Black Empowerment; the Cbc's Disservice to Democracy

Summary

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When I heard about this "plan" I didn't know whether to laugh, because it's so ridiculous, or to be angry, because it's so insulting to Black Americans. What makes it ridiculous is that [Ralph Nader] has already plainly indicated that he is running--and that he does not believe that stepping aside to give [John Kerry] a clear field among progressive voters is a reasonable strategy in light of the crisis that America faces. What's worse, however, is that the CBC's position is that Black voters should not have the right to make up our own minds about who to vote for.

Should Black voters remain blindly loyal to the Democratic Party in the face of this history and Mr. Kerry's spotty (at best!) record with respect to issues of concern to us? That's a serious question. I intend to work hard to make sure that we address that question during this campaign. I am supporting Ralph Nader's candidacy because I believe he is the best candidate, and not only because his political positions express our interests. The fact that he is running as an independent, and that his candidacy is galvanizing a progressive independent political movement as an alternative to weak-kneed conscienceless Democrats, make him the best hope for creating something of value for Black people in this election.

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Extract

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Black Empowerment; the Cbc's Disservice to Democracy

It recently came to my attention that the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, is seeking to arrange a meeting between the members of the CBC--all of them Democrats--and Ralph Nader, the independent candidate for president. ...

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