davis is not convinced as to the significance of Barack Obama’s broad-based election, even though Cong. Davis reminded us that he was there to introduce Barack Obama, when he officially began his journey to the Presidency on February 10, 2007. I was left wondering how many Presidential elections does an African-American have to win before this nation can free itself from its racially troubled and divisive past, and from an obsession with skin pigmentation.
The answer might come from Chief Justice Roberts: “The only way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” President Obama might not agree, but this journalist thought that was the essence of his campaign, or at least it should have been. And, surely it would be nice to apply that principle of racial non-discrimination to the 7th CD and Cook County Board President races. An idea whose time has come. Politics that really would transcend race. Really.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," TV shows with Cook County Board President candidates on the Public Affairs YouTube page include a show w/ Circuit Court Clerk and 2010 Cook County Board President Democratic Primary candidate Dorothy Brown. a show w/ Cook County Board President Todd Stroger (D-Chicago)- a candidate for re-election in 2010, a show with Chicago Ald. and 2010 Cook County Board President Democratic Primary candidate Toni Preckwinkle, .
You can also watch the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, and the second fastest five minutes on the web-a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows.
*********************************************************************
Also posted on our YouTube page are two recent WVON 1690 AM Radio shows:
(1) an August 23, 2009 Voice of the People show with State Rep. (and 7th CD Dem Primary Candidate) LaShawn K. Ford, co-hosted by Jeff Berkowitz, with Cong. Danny K. Davis (Candidate for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary) and call ins. The show focuses on issues related to the Cook County Board President Democratic Primary.
(2) an August 30, 2009 Voice of the People show with State Rep. (and 7th CD Dem Primary Candidate) LaShawn K. Ford, co-hosted by Jeff Berkowitz, with, with Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft, ABC-7 Political Editor Charles Thomas , Terry O'Brien, President, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Candidate for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary, and call ins. The show focuses on gubernatorial race issues, including state spending, tax, education and school choice; and Cook County Board President race issues of race, taxes and much more.
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Cong. Danny K. Davis (D-Chicago, 7th CD) said he was “seriously concerned about the African-American community and…its political empowerment,” and he would not …”participate in any activity…that [would] fracture the African-American community and allow it to deny itself of a certain kind of representation.” [Listen here, about 15 minutes into the audio tape].
*****************************
Can State Rep. Ford have his cake and eat it, too?
Rich Miller reported yesterday in the print version of Capitol Fax that State Rep. LaShawn Ford [Watch here] would file for both his state house seat and the 7th CD Democratic Primary. Although Rep. Ford suggested last month on his radio program that he might circulate nominating petitions for both offices, it seems that an Illinois judicial ruling of about eight years ago that held [in a lawsuit brought by Frank Avila, Jr.] that Martin Sandoval could not run at the same time both for the State Senate and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board would probably apply even more strongly to a dual run by State Rep. Ford for both the State House and Congress. This reporter was unable to reach State Rep. Ford yesterday for comment.
Cong. Danny Davis-- the wild card: Feeding his ego or helping the people?
Of course, as Rich Miller notes, the wild card in the 7th CD is thirteen-year incumbent Democratic congressman Danny K. Davis (D-Chicago, 7th CD), who has been circulating re-election petitions for the House at the same time as he has been circulating petitions for Cook County Board President. Thus, the uncertainty among the would be U. S. Reps. in the 7th CD. Although Cong. Davis touts the 50K, or so, he has spent to open offices in support of his run for Cook County President, if the poll numbers turned against him, the opportunity to keep his current congressional seat might look pretty inviting. After all, 50 K or 200K, for that matter, in sunk costs shouldn't affect Davis' decision about the future.
If Cong. Davis decides at the last minute to abandon his Cook County Board President filing and run for re-election to Congress instead, it is likely most, if not all, of the current 7th CD candidates would fold their tents, in the same way the 4th CD congressional hopefuls did when Cong. Luis Gutierrez dropped his bid to challenge the Mayor in favor of running for re-election in 2006. At the end of the day, whether Davis' run for County Board President is about ego or helping the people, neither is helped if he can't win, and he clearly doesn't want to be known as the spoiler for one of the other African-American presidential candidates.
Rep. Collins: Playing the best option
State Rep. Annazette Collins, another 7th CD hopeful, taped “Public Affairs,” on August 30, 2009, as she had told this reporter weeks earlier that she was a candidate in the 7th CD Democratic Primary to replace Cong. Danny Davis. During the show, which you can watch here, Rep. Collins discussed almost exclusively national domestic and foreign public policy issues. But, if Cong. Davis decided to stay put in the 7th CD, Annazette would return her focus to state issues and her State Rep. seat, in a heartbeat. That's the way of the world.
The Danny Davis decision: Racial politics or political empowerment?
On State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford’s WVON Sunday night radio show, “The Voice of the People with LaShawn K. Ford,” (airs weekly 9:00 pm to 10: 00 pm) on August 23, Cong. Davis responded to questions from this journalist [co-hosting that evening] about why Davis was circulating petitions for both offices. Cong. Davis said he was “seriously concerned about the African-American community and…its political empowerment,” and he would not …”participate in any activity…that [would] fracture the African-American community and allow it to deny itself of a certain kind of representation.” [Listen here, about 15 minutes into the audio tape].
Race and the 7th CD race
On the program broadcast, this journalist thought Cong. Davis might be referring to the possibility of a non African-American candidate winning the 7th CD Democratic Primary. In addition to State Reps. Ford and Collins, it is currently thought that additional African-American candidates filing in that race might include Chief Deputy Recorder of Deeds Darlena Williams-Burnett [watch here], Ald. Dixon, Senator Hendon and Rev. Hatch. Whites who may file include Jim Ascot (who has said he is running) and Ald. Fioretti (who has responded to this journalist’s inquiries about his interest in running in the 7th CD with a “no comment.”). Of course, in the event that Cong. Davis decides to run for re-election, it is doubtful that he would face opposition from any of the above candidates.
Race and the Cook County Board President’s race
However, after listening to and reflecting on the substance of the radio show, it is clear that Cong. Davis is more concerned that African-Americans could so split the vote for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary that a non African-American candidate could win that race. The currently announced African-American candidates for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary include President Todd Stroger, Chicago Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown and Cong. Davis. The only announced white candidate in that race is Terry O'Brien, President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for the last thirteen years.
I believe it was Laura Washington who said of the Cook County Board President Democratic Primary in 2006 between Forrest Claypool (white) and the late John Stroger (The African-American who first won that office in 1994) that “once an office goes black, it never goes back.” Apparently, Cong. Davis is concerned that in 2010 the Cook County Board Presidency might “go back,” to someone who is white, or at least not African-American. The likely winner in the Republican Primary for that office is former State Senator Roger Keats, who is white, but who says he has a history of trying to assist low income blacks by supporting "enterprise zones," and other ways to empower the African-American community.
Dr. King’s Dream
When this journalist, quoting from Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous dream speech, questioned Cong. Davis as to whether he thought people should judge candidates “by the content of their character and not the color of their skin,” Cong. Davis essentially dodged the question, but did note that “race and ethnicity is not as much a part of the factors that individuals use to select factors and vote for people.”
Playing Survivor
Cong. Davis did make clear that “he guaranteed,” not all of the above mentioned potential candidates for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary—Davis, Preckwinkle, Stroger, Brown and O”Brien-- would actually file, but he declined to indicate which ones would not run. Cong. Davis did emphasize, “There are some people who know that they don’t have much chance of winning.”
Race and national politics
The manner in which race was discussed on last month’s show with Cong. Davis is an interesting contrast to the manner in which race has emerged as a national issue in the last few weeks. Liberal media pundits, e.g., Hardball’s Chris Matthews and a number of his guests (Politico’s James Martin) and those on the other MSNBC cable shows have been promoting for the last week or two the notion that much of the opposition to President Obama’s healthcare reform proposals is racially based or motivated. There seems to be little evidence to support that thesis but former President Carter has now joined the liberal media chorus on that issue. President Obama, on the other hand, has rejected the argument that his opposition is racially driven.
Race and local politics
Closer to home, we have Cong. Davis explicitly defend the selection of candidates based on race—as appropriate “ethnic or racial empowerment,” with citations to the history of reconstruction and its aftermath following the Civil War, as well as the Voting Rights Act as a justification for such racial politics. This journalist’s suggestion that we try to follow Dr. King’s goal of judging people and candidates by the content of their character [and ideas] and not the color of their skin was almost laughed at as hopelessly naïve.
How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?
It seemed to this journalist that Cong. Davis is not convinced as to the significance of Barack Obama’s broad-based election, even though Cong. Davis reminded us that he was there to introduce Barack Obama, when he officially began his journey to the Presidency on February 10, 2007. I was left wondering how many Presidential elections does an African-American have to win before this nation can free itself from its racially troubled and divisive past, and from an obsession with skin pigmentation.
The answer might come from Chief Justice Roberts: “The only way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” President Obama might not agree, but this journalist thought that was the essence of his campaign, or at least it should have been. And, surely it would be nice to apply that principle of racial non-discrimination to the 7th CD and Cook County Board President races. An idea whose time has come. Politics that really would transcend race. Really.
*********************************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," TV shows with Cook County Board President candidates on the Public Affairs YouTube page include a show w/ Circuit Court Clerk and 2010 Cook County Board President Democratic Primary candidate Dorothy Brown. a show w/ Cook County Board President Todd Stroger (D-Chicago)- a candidate for re-election in 2010, a show with Chicago Ald. and 2010 Cook County Board President Democratic Primary candidate Toni Preckwinkle, .
You can also watch the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, and the second fastest five minutes on the web-a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows.
*********************************************************************
Also posted on our YouTube page are two recent WVON 1690 AM Radio shows:
(1) an August 23, 2009 Voice of the People show with State Rep. (and 7th CD Dem Primary Candidate) LaShawn K. Ford, co-hosted by Jeff Berkowitz, with Cong. Danny K. Davis (Candidate for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary) and call ins. The show focuses on issues related to the Cook County Board President Democratic Primary.
(2) an August 30, 2009 Voice of the People show with State Rep. (and 7th CD Dem Primary Candidate) LaShawn K. Ford, co-hosted by Jeff Berkowitz, with, with Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft, ABC-7 Political Editor Charles Thomas , Terry O'Brien, President, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Candidate for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary, and call ins. The show focuses on gubernatorial race issues, including state spending, tax, education and school choice; and Cook County Board President race issues of race, taxes and much more.
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