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madape · 03-09-2004, 02:12 PM

Kerry speech invokes faith, civil rights themes
Avoid politics that divide us, worshippers told
By JULIE MASON
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
JOHN KERRY

JACKSON, Miss. -- Aligning himself with the civil rights movement and elements of faith in the fight for equality, Sen. John Kerry on Sunday called on members of an African-American church here to march against cynicism and disaffection.

"I don't agree with the hollowness of the politics, nor do you, that tries to divide black from white, rich from poor, Massachusetts from Mississippi," Kerry told a crowd of about 600 at the predominantly black Greater Bethlehem Temple Church.

Democrats historically have relied on the support of African-Americans at the polls, a courtship that often begins in church. But this year, with the election expected to be extremely close, Democrats are saying they can no longer afford to take black votes for granted.

Visiting black churches is an honored rite of the presidential campaign, and Kerry used the occasion Sunday to debut a speech melding policy with religion, springing from the bedrock of civil rights.

Quoting James 2:14, Kerry, a Catholic, said, "We'll be tested to see how much we really remember the words of the Scripture, What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?"

Although civil rights activist Al Sharpton of New York is still in the Democratic race, black voters and elected officials said they want to support a candidate with a better chance at defeating President Bush.

President Clinton was often known as the first black president, Kerry said recently. "I wouldn't be upset if I could earn the right to be the second."

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who campaigned extensively for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, made the switch to Kerry after Dean dropped out of the race, and appeared at Kerry's town hall meeting in Houston on Saturday.

State Rep. Garnet Coleman, a longtime Houston Democratic lawmaker, said African-Americans, like all Americans, are looking for the candidate who can put forth the policies to improve children's health insurance, restore college scholarship funding, and create economic opportunity.

There are people who are struggling, Coleman said. "And what they want to know is who is going to pull together the policy that is going to help them succeed, when they are doing everything they're supposed to do."

African-Americans have been hard-hit by the nation's job losses. A recent study by the National Urban League found black unemployment nearly double the national average.

In addition, college-educated and highly skilled black workers suffered greater job losses than their white counterparts, according to the Urban League report, which was based on Labor Department statistics.

Yolanda Smith, executive director of the NAACP in Houston, said black voters are paying close attention this year to the voting records of candidates on key issues.

``We are hoping that each candidate is cognitive of the huge disparity in black unemployment and racial profiling and other areas of concern,'' Smith said.

In 2000, Al Gore captured 90 percent of the black vote to President Bush's 9 percent, one of the lowest percentages for a Republican in decades, according to exit surveys.

Since then, Bush has worked to bring more black voters to the Republican Party, in part by promoting his education reforms, faith-based spending programs and tax cuts to selected black audiences other than the traditional civil rights groups, such as black churches and social service providers.

Kerry told his Sunday audience here that Bush has broken promises to all Americans, including in education, the environment, foreign policy and more. "We have to march against cynicism and disaffection," he said.

Before largely securing his party's nomination, Kerry came under fire from opponents for statements more than a decade ago on affirmative action.

In a 1992 speech, Kerry claimed that affirmative action kept Americans thinking in racial terms and promoted a culture of dependency.

Kerry said his statements at the time were describing what critics of affirmative action were saying about the program. In Houston earlier this week, Kerry told supporters that he supports affirmative action.

In Mississippi, Kerry said he plans to run the same campaign in all parts of the country, and not target specific communities of interest.

"I believe that we're one country," Kerry said.

03-09-2004, 02:12 PM	#1
madape Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 5,913	Kerry - America's Second Black President Kerry speech invokes faith, civil rights themes Avoid politics that divide us, worshippers told By JULIE MASON Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle JOHN KERRY JACKSON, Miss. -- Aligning himself with the civil rights movement and elements of faith in the fight for equality, Sen. John Kerry on Sunday called on members of an African-American church here to march against cynicism and disaffection. "I don't agree with the hollowness of the politics, nor do you, that tries to divide black from white, rich from poor, Massachusetts from Mississippi," Kerry told a crowd of about 600 at the predominantly black Greater Bethlehem Temple Church. Democrats historically have relied on the support of African-Americans at the polls, a courtship that often begins in church. But this year, with the election expected to be extremely close, Democrats are saying they can no longer afford to take black votes for granted. Visiting black churches is an honored rite of the presidential campaign, and Kerry used the occasion Sunday to debut a speech melding policy with religion, springing from the bedrock of civil rights. Quoting James 2:14, Kerry, a Catholic, said, "We'll be tested to see how much we really remember the words of the Scripture, What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?" Although civil rights activist Al Sharpton of New York is still in the Democratic race, black voters and elected officials said they want to support a candidate with a better chance at defeating President Bush. President Clinton was often known as the first black president, Kerry said recently. "I wouldn't be upset if I could earn the right to be the second." U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who campaigned extensively for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, made the switch to Kerry after Dean dropped out of the race, and appeared at Kerry's town hall meeting in Houston on Saturday. State Rep. Garnet Coleman, a longtime Houston Democratic lawmaker, said African-Americans, like all Americans, are looking for the candidate who can put forth the policies to improve children's health insurance, restore college scholarship funding, and create economic opportunity. There are people who are struggling, Coleman said. "And what they want to know is who is going to pull together the policy that is going to help them succeed, when they are doing everything they're supposed to do." African-Americans have been hard-hit by the nation's job losses. A recent study by the National Urban League found black unemployment nearly double the national average. In addition, college-educated and highly skilled black workers suffered greater job losses than their white counterparts, according to the Urban League report, which was based on Labor Department statistics. Yolanda Smith, executive director of the NAACP in Houston, said black voters are paying close attention this year to the voting records of candidates on key issues. ``We are hoping that each candidate is cognitive of the huge disparity in black unemployment and racial profiling and other areas of concern,'' Smith said. In 2000, Al Gore captured 90 percent of the black vote to President Bush's 9 percent, one of the lowest percentages for a Republican in decades, according to exit surveys. Since then, Bush has worked to bring more black voters to the Republican Party, in part by promoting his education reforms, faith-based spending programs and tax cuts to selected black audiences other than the traditional civil rights groups, such as black churches and social service providers. Kerry told his Sunday audience here that Bush has broken promises to all Americans, including in education, the environment, foreign policy and more. "We have to march against cynicism and disaffection," he said. Before largely securing his party's nomination, Kerry came under fire from opponents for statements more than a decade ago on affirmative action. In a 1992 speech, Kerry claimed that affirmative action kept Americans thinking in racial terms and promoted a culture of dependency. Kerry said his statements at the time were describing what critics of affirmative action were saying about the program. In Houston earlier this week, Kerry told supporters that he supports affirmative action. In Mississippi, Kerry said he plans to run the same campaign in all parts of the country, and not target specific communities of interest. "I believe that we're one country," Kerry said.