Lying
by the numbers
Associate Editor Bruce Dixon's dismantling of the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution's contrived "study" of the Denise
Majette - Cynthia McKinney primary election resonated among our readership.
"Denise Majette's claims to substantial African American support
in the August election, as well as the political conclusions offered
by the newspaper and the many media outlets that have cited its reports,
are based on phantom voters, wishful thinking and phony numbers - lies
made of whole cloth," Dixon wrote. Neither was there "evidence
in 'predominantly black precincts' of sufficient black Majette voters
to indicate a new, rightward trend in DeKalb County, Georgia - much
less to extrapolate for the rest of black America." (See "The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Bogus Election 'Study,'" Nov.
4 issue.)
Darryl
Cox is a strategic planner and knows something about numbers. Cox applauds
our analysis, but questions the tone of the article. He also believes
Cynthia McKinney shares some of the responsibility for her own defeat.
Bravo!!
Your study is a sorely needed antidote to the superficial and misinformed
analyses we have been presented with to date regarding the electoral
contest between Rep. Cynthia McKinney and Denise Majette. I would
like to offer two criticisms or comments about your report, although
neither of them refutes your thesis about the election. One, Rep.
McKinney's shares a portion of the blame for her vilification at least
with regard to her comments about whether President Bush had prior
knowledge of the attacks on September 11. Surely, she should have
had enough political sense and common, garden-variety mother wit to
know that making comments of this type would energize her political
opponents and move many of them not to vote for the eventual Republican
primary winner but, rather, for her major Democratic primary opponent.
If Rep. McKinney did not foresee the consequences of her statements
about the president then she was guilty either of hubris or gross
naiveté or both. She and her supporters simply cannot claim
to be victims as though they had little or no role, in provoking their
attackers.
My
final comment pertains to your suggesting that Denise Majette be shunned
and "shamed at every opportunity." I understand the righteous
anger you feel toward her and all that she represents. Black people
have always had to deal with the proverbial "Trojan Horse"
in our midst. What concerns me, however, is that I believe that you
undercut and diminish the power of your analysis by publicly expressing
this degree of animosity toward Majette. Your study, in my opinion,
effectively undercuts her claims of having attained a certain degree
of legitimacy within the black community. Suggesting or demanding
that she be shunned makes it appear that you only have an axe to grind
and that your real aim is not to bring about clarity and truth but
to skewer your political enemies.
Bruce
Dixon Replies:
Thank
you for your thoughtful comments. The new representative from Georgia's
4th district was elected despite a four to one black vote against
her in the primary, and like many Democrats, she expected and got
virtually all the black vote cast in November. For the next two years,
the only powers people of color will have over Denise Majette are
those of public shame and opprobrium. To suggest the exercise of these
purely social sanctions somehow "undercuts" the position
that she is an enemy artifact planted in a position of ostensible
leadership among us, a Trojan Horse, is just a little strange.
Denise
Majette benefited from a campaign of unmatched nastiness. Her supporters
publicly questioned McKinney's motives, patriotism, character and
more. Majette is nowhere on record cautioning them about their lack
of civility. She even joined in, claiming that McKinney was funded
by people "linked to" terrorism. Majette and her supporters
were simply enforcing the consensus of corporate America, in which
anyone questioning the "war on terrorism" is fair game for
slander and vituperation.
Similarly,
in recent days the enforcers of the Corporate Consensus have tried
to convince us that use of the labels "house slave", "Uncle
Tom" and "Darth Vader in the body of a black woman"
as applied to its ex-generals, supreme court justices and national
security advisors are vile racist epithets sufficient to require the
denouncing and dismissal of any who utter them as beyond the pale.
Let's
not be fooled. We have the right to access our own collective experience,
our own American history to express shared feelings about the behaviors
of public officials who do what they do with our money and in our
name. There is no reason to pretend that Majette's pose as some new
kind of black leader is legit. Clarence Thomas would not feel comfortable
in a room with a lot of African Americans, and for good reason. Neither
should Denise Majette.
An
important part of our publication's reason for existence is to reveal
the lies at the heart of corporate media-spun myths. We appreciate these
words of encouragement from reader, Al Kamara.
Great
piece of research. If possible let us have the truth of the numbers
behind the Republican wins in the recent elections. We have the intuitive
belief that the Republican Party has become the refuge of most whites
since 1965 in their attempts to maintain racial privileges legally
lost with desegregation legislation. In other words, the big question
is what percentage of white voters voted Republican this time around?
And what percentage of the Democrat vote was white?
Gender
breakdowns will also be revealing. We suspect Bush's wins have nothing
to do with him at all but rather everything to do with the perception
that his party will do everything to "protect" white interests
even to the point of cutting off noses to spite faces. This would
mean that whites will overlook corporate scandals, bad economic policies,
tax cuts for the rich - at their won expense so long as white racial
interests are seen to be protected with racist, rightwing judges,
locking up more blacks, slaughtering Iraqis, etc.
Loretta
Renford is a tireless organizer and truth-disseminator. We're glad she's
on our side.
I
am thoroughly amazed, yet proud that The Black Commentator, Bruce
Dixon and others continue to investigate and put together a solid
piece of indisputable facts that expose the slick entry of the Trojan
Horse in our midst.
Again,
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney deserves our continued support and
another apology as the charlatans once more move among us, sliding
into the honored seats in our weakening political arena. While most
of our eyes and ears were opened to observe, we heard the pre-acceptance
speech of the Congressional Black Caucus, accepting another Trojan
Horse into its midst. We demand that they take steps to eject this
charlatan based on her disgraceful entry as an elected representative
of Georgia's 4th district. Perhaps, if all the allegations are true,
maybe they are getting their just desserts. But, not all voters were
involved in this disgraceful plot to unseat Congresswoman McKinney.
Now,
where do we go from here? Where and when will the outrage become such
an unbearable burning in our bellies? Will we ever stand for justice
and kick these Clarence Thomas-like gutless wonders in the butt and
make all of them accountable and respectful to our people? We need
politicians that choose not to prostitute themselves or the people
they represent.
and staff... Keep up the good work. I thank you on
behalf of all.
We
at
firmly believe that, ultimately, the Black Trojan Horse
strategy will collapse under the scrutiny of a wise people. However,
there will be many defeats along the way. People like Ms. Renford keep
us strong and alert.
Actin'
the fool
CherylAnn
enjoyed our Briefs section in the October 17 issue, especially the rundown
on George Bush's mock-insanity.
Congratulations
on this wonderfully written article, describing our present state
of affairs so very succinctly. (Of course the article was written
before election-day depression set in.)
When
I reached the subtitle "Lethally Stupid" I was totally amazed
by the truths that are staring all of American's in the face yet they
seem to be mesmerized by this "regime"! I know that there
has been several references to Hitler and our present "chief
of stuff" but the influence isn't only the persuasiveness of
the so-called "down home" type charisma... no, this is a
far more nefarious "regime".
"You're
not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face
reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or who says it."
- Malcolm X
Anyone
who quotes Malcolm cannot be too far wrong.
Wild
about Harry
Mail
continues to arrive from readers of Harry Belafonte's Larry King Live
interview, reprinted here, in which the singer/activist dramatically
explained the difference between Colin Powell, the Role Model, and the
actual role he plays for the Bush Administration.
Reader
Russell offered these comments:
I
was not surprised, but encouraged, by Mr. Belafonte's candid remarks.
He lets me relish in the idea that there are still men out there that
think for themselves and do not follow the rest of the cattle. This
perspective that we are all being spoon fed by the mega media does
nothing but promote piracy on a worldwide scale. This country, faults
and all, deserves a better role than that of thieves stealing the
resources of weaker countries around the world. It appears we will
ignore the "threats" of more powerful nations and only flex
our muscles when our opponents are obviously weaker. The problem with
the bully picking his battles to make himself appear strong is that
the size of the dog in the fight is not nearly as important as the
size of the fight in the dog. Thank you to Mr. Belafonte for letting
the world know the people of this country are not behind the policies
of our illegal leaders.
We
call our readers' attention to the sad and silly statements by Rev.
Al Sharpton and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) on Harry Belafonte's criticism
of Colin Powell, in the Briefs column of this issue.
David
Oberweiser has greetings, observations and a prediction.
Sisters
and Brothers: Wish I could send more than praise for the work you
have done. The Belafonte interview is a jewel and most commentary
on our corrupt racist politics is on the money. Stay the course in
these stormy seas. We may get the shit knocked out of us for now,
but once the people really unite, we shall prevail.
That's
why we do what we do.
Keep
writing.
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