At Hip-Hop Summit, Kirk pleads for generation to vote
Posted on 10/13/2002 6:48:39 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
At Hip-Hop Summit, Kirk pleads for generation to vote
In audience, Green Party hopeful criticizes Democrat's record
10/13/2002
Senate candidate Ron Kirk, in a tight race with rival John Cornyn, turned to the hip-hop generation for help Saturday, calling the thousands of youngsters and musicians who attended a Dallas summit an untapped political resource.
"Your vote is powerful and will make a difference in the election," Mr. Kirk said at the Dallas/Fort Worth Hip-Hop Summit. "Obviously, I want you to vote for me, but please just vote."
Mr. Kirk was joined Saturday by Russell Simmons, chairman of Island Def Jam Records; Hip-Hop Summit Action Network President Benjamin F. Muhammad (formerly Benjamin Chavis); U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas; former NBA star Larry Johnson; County Commissioner John Wiley Price; and Dallas rapper D.O.C.
 Russell Simmons of Island Def Jam Records says the hip-hop generation could help Ron Kirk win the election for U.S. senator. (AP) |
"This is the most silent voice in American politics," Mr. Kirk said before addressing the summit. "They have the ability to influence America's direction in policy decisions, if they only vote."
Rap the Vote
Saturday's events included a hip-hop get out the vote rally for Mr. Kirk and a separate nonpartisan voter registration drive by the NAACP's Rap the Vote project.
"All of us are for Ron Kirk," said Mr. Simmons, adding that the NAACP initiative is separate from his endorsement of Mr. Kirk.
"This election is so close. We can make a dramatic impact on our lives and our kids' lives if we vote. Our mission is to light a fire under Brother Ron Kirk and make a difference in this country."
Ms. Johnson, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said it is important for Democrats to rally around Mr. Kirk.
| Also Online | ||||
|
"Every Republican leader in the country is trying to make sure we don't have an African-American elected to the Senate," she said. "We do not have a single African-American in the Senate. ... Your vote is important, and it does count."
But Green Party Senate candidate Roy Williams, who sat in the audience during the program, called the former Dallas mayor a hypocrite because "he didn't have a record of helping the poor and minority communities in Dallas."
"All of a sudden he's appealing to blacks when he's been running a high-profile campaign in venues with the rich and super rich," he said. "Ron Kirk is a master of deception, and he has not been a friend to people of color."
Mr. Cornyn's campaign declined to comment. Mr. Cornyn had no scheduled appearances Saturday.
Mr. Kirk has downplayed the historic significance of his Senate candidacy, stressing his message of being able to work across party lines and with different groups to find common ground.
His remarks Saturday marked a rare appearance before a predominantly black national group. In July, he addressed the NAACP convention in Houston.
But many political observers say Mr. Kirk must energize his black voter base to win Nov. 5.
On Saturday, Mr. Kirk said he felt positive vibes inside and outside the black community.
"I feel energy and excitement everywhere," he said. "The momentum and the energy is on our side of the campaign."
Hip-Hop Summit participants discussed issues of political and economic empowerment. Mr. Kirk told the group that his work on the federal Internet Commission helped protect their interests.
The commission worked to protect the work of musicians and other artists from being downloaded by Internet pirates.
First-time voter
D.O.C., a.k.a. Tracy Curry, is one of the most influential hip-hop artists to hail from Dallas. He said he would vote for Mr. Kirk.
A writer on N.W.A.'s controversial album Straight Outta Compton, D.O.C. helped usher in 1980s gangsta rap. He said Mr. Kirk has inspired him.
"This is a funny thing coming from me because it's my first time voting," he said. "Ron Kirk as a brother in the Senate? Come on, man. It's clear what that means."
Mr. Simmons said the hip-hop generation could help put Mr. Kirk over the top.
"There's a lot of power in hip-hop," he said. "[Rapper] Jay-Z is more popular than [Secretary of State] Colin Powell ... what we have to do is harness that energy."
Dr. Muhammad, former executive director of the NAACP, said Mr. Kirk's campaign has national significance.
"We see the candidacy of Ron Kirk to the United States Senate as one of the most important elections in the country," he said. "It's not only a historical race, but it presents the future for change in America."
E-mail gjeffers@dallasnews.com
Sorry I couldn't find one of Mr. Trouble-maker protesting and blocking traffic in Dallas, lol !
What an ignorant bitch. The Republicans have a far better track record than the Socialists in getting blacks elevated in our government. J.C. Watts, Colin Powell, Condi Rice, Clarence Thomas, just to name a few.
In fact, the Socialists have actively worked to keep the black man down. Here in Massachusetts, Socialist Ted Kennedy fought to keep a black man (Republican Jack E. Robinson) off the senate ballot a couple of years ago.
Even more pathetic is the media's unwillingness to challenge them on it. It's not only tolerated, it's given respect.
You can sure find out a lot of a man by the company he keeps,can't ya.He has to be pretty damn sorry to hustle votes from penetentary material.
Senate candidate Ron Kirk, in a tight race with rival John Cornyn, turned to the hip-hop generation for help Saturday, calling the thousands of youngsters and musicians who attended a Dallas summit an untapped political resource.A tight race, huh? That's not what I've seen. Not the Governor's race or the Senate race.
If anyone has another poll, please post it here.....
http://www.nbc5i.com/politics/1707582/detail.html
NBC 5 Exclusive: Voters' Poll
Rick Perry enjoys a comfortable lead in his race against Tony Sanchez, Jr. according to our poll of 600 likely voters throughout the state of Texas.
Nearly half of all likely voters think both campaigns are using "unfair" campaign ads.
The poll was conducted from Sept. 30 through Oct. 6 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1%.
|
|
||||||
State |
North Texas | East Texas | South Texas | Central Texas | West Texas | |
|
|
||||||
| Democrat Tony Sanchez, Jr. | 29% | 31% | 28% | 32% | 26% | 15% |
|
|
||||||
| Republican Rick Perry | 56% | 52% | 59% | 50% | 56% | 70% |
|
|
||||||
| Undecided | 15% | 16% | 13% | 18% | 18% | 12% |
|
|
|
|
||||||
State |
Male | Female | White | Hisp | Afri-Amer | |
|
|
||||||
| Democrat Tony Sanchez, Jr. | 29% | 26% | 31% | 24% | 43% | 70% |
|
|
||||||
| Republican Rick Perry | 56% | 60% | 51% | 63% | 32% | 12% |
|
|
||||||
| Undecided | 15% | 13% | 17% | 12% | 26% | 19% |
US Senate"who do you think you would vote for if the election were held today?"
|
|
||||||
State |
North Texas | East Texas | South Texas | Central Texas | West Texas | |
|
|
||||||
| Democrat Ron Kirk | 30% | 33% | 28% | 29% | 33% | 20% |
|
|
||||||
| Republican John Cornyn | 56% | 55% | 57% | 51% | 55% | 66% |
|
|
||||||
| Undecided | 14% | 12% | 14% | 20% | 12% | 14% |
|
|
|
|
||||||
State |
Male | Female | White | Hisp | Afri-Amer | |
|
|
||||||
| Democrat Ron Kirk | 29% | 26% | 33% | 24% | 43% | 77% |
|
|
||||||
| Republican John Cornyn | 56% | 61% | 51% | 63% | 30% | 9% |
|
|
||||||
| Undecided | 15% | 12% | 16% | 13% | 26% | 14% |
What is funny is no one has told the black folks in my upper-middle class neighborhood that they could not suceed. There are several executives of major firms that are neighbors. Hmm, perhaps JWP needs to drive up the Dallas toll way north and check out how many blacks are living prosperous, successful,contributing lives.
The old "yellow dog" rednecks aren't going to vote for a black. Most racists are Democrats.
FGS ; )
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
