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Black lawmakers consider bids for Congress as independents
Published Thursday, May 8, 2008
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Three black state lawmakers say they are weighing whether to run for three U.S. House seats this fall as independents, a move that could splinter Democratic support in the races.
Sen. Don Cravins Jr., Sen. Lydia Jackson and Rep. Michael Jackson say the state and national Democratic parties have failed to recruit and support black candidates to run for federal and statewide offices. They said there's disparity between how the party treats black and white candidates.
"For many, many years, the African-American community has been very supportive of Democrats, and many of us feel that has not been reciprocated," said Cravins, D-Opelousas.
Louisiana has only one black member of Congress: U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat who represents a majority black district.
All seven of Louisiana's U.S. House seats come up for election in November.
Cravins said he is considering a run as an independent for the 7th U.S. Congressional District that is held by U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., R-Lafayette.
Though he said the Democratic Party supports him as a state senator in a majority black district, Cravins said he worries that financial and organizational help would evaporate once he ventures into a congressional district that is majority white.
"When an African-American candidate runs in a majority white district, race is always an issue," said Cravins.
Cravins' father — Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins Sr. — ran for Congress in 2004 and lost, and at the time, Cravins Sr. criticized members of the Democratic Party for not providing enough support for his candidacy.
Rep. Michael Jackson, D-Baton Rouge, said the party favored fellow Democrat Don Cazayoux over him in the recent race for the 6th U.S. Congressional District, and he said that cut into his fundraising ability. He's considering running as an independent for the seat in November. Cazayoux won the congressional seat and was sworn into office this week, but he'll have to run again in the fall to hang onto the job.
Sen. Lydia Jackson, D-Shreveport, also said she is weighing a run as an independent for the 4th U.S. Congressional District seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. James McCrery, R-Shreveport. She said she has some problems with the way the party has been recruiting and supporting candidates.
"Looking at the demographics for the 4th, it just makes sense to consider the independent route," she said.
Chris Whittington, chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, denied that the state party plays favorites during closed primaries when two Democrats are running against each other. He said the party stays out of closed primary elections and puts its full support behind the Democratic candidate who makes it out, regardless of race.
"There's no preferential treatment whatsoever in the closed primary," Whittington said.
He said he doesn't know what effect the potential independent candidates could have on the fall election.
"I hope it wouldn't happen," he said. "We like people to stay Democrats and keep unity in the party."
Comments
Posted by harvest1 (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Speaking of daycares-I was riding along Church st. in Florence Ms. and I saw a bunch of little kids playing together, and the little Black kid over in a area playing alone. Now that's what the problem is. You are the only one that can't see. Now why is that? You are right there should not be a color factor, but there is. This stone is well over used, but it keep getting in the way.Blacks do have more grounds in a lot of things--compared to the '60's
but the stone is still there. It's still remain.
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All I want is equality. I want black people to have the same opportunites I have as a white girl. Wait a minute, they have more than I do....make 'em play fair!!!!!!!!!
Posted by harvest1 (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kpage I strongly disagree with you on that. THEY DON'T HAVE MORE THAN YOU--it's just that you will only go so far.
I admire that. You are just trying to find equality. I think we all are. But, we still have to be realistic about this racial situation. In a Sociological view we find that Black people don't look at America like White people do, there are a lot of grey areas to look at. Everyone is not on welfare or food stamps, and I do know there are Whites on them as well. There are those that hate Blacks for anything, and there are those that hate Whites for anything, but at the end of the day, we are all here together. Kpage I hope we can find this equality you talk about. It's seem so elusive.
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
harvest1, what do you mean in saying blacks and whites don't look at America the same way? Knowing how I personally perceive it, how do black's perceive it? I'm not trying to be subtly nasty here, I want to learn how we view our country differently. If we are to find equality, we should at least try to discover our cultural differences with love and an open mind, rather than pointing a finger or stereotyping. Let the past lie where it lies no matter how much folk try to unearth it...just never forget what we learned from it. Yes, we are all here together and we need peace and acceptance overall.
Posted by harvest1 (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kpage I don't think you are trying to be nasty, I read these post and yours I find to be honest and straight forward, and that is a plus. My statements are not pointing of the finger or sterotyping, but based on facts some would call it stereotyping I know, because these words was used in my Sociology class when I prepared a paper on these same matters. You see when it comes to our history some would prefer lies rather than truth. In example--Tulsa, Oklahoma--site of an orgy of violence against the Black community in 1921, city officials literally went into the town library and removed all reference to the mass killings in the Greenwood district from the papers with a razor blade--an excising of truth and an assault on memory that would remain unchanged for seventy years. All of the lynchings, burnings, murders, and the wonderful people in high places are still bring those horrble people to justice. The education system that was held back from the mast of Black people for many years. They were given used out dated books to study from. Thanks to God Almighty some of them were able to come out with enough education to gain the American dream. Some was not fortunate enough to get there. That's not finger pointing. I don't mean to be long so I will cut off, but we must face the past before we can move forward, and make sure It does not happen again. When the Blacks try to fight these injustices today they refer to Rev. Jackson or Rev. Sharpton as idiots fighting for Black folks.These men are all they have now. They had Dr. King, but he was taken away. So they are a race that's trying to survive in a place that still dislike them.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I will add however, Jesse L. Jackson is no more a spokesman for blacks, than Bush is for all whites. I am sick of his name on the tongues of so many, who perceive this "hold" he has on my community. Al Sharpton is the alarm sounder, I have no problems with him bringing to light, some of the things he has, but what has Jesse done or has been doing? Please, Blacks need no one lone leader, during the Civil Rights era, there were many other unsung heroes, other than Martin. Yes, Martin did the leading in the non-violent movement, but he was not by far the only one. Also, as long as institutional racism is alive and well, as covert as it is today, there is still imbalance there. I can applaud your honesty kpage, if you are not trying to be "funny." One of the most volatile and hostile stereotypes there is, is that Black folk are the majority of folk on public assistance. I am sure if the Medicaid rolls, and others were checked thoroughly, we would be shocked to see, just who among us, receive public assistance.
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on May 10, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
harvest and Teach...I understand a little better now. I also feel if the three of us sat down together we'd find a whole lot we liked about one another. I guess, in a way, our past was somewhat alike...my dad's family (Italian) were treated as slaves when they came to this New World at the turn of the century. They were considered "grease bombs", "mafia", "WOPs", I could go on and on. But equality came after some time with them, unlike the black race, who had to protest nationally to even get the right to vote! I wanna know WHY was the nation not allowing blacks to be equal? I guess over the generations, whites were taught to fear/resent the black person and not allow him/her to get ahead. I don't know. There are probably multiple reasons. Today we can try to heal this rift and UNDERSTAND each other's culture. With this understanding comes acceptance. King's dream can be realized with non-violence...it's just those people who choose to get angry and not try to be open-minded who exacerbate the issue. At least between us, we are trying and that makes some difference!
Posted by harvest1 (anonymous) on May 10, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Teach4peace you are so right in your statement, and I do know that Martin was not the only one in the fight for the Black people. There were many in Natchez, Ms. I knew men who had to put iron bars on their doors at night, to try to have protection for their families,and carry a gun on the seat of their car also. I also know men who had to check under the hood of their cars or trucks before they could drive off, even if they were parked at Church. Men who had to stand tall for justice while their sons and daughters fought in military. Fighting for this country proudly, and bravely. The many who died in Vietnam--both White, Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans-- are brave people who sort the American dream. Guess what it is still alive no matter what is said. My arguement is not who's on welfare, or medicaid rolls, and I guess we "would" be shocked to see who among us, recieve public assistance.
My thing is this--after all is said and done the things that happen in the past can be taken in to gain -not- loss and we can move on and achieve this elusive equality together. Put away the axe of hate that are covertly expressed on these post, and try to find common ground to solve some of these racial hostile steretype situations in our wonderful nation. Hang in there kpage I really enjoy your post in this paper, and I don't think you are being funny. To tell you the truth ((teach)) Jesse has'nt really done much lately. [in answer to one of your questions.]
Posted by harvest1 (anonymous) on May 10, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kpage I guess we all have felt the axe of racial injustice in some way. Racism don't have color-it- embodies hatred and
contempt. The struggles of your family and people have been well noted, and it had it's part in history too. Not all of it is revealed in the books, but it is still there.I will e-mail you soon kpage. God Bless you and yours.
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