Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

A Black Man in Alabama

by BooMan
Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 10:03:28 AM EST

A black man is running for governor in Alabama. And his chances are not dismissed out of hand. That ought to be something to celebrate. It couldn't be imagined ten, twenty, or thirty years ago. But, what does a black man who wants to have a chance in a state-wide Alabama election think he needs to do? How does he position himself?

Of the Democratic lawmakers who distanced themselves from Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) , the most interesting may be Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.), who is running for governor in his home state. The 42-year-old lawmaker sits on the Ways and Means Committee, which Rangel chaired until he was forced to step aside last week, and also is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, which has maintained rock-solid support for Rangel.
Caucus members did not criticize Davis directly, but some, including Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y), one of Rangel's best friends in Congress, said many of those who called for the chairman to step down did so for "political purposes."
Davis also stood apart from the black caucus in November, as the only member of the caucus to vote against the House version of health-care legislation. He was condemned by the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, who said that "you can't vote against health care and call yourself a black man," according to the Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper.
Davis said at the time that he preferred the Senate bill, but now he opposes that version as well. Davis's office said Monday that he will vote no if the House decides to take up the Senate bill, as is expected, and he has criticized his Democratic primary opponent, Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, for speaking favorably of the Democratic health-care effort.
Davis's position on health care and his rebuke of Rangel could aid his campaign in Alabama. Obama received only 39 percent of the vote there, and Davis will have to woo conservative voters to win. The lawmaker is considered the favorite in the June Democratic primary, but he could face an uphill climb in November against whoever emerges from the seven-candidate GOP field.
"A comprehensive, 2000-page, near-$1 trillion dollar overhaul of the health-care system is just too cumbersome and too costly in a time of trillion-dollar deficits," he said.

I don't have a problem with him distancing himself from Charlie Rangel and I think Jesse Jackson Jr.'s remark was probably too harsh (although I definitely understand where he was coming from). But it's just sad to see a guy like Artur Davis, who has such a stellar resume, feel compelled to turn his back on the biggest Democratic project in three generations just to pander to a sliver of the white vote in Alabama. According to the exit polls, Barack Obama received just 10% of the white vote in Alabama. Davis certainly has to do considerably better than that to have any chance of being elected governor. But Davis, who was "the recipient of the Best Oralist Award in the esteemed Ames Moot Court Competition at Harvard Law School," ought to use his rhetorical skills to explain how health care reform will help rural white Alabamans more than any legislation passed in most of their lifetimes. Instead, he chooses to go the predictable route which, even if it worked, would likely leave him with a prize not worth having. After all, why run for office if you can't implement your principles?

A Black Man in Alabama | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 0)

Turning his back on "the biggest Democratic project in three generations..." is secondary to turning his back on his constituents, one of the poorest districts in the country. Jessie Jackson wasn't harsh enough. He not only does not have the conscious of a black man, he doesn't have a conscious.

by NMP on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 10:55:40 AM EST

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 0)

But it's just sad to see a guy like Artur Davis, who has such a stellar resume, feel compelled to turn his back on the biggest Democratic project in three generations just to pander to a sliver of the white vote in Alabama.

What does Boo expect from a DLC'er? They have been a thorn in Obama's side ever since the election(fuuny considering that he's one of them for all intents and purposes). Has anyone polled the primary? Sparks has won statewide before, so I don't see how Davis is the frontrunner, unless there has been polls already, and that writer assumes Davis has an automatic lock on the black vote.

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 11:51:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 0)

"...and that writer assumes Davis has an automatic lock on the black vote." That's the irony. Davis is willing to sabotage his Party and the President to win white votes, but the President could dry-up Davis' black support if he wanted. There is not one CBC member that could survive an open battle with the President, not one.

by NMP on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 05:08:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 0)

Does Obama have the balls to do it? That's the big question. He could easily sink Davis, as you say.

There is not one CBC member that could survive an open battle with the President, not one.

I'm not so sure. Conyers, Clyburn and John Lewis might. But that's a big "if". And the only reason they would is because they are long-time pillars in their community. But those are the only three. All the rest would get squashed like bugs, as you say.

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 06:03:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 0)

ask John Lewis how he 'survived' the primary season being opposed to Obama.

as for Clyburn, he's been for Obama.

and Conyers knows, with the wife he has, that he just better keep his mouth SHUT.

by rikyrah on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 06:41:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Procedures (none / 0)

Question: Was his vote actually needed or was there enough margin in the House that the caucus could afford to let some members cast votes that could help them back home?

I'm finally getting married...

by Oscar In Louisville on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 11:00:06 AM EST

Re: Procedures (none / 0)

Regardless of how he voted before, his vote would be helpful now.

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 11:46:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Procedures (none / 0)

He obviously got a pass when his vote wasn't needed, but it's needed now. I suspect the free pass he's gotten from the White House will be revoked, and he'll have to abandon his pipe dream of becoming Governor of AL or face not holding any elected office again. He can't run without money from the establishment, and he damn sure can't win black voters if he publicly pits himself against the President.

by NMP on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 05:13:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 0)

It sounds like Davis has no principles.

by eclecticbrotha on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 12:29:54 PM EST

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 0)

Does any Blue Dog/DLC'er?

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 01:11:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 0)

it's Alabama and JJJ was on point.

when Davis voted on healthcare, I knew I'd not send him a dime.

by rikyrah on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 02:52:57 PM EST

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 0)

Here I come again beating the drum for people to UNDERSTAND CLIENT/PATRON politics! Artur Davis did not wake up one morning and say to himself, "I would like to be Governor of the great State of Alabama!" Now don't get me wrong, I am not belittling Mr. Davis' ambitions. However from a practical political perspective, he would most likely say "I could run but it ain't worth the effort just to get beat by RACE issues in the general election". I have listened to Mr. Davis plenty in committee meetings on CSPAN and I agree with BooMan, Artur is no dummy. Now, here comes the big HOWEVER....

Some folks in the white political power structure down there in 'Bama pulled on Artur's coat and after some very convincing strategy discussions convinced Mr. Davis that with their support that he could indeed beat any Republican (who ever that might be) in the general election for Governor of Alabama. Further I am convinced that these white folks all have very, very impressive resumes. However, since what I just wrote about a meeting between Artur and these powerful white Alabama folks is strictly hypothetical, I offer it as a proposition mainly to flavor the traditional CLIENT/PATRON aspect of American politics.

In this case, Artur Davis was tapped for this brave venture in Alabama by the local PATRON group for the following reasons:
(1) Artur's unique abilities, his exceptional articulate presentation of his ideas, and his unflinching recognition of his proper place in the overall scheme of things made him the ideal choice to be the Negro(CLIENT) candidate for Governor by this white Alabamian PATRON group (WAPG).
(2) WAPG is keenly aware of the fact that Barack Obama, an African American was able to be elected President of the United States. For the WAPG this fact has moved the prospect of a Negro being elected Governor of Alabama from the traditional wide abstract abyss of total impossibility to the bright new modern realm of high probability.
(3) From the perspective of the WAPG, the Reagan introduced Republican carpetbaggers and their scandal ridden side show of senseless buffoonery have worn out their welcome, at least in Alabama, and have no place in the WAPG's vision for Alabama in 21st century America. Regardless of the outcome, if Artur Davis runs a strong statewide race and loses in a tight final outcome in the general election, the political strangle hold of the Republican con men over the good citizens of Dixie will be broken, signaling a new day for Alabamian politics.

This is one of the many manifestations to come in the new day in Negro CLIENT/PATRON politics in America. This new day is just now starting to dawn thanks to the election of Barack Obama to the highest office in the land. This is really "Change that you can believe in"......

by parvenu on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 03:51:48 PM EST

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 0)

I don't know too much about Alabama politics, but your rather cogent scenario prompts the question of the exact nature of this WAPG. Reason I say this is that I am an occasional reader of the Alabama anti-government corruption blog Legal Schnauzer
http://legalschnauzer.blogspot.com/
and so when you write "Republican carpetbaggers and their scandal ridden side show of senseless buffoonery have worn out their welcome, at least in Alabama", I cannot help recalling that the "Alabama connection" with these GOP clowns is unusually wide and deep. Does it perhaps go back to the fact that Karl Rove honed his skills in a lot of Republican campaigns in Alabama long before Bush was ever president? What about the whole Don Siegelman affair? So what you're suggesting is rather monumental in terms of the Alabama politics of the recent past. Namely a major shift in the WAPG in Alabama. I'd like to learn more about this.

by priscianus jr on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 08:12:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 1)

Davis is a fool as well as a traitor to his constituents and the Democratic Party.

It will be another 30 years before an African-American has a chance to win the governorship of Alabama. Yet, he refuses to help pass health care reform. I doubt that there will be another vote more important to his constituents in his career.

Davis made a deal with the Devil for lifetime supply of snowballs in Hell.

by SaltyDawg on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 05:14:17 PM EST

Re: A Black Man in Alabama (none / 0)

"And his chances are not dismissed out of hand."

Yes they are. No matter what racism-deniers tell you.

"But it's just sad to see a guy like Artur Davis, who has such a stellar resume, feel compelled to turn his back on the biggest Democratic project in three generations just to pander to a sliver of the white vote in Alabama."

No, what's sad is that white folks require black folks to explicitly tell other black folks to go to hell, as a precondition for even pretending to listen to them.

by sherifffruitfly on Tue Mar 9th, 2010 at 08:43:46 PM EST

A Black Man in Alabama | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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