Posted on 08/28/2009 10:58:31 AM PDT by BGHater
The campaign for mayor of this city, which has long promoted its racial tolerance, veered into controversy Thursday with the release of a memo urging black voters to unite around an African-American candidate and block the election of a white mayor.
A local group known as the Black Leadership Forum called for African-Americans to consolidate their support around Lisa Borders, president of the Atlanta City Council and one of several African-American candidates, according to a memo circulated on the Web and to local media.
The group said Ms. Borders had the best chance of winning support from white business leaders and defeating Mary Norwood, a white city councilwoman and a leading candidate for the Nov. 3 election, according to polls.
"For the last 25 years Atlanta has represented the breakthrough for black political empowerment in the South," read the memo. "In order to defeat a Norwood (white) mayoral candidacy we have to get out now and work in a manner to defeat her without a runoff, and the key is a significant Black turnout."
The memo was the sharpest signal yet of overt racial politics creeping into the competition to replace Shirley Franklin, elected as the city's first female mayor in 2001. Atlanta was the first major Southern city to elect an African-American mayor, Maynard H. Jackson, in 1973. No white candidate has mounted a serious campaign for the office since then.
But Atlanta's demographics have shifted drastically in the past decade. The city of about 440,000 people remains a majority African-American city. But the proportion of voting-age residents who are white or Hispanic has grown.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
hmmm, dhimmis playing the race card..im shocked....
But what if it said, "The campaign for mayor of this city, which has long promoted its racial tolerance, veered into controversy Thursday with the release of a memo urging white voters to unite around a Caucasian candidate and block the election of a black mayor."
Wonder how the paper would report on such an item.
Race BANNON from the old Johnny Quest cartoons?
Oh, he’ll win EASILY. He’s one cool dude.
Black Atlanta Politico: Hey, We Really Need to Unite Behind a Single Black Candidate for Mayor to Keep the Office From Falling Into White Hands
A memo arguing that African-Americans should unite behind a single black candidate in the race for mayor of Atlanta is about to become a prime topic of debate.
The material, which we include below, is said to be distributed by Aaron Turpeau, a long-time City Hall figure, on behalf of something called the Black Leadership Forum.
Turpeau argues that Council President Lisa Borders is the only candidate who can prevent the election of Councilwoman Mary Norwood as the first white mayor since Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell.
Both Borders and state Sen. Kasim Reed, also an African-American, have scheduled pressers this afternoon. AJC colleagues Eric Stirgus and Ernie Suggs will be there. We anticipate that Reed will demand that Borders renounce the memo.
Here is some key language plucked from the memo:
1. There is a chance for the first time in 25 years that African Americans could lose the Mayoral seat in Atlanta, Georgia, especially if there is a run-off;
2. Time is of the essence because in order to defeat a Norwood (white) mayoral candidacy we have to get out now and work in a manner to defeat her without a runoff, and the key is a significant Black turnout in the general election;
3. The reasons support should be given to Lisa Borders is... she is the best black candidate in the race who has a chance to win the election because she can attract downtown white support...
What’s At Stake?
Determining what’s at stake depends on perspective:
1. The view that the times are too serious to stand on the sidelines is absolutely correct from the perspective of a black mayor at all cost. In fact, if a white candidate were to win the 2009 mayoral race, it would be just as significant in political terms as Maynard Jackson’s victory in 1973.
2. Therefore, the question becomes, if that were the case, how would African American interests be addressed... ?;
Crickets chirping
So where’s the “That’s Racist” kid when you need him?
Perhaps they should have a parade up Cynthia Mckinney Boulevard. That might promote diversity and snag some white voters
"Race," she said, "does not play a role."
Memo to the Black Leadership Forum: You do not have to tell blacks to vote for the black candidate, they understand the concept. 97% of Blacks still approve of the job President Obama is doing. You might as well try training dogs to eat meat.
You should ping a fellow Freeper when mentioning them. ;)
You’re right.
I apologize.
I had forgotten he was a member here.
Jean Giraffalo speaks on the issue:
What’s this racist crap that I’m hearing
‘bout Obama’s health plan and his sneering?
See, politics of hue
Are just for us few
Our racist spins? just call it “veering”.
Oh man!
Race has been the Atlanta democrats motive, money, method, madness, and REASON for power since the mid-80’s! It has been NOTHING but race in their politics, contracts, and execution for decades.
One comment several years ago from the mayor’s office during a contract review with the city was something to the effect of “I don’t see enough people with the right color on your side of table yet.”
I have lived all over the country, including Atlanta. In this past election virtually all blacks nationwide voted for Obama, most not knowing who he was, nor caring. Atlanta and environs used to be one of a few regions where a white candidate could get black votes as against a black opponent. I think those days are over. After all, they (a mixed City limits region)elected Cynthia McKinney in DeKalb County; an egotistical, dense as lead, violent, crooked overt racist, who belongs behind bars.
To their credit, they “de-elected” her, too.
Other than that, Ms. McKinney is a great Congresswoman.
Why are black people so hung up on skin color? Didn’t MLK mean anything to them?
There are Black racists and there are White racists. No news there. The difference being, perhaps, that Black racism is for some strange reason found to be acceptable by the media/leftists.
Blacks don’t necessarily always support the black candidate. They always support the Democrat. If blacks always voted for the black candidate, Michael Steele would probably be the junior Senator from Maryland. Instead, blacks voted for the white Democrat Ben Cardin.
Well that pretty much goes without saying, so I didn’t. In big cities it is possible for a black to be of one party to run against a black from another. Probably be Dem vs Socialist or Rainbow party though.
I’m in Palm Key, Florida, just resting and working on my tan!
Anyhting it takes to be ready...
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