Is Obama Doing Enough to Get Out the Black Vote?
October 15th, 2008
By JOE WINDISH, Technology Editor
Print
Among many black political observers, there is a pronounced sense that Obama’s advisers have consciously distanced themselves from older black leaders who might galvanize prospective voters — especially in the many impoverished black communities where there is no tradition of treating voting as an obligatory civic duty. Ronald Walters, director of the University of Maryland’s African American Leadership Center, says “You can’t send young volunteers into the hollows of Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, with BlackBerries, reaching out to black voters, and expect them to do the same kind of job. If people knew Jesse [Jackson] or Al [Sharpton] was coming, thousands would come out and do what they needed to do — show up on Election Day.” Walters contends that blacks could account for as much as 20% of the Democratic vote nationally, up from 15% in 2004. “For [Obama’s advisers] to hold the black civic culture at a distance,” he said, “there’s going to be a cost.”
What’s enough? I read the 4 pages. He’s doing enough.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 at 4:57 pm and is filed under Barack Obama, Black/African-American, Democrats, Race, 2008 Elections, Politics. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.










Add New Comment
Viewing 6 Comments
Thanks. Your comment is awaiting approval by a moderator.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Add New Comment