Update, 10:20 p.m.: We're hearing now that several black leaders in the community (not Lumpkin) are not being invited to sit on the stage during Obama's talk.
Update, 12:30 p.m.: Just heard from County Board Supervisor Ken Lumpkin who was trying to get involved with the visit. The response he got from local organizers: "You can volunteer." Lumpkin's response: "I'm not holding doors open for anybody."
A representative from the Obama campaign is scheduled to meet with local black leaders this morning. The lack of outreach to the black community will be one of the issues they discuss. "Isn't this supposed to be a campaign of inclusion?" Lumpkin asked.
Gaynell Dyess, Michael Shields and Donnie Snow have also not been contacted regarding Obama's visit. Lumpkin is working to organize a local black leaders group in support of Obama.
Original post: We're hearing that Racine Mayor Gary Becker and State Rep. Cory Mason are under fire for not reaching out to African Americans ahead of Barack Obama's visit to Racine on Wednesday. There's apparently some movement to include local black leaders, but only after the black leaders asked to be included. It'd be interesting to know what Obama thought about including minorities in his town hall meetings, particularly in a diverse city like Racine.
Original post: We're hearing that Racine Mayor Gary Becker and State Rep. Cory Mason are under fire for not reaching out to African Americans ahead of Barack Obama's visit to Racine on Wednesday. There's apparently some movement to include local black leaders, but only after the black leaders asked to be included. It'd be interesting to know what Obama thought about including minorities in his town hall meetings, particularly in a diverse city like Racine.
"The leader's response: 'I'm not holding doors open for anybody.'"
ReplyDeleteIf I believed in a candidate, I would gladly hold doors open for him or her, or perform any other task that would help their campaign. This attitude is typical of the posturing and grandstanding that takes place on any side of any issue in Racine. The "leaders" in our community (white, black, brown, red, yellow, purple, or green) are conceited, arrogant pigs who cannot address any of our city's problems without tripping over their own egos.
I have to agree with orbscorbs observation. The "i'm not holding doors open for anybody" comment is the typical attitude of many Racine officials or so called leaders.
ReplyDeleteIts unfortunate because this kind of attitude spreads, and has a drastic effect on the community when its time collaborate to solve community problems.
I'm not holding doors for anybody???!!! Why would Obama's people want to waste their time on anyone unwilling to work or volunteer for them?
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to know who the real "black leaders" are in Racine. While a person may be an alderman, it doesn't by any means make them a "leader".
The truth of the matter is, the usual suspects come out at every major election with their hands held out looking for money from the candidates. In fact, I'm sure they are the very same people who are on the "black leader" list.
Disgusting.
The more that these so-called community leaders mention race, the longer racism will linger! Why do they expect preferential treatment because of their, or anyone's for that matter, color??????? THIS IS WHAT RACISM IS!!!!
ReplyDeleteRace will always will be an issue in America like it or not. Nevertheless, the arrogance characterized in the quote says a lot about the leadership style of that person. And again I concur with orbcorbs, that this type of attitude characterizes MOST of the leadership in Racine, and is not just a characteristic displayed by black leaders.
ReplyDeleteI still believe that as an elected offical should be able to meet national, state, and oother local officals to tell the great story of Racine when ever possible. This has little to do with an ego and more to do with serving the people who elected me.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that Mayor Becker nor State Rep Cory Mason would be asked to serve as doormen at this event.
This not to be a whinner but a voice for the voicless.
This a CAMPAIGN. The candidates don't have time to come around and stroke fragile egos. Yes this is about egos whether anyone wants to admit it or not.
ReplyDeleteMr. Lumpkin, this has nothing to do with serving the people who elected you. The people who elected you will also help elect our next president, and they will be out helping the candidates while you are at home in your corner sulking because you didn't get enough attention. Wah wah wah WAAAAHHHHHH!!!
The Obama groupies are so respectful and inclusive.
ReplyDeleteI have never met more obnoxious people that were campaigning than these Obama people. Absolutely arrogant. Latte' liberals at best. I'm not talking about just the politicians, who are all out there for their own careers, I mean almost all their people are downright snobs. It's just like Bush people. They act the exact same.
ReplyDeleteObama doesn't need to be nice to Black leaders in Racine because he has the black vote all sewn up here. He needs the white liberal voters who can pat themselves on the back and say how totally color blind they are like that's a good thing!
ReplyDeleteMayor Becker thinks that if he jumps on this Obama train it's going to make all the black residents think he's not so racist afterall. Big surprise for them when this is over.
Come on Mr. Lumpkin... meeting Sen. Obama is hardly part of your job; it is pure ego massaging.
ReplyDeleteHow many other aldermen or supervisors wee included??? My guess is you just want to be paid attention to, because getting to shake Sen. Obama's hand will not help your district. Now getting him elected might help us all, so maybe the whining from Shields, Lumpkin and Hicks can stop and they can get to work.
You know the so called black leaders want to be invited, they didn't reach out to Obama, they were waiting for the campaign to stroke the damn egos. Well, I agree, if I believe in a candidate, I would hold the door open, do lit drops, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that the black community expects things on a platter and be spoon fed. It isn't that way with a campaign. For those who worked, actually worked a campaign, you put the egos aside, you work the phones, you work at whatever you can do to mush forward. If you don't, there isn't time to stroke your ego.
As for the NAACP, pick up the phone and call for tickets. There is no guarantee that the tickets would have been distrbuted and just sit in someone's purse or wallet like old raffle tickets.
Yup, get involved by volunteering or move aside. It is time for a change in more ways than one.
"Gaynell Dyess, Michael Shields and Donnie Snow have also not been contacted regarding Obama's visit. Lumpkin is working to organize a local black leaders group in support of Obama."
ReplyDeleteYou mean Lumpkin hasn't already organized local black leaders MONTHS AGO?? NOW you are thinking about it.
You guys don't deserve to be onstage. Being black doesn't mean you get anymore attention than anyone else who call and pick up tickets.
"The fact is that the black community expects things on a platter and be spoon fed."
ReplyDeleteThe last thing that the black community expects is to be given ANYTHING in America. Black Americans have fought and died for every civil right that white Americans were privileged to have because of their white skin.
Reading these arrogant posts instructing the black community how to become active citizens in society just shows how ignorant people are when it comes to the black community.
The black community knows how to mobilize themselves when necessary. If you doubt this, I challenge you to research the history of American society.
Its obvious the black leaders were not left out of this Obama event, but to insult the black community because a few local black politicians feel left out is inappropriate.
We know our American History, and what the dickens is the Racine black leadership waiting for in the Obama campaign? When was Lumpkin thinking of immobilizing? When was the last time he actually walked in a literature drop? He sure hasn't been around and neither has Mike Sheilds when it comes to actual work. Sorry, but when a few egotistical "leaders" are just thinking of getting a black group together for Obama campaign, it should have started months ago. This campaign is different, it is a steamroller of change. If you don't work for it, it will find others who will and will be more than happy to work for it.
ReplyDeleteChange means no color, change means a different America and Obama is the one to do it.
If you know American History then,your post should reflect it. Its on thing to criticize individuals, and another to criticize a community.
ReplyDeleteYes, Obama represents change,and this country needs change badly. I would say more but I have more pressing things to do.
It's unfortunate that the community's black leaders were not included in the initial alert for Obama's visit. However, there are some things that should be kept private and discussed direclty with the people involved. In my opinion, this is one of them.
ReplyDeleteWhose idea was it to take this matter to the front page of the local newspapers and this online journal? This "news" really doesn't serve anyone and takes away from the message of the candidate, which is an important one. And how unfortunate that people -- and on this blog! -- are getting polarized into this "us" and "them" group.
Note that Obama is coming to Racine County, not Walworth, not Kenosha, etc., and he is coming n doubt due to the activity from local community leaders. Mayor Becker and Rep. Cory Mason have been endorsing and organizing for Obama for months; I saw a sticker on the front window of his house in early December 2007.
Let's forgive, understand and work together. We've got a lot of problems in this community and in this country that need to be addressed.
I'm embarrassed that we have leaders who think saying "change" makes it so.
ReplyDeleteI'll be saving a lot of money and time by not working for their campaigns in the future.
We all need to stop putting people into groups. We are all individuals. Like Gaynell Deyess. She has the right attitude!
ReplyDeleteIf the Obama campaign really wanted to include members of the black community then why did they not ask a black owned business to handle handing out tickets instead of the all white artist studio?
ReplyDeleteI'm not talking about black leaders. I'm talking about the real black community residents. There are black owned businsses besides Insider News that would have been honored to have been asked to be the pick up spot for tickets and they could use the business.
Instead becker and mason used the artist studio witch is all white and upper class.
What a hoot.
ReplyDeleteI love hearing from the black politicians that feel they were left out.
Such gall.
I can tell you this alderman was not included - nor were any others. I can also tell you that the Bush campaign routinely ignored the local GOP party chairman because they had their own people.
ReplyDeleteI find it sad that we have the next JFK coming to Racine and people are asking what can the candidate do for them, not what they can do for the candidate.
One other thing - these national campaigns have better things to do than be used as fodder in your petty spats with each other.
You mean to say it wasn't only the black "leaders" in Racine that weren't personally notified but the white ones weren't personally notified either?
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of babies. Lumpkin should be embarrassed. Shields, Lumpkin and Beverly need to realize they are not as important as they'd like to think they are. They all sound ridiculous, I wouldn't blame the Obama people for never showing up in Racine again.
Greg Helding supporting Obama by calling him the next JFK. Now I've seen it all.
ReplyDeleteI'm black and embarrassed, period. Its about servant leadership, and its obvious we have the wrong people in leadership positions in this community. Obama did not have to come here, and I wish he had not come, if it would detrimental to his campaign. I have been supporting Obama before Iowa, and many black people don't support him. The NAACP has not endorsed Obama,so why should he invite them to HIS CAMPAIGN? Local black leaders have made blunders before but this is one has a chance of becoming the most historical blunder ever!
ReplyDelete