Black people must vote

For Fannie Lou Hamer’s sake, as well as that of every other person who fought for black people’s rights in this US of A – black people must vote. Today is election day in the City of Baltimore. Regardless of who one supports, it is imperative that black people show up and vote at the polls today. There is no excuse. People can go to the club and to every other place they want. However, the ancestors and elders of the black community implore every voter to vote. Point blank. To not vote is a horrible mistake. Again, black people must vote today in Baltimore for the candidates of one’s choice. Vote, vote, vote! Our futre and that of our children depends on it!  

With Mitchell Implosion, Rawlings-Blake Benefits

Correct me if I am wrong. Right now, with Keiffer Mitchell getting pimp slapped by his daddy in front of the class – talking about all eyes on me – Mayor Sheila Dixon might be in more of a position to lend some assistance to the Rawlings-Blake campaign for City Council President.

Tuesday is going to be about flushing out the voters. Black. White. Latino. Korean, even. Tuesday is going to be about who has the money to pay people to do the otherwise incomprehensible. Tuesday is about the best organization, the best teamwork, the best knowledge of the game. It is not, I repeat again, for the faint at heart. Remember, victory belongs to the person – be it Elizabeth Smith, Nick Mosby, or Vernon Crider – who thinks they can and who works like there is no tomorrow. 

In the words of noted photographer J. D. Howard, “You can’t rule where you don’t go and you can’t teach what you don’t know.” 

Most anybody can run for office, but not all of them should

Criteria for winning an election: first, one has to be electable – you know, no murders, rapes, or recent B&Es under their belt. Secondly, one needs money to run for office. Without one’s own money, there is the possibility of having the wrong people’s money – like big corporations. Third, one needs a consensus, a constituency, a team of supporters. Next, one has to be organized; unorganized campaigns lose every time. It is not enough to be “for the people.” One must have the basic elements for victory. Otherwise, the campaign would be a waste of time. Yes, people like Jill and Bundley have the community’s interest at heart. But, more is needed. Politics is not for the faint at heart, the weary, the weak, the broke, the unorganized, or the short-sighted. And, for the record, a little charm goes far. Again, this is not about who has the best platform or stump speech. Politics is war, and people play for keeps. Further, blacks are more likely – if history remains true – to look out for blacks. The time for blacks having to wait and – in the meantime – push candidates from other communities is dead and stinking. First, blacks must exhaust the resources already available so as to promote a black agenda. For BMORENEWS, this black agenda includes public education, black business, universal access to healthcare, ex-offender services, and housing. For the record, few if any of the citywide candidates in Baltimore’s citywide races have addressed all of these concerns.  

At this point, Harris ought get out of race for council prez

The Glover Report, Vol. VII, No. 13

Appeal to Baltimore’s Black Leadership:  

Dearest Councilman Kenneth N. Harris …

By D. Morton Glover, Publisher
http://www.BMORENEWS.com

(BALTIMORE – Aug. 20, 2007) – I imagine the following words will lose me some friends. But, that’s okay. For as my father taught me and as my brothers often encourage – my humble lot in life is to ask the tough questions.

As a political analyst, it is also my duty to tell the truth … as best I can.

To follow the light of such torches who have graced our community like the late Congressman Parren J. Mitchell, making friends is not the primary responsibility here, is not the primary task. What’s first and foremost is living one’s purpose. Hence, my prayer is to illuminate the truth.

Having said that, the future of black Baltimore’s political power is at-risk like a person having promiscuous, unprotected sex on Pennsylvania Avenue. And unless black Baltimore’s leadership comes together from every facet of the community – business, professional, faith, community, political and otherwise – Baltimore may not see another black mayor for a very long time.

For whatever reason or reasons, the City Council President’s race – from an objective observer’s standpoint – is truly one for the ages. Additionally, the competition is so tight between Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Michael Sarbanes.

However, when the jade is from a black perspective – not an anti-white one – but from a pro-black and a ‘what’s good for black Baltimore’ perspective: The conclusion is that with two blacks in, the white guy wins.

Again, this is not to say that the white guy in question, Sarbanes, would not or cannot make a good Baltimore City Council President and do well for the city. He lives in ‘the ‘hood’ and has adopted two black sons from Ethiopia. This is noble.

Certain questions, however, do come to mind, though – one has to admit. For instance, why didn’t Sarbanes go for a Council seat first? Just like Andrey Bundley chose to bypass the traditional process of working one’s way up, Sarbanes has done the same. Both, unfortunately, have little experience doing the ‘day-to-day’ of an elected official, especially in a large and complex major metropolitan area. 

Read The Glover Report on www.BMORENEWS.com in full:
http://www.bmorenews.com/glover%20report/glover_report.html

 

Dearest Nicole: Didn’t try to be rude to Jill

Apologies, Nicole, if you truly believe I was rude to Jill Carter at the Empowerment Temple citywide candidates forum on Thursday. That certainly was not my goal. As she is your candidate, however, I truly appreciate your support of your candidate. With love for every woman in my life as well as across the Diaspora, in no way would I ever disrespect a sister.

Jill in this case, as you know, is a candidate seeking votes. Therefore, she was treated the same as everyone else – even when she came out swinging on me. Why? Her statement was that I said she is not a consensus builder. I stand by this. Yes, she can get things done. However, party politics is about team ball, not about what an individual – such as Jill – has done. Let her tell it, nobody has done anything. Except her. Also, from my vantage point, she focuses too heavily on the failures of others as opposed to speaking about her legislative record. While definitely staying consistent on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised, albeit noble, she has to be able to get things done. Clinton-Glendening-Schmoke days in Maryland provided good days for places like Sandtown and Historic East Baltimore. Bush-Ehrlich-O’Malley days were not the same. No money came to Baltimore. Our children, however, did have to go and fight in Iraq. So, Nicole – party politics do require some homogeneity, some people on the same page. This means Jill will have to be able to work with somebody.

Final comment: It would serve black Baltimore well for Jill, Andrey Bundley and Frank Conaway to go into a room and put their support on one candidate.

Now, that would partially impress me – especially given 5 blacks in the mayor’s race.

One side bar, the Council president’s race is one where we need one black candidate. Any thoughts, Nicole?          

O’Malley, Cummings, endorsements and … Sarbanes?

Well, the pace is picking up. Tomorrow, Gov. Martin O’Malley and Rep. Elijah Cummings will put their support out there for Mayor Sheila Dixon. Dixon, who according to the Sun has about $700k in cash on hand vs. about $200k by a nose-diving Keiffer Mitchell, is essentially assured of victory in September 11th’s primary.

Also, City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, daughter of the late Delegate Howard “Pete” Rawlings, and Mayor Dixon have joined forces. Touring city parks yesterday, the two are officially working together for victory.

Rawlings-Blake’s campaign, however, is – according to the word on the street – having an image problem.

The common man and the pundit alike want to hear more about her vision for the city. They seemingly want to hear more than a spiel on working together with the mayor.

New politico/City Council President candidate Michael Sarbanes, on the other hand, was recently reported as viewing the Council president job as one that ought be independent.

For whatever reason(s), this message is increasingly getting through to people.

And, so as to not leave out of this discussion Council President candidate Ken Harris, here’s a thought. If his numbers from his pollers suggests that he is destined to win (remember, a recent Sun poll gave him only 8%; Rawlings-Blake had 26%; Sarbanes – the newcomer – garnered 27%), that message needs to get out much more. One could arguably contend that like Mitchell, Harris’ plane is landing and not soaring.

On the other hand, if Harris is in fact losing the numbers game and on his way to political retirementville, then will he bow out and put his support on another? Hell, he could possibly broker a deal and get a reprieve back to the political world as did now Deputy Mayor Salima Marriott.

All this to say, blacks in Baltimore have a lot of maturing to do. If black politicos do not, however, get their acts together, a Michael Sarbanes or similar candidate in the future will do what black politicians have seemingly stopped doing: gettin’ with the people.

Any candidate running ought be as much in tune with the people as they are with their political backers. To do otherwise is suicidal.    

The Sarbanes Candidacy for Council Prez: Suspect?

Is it arrogant for Michael Sarbanes to have forsaked going through the City Council process? Meaning, should he – like people have said of Andrey Bundley – been better served by first entering into local politics by running for a district seat. Everybody knows Sarbanes’ dad is a household fixture in Baltimore, even among older blacks. Hence, name recognition for the younger Sarbanes is a given.

So, has Sarbanes cashed in on this? Or, does he really care about the city? After all, his competitors – Stephanie Rawlings Blake and Ken Harris, both of whom are black – have put in serious time on the Council.

Further, for Sarbanes to suggest they are the problem, could also point fingers at our former City chief – now Governor … Martin O’Malley.

Keiffer, while it’s not your fault, it’s your fault

There is no test run for life. Although Keiffer Mitchell’s dad made the mistake, the question emerges: How can you run a city when you can’t even run your own camp?

Mitchell Campaign Implodes Over Mis-spending of Campaign Finances

The Baltimore Sun reported today that Baltimore Mayoral hopeful Keiffer Mitchell’s campaign stated that Mitchell’s father, a medical doctor, used some $40k from the campaign for personal purposes.

As an entrepreneur based in Baltimore who deals directly with a plethora of public relations clients, this is a slap in the face.

All too often, I have heard candidates – including those already elected – claim they have no money for advertising, for consulting, for PR.

Well, stories like this lend very little understanding. Such stories could even make one bitter.

I have said time and time again that black Democrats are cheap. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe SOME people just have no idea of what it takes for a small business to run successfully, particularly black candidates.

For any business to not set monies aside for marketing is suicidal, no matter how cheap one is. 

In any event, we, at DMGlobal Communications, will continue to grow, working primarily with those who do, in fact, “get it.”

On Wednesday night, I had the pleasure of helping question Mitchell and two other hopefuls at the Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce meeting at The Forum, a black owned establishment. The 2 others were Frank Conaway and Andrey Bundley.

Honestly, the only one who seemed to understand the needs of black business was Bundley. Mind you, this mayoral forum was put on by the Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce – a collection of “like-minded” individuals focused on growing their businesses. Hence, for any candidate to show up and have no idea of the needs of the dozens of business owners present was ludicrous. And for news to come out a day later that Mitchell’s camp is misusing people’s hard earned money is even more ludicrous.

One has to remember the unspoken rule: Political candidates must have their house in order. Once you’re out there, it is too late.

In Mitchell’s case, the alleged acts of mispropriety happened during the campaign. This points to a certain sloppiness by a campaign that has not turned down opportunities to attack Mayor Sheila Dixon.

Umm, mm, mm!

Before you go tearing down somebody and picking the twig out of your neighbor’s eye, make sure you don’t have a Lincoln log in your own eye.

Interestingly, Mitchell’s campaign had been thus far unscarred – unlike the campaign of his cousin, former State Senator Clarence Mitchell, IV. It appeared that Sen. Mitchell could not escape being connected to political mistakes made by family members.

But, it is as if the Kennedys of the black community too have a hex.  

  

Being a neo-Pan Africanist in this citywide election

During a recent trip to Ethiopia and Tanzania, I learned of white owned NGOs and white owned non-profits doing incredible work in Africa (http://www.bmorenews.com/news/013106_black_news_bmorenews_africa_report.htm).

Since then, I have had to take another look at my own Pan-Africanism. Can black people do it alone? Or, is the help of non-blacks necessary and prudent when it comes to solving the challenges of the black Diaspora across the globe.

In this citywide election in Baltimore, a Greek guy – Mike Sarbanes – is running for Council President and is getting a heap of support.

So, here’s the question: Is the black support of Mike Sarbanes viewed as a slap in the face of either Rawlings Blake or Harris, both of whom want the seat – both of whom are black.

We’d love to hear your comments.