While reflecting on the struggles and epic journey that has resulted in the Government of the United States enacting an official Federal holiday in recognition of the work and contribution of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. there remains many ironies, paradoxes and insidious resistance.  From this writer’s local perspective as a recent resident of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands I took note that this territory of the United States was among the first in the nation to endorse and recognize the MLK Jr. Federal holiday.

Interestingly enough on the occasion of the 2012 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on the island of St. Croix there is no mention of the occasion in the Virgin Islands Daily News, a major VI newspaper. This glaring omission most likely did not result by accident or oversight, accordingly the silence, vis-à-vis, omission, speaks bold and vociferously as to the state of “race” relations in the VI going forward. The volume and intensity generated by the MLK Jr. omission, was expressed on some Virgin Islands radio talk shows.  Moreover, there is virtually nothing to report on the official agenda of the predominantly black legislature and executive branches of government.

On the mainland of the United States, activities commemorating the occasion are manifold and include federal, state, and municipal government, in conjunction with a broad range of community based activities in churches, community organizations, schools and other sectors of society.  For those of us that were of age, or who were a part of that tumultuous period in America during the 1960’s, lament the fact that the great and noble Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was being vilified by most of his colleagues in the clergy and civil rights movement during the time that he was assassinated.

The level of vituperation from the community at large without question acquiesced to the odious adverse political energies that conspired to eliminate the “most dangerous man in America.” In the context of celebrating the MLK Jr. Holiday occasion, the most popular feature that is promoted for the general public appreciation is his “I have a dream” speech. In addition, his “we shall overcome” social and political mantra has crystallized into the international political consciousness.

Unfortunately, notwithstanding the fact that we have a black American as the President of the United States, and the historical victories of the civil rights movement during the 1960s and 1970s; black Americans are a political weakling in terms of percentages as compared to other ethnic minority communities. The black American community has enjoyed an historical numerical advantage as compared to other political “minority” communities, such as women, and gays for example but they enjoy proportionally more political leverage than the black community.

The quality of black American political leadership at the clerical and community based levels has seriously declined, since the passing of America’s “prince of peace.” The “responsible” black civil rights leadership in the clergy and some of the few elected black officials in the early 1960s also distanced themselves from MLK Jr. particularly following is controversial public position against the Viet Nam war. Currently black American political leadership, elected and unelected, leaves much more to be desired. According some in the community are suggesting that the “slavery chains are now in the brains.”

As the significance and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. continues to be exploited, misrepresented and parodied, we are among those who pray that the soul of this great human being rests in eternal peace, and that his spirit energy inspires others going forward.

GOP presidential nomination politics has always been virtually beyond black participation except for the occasional cameo way back in the day.  More recently however, no black political cameos are sought, and are categorically not desired by the Republican Party’s field of hopefuls, seeking the party nod.  As a political matter of fact, GOP hopefuls vying for the party’s presidential nomination would run the risk of putting a political albatross around his neck, should he reach-out to the black community at this stage of the political power game.  On the contrary, the candidates during this point in the nomination process must demonstrate indifference to the black American community at best as an initial litmus test…

Since the emergence of the social conservative movement’s domination of the national Republican Party nomination process and agenda, during the Reagan era, the presence of black Americans on the national stage was politically correct symbolism.  Currently, the social conservatives share control of GOP presidential politics and national agenda with the newly fledged Tea Party movement and Evangelical conservatives.  Consequently, the once vibrant contingent of black Republican’s following the Reagan era, were relegated to the sidelines as President H. W. Bush’s “Negro leadership” dropped the political ball, leading up to his stunning re-election defeat in 1992.  Hence, Black Republican participation in presidential nomination politics is essentially none existent.

These are the objective political facts on the ground, notwithstanding Republican Party presidential candidate anomalies such as Mr. Allan Keys and the incomparable Mr. Henry Cain.  The advent of these respective campaigns and candidates of political convenience, may or may not have served their intended objectives well; however, it was abundantly clear to astute political observers and analysts that in neither instance did the candidate have organic political legs at the grassroots or at any other level, prior to their qualifying as a legal candidate.  Because of those circumstances it was virtually a foregone conclusion that their respective campaigns could not be sustained beyond the first lap sorting out process.

Black Republican voters receive the obligatory political mention during the staging of the general election’s popularity contest, following the official launching of the respective conservative and liberal political dichotomies.   At that time the requisite juxtaposed talking points, issue parameters and the political universe of discourse already been advanced by political spinsters and operatives.  Than the political horse race begins entertaining and engaging the American multitudes, as the blow-by-blow and political hyperbole get underway, in earnest.  The politically constricted and tiny elite also known as the Republican Party right wing may have again managed to exercise its hegemony over national party politics and policy agenda, with the largess of some dubious sources.  Nevertheless, the behavior of the conservative controlling wing of the GOP by repeating their short comings in election 2012 that highlighted 2008 political spanking , have proven that they can hi-jack political control, but cannot sustain political growth or achieve a presidential victory.

An array of consequential domestic and foreign policy issues remain front and center, but the problems associated with addressing these issues are compounded by two eight-hundred pound gorillas in the room.  The perception of religious imperialism on one hand, and on the other, the perception of insensitivity on the part of the prevailing party leadership on policy matters that pertain to “race,” in particular may be plaguing the prospect of forward movement.  Moreover, there seems to be a growing element that may potentially constitute a silent majority, or perhaps a critical mass may be prepared to take the ultimate political option available which is to reject the party’s presidential nominee.  While it remains to be seen whether the ultimate nominee will be the candidate with the best chances to win in the general election, or if the Tea Party and Evangelical conservative contingents will impose their hegemonic superiority and prevail at the end of the day with their, anybody but Romney political imperative.

Black Republicans are not the only GOP constituents paying close attention to the political folly and gotcha policies that stymies movement of the peoples business, in favor of political shenanigans that serves no one… There is a diverse and eclectic mix of voters across the demographic spectrum including, workers, business people and professional in varying disciplines prepared to reclaim the radical legacy and brand that is the real-time history of the Grand Old Party. Who will get the nod at the end of this process is any bodies flavor at this point.  But the ultimate winner of the GOP nomination may be the political straw that breaks the camel’s back…

"Gary James"

The following link is a 2008 interview of Gary James a leader of the grassroots activist wing of the Republican Party headquartered in Harlem New York, www.nbgop.net . James is interviewed by Jacob Templin a student of the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York.  The interview was done in October of 2008 a couple weeks prior to the presidential election.  James was asked to respond to comments made by a local GOP district leader in Harlem, that candidate Obama is the reason why the “Harlem Republican Club” has recently closed it doors. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=59289114

Under the calming facade of leaning palm trees, private beaches, transparent turquoise blue waters surrounding the tropical islands of the Virgin Islands, a lurking political tsunami is now in motion. The United States Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas), in conjunction with the other islands of the Caribbean archipelago, boost the distinction of being among the most popular vacation destinations in the world.

The Virgin Islands paradise became a possession of the United States in 1917, following their purchase from Denmark for the sum of twenty-five million dollars. Previously known as the “Danish West Indies,” the three Caribbean islands nearest to the American mainland became the US Virgin Islands during a formal ceremony called Transfer Day. Transfer Day occurred on March 31, 1917, and is currently celebrated annually on that day, as a local holiday, in the Virgin Island as well as in Denmark.

The Virgin Islands are an unincorporated territory under the auspices of the United States Congress, and is administered by the US Department of Interior. The population is about one hundred and ten thousand, and is approximately eighty-five percent black, while the Government in terms of the executive, legislative and judicial branches is about ninety-five percent black. The chief executive officer of the territory is the governor, who is elected locally. And because of its status as a territory, its residents are citizens of the United States however they are prohibited from voting for the President of the United States.

Over the decades political tidal waves have occurred raising alarms concerning financial mismanagement and political corruption in respective quarters of the executive and legislative branches of government. Although smoking guns of mismanagement and corruption have been identified in the past, political apathy has been the rule among the citizenry, heretofore. However, since the gubernatorial election of 2010, a plethora of patterns of financial malfeasants, political cronyism and blatant corruption, coupled with government employee layoffs and salary cuts may have inspired a critical mass of residents to get engaged politically.

On the heels of the US Federal Government executing a sealed warrant on the Virgin Islands legislature and copying the hard drive of the senate’s central computer system last November, the VI Daily News published the Virgin Islands Legislatures Audit report, December 2, 2011. The much anticipate report concluded that 6.9 million dollars was missing, highlighting the fact that “Senators dipped freely into taxpayers’ money for personal use.” Consequently, the entire fifteen member legislature is under storm clouds as many residents are collaborating to make public the names of the Senators that are implicated by the audit.

Concomitantly, the executive branch, and the governor in particular is experiencing a crescendo of negative political fallout due to a series of events that have resulted in allegations against him for financial mismanagement and political corruption. Moreover, there are various audits, completed and still underway, that will likely confirm actionable legal issues against the Governor. Unfortunately, political apathy continues to be the rule of the Virgin Islands electorate, which has facilitated decades of economic and political exploitation of the community at large, by the ruling elite. However, the escalating scale of the financial and economic dysfunction of government may have crossed the political point of no return…

Accordingly, there is a groundswell of people emerging consisting of local community activist, citizen supporters, and potential senatorial candidates positioning themselves for the election in 2012. Interestingly enough, with the operative slogan saying, “even the blind can see the corruption” brother “Raffie” popularly referred to as “our logo” is positioned as a catalyst for the purpose of pulling together a political cadre of potential candidates and supporters, to change the electoral landscape come November 2012. “Raffie” himself is among the visually impaired but that hasn’t blinded him from the reality of egregious financial mismanagement and contemptible political corruption. “These politicians are a bunch of jokers, skylarking with the people’s money.”

A gentleman named Mr. Ritter asserted his commitment to political change in the 2012 election on a popular radio talk show, and touted the role of the “Vanguard Political Action Committee” (Vanguard PAC), going forward. According to Mr. Ritter, the Vanguard PAC will have a budget of $300,000 to defeat the senatorial incumbents, as well as technical assistance from local and remote sources. He also pointed out that political education is on the agenda of the political action committee that will inspire an ethical in addition to a political revolution.

Despite the broad based community outrage and uproar, some are suggesting that at the end of the day, nothing will change substantially. The elected officials and the executive branch of government will continue to stonewall the issues and sandbag the process. They have their people in place to run downfield political interference on any corrective actions underway. A recent transplant from the states, who currently resides on the “big island” and whose Cyberspace handle is “CadreUSA,” said “nothing positive has happened in the past because the VI people did not take the appropriate affirmative political action, in terms of the first person singular. They must be organized in formal and disciplined structures, and engage politically sustainable formulations and instruments that can require as well as exact political accountability.”

CadreUSA has joined the writing team known as St. Croix blogger, and they have launched www.stxblogger.com .The St. Croix blogger team is headed up by author and political analyst Gary James, who relocated from New York City and resides on St. Croix. James is researching his family ancestry on the island, as his father and grandparent were born on St. Croix. James said, “There are many residents in the states that are like yours truly and have family roots in the Virgin Islands, these people are concerned about their families now that the level of economic mismanagement and political corruption has reached the spectacle of national news in the United States.”

“We are receiving contacts from the states offering material support and technical assistance in the planning and execution of a comprehensive electoral plan and strategy for November 2012, and to achieve for long range objectives as well. Apart from the apparent need for structural change in the electoral process, going forward, positive steps must be initiated toward the development of a Virgin Islands Constitution, and an agricultural imperative to grow a national economy.

“However, in order to achieve the long range objectives as stated, the emerging political grouping must consider establishing a Virgin Islands Transitional Government apparatus, in the context of a “shadow” government, in addition to supporting a slate of senatorial candidates. But as a practical political matter, there will be no follow up prosecutions of the wrong doers unless there is a citizens transitional government apparatus in place that can manage the arduous follow through legal scenarios.”

In the wake of diminishing political support in recent polls, Rick Perry’s presidential nomination campaign speaks of the 800 pound gorilla in the room.  While it has remained under the political radar until now, Mitt Romney’s faith has always represented an albatross around his neck in some conservative Christian political quarters.  However, the unspoken of, evangelical Christian political inertia, injected into the GOP nomination contest by the reactionary Perry campaign may put Romney’s Mormon faith on center stage.

As reported on the Internet daily news, “The Daily Beast show an operative with close ties to Perry’s campaign engaged in cheerleading against the faith of rival Mitt Romney—and stressing the political importance of” “juxtaposing traditional Christianity to the false god of Mormonism.”

Apart from the Perry campaigns political acts of desperation and frustration associated with his anyone but Romney campaign, some political analyst suggest that the surge in the polls of the Herman Cain campaign may have been the beneficiary of the dissatisfaction that conservative GOP primary voters have with Perry’s apparent political short comings…

On the other hand, these same conservative political activists that constituted the base of the Republican Party’s electorate will be hard pressed to give the final nomination nod to a black America.  Interestingly enough, the final decision associated with the GOP candidate in 2012, may boil down to the so-called “lesser of two evil,” by way of racial discrimination vs. religious discrimination.

Nevertheless, the following is what you may not know about Herman Cain, a seeker of the Republican Party’s nomination of President:

Mr. Herman Cain is not a career politician (in fact he has never held political office). He’s known as a pizza guy, but there’s a lot more to him. He’s also a computer guy, a banker guy, and a rocket scientist guy.

Here’s his bio:

·      Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics.

·      Master’s degree in Computer Science.

·      Mathematician for the Navy, where he worked on missile ballistics (making him a rocket scientist).

·      Computer systems analyst for Coca-Cola.

·      VP of Corporate Data Systems and Services for Pillsbury (this is the top of the ladder in the computer world, being in charge of information systems for a major corporation).

All achieved before reaching the age of 35. Since he reached the top of the information systems world, he changed careers!

·      Business Manager. Took charge of Pillsbury’s 400 Burger King Restaurants in the Philadelphia area, which were the company’s poorest performers in the country. Spent the first nine months learning the business from the ground up, cooking hamburger and yes, cleaning toilets. After three years he had turned them into the company’s best performers.

·      Godfather’s Pizza CEO. Was asked by Pillsbury to take charge of their Godfather’s Pizza chain (which was on the verge of bankruptcy). He made it profitable in 14 months.

·      In 1988 he led a buyout of the Godfather’s Pizza chain from Pillsbury. He was now the owner of a restaurant chain. Again he reached the top of the ladder of another industry.

·      He was also chairman of the National Restaurant Association during this time. This is a group that interacts with government on behalf of the restaurant industry, and it gave him political experience from the non-politician side.

Having reached the top of a second industry, he changed careers again!

·      Adviser to the Federal Reserve System. Herman Cain went to work for the Federal Reserve Banking System advising them on how monetary policy changes would affect American businesses.

·      Chairman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank. He worked his way up to the chairmanship of a regional Federal Reserve Bank. This is only one step below the chairmanship of the entire Federal Reserve System (the top banking position in the country). This position allowed him to see how monetary policy is made from the inside, and understand the political forces that impact the monetary system.

After reaching the top of the banking industry, he changed careers for a fourth time!

·      Writer and public speaker. He then started to write and speak on leadership. His books include Speak as a Leader, CEO of Self, Leadership is Common Sense, and They Think You’re Stupid.

·      Radio Host. Around 2007—after a remarkable 40 year career—he started hosting a radio show on WSB in Atlanta (the largest talk radio station in the country).

He did all this starting from rock bottom (his father was a chauffeur and his mother was a maid). When you add up his accomplishments in his life—including reaching the top of three unrelated industries: information systems, business management, and banking— Herman Cain may have the most impressive resume of anyone that has run for the presidency in the last half century.

With the advent of Rick Perry, the Governor of Texas, into the Grand Old Party (GOP) presidential sweepstakes, the nomination process is apparently boiling down into a two man race.  Interestingly enough, Perry, an evangelical conservative Republican and darling of the “Tea Party,” was a member of the Democratic Party two decades ago.

According to Gary James, a longtime GOP grassroots activist, and political analyst says, “The objective of the neo-Republican Party for 2012 is to minimize the prospects of a Romney presidential candidacy.”

Alton Chase of Harlemweekly.com interviews Gary James to get his perspective on Republican Party Presidential politics, and the black American community…

How are black Republicans positioned for Presidential election 2012, and who are you supporting? And when did you become a Republican?

Well, the short answer is that black Republicans are not positioned to be consequential in the GOP presidential nomination process of 2012.  And I am not supporting or endorsing any of the hopeful designees for president…  Also I’ve been a registered Republican all of my adult life.  However, I could give you the long answer as well, but I don’t know the amount of space you have for this project!

It’s entirely up to you Brother James. I’m prepared to record what you have to say, and use as much of the material as necessary to represent your political position in one piece, or as a series of interview treatments and articles.  As far as I’m concerned any limitations on you, are self imposed…

In that case my friend, I’ll elaborate on the short version.  Dating back to the passing of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Actsrespectively, in the mid 1960’s, many Democrats particularly in the southern states, who objected to the new role of black Americans in electoral politics and civil society, migrated to the Republican Party.  To paraphrase President Johnson, the success of the civil rights movement lost the Democratic south to the Republican Party.

Consequently, the GOP presidential politics going forward from 1968 was presented with the opportunity, to seize upon political misfortunes of the Democratic Party and they formulated what is now known as the “southern strategy.”  President Richard Nixon coined the political phrase, and the rest is history.  Forty (40) plus years hence the “southern strategy” remains the cornerstone of Republican Party presidential election politics, and it has trickled down to local politics.  In addition, the success of the social-conservative movement which constitutes the “right-wing” of the Republican Party has established itself as the base of the GOP.  Also, the emergence of the “Tea Party” phenomenon has imposed political ideas, ideology and notions that represent a seriously diminished, constricted and polarized constituency that currently dominates the party.

Since the 1968 presidential election to the current state of political affairs in national electoral politics, the black vote and endorsements by blacks of GOP presidential hopefuls is none existent.  The Tea Party and social-conservative voters currently dominate Republican Party politics in general and constitute primary election voters in particular, where the real political power resides.

As a consequence of the political state of affairs in the contemporary Grand Old Party, (GOP), the role of black Republican voters in the presidential nomination sweepstakes is inconsequential and shunned in most instances.  As a political matter of fact, a strong relationship of a GOP presidential candidate with the black community can hurt their opportunity for success. An example that comes to mind was the failed attempt of Congressman Jack Kemp to get the presidential nod because of his close ties to the black community. But also, to be fair I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that all of the Democratic Party’s presidential candidates, (black & white), must demonstrate that they “know how to deal with the black community.”

Mr. James I am looking at an interview of you that was published in the July 4, 1984 edition of the New York Tribune entitled “GOP Leader Examines the Road Ahead”.  In it you stated and I’m paraphrasing: A vote for the re-election of President Reagan is the best destination for the black vote.  Do you currently believe that the best destination for the black vote in election 2012 is the Republican Party?

I don’t have any problem answering that shrouded question! First of all let me offer a context for the twenty-five (25) plus years that separates the question of the 1984 re-election of President Reagan versus the 2012 presidential election and who knows who will ultimately be the Republican Party designee.

The GOP was a completely different party relative to the black community during the political era surrounding President Reagan.  There was a different political sensibility during that period toward the black vote and the Republican National Committee (RNC), under the leadership of the late Lee Atwater and Governor Haley Barbour, exemplified and implemented the Reagan “big tent” political philosophy.  That’s just for starters…

Secondly, In April of 1984 I received a letter from the Reagan-Bush re-election campaign, over the signature of Roger Stone, the northeastern regional director of the re-election campaign indicating specifically that the “White House” wanted my organization, Voters Anonymous, to be involved in the New York State re-election campaign.  Therefore, as a good citizen, I responded positively to the White House’ request for us to participate in the campaign.  In addition it was my belief at that time that the GOP was the best destination for the black vote.  Excerpts of the letter can be accessed from the profile page of VotersAnonymous.com

I have not received contact from any of the 2012 Republican Party presidential aspirants to participate in their nomination campaign.  Moreover, the political nature of the GOP has significantly shifted since the Reagan era, and that political shift is inimical to growing the Republican Party in the black community. The thrust of the Tea Party and social-conservatives political agenda and ideology has constringed the party from the Reagan “big tent” political philosophy.  President Reagan was one of the noteworthy Republicans interested in reaching out to the black American community.

Unfortunately, the emerging presence of the black vote in Republican Party politics during Reagan’s time was circumvented during the campaign and presidency of George H. W. Bush and that is a whole other story.  Subsequently, the Republican Party underwent a kind of “political revisionism” that repositioned the GOP from its historically radical, eclectic and progressive party, to a politically constricted and socially conservative party, isolated from the average person and the emerging mainstream of America, as well as black folks.

As to whether I still believe that the Republican Party is the best destination for the black vote in 2012…  I still believe that the GOP is the best destination for the black vote in the long term, and not necessarily in 2012.  But there are certain political conditions involved, that have more to do with black folk, then the party … Black folk for the most part have been politically conditioned to one party politics, which is sophomoric.  Monolithic, politics or one party politics cannot generate the requisite political leverage to achieve black political empowerment.  Unfortunately at this point it seems that black folk have an emotional connection to the Democratic Party, as the GOP has been successfully positioned as the enemy of the black community.

How long have you been a registered Republican? And why did you register with the Republican Party?

I registered to vote for the first time way back in 1967.  At that time I was a staff organizer for the National Welfare RightsOrganization (NWRO), in New York City.  NWRO was among several of the well known professional civil rights organizations.  You may recall that the primary political objective of the civil rights movement during the early days was to infiltrate the Democratic Party particularly in the southern states and beat back Jim Crow and segregation from the inside.  During that time the Democratic Party in the south in particular was synonymous with racism, and the KKK.  The political strategy of the movement was to change the party from within, by way of voter registration and voter application in order to infiltrate the local Democratic Party.  The strategic infiltration was successful and that process essentially broke the back of segregation and Jim Crow in the context of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts respectively.

Interestingly enough, subsequent to the profound political successes of the black American civil rights movement, a pervasive self-interest impulse developed by many blacks for holding elective office.  The evolving personal political power and leadership dynamic overshadowed the larger black American political empowerment agenda, which included a similar political infiltration of the Republican Party. In addition, the black political movement was truncated by sophisticated and odious political machinations, the loss of financial underwriters.

Political power, by way of election to local public office, became the preoccupation of the black civil rights leadership along with the institutionalization of the civil rights leadership orthodoxy, and a rejection of the so-called politically militant point of view.  At the grassroots level the largess provided to particular civil rights leaders (elected and unelected) facilitated the conquest of “responsible” Negro leadership over the more radical and militant black power political movement.  The political validation of the black civil rights “responsible” leadership sealed the fate of “black power” and its range of organic black grassroots political advocates.

The civil rights leadership paradigm became the operative political model for black folk going forward.  Hence, if you were a black political aspirant seeking elective office, you needed to kiss the ring of the black political gatekeepers.  Subsequently, civil rights and the “responsible” black political leadership became connected if not synonymous with the Democratic Party.   Over the past four decades the black community has apparently developed an emotional and intergenerational relationship with the Democratic Party.   The Democratic Party continues to have black political leadership on lockdown, and the Republican Party has replaced the Dixie-crats as the new political enemy of the black community.

As the black community infiltrated the Democratic Party and broke the back of segregation and Jim Crow, they both (segregation and Jim Crow) migrated to the Republican Party and positioned the GOP as the social-conservative rightwing party, where they currently reside.  In the process they have revised the political history of the Republican Party, and have positioned the “founding fathers” and the Constitution of the United States as infallible. However, both the “founding fathers” and the Constitution of the United States continue to be plagued by the birth defect of slavery.

In terms of why I joined the Republican Party and remain registered in the Grand Old Party (GOP) let me address it this way.  On one hand I have a natural affinity to the history of the Republican Party as it relates to the emancipation of black Americans from slavery and a tradition of radical, eclectic progressive politics.  The Republican Party was founded by Abolitionists, who were progressive black and white people.

In addition, I believe that black power politics in the twenty-first century requires a new grassroots political and electoral synthesis.  Specifically, an electoral strategy that is bi-partisan in the general election and maximum feasible voter participation in the primary election of both political parties.  Nevertheless, I recognize that on the other hand, there are different fingers…

Apart from your colorful experience as a grassroots organizer in the civil rights and black power movements of the 1960’s and 1970’s, when and how did you get involved in Republican Party electoral politics?   And how were you able to get into the political orbit of President Ronald Reagan, to participate in his re-election campaign?

I worked with a few Democratic and Republican district leaders during their petitioning process in the late 1960’s and mid 70’s.  But it was in the 1980 presidential election when my organization Voters Anonymous organized a presidential debate scheduled for Fordham University in the Bronx, New York, between Vice President Walter Mondale and Gov. Ronald Reagan.  The debate ultimately did not happen, but the Reagan campaign liked the idea and our political narrative therefore they kept the event scheduled until the eleventh hour, and it was mentioned in the local press.  In addition, there were some political machinations against us in the form of some downfield political interference, engaged in by a few “official” black Republican district leaders in New York City that we handled very well.  Our comportment displayed dignity, grace and political skill. Hence we were able to generate some political capital in the Reagan White House in 1980.

Also, in 1985 I had my formal baptism in local Republican Party electoral politics when the NYS Senator Leon Bogues passed away and a Special Election was held in order to fill his vacant Senate seat.  I managed the campaign of a young Harlem Attorney and Harvard Graduate, Mr. Joseph Holland to fill his vacant seat.  Holland’s Democratic opponent was Mr. David Paterson, who won the race and served as the State Senator from Harlem for many years, and the rest is history as Paterson later became the Governor of New York, following the resignation of Governor Eliot Spitzer.  Following his failed election Mr. Holland was appointed General Council of the Senate Housing and Community Development Committee, chaired by New York State Senator, John Daley.

During the campaign, the candidate Holland, and yours truly made a strong impression on the late NYS Senate Majority Leader, the Honorable Warren Anderson.  The Majority Leader authorized two (2) of his staff people, Tom Slater and Steve Rice to work with our campaign.  Following the election the Majority Leaders staff introduced me to the Chairman of the New York Republican Party State Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Anthony Colavita.  Subsequently, the Executive Director of the Republican Party State Committee, Edward Lurie, invited me to prepare a document designed to recruit black Americans into the party.  Under that auspices I prepared a document entitled, “NYS Black Republican Taskforce.”

In 1986, I was tapped by Mr. Ed Lurie of the New York State Committee to be the State Coordinator for the GOP Gubernatorial candidate, Supreme Court Justice Andrew O’Rourke.  And in 1988 I was appointed by the late Congressman Jack Kemp to represent him as a Harlem delegate in his bid for the party’s presidential nomination.

Going forward, how do you see the prospects for the Republican Party in the 2012 presidential election?  Do you believe that your political party has an opportunity to win?

Well, the GOP definitely has an opportunity to win the presidency in 2012.  The opportunity is without question.  However, based on my assessment of the current state of affairs and political trajectory of the party, I don’t believe that a classic political victory is in the cards in 2012.  I believe that the 2012 presidential election will begin a rude awakening for the national as well as the local Republican Party in some communities.

The local party, particularly in the northeast, has already seriously compromised their competitive political potential decades ago.  Therefore, it was just a matter of time before the national party would fall victim to the constraints associated with a myopic and revisionist political vision, lack of imagination and the lack of a viable district leader infrastructure, particularly in New York City.

Heretofore, the national party by virtue of their skillful and sophisticated manipulation of the electoral process by way of big money, political slight-of-hand, emotional and race based wedge issues, has successfully been able to overcome their substantial numerical disadvantage.  Consequently, the Republican Party has won the presidency more than the Democratic Party since the end of World War II.

My political assessment going forward is that GOP prospects for local offices and the presidency are poor for the short term, but fortunes get increasingly better in the long-range.  I believe that the binary political approach of the “Tea Party movement” and the social-conservative wing of the party will run its course and be resoundingly defeated in the 2012 election and in local elections going forward.

Concomitantly, the new demographic and emerging eclectic mainstream of the evolving twenty-first century Republican Party will reposition the party in the context of its historical political advantages.  More specifically, race based political paradigms, juxtapositions and wedge issues will no longer be the 800 pound gorilla in the room.

Mr. James, I am informed that you are the chairman of the “National Black Grand Old Party.” Are you and your organization going to endorse and or support the ultimate Republican nominee?

Thank you for that question.  That is a very good question…  I personally will not commit to voting for the ultimate Republican Party presidential nominee, as a practical political matter.  It is possible that I may vote for the party nominee at the end of the day.  However, if I were to answer that question today I would say no…

In terms of the National Black Grand Old Party (NBGOP), the organization is a political education organization and does not do endorsements.  However, the directors and members of the organization are free to follow their own political instincts.  As we speak, there are a range of points of view about different GOP candidates declared and undeclared.

The main objective of the organization at this critical political juncture in American politics is voter education and application particularly as it relates to the black community.  We believe that the community remains preoccupied if not stuck on political activism 101.  Politics 101 is one dimensional monolithic partisan politics and the National Black GOP is promoting Black politics 2.0.  Black politics 2.0, is the twenty-first century political imperative for grassroots community based politics.

What are your thoughts about the current occupant of the White House, President Barack Obama?  Do you think that he will be a one term president?

I think that President Barack Obama is thus far comporting himself very well despite various odious political machinations fromvarious political quarters.  It remains to be seen whether he will be a one term president, but I’m convinced that there are some, particularly within the Republican Party, that are thoroughly devoted to a one term scenario for the President.  Unfortunately both the Democratic and Republican Parties and the black political leadership continue to be engaged in plantation politics…

The escalating black American political controversy that is orbiting President Barack Obama’s leadership style is now raging, following the remarks by comedian Steve Harvey that Cornel West and Tavis Smiley are “Uncle Toms.”

Specifically, Harvey was critiquing the Poverty Tour organized by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, as well as their vociferous criticism of the president’s leadership, as it relates to the needs of the poor in particular.

Referencing Tavis’ suggestion that the president should sit down with him and West for two or three days to discuss poverty in America, Harvey said, “Who in the hell got two or three days to sit down with your ass?  I ain’t got time to sit down with your monkey behind for two are three days, let alone the President if the United States.  We got three wars going on the economy is crashing, and we going to sit with Tavis’ ass for three days?”  Harvey also alluded to a more sinister motive for the West, Smiley Poverty Tour asking, “Where are you getting the money for the buses?”

The black political rift began many months ago when Tavis Smiley and Al Sharpton traded political barbs on their respective radio shows, and it quickly escalated into a public confrontation on the radio airways.  The rift between the two men centered on a critique by Smiley that Sharpton was carrying water for president Obama, and was letting him (the president) off the hook concerning advancing the “black agenda.”  Sharpton responded in kind to Smiley’s political critique, and the controversy quickly became politically airborne.

Enter Cornel West, a political confidant of Tavis Smiley, who is a controversial intellectual/political figure in his own right. TheSmiley versus Sharpton political rift was taken to another level when Professor West took issue with Sharpton’s relationship with Obama, during a panel discussion on a popular MSNBC television talk show that ultimately deteriorated into a public TV spectacle.

Professor Boyce Watkins, founder of YourBlackWorld.com, entered the political fray following the MSNBC political spectacle, and positioned himself as a moderating voice, but was clearly espousing the Sharpton narrative and criticized Smiley’s point of view.  Interestingly enough, Watkins simultaneously seemed to modulate his political attack relative to West.

More recently, in the context of Steve Harvey’s critical political analysis of the West, Smiley Poverty Tour, Prof. Watkins delivered a political broadside attack against Harvey, among others.  Watkins said, “He (Harvey) ended his rant by saying that he spotted an Uncle Tom driving a bus and then Harvey accused Cornel West and Tavis Smiley of being “poverty pimps.”

Watkins continued, “While listening to Harvey, I could not help but get the impression that he’s concluding that by speaking on behalf of the poor, and challenging political leadership to modify economic policies, you are pimping the poor rather than helping them.  I guess that would make me a poverty pimp too, so perhaps I’d better just remain silent.”

“Steve Harvey is doing a good job of campaigning for President Obama. Harvey was recently invited to President Obama’s birthday party, putting him squarely in the camp of Black public figures that have been recruited by the White House to help discredit anyone who speaks ill of the Obama Administration. Rather than asking whether or not Smiley and West’s issues are relevant, Harvey, Tom Joyner and others know that it’s easier to simply smear the credibility of the messengers.  In American politics, character assassinations are typically preferred rather than actually dealing with the issue itself, Watkins concluded.”

This sophomoric serial political saga would be laughable if it were not a pathetic treatise on the state of black political leadership going forward.  The advent of black celebrity political leadership has infused infotainment, comedy and political sensationalism into the realm of serious political discourse and it compromises the legitimate political aspirations of the masses of black folk.

These competing black political leadership neophytes are in the process of squandering the political capital and opportunities associated with ascension of the first black American to the presidency of the United States.  Apparently, the unelected neo black political leadership is attempting to engage president Obama into a political accountability scenario.  However, they had no meaningful role in the making of the first black American president, other than the popularity contest of the general election, and an Amen…

As this writer recalls, candidate Senator Barack Obama defied the conventional political wisdom of the black civil rights leadership orthodoxy, both elected and unelected, and ultimately prevailed in a very contentious party presidential primary process.  Having won his party’s nomination with only esoteric black political support, coupled with his personal political sensibilities, presidential candidate Obama gave the multitudes of black Americans the opportunity to vote for him in the general election popularity contest.

Now, some notable and well placed prominent black political leader aspirants are attempting to corral the president into an agenda for black Americans and the poor.  What and whose “black agenda” are they speaking of?  The black civil rights agenda, or are they talking about the black political power agenda?  Likewise, what agenda for the poor are they referencing (White, Black, Latino, Asian etc), and have they advanced any written policy recommendations?  Or is it simply political rhetoric?

The president as well as the congress, respond, react to, and are animated by, “political power relationship groups” or individuals that represent respective political power relationship groups.  Real-time hardball electoral politics is not personality driven!  This writer suspects that none of the above mentioned prominent black Americans represent a real-time political power relationship group.  It appears as though the individuals that are engaged in this politically superfluous controversy are prominent within their respective genre.  And in some cases they are informally organized in disparate black groupings competing against each other for the ear of the president, fifteen minutes of political fame and an illusion of power.

The last time that this writer checked, there was no definitive black civil rights agenda, nor is there a cohesive political power group organized and raising money for the purpose of advancing that specific political agenda.  Likewise, there is no definitive black political power agenda in place with organized advocates raising funds to move that agenda.  There are only ad hoc political formulations with short life spans.  Therefore, what black agenda are they espousing that the president can address?

On the other hand, what political interest group is raising money, organizing and lobbying on behalf of poor people?  Are any of these vociferous advocates for black and poor folk engaged in any activities on the Hill, advancing policy positions on behalf of their target group?  Are they engaged in voter education and registration activities during and between elections?  Or is it only an exercise in black rap?

Some in the black community advance an argument that ninety-five plus percent of the black community voted for Obama in the general election, therefore the president must address the needs of his principal constituency.  Accordingly, the president must address our political demands!  Well, making political demands, and speaking truth to power without, organization, strategy, tactics and a budget for achieving specific short and long-range objectives is political power 101.  When all the pieces to the political power puzzle are in place, very little needs to be said on radio and television talk shows, or other intelligence gathering forums.

Relevant links:

http://www.harlemweekly.com/?p=546

http://www.harlemweekly.com/?p=494

http://www.harlemweekly.com/?p=467

http://www.harlemweekly.com/?p=481

Steve Harvey Interview:

http://yourblackworld.com/2011/08/16/dr-boyce-speaks-in-nyc-about-pres-obama-smiley-and-west/

The ongoing black political saga in America was animated to greater heights in this 2012 election season by a controversy that was ignited on cable TV with the glib tongues and quick political wits of Professor Cornel West and Rev. Al Sharpton, on a recent MSNBC Show hosted by Ed Schultz.  The clash of these popular political Titans is the latest rendition and spectacle of the internal debate that has been percolating beneath the political correct surface, since the election of President Barack Obama.

Reference to a previous iteration of this contemporary black political saga is relevant to the West vs. Sharpton argument because the previous political attack on Sharpton was levied by TV host Tavis Smiley during a popular radio talk show.  A political nexus occurs, as Smiley and West are publically and programmatically the best of friends.  Moreover, both Smiley and West have respectively, challenged Sharpton’s apparently cozy relationship with President Obama, as inimical to holding the president accountable to the illusive “black agenda.”

The vociferous MSNBC debate on the “black agenda” by West and Sharpton is getting mixed reviews in the black community.  Some in the black community say that “those two heavy brothers shouldn’t argue in public like that because it portrays the black community as divided politically.” In another black political quarter they hold, “the political debate on the black agenda going forward is a healthy development and should be encouraged.”

The “black agenda” is a perennial political debate in the black community at all levels but unfortunately when it is discussed in the public by members of the celebrity leadership and anointed leaders in media forums the black agenda is ill defined, and synonymous with the civil rights agenda, and civil rights leadership.  There is a political dichotomy between the “black agenda” and the “civil rights agenda” that has roots in contemporary political history and has an application in 21^st century black American politics.  Unfortunately, the designated black American political leadership has not articulated the texture that is black internal politics and thereby, may be unwittingly promoting political disinformation along with MSNBC.

Dr. Boyce Watkins, a neo-African American public voice, is quoted on his blog post entitled “Cornel West, Al Sharpton Argue About President Obama.” Boyce said, “I knew the conversation would be volatile, and I was concerned about the imagery of two black men going to war on MSNBC.  Ed Schultz was the MSNBC host of “A Stronger America:  The Black Agenda, a show that allowed a few voices to air their perspective on what a black agenda should look like in the age of Obama.”

“As I expected,” Boyce continued, “the argument came to a predictable boiling point.  Consistent with the views of his close colleague, Tavis Smiley, Cornel West fought hard to short-circuit the partnership between President Obama and Rev. Al Sharpton.  Al Sharpton, a man not known to back down from anyone, defended his position well and also challenged those who sit in their ivory tower and talk without taking action.”

Dr. Boyce, a confidant of Rev. Sharpton continued, “I watched the entire exchange shaking my head, primarily because I knew that such a fight was simply inevitable.  As I wrote on the Huffington Post a couple of weeks ago, the Obama Presidency has created a divide among black public figures that I pray will not cripple our community.”

Unfortunately the episodic public political debate relative to the “black agenda” is seen in binary, black and white optics, while at the grassroots level the saga of the black agenda going forward is in living color and has an eclectic political diversity.  However, as the comments of Dr. Boyce highlights some blacks’ belief that varying political positions articulated in the public by black public figures is perceived as potentially crippling the black community.

Although the issue concerning the nature of the black agenda in the age of Obama is a relevant and significant subject in need of a broad based public political discourse, we consumers of popular TV media are only exposed to black celebrity political leadership with a myopic or circular political discourse…

Gary James, chairman of the National Black Grand Old Party (www.NBGOP.net ) said, “Mainstream media always rounds up the usual suspects to discuss the important issues relating to the black community, such as the black agenda in the age of President Obama.  Consequently, the substance of these engagements and exchanges tends to be politically sophomoric, parochial, generating much heat, but shedding little light and understanding going forward.”

Gary James

“Interestingly enough, none of the anointed black American leaders tapped by MSNBC to discuss, explore and define the “black agenda” offered a contemporary context wherein the notion of a black political agenda resides…   James continued, “The black agenda is separate and distinct from the civil rights agenda.  Accordingly, the black agenda and the civil rights agenda are not interchangeable as the spokespeople for Ed Schultz have represented.”

According to James, the black agenda was methodically eclipsed by the civil rights agenda during the 1960’s and 70’s in the context of a sophisticated political disinformation campaign to marginalize emerging black power politics and its “militant” community based advocates.  The era of Obama demonstrates that black America has entered the post civil rights period.  Hence, the dormant black political agenda of the civil rights period is emerging.

James concluded, “In the future I hope that mainstream media reaches out for black American political input beyond the usual designated leadership suspects.  Should they need some help going forward I was be happy to offer a list of potential participants.”

Reference the relevant links:

http://www.blackpt.org/?p=480

http://www.blackpt.org/?p=434

http://www.blackpt.org/?p=409

http://wp.me/pDSzo-1

By Wolde Amanuel

The unfolding political and social upheavals occurring in the “Middle East” and North Africa are classic examples of how fraught, dynamic and interdependent the state of the world is today.  The popular insurrections animating the Arab world began in Tunisia following the self-mutilation of a young man who was a street vendor that became fed up with being harassed and having his property confiscated by local police.  The “straw that broke the camel’s back” occurred when a female officer ticketed him for not having a permit. She then confiscated his property, as he protested.  Finally, the man left the scene after being slapped in the face by the female officer while he was still protesting.

Frustrated, the young man went to a filling station and bought some gas. He then proceeded to the police station where he doused himself with the gasoline, lit a match and set himself ablaze in front of the station house. When the news broke to the public, a critical mass of Tunisians reacted to the horror which ultimately turned against the oppressive government and monarchy. The government was toppled, shortly thereafter.

The Tunisian insurrection of the masses became malignant and the proverbial dominoes began to fall in other Arab countries of the region.  Popular upheavals began to erupt and the people clamored for democratic reforms in, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, and Libya, among other countries.  Without question, there is a political revolution underway in the Arab world, the end of which is not yet in sight.  Concomitantly, the United States and “western” powers in particular began scrambling to get from behind the political curve.  Impacted countries are currently modulating their internal situation and readjusting political power relationships with the people.  However, the situation is fluid as global capital markets are responding to the unknown and western powers are pondering their immediate future, relative to the oil imperative.

There are indeed many factors that account for this unprecedented state of affairs in the Arab world, not the least of which is the history of western powers in the region in the context of political and economic dominance and the master narrative.  Apart from the colorful history of human events in the “Middle East” region, the emerging world events, some are touting unfolding events as having Biblical implications.  “These are the times foretold of in scripture as the Lords Day.”  However, where ever your school of thought may lean, it is fair to say that these days may be the most interesting of times, overshadowing the famous, “best of times” and “worst of times” literary metaphor.

While some point to unpredictable weather, wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, floods, pestilence, and other global phenomenon as signs of the imminent doom of the world, still others point to the same profound conjunctions and posit a glorious beginning of a new world.  Nevertheless, since the demise of the former Soviet Union over two (2) decades ago, people’s revolutions in Europe, Africa and Asia, for example, have confounded the conventional political wisdom and has repositioned many countries and peoples to the present political status quo.  The proliferation of democratic revolution that is engulfing the Arab world, and the Middle East is but, the latest political surprise that will ultimately impact and disrupt the geo-political power relationships currently in place.  Where the lineal march of the people to secure their democratic and citizen rights will come to an end is obviously an open question.

These global political observations highlight the undercurrent of human events during the past four plus decades are being considered from the macro political level…  On the micro political level, the unfolding events of the past decades and the changing demographic in America, is having an interesting impact on the very nature of black American politics in particular, going forward.  Contemporary American political history records the intrepid, courageous, colorful and triumphant march of black Americans out of slavery and Jim Crow, to the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, in 1964 and 1965 respectively.  In its wake, the “third world” emerged from colonialism, to strongman rule, and now to fledgling democracies in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Europe. The seed of democracy has ignominiously taken root in the Arab world, vis-à-vis, Tunisia, and the tree of liberty appears to be blossoming in the Arab world, as they are beginning to embrace a sensibility of modernity.

While the respective “third world” peoples introduce themselves to the challenges, vicissitudes and contradictions associated with an emergingdemocracy 101, the political vanguard black American community is reviewing and evaluating the previous forty odd years, of politics in the black American community.   An anecdotal assessment and consensus among a diverse black American demographic suggests that a critical mass of black Americans are disillusioned and apathetic relative to the nature and application of politics by way the conventional civil rights leadership.

Accordingly, there may be a relevant political analogue emerging as black American politics is perhaps transitioning from civil rights 101, to black political power 2.0.  Specifically, twentieth century black American politics are not adequate for advancing the critical masses of black folk politically and economically in the new millennium.  Moreover, the success of President Obama in securing the Democratic Party nomination and ultimately winning the general election provides proof positive that the black American civil rights leadership is no longer consequential to the success of a black political candidate winning local or national elective office.

Apparently, President Barack Obama saw a wrinkle in the political armor of the civil rights leadership orthodoxy relative to the emerging black community and he exploited it, in a masterful way.  Some suggest that Obama’s unique approach to political leadership in terms of directly interfacing with the people represents a post civil rights black politic.  Although his campaign has been characterized as post partisan, or post racial, some astute black political analysts reference Obama’s political strategy and tactics as post civil rights.

Veteran community organizer in the civil rights as well as black power movements of the 1960’s and 1970’s, Gary James said, “Obama’s community politics reminds me of the political dichotomy between the civil rights leadership agenda and the black power leadership agenda, from back in the day.  The Obama political leadership paradigm advances black community politics beyond the civil rights strategies and tactics, which are based on race and “minority” juxtapositions.”  James continued, “Obama’s campaign demonstrated a twenty-first century black politics which is essentially race neutral.”

Until very recently, politics in the black community was defined and actuated in the framework of the civil rights movement and its corresponding agenda.  The proliferation of black American elected officials around the country is due for the most part, to the successes of the meritorious and illustrious civil rights movement and agenda.  One of the cornerstones of the civil rights movement in the 1960’s and 70’s was the election of black Americans to public office, which generated much success in the south as well as the north.  The impressive numbers of black and other minority Americans who have been elected to public office during the past 40 years was achieved by way of a racial and minority political narrative, which was vogue until the election of President Barack Obama in 2008.  Accordingly, this incalculable and unforeseen event, confirmed the suspicion of some that black Americans are in a post civil rights political era.

Although the full impact of a post civil rights black American politics will not be felt for a while, as a new political synthesis is in formulation, there areimplications that the civil rights, race based political paradigm as a strategy and tactic is shifting.  In addition, the emerging black demographic in America represents an eclectic and diverse amalgam of black folk from South America, the Caribbean as well as continental Africa.  Hence the African American contingent represents the smallest component of the expanding black American community.  As a consequence of demographic growth patterns, the traditional civil rights political narratives, strategies and tactics are generating diminishing returns.

There are a range of relevant political nuances that mitigates the black civil rights leadership’s continued dominance of the political narrative and agenda in the black community.  Not the least of which is the fact that the civil rights leadership orthodoxy, has effectively marginalized the black community in favor of political correctness.  The politically correct sensibility has sacrificed the term black in favor of the term “minority” and/or the phrase “people of color.”  Both political terms seem to be interchangeable, but the bottom line is the marginalization of the word black.  In general, the black civil rights leadership has effectively refrained from referencing black people singularly, to include Latinos, Asians, women as well as the LGBT community.  Also, the basic objective of the civil rights agenda seems to now be “social justice.”  While to be objective of social justice for minorities, people of color, women and the LGBT community is laudable, it is too generalized for advancing the particular political, economic and social needs objectives of the masses of black folk in the twenty-first century.

Since the political demise of the black power movement in the early 1970’s, the civil rights movement and its agenda, in conjunction with the “powers that be” was able to eclipse the organic, community based black political agenda.   While advocates of a unique black political power agenda within the framework of the electoral system had to demure without recourse, the black political agenda was crushed, as a practical political matter.  Black power political advocates for the most part were branded and politically maligned as militants, radicals, revolutionaries, nationalists, socialists, etc.  Eventually many black power advocates were ostracized or trapped-off in covert political machination scenarios.  Only a small contingent of political guru’s who have survived and navigated their way beyond the tumultuous days of the black power neophyte movement remain.

According to one black political guru, “there is a political analogue between the unfolding developments in the Middle Eastern / North African countries and the ‘third world’ in general, with the emerging politics in black America.  The Arab and third world countries are experiencing their respective democratic revolutionary experience in the context of an entry level neophyte political experience.  This development is a preliminary democratic learning experience of the first order.  Their initial political experience is on par with the black American experience from emancipation to the modern civil rights and voting rights achievements of the 1960’s and 70’s. Now, forty years hence, the black American community is moving beyond the political neophyte phase embodied in the civil rights era, and is currently developing and applying a more sophisticated application of the electoral political process.  The unfolding political sophistication process is redefining black power politics to be race neutral and post partisan.”  The political guru concluded by saying, “Emerging democracies in the Arab and third world will experience their respective growing pains, and will hopefully mature and avoid the dread of the ultimate global conflagration. “

Who would have imagined that a black neo-political revolution would embody the election of a black American as the President of the United States of America?  Who could have predicted the sunset of the civil rights agenda, as the primary political vehicle to advance black American politics and herald a paradigm shift in America during the twenty-first century?  Who could have forecasted a resurgence of the political rivalry between the civil rights agenda and the black community agenda?

According to Gary James, the chairman of the National Black Grand Old Party WWW.NBGOP.NET, “The civil rights leadership and movement can no longer speak for the masses of black people.  In addition to negotiating their way out of political position, vis-à-vis, the advent of political correctness, they have suffered substantial leadership and follow-ship loses due to attrition and the growing lack of political relevance.  Rev. Al Sharpton may represent the last generation of the civil rights leadership orthodoxy.  Although the conventional civil rights organizations and politicians will continue to have a life of their own, aspirants for elective office, locally and nationally, need not genuflect to the civil rights leadership orthodoxy or seek a political high sign,” in the pursuit of their electoral ambition.”

James and the newly launched National Black Grand Old Party, WWW.NBGOP.NET, are among a growing critical mass of black Americans that are undertaking to redefine the conventional application race and minority political juxtapositions in electoral politics.  “The objective of the new political synthesis is to achieve political leverage in order to advance a particular issue as well as the black agenda.” James said, “Going forward, partisan politics won’t be about friends versus enemies.  The 21^st century political paradigm is about political consistency and the pursuit of permanent interest objectives.”

Some maintain that there is a political synergy between the politics of black America and the masses in the third world seeking democracy and civil rights.  In the wake of the political advances of the successful civil rights movement in the 1960’s the so-called “third” world countries, particularly in Africa and Asia, experienced their respective democratic political revolutions.  The forty-odd year process has now caught up with the Arab world in the Middle East and North Africa is currently being transformed politically by way of civil rights movement strategies and tactics, tailored to their respective organic political futures.  The end of politically monolithic and strongman rule is beginning to be eclipsed by the free flow of information, liberty, political education and activism.

While the Arab world is currently engaging the complexities and political sophistication associated with developing a democratic society 101, the decades old, black American politics is moving beyond politically sophomoric one-party monopoly, which characterizes traditional “plantation” politics. According to NBGOP members, the black community cannot achieve political leverage by way of a continued one-party political strategy.  Just as black folk infiltrated the Democratic Party to get rid of Jim Crow and segregation, a critical mass of black folk need to infiltrate the Grand Old Party in order to generate political leverage, and become more competitive in electoral politics.  Interestingly enough, the radical, eclectic and progressive legacy of the Grand Old Party, offers a compelling historical political narrative from which to engage a more sophisticated politic in the black community, going forward.

Relevant Links:

Black Power 2.0

http://www.votersanonymous.com/?p=465

Race Base Political Hustle

http://www.votersanonymous.com/?p=449

Debating Black Agenda

http://www.votersanonymous.com/?p=435

The Master Narrative

http://www.votersanonymous.com/?p=439

Race Conversation Unchained

http://www.votersanonymous.com/?p=262

Sharpton vs. Tavis Political Rift

http://www.votersanonymous.com/?p=428

The anticlimactic censure of veteran Congressman Charles Rangel by the U.S. House of Representatives is without question a game changing event in the politics of Harlem, going forward.  The end of the forty-year legislative career lived out by the Dean of New York’s Congressional delegation may be lurking in the coming Presidential election of 2012, however that possibility remains to be seen.  Nevertheless, it is a foregone conclusion that electoral politics in Harlem is entering a new dispensation.  The octogenarian congressman represents the last elected official personality representing Harlem’s, “old guard.”  That high point period in Harlem’s contemporary political past, was punctuated by the late Honorable Percy Sutton, affectionately known as the “chairman.”

In addition to Congressman Rangel and Chairman Percy Sutton, the twentieth century Harlem political legacy heralds other history making black American elected officials such as Honorable Basil Patterson and Honorable David Dinkins.  Affectionately called in gang of four (4), these iconic African American political figures stand on the shoulders of the late and great Rev. Dr. Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.  These storied contemporary African American political leader stalwarts represented a legacy in America’s foremost African America community which was institutionalized by people like Honorable, J. Raymond Jones, a/k/a, the Harlem Fox, among others.  However, there are apparently, no political heirs to perpetuate Harlem, as the black leadership model in twenty first electoral politics.  Hence, we may be witnessing a new political dispensation emerging in Harlem.

While it remains to seen whether Congressman Rangel will run for reelection for the 20^th time in 2012, many speculate that next congressperson in the 15^th congressional district will not be a black American.  Some suggest that political maverick, State Senator William Perkins would be a strong candidate to succeed Congressman Rangel, but it is not likely that he (Perkins) would receive the blessing from Rangel should he chose not to run for reelection in 2012.  A few political analysts suggest that Rangel would be inclined to endorse former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields to succeed him when he ultimately chooses not to run for another term.  In any case, there will most likely be multiple seekers to Harlem’s coveted congressional thrown. 

Needless to say, Governor, David Patterson, the son of the Honorable Basil Patterson, and Democratic County leader of Manhattan, the Honorable Keith Wright, will likely not be included among the field of freshman congressional aspirants.  Additionally, Gov. Patterson and county leader Wright are not disposed to supporting Senator Perkins if he chooses to seek the congressional seat on his own, because of the political rupture between them.  In the 2010 election both Patterson and Wright supported the candidate running against Senator Perkins, and he was soundly thrashed by Perkins, as he(Perkins) racked up the most votes in comparison to all other winning candidates in Harlem.  Apart from the personal political animas  that characterizes the political none relationship between the three (3) parties mentioned, Perkins defied the New York political delegation during the 2008 presidential primary elections as he (Perkins), supported the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama in the party primary, while all other black elected officials in Harlem throw their support behind Senator Hillary Clinton.

Given the current political circumstances the 2012 presidential election portends unusually interesting and far reaching political scenarios.  But in terms of the political facts on the ground, the ball remains in the congressman’s court and it’s up to him how he plays it.  Whether Rangel will or won’t seek another term is an open question at this point and political speculation is high on either side of the question.  Whatever the congressman’s ultimate decision is, it will be politically consequential.

During the forty year reign of the veteran Democratic Party congressional leader, the honorable congressman was a tireless opponent of the Republican Party’s policy initiatives and he (Rangel) was well known for vociferously challenging his GOP congressional counter parts.   In this context Rangel earned the nick-name Republican Party basher.  The congressman relished is political nick-name in the company of his partisan rank and file, as he extolled the popular partisan, political friends and enemies paradigm.  But interestingly enough, behind the political scenes the congressman was engaged in sophisticated electoral politics with the New York County Republican Party leadership.

MORE… http://harlemweekly.com/CongRangelLinks.pdf

The Christmas “Yule tide” season is upon us and all Christians in particular celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, more than two (2) thousand years ago.  The epic birth of this extraordinary and controversial figure explicitly sets forth the foundation and ethics that embody Christianity.  Christmas has become a unique world-wide celebration that has endured for millennia promoting the life and values of the Master, by way of the Christian faith.  In the western world the Christmas tradition of this blessed event is celebrated on December 25.  The occasion is expressed by the exchange of gifts among family and friends, and an expression of good tidings to all humanity.  The Christmas tree and old St. Nicholas are among the most popular images associated with this annual holiday event.

The reason for celebrating the Christmas season has to do with the profundity of His birth and meaning of the Christ mission on earth, vis-à-vis, and relationship with human kind.  However, many lament the fact that the contemporary Christmas celebration modality puts emphasis on retail store sales and consumer spending, while virtually eclipsing the reason for the season.

According to eastern Christian tradition, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ occurred on January 6, and the Christmas celebration is known as Three Kings Day.  Countries in the Eastern Oriental Orthodox Christian communion, such as Ethiopian, Egyptian and Armenian, just to name a few, celebrate Three Kings Day, (Christmas), on the January 6, date.  But in America prior to World War I, the January commemoration of was celebrated by some, and it was referred to as “Old Christmas.”

At present, the January 6, Three Kings Day version of Christmas is celebrated in many Caribbean countries, the Virgin Island, West Indies and in Central and South America.  And the Caribbean countries recognize the American / western European December 25, date as well.  The dichotomy between the December 25, and January 6, dates reflect a variance that distinguishes the Gregorian calendar, from the Julian calendar.  America and the western European countries utilize the Gregorian calendar, while the Christian countries in the eastern tradition utilize the Julian calendar.

Apart from the respective calendar variations, the Christmas (Three Kings Day) celebration modality in the eastern and Caribbean countries, are not associated with the retail industry and the conspicuous consumption of the consumer market.  Although presents and gifts are exchanged among friends and family, many items are hand crafted, and joyous festivals and feasts commemorate the miraculous occasion.  The spirit of the occasion is emphasized as opposed to the objectives associated with consumerism.

The Gregorian calendar was imposed on the western European “world” during the 4th century AD, by the Emperor (Constantine) of the Holy Roman Empire, following the council of bishops.  Following his conversion to Christianity, Emperor Constantine convened a Holy Synod, consisting of the whole Christian communion, which embodied both east and west branches of Christianity.  This famous Nicene Council debated many issues that generated profound internal ecclesiastical contradictions, but the ultimate outcome of the ecumenical Synod was the domination of Christianity by the Holy Roman Emperor in the framework of the Pop, and the imposition of the Gregorian calendar.  Prior to the Council of Nicaea the Julian calendar was the operative monthly calculus.

Apart from the Gregorian calendar imposition, the council engaged several profoundly controversial ecclesiastical divergences between the eastern and western branches of Christianity that resulted in a monumental bifurcation recorded in popular history as the great “east verse west schism.”  One of the most enduring elements of this sixteen hundred year old controversy is the “Apostles’ Creed” known by heart among all members of the Roman Catholic faith.  However, perhaps the most noteworthy outcome of the great historical council was the infallibility of the Pop…

The fundamental result of the council was the founding of the Roman Catholic Church and its resultant domination of the Christian “world” from the fourth to the seventeenth century.  The Roman Catholic Church and the Pop dominated the “known” Christian world for sixteen hundred years until King Henry VIII defied the authority of the Pop and established the Church of England.  In establishing his own church separate from Papal authority, Henry VIII set in motion the “Protestant Movement” which crystallized and ultimately bifurcated Christianity in Western Europe in the context of Catholics and Protestants.  Following the “Protestant Reformation” the Protestant Church morphed into denominations which continue to emerge, and we know live in a world that accommodates Protestant denominational Christianity, as well as the traditional Roman Catholic Church.

The celebration of Christmas among Catholic and Protestants remains pretty much consistent, and the lamentation relative to the commercialization of the Santa Clause and the Christmas paradigm is a sentiment in both faiths.  But the emphasis on the retail industry model is ubiquitous and currently generates its own inertia.  Consequently, the reason for the Christmas season has indeed been lost and replaced by malignant commercial market values that are inimical to the advancement of the mission of Jesus Christ on the planet earth.

Interestingly enough, the advent of Christmas and Christianity predates the Roman Catholic domination of the Judeo-Christian religion.  For more than three hundred years prior to that advent of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Oriental Orthodox branch of churches grow and flourished.  Popular western history offer colorful accounts of persecution of Christians throughout the Roman Empire.  Feeding Christians the Lions and burning them at the stack for not denouncing their faith was relished as sport and high entertainment.  These egregious atrocities were the order of the day and were implanted by a succession of Roman Emperor’s.  This treatment of Christians ceased following the miraculous conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity.  History reports that the conversion occurred at a convenient moment, when his empire needed human capital to help resist against existential military conquest.  Following the emperor’s conversion he sought to unify and solidify all of Christendom, and the rest is a colorful and enduring history of the Roman Catholic Church and Papacy.

By way of the popular grassroots celebration of Three Kings Day in many parts of the world, the eastern oriental tradition of Christmas continues to occur on January 6, and void of old St. Nick.  The Julian calendar remains the definitive calculus distinguishing the various months of the year, and the respective observances relative to Eastern Oriental Orthodox Christian tradition.  These ancient oriental branch of churches are inclusive of Ethiopian, Egyptian, Syrian, Armenian, Russian, just to name a few.

Merry Christmas and Happy Three Kings Day to all…

We will be bringing you more information and video of the Three Kings Celebration on St. Croix in United States Virgin Islands.  Also, please be advised that beginning 2012 will be have information and video representation of Three Kings Days celebration from respective countries around the world.  The videos will be linked to www.3KingsDay.org where they all will be archived and showcased.  Stay tuned…