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Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Greg Harris on how the Democrats can be more inclusive
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Yesterday in Oakley, Monica Williams—local activist and member of the NAACP—challenged panelists (at a discussion about identifying the values of the Democratic Party) to discuss why so many African Americans in Cincinnati feel disenfranchised by local Democrats. City Council Candidate Greg Harris was not a panelist, but he has some ideas for how Williams’ concerns can be addressed—so The Cincinnati Beacon is proud to provide them for our readers.
Five Simple Ways Democrats Can Diversify Participation
by Greg Harris
5. Don’t spend $600 reserving 21st C. Club in Oakley for Democratic Forum events. Instead, move meetings around, utilize inexpensive or free venues (Bond Hill rec center, union halls, etc.), and send out postcards and automated calls to neighborhoods in close proximity to venue soliciting their attendance and their voices.
4. A rotating group of Democratic elected officials from various offices (mayors, trustees, judges, etc.) should participate in monthly town hall style meetings in Cincinnati neighborhoods - listening sessions.
3. Don’t limit neighborhood canvassing to election season. A rotating group of Democratic elected officials should walk neighborhood business districts on an ongoing basis, with a special focus on communities that have become disengaged from the political process.
2. Go where people meet. Dem forums don’t always need to be Democratic sponsored events. Continually engage civic and religious organizations, neighborhood business associations, etc., an offer to have Democratic appointed and elected officials to attend their events to speak or to listen.
1. SUPPORT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. Campaigns are getting increasingly expenses, and candidates spend lots of hours soliciting donations from contributors who only represent a narrow segment of Cincinnati society. Modern campaigning requires giving disproportionate voice and time to those with more money.
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12 Jun 2007 at 05:06 pm | #
What exactly does any of this have to do with giving minorities a voice in The White Democratic Party? This list basically says support campaign finance reform and meet with the voters, it doesn’t address the party’s slave treatment of minorities.
If The White Democrats really wanted to be inclusive, the first they could do is not pass tax increases that are extremely unpopular among minorities, especially ones that the voters have already rejected. I hope minorities are taking note at the way they are being treated by the white-run Democratic Party.
12 Jun 2007 at 06:35 pm | #
CincyJeff, if you’re a Republican you should really drop the “party’s slave treatment of minorities”. The Republicans disenfranchised African Americans in 2000 and 2004. The Democrats failed to stand up for them, but Republicans have no room to talk. I hope African Americans stop voting for both the Republican and unDemocratic parties.
12 Jun 2007 at 06:58 pm | #
I have to disagree Jeff. Getting out in minority communities and listening and being responsive is important. You have to start somewhere, and these are practical suggestions. Harris’ point about campaign finance reform is also dead on.
I was at the forum, and Cecil Thomas’ response to Monica’s concerns was to form a committee. Harris’ suggestions are pretty straightforward, but I beleive good first steps for getting the Party out among its base in an ongoing way.
12 Jun 2007 at 08:53 pm | #
The only way Blacks and other minorities will be represented in Cincinnati is by eliminating the At-Large election system and enacting a Ward system. Unless this happens, corporate white Cincinnati will continue to keep its puppets in power.
12 Jun 2007 at 11:04 pm | #
Greg sure has all the answers, now that he is a candidate again.
He certainly was not at many forum meetings before that.
The Dem Forum is an independent organization.
They have, on occasion, conducted robo-calls.
With all due respect, no one reached out to any one to come to that event, other than sending them an email.
Monical Williams, to our knowledge, has not been at any other meetings.
Only she can answer, WHY or if ?
Everyone that was there was there on their own initiative.
The attendees made the effort to get involved.
We would encourage those interested in the Dem cause to sign up for email notices and then take the responsibility upon themselves to get involved.
Those who have remained involved, love the location.
Greg, while your visiting the communities recommend they visit and sign up for email notices at:
http://hamiltoncountydems.org
The best way for the Dems to reach out to the community is to endorse and get elected community members that can serve as examples to the community, i.e. Major Mallory, Judge Berry, Judge Mallory, Judge Rucker, Senator Kearney.
Certainly, those white democrats aren’t doing to bad for the community.
The rep. gave the community - ‘Blackwell’ !
Sorry, I know where my vote will go !
We would like Monical to be more active in the party and take the lead for community outreach.
The door and dialog is open.
13 Jun 2007 at 05:47 am | #
many of us have, and have subsequently re-registered as indies.... so, would you have us vote for the candidate that WE feel best represents us/me? if so, why the constant arguments about which wing of the same bird treats us better? this past election I voted for the indy candidate whose ideas I liked, especially regarding a rail system in the state. Do I feel I wasted my vote? nope…
I couldn’t agree more....
13 Jun 2007 at 06:35 am | #
In other words, Freedom Fighter, you are saying this: “Please, come to our meetings, but don’t say anything or I will harass you for not being at meetings before.”
13 Jun 2007 at 07:10 am | #
I agree that those who attend “love the location.” It’s very convenient to white, east siders--the bulk of the participants.
13 Jun 2007 at 08:35 am | #
Did anyone listen to Monica’s question. Her question asked about the way Black people are treated inside the local Democratic Party. Local Dems don’t support a lot of policies that would help the Black community, but that’s not the issue.
White Dems don’t respect Black people or see us as equals. They tolerate Negroes who tell them that everything is ok (i.e. Robert Richardson, Jr., Darren Tolliver, Cecil Thomas) and listen to what they say (even if it is with one ear closed) but they don’t respect them.
One of the biggest problems is white priviledge and white entitlement. Lesser qualified white candidates get support, encouragement, and money from the Party (David Pepper, Paul Hackett, Greg Harris); Black Dems are told to wait their turn (think Stephanie Dumas). Whites are given jobs; Blacks are supposed to volunteer for everything. White “troublemakers” are brought into the Party and all is forgiven (think Brian Garry); Black “troublemakers” are not welcome in the Party.
Here are just a few examples of what I’m talking about. There are many more.
- Sam Malone and Ken Anderson (the guy from the Buzz) used to be Democrats. They wanted to run for office and asked for the Party’s support. Both of them were essentially told to sit down, shut up, and wait until they were old men with no fight in them and then the Party might consider supporting them. They both left the Party and became Republicans. Sam went on to be appointed to Council. Ken ran for Council and State Rep and had the Party’s financial support.
- My old friend Rodney Brown used to be a Democrat. Rodney and I were basically told the same thing by Burke. Rodney left the Party and is now a rich Republican.
- Even though the Party has hundreds of precinct executive vacancies, they won’t appoint Monica Williams to one of those slots, even though Monica has asked for such an appointment.
- Years ago, I asked to be appointed precinct executive and was told NO. I went out and got signatures to run for the position and Tim Burke and the Dems recruited a candidate to run against me and sent a letter out to every registered voter in my precinct. I won anyway!
Greg Harris is a prime example of a white boy who comes to the Party and gets support from the Party without ever being asked to “pay his dues”.
The Party will never deal with this issue as long as Negroe insiders keep telling them there isn’t a problem. Labor is another major part of the Party’s base. They will punish candidates who betray them (not always, and especially around here—think Jeff Berding). On the other hand, too many Blacks refuse to withdraw their support from Dems even when the Dems are mistreating us. This could be because there isn’t a viable alternative. We could do like Malone, Anderson, and Brown and join up with the GOP, but they’ve got their own problems. Look how they treat Charlie Winburn versus Leslie Ghiz. For many people, the Charter Committee, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, or no party aren’t viable alternatives.
13 Jun 2007 at 08:40 am | #
Freedom Fighter if I may say so the best way to judge the party is not by the manner in which it treats the elevated among the black society but rather how it responds to the concerns of the least in the black Cincinnati. How does the party respond to and advocate on behalf of those who are unable to do so for themselves. Further as it relates to party involvement...I did not notice any lack of reaching out when it came time to register votes in the black community (most recently leading to the 2004 Presidential election) however when it came time for powersharing the tide was swiftly turned back into the hands of the largely white, male power structure. Additionally, when I raised that as an issue I was blackballed by the party. So please spare me the rhetoric regarding where I have been and why I have not bothered to attend prior forum meetings. The answer is simple not that you or anyone else necessarily deserve one; but for the record I value my time and I try to spend it in productive ways and listening to what amounts to so called liberal white folks pat themselves on the back is not usually on my agenda!
13 Jun 2007 at 09:17 am | #
Freedom Fighter--you are full of shit. I’ve seen Harris at most the forums since the Democratic Forum began. And whatever came of the committee that was suppossed to examine diversity that was formed in like 2005?!
Your defensive response shows that you just don’t get it. You respond to common sense suggestion for diversifying the Party (not just the Forum) with insults, and then defend venues like 21st C. Theatre in oakley--as if this is the heart of the Democratic base.
Get a clue!
13 Jun 2007 at 10:04 am | #
Anon #4, a much more reliable election method to ensure equitable representation on City Council is Proportional Representation (PR). PR guarantees all groups represented by more than 10% of voters their fair share of council seats, and those groups can be defined in any way - by race, political views, gender, religion, position on the jail (or other hot issue of the year), or neighborhood. If 60% of voters vote for Democratic candidates, for example, Democrats should win 5 or 6 out of 9 seats. The only criteria that wards or districts would guarantee representation for is geographically concentrated groups of people.
PR is completely fair and completely flexible - no drawing and re-drawing and arguing over district boundaries, and no need to put all your supporters in one area. PR is also neutral - it reflects the politics of the electorate in WHATEVER TERMS PEOPLE CHOOSE TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES. If the major factors driving people’s votes are race and party identity, a council elected by PR will reflect the city’s racial and political composition as accurately as possible. The same would be true if the top factors were hair color and East Side/West Side.
PR adjusts to changes over time and always fairly represents voters’ views. Switching to a district or ward system from the 9X system we use now would be a major step backward, setting us up for political fights over boundaries and perpetual disenfranchisement of large parts of the population (which you get in all single-member districts that aren’t completely homogeneous).
13 Jun 2007 at 10:39 am | #
“… “Please, come to our meetings, but don’t say anything or I will harass you for not being at meetings before.”...”
We suppose a valid critique.
What we were saying, is those in the Know, KNOW !
Those seeking political gain during campaigns, may not ?
Additionally, I would say what does a white bread candidate know about reaching out to the black community ?
We certainly don’t, but, we are willing to learn.
We would have been more interested in hearing Nate and Monical report on how the Dems could reach out !
Then step up to the plate and take action.
All I can say is that we have robo-called the community, we have knocked on doors and asked for the community vote.
Granted, it was during election time, but, most have a work life, as well.
We take time off, vacation time, etc. during election season to work toward change. We reach out as much as we can.
Shouldn’t the community reach out to the party, as well ?
The party is the members.
Members are either active or non-active.
Some fight for, some against.
All in all, the Dems are the party of compassionate leadership.
Grab an oar or abandon ship.
Mutiny is not in order !
13 Jun 2007 at 11:50 am | #
******
We shall Deliver !
Get the Message ?
******
13 Jun 2007 at 01:16 pm | #
that’s why many african americans in cincinnAPATHY, myself included, have re-registered as independents.... my question is why the constant arguing between the wings of the same bird as to which is better for us/me?
I couldn’t agree more....
13 Jun 2007 at 02:24 pm | #
Nate--what’s this bullshit about Harris not paying his dues? He stepped in as the Party’s executive director in 1998. He has extensively volunteered on several campaigns over the past decade. He’s a precinct executive. What exactly do you mean by paying his dues? He put in a good deal of sweat equity before he ever became a candidate.
You talk, talk and talk, but so often know little about what you’re talking about.
13 Jun 2007 at 03:44 pm | #
RA--why are you wasting your breath defending someone against Nate Livingston?! All Nate does is provoke, and he rarely let facts get in the way. Be humored by him, but don’t waste any anger on the prick.
Seriously, aren’t you more suspicios of those candidates Nate actually likes?
13 Jun 2007 at 05:19 pm | #
*****
“...The answer is simple not that you or anyone else necessarily deserve one; but for the record I value my time and I try to spend it in productive ways and listening to what amounts to so called liberal white folks pat themselves on the back is not usually on my agenda!...”
Thanks for reaching out !
I guess we are to reach out by saying all you repressed black folk have better things to do than elect judges who make the decisions that effect all !
Great Instructions !
<i>”...I’ve seen Harris at most the forums since the Democratic Forum began....”
We’ve missed two since they began and I only recall seeing Greg, twice ?
By the way we support, Greg !
We supported him for congress and he has paid his dues.
On the forum issue, in our humble opinion, he doesn’t have a clue.
We are no spokes persons for the forum. There have been good ones and not so good !
*****
13 Jun 2007 at 06:20 pm | #
When you consider ex-official Democrat members Leslie Ghiz and John Eby, there is a lot of reaching out to the other side.
13 Jun 2007 at 11:11 pm | #
“...Even though the Party has hundreds of precinct executive vacancies, they won’t appoint Monica Williams to one of those slots, even though Monica has asked for such an appointment....”
Is this a fact ?
What precinct ?
Is it still vacant ?
Does she live in that precinct ?
She can place her name on the ballot for PE without any endorsement by the party ?
Does she have the support of fellow Dem’s in her community ?
Our experience has been that Hon. Burke has bent over backward to engage the community.
Many times that reaching out has resulted in the community not taking his advice, i.e. Rucker and a bid for county prosecutor.
The result, the white bread crony prosecutor was caught with his D&$# in becky’s hand. We had no one on the ballot and Rucker had to run as a write-in.
Some claim if Rucker would have taken Hon. Burke’s advice, the Dems would be represented in the prosecutors office. Could that make a difference in the way individuals are treated ? We think so !
I’ve sat and watched as Ted Berry was sworn in as judge and Ted explain how his father told the story about sitting in the presidential plane on a Cincinnati runway and stating we’ve come a long way from the back of the bus.
It brought tears to Hon. Burke’s eyes and mine , as well.
Burke sought Berry to run for Judge ! It was his leadership that set an excellent example for the community. Granted, Berry, was successful on his own, but, wow what a leader for the community, hand picked, or recommended by Hon. Burke.
We’ve sat and watched as Hon. Burke wrote a 1,000 check and handed it to Jessie Jackson for the Rainbow Coalition.
I’m sorry, the image some paint is not the man we know !
Burke works hard to engage. We have talked when standing in protest, on fountain square, about how the black community is not well represented in such matters.
Maybe these things don’t mean anything to you, but, to us they revealed a compassionate character, for which, we admire.
In all sincerity, we need the solution, we need the communities help.
We are here, are you ?
******
14 Jun 2007 at 07:13 am | #
Freedom Fighter
Why don’t you listen!?! Do you have a mental problem that stops you from paying attention? Solutions have already been proposed, but because you are too busy defending Burke you can’t hear them. And you can’t consider something that you haven’t heard.
Again, you aren’t listening. Monica has already confirmed that she asked the Party for the appointment and they refused… And you and I both know that the Dems could have her fill a vacancy in any precinct. (If memory serves me right, Monica asked to serve in her own precinct.)
Yeah. What’s your point? This isn’t the issue. The issue is that the Democratic Party’s boss is a petty, racist who fights to disenfranchise Black people within the Party who don’t suck up to him while doing everything he can to empower whites. The Party’s executive committee and central committee refuse to put a stop to this so they are partially responsible. If Boss Burke was all about doing whats in the best interest of the Party, he’d have made sure that a willing volunteer like Monica was appointed to the position she asked for.
Your continued focus on Rucker, Mallory, and Berry show that you haven’t heard anything we’ve said. But let me try again by quoting Monica: “...the best way to judge the party is not by the manner in which it treats the elevated among the black society but rather how it responds to the concerns of the least in the black Cincinnati. How does the party respond to and advocate on behalf of those who are unable to do so for themselves.”
14 Jun 2007 at 07:27 am | #
Nate, I agree that the Party probably tries to prevent you and your small cadre of supporters from filling appointed or leadership positions. But this is about you, not your race. As someone who only recently spoke of running as a Republican, and bragged about your meetings with Republican leadership, I’m confused why you think the party should embrace you with open arms. You’ve endorsed republicans and liberterians far more then Dem’s in recent years on your blog.
Furthermore, the Party’s refusal to endorse you as a candidate for Congress in 2004, which you interviewed for, had nothing to do with race. It had to do with your pro-boycott activism, your arrest record, and your absolute lack of professional achievement.
Your plight does not equal the black plight. There are many African Amercians who serve as precinct exec’s in the Dem party. You acknowledge this, but then say it’s because they are uncle tom’s.
No smart politcal operation would ever allow you on the inside. You are only trouble. You have a track record of character assassination. You are a divider. Why would any organization want to give you a formal role?
14 Jun 2007 at 07:49 am | #
Sid,
what does giving Nate a role in the party have to do with appointing me as PE?? How are those things even remotely related?
14 Jun 2007 at 08:22 am | #
A few observations on Monica Williams and why the big bad party wouldn’t let her be a Precinct Executive:
If this is the Monica Williams who lives on Ezzard Charles, (17th Ward) then:
1.) She is a registered Independant and only votes in Presidential elections. Precinct Executives are supposed to at least be Democrats and vote more than once every 4 years. You are also supposed to be active in the party.
2.) All Ward 17 precincts have Democratic Precinct Executives assigned to them.
3.) The Dishonorable Dale Mallory somehow became the Ward Chair of Wards 16, 17, and 18. Dale could have found a precinct for Monica to serve in if he so desired. Assuming he ever did anything positive for the party in his position as Ward Chair. Seems like maybe Dale didn’t want Monica in his business.
As to Burke disenfranchising African Americans - why did he go so far out on a political limb to try to limit the Democrats on the ticket in the 32nd to Dale Mallory? Burke pushed to endorse Dale after the nominating committee voted not to endorse. Burke stood behind Dale through thick and thin, regardless of the embarassment Dale brought to the party and his family (just can’t take the hood out of that boy!)
If you want a conspiracy, ask why the Burke/Mallory team is so interested in keeping the West End poor. Works in their favor to drop bombshells like the proposed CityLink Center smack in the middle of neighborhoods who are trying to get back on their feet after decades of crime and despair.
14 Jun 2007 at 10:19 am | #
Monica
Sid knows that the two things aren’t related, but he’d rather try to make this conversation about me than about the Party. Why? Because no one with good sense can defend the way the Party treats Black people.
14 Jun 2007 at 11:31 am | #
Sid
So, every Black person—Sam Malone, Ken Anderson, Eric Wilson, Rodney Brown, Monica Williams, and Christopher Smitherman just to name a few—who has approached the Party and offered to help only to have the door slammed in their face had this happen to them because they were my supporters? Yeah, right!
Or was it because they wouldn’t lick Tim Burke’s ass or sign on to support Boss Burke’s skewed version of Democratic values—government’s unlimited use of eminent domain; opposition to Affirmative Action, etc.? A check of the record will show that Boss Burke supports white candidates who are openly hostile to Black people like Dusty Rhodes, Charlie Luken, and Jeff Berding. The more hostile they are toward Black people, the more Boss Burke supports them.
I don’t. Try as hard as you can, but you won’t be able to make this issue about me. It isn’t. Its about the way Boss Burke and the Party treat Black people.
For your information, I’m not interested in being a precinct executive. I’ve been there and done that. Years ago, I lived in Avondale (Ward 13). My ward chairman was Roscoe Fultz. I was a young, energetic, honorably discharged military veteran with a family and college education. I was volunteering on Democratic campaigns and helping get Dems elected to office. (I did this in high school and after I returned from military service.) I wanted to help organize my neighborhood for the Party and asked the Dems to appoint me precinct executive. At the time there were hundreds of PE vacancies. This was before I started the Cincinnati Black Blog. And it was before I ever met with Republican leaders. Mr. Fultz supported my appointment. Boss Burke blocked it.
Burke has a low tolerance for African Americans and only relates to a certain subculture in our race—the Negro. Strong, outspoken, Black people who don’t tighten their butt checks before they speak and/or don’t spend their time trying to figure out how to make white folks feel good about themselves never get supported by Boss Burke. Because I wasn’t a Negro or a sellout, Boss Burke did all he could to block me from becoming a PE. Like I said before (pay attention this time!), once Burke refused to appoint me to the position, I RAN and WON! Boss Burke recruited a guy to run against me and sent letters out to every registered voter in my precinct telling them to vote for my opponent, but, because my neighbors knew me and supported me, I whipped Burke’s boy on election day. Petty Burke did all he could to stop me from organizing my community. For him it was about personalities, not what’s best for the Party.
This is a lie. But it is irrelevant. The Party doesn’t treat Black people inside the Party (minus sellouts and Uncle Toms like Robert Richarson, Jr., Darren Tolliver, et al.) because of me.
Well, actually the Party’s refusal to endorse me in 2004 was mostly about race. The Party’s bosses think the 1st District seat belongs to somebody, anybody, white. So, they’ve run Cranley (2x), Harris (2x), and Qualls against Chabot, but refuse to consider running a Black candidate. Oh, they’ll talk forever about how their reasons for doing this are because the Westside is full of white racists who will never vote for a Black Democrat (I don’t believe this) but this is just an excuse for their racism.
White racists in the local Party are out of step with Dems in other parts of the country, and with the voters. Since when do Dems oppose civil rights? Pickets? Boycotts? Last time I checked, labor is one of the Dems main demographic blocks and they use pickets, boycotts, and arrests all the time. But its interesting to see you make this statement because it brings up a good point: Brian Garry, a white guy, was a pro-boycott activist and has been arrested several times. How is it that he got endorsed by the Dems for City Council if these qualities disqualify someone from receiving the Party’s support.
Finally, if you think your insult and false claim that I have an “absolute lack of professional achievment” bothers me, you are wrong. Everytime you and the rest of my enemies try to sell this line of crap it blows up on your faces. I don’t have anything to prove. The people know what I’ve done. And one look at my resume reveals that I graduated from one of the best schools in the country—Walnut Hills; served in the military and travelled the world; went to college; raised a family; volunteered in my community; served in leadership positions in numerous civil rights organizations; paid my dues in the Party despite being fought at every turn; ran for Council once and despite having no money and active opposition from the Dems, Republicans, and Charterites still managed to get over 13,000 votes; brought leadership to the civil rights boycott of Cincinnati and helped get nearly every demand met. I’ve helped change the course of history in Cincinnati. I haven’t turned 40 yet; but I’ve done more in my lifetime than most people will do in 80 years.
True… no… wait a minute… what plight are you talking about? I don’t have a plight. I’m doing just fine. I don’t need the Party. If the Party was smart, they’d be trying to get me and everybody else to join or remain. Let me make this point clear: the Party’s mistreatment of Blacks isn’t because of me.
Quit lying. I never said or implied that all Blacks in the Party are Uncle Toms. What I’ve acknowledged is that several Blacks in the Party have decided that the only way to keep the Party’s support is by selling out and acting like Uncle Toms.
I think I’ve already shown that you don’t pay attention. I don’t want the Party to give me anything, including “a formal role.”
Democrats pretend to be the “big tent” party. They aren’t. They’ve become snobs, elitists, and racists. Your comments show this. Todd Portune’s and David Pepper’s vote to increase the sales tax to build a new jail shows this. And Greg Harris has shown this by watching the Dems wrong Black people and doing nothing about it. Harris is a coward.
14 Jun 2007 at 11:39 am | #
Ummm yeah nukegal you have the wrong Monica Williams…
1. I happen to be a registered Democrat and have been since arriving in Cincinnati more than 15 years ago.
2. The fact that any particular ward may have its necessary precinct executives does not negate the fact that there remains several vacancies and the need to fill these vacancies should be more than obvious, however for reasons that are not entirely clear I have been denied the opportunity to serve in that capacity.
3. It seems that you have some unresolved issues with Dale Mallory of which I can only suggest that you either seek counseling, inform him of your chagrin and then move on.
Finally, from your last statement I can only assume that you are one of the CityLink haters, therefore your statement begs the question does the extent of your willingness to help the neighborhood get back on its feet limit itself to further gentrification of the West End at the expense of many of its long term residents???
14 Jun 2007 at 11:52 am | #
nukegal
I know Monica R. Williams. She is a friend of mine. Me and my family have been invited into her home many times. She doesn’t live in the 17th Ward and never has. You’ll have to find something else to slime her with.
Oh, really. Then how do you explain State Senator Eric Kearney’s PE and State Senate appointments. (I’m guessing you hold political appointments to the same or to a higher standard than PEs.) Isn’t it true that prior to him being appointed State Senator he was a registered Independent?
Even if Monica did live in Ward 17, which she doesn’t, that still wouldn’t stop the Party from appointing her PE in some other precinct. Boss Burke does this all the time for his friend, cronies, and butt lickers. How many of the PE appointments done right before the vote on Jeff Berding lived in the precinct they were appointed to?
Get the wax out of your ears! Comparing a member of the Mallory family or Kearney or Rucker to an average Black person makes you look foolish. A better comparison is any Black person who isn’t from a political family or a lawyer or rich or a kissass to an average white person. I’ve been around long enough to have seen white boys and girls waltz into the Party with limited or no skills or no education or no experience and get a job, or get support, or basically get whatever they want. Its not the same for Blacks. What qualified Greg Harris to be the Party’s executive director in 1998 or whenever you claim he was appointed to that position? What about Chandra (sp?) Levy? What about Todd’s old flunkie David Schaff? Before he hooked up with Todd what were his qualifications? Right off the top of my head I could probably name a dozen white boys and girls who had no education or skills and hadn’t paid any dues but got hooked up by the Party.
14 Jun 2007 at 04:18 pm | #
Nate is right. Todd Portune, Greg Harris and David Pepper hate black people. Goddamn racists! Thank you for convincing me Nate. Your powers of persuasion are amazing.
14 Jun 2007 at 05:05 pm | #
<i>”...Comparing a member of the Mallory family or Kearney or Rucker to an average Black person makes you look foolish....”
They seem average to us !
The only one looking ‘foolish’ is the separatist who hide behind a feel sorry for me/us entitlement mentality, PERIOD !
So, you don’t recognize any leaders unless they are: ‘black like me’ ?
The public can judge for themselves where the foolishness rests.
You win:
You are a poor little black boy, that the big bad Dem white man plots each and every day to keep down because you want other poor little black boys to become successful:
Unless, they actually DO !
14 Jun 2007 at 05:25 pm | #
“...What about Chandra (sp?)”
We think, Chandra was a volunteer and PE.
There was an application process. She applied along with other individuals.
There was a selection committee.
Chandra was chosen, unanimously.
During her rein under Burke’s guidance and leadership they helped changed the State House, the US Senate, the US Congress, the County Commission, etc.
Her leadership in Hamilton County was recognized by state officials and was hired to provide leadership for fair and balanced elections.
WE THINK THEY MADE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE !
By the way NATE, At $75,000, Alisa Reese was an EXCELLENT CHOICE, as well !
Not certain where she lives though !
Perhaps, she could give you a tour ?
14 Jun 2007 at 07:38 pm | #
Yes, Chandra, was qualified, as was Harris, well educated, volunteered extensively for the Party, precinct exec, and an experienced adminstrator having run a non-profit. So much for “limited or no skills or no education or no experience.”
Also Nate, most people don’t brag that they “went to college” if they didn’t graduate. They don’t brag about the military if they were discharged. DO YOU EVER LOOK IN THE MIRROR?! You are a 40-something man who runs around calling other people names (racist! coward! etc.) Havea you ever matured beyond the 4th grade?
Can you maybe shut up and read a book or something?! Your a joke!
14 Jun 2007 at 08:35 pm | #
3517.02 Controlling committees of major or intermediate political party.
All members of controlling committees of a major or intermediate political party shall be elected by direct vote of the members of the party, except as otherwise provided in section 3517.05 of the Revised Code. Their names shall be placed upon the official ballot, and, notwithstanding division (B) of section 3513.23 of the Revised Code, the persons receiving the highest number of votes for committeepersons shall be the members of those controlling committees. Each member of a controlling committee shall be a resident and qualified elector of the district, ward, or precinct that the member is elected to represent.
All the members of such committees shall be members of the party and shall be elected for terms of either two or four years, as determined by party rules, by direct vote at the primary held in an even-numbered year. Except as otherwise provided in section 3517.02 of the Revised Code, candidates for election as state central committee members shall be elected at primaries in the same manner as provided in sections 3513.01 to 3513.32 of the Revised Code for the nomination of candidates for office in a county. Candidates for election as members of the county central committee shall be elected at primaries in the same manner as provided in those sections for the nomination of candidates for county offices, except as otherwise provided in sections 3513.051 and 3517.02 of the Revised Code.
15 Jun 2007 at 06:08 am | #
truer words were never spoken....
15 Jun 2007 at 08:29 am | #
Some people just don’t get it.
Working backwards… I’ve got a few years before I turn 40, fool. Try READING before commenting… I was honorably discharged because I completed my tour of duty. EVERYONE who gets out of the military is discharged, fool. Try READING before commenting. How did I get this diploma and my degree if I didn’t graduate, fool? If you don’t know what you are talking about, don’t comment.
15 Jun 2007 at 08:30 am | #
Translation: black people who are accomplished, don’t engage in character assassination, and who are collaborative, are Uncle Tom “negros.” Examples: Nathaniel Jones, Cecil Thomas, etc.
People like Nate, untrustworthy and rude, with little educational or professional acheivement, are models of what Blackness should be.
15 Jun 2007 at 08:33 am | #
Monica:
My apologies, the voter file that I have access to on this computer only has half of Hamilton County in it and the only “Monica Williams” listed lives in the 17th Ward. What Ward do you live in?
As to being a CityLink hater - absolutely. Have you done any homework on that facility? Do you like “transitional housing” that involves a big room for men next to a big room for women with no windows on the second floor of a manufacturing facility? What kind of housing is that? Sounds like a poorhouse to me. And they want to use it for drug treatment and early prison release. Add a daycare center on the first floor and run it by volunteers from the suburbs and you have a recipe for absolute disaster.
Are for concentrating poor people in a warehouse so the white do-gooders from suburbs can transform them? Sounds a little like Dr Seuss to me.
I’ve been to many public meetings with long-term residents of the West End, most of whom happen to be black. They are the ones who stood up against CityLink way back in November 2005. They are the ones who want to create a safer place for their children and grandchildren. They are the ones who feel like the city is dumping on them again with CityLink. Is making the city safer for black children considered gentrification?
Dale Mallory is street punk who rode his family’s name into the Statehouse. There is still an open criminal investigation into his draining the West End bank account after the Community Council had to throw him out over inside dealings on CityLink (which were against the Community Council rules). His Statehouse wages are garnished to pay an old debt and his 2006 ethical financial disclosure states no assets, no liabilities. Got issues with him yet or is this the kind of “representative” you want for Cincinnati?
15 Jun 2007 at 08:44 am | #
This thread has taken an interesting turn and I think it demonstrates what’s wrong with the Party.
1. They don’t listen to Black people unless we are saying something they want to hear.
2. When they can’t explain why Boss Burke has done something to a Black person (i.e., Sam Malone, Ken Anderson, Christopher Smitherman, Monica R. Williams, Eric Wilson) or the Black community (sued to stop Affirmative Action in the city, supports unlimited eminent domain), they attack the people asking the questions. They want the people asking the questions to shut up and read a book or something because they know that if we keep highlighting what they are doing it will have an impact on the Party.
3. There is a huge double standard. Most Black people aren’t college graduates; aren’t military veterans; and don’t volunteer in their community or for the Democratic Party. I happen to know that Sam Malone is a Navy vet, but he wasn’t good enough for the Party. Ken Anderson is a college graduate, but he wasn’t good enough for the Party. So, if you are Black your education, military service, and voluntering aren’t good enough to get you accepted by Boss Burke and his boys. But you don’t need a college education, military service, or any history of volunteerism for the Party if you are white. The standard applied to whites—we welcome everyone—ought to be applied to everyone.
15 Jun 2007 at 10:30 am | #
comment #36:
Did you just elevate Cecil Thomas to the level of high intelligence?
And what is so bad about any of Greg Harris’ ideas? This strand has gone haywire. Is it because Harris answered squarely Moncia’s question?
Do people have a problem with whites trying to respect the ideas of blacks?
15 Jun 2007 at 11:11 am | #
*****
“...Do people have a problem with whites trying to respect the ideas of blacks?...”
NO !
We didn’t hear any ‘blacks’ ideas, only complaints !
We heard a political motivated white candidate speaking about what might be best for blacks.
We tried to point this out, and then it became haywire personal attacks from all parties.
This issue is important, we need to come together on it.
In our humble oppinion, the community needs to present a plan with their own leadership and present that proposal to the party.
REACHING OUT IS A TWO-WAY STREET !
15 Jun 2007 at 12:37 pm | #
"REACHING OUT IS A TWO-WAY STREET !”
Freedom Fighter, that is such a weak argument. The African American community is a key part of your party’s base and yet they don’t even stand up to make sure their votes are counted even when it’s in your party’s best ineterests like 2000 and 2004.
Why can’t the Democrats have their events in the African American community? It’d be free and more conveinient for an important part of your base that is always ignored by the party.
African Americans are tired of Democrats supporting the War on Drugs that’s really a War on the Poor. More young black men in jail than in college and unDemocrats have failed to do anything about it because Clinton sent all the good paying jobs overseas with NAFTA.
They’re tired of Democrats slashing the health and human services budget and giving us welfare reform that puts many children at risk.
Their tired of being locked up disproportiantely under Pepper and Cecil’s Thomas’ draconian marijuana ordinance and their tired of Todd Portune pushing the jail tax every year when he knows what they think about it.
They’re angry that oPortune tried to have a special election because he knew their base likely wouldn’t turn out for it.
They’re tired of lip service and being taken for granted. They get taken every time, but they’re not going to take it anymore. The unDemocratic party better wake up because African Americans in Cincinnati are going Green.
Vote Green 2007!
15 Jun 2007 at 03:01 pm | #
Dean - Right on!!!
And what is so bad about any of Greg Harris’ ideas? This strand has gone haywire. Is it because Harris answered squarely Moncia’s question?
Do people have a problem with whites trying to respect the ideas of blacks?
15 Jun 2007 at 03:14 pm | #
"We heard a political motivated white candidate speaking about what might be best for blacks.”
No, he spoke about what might be best for the Democratic Party, and it just so happens that it would be best for the Democratic Party to outreach more aggressively to the Black community. For you to challenge this point shows how clueless you are about the Party’s urban base. I think the party needs to get out in the community in general, but with a specific effort to (as Harris suggests) conduct meetings in black neighborhoods (not just your beloved Oakley), walk business districts in black neighborhoods, conduct town meetings, and recruit more blacks into leadership positions by going to where “they” meet (churches, NAACP meetings, etc).
Your alias “Freedom Fighter” is really a misnomer. I think you are fighting for an organizing model that is anything but inclusive or liberating.
15 Jun 2007 at 03:56 pm | #
Soon he’ll be wanting to bring in those loveable child molesters and cop killers as well...as soon as that happens his democratic Utopia will be complete!
15 Jun 2007 at 04:21 pm | #
Please note neither Nate nor myself turned the thread in the direction that it is currently headed. While Greg Harris took a stab at my question he did not address the core issue...that being Black folks are consistently left out of the decision making process of the party many of the Black folks who operate within the party are really the same type of person, for the most part. They lack courage and conviction. Therefore the party continues to operate to the detriment of its black constituents. Which is why a council person can seek to enact legislation which is not conducive to the Black community and that person or persons can be endorsed by the party through means that did not appear to be completely correct.
15 Jun 2007 at 06:33 pm | #
*****
<i>”....The unDemocratic party better wake up because African Americans in Cincinnati are going Green....”
Oh please !
That sounds moldy !
So, please enlighten us:
How many candidates, what positions, and what are their names ?
What are the names of the green endorsed municipal judicial candidates ?
TALK IS CHEAP !
15 Jun 2007 at 08:22 pm | #
Dean
I disagree that Harris squarely answered Monica’s question. Maybe that’s because the question isn’t so clear to everyone.
The question, at least as I understood it, had to deal with how the Party deals with Blacks inside the Party. I’d say that includes how the Party recruits people to join the Party, in any capacity, including as precinct executives, or volunteers, or paid workers. So, there are three issues here:
1. Recruitment - How are people brought into the Party? What steps are taken by the Party to identify Black people and recruit them into the Party? Is there a different set of rules for white people as it relates to them being welcome into the Party at all levels, especially at the lowest level as precinct executives? Is Boss Burke running the Party like Jeff Cramerding runs the Charter Committee—using his power to attack and keep out Black people he doesn’t like?
2. Retention - Once Black people join the Party, how are they treated?
3. Advancement - Excluding Black doctors, lawyers, and “professionals,” and Uncle Toms who kiss Boss Burke’s butt, how are Blacks treated when they want the Party to support them for office? What happens when a well-qualified Black person wants to run for office but a lesser-qualified person also wants to run?
Now, having said that, I don’t disagree with any of the points made by Harris. But they don’t address Monica’s question. The one that comes closest is point #5.
I totaly agree with this idea. This would be a great way to recruit Blacks and turn them from being Democratic voters into being members of the Party. In addition to the postcards and automated calls, I’d suggest advertising in the Black media. Why aren’t the Dems already doing what Harris suggests? Because Boss Burke knows that if Black people ever had a chance to tell him what they think of him and the local Democratic Party he’d get his ass handed to him. Plus, then he’d have to explain why the people who attended the meeting and expressed interest in being appointed precinct execs never got appointed.
Another good idea. But it doesn’t address the issue.
How about this. I think there are 26 Wards in Cincinnati. (I know we are talking about a county party, not a city one, but I’m focused on the city right now.) There are 52 weeks in a year. Why not have a Party meeting every other week—one in every precinct. Put the ward chair to work and make him/her actually do their job, part of which is going out into the ward and spreding the Party’s message (whatever that is). The focus of the meeting would be to tell people what the Party is—mission, vision, goals, focus—and explain to them how to become part of the Party. I imagine there are a lot of people who live in this city and have voted Democrat for years but have never been invited to a meeting of the Party.
Agree. But, again, this doesn’t address the issue. I’d also add that it kind of shows why people like Greg Harris don’t get it. Why should elected officials just walk in the neighborhood business districts? The Party needs to quit focusing on certain types of people—business owners. The sad fact is, most people rarely, if ever, set foot inside their neighborhood business district. Take Avondale, for example, which has 3 major business districts—Avondale Town Center, Burnet Avenue, and Reading Road/MLK. These business districts are virtually deserted.
I agree with Greg’s last two points.
Getting back to my 3 points, let me share why these areas are a problem.
Recruitment. Boss Burke is more interested in maintaining power than he is in growing the Party or doing what’s in the best interest of the Party. Just suppose new faces were recruited into the Party and they didn’t like the shitty job Burke does. Well, they’d toss Burke out on his ass!
Right now, the Party has virtually no mechanism for recruiting new Black people. So, old people (not necessarily old in age, but old as in time in the Party) stay around and the status quo reigns. Boss Burke likes it that way.
Now is a good time to point out that the Party is made up of precinct executives. The only thing most of them do is show up at the bi-annual meeting and vote on who is going to be party chair. The election is rigged before hand. There is no discussion; no rational examination of the chair’s performance; or anything like that. After they vote to keep Burke in his position as boss, they leave and do nothing to organize their community. And nobody gets on their case because they might get mad at the leadership and vote them out. Meanwhile, you have lots of Black people who will tell you that they are Democrats, but don’t realize that, at least legally, they have no say in who leads the Party.
The Party works to get white people in the Party. (Its not enough, but it does happen.) They go to college campuses. They have white political candidates bring them names of people who volunteer on their campaigns. The unions always make sure they have a certain percentage of PE positions. (Did I mention that in addition to being college educated, a military vet, and a leader in several civil rights organizations, I was also once a union official? None of that mattered to Boss Burke and his band of white supremacists.) Once a white person gets in the Party, it is no problem for them to get their friends and family members appointed PE.
I’ve shared how the Party fought to keep me out. And Monica has shared how the Party refuses to appoint her PE. We aren’t alone. I have already named other Black people who’ve had the same problem—none of them are connected to me. There are many more that I haven’t named. Tim Burke has a problem with Black people.
Retention. Once Black people get in the Party, they are treated like slaves. Whenever the Party needs volunteers, they call the Blacks. When they need votes, they call the Blacks. The Party works Black people and takes from them. But white kids are given JOBS. They pay white kids to be the party’s executive director. (How old was Greg in 1998? How old was Chandra when they gave her the job of executive director?) They hook them up with jobs as paid campaign coordinators. They also give white kids training so that when the Party runs out of hookup, they can go get a job somewhere else.
Nothing is done to keep Black people in the Party.
Advancement. If you are Black and not an elite or an Uncle Tom and decide you want to run for office and want the Party’s support, you are in for a rude awakening (especially if a white boy, even if he is less qualified that you, wants to run)! What do I base this on? For starters, Laketa Cole, Sam Malone, Christopher Smitherman, Stephanie Dumas, Charles Sanders, Eric Wilson, Ken Anderson, and myself.
- Laketa Cole spent years working for Dems at City Hall and in Congress. She volunteered on campaigns and helped the Party. But when she stepped out and asked them to endorse her 2001 run for Council, Boss Burke showed his white ass and told her to sit her Black ass down and shut up. Some people would like to forget this, but Laketa ran in 2001 as an Independent. And who did the Dems endorse—Lawra Baumann, Jane Anderson, David Pepper, and John Cranley. Cranley had run for Congress and seemed like a progressive guy. He probably deserved the endorsement. Jane Anderson was a college professor and longtime Party activist. She probably deserved it. Baumann and Pepper didn’t pay dues, they bought their endorsements. (Well, 5/3 Bank bought Laura’s and P&G bought Pepper’s.)
- Navy veteran Sam Malone went to Boss Burke before he went to the GOP and asked for the endorsement. If I remember right, Malone had also paid his dues by volunteering on numerous campaigns. Burke told him NO. The rest is history. Malone jumped ship, got with the GOP and was elected.
I don’t need to do the rest of the stories. The picture is clear to anyone who knows the names.
People can try to make this about me, or try to dismiss what I’m saying, but the Black community watches and remembers. And no one, including Sid, Freedom Fighter, Nukegal, or SW can deny that what I’ve said is true. There is a reason Blacks all over the country are being heavily recruited to turn Republican or go independent. And there is a reason lots of Blacks are listening. (White Dems should thank God for Barack Obama. But I bet they’ll slime him instead.)
As far as I’m concerned, Greg Harris is a moral midget. He has been around while Blacks were being mistreated and whites were being given priviledged treatment and said nothing.
15 Jun 2007 at 10:02 pm | #
Hey Nate, how well would you say the Democrats treated Stephanie Dumas?
16 Jun 2007 at 02:54 am | #
I really think Greg Harris should not have touched this issue at all. He makes a good faith effort to describe ways the Party can get out into the community and recruit black voices and black participation, and the result is insults and ridicule. He does nothing to help himself, and now has folks like Justin Jeffree, Nate, and others talking about how “clueless” he is.
Harris--don’t engage these folks. It’s never a winning situation. Nate and his followers aren’t interested in Party-building; they whine, lob insults, etc. Folks like Jeffre pander to them so they can feel self-righteous.
Again, let this be a lesson. You are only setting yourself up for ridicule, however undeserved.
Your ideas for the Party are good ones, but as you see by these blog comments, that’s really besides the point.
As for Dumas, does anyone not remember that she failed to fill out the endorsement questionairre or participate in endorsement interviews?! She got up at the endorsement meeting and whined that she didn’t get the messages. I guess she should’ve received special treatment? Even Nate showed up fo rhis endorsement interviews when he wanted to run for Congress in 2004 as a Democrat (which, btw, is the real reason he hates Harris.)
16 Jun 2007 at 07:01 am | #
Comment 47 by Nate was thoughtful, and it raised great points. If Greg’s engagement with “these folks” brought such ideas into a conversation, what is so bad about that? He was hardly ridiculed.
I don’t think comment 47 comes across as hating Harris whatsoever.
I just, for the first time, read every word of every comment here. And now I get the issue. When Monica first asked the question, I thought she was talking about elected Democrats disenfranchising black voters.
But really, I think now she was asking about Democratic Party leadership disenfranchising black Democrats who have tried to be involved in the party.
Greg’s response matches the first one, but not the second.
16 Jun 2007 at 07:48 am | #
Before anyone takes Nate too seriously, I ask that there be full disclosure regarding his relationship to the Mallory Crime Cabal.
Has Nate ever taken a shot at Dale Mallory, the deadbeat druggie thug that Burke and Pappa Bill sent to the 32nd seat with no qualifications?
Nate went to total warfare with the folks that impeached Dale, those that smoked out his EZ corruption, his primary foe and his Republican foe. He went to war with homophobia rhetoric against Pepper. Not once did he ever hint that manly Mark was on the down low.
I don’t give a rat’s ass about the gay issue......But Nate sure does. He calls all his enemies child abusers and homos.
He looks the other way on the sordid Mallory story… 3M, poppa Bill, Dale et. al.).
Dale steals from his community and sells them out. He sues them, the CPD and Si’s boys. These suits and CPD investigations cost the taxpayers a fortune......and Dale LOST.
Nate prepared these bogus suits.
Nate was Dale’s legal rep at the court hearing when Ken Lawson was too drugged out to show up.
Nate spends waaaay too much time pimping the Mallorys and trashing anyone that reveals the truth.
What is the Mallory Mafia paying Nate?????????????
When Nate is on the jail issue, he seems semi reasonable.
(notice that he lets the Mayor be silent on this wedge issue.....more cover for a Mallory)
When he tries to defend thugs like Dale and lawpooch and the countless Mallory wrongdoings.......he proves that he is a sellout whore to their corruption.
16 Jun 2007 at 07:57 am | #
Thank you for stopping by, old “Impeach Mallory” blogger. But what is your point? Can you make one relative to this topic without going on a Dale4Sale rant? Or, can you focus your rant to something sensible?
16 Jun 2007 at 08:11 am | #
Dean--was Harris responding to your inquiry “about elected Democrats disenfranchising black voters,” or directly to Monica’s questions? It could be that his comments were a response to your framing of the issue, as oppossed to Monica’s.
Harris is called an elitist and a “moral midget,” yet you say he is “hardly ridiculed.” What constitutes ridicule in your universe?
16 Jun 2007 at 08:29 am | #
He was responding to Monica’s question, which I framed as I think we both understood it.
Harris is being criticized. It’s not like there is nothing to the criticism—in other words, it’s not like Nate is just name-calling with nothing else to it.
I just don’t think a politician can be offended by a phrase like “moral midget.” If so, get out of politics.
16 Jun 2007 at 08:59 am | #
Ok, so you’re saying that Nate put “moral midget” in context. What’s the context for the insult? I’ve read Nate’s coments, and can’t figure it out why Harris is a “coward” and “moral midget.” You enjoy defending him, so please elaborate on this defense.
As you say, “it’s not like there is nothing to the criticism.” So please elaborate on why the Cincinnati Beacon validates this attack on Harris.
16 Jun 2007 at 09:35 am | #
Dean,
The point is:
Nate is making some reasonable points regarding the jail.
Nate is trashing Burke....but protecting the Mallorys.
What are the Mallory positions on the jail?
Do Mallorys get a free ride on this wedge issue because Nate is paid by them to trash everyone else and build up the tarnished Mallory image?
Pay attention to Nate’s rantings......They always protect the Mallory Mafia.
Outing the Mallory jail position will expose them to this issue as most others in public office have already been. The Mallorys want to take the cowardly route as usual and hide their position on the jail tax.
I expect Dale wants a great jail because that will be his retirement home.
16 Jun 2007 at 09:59 am | #
I need to add one more point to the list of problems Blacks face inside the Party. In all too many cases, white candidates get more support from the Party than do Black candidates.
Here’s an example. You’ve got two 1st term state reps—one Black, one white. Both are in tough re-election campaigns. What you’ll see in almost every instance is the white candidate gets hooked up with money, organization, and connections. They have doors opened for them. The Black candidate is left hanging.
Black Dems do a lot of grumbling and complaining behind the scenes, even though they don’t like to do it publicly for fear of being attacked and labelled. (That’s what the white Dems are trying to do to me on this thread.) Were the Dems to hold a meeting where they put this issue on the table they would try to pack the room with a bunch of Negro sellouts to pretend everything is alright. But if they actually listened with an ear toward healing old wounds the Party would be much better.
16 Jun 2007 at 11:47 am | #
.
“...In all too many cases, white candidates get more support from the Party than do Black candidates....”
Once again Nate, you distort the facts.
Why not investigate how much was spent on black municipal judicial candidates compared to the white judicial candidates in 2004 !
We may be a little off, but it was close to 10 to 1 in favor of black candidates.
16 Jun 2007 at 11:54 am | #
In Re to Comment 49:
I think it is commendable that Harris did engage in discussion on this issue. It shows to some degree, his leadership skills regarding issues that others seem spend much effort avoiding.
As far as outreach in the black / minority communities--are you kidding! How much more could Harris do?
16 Jun 2007 at 12:08 pm | #
.
“...How about this. I think there are 26 Wards in Cincinnati. (I know we are talking about a county party, not a city one, but I’m focused on the city right now.) There are 52 weeks in a year. Why not have a Party meeting every other week—one in every precinct. Put the ward chair to work and make him/her actually do their job, part of which is going out into the ward and spreding the Party’s message (whatever that is). The focus of the meeting would be to tell people what the Party is—mission, vision, goals, focus—and explain to them how to become part of the Party. I imagine there are a lot of people who live in this city and have voted Democrat for years but have never been invited to a meeting of the Party...”
This is an EXCELLANT IDEA !
Can we do a market sample ?
Can someone from the black community get one Ward chairperson to arrange a spot and date.
WE WILL DO THE ROBO_CALL INVITATION FOR FREE !
Give enough advance notice to spead the word though.
We can go more into how many calls a day in private meetings.
Don’t look for mailer funding though, we don’t think the money is there. Maybe though ?
16 Jun 2007 at 12:50 pm | #
to message 56:
I think the Mayor’s half brother the judge Wm. Jr.
came out for the jail tax.
That tells me all Mallorys are for the tax.
Yes, it seems odd that Nate will fight all those taxers EXCEPT the Mallorys.
16 Jun 2007 at 02:21 pm | #
Justin
Hey Nate, how well would you say the Democrats treated Stephanie Dumas?
Like crap!
16 Jun 2007 at 02:54 pm | #
RA
RA wrote:
Libraiangrrl wrote:
This is about more than just outreach.
Its already been explained on this thread that Harris was the Party’s executive director, their endorsed candidate for Congress twice, and a precinct executive. Harris has witnessed Black people being mistreated and said or done nothing about it. Anyone who sits around and does nothing while other people are being mistreated is a moral midget and a coward.
Even worse than saying or doing nothing, Harris joined in and profitted from the mistreatment. Harris could’ve, at any point, refused to cooperate and/or take the money and hookups.
If the stuff on this thread is true, Harris was 27-28 years old in 1998 when he was given a job as executive director of the Party. Are you people telling me his skin color had nothing to do with this hookup? Are you telling me this guy was the best qualified person for the job? If so, based on what? I’m suggesting that he wasn’t the best qualified and that this demonstrates how the Party treats young white kids.
Some of the instances I’ve mentioned wherein Black people were dogged out by the Party happened while Harris was the executive director! In fact, I’m pretty sure Harris was in charge when Sam Malone was told that he didn’t have what it took to get the Party’s endorsement.
So after Harris gets the hookup in 1998 (notice how RA describes it as stepping in above as if Harris did the Party a favor), he bombs out and does a terrible job.
But, that doesn’t stop the Party from endorsing him to run for Congress in 2002! Again, he isn’t the best choice but he is white and favored by Boss Burke. He goes on to get crushed by Chabot, raise very little money, and show that he hasn’t a clue about running an effective political campaign organization.
Although he failed as executive director and 2002 candidate, the Party endorsed him again in 2004.
I may be doing a poor job of explaining this, but I’m saying that Harris is sort of a poster child for what’s wrong with the Dems. He shows how they treat whites. The Dems hooked Harris up in 1998 with a job and a fancy title. He did a bad job but they make it like him getting paid to do a job was a sacrifice. Then they ignore his poor job performance and endorse him for Congress. A lot of Black Dems would’ve run in 2002 and wanted to run. He gets beat. But the Party endorses him again in 2004.
16 Jun 2007 at 03:05 pm | #
Are we back to judges and judicial candidates, again!? Dude, wake up and realize that while these people are important they are not the only people who exist in the Party. You are about as bad as the goofballs who only want to talk about the Mallory family, as if they are the only family in Cincinnati.
But to your point, I think the Dems endorsed 7 candidates in 2004. One candidate, William Mallory, Jr., ran unopposed. One candidate, Cheryl Grant was an incumbent. The other 5 candidates—Fanon Rucker, Martha Good, Jonathan Dameron, Ted Berry, and Jerry Metz were challengers. Rucker and Berry are Black. Are you saying the Party spent 10 times more money on Rucker’s and Berry’s campaigns than they did on 2 of the 3 white challengers’ campaigns?
16 Jun 2007 at 04:01 pm | #
Nate, the party endorsed Cranley in 2004. I think Harris is a good candidate and more progressive than most. What black candidates wanted to run in 2000? I’m not saying their weren’t any, I just don’t know who and would like to know.
I will say that you should give Harris some credit for trying to address the issue even if you don’t think it’s enough or he’s perfect, is anybody?
I think his ideas for having meetings in the comunity are good and he’s helping to continue the dialog about the issue that Monica Williams started. You have a habit of trashing those that largely agree with you. I think the main focus should be on Boss Burke and the other misleaders.
Don’t be so quick to burn bridges with people that are agreeing with you and sympathetic to your cause. Greg Harris alone can’t reform a party that I personally think is unreformable.
16 Jun 2007 at 06:22 pm | #
Nate--the Hamilton County Exec Director isn’t a glam job. Kelly Steiner made like $23k in ‘98, and then Harris came in when she was appointed to head the ODP’s coordinated campaign as interim director and worked fulltime hours making something like $600 per month while also teaching. He did do the Party a favor. He was only there three months, and went back to teaching and grad school right after the election. He had spent the summer volunteering almost fulltime for Qualls’ congressional campaign, and they were so impressed by him that they offered him the job.
In 2002, the Dem’s endorsed candidate, Greg Martin (then head of the Carpenter’s union), dropped out very late, and the Party recruited Greg Harris like in May to run. He had to go on unpaid leave as a non-profit director to run an impossible race. He raised like $25k, and put it all into GOTV for the ENTIRE Dem slate.
Yet you claim this guy hasn’t paid his dues?!
He’s a biilliant policy mind. He has a PhD. He’s quoted in this week’s New York Time’s protesting the closure of a predominatly BLACK early college academy in Dayton. (See Enquirer blog)
In 2002, the Party blackballed Harris for being quoted in the Post and City Beat saying the ward system was broken. He was on the losing side of efforts to reform the Party. You yourself critized Harris for criticizing Mallory in 2005 for taking $12000 in County Party funds and putting it into his own senate acount, and then transefering that money to the mayoral account while he was Party co-chair. Harris said that money was supossed to go to GOTV, not Mark Mallory.
You are making a mockery of someone who has put everything on the line for Democratic politics.
I know Greg well, and he is the closest thing to a Bobby Kennedy liberal we have in this town. I can’t wait until he gets elected to Council. I’ve been 20 years in the IBEW. I hate bullshit artists. I think Harris is the real deal, and I’m glad he’s finally running a race that’s winnable for him
16 Jun 2007 at 08:23 pm | #
“...Are you saying the Party spent 10 times more money on Rucker’s and Berry’s campaigns than they did on 2 of the 3 white challengers’ campaigns?...”
First, most campaigns are self financed and the party gives very little except huge amounts spent for GOTV efforts for all candidates.
Committees or earmarked funds do contribute to campaigns, i.e. judicial election fund, etc.
It may not be 10 to 1, seemed like that, but, technically YES !
In all fairness, some organizations gave and money was allocated toward best efforts for seats.
Those funds did go to African American opportunities, YES!
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16 Jun 2007 at 10:59 pm | #
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“...Hey Nate, how well would you say the Democrats treated Stephanie Dumas?....”
The party treated her well given the options available.
The people knew that the most important thing was to take control of the commission. The people knew that the gop would do anything to defend that position including an ungodly amount of money. (we think 3 mil. for hindlick).
Pepper was well quailfied and he had demonstrated to the people that he could raise major funds.
His family contributed 250,000 est.
Certainly, your not claiming an endorsement would have made a difference in the primary ?
Looks like everyone made the correct decision.
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17 Jun 2007 at 07:57 am | #
Nate needs to quit is blabbering. One might think he is a drug addict too.
Once again Nate makes this all about race. Nothing more. This is so funny because he is the biggest racist of all; against his own race!
“elevated” blacks most of all. It doesn’t matter if they worked hard and got to where they are own, or if they had a “helping hand,” which some do. But what is wrong with that Nate? Didnt Junky Yard Dawg give you a job when no one else would?
To RA and Full Disclosure;
Nate always distorts facts and name calls. Thats his way of being professional, college educated, and active in “his” community. Let’s remember how he treated Alica Reece. He went out of his way to expose any under handed corrupt business her and her family may or may not had been involved in. Yet, he protects (and serves) the Mallorys, and the Beatty Mafia families.
During the race for prosecutor, which is a very high and powerful position, that, if a blcak was eleceted, would have implementeda major change within the black legalcommunity, none other than Nate, slammed Fanon Rucker every chance he got. An example FROM NATE on Rucker;
• As a trustee at Allen Temple A.M.E. and a personal legal representative of Alicia Reece, Fanon actively participated in the largest illegal land grab and displacement of the poor in Hamilton County history at the site formerly known as Huntington Meadows. Fanon and his cohorts bilked the taxpayers out of more than $30 Million and Fanon isn’t about to prosecute these crooks or himself. Fanon has a track record as an attorney and it deserves to be examined.
• As president of the Cincinnati Black Lawyers Association, Fanon failed to help Black lawyers or Black people. When Derick Farmer’s law license was being challenged, Fanon was silent. When Black people were overprosecuted by Mike Allen, Fanon was silent. Fanon has a track record as BLAC president and it deserves to be examined.
• As a prosecutor in Lincoln Heights and Woodlawn, Fanon hasn’t done anything to improve the lives of the people in those villages. He is on record promising to hire more African Americans if elected Hamilton County Prosecutor, but his track record in Woodlawn and Lincoln Heights doesn’t suggest that he will carry through on this promise. We ought examine what Fanon has done in Lincoln Heights and Woodlawn.
In addition to that, Nate slammed Alicia Reece the entire time she ran for Mayor. Here is an excerpt where he was challenging her residency saying she didnt even live in Cincinnati! I think he could have come up with something better than that! He even asked the Justice department to get involved! Here again in this entry, he is attacking the Democratic Party; After his loss at the Board of Elections on yet another dumb tactic of his;
Reported from News sources;
“Local election officials on Friday dismissed a political activist’s residency and voter fraud complaint against Cincinnati mayoral candidate Alicia Reece.”
“The Hamilton County Board of Elections stated that activist Nathaniel Livingston Jr. failed to prove Reece doesn’t live within city limits.”
“After hearing nearly two hours of testimony from both sides in the case, the board voted 4-0 to reject the complaint.”
“Reece, a Democrat who currently is vice mayor, said she felt vindicated by the decision and called the complaint a “smear tactic.”
Nates responses;
“Does Reece ever stop lying? My understanding is that Board member Todd Ward abstained from voting. But even if he didn’t, the Board didn’t say the charges were unfounded, they said they were unproved. I expected Reece would try to spin this as a victory. But no matter how much spin you put on it, the fact remain: 4 members of the Reece family cancelled their voter registration, Integrityg