Election 2008

Are Minorities Being Intimidated For Not Supporting Obama?

March 2008

Black Hillary Supporters May Be
Receiving Death Threats

There's mounting evidence that at least some of Obama's faithful intend to see a black American president sworn in next year – no matter what. A summary of facts from a story appearing recently at AmericanThinker.com by Marc Shepphard leads to some pretty disturbing conclusions:

• Earlier this month, popular black author and talk-show host Tavis Smiley disclosed that he’d received death threats from those accusing him of blasphemy against their black prophet, Barak Obama.
• Then, at Saturday's Smiley-hosted State of the Black Union forum, Congressional Black Caucus member Stephanie Tubbs Jones lent credence to Smiley's claim by suggesting that many black elected officials not swearing allegiance to Obama have also been the target of violent threats.
• While widely ignored by the mainstream media, the implications of this phenomenon are troubling.
• The very prospect of physical intimidation as a means of garnering political compliance from Americans reawakens frightening images of the thuggish antics of the infamous William M "Boss" Tweed in mid-nineteenth century New York.
• The Country weathered the 2000 election debacle without even the threat of bloodshed. Will the historic prospect of a black Presidential nominee become the occasion for a shameful return to the iniquitous days of Tammany Hall?
• Not surprisingly, no one in the black community has come forward with specific complaints. But here's what we do know.
• For nine years running, Smiley has hosted the annual symposium of black college professors, politicians, activists, and entertainers during Black History Month, discussing matters of concern to those whose heritage the month honors.
• This year, Barack Obama declined an invitation – which was accepted by Hillary Clinton – to address the panel of black dignitaries in New Orleans.
• The Illinois senator and presidential hopeful's unexpected rejection prompted a disappointed Smiley to blast the decision as a "major mistake," and that's when the trouble allegedly began.
• Smiley’s perceived racial apostasy apparently sparked not only thousands of angry emails labeling him as a "hater, sellout and traitor," – but also the relentless harassment of his entire family.
• And, while he has yet to elaborate, Smiley has also mentioned the matter of death threats - apparently leveled at him for the mere suggestion that the mighty and sainted Obama had somehow erred.
• As it turned out, round one of the conference featured two CBC members - one an Obama backer and the other a Clinton stumper. You'll likely be as surprised as I was to learn that the Caucus is actually split rather neatly down the middle in their support for the two Democratic candidates.
• And, while DC congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton spoke of the requisite racial solidarity, Tubbs Jones revealed a true affinity for Clinton's sisterhood message, admitting that she had committed to Hillary's feminist positions and election some 15 years ago.
• That was, of course, long before anyone had even considered a possible race/gender dilemma for black women. The Ohio Democrat spoke quite convincingly of sexism trumping racism and the need for women to finally shatter that immutable "glass ceiling."
• Listening to her passionately address women's issues and considering her voting record on such concerns as Child Health Insurance Programs, one could hardly question her pro-Hillary decision. But then she spoke with equal earnest of a darker truth hanging over black Clinton supporters:
• "There are some black elected officials who have earned their stripes, who've had to change their phone numbers two or three times because of the calls being made to them about the positions they are taking in this election. Shame on us.

Get The Full Scoop

February 26, 2008

Black Hillary Supporters May Be Receiving Death Threats
By Marc Sheppard

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Our Take

It is a shame that racism is a factor at all in this time and place in America. Hands down every American voter should be able to vote for their preferred candidate – that the candidate is white, black, male, female, should not matter at all. What should matter is experience, leadership, honor, integrity and mettle when it’s needed. There is no place on our list for race or gender. May the best candidate win.