Black Political Zone

Three days after workers broke ground for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the Mall, the Congressional Black Caucus is preparing to break new ground of its own.

Five of its members are poised to take the helm of key House committees when Democrats assume control of Congress next year: John Conyers Jr. (Mich.) of Judiciary, Alcee L. Hastings (Fla.) of intelligence, Juanita Millender-McDonald (Calif.) of House Administration, Reps. Charles B. Rangel (N.Y.) of Ways and Means, and Bennie Thompson (Miss.) of Homeland Security.

Another member, Rep. James E. Clyburn (S.C.), is slated to be named majority whip, which would make him the third-ranking Democrat in the House.

// posted by blackdemocracy @ 7:54 AM 0 Comments

National exit polls showed that Whites voted 51 percent for Democrats, to 47 percent for Republicans. By contrast, Blacks voted 89 percent for Democrats but only 10 percent in favor of Republicans. This is testimony to the sophistication of Black voters who not only are aware of their interests and vote accordingly, but who also withstood all of the voter suppression schemes to cast their ballots.

// posted by blackdemocracy @ 7:48 AM 0 Comments

Steele, who lost to Democratic Rep. Benjamin Cardin by a margin of 55 percent to 44 percent of the vote, said he believed it was time for the GOP to rethink its views in wake of losing both chambers of Congress in last week's midterm elections, which he described as a "tsunami." Steele said the electorate "was very clear."

// posted by blackdemocracy @ 10:22 PM 0 Comments

The kinder, gentler, retooled minority-friendly Arnold did what no Republican in living memory had managed to do. He got the raves of many blacks, and even more of their votes. On election eve, nearly 30 percent of blacks gave the governor a favorable rating.

// posted by blackdemocracy @ 10:18 PM 0 Comments

Massachusetts black leaders hope Gov.-elect Deval Patrick will be a catalyst for African-Americans to become more politically active, just as John F. Kennedy inspired thousands of young people to follow him into public service when he became the nation's youngest president in 1960.

Patrick's history-making election as Massachusetts' first black governor already has many black people feeling a pride they have not felt before.

// posted by blackdemocracy @ 10:13 PM 0 Comments

Black candidates in the U.S. midterm elections moved toward the political center, seeking votes across the spectrum and playing down race, academics and analysts have said.

The strategy reflects a further shift from African-American leaders rooted in the civil rights era to a generation of politicians for whom race can be used best as a vehicle for appealing to universal themes such as overcoming poverty.

// posted by blackdemocracy @ 7:00 AM 0 Comments

"I was born how I was and I just ran the best race I could," said Ford, who would have become the South's first black senator in more than a century if he had defeated Republican Bob Corker.

"I have no regrets at all," the Memphis Democrat said on a tour to thank his political supporters. "I am more thankful than anything that so many people across this great state gave me a chance to share my views, and I am even more thankful that they allowed me to listen to them."

// posted by blackdemocracy @ 11:09 AM 0 Comments

Memo to Republican chief Ken Mehlman regarding recruiting black candidates: Try again.

Republicans had hoped to brand 2006 as the year of the black Republican. But with high-profile failures in Maryland’s Senate race and in governor contests in Ohio and Pennsylvania, prospects for GOP gains among black voters turned up short this year and gave scant hope for 2008.

// posted by blackdemocracy @ 6:19 PM 0 Comments

Michigan voters sent a clear message about affirmative action programs that offer preferences to women and minorities: It’s time for them to end.

An Election Day poll and hard voter numbers showed the controversial proposal winning by a wide margin.

// posted by blackdemocracy @ 8:32 AM 0 Comments

Patrick will become only the second black elected governor in U.S. history after Virginia Democrat Doug Wilder, who served from 1990 to 1994. His victory gives Democrats control of all elected branches of the state's government.

// posted by blackdemocracy @ 10:30 PM 0 Comments

Election Day 2006 and black voters could become an integral part of political history.

In what is being described as the most important mid-term elections in decades, Democrats need 15 seats to regain control of the House of Representatives, six seats to retake the Senate, and a number of black candidates are poised to make history in tight races across the nation.

// posted by blackdemocracy @ 9:51 AM 0 Comments