Rudy Giuliani, Sen. John McCain, Mitt Romney and former Sen. Fred Thompson all say they have other campaign and fundraising obligations that night and won't make it to Morgan State University to debate, despite advice from their Commander in Chief to reach out to African American voters.
Is it a coincidence that ALL of the leading GOP candidates have a scheduling conflict?
Former Oklahoma lawmaker and Republican J.C. Watts doesn't think so. After all, the invitations were sent out in March.
"You kind of scratch your head thinking why are they making decisions like that?" Watts told ABC News Tuesday, calling the decision "stupid."
Maybe those candidates don't have any African-American staffers who could say "You're making a huge mistake strategically by not at least reaching out and talking to this demographic,'" Watts added.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called the move "baloney" and "fundamentally wrong."
And one of the nation's leading black Republicans, Armstrong Williams, is mad, to say the least.
"That's not leadership. Leadership is the willingness to go into the lion's den and show that you have the courage to stand your ground," he said.
Smiley spoke up about the move on "The Tonight Show" last week asking: "What does it say when you don't think that black issues and brown issues and issues for red and yellow -- what does it say when you don't think that all of us are valuable in this process?"
All of the Democratic candidates will be there in full force at the debate billed as the All American Presidential Forum. Republicans who are not considered front runners will also debate, including Sen. Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee and Alan Keyes.Last week, President Bush also gave some unheeded words of wisdom to Republican contenders.
"My advice to whoever will be our nominee is to reach out to the African-American community, as well as other communities, because I believe that we've got a very strong record when it comes to empowerment, when it comes to education, or homeownership, or small business formation."
But that "very strong record" does not explain why African Americans generally support Democratic candidates.
+ Snub of minority forum 'a huge mistake' by GOP (USAToday)
+ The Ugly Side of the G.O.P. (The New York Times)
ALSO
+ Black Voices, Obama Watch
Comments: (16)
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By: Cecil Jones on 9/25/2007 4:03PM
I can hear the voices of Minister Farahakan, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Dr. Martin Luther King and Miss Rosa Parks screaming inside my head with the truth. How many times...must you be knocked down, trampled over, ignored, disrespected, left behind, short changed, bamboozled, or sent to the back of the bus before you realize the truth. Some in America still don't beleive Mankind was created equal. Some of them still in power only believe that we are 3/5ths. Action speaks louder than words. How many times must we vote, before we get it right? Why must we reject the Whites that are sympathetic to our cause and causes before we learn to embrace power? Why must we kick down the doors following Oprah's Boy, when we have a man that needs our help! I thing the choice is clear, my Brothers and Sisters. We need to embrace John Edwards and pair him with Obama if we ever want to be taken seriously! If we want to unite, then we must build a bridge with those White that respect us and are open to our ideas. Can you hear the voices? How long?
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By: Sho- on 9/26/2007 3:12PM
Since Fred Thompson didn't entered the race until a few weeks ago would he have received an invitiation along with the other runners last march?
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By: Reecie on 9/26/2007 4:07PM
The Republicans just made it that much easier for the Democrats to get the black vote. George W manage to gain more support from the Black community than any other Republican Presidential candidate, but they can kiss that support goodbye!
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By: John H. Montgomery Jr. on 9/26/2007 10:17PM
yOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. JOHN EDWARDS! HOW DOES A MAN THAT GETS 400.00 DOLLAR HAIR CUTS IDENTIFY WITH OUR PLIT. THIS IS A MAN THAT WASN'T RE-ELECTED BY HIS OWN STATE. HE DIDN'T CARRY HIS OWN STATE WHEN HE RAN WITH KERRY.
BROTHERS STOP PLAYING THE RACE CARD. YOU KNOW POLITICIANS GO WHERE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THIER HEADS BITEN OFF. YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE DEMOCRATIC ANYWAY.LOOK AT YOUR QUEEN HILLERY, HAS NEVER HAD TO ANSWER THE HARD QUESTIONS. NOR IS SHE PUT INTO A HOSTILE SITUATION.
ARE PEOPLE FALL FOR IT EVERYTIME,DEMOCRATES PROMISING EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING, GETTING A SUDDEN TASTE OF BBQ,GRITS,GREENS AND BLACK RELIGION. I RELIZED LONG AGO DEMOCRATIC WEREN'T THE FRIENDS OF BLACKS. THERE WOULDN'T BE A DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITHOUT THE BLACK VOTE.WE DON'T USE THAT TO OUR ADVANTAGE. WE'RE JUST MINDLESS PUPPITS OF THE DEMOCRATICS
AFTER ALL BILL CLINTON WAS ARE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT.
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By: get out on 9/27/2007 9:38AM
bill clinton sucks! yall need to stop with that first black president stuff. i will vote for Sen. Barack Obama first and foremost because hes intelligent and he has a good heart and a eye for political change. Wouldnt u know it, he just happens to be black. Thats a plus for me too. America needs change. The whole thing happening in Jena and countless places all over america are proof that we need serious changes in this nation. Vote, speak, write, think, and love with your heart. Dont be fooled and most importantly, dont fool your own self.
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By: Anthony O. Vann on 9/27/2007 9:24AM
I can believe it....I hope this will encourage more Black voters to register and come out and vote, letting their voice be heard when it really matters (eelction time)...show the Republicans that you do need me.
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By: Bishop James R Winfree Sr, on 9/27/2007 10:15AM
HEAVEN
Heaven is the dream and desire of all the saints throughout the ages. Its the place we all consider our home, one that we long for. Peculiar in a way, that we are homesick for a home we have yet to even visit!
When you think of 'Heaven' what's the first word that comes to mind? Well, there are innumerable answers to that question, and no single one is the correct one.
What I think of is 'harmony'. The very opposite of what we so often experience in this world, that is, disharmony. While I certainly don't espouse New Age thought, the idea that when the body is in disharmony, it gets sick has a measure of truth to it.
Disharmony is seen in cataclysmic storms like hurricanes and tornados. It's seen politically in wars and national strife. We observe it in times of economic depression when certain interest groups desire things opposed to by the general public. Disharmony is what started this existence of sin: Lucifer was no longer in harmony with the will and plan of God, and in the great symphonic orchestra of creation and the Plan of God, Satan struck a series of discordant notes that disrupted the entire score.
Harmony however will be restored. The Music of the Messiah will resound and overcome all opposition until it is finally silenced, and in the reign of righteousness all things will conform to the Divine Will which seeks the Way of Peace and Love and Joy for all God's creatures.
There will be an end to strife, contention, frustration and wrath. The lion will lay down with the lamb! Of course the lion lays down with the lamb today as well, the only difference is the lamb is INSIDE of the lion!
A result of the disharmony disaster that is sin, is the fatigue and weariness of life that began when Adam harvested thorns and thistle, and Eve gave birth in pain. The LORD Jesus Himself declares "Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11: 28-30
In heaven when we see the LORD face to face, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is, and we shall know Him even as we are known of Him! 1st John 3:2; 1 Cor. 13:12.
Such revelation and understanding will dissolve all conflicts of confusion, will melt away all sorrows, wash away all pain of loss and regrets. The harmony we will know on that Day will be the accord with which we shall love and worship the LORD Jesus, in absolute and total agreement in our proclamation that He is indeed WORTHY of our worship and praise and thanksgiving.
We are admonished in the Word to keep the unity of the faith, a certain means of harmony within the body of Christ. Note it doesn't say obtain or acquire unity of the faith, but to KEEP. One cannot KEEP something one does not already possess. With such an emphasis among churches and even world religions for UNITY, we Christians posses unity already and only have to MAINTAIN this unity of the faith ('the' faith refers to that body of doctrine that's recorded in holy scripture) in accord to what the BIBLE says. Regardless of what euphemism says today, DOCTRINE IS IMPORTANT and is the means by which we can keep the unity of the faith, via the Holy Spirit. Eph. 4:3, 13
This harmony is something we can know today; this very day you can taste the joy of heaven. How? Its simple, if done by the power of the Holy Spirit, Whom EVERY Christian has access to. WALK IN THE SPIRIT, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh! For is not this sinful, carnal, lustful flesh the source of all disastrous disharmony of sin and destruction?
WALKING in the SPIRIT is walking in harmony with the will and accord of the LORD Jesus, it is putting on the mind of Christ, it is following in the footsteps of our LORD: accomplished ONLY by the power of the Spirit Who resides in us as a result of our spiritual regeneration, aka being born again.
Together, you and I, as children of the Living God, disciples of the LORD Jesus, the ONLY Way, Truth and Life that leads to the Father, can participate in the grand orchestra that is integral to the plan that the LORD has scripted for all of us, writing each note on the music bars of said orchestration.
So lets make some beautiful music together, inspired by our LORD, a melody and harmony so infectious that others will be drawn to that music, and persist in playing this music from here to Heaven, the place of absolute harmony! Amen!
People you are not really feeling me at all here, because you only have one thing on your mind and this is to find a man to please your flesh and needs. real men who love God need more that a woman with good looks and a hot body, they come dine a dozen. All I here these days is people who love only the people they know, But what if Christ die just for the Jews only and not for the world?
Where are the Women with a purpose driven life to help other for Christ online or in real life?
Most Women and Men are only for self and pleasing their self, I call it like it is group > they are only for Me, Myself, and I and no one or nobody else. If you think your body , looks will last forever, please think again, baby you are getting Old each day God blesses you to wake up.
What more do I need to say? God bless Bishop James & Betty R Winfree
http://www.freewebs.com/winfreeministries
jawin05@sbcglobal.net
www.myspace.com/bishopwinfree
bishopwinfree057@aol.com
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By: Chuckdeezul on 9/27/2007 12:51PM
I don't understand why their decision to NOT come to this debate surprises anyone, The republicans have been doing it since Abraham Lincoln (who people, unfotunately STILL think he freed the slaves, DUH!) and will continue to do it because it's the nature of the whole party. I am not shocked nor suprised nor bothered. I kinda KNEW they were not coming because of the short comings in the communities outside of the republican party. Armstrong Williams, JC Watts and all of the other House Negro republicans need to get on the bus because they are going to be left behind VERY SOON when an uprising arises. I have much more to say about Black republicans but I have work to do. One last thing; I know the word 'republicans' is capitalized but after years of them CAPITILIZING on OUR backs, I show them no respect after what they have done to us during my lifespan. David Duke, in Louisiana, is an elected official in that racist state but folks may not remember he IS the Grand Marshall or Wizard leader of Whip holder in the KKK, STILL who ran for govenorship of that state a decade ago or less time and ONLY lost because his past came out and it made national news. Now, the republican party has Rudy Giuliani as there leading candidate. For those of us who have other cultures outside of Europe, this man as the former DA in New York has a past history with us. He is the modern day George Wallace and the NYPD was his water hoses and attack dogs. His administration accused five or six young men (AA & Latino) of 'Wilding', attacking and raping a white female jogger in Central Park. More than a decade later, these now grown men have been found not guilty due to dna evidence. And----this is really going to bake your pickle---the lead detective, Mike Sheehan, is a TV reporter for FOX TV(channel 5) in New York. Ain't that some shit?! Guiliani (who WE know as 'Adolf Gooliani'-make the connection folks) had his shit knocked in the dirt when his daughter, from tv reporter Donna Hanover, wore a shirt that stated that she is an 'Obama Girl'. His "former" family does not even respect him. I do know th other stories of the other republican party candidates, like Mitt Romney is a Mormon, who have twisted thinkings of AAs. John McCain and his old ass, Fred Thompson the actor (lets' see how many of you folks support Law & order now!). It's strange hearing Armstrong Williams criticize 'HIS' party for not attending the debate at Morgan State University. Big ups to Tavis Smiley for showing ALL of AmeriKKKa how 'they' feel about communities outside of the WHITE house. And if you can just bare with me for a few more lines as I say that as the DEMOCRAPS are not any better. Barak has NOT been vocal or even responsive to the JENA 6 case AT ALL. I guess he's trying to be the House KNEE GROW and not fall out of line. And he wants to get the BLACK vote. What about the victims of KATRINA? Black, White, Natives? NOTHING. Folks are struggling in that region. New Orleans and Mississippi. I hope the audience brings these issues afloat to find out where they REALLY stand. These politicians can't fool folks no more. Especially republicans. I wish Sharpton was on the ballot because this symposium would be PERFECT. Sharton raises issues that candidates shy away from.
Brooklyn S T A N D U P
Cooper Park
50 Debeviose Ave
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By: Chuckdeezul on 9/27/2007 12:58PM
Please pardon my run on sentences. I am HEATED!
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By: Chuckdeezul on 9/27/2007 1:04PM
And, do we want another Clinton in office (Man or Woman) who try to 'Identify' by moving to Harlem USA. The first administration was soft and gentle racists. I promise, this is it!
Cooper Park, baby!
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