May 26, 2008

Lack of Diversity in DemConvention State Blogger Corps Angers Afrosphere

UPDATE: Pam Spaulding the owner of Pam's House Blend (BBR #2) provides a comprehensive update on this issue based on her telecon with DNC operative Aaron Myers.


The Democratic Party has a unique opportunity in November to reclaim the White House as well as working majorities in both the US Senate and House of Representatives in the 2008 election cycle. Every imaginable wind is blowing in their direction --> economy, Iraq war, unemployment rate, John Hagee, gas prices, food prices, George W. Bush and so on.

However, instead of rising proudly and confidently towards this new political nirvana ... we see the Democrats shoot themselves in the foot. Displaying a remarkable sense of insensitivity and arrogance, the Democratic Party recently announced state blog credentials to cover the national convention in Denver will be given to 55 white-only state blogs.

This newly-annointed group is known as the DemConvention State Blogger Corps. The sister running the Democratic National Convention Committee says, "...I'm excited about the roles these bloggers will have in engaging an even broader, more diverse base of people from around the country in conversations not only about the Convention, but about the future of our nation."

Barack Obama can't become the nominee quick enough for me. I'm confident that he wouldn't accept a process that results in 50-of-50 state bloggers being white-only and male-only.



Not a single blogger from the afrosphere made the cut. African American Political Pundit, Faye Anderson, Yobachi Boswell, Francis Holland, Pam Spaulding, Shawn Williams and others have been working behind the scenes with the Howard Dean's crew to make them aware of this major oversight and provide them with some options and opportunities to quickly fix the problem.



The issue is beginning to bubble up on the national radar with recent articles in the Los Angeles Times, Dallas Morning News and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

If the Democratic Party can't fix this racial divide with bloggers ... what hope do we have to fix the racial divide being fanned by Hillary & Bill Clinton?

Villagers, are we making a mountain out of a molehill ... or do you agree that it is shocking in the 21st century that we still have evidence of Jim Crow justice in our national politics?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Racism, discrimination, bigotry, marginalization, et al knows no political affiliation.

There is no reason for Black people to insist or believe the Republicans are the racist party and Democrats are our friends. Stop judging based on political party and judge based on the individual.

Truthiz said...

"Villagers, are we making a mountain out of a molehill?"

No.

"or do you agree that it is shocking in the 21st century that we still have evidence of Jim Crow justice in our national politics?"

No.

I left the DemocRATic party 4 years ago after finally accepting the fact that that Party is just as Corrupt and just as Racist_(perhpas even moreso?) as the Republican Party.

"It's the America way."

Unknown said...

Symphony - Your point is well-taken. We need to hold both parties accountable for their actions when they impact on people of African descent...

Truthiz - You may have done the right thing 4 years ago ... especially when you realize how vanilla John Kerry was on the national level. Anyhow, I hope we can get this blogger issue resolved with the DNCC. Turns out that it is a Black women serving as CEO for the convention...

blackgirl on mars said...

I'm so happy that this is being covered--Thanks once again for making some noise on what needs to be noticed. Great job and no, I'm nt surprised...
Sigh...
the lab

blackgirl on mars said...

..or shocked that we still have evidence of Jim Crow justice in our national politics...
sigh again!

Unknown said...

LAB - Actually, I'm behind the curve on this one. The original protest was started with some of the bloggers that I listed in the post ... Francis, Yobachi, Gina McCauley and so forth.

HustleKnocker said...

How long are the Dems gonna take Black folks for granted only to have us get upset about being taken for granted? It's not new. We're their mascots. Make them pay.

Do our own political convention--one that included black folks from all political persuasions so we can critically discuss and analyze what all the candidates/parties are doing/not doing for us.

Unknown said...

KTHustle - One such convention, known as Bring Back Black Convention a few months ago...

SheCodes said...

Barack Obama can't become the nominee quick enough for me. I'm confident that he wouldn't accept a process that results in 50-of-50 state bloggers being white-only and male-only.

What is he saying about this NOW? Why are Black issues on the 'I *hope* he'll deal with this later list' with him? Why aren't we challenging him to speak up on this matter?

When you have 92% of support from a certain constituency, their concerns should become top priority to you. I have not seen this with Barack Obama.

If gun totin' uneducated white folk were complaining about something, McCain, Clinton, AND Obama would be all ears.