Blacks urged to form independent political movement

[SETIsLady]

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Growing disappointment with the Democratic Party, capped by a recent so-called Senate compromise that paved the way for the confirmation of at least three Right-wing judges, has prompted some activists to consider leaving the Democratic Party and forming an independent political movement.

“Everybody knows that Blacks are the most loyal folk to the Democratic Party. We have been loyal. And what do we get for our loyalty?” asks Mary Frances Berry, former chair of the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights. “African Americans should form an independent political movement; not a party, but a movement and say, ‘This is what our issues are and any candidate who supports these issues we will support. And if you don’t support them, we won’t support you.’”

Over the past 30 years, Democrats have received more than 80 percent of the Black vote in every presidential election.

“When it comes to Black people, African American people, Afro-American people—whatever we’re calling ourselves this year, Negro, Colored—there is no party, except the White party,” says Thomas Todd, a Chicago attorney and longtime civil rights activist. “When White people decide they want their own best interest involved, whether they are Democrats or Republicans, they vote their own interests and Black people have got to start doing the same thing. We’ve been putting party politics ahead of the self-interest of Black people.”

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This could make for an interesting 2008, especially if the Hispanics do the same

[Cherry Kelly]

Seti -- in political chats this subject (and quotes from it too) were posted and debated. One of our regulars (male, black/hispanic mix) said "what took them so long" with the idea that the party they have supported for all these years really was NOT helping. He says he supported Libertarians..

[SETIsLady]

CK the same could be said of the Hispanic communities that have been mostly Republican, these two groups of people are feeling used for elections and then tossed aside. Time will tell if and how they will effect the next election.