DEBORAH MATHIS COMMENTARY -- Maddening Shame: Blacks Not in Presidential Game

Commentary (BlackAmericaWeb)

Ms. Mathis bemoans how blacks are conspicuously missing from Sen. John Kerry's Veepstakes, despite being its most supportive voters. She says, "Despite pleasing polls, the fair-sounding lip service and the great colorblind ideal — despite 40 years of trudging up the line and toppling barriers — black America is still not thought of as a serious player in the ultimate game. And that is a maddening shame."

The liberal Ms. Mathis is correct. Democrats should be embarrassed. On the Republican side, Secretary Colin Powell seriously floated a White House run in 1996 and President George W. Bush (unsuccessfully) asked him to be his Vice Presidential candidate in 2000. Campaigns are afoot to put Dr. Condoleezza Rice on the ballot this year in lieu of the troubled VP Dick Cheney, or encourage her to lay down groundwork for a 2008 run. Yet nothing on the Dems' side, where 92% of black folks cast their ballots in 2000. Blacks accounted for 28% of the total Democratic ballots casts four years ago, yet Sen. Kerry's senior campaign staff is whiter than Idaho.

Ms. Mathis ignores one thing: black folks are partly to blame for this disrespect, as we don't strategically use our bloc vote. It's predictable so we have little leverage. Sen. John Kerry cannot win the White House without 90%+ of the black vote and a high turnout, so we still hold some power. If we torpedo his candidacy -- which can happen if we diversify our non-Dem vote from 8% in 2000 to just 15% -- Dems will get the hint real fast. Many moderate and conservative blacks should vote Republican or Libertarian. Many liberal blacks should vote for Ralph Nader or Green. Or go to the polls to vote for other offices, but leave the prez slot blank. Hold the Dems' feet to the fire. Until black folks teach the Democratic Party a long-overdue lesson, it won't change. However, younger blacks are increasingly identifying themselves as GOP and especially independent so the Dems' punishment will come soon. Black Republicans, y'all must step up your message.