-The racists in this drama are the media…
No matter how incessantly the Drive-by media talks about white and black voters, the change in the relative fortunes of frontrunner Mary Norwood and runner-up Kasim Reed is about leadership qualities, and not the relative pigmentation of their skins.
Less than 48 hours ago, polls showed Mary Norwood might be able to garner 50% plus one vote and succeed Shirley Franklin as Mayor of Atlanta. Then the only poll that matters reared its head (Norwood 46%, Reed 36%), and it turns out that many Northern Atlanta voters in mostly Republican areas came in less enthusiastically than expected for their supposed Buckhead champion. She now faces a run-off against surging Kasim Reed.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is already peddling the racist line that is par for the course that has them regularly referred to as the Urinal-Constipation.
Don’t believe a word of it.
This conservative Republican knows better, which is why I announced my support for Reed yesterday.
Mary Norwood blew it by being equivocal about her Republican past. Mary must have forgotten that conservative Republicans are proud to be so, and proud of the candidates they have supported at least beginning with Ronald Reagan. Mary Norwood also must have forgotten that most all voters appreciate strength, leadership and honesty in an executive leader.
Kasim Reed did not forget this. He knows who he is, what he stands for, and is proud of it. Bravo!
I left the Democratic Party nine years ago last summer, and so I have major problems with many of the positions of Reed, and Norwood for that matter, given her apparent liberal conversion in the 90s. But liberal/conservative doesn’t matter that much the more local the race, and Reed is conservative on all the right issues for the City of Atlanta.
Mary Norwood’s only chance, if she has one, is to come clean on her past and turn out more of her supporters in the run-off than Reed.
But no matter who wins this race, Atlanta’s reputation matters most to me, and I don’t trust the simplistic, operationally racist, Drive-by media to be able to look past the skin color of the voters and the candidates. It makes me wonder if the purveyors of the racism charge are projecting their own racism, or that of their own institutions, onto others.
Atlantans can, have and will, and they see major differences between Reed and Norwood under their respective skins. Let’s let the coverage and conduct of this race leading to the run-off be an indictment of the racist media, and not Atlanta.
Atlantans are too busy for that kind of hate. After all, we have a city to run.
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Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer, Examiner.com and Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Originally published @ Examiner.com, where all verification links may be accessed.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:28 am
You left the Democratic party?!?!?!?!?!?!
November 4th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Heath, I was county chairman of the dem party in my home county in SC; precinct chair; delgate to state conventions and national conventions; lost in a race for council; campaign manager for winning legislative candidates; and was even a delegate for Jesse Jackson in the 80s!
November 4th, 2009 at 10:16 am
until 2000
November 4th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Fiorina announces Senate bid: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/04/fiorina-expected-announce-senate-bid/?test=latestnews
November 4th, 2009 at 11:59 am
LOL @ Gamecock, I’m sure Heath was being sarcastic since you retell that story in so many of your columns.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I live in ATL and I followed the election closely. It is all about race–nothing more. Gamecock is full of it.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
#5 I thought that might be the case, but can take no chances that any one doesn’t know of my epiphany! lol
November 4th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
#6 I live in Atlanta as well, and yes, I just ate.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Too bad Shirley Franklin can’t run again, she’s been a good mayor, very businesslike and nonpartisan.
I too think Reed would probably be the better of the two as a leader.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I too live in Atlanta and have watched the race. I mostly agree with Governor Rick Perry above. It’s not completely about race but race has been a huge component and it will be even more important in the run-off.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
The media talks about race. #10
Amen on Franklin #9
November 12th, 2009 at 4:34 am
Lisa Borders missed an extraordinary oppurtunity to define her own character and
move in a surpsiing direction by endorsing Norwood. Her own career would have taken off with such a historic endorsement and would have secured her any future political position ANYWHERE in Georgia.
I’m a Black college student in Atlanta. If Norwood doesn’t win, I’m leaving this backwards city upon graduation and moving to a place where Black people don’t behave this way. Reverse racism sucks!
Un-be-lievable.