I was recently reading some comments from a fellow black blogger (Not sure who, it might have been AA pundit) about the need for black bloggers to organize and come together around one of the Presidential candidates. Now personally, I deplore most politicians. I view them in the same light that I do used car salesmen, IRS agents, and right wing radio talk show hosts. But I also value my right to vote, and I understand the hard work and struggle that many before me went through to give me that right. So I will be voting come this next Presidential election, but sadly, I just don't quite know who I will be voting for yet.
I do know who I won't be voting for. It won't be a third party candidate--wasted vote, and I sure as hell won't be voting for one of the "usual white male suspects" from the rethuglican party. That's an easy call for me. I like to consider myself an independent politically, but those damn rethuglicans make is so hard for me to stay that way. I mean even after being invited, those ass holes (except for one) didn't have the decency to attend and address the NAACP convention. I guess they figured they would have turned off their base if they did. God forbid they address a room full of black folks. The fear of it alone was probably what scared them all away. And I am not even a big fan of the NAACP, but they are the oldest civil rights organization in this country, and they have hundreds of thousands of members, so they certainly deserve more respect than these assholes gave them. I hope the next time one of those black Republicans comes around, you let them know how their party really feels about us, and tell them to kiss your black ass.
So anyway, that was a serious digression; back to my point. Since I won't be voting for a third party candidate and I sure as hell won't be voting for one of the angry white men on the red side; it looks like I might be stuck with one of the Democrats. Now I have heard them all, and unfortunately they all sound alike to me. It's honestly kind of scary. I suppose it's a D.C. thing to just keep promoting the status quo. That's why it would be great to have black bloggers and voters demanding accountability from these clowns. We need to demand that the politicians address the issues that matter to us. Issues such as black on black crime, the need for better funding for educational programs, and proper affordable health care for all Americans. We need to get their attention somehow, and it will take more than just punching away on our keyboards everyday to do it.
I see Obama is addressing shit that effects black folks like the Genarlow Wilson case, and that's a good thing. And John Edwards has been pretty consistent with his focus on anti poverty initiatives. So they both are on my radar, and I always listen a little more closely when one of them states a position or makes a public pronouncement these days. Sorry Francis, I am still not feeling Hillary just yet. I just can't get past her flip flop on the Iraq war, and her slick attempt to weasel out of her fickle convictions. Still, it would be nice to see America join the 21st Century and elect someone besides a white male as President.
So my fellow black bloggers I am with you on this one. We need to get behind one of these ponies and ride him (or her) all the way to Pennsylvania Avenue.
Finally, speaking of political organizing. I think the Yearly Kos convention is coming up in early August. I know, because the Kossacks have reached out to bloggers of color about attending; even offering assistance to get some of us to the convention. A condescending act in of itself. (We have to help the poor black folks) Maybe I shouldn't be so critical of Kos, I suppose that is an admirable thing to do, especially since the"Yearly Kos" convention is usually whiter than pit row at a NASCAR race. So hey, every little bit of color will help I guess. A little input from the dark side. Let's just see how serious they take us. Honestly, I don't have a problem with those black bloggers who will choose to hook up with the Kossack crowd. If they do it to help get someone in the White House who will better address our issues, that's cool. As long as they don't forget that at the end of the day; most of those Kossacks ain't any different and are just as clueless on matters of race as those on the other side of the political spectrum. They might be "progressive" but when it comes to progress on issues of race, they are still living in the dark ages.
