February 24, 2005: Headlines: COS - Ethiopia: Politics: African American Issues: Washington Times: The only person in the last 25 years to defeat a black candidate who became a national figure was 1992 New Hampshire Primary winner Paul Tsongas, who ousted Brooke in 1978

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Ethiopia: Special Report: Ethiopia RPCV, Senator and Presidential Candidate Paul Tsongas: February 9, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: RPCV Paul Tsongas (Ethiopia) : February 24, 2005: Headlines: COS - Ethiopia: Politics: African American Issues: Washington Times: The only person in the last 25 years to defeat a black candidate who became a national figure was 1992 New Hampshire Primary winner Paul Tsongas, who ousted Brooke in 1978

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-123-27.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.123.27) on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 6:43 pm: Edit Post

The only person in the last 25 years to defeat a black candidate who became a national figure was 1992 New Hampshire Primary winner Paul Tsongas, who ousted Brooke in 1978

The only person in the last 25 years to defeat a black candidate who became a national figure was 1992 New Hampshire Primary winner Paul Tsongas, who ousted Brooke in 1978

The only person in the last 25 years to defeat a black candidate who became a national figure was 1992 New Hampshire Primary winner Paul Tsongas, who ousted Brooke in 1978

Commentary: Obama for president?

By Patrick Reddy
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

[Excerpt]

There is something systematically wrong. Why do mediocre white candidates often win the highest-level jobs while black candidates succeed only when everything goes right? Even the slightest error -- a botched turnout drive, a gaffe in a debate or an emotional side issue -- can sink a campaign. There seems to be a "tinted glass ceiling" preventing black candidates from reaching the top offices -- a ceiling held in place by a hard-core group of white voters who, in the words of former Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Parren Mitchell, D-Md., "wouldn't vote for you, even if you walked on water."

More than 20 years ago Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley was almost elected governor of California. The 1982 campaign, which ended in an excruciating one-point upset loss, set up a pattern that has lasted. Bradley's candidacy showed that even blacks who go out of their way to reassure white voters will still face racial barriers that are almost impossible to overcome.

The cause of Bradley's defeat and the source of so many problems for black candidates was the defection of older white Democrats of modest means. Bradley ran ahead of Democratic Senate candidate Jerry Brown with Asian voters, in moderate white suburban areas, in conservative areas like Orange County and liberal enclaves like Santa Monica and Marin County. They ran roughly even among Hispanics. But the only precincts where Brown ran ahead of Bradley were white labor areas like San Francisco, Oakland and Long Beach. These voters tend to live in close proximity to urban black populations and compete with minorities for jobs and living space, hence their racial sensitivity. And it was exactly those Democratic defections that sank Bradley's bid to become the first black governor since Reconstruction -- 4 percent of all voters admitted in an exit poll that they went against Bradley because of his skin color.

With the exception of Obama in 2004, in every black campaign for governor or senator, the pattern has been the same: Older white voters are very reluctant to support blacks. Those who say that race has remained a virtually insurmountable hurdle for blacks can point to the fact that black candidates are routinely defeated in all regions. Even black Republicans are losing badly: Not a single black GOP nominee for governor or senator has won 40 percent since 1978, and white Republicans have been a majority of governors and Congress since 1994.

One sign that the nation is ready to elect a black president will be when white voters start electing black governors, even in red states. To contend seriously for the presidency, Obama will have to prove he can win working-class whites in swing states. John Kennedy did something similar when he carried West Virginia, proving that a Roman Catholic could win over previously hostile Protestant workers.

Obama shattered several records for black candidates for major state office: the highest percentage ever, the greatest share of white and Hispanic votes. However, there is a big difference between a Senate race and a campaign for executive office like mayor, governor or president. Those offices are like a chief executive officer, ultimately responsible for everyone, especially in a crisis. Blacks just don't seem to be trusted in this role yet. I would highly recommend that Obama get some executive experience before running for president.





When this story was posted in February 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Peace Corps Library Date: February 7 2005 No: 438 The Peace Corps Library
Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in over 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related reference material in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about RPCVs who have your same interests, who served in your Country of Service, or who serve in your state.

Make a call for the Peace Corps Date: February 19 2005 No: 453 Make a call for the Peace Corps
PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week.
Peace Corps Calendar:Tempest in a Teapot? Date: February 17 2005 No: 445 Peace Corps Calendar:Tempest in a Teapot?
Bulgarian writer Ognyan Georgiev has written a story which has made the front page of the newspaper "Telegraf" criticizing the photo selection for his country in the 2005 "Peace Corps Calendar" published by RPCVs of Madison, Wisconsin. RPCV Betsy Sergeant Snow, who submitted the photograph for the calendar, has published her reply. Read the stories and leave your comments.

February 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: February 19 2005 No: 449 February 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
NPCA Board positions are open for nomination 17 Feb
Mike Tidwell on trial for climate action protest 17 Feb
Katie Dyer is co-owner of Cadeaux du Monde 16 Feb
Cyclone misses Tonga and Samoa PCVs 16 Feb
Phil Hardberger in debate for Mayor of San Antonio 16 Feb
Edmund Hull is Princeton Diplomat-In-Residence 16 Feb
Bruce Greenlee is longtime friend of Latino community 15 Feb
Mike Honda new vice chairman at DNC 15 Feb
Jospeh Opala documents slave crossing from Sierra Leone 14 Feb
Dear Dr. Brothers: Aren't PCVs Hippies? 14 Feb
Joseph Lanning founded the World Education Fund 14 Feb
Stanley Levine draws Marine and Peace Corps similarities 14 Feb
Speaking Out: JFK envisioned millions of RPCVs 13 Feb
Chris Aquino visits mother's homeland of Vietnam 12 Feb
Is PCOL blocking users from posting messages? 12 Feb
JFK Library opens Sargent Shriver Collection 1 Feb
RPCV responds to Bulgaria Calendar concerns 28 Jan

WWII participants became RPCVs Date: February 13 2005 No: 442 WWII participants became RPCVs
Read about two RPCVs who participated in World War II in very different ways long before there was a Peace Corps. Retired Rear Adm. Francis J. Thomas (RPCV Fiji), a decorated hero of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 at 100. Mary Smeltzer (RPCV Botswana), 89, followed her Japanese students into WWII internment camps. We honor both RPCVs for their service.
Bush's FY06 Budget for the Peace Corps Date: February 7 2005 No: 436 Bush's FY06 Budget for the Peace Corps
The White House is proposing $345 Million for the Peace Corps for FY06 - a $27.7 Million (8.7%) increase that would allow at least two new posts and maintain the existing number of volunteers at approximately 7,700. Bush's 2002 proposal to double the Peace Corps to 14,000 volunteers appears to have been forgotten. The proposed budget still needs to be approved by Congress.
RPCVs mobilize support for Countries of Service Date: January 30 2005 No: 405 RPCVs mobilize support for Countries of Service
RPCV Groups mobilize to support their Countries of Service. Over 200 RPCVS have already applied to the Crisis Corps to provide Tsunami Recovery aid, RPCVs have written a letter urging President Bush and Congress to aid Democracy in Ukraine, and RPCVs are writing NBC about a recent episode of the "West Wing" and asking them to get their facts right about Turkey.
RPCVs contend for Academy Awards  Date: January 31 2005 No: 416 RPCVs contend for Academy Awards
Bolivia RPCV Taylor Hackford's film "Ray" is up for awards in six categories including best picture, best actor and best director. "Autism Is a World" co-produced by Sierra Leone RPCV Douglas Biklen and nominated for best Documentary Short Subject, seeks to increase awareness of developmental disabilities. Colombian film "El Rey," previously in the running for the foreign-language award, includes the urban legend that PCVs teamed up with El Rey to bring cocaine to U.S. soil.
Ask Not Date: January 18 2005 No: 388 Ask Not
As our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

Read the stories and leave your comments.






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Story Source: Washington Times

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ethiopia; Politics; African American Issues

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