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Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Facts about Smitherman’s Candidacy
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Photo courtesy of here.
Community members who hate strong Black leadership (including African Americans who also hate strong Black leaders, for reasons almost impossible to fathom) have spent the last several weeks spreading a misinformation campaign about Christopher Smitherman’s upcoming campaign for City Council. Along the way, The Cincinnati Beacon has tried to wade through the campaign season rhetoric—and finally it seems we are getting to the bottom of this whole mess. It seems the anti-Smitherman klan have tried to create the impression that Smitherman was currently breaking the by laws of the NAACP. This cannot be further from the truth. So we present to you language from the by laws, so you can judge for yourself the nature of this contrived controversy.
Any Unit Officer or Committee Chairperson who qualifies to run for public office shall relinquish such office or chair temporarily during the period of such candidacy.
Any Unit Officer or Committee Chairperson who is elected to office shall immediately tender a resignation from such unit or chair to the executive committee of unit which shall, at its next regularly scheduled meeting, vote to accept or reject the resignation. The officer or committee chairperson tendering the same shall make a conscientious examination of the situation and determine wether continued service will be substantially free of conflict and in the best interest of the NAACP. Should the answer to the question be in the affirmative, the officer may continue to serve.
Here’s the deal: when people say Smitherman is required to resign, anyone not familiar with the intimate details of NAACP by laws would think that carries an air of permanence. This hyper-specific detail is how the naysayers breed chaos and confusion. But go ahead; read the by law above. While the candidate will have to tender a resignation, upon the event of winning public office, the executive committee can vote to keep the person anyway!
So, here are some things to remember. Firstly, Smitherman has not registered as an official candidate, and the deadline is not until the end of August. Some may here think that something untoward is happening, but what is the point of deadlines and “official” designations? It is that line in the sand, on one side of which is a recognized campaign, and on the other side of which is not! Smitherman, as of right now, is not an official candidate. He does not yet need to do anything regard his presidency of the NAACP.
For about 60 days, Smitherman will relinquish duties as president to conduct his campaign. When the campaign ends, there are two possibilities: Smitherman loses, in which case he walks right back into the local NAACP presidency; or Smitherman wins, in which case he resigns and the executive committee could decide to keep him anyway.
Those who keep turning this into an either-or situation are guilty of oversimplifying something that isn’t even very hard to understand in the first place.
So that’s our take as of right now. Sure, our positions change as we learn more—but how can anyone find something contrary to the rules in this circumstance? I challenge anyone to make documented arguments. And remember, not liking something does not make it illegal.
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24 Jul 2007 at 04:07 pm | #
I don’t understand why this is so hard to understand either. Nate Livingston, Nathaniel Jones, and the rest of the black anti-Smitherman group are something else. Then they wonder why others laugh at Black people and don’t take us seriously. We don’t need whites or any other races as enemies when we have plenty among ourselves. They are embarrassments to the Black community, but more importantly, to themselves.
I visit Nates blog quite often, but its becoming so disgraceful and embarrassing to know that the blog is written by a so-called black person is disheartening, and I don’t even live in Cincinnati. What kind of crazy, backstabbing, self-hating, Black people live there!!!!!!!!!!!! Do they teach Uncle Tomery in the public schools, because you guys have ALOT of them from what I can see. Just WOW!
24 Jul 2007 at 05:01 pm | #
1. Who says that Smitherman is a ‘strong black leader’? That may be your opinion, but it’s hardly a universal one.
2. “anti-Smitherman klan” Nice try to cast those opposed to Smitherman as racists, especially with the use of the word ‘klan’, meant to be suggestive of the KKK.
3. You use a lot of qualifiers; “official candidate”, “can vote to keep the person anyway”, “could decide to keep him”. Well, he is going to run, so he will have to relinquish his seat with the NAACP. If he wins, they might well throw him out on his ass. On the other hand, they might vote to not let him regain his seat if he looses the election. A lot of people in the the organization dislike him, as do a whole lot of people in this City.
4. Many on your side, including posters at The Beacon had maintained for weeks that Smitherman would not have to relinquish his position no matter what. How’s that for ‘breeding chaos’?
24 Jul 2007 at 05:05 pm | #
I can only take responsibility for what I write. What did I write you’d like me to defend?
24 Jul 2007 at 06:50 pm | #
The membership of the NAACP says Smitherman is a strong black leader. I think the other groups in the two successful coalitions he just led in the past 120 days would agree with them. They all have more credibility than you on the subject Cinycapell.
If the word fits, let them wear it!
The NAACP membership obviously supports him since he is the elected Presdient. He’s grown the organization by more than 50% and raised lots of funds for it in a few months and galvanized the organization with the recent coalitions and historic petition drive.
Smitherman will win!
24 Jul 2007 at 07:13 pm | #
including African Americans who also hate strong Black leaders, for reasons almost impossible to fathom
WTF? Wow. This is soo over the line and so dripping with sarcasm and condescension it’s laughable.
I guess it depends, dear Jason, on one’s definition of “strong Black leader”. Just because a lot of black folks are still on the fence about Smitherman doesn’t mean they’re not willing to give him a chance. Nate is no fan of Smitherman, that much we gather. I’m not a Smitherman fan girl, but I’m not willing to completely write him off either.
You think Smitherman’s great. We get that. But don’t get your panties in a twist just because you “found” this great black guy and you want everybody else that’s black and in Greater Cincinnati to think he’s a great black guy to.
Neither you, nor Nate, nor Smitherman can represent all black folks in Cincinnati. You used to remember that black folks are individuals not this mythical “black community” who all think the same, act the same, vote the same and all jump on the same bandwagons at the same time.
People in these parts have long memories, especially of their own - which is why Strickland is governor now instead of Blackwell. I know it hurt a lot of people to not vote for Ken; but they knew that a vote for Ken was basically an endorsement of George Bush and even for someone as beloved and well-known as Ken, that was pushing things to far.
Likewise, the reasons people are not just jumping behind Smitherman are not IMPOSSIBLE to fathom. I told you not long ago, confidentially, that black folks may not tell YOU what their reasons are, but the reasons are there.
Instead of back-handedly telling black folks they’re clueless for not getting behind your guy, get out there and find out what people’s reasons are that they’re not supporting Smitherman the way you think they should.
In other words: Do what you do best at the Beacon when you have your head out of your ass: Find out what people are thinking, dispel myths and lies as you can and then let people make up their own minds.
24 Jul 2007 at 07:15 pm | #
.
If he has attempted to gather any signatures than he is a candidate.
The question is the appearance of impropriety !
We think that is a no brainer.Apparently, he intends to run and the proper thing to do would be:
Any Unit Officer or Committee Chairperson who qualifies to run for public office shall relinquish such office or chair temporarily during the period of such candidacy.
The key word is QUALIFIES !
We assume he is qualified, but, does qualifies mean the correct number of signatures or does qualifies mean attempting to get enough signature ?
Thus, ethics should prevail and the standard should be appearance of impropriety !
Take for example Pat Fishers recent email today:
Need volunteers to:
1.) Wear campaign T-shirts
2.) Pass out stickers
3.) Get petition signatures
Is their a doubt that fisher is a candidate. What petition signatures does he need ?
Christopher Smitherman SHOULD TEMPORARILY RELINQUISH THE OFFICE, of the NAACP !
.
24 Jul 2007 at 07:19 pm | #
Irrespective of him winning in November, and irrespective of whether the chapter accepts his subsequent resignation, the question is begged: what is he waiting for?
Having told the Business Courier he’s submitted enough qualifying signatures and has only to tender the filing fee, he will be a “real” candidate.
It does seem like he’s having it both ways, keeping Solomon’s baby cobbled together.
It’s an emerging shame that this is what his candidacy, real or otherwise, engenders: navel-gazing and parsing of words instead of substantive debate on his positions and ideas, whatever those may be.
24 Jul 2007 at 07:25 pm | #
I used to read Nate’s garbage but decided I wasn’t missing anything. Apparently nothing has changed. I stopped reading his blog when he ranted on about some nonsense about T.I. and the senseless shooting on the expressway. Of course little warped-minded Nate made some comments in support of the idiots who did the shooting. To understand why he is so hateful, look at him and you’ll see why he has a lot of anger inside. Can you imagine what his little warped mind would say if Barak Obama was local? He is nothing but bad news and people would do good to steer clear of him. The national organization may have been symbolic in burying the N-word but too many are trying their hardest to keep it alive.
Smitherman has done nothing but made positive changes in the NAACP, the city, and the community at-large. He is one in a million and some people are bitterly jealous of him. Thanks to the Beacon for bringing non-biased information to the public.
24 Jul 2007 at 08:02 pm | #
So it’s settled - as soon as Smitherman qualifies himself as a candidate he goes on leave and if he wins he tenders his resignation that can either be accepted or rejected.
But here’s the problem I see - and I like the enthusiasm Smitherman has brought to the organization , though I hate what he did with the referendum- but leadership is not taking office and then being willing to relinquish it within just months. That isn’t fair to members and his lack of loyalty and dedication to the organization apparently takes second chair to his desire for either public service or personal political gains.
I think his candidacy does color his judgment in regards to the NAACP - I personally wonder if the referendum was really in the best interest of his members or just in the best interest of his political career? Otherwise, why did he back it without checking the national NAACP agenda on criminal justice reforms? It served him a lot of media attention he wouldn’t get otherwise. And saying the referendum has nothing to do with the safety plan - well, is bs
24 Jul 2007 at 08:48 pm | #
Speaking as a candidate myself who is still working to get the required 500 signatures, there is a definite point at which a candidate is told they qualify. After they are told they qualify, then they have to formally accept. From Article IX, Section 4 of the Cincinnati City Charter (I put the relevant sentence in bold type):
24 Jul 2007 at 08:55 pm | #
anon2000, you hate what the NAACP and the broad coalition they led did with the referendum. That means you like Portune and Pepper hate giving voters a choice in a major tax increase they just rejected last November. Shame on you and get over it.
Under Smitherman’s leadership the local NAACP has done more in 100 days than the local did in the last two years.
Though the membership and the executive committee took a position against the last jail plan Portune supported, Edith Thrower the former NAACP President, refused to publicly announce their position because of her position on the jail board. That’s a real conflict of interest and why did Todd Portune vote for the Heimlich jail plan?
The referendum was in the best interest of the membership and that’s why they voted to say that it should go to a vote instead of being imposed by two pastey white County Kings. Smitherman couldn’t have made the membership and executive committee act if they didn’t want to. He’s a great leader that represented their stated interests, but he’s not a King that can just impose these things on them.
The referendum said the imposed jail tax is BS!
24 Jul 2007 at 09:00 pm | #
Deborah, read more carefully. That’s not what I wrote. I did not say all African Americans who dislike Smitherman hate strong black leaders. I referred to certain Black people in this town who hate all strong Black leaders.
I just don’t feel like giving said individuals any name recognition right now.
24 Jul 2007 at 09:24 pm | #
FF: You are not the legal authority for deciding who is an official candidate, so stop talking on that point. Period. What don’t you comprehend?
Pat Fischer is not an official candidate. His signatures might not work out for him. He may miss the filing deadline. What is your point?
Urbanists: I agree there are better issues. So why is everyone fixated on this?
24 Jul 2007 at 09:28 pm | #
Good research Dean. Nothing is better than digging up the facts.
24 Jul 2007 at 09:43 pm | #
Dean, you started the shitstorm about Fischer, a person who is not an official candidate for office. Given your current stance, don’t you feel that you jumped the gun on that one? You are looking increasingly foolish here Dean.
NAACP Member, part of the membership of the NAACP says Smitherman is a strong black leader. He narrowly won with a slim majority. That’s hardly a popular mandate.
24 Jul 2007 at 09:57 pm | #
Some are starting to ask me why I complained about Pat Fischer, if he is not an “official candidate.”
Let me explain. The issue is actually quite elementary.
Fischer is not an official candidate. However, he intends to be a candidate, just like Smitherman.
Unlike Smitherman, however, he has caused a non-profit to distribute a newsletter supporting his currently informal campaign.
So the issue is a non-profit supporting someone who intends to be a candidate. I have not seen the Cincinnati NAACP do anything like that.
24 Jul 2007 at 11:54 pm | #
Not everyone who opposes Smitherman is a racist, but you clearly are. Racists like you are an embarrassment to this city. You even embarrass yourself, which is why you post under someone else’s name. The rest of your points aren’t worth bothering with, since your only role here is to stir up trouble.
25 Jul 2007 at 12:01 am | #
Anon2000, aka Jen Winkelman wrote:
Jen, don’t be angry at Mr. Smitherman because he took a leadership in opposing your boss’s undemocratic Sales Tax hike. Smitherman galvanized his organization to give us all the right to vote.
You would have had no problem if Smitherman had allowed the organization to take 2nd chair for your boss David Pepper’s political gains. Just like Pepper supporter Uncle Nathanial Jones does.
It had something to do with the safety plan, but it was a lot more than that. It was about giving us residents back our right to vote. It meant that when 170,000 of us voted NO to raise the Sales Tax, our vote mattered. And that it should take more than 2 arrogant White Democrats to overrule the choices made by 281,000 voters.
25 Jul 2007 at 12:03 am | #
Michael Earl Patton, you’ve got to quit confusing Anon2000 (Jen Winkelman) and Capell’s Impersonator with that factual stuff. You are making their heads spin. It does, at least, show why they’re too pussy to use any part of their real name when they post.
25 Jul 2007 at 12:17 am | #
#8: “Of course little warped-minded Nate made some comments in support of the idiots who did the shooting. To understand why he is so hateful, look at him and you’ll see why he has a lot of anger inside.”
To understand why N8 acts so hateful, you have to look at who his friends and supporters are. N8 hangs with criminals like Howard “The City Hall Killer” Beatty, George “Junebug” Beatty, Dale “That Check Was A Forgery” Mallory, and Ken “I Just Love the Drugs” Lawson. N8 likes to pose as a black activist, but his real job is to paint anyone who shines the light of day on the criminal wrong doing of his pimps, and their friends, as racists. With half of his supporting cast already in serious legal difficulty, is it any wonder the boy is coming a little unglued?
25 Jul 2007 at 12:55 am | #
That’s a fair point Dean. To my knowledge, the NAACP has not endorsed any candidate, Smitherman or otherwise. The Pleasant Ridge Assoc. clearly violated it’s non-profit status.
25 Jul 2007 at 01:24 am | #
Another example of creating an issue out of thin air. Rather than talk about issues that matter. We have become hypnotized with the bullshit they feed us we cannot discuss anything important or relevant. Let’s discuss his position on people’s rights and their assets. The privatization scheme for Fountain Square means the parking rates citywide will be increased because the 3.5 million dollars will be spent and the 1.8 million dollars in annual revenue as well as the jobs will be gone for forty years. You can thank the Mayor, City Council and the thieves at 3CDC for this screwing. Smitherman saved us over 44 million by insisting the deal be shortened from 50 years to 40. Thanks Christopher.
25 Jul 2007 at 03:48 am | #
I’m not Jen Winkleman - I don’t even know who she is- I’m by far, just an outsider.
MEP is right in his interpretation because otherwise, “qualified” could mean just about anyone.
Regarding Smitherman - I couldn’t stand do-nothing-big, Thrower - I loved his agitation concept. (Though his choice of words was stupid) and I really had hoped he would do great work on behalf of the black community. I like him, personally and I still support him (even with his mistake)
But he, himself, said the referendum wasn’t a statement against the Safety Plan, it was a demand for a public voice - fair enough - who can argue that theme (except, if the plan is very, very good, consistent with the NAACP national agenda (heck, he could have and should have become known for the first jurisdiction to implement almost every point of their criminal justice reforms sought nationally)instead he helped to put up a challenge to the reforms the Nat. NAACP is promoting for christ’s sake, then NOT Signing would have been the voice of reason in self governance.
Smitherman picked the wrong side because he picked the wrong issue - it wasn’t about a public vote, it was about getting results - cj reforms folks—- he missed the mark and failed his members and community at large.But we all make mistakes.
Worse, I think he did it for the media attention, empowerment (at a very high costs to others) and his political aspirations. A huge temptation.
But he did prove he was a leader - he just led people down the wrong path - which means he’s very very powerful.
I hope someone at Nat. NAACP has a talk with him and straightens him out instead of talking to Finney the Fink, etc.
So, my question is - will he now use the issue as a campaign slogan and work his campaign or will he be “leading” the vote against or for the Safety Plan on behalf of the NAACP? And how could he possibly differentiate the two: what if membership backs the Plan, how can he run a campaign on his leadership to defeat it?
Conflict of interest - ipso facto - I think I’m going to write the Nat NAACP about his leadership against their adopted agenda - he might be a “rouge” chapter leader and need to be removed by National for working against the NAACP objectives.
The only way out of this quandry (sp?)needs to start now - but he won’t do it - though I think he has the skills to pull it off and be a national hero and example for the NAACP .
So MEP, what office are you running for? I hate your stand on the jail, but I’m in love with you otherwise.
25 Jul 2007 at 04:11 am | #
“Cincyjeff” Capell, What did I say that was remotely racist? What I wrote are facts; what you write is ranting drivel. Whatsamatter Jeff, is not being allowed to blog at work on the taxpayers expense getting to you? Have you been forced to perform your job for a change instead of engaging in partisan hackery while on the County’s time clock?? I certainly hope so.
A word of warning; your workplace computer logs every website you visit, how long you linger there and what you write. Your superiors can (and perhaps have) see how you have wasted countless taxpayers dollars blogging while you are supposed to be working. The republicans don’t control County government anymore Jeff, so your cronies can only give you so much cover these days. Unemployed low-level, mediocre performing civil servants are not in such high demand in todays marketplace. Don’t let your hackery cost you your job or you might have to downgrade from that sweet ‘99 chevy!
25 Jul 2007 at 07:30 am | #
So does that mean you no longer think Fischer violated any rules regarding campaign signs?
http://www.cincinnatibeacon.com/index.php/content/comments/hey_cec_investigate_pat_fischer_please/
25 Jul 2007 at 07:42 am | #
...although I do believe that the city’s community councils need to be reminded that they can’t use community distributions to endorse candidates.
25 Jul 2007 at 08:06 am | #
The campaign signs issue is a bit different.
Political signs for a candidate cannot go up more than 90 days before the election in which the person will appear on the ballot.
This is now a matter of reasoning.
If Fischer ends up NOT being a candidate for November, 2007—then any sign bearing his name would be significantly MORE than 90 days away from a possible election, making it even MORE of a violation.
If you are suggesting that signs should be further restricted until candidates are official, I have no problem with that, either.
25 Jul 2007 at 08:20 am | #
Here’s the rub. You don’t know if the signs were put up and endorsed by Fischer. If it were an official Fischer campaign sign I would agree with you.
But since it was hand painted you can’t determine the person got it from Fischer or that Fischer asked them to do it.
And since it was hand painted and not officially a campaign sign does it violate an individual’s right of expression if they want to put it on their own property?
I know this opens a can of worms allowing candidates to skirt the rules but as discussed, I don’t see how this is a violation by Fischer without more evidence to his hand in it.
25 Jul 2007 at 08:30 am | #
Dean,
Who appoints/chooses/elects the executive committee?
25 Jul 2007 at 09:23 am | #
Racist impersonator, I’m sorry but I don’t work for the County. This might be a good time to inform you that this is the 4th different “Jeff” I’ve been accused of being. I’ve also been accused of being Jeff Hardin, Jeff Eichorn, and Jeff Blair, and now Jeff Capell. You now have me pegged as a county worker but I’m not. Maybe you guys should quit worrying about tying me to every Jeff you know and just stick to issues.
Scratch that, you’ve shown your incompetence on the issues. You’re so embarrassed by your stupidity that you have to use other people’s names when you post. And I probably wouldn’t talk much about county workers using the computer to blogs - your pals who work for David Pepper would have much to worry about in that case.
25 Jul 2007 at 09:48 am | #
Anon 2000-
In addressing your comment in post 23 let me state first of all that you may write to the National NAACP office all you like, please do but understand that the NAACP is a MEMBERSHIP driven organization which means that the MEMBERSHIP drives the local agenda. Clearly there are national agendas as well but they do not and should not take precedence over the desires of the local chapters. You have continually stated that there is a safety plan well I would argue that the plan such that it is put forth by Pepper and Portune is not a safety plan simply because any safety plan worth its salt would include a prevention component. The current plan does not include a prevention component and therefore it is clear that this plan is not about addressing those root causes which may lead a person down the wrong path and thereby lower the numbers of people who actually go to jail. In other words you can dress up a hog in Prada and Gucci but underneath it will still be a pig. So it does not matter that the new jail would include social services and meet the needs of inmates who may require those services. The goal of a safety plan should be more than to just to assuage the fears and consciences of people. A true safety plan would seek to address prevention. You continue to make light of both of the meetings that the NAACP had regarding this issue. Reminding some of us of how arrogant/ignorant some of you are. The facts are clear the local NAACP understood both jail plans. We understood that neither plan sought to meet the needs of the Black community. neither plan addressed our concerns about prevention and root causes. Therefore we did not support either plan and the referendum was an outgrowth of that lack of support. Trust me when I tell you that the message was delivered to Portune loud and clear when he presented the plan to our membership. It was clear that this was a measure that did not have the support of the local NAACP nor the Black community in general, just look at the polling information from the last vote. Black people were not in my opinion necessarily voting against the tax they were voting against the jail and the need for a jail in light of the lack of attention to the need for real jobs, a good education and overall opportunities or lack thereof. We have not been led around by the nose by Christopher Smitherman regarding this issue and frankly I am offended by the inference that we were.
So, my question is - will he now use the issue as a campaign slogan and work his campaign or will he be “leading” the vote against or for the Safety Plan on behalf of the NAACP? And how could he possibly differentiate the two: what if membership backs the Plan, how can he run a campaign on his leadership to defeat it?
I am baffled by the comment above. On more than one occasion people including myself have made it clear that the membership did not back the safety plan as presented by Todd Portune. How difficult is that to understand?? Immediately following his presentation the membership voted and there was almost unanimous support AGAINST the jail plan as presented by Portune. A vote was taken by the membership authorizing the refendum. Hopefully this helps to qualm your concerns as it relates to that matter. Christopher Smitherman as president of the NAACP acted upon and within the direction of the local membership.
25 Jul 2007 at 09:52 am | #
Smitherman appoints members of the executive committee, Anon. The existing members of the executive committee from Thrower’s presidency (the ones who were not removed, about 8 in all) approved Smitherman’s appointments. Smitherman made about 30-34 appointments out of 42 executive committee positions. That’s one of the President’s rights once he’s elected. So if Smitherman’s appointments stick together, then Smitherman will be just fine. Smitherman did his homework and got ahead of the game.
25 Jul 2007 at 11:22 am | #
Back to the issues, I’m still wondering if this NAACP policy has been presented in writing, and shown to be part of their governing documents, or whether it’s just the latest policy someone invented on the spot?
25 Jul 2007 at 12:29 pm | #
CincyCapell #15
Please allow me to share some facts with you regarding the NAACP elections. Smitherman won both elections and the win was not narrow. Even with all of the cheating that the now deceased A. Victor Brown, and Team Thrower engaged in Smitherman won by a large majority both times. There were people like Odell Owens and Judge Nate Jones who voted in the the election who are not even members of the local NAACP chapter. Clearly more of Throwers tactics that back fired on her and others who supported her trickery.
25 Jul 2007 at 12:42 pm | #
This is in response to Anon 23
Smitherman never said Agitate. The often misquoted and fact skipping Enquirer wrote that as the title of one of their articles. Actually State Rep. Yates used this quote in the article not Smitherman.
As far as Smitherman picking the wrong side. I guess that depends on what side you are sitting on. Over 55,000 people believe that he is on the right side. Portune and Pepper picked the wrong issue to come out as their first major initiative. Why would democratic controlled county commissioners come out with a new jail so soon after voters rejected it? Why would this be the first project that Portune would come forward with to the NAACP? These are the wrong issues to come forward with.
25 Jul 2007 at 01:41 pm | #
Freedom Fighter makes an excellent point.
In order to “qualify” to be a candidate for Cincinnati City Council one must reside within the city.
That’s it. Having 500 certified voter signatures on your petitions and paying a filing fee places you on the ballot for the election.
Provided you “qualify” as a candidate you can still be written in, I believe.
Net: Smitherman’s campaign activities aside, he “qualifies” as a candidate as do all City residents which calls into question PRCC’s actions in its newsletter.
Even if you disagree with this line of reasoning, MEP’s citation from the Charter is unequivocable reading in pertinent part “...the election authorities shall notify the person named therein as a candidate…”.
The candidate IS a candidate upon presentation of signatures to certify (not the pulling of petitions necessarily. Dean pulling petitions in Alicia Reece’s name doesn’t count and I’m not one actually can pull petitions in someone else’s name).
Not “real” or “intended” but an actual candidate.
25 Jul 2007 at 02:01 pm | #
.
Thank you MEP for proving our point:
“Speaking as a candidate myself” (emphasis added)
MEP and Smitherman both realize they are candidates.
Thus, appearance of impropriety is the benchmark.
Christopher Smitherman SHOULD TEMPORARILY RELINQUISH THE OFFICE, of the NAACP !
.
25 Jul 2007 at 02:06 pm | #
Journey - thanks for your correction regarding “agitator” - still, I agreed with his plan to raise a little hell, enough of the quiet backroom, yes mas’ser, crap that was going on.
Monica - as to “prevention” - reducing recidivism is a preventative measure, a huge one considering we have a 70% rate of it. And, additional patrols is prevention. Treatment is also.
The big question is; why does the local membership oppose the Nat. NAACP initiatives they’re fighting for across the country? This is a weakness in Smitherman’s leadership - his job is to FIRST educate the community and he failed miserably in that respect or they wouldn’t be opposing the Nat. agenda.
Can someone tell me,what exactly is wrong with more treatment, more job help, policy and practice review by the Commission for reforms, better jail conditions, and kids kept close to home and family rather than sent upstate? These are issues the Nat office supports and pushes (Portune’s plan came right off the NAACP initiatives)
And yes, you’re right, NAACP is membership driven and my guess is the majority of that membership across the country would be appalled by the direction Cincinnati is taking against their approved agenda
25 Jul 2007 at 04:36 pm | #
anon2000, Pepper’s marijuana ordinance didn’t come from the NAACP and it’s a major cause of the alleged overcrowding according to Todd Portune. Pepper and the Democrats on city council still support it though and we’re supposed to trust them with a slush fund cecause they say they are better jailors?
Those programs aren’t helping to keep people who shouldn’t be locked up out of jail. Portune admits that our jails are filled with people that shouldn’t even be there and hasn’t done anything about it. Their plan doesn’t addres the problem at all. We’ve been through the many problems with this plan before and you don’t seem to understan them.
Before I explain anything more to you, can you please explain why Todd Portune voted for the Heimlich jail tax?
25 Jul 2007 at 04:41 pm | #
Anon. 2000
There is a huge difference between addressing the rate of recidivism and addressing the prevention of and the root causes of crime. Surely you are not mentioning additional police patrols as prevention but curiously not mentioning ANY of the root causes such as poverty and the other social ills that plague this county and nation. Those were issues that people such as myself could count on Democrats holding sacred and addressing.
Can someone tell me,what exactly is wrong with more treatment, more job help, policy and practice review by the Commission for reforms, better jail conditions, and kids kept close to home and family rather than sent upstate? These are issues the Nat office supports and pushes (Portune’s plan came right off the NAACP initiatives)
I am not questioning the need for the things mentioned above I am questioning the mentality that suggests that people have to be jailed BEFORE these things are put into place. Imagine what would happen if there were real job programs in place to help draw people out of poverty? Or if people were afforded the proper mental health care BEFORE they were placed within the walls of a jail. Or if wonder of wonders if families were given the necessary support that they need. I do not care where Portune’s intiatives came from I do care that Portune has not addressed the needs of the LOCAL black community, the LOCAL black voters who have consistently supported and voted for him. I care that in the face of overwhelming opposition from the Black community at large he has presented and remained steadfastly in support of this so called “safety plan”.
Lastly once again you refuse to believe that the local membership of the NAACP is well informed and we have chosen to not support an issue that does not support us. What is so difficult to grasp in that concept? Using your logic one would assume when the democrats on the national stage supported the President and his war initiatives that all of the local democrats should have followed suit. Clearly that was not the case and should not have been the case. What we have seen is that the local grassroots democrats have successfully swayed the opinion of the national party leaders. The same holds true for the national NAACP, we are free as a local membership driven organization to pursue a path that will be beneficial to the membership. Do you think that there would be national NAACP board members who would oppose the wishes of local members as it relates to this issue? If so then I challenge you to find one!
One more thing…your arrogance is probably only outweighed
by your pure ignorance.
25 Jul 2007 at 07:51 pm | #
I like to have a phrase, a retort, a pat response ready to throw out when someone that’s boring disagrees with me. Last year, it was, “well then, you must hate America!” This becoming stale and no longer as irritating as it was a year ago I think the Dean has given me a new one. So henceforth, I’ll declare, “well then you must hate strong black leadership.” That’ll shut ‘em up. Who can argue with that? And it’s at least as irritating.
WHAT???? YOU MUST HATE BLACK LEADERSHIP. I like the sound of that.
25 Jul 2007 at 10:03 pm | #
Journeys: 55,000 people signed a petition to have a vote; it doesn’t mean they (we) oppose the tax increase. I signed a petition because I had no reason not to. I may or may not vote in favor of the tax increase.
Monica: I thought “help wanted” ads, completion of K-12 education, and postponing childbearing and rearing until economic self-sufficiency was achieved drew people out of poverty? Jobs programs employ jobs program people and little else.
You know what perpetuates poverty, Monica? Poor people having children. “Support for families”? How about free condoms (available everywhere) and voluntary sterilization compliments of the taxpayers?
And poverty “causing” crime? What an insult to honorable people of little means. How many white collar crimes are perpetrated by poor people?
Maybe the PFS Personal Financial Service company can draw people out of poverty. Oh, wait, poor people don’t have money for PFS to advise them on so I guess PFS is of no help whatsoever. Enter The Nanny Government/White Man In The Big House Proxy Funded By People Who Work For A Living.
26 Jul 2007 at 12:23 am | #
But I have not qualified, which is the point of the bylaw.
Per my old American Heritage dictionary, “candidate” may refer to someone who either seeks or is nominated for an office. I was using “candidate” in the sense of someone who is seeking office. I have, however, not yet been nominated because I have not turned in the required number of voter signatures.
The NAACP bylaws clearly refer to someone who has qualified as a candidate. Further, it has the advantage of being a bright line which makes it easy to see if one has crossed it or not. Otherwise one would have endless bickering about one’s mental state—whether one was actually a candidate or not. I myself only recently crossed this line. The first 100 or so people I asked to sign my petition I told I was “probably” going to run. Does “probably” make me a candidate?
In any event, I am not speaking for Smitherman as to whether he firmly intends to run or not. That decision will have to be made one way or the other in about a month.
The public debates and forums generally start after the deadline anyways, and more or less mark the start of the campaign season. Right now there are just a bunch of people wearing candidate T-shirts and passing out flyers at festivals.
26 Jul 2007 at 01:00 am | #
The national chapter of the NAACP is full of crap when it comes to rules. Nathaniel “Uncle Tom” Jones and Odell “I’m mad as hell” Owens are just two of the prominent Blacks in this city who were allowed to vote in the election that was sanctioned by the nationals. Imagine that. A former federal judge guilty of voter fraud! A county coroner who is not a member of the organization was allowed to vote. How many ineligible others padded the voter list? Did the nationals keep Skip Austin from serving as national president AND county commissioner? No, so hell no the local chapter is not taking marching orders from a fraud-plagued national racketeering bunch of crooks. Nate’s criminal element bunch of thugs and dope users/sellers and the uncle toms of the city are hard at work perfecting their craft at being the hateful crabs in a barrel that they are and will always be.
Word of advice….the members have taken control of this organization and you status-quo ass kissing n-words who are serving a “master” can just get ready for a fight. You are not just going up against Smitherman, you got to take on the whole community and we are game.
26 Jul 2007 at 01:32 am | #
anon2007 - I can not explain why Portune publicly supported the Heimlich jail tax, I didn’t. Frankly, I think he did it because it would have been political suicide to not do it in the face of white voters - soft on crime crap. I would imagine he would say, it was a necessary evil, and I don’t really buy it either, but I’m not a politician who has to make trade offs in order to pursue my higher goals for the community.
Monica - come on, get off it, get reasonable will you? You want to throw the baby out with the bath water and your all or nothing attitude reminds me of talking to my teenagers - that’s just ridiculous and NOONE would condone that as a way to help the black community. Where would we be if MLK said, make our world perfect or shove it? MLK taught us how to effectively, and in a timely fashion, change the world. Too many people just like being in a fight mode and refuse to accept successes or are sooo weather beaten by the likes of Heimlich, DeWine and Finney that they are blinded by their resentment and can’t see the glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel - and the jail reforms are that light - walk into it, support it, embrace it—- and then, turn the light onto the next success.
I understand the plight of the impoverished - been there, done that - regardless of color, it drains you of hope and drags you further and further down. Social service programs need more humane treatment and depth, but de-criminalizing the plight is a hell of a step forward.
As to Pepper and the pot law - I can’t defend it - it’s racist and stupid and is an excuse to violate a person’s rights to privacy by claiming they smell pot or look high - no defense. But stop looking at the county to fix it - they aren’t on Council anymore and have no control of the issue.
26 Jul 2007 at 07:24 am | #
Who the hell would vote for any candidate who has made such a long, drawn out, ridiculous game of a serious issue? If he does decide to run, it would take an idiot to cast a vote for him after all this dishonest foolishness. Let’s see. An army of people by the hour denying that he’s a “candidate” while still walking the slippery slope of supporting his candidacy. His spearheading the anti-jail tax petition drive while refusing to declare if he’s for or against the jail. Imploring people to vote smart—for just one candidate. Him, the non-candidate. And of course the NAACP spectacle.
He sounds like a nut and just like the first time will make a mess of it should he become a councilperson. Even his altercation with Streicher was simply grandstanding to get press. Akin to every citizen telling Smitherman, “I’m your boss” because he got a salary from the taxpayers.
Enough of the shenanigans. All this dishonesty and subtrafuge has accomplished only one thing. It’s established a very, very small fanatic group of followers who care not what he stands for, they just follow the man.
Enough already.
26 Jul 2007 at 10:48 am | #
oh, so I’m a fanatic for supporting Smitherman? the hatred of this man is saliciously overwhelming at best…. I guess to you Edith Thrower would’ve been a better NAACP president….
then they would continue being the NAACPee….
26 Jul 2007 at 11:06 am | #
Urbanist II- Thank you for some more of that good ole “pull yourself up by your bootstaps” nonsense. When all else fails we can always count on that!
Anon.2000- Why is it folks like yourself are so quick to talk about MLK but are the first to ignore his message and the meaning thereof? Excuse me but I thought we were talking about the “safety plan” and not jail reform. I do not have an all or nothing attitude. Your problem is that I reject the so called safety plan. I choose to think and reason for myself, rather than be spoonfed. Just because democrats crafted this “safety plan” and you believe that it is a success does not mean that I am bound to agree. I disagree.
Social service programs need more humane treatment and depth, but de-criminalizing the plight is a hell of a step forward.
Exactly what part of the “safety plan” speaks to the de-criminalization of anything? I must have missed that in my reading of the plan. The marijuana ordinance will still be in place. Criminalizing the homeless is going strong last time I checked, both of which have contributed to the numbers of people being jailed.
26 Jul 2007 at 11:36 am | #
F Nationals,
I agree with you. The bigger problem is that you have Julian Bonds still running things at the national level, and he refuses to give up his reigns. He is the equivalent of Nathaniel Jones, Edith Thrower, Nate Livingston and the rest of the sell-out crew. Anything that threatens lining their pockets, they will come out swinging. That’s why he didn’t support Bruce Gordon, so don’t expect them to support Smitherman.
26 Jul 2007 at 01:23 pm | #
It sounds like Portune is worried more about his precious political career tha what’s right for our community and know we’re supposed to believe him when he’s “trust me” this is a good plan. The last plan he supported he now admits was terrible. And we hearing the same crap about his career and getting impeached an blah, blah, blah.
This was pepper’s law and he still supports it. We’re supposed to trust a guy to deal with the overcrowding in the jail that wrote the ordinance that-even Todd Portune says-is a major cause of overcrowding?
Why isn’t Pepper out doing the right thing and talking to his fellow Democrats that have a majority on council? His parents still are major contributors to the council race and he and Portune have a lot of sway when they want to. For instance the got Jeff (the fascist) Berding the Democratic nomination.
26 Jul 2007 at 05:38 pm | #
Monica: it’s “nonsense” to expect people to be responsible for their own lives?
How dreary your existence must be to think you (yes, you and not just those “poor” folk you pretend to care about) are dependent upon others for your livelihood without having to earn it. How, dare I say it, slavish your mentality.
26 Jul 2007 at 07:28 pm | #
First, I do not accept or believe that the pot law is the cause of overcrowding, I believe it is the cause and means of violating individual’s rights to privacy - searching them and arresting them - when there is no other evidence to intimidate them with and no probable cause.
But, I believe it has alot of impact on the “revolving door” numbers because the suspects are arrested, cited and released. No one has done a statistical review - but my review of arrests, a snap shot in time a few months ago, revealed little impact numbers wise.
AGAIN, talk to your council members not the commissioners—they have no authority to address the issue.
Portune didn’t say the pot law, alone, was causing the overcrowding he spoke of the jailing for misdemeanor, non—violent offenses in general - it was only twisted to become the “cause of overcrowding”. Everyone knows that.
As to tying yourselves up with Portune’s “political career” - twist that all you want too - or you can think about it -it’s not about “career” it’s about compromise. Only political Gods like Heimlich, DeWine, Finney, and Bush think they are authoritarians, the “deciders” who dictate policy, that have the power to do exactly what many of you are doing - demanding it all, instead of
working in incremental, progressive steps—-Portune had to compromise in order to stay on course pursuing your agenda.
Sometimes I think alot of you people just don’t live in the real world - you’re like little kids in a candy store and want it all - can anyoone give one single example of a leader who was successful when making these all or nothing demands - if your strategy sucks, you will never move an inch. If your strategy is good, you can move mountains, still mountains, one at a time.
(Now, mind you, I’d love to wave a magic wand and fix all the ills of the world because it’s been too long, a rough road and people are being harmed everyday - but it just doesn’t happen that way, sometimes, you have to compromise in order to make any progress)
26 Jul 2007 at 07:38 pm | #
Hmmm… looks like National NAACP ISN’T going to let Smitherman use their name and do what the heck he wants -
Folks, you don’t take the label and then change the product.
It is hard work to develop policy and unite all these people under one agenda and set of rules and then have a “rouge” leader damage the whole mission for personal advancement or otherwise, even if well intended.
Re-group Smitherman. You’re a proven leader, now set the ship and yourself, in the right direction or abandon ship altogether. You have the ability.
26 Jul 2007 at 08:10 pm | #
Monica:
Where have you been? Ever hear of graduating from high school or successfully completing the GED program? Ever hear of not indiscriminately breeding with a bunch females with loose morals, creating a bunch of kids the taxpayers have been forced to house & support? Ever hear of once completing secondary education there are PAID apprenticeship programs in good, solid, traditional trades? BTW, the starting pay in these apprenticeship programs are quite good. Better than a burger drive thru job.
But these so-called “poor” people find it easier to go Downtown, get a voucher or live under a voucher & deal drugs on the street corner. EZ money. Set your own hours. Don’t have to listen to no boss-man.
I witnessed a drug dealertell a Judge, “I ain’t gonna pay no taxes. I don’t owe the IRS nothin. And them bitches can’t make me pay nothin either. I know you gonna give me fines, costs & all that shit. Well, I ain’t payin that & you can’t make me. I’m poor.”
For the most part, the largest percentage of the “poor” aren’t poor at all. And they enjoy the lavish benefits of claiming they’re poor. Those who truly want to wean themselves off the public sugartit have more & more opportunities in this day than ever before. But those “benefits for the poor” are mighty enticing; no incentive to get up off their a$$es to become self-sustaining.
Gosh, when in the hell are you going to wake up?
26 Jul 2007 at 08:51 pm | #
To anon 6.10
Yours is the lamest line of corporate bullshit I’ve read this year. The jobs left Cincinnati to go to cheaper labor areas of the world. The corporate cubby hole wannabees, like yourself, rationalize an untenable position. Blame the victim is your game because your white preppy ass dreams of getting the corner office oneday. You are too busy counting beans to even consider humanity. We are the family of man so I call you brother but your actions and beliefs, behind them, offend my humanness and my sense of justice.
You don’t seem to understand that as you do to the least, you do to all. Imprison them and you will never be free, abuse them and it comes back because that is the Golden Rule. It works in reverse as well, Love them and you will be loved, Forgive them and you will be forgiven. In equal measure. So if you want to find happiness brother, pull your head from your ass and take a deep breath…peace on you
26 Jul 2007 at 10:45 pm | #
I love the “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” reasoning. It’s so….black and white (pun intended). If we lived in a just society where the playing field was equal, and everyone was born under the exact same circumstances, then the bootstrap logic might work. But we know that’s not the case. Why in the hell do you think there is a need for organizations like the NAACP, the African American Chamber of Commerce, the Urban League, and new ones popping up everyday? Because the playing field will NEVER be equal because there is a need for an underclass society. Ask 3CDC, the minimum wage paying corporations, and of course the jailers.
27 Jul 2007 at 09:28 am | #
Anon 54. Who are you talking about? What are you talking about please spare me the AWM or AWW crap! It is clear that your knowledge of poor people and poor Black people in particular is limited to what you hear on 700 WLW. Are you even remotely aware that the Black folks have been basically shut out of union jobs in Cincinnati for generations? That in fact the apprentice jobs linker to unions have been closed out as well. In fact Blacks only represent about 3% of union workers in the construction fields. Now how do YOU explain that preytell?? You are simply ill informed and ignorant but that is to be expected.
29 Jul 2007 at 04:11 pm | #
Anon says:
26 Jul 2007 at 08:45 pm | # I love the “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” reasoning. It’s so….black and white (pun intended). If we lived in a just society where the playing field was equal, and everyone was born under the exact same circumstances, then the bootstrap logic might work.”
That kind of society exists: it’s called “slavery.” Freedom and liberty are a little riskier.
“But we know that’s not the case. Why in the hell do you think there is a need for organizations like the NAACP, the African American Chamber of Commerce, the Urban League, and new ones popping up everyday? Because the playing field will NEVER be equal because there is a need for an underclass society.”
EXACTLY! Poverty pimps and misery peddlers need to perpetuate an underclass to justify their existence.
29 Jul 2007 at 06:56 pm | #
Urbanists II, slavery isn’t a society where the playing feild is level and people are born under the exact same circumstances, it obviously isn’t just either.
Greedy lawyers, corporations and crooked politicians are the poverty pimps. You are a mental slave and their whore.
29 Jul 2007 at 08:32 pm | #
If all things were equal, everyone in the same circumstances, we wouldn’t need the bootstraps theory. Either everyone would be wealthy and therefore have no need to be “pulled up”, or if not, everyone would have exactly the same opportunity and thus a predictable outcome.