Election Night & Black Voters: Bookerista Views

Last year, African Americans accounted for 20% of Virginia electorate. But, in yesterday's election, they accounted for 15% percent. However, in New Jersey, blacks were a larger share of the electorate yesterday: 15%, compared to 12% in 2008. Bookeristas weigh in on the impact of the black vote on yesterday's results:

Sophia Nelson: "What BET Can Teach Us About Politics"

The moderate pundit writes about yesterday's election results: "As I see it, the real story is that black voters, once again, sat out an important 'off-year' election. Whenever that happens, Republicans win. This is something more black voters must remember, particularly as the color and complexion of the national electorate gets browner. Republicans tend to do well when they build coalitions of loyal conservative voters and can peel off conservative Democrats and Independents as they did last night, again making us irrelevant. Republicans have learned to win without our votes. And they do it time and time again."

Ms. Nelson continues her commentary: "The question for black voters as we head into the 2010 elections is once again how will we wield our political power? One example of a black woman who played her cards right in this year’s election is former BET billionaire Sheila Johnson. Johnson crossed party lines as a lifelong Democrat and became an early supporter of Bob McDonnell in Virginia — even running ads for him against Democrat Creigh Deeds. She read the tea leaves early and realized that the state was going to move back to the Republicans. Having an important hotel and inn project pending in the very Republican Loudoun County, Va., Johnson knew she had to hedge her bets. This is the kind of critical and strategic partnering that I wish more of us would engage in — she aligned herself with the winner in order to keep her business goals moving forward. The takeaway: Black political power goes far beyond the vote. It’s about how we organize and lobby for issues important to the greater black community. (See Jeff Johnson’s piece on CNN.com about black political power in the age of Obama.) But black voters must realize that when we do not vote, or when we vote for one party (the Democrats) as we usually do, we diminish our importance in the electorate. When that happens, it cuts off access to Republican governors and legislators. They won’t care about our issues. I know this sounds cold, but this is politics. Politicians respond to two things: money and votes. When they win, they empower those that helped to get them elected — usually not us. Sheila Johnson understands this. It’s time for the rest of us to wise up, too."

Duane Brayboy: "Did Black Voters Show Up?"

The conservative blogger in Georgia writes: "Of course we did. But not in the numbers Democrats hoped for. Apparently, that party’s worst fears were confirmed last night as there is very little mention of any polling data on Black voters. This is a stark difference from our last general elections. For me, this is very disturbing because what it shows is that there is still this perception out there that the only change that is required is at the top. Never mind the people who run local precincts (who b.t.w. have much more influence on day to day issues than the President). Other than that, I’m not going to get into giving a post-game show on the elections. If anything, what this showed me two thing: A, Being associated with Obama is not enough with the electorate. B, this the same thing that happens when people get tired of Option A– They go with Option B. The Republican party did not get any better. They were just the other option."

Faye Anderson: "Election 2009: The Obama Factor"

The moderate-liberal blogger sees a blame game happening in the post-election fallout: "It’s all over but the finger-pointing. Republican Bob McDonnell won in Virginia. Over in the Garden State, Chris Christie beat Gov. Jon Corzine. As night follows day, black voters are being blamed for the Democratic losses. Why not blame white independents who voted for McDonnell? Or young voters who didn’t bother to show up? Though President Barack Obama campaigned for the Democratic candidate in Virginia and New Jersey, exit polls show there was not much of an Obama factor."

She continues her commentary: "Truth be told, African Americans are tired of hoping for change. They want a job. They were not fired up to 'keep it going' when the black unemployment rate is higher than it was a year ago. What’s the motivation to turn out to save a former Goldman Sachs chairman’s job or create a job for a bumbling politician? Consider: Recovery.gov reports Virginia created 8,622 jobs. In Camden, New Jersey, where Obama campaigned on Sunday, 132.5 jobs were created by stimulus spending. And get this: The promised 'green jobs' are being created overseas with American taxpayers’ money. The Investigative Reporting Workshop of American University reports that of the $1.05 billion in clean-energy grants, 84 percent -- $849 million -- has been awarded to foreign wind companies. And this: A ProPublica analysis of stimulus spending found that black-owned firms received only two percent of direct federal stimulus contracts. Minority business enterprises disproportionately hire minority workers. BTW, the unofficial winner on Election Night: Fox News. The talking heads could scarcely contain their glee in reporting on the 'grim night' for Democrats."

Darkstar: "'Minor Election' Tuesday Results"

The moderate Republican in Maryland writes: "To all of the race baiting pundits and pundit wannabes, there was a push by 'Black leaders' in local races to get Black people to vote like they did in the presidential election. It didn't work and the levels were down. So, again, we have regular Blacks not following the direction of 'Black leaders.' What does that mean or are you going to stand by your race baiting ways?"