I have to say I found an exchange I just saw on MSNBC kind of inspiring. MSNBC journalist, Cal Perry was discussing the fact that even now Louisiana is suffering from the fallout from Hurricane Katrina.
However, this was what struck me. Cal Perry was speaking to an older African-American man who has done a lot in the area to keep any semblance of civilization there with his store.
Perry then said that with all these problems, voting is probably not high on the list for a lot of residents.
The gentleman disagreed. He said for many folks they see it as paramount to vote tomorrow to avoid a 'Darn fool like Donald Trump winning the Presidency.'
This is inspiring. Despite, the terrible trials that the state has been through, it's people have not growing so jaded that they don't still believe in the power of their vote.
It also shows why Hillary has done so well among black voters. His premise was entirely pragmatic. Not about electing a Saint but about avoiding a dangerous demagogue.
When I talk to white Emoprogs they always piously say stuff like 'The lesser of evils is still evil.'
Black folks clearly get the fallacy of this concept.
Jamelle Bouie had a very good piece that argued that Hillary's numbers with AAs shows that the Obama turnout won't just be relegated to Obama.
In 2012, black folks voted in higher numbers than other voters for the first time.
"A Big Night For Hillary—and for the Democrats."
"High turnout among black voters catapulted her to victory—and could send her to the White House."
"It’s not wise to extrapolate these results to a general election, either. We can’t predictblack turnout or vote share from these numbers in the primary. But we can say this: After years of speculation over black voters and their participation—will they turn out for Democrats who aren’t Barack Obama?—the answer is yes, they will."
"The explanation is easy. Conventional wisdom aside, black voters didn’t turn out in 2008 and 2012 because of Obama. Rather, Obama’s campaign of dedicated outreach and contact newly activated a crucial number of black voters and brought them into the process. “[D]oor-to-door, mail, phone, and Internet activities of the political parties may have been more of a factor in mobilizing Blacks than an amorphous, media-driven buzz surrounding Obama’s charismatic and historic candidacy,” write political scientists Tasha Philpot, Daron Shaw, Ernest McGowen in a paper titled “Winning the Race: Black Voter Turnout in the 2008 Presidential Election.”
"What we can see from the 2016 results, thus far, is that two presidential cycles of this successful contact had an effect. Not only are black voters increasingly regular voters, but unlike many other Americans they also seem to believe in their efficacy as voters—that, if they organize and vote, they will change things for the better."
"If true, this is a powerful turn, and not just in the Democratic primary. If black voters believe that they matter, then they will turn out in the general election too. And if they turn out like they did for Obama, then the Democratic Party—and Hillary Clinton in particular—could have a clear path to the White House."
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/03/why_hillary_clinton_s_big_super_tuesday_wins_are_great_news_for_democrats.html
Again, kind of inspiring that they still believe their vote counts, that someone in America does.
P.S. Now can black voters be mobilized to come out in these numbers during off year elections? Something that needs to be looked at.
However, this was what struck me. Cal Perry was speaking to an older African-American man who has done a lot in the area to keep any semblance of civilization there with his store.
Perry then said that with all these problems, voting is probably not high on the list for a lot of residents.
The gentleman disagreed. He said for many folks they see it as paramount to vote tomorrow to avoid a 'Darn fool like Donald Trump winning the Presidency.'
This is inspiring. Despite, the terrible trials that the state has been through, it's people have not growing so jaded that they don't still believe in the power of their vote.
It also shows why Hillary has done so well among black voters. His premise was entirely pragmatic. Not about electing a Saint but about avoiding a dangerous demagogue.
When I talk to white Emoprogs they always piously say stuff like 'The lesser of evils is still evil.'
Black folks clearly get the fallacy of this concept.
Jamelle Bouie had a very good piece that argued that Hillary's numbers with AAs shows that the Obama turnout won't just be relegated to Obama.
In 2012, black folks voted in higher numbers than other voters for the first time.
"A Big Night For Hillary—and for the Democrats."
"High turnout among black voters catapulted her to victory—and could send her to the White House."
"It’s not wise to extrapolate these results to a general election, either. We can’t predictblack turnout or vote share from these numbers in the primary. But we can say this: After years of speculation over black voters and their participation—will they turn out for Democrats who aren’t Barack Obama?—the answer is yes, they will."
"The explanation is easy. Conventional wisdom aside, black voters didn’t turn out in 2008 and 2012 because of Obama. Rather, Obama’s campaign of dedicated outreach and contact newly activated a crucial number of black voters and brought them into the process. “[D]oor-to-door, mail, phone, and Internet activities of the political parties may have been more of a factor in mobilizing Blacks than an amorphous, media-driven buzz surrounding Obama’s charismatic and historic candidacy,” write political scientists Tasha Philpot, Daron Shaw, Ernest McGowen in a paper titled “Winning the Race: Black Voter Turnout in the 2008 Presidential Election.”
"What we can see from the 2016 results, thus far, is that two presidential cycles of this successful contact had an effect. Not only are black voters increasingly regular voters, but unlike many other Americans they also seem to believe in their efficacy as voters—that, if they organize and vote, they will change things for the better."
"If true, this is a powerful turn, and not just in the Democratic primary. If black voters believe that they matter, then they will turn out in the general election too. And if they turn out like they did for Obama, then the Democratic Party—and Hillary Clinton in particular—could have a clear path to the White House."
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/03/why_hillary_clinton_s_big_super_tuesday_wins_are_great_news_for_democrats.html
Again, kind of inspiring that they still believe their vote counts, that someone in America does.
P.S. Now can black voters be mobilized to come out in these numbers during off year elections? Something that needs to be looked at.
No comments:
Post a Comment