Two leading black scholars criticize Obama’s speech for failing to address black issues
Two leading black scholars say that Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention last Thursday didn't accomplish what he needed to do.
Obama masters his moment
Democratic nominee soars on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, but lands hard on opponent John McCain.
Interview: Mayor Nagin Calls New Orleans “Tale of Two Cities”
Filed under: BlackSpin, Elections, Katrina Aftermath
DENVER -- As killer storm Gustav threatened the Gulf Coast three years after Hurricane Katrina, Black Voices caught up with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin before he left the Democratic National Convention earlier than planned.In an interview Tuesday, before Gustav becoming a threat to the Gulf Coast, the Barack Obama superdelegate said the Big Easy is a "tale of two cities" right now.
"New Orleans is still a city in recovery," Nagin said. "Our economy is very strong, but we still have many, many challenges. We still have toxic trailers in our community, we have about 2,800 of those. But if you come downtown and to the French Quarter you will have a wonderful time in our city."
Forecasters are warning that Gustav is picking up steam and could slam into the Gulf Coast as a major hurricane early next week. New Orleans is making evacuation plans. Gustav was not an obvious threat when Nagin and I spoke on Tuesday, but today his press official told us that the mayor left Denver Wednesday, two days ahead of schedule, when he got word of the ferocious storm bearing down on the Gulf Coast. ...
New Orleans has more restaurants now than pre-Katrina, Nagin says, and most of the major businesses are back at this point. On the other hand, largely black communities like Lakeview and the Lower 9th Ward have have not been rebuilt.
While unemployment is low, for a city at 75 percent of its original population, Nagin says housing has been a major problem. Affordable housing is hard to come by there because of supply and demand. People are paying double what they used to or more.
One priority is bringing relocated and displaced locals back home and getting them jobs.
"We do this on a daily basis," Nagin says. "We have offices in relocation cities that do outreach and support to bring them back."
So the obvious challenge is, even if you can get a job, where can you afford to live? Nagin said that new rent-stabilized apartments and homes are being built.
A number of events addressed the Katrina aftermath at the convention this week in Denver, including a fundraiser and concert dinner for post-Katrina causes as the convention opened. Various policy meetings also took place and a roundtable discussion focused on the failure to implement an effective recovery program in the Gulf Coast region after Katrina.
Meanwhile, Nagin says he is very comfortable with Barack Obama as president.
"We've talked about the needs of New Orleans," he says. "And I'm confident that when he is in office he is going to support us to complete the restoration of New Orleans."
Friday marks the official Katrina anniversary. Bodies that have not been identified by DNA will be laid to rest, he says. Friday evening a candlelight vigil in Franklin Square was expected to bring out thousands of people.
More Katrina Coverage
+ Nervous New Orleans Eyes Killer Storm
+ Katrina Memorial Taking Shape
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Michelle and Hillary Clinton Bring It!
Filed under: BlackSpin, Barack Obama, Politics, Michelle Obama
The buzzing accolades are remarkably similar. "She did what she needed to do." "She knew what she needed to do and she delivered." "She knocked it out of the ballpark."Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton held the spotlights during the first two nights of the Democratic National Convention. To win, each woman had to deliver a speech that satisfied the expectations of supporters and defied expectations of detractors and swayed many of those who weren't sure how they felt.
Mission accomplished I say. Look, the waters didn't rise and part at the end of either speeches, but each speech moved the needle as far as any single speech could have possibly done.
Michelle Obama succeeded in softening her image. Revealing a life story of modest beginnings sprinkled with vignettes of her hardworking, physically ill father, devoted mother and brother, Michelle's story is an "All-American" story. And the image she painted of a nervous Barack Obama driving his wife and brand new baby daughter home is one that millions of mothers and fathers in this country will surely relate to.
Hillary Clinton stepped out radiant and beautiful rocking her Orange pantsuit. I loved it. She spoke as a Democratic Party champion. Her full throttle endorsement of Barack Obama for President of the United States right out of the gate set the course and the tone for what Hillary Clinton had to say. I startled myself cheering for Hillary Clinton as she challenged the intentions of her still stalwart supporters and stuck it to John McCain. "No way. No how. No McCain." Fantastic.
The election swings on the women's vote and women are still finding their way to Barack Obama. Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton's speeches should help light that path.
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Tonight’s speeches
Politico pulls together all of tonight's speeches from the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Meet Joe, The Man, The VP
Filed under: BlackSpin, Elections, Barack Obama
DENVER -- Marc Mitchell didn't know much about Barack Obama's Vice Presidential pick until just before Joe Biden took the podium at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night.Like most Obama supporters tuning in, Biden's moving introduction from his son, Beau, provided important context for the senator from Delaware.
Biden lost his wife and daughter in a car crash not long before being sworn into the senate in 1972. He made his kids breakfast as a single father.
We learned he was not always a polished well-spoken senator. Biden had a terrible stutter when he was young.
He wears a politicians suit, but he's a blue collar man at heart and takes long train rides to work everyday.
"He's a great complement to Barack Obama. That's what I felt tonight," Mitchell said after Biden's speech. "These are the two most real politicians I've ever seen." ...
And as a member of the New York Finance Committee for Obama's campaign, Mitchell has held private fundraisers at his house and had a chance to meet the Illinois senator.
"He's a real dude," says the New York attorney, who's also been blogging a little while at the convention this week. "I can't imagine a better team."
The Obama-Biden team was solidified with Biden's powerful acceptance speech as the Vice Presidential candidate.
As former President Bill Clinton put it in his speech earlier in the evening, Obama's VP selection was a home run. "He hit it out of the park," with his first decision as President.
Those who caught Biden's father-son speech now know he's a regular Joe, if you will, as American as apple pie and baseball.
From now until November, "elitist" will never been mentioned in the same sentence as Obama and Biden
"My mother's creed is the American creed," Biden told the beyond capacity crowd at the convention center in Denver. "No one is better than you. You are everyone's equal, and everyone is equal to you."
If you were one of those people who did not feel the Obama-Biden ticket quite clicked or lacked the harmony of "Ebony and Ivory," Biden painted a clear picture of what he and Obama stood for and what Obama would accomplish in the White House.
"Like many of us," Biden said. " Barack worked his way up. His is a great American story."
And the two together make for and even more remarkable story.
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Black Caucus Salutes a Phenomenal Woman
Filed under: BlackSpin, Elections
In recognition of the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones' commitment to political, economic and racial justice, time was made on Day Two of the Democratic National Convention to celebrate her "life, leadership and legacy." A "constant voice for justice and peace," Tubbs Jones was the first African American woman elected to represent Ohio in Congress and chair of the House Ethics Committee.
In a moving tribute, Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick said she was inspired by Tubbs Jones' enthusiasm, energy and passion.
She promised to continue the work that Tubbs Jones started:
We stand at a crossroads of hope and change. Let us continue to an America bursting with equality and opportunity for all.Tubbs Jones was the first black woman to serve on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of the committee, said:
The Congressional Black Caucus feels a deep loss. She did not die in vain. We owe it to Stephanie, we owe it to the dreamers to say we will not live like the last eight years in America. This November, we will change the course of this great nation of ours.Thank you indeed. Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a "phenomenal woman."
Thank you, Stephanie.
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Tight Security Can’t Stop Death Threat Rumor
Filed under: BlackSpin, Elections, Barack Obama
DENVER -- If you think airport security is strict and heavy handed, you should see the security detail in Denver. Fort Knox has nothing on the protective bubble at the Democratic National Convention.
As many as 5,000 police are on the scene. The secret service has coordinated with more than 50 other agencies including the FBI and the US military.
But metal detectors, bomb sniffing dogs and a steel wall that could double as a Mexican border fence could never prevent the news that came as Michelle Obama took the stage Monday night:
Police arrested a man in Aurora, Colo., who was reportedly carrying weapons, a bullet-proof vest, two-way radios and a big bag of meth.
Rumors spread of an alleged Obama assassination plot. Police later arrested three others connected to the man, but no charges connected to the alleged death plot have been made.
As it turns out, authorities said Tuesday, there was likely no real threat. At least, that's the word for now.
"We're absolutely confident there is no credible threat to the candidate, the Democratic National Convention (in Denver), or the people of Colorado," U.S. Attorney Troy Eid said in a statement.
I'll buy that. But as we all know, it's better safe than sorry. That's what keeps people alive.
I guess that's why I'm not bothered by the rumor that's getting defused more and more by the hour. I'm not troubled by the super tight security here in Denver either or being yelled at by an uptight cop for not crossing the street in an orderly fashion.
Since day one, when Obama announced his candidacy, I think most of us have feared or prayed for his safety. Being so close to his story, I've had nightmares.
But a healthy dose of fear is what keeps us safe and ALIVE. Why else would we wear seat-belts or look both ways before we cross an empty street.
I wonder, though, how does too much fear impact our way of living life? I will say this, I have NOT had to take my shoes off for a security office just yet.
The choppers buzzing overhead and scores of riot police are a reminder of our new-found instincts not to lessen our worst fears in this so-called post 9/11 America.
It's not THAT bad here at the DNC. It's not a police state, as some demonstrators have alluded to, chanting "This isn't democracy!"
But it's not the good old days either.
If it's fear that keeps Obama and the rest of us safe. I'm all for it.