Guest Columnist Jamala Rogers
When elected officials don’t pay attention to the concerns of their constituents in particular and public opinion in general, they usually feel it at the ballot box. According to unofficial election night reports, Rodney Hubbard lost by a sliver to Robin Wright-Jones in the bid for the hotly contested 5th Senatorial District seat. One community activist warned that it was a message for elected officials who conspire with others against the interests of black folks.
I can remember penning a column a few years ago about my optimism in seeing the number of young people standing up to run for public office. I dubbed it a “refreshing” sight. The local wave included Hubbard, Yaphett El-Amin, Maria Chappelle-Nadal, Jamilah Nasheed, Connie Johnson, Kacie Starr Triplett, Michael McMillan, Jeffrey Boyd, Chris Carter and Don Calloway.
On the national scene, there were candidates like Kwame Kilpatrick in Detroit. The fact the Kilpatrick sits in jail is a reflection of what can go wrong on the road to abusing power instead of serving the public.
We should not send our young into the septic tank of U.S. politics and not periodically hose them down of the toxins they come in contact with. By hose down, I’m talking about educating them on how to use their power and position to serve others, not themselves. That view goes against the grain of politics, which is precisely why seasoned elders have to mentor and criticize this new generation if they are to be accountable to our agenda.
On the state level are two important offices of Attorney General and Governor that, quite frankly, draw lukewarm response from black voters. Chris Koster, a turncoat Republican, seems to have weaseled his way into the black community through certain black elected officials. Why should we embrace a man who was a die-hard Republican a year ago? That chapter hasn’t completely closed, with a possible recount demand by close contender Margaret Donnelly.
Jay Nixon will see that many black folks who voted on August 5 did not cast a vote for governor. If this becomes an organized campaign, Missouri may see another Republican governor. Nixon needs to be more accessible in the cities of Missouri instead of hiding out in selected pulpits and private fundraisers.
On the national scene for president is presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, and Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente, Green Party president and vice president candidates, respectively. McKinney and Clemente have an impossible road to the White House but will be able to raise the kinds of important issues that Obama can’t as a candidate trying to appeal to the mainstream.
Political pundits keep asking why Obama is not further ahead given all his money, charisma and organization. Obama is trying to open a door. On the other side of that door are racist Republicans, Democrats, Independents and anybody else pushing to keep it closed.
One small example is the recent expose of internal memos in Hillary Clinton’s campaign, which revealed the ugly underside of politics practiced in the country. One memo suggested making Obama appear un-American, a view that coalesces with the right wingers resulting in 13-25 percent of the populace believing Obama is Muslim.
And so what if he were? This is where America’s racism and religious intolerance kicks in. The fact that a black man is a presumptive nominee for prez is a miracle in itself!
For black folks who are suffering disproportionately during this economic crises, who are suffering from repression by the police and courts, and who are suffering from the psychological war of self-hatred in our community, who occupies what seat seems of little consequence. Those of us who understand the role of electoral politics in building power and winning concessions for our people must demand candidates who are bold in their vision for change but who have also shown us their concern on issues facing us – long before they throw their hat in a ring.