Kerry puts on a minstrel show at the NAACP

[madape]

Image edited out by a Dallas-Mavs.com Moderator

Kerry embraced by NAACP
But some in Congress criticize ads aimed at blacks as lackluster

11:18 PM CDT on Thursday, July 15, 2004

By GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News

PHILADELPHIA – A twinkle-toed John Kerry danced a shuffle at the NAACP convention Thursday before telling delegates that his upcoming showdown with President Bush was the most important election of their time – and that he needed their help to win.

"Our health care be on the line. Our jobs be on the line," he said to a roaring crowd. "Our children's future be on the line. The Supreme Court be on the line. America's place in the world be on the line."

Mr. Kerry then urged the 8,000 delegates to "register voters, talk to yo' neighbors and get yo' people to the polls."

"We not only gonna make sure that every vote counts, we gonna make sure that every vote be counted," he said, invoking bad Democratic memories of the 2000 Florida recount. "The America we believe in be calling us to service, and we gotta answer."

Mr. Kerry's speech at the NAACP convention was anticipated by critics and supporters who complained that he had not done enough to fire up the black vote, the most loyal bloc of the Democratic Party.

And while some black members of Congress complained Thursday that Kerry ads aimed at black voters were lackluster, others praised his speech, saying he passionately addressed themes of unity and class struggle and connected with an audience that chanted his name.

Mr. Kerry entered the packed ballroom from the entrance farthest away from the stage and immersed himself in the crowd for hugs and handshakes.

As Sister Sledge's 1979 soul hit "We Are Family" pumped in the background, Mr. Kerry took hold of one woman and danced as the crowd cheered, clapped and moved along with him.

"That's a strong message," said Theresa Dear, president of the NAACP chapter in DuPage County, Ill. "It's not just a song and dance, it's a strong display of unity."

Mr. Kerry said he welcomed the enthusiasm.

"This is the energy that's going to help us change America in a few months," he said.

Borrowing from NAACP founder W.E.B. Du Bois, Mr. Kerry said that the poor and oppressed represented a "nation within a nation." He closed by quoting, as he often does, Harlem renaissance poet Langston Hughes' "Let America Be America Again."

"He's very motivating, and this is what we've been looking for," said Peter Cohn, a 58-year-old San Francisco lawyer. "He didn't miss a beat."

Cierra Johnson, 23, a community outreach worker in Montgomery, Ala., said that although Mr. Kerry spoke well, he must deliver on his promises. "We've heard people say good things before," she said. "But I think he's sincere."

Mr. Kerry joined NAACP leaders in bashing President Bush for declining the group's invitation to speak.

"When you be president, you can pretty much say where you wanna be and when you wanna be there," Mr. Kerry said.

"When you be president, you need to talk to all the people. The president may be too busy to speak to you now, but he gonna have plenny of time after Nov. 2."

In Washington, White House spokesman Scott McClellan touted Mr. Bush's record of reaching out to black Americans and said the president has been disappointed by criticism leveled by NAACP leaders.

"I think it really is disappointing to see the current leadership continue to repeat the hostile rhetoric that they have used, which really shows that they're not interested in a constructive dialogue," he said.

As for Mr. Kerry, the dance steps may indicate an improving stump performance.

"He seems like a different guy," said Greg Moore, a Washington activist. "He's got his rhythm together."

[u2sarajevo]

Can you imagine the reaction if Bush talked like that at the Convention?

I am offended, I wonder if the African American community is?

[Mavdog]

ape I'm not sure if I should be impresssed by your hard work at duplicity or outraged that you didn't put a disclaimer.
the jolson picture sure says a lot.
the actual article;
DMN
------------------------------
Kerry embraced by NAACP
But some in Congress criticize ads aimed at blacks as lackluster


11:18 PM CDT on Thursday, July 15, 2004

By GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News


PHILADELPHIA – A twinkle-toed John Kerry danced a shuffle at the NAACP convention Thursday before telling delegates that his upcoming showdown with President Bush was the most important election of their time – and that he needed their help to win.

"Our health care is on the line. Our jobs are on the line," he said to a roaring crowd. "Our children's future is on the line. The Supreme Court is on the line. America's place in the world is on the line."

Mr. Kerry then urged the 8,000 delegates to "register voters, talk to neighbors and get people to the polls."

"We're not only going to make sure that every vote counts, we're going to make sure that every vote is counted," he said, invoking bad Democratic memories of the 2000 Florida recount. "The America we believe in is calling us to service once again, and we have to answer."

Mr. Kerry's speech at the NAACP convention was anticipated by critics and supporters who complained that he had not done enough to fire up the black vote, the most loyal bloc of the Democratic Party.

And while some black members of Congress complained Thursday that Kerry ads aimed at black voters were lackluster, others praised his speech, saying he passionately addressed themes of unity and class struggle and connected with an audience that chanted his name.

Mr. Kerry entered the packed ballroom from the entrance farthest away from the stage and immersed himself in the crowd for hugs and handshakes.

As Sister Sledge's 1979 soul hit "We Are Family" pumped in the background, Mr. Kerry took hold of one woman and danced as the crowd cheered, clapped and moved along with him.

"That's a strong message," said Theresa Dear, president of the NAACP chapter in DuPage County, Ill. "It's not just a song and dance, it's a strong display of unity."

Mr. Kerry said he welcomed the enthusiasm.

"This is the energy that's going to help us change America in a few months," he said.

Borrowing from NAACP founder W.E.B. Du Bois, Mr. Kerry said that the poor and oppressed represented a "nation within a nation."

He closed by quoting, as he often does, Harlem renaissance poet Langston Hughes' "Let America Be America Again."

"He's very motivating, and this is what we've been looking for," said Peter Cohn, a 58-year-old San Francisco lawyer. "He didn't miss a beat."

Cierra Johnson, 23, a community outreach worker in Montgomery, Ala., said that although Mr. Kerry spoke well, he must deliver on his promises.

"We've heard people say good things before," she said. "But I think he's sincere."

Mr. Kerry joined NAACP leaders in bashing President Bush for declining the group's invitation to speak.

"When you're president, you can pretty much say where you want to be and when you want to be there," Mr. Kerry said.

"When you're president, you need to talk to all the people. The president may be too busy to speak to you now, but he's going to have plenty of time after Nov. 2."

In Washington, White House spokesman Scott McClellan touted Mr. Bush's record of reaching out to black Americans and said the president has been disappointed by criticism leveled by NAACP leaders.

"I think it really is disappointing to see the current leadership continue to repeat the hostile rhetoric that they have used, which really shows that they're not interested in a constructive dialogue," he said.

As for Mr. Kerry, the dance steps may indicate an improving stump performance.

"He seems like a different guy," said Greg Moore, a Washington activist. "He's got his rhythm together."

E-mail gjeffers@dallasnews.com

[madape]

The dialogue was enhanced. The Mr. Bojangles impersonation was not.

[madape]

edit

[mavsman55]

Mr. Kerry then urged the 8,000 delegates to "register voters, talk to yo' neighbors and get yo' people to the polls."

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]... I'm glad I wasn't there for that.