#2012elections

[tyschwoeffermann-blog]

2012 Oregon Black Organizing a Year in Review

2012 Oregon Black Organizing a Year in Review

  Health Equity:  The State of Equity report released by the state of Office of Equity inclusion partnered with Urban League of Portland, Portland African American Leadership Forum, Multnomah County, and Albina Ministerial Alliance for the State of Equity an African American Response.  The goals of the event were to bring together African American community with state department leaders, to build relationships, hear concerns, make direct programmatic critiques, and to find common ground and partnership.  Twice this year (April 30th and Nov 26th), leaders gathered 150 people (90% African American's) at Maranatha church, people who work in health and are effected directly by the health care system.  Here is a link to the Report.

Research:  The coalition of communities of color will be releasing a report highlighting community disparities data soon called the unsettling report; it is worth a read to make current our arguments backed up by hard data.  The disparities we face are great, it is very important to know the truth in the numbers, the work of Ann Curry Stevenson (PSU) and the Portland African American Leadership Forum, Self Enhancement Inc, and Urban League should be recognized for their efforts. The African American report will be up soon here is a link.

Public Safety:  The Albina Ministerial Alliance convened the Coalition for Safety and Justice which was established in 2010 to respond to the department of justice.  This community organizing effort filled city hall several times this year in a large community demonstration of solidarity calling for police accountability.  Its hard to ignore the impact that they had in the conversations around reinstating police perpetrators, police reforms, and specific cases that represent shared interests in the community.  here is a link  I also want to recognize the leadership of Dr. Haines, T Allen Bethal, JoAnn Hardisty, of course there are many others, but I feel that these three have really made many personal sacrifices to lead this movement.  

Housing Justice:  Ahjamu Umi, Mic Crenshaw, and others have been leading a home defense movement under the banner We Are Oregon affiliated with SEIU.  Many people in Oregon are facing foreclosures because an American banking system that was found to be ripe with corruption and simple mismanaged of their mortgage assets to a scale never seen in American history.  As a result people are homeless after the housing bubble burst in 2010.  The NE Portland Black working group formed out of the Occupy movement to set in motion this solidarity movement to defend homes and keep people from getting evicted by the county sheriffs office.  Tactics have included home defense with human walls, direct action non-violent, and civil disobedience.  I applaud the work of these amazing organizers.   

Education Equity:  This year NE Portland has seen more public schools shut down including Harriet Tubman School and Humboldt School.  The Oregon Alliance for Education Equity formed by communities of color, english language learners, education advocates, families/parents, allies and other stakeholders Eugene-Springfield NAACP, Salem-Kaiser NAACP, Salem kaiser coalition and others represent the alliance. Their goals are to united to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in education. Here is a link

Economic Equality: Portland's African immigrant communities were galvanized this year by a movement to build a taxi cab union.  The issue is that a group of African taxi cab drivers in Portland want to form and expand an independent transportation services business.  In order to do that legally in Portland they must first get approval from the city council, because they don't want to allow too many taxi drivers in the city limits, to reduce competition and allow for limited competitiveness.  In November the mostly African cab drivers won!!!  the city council approved 50 new permits for union cabs.  If you have not been following this story I really suggest that you try to show solidarity and support for these men and women who are our brothers and sisters.  Now the brothers will be facing litigation by their competitors the Red Diamond cab company.

Black LGBTQ:  You can’t ignore our communities diverse voices in the movement.  This year we heard loud and clear that marriage equality is important to communities of color in a major way many Portland organizers helped lead the efforts in SW Washington to get same sex marriage passed in Washington state.  Parents and Families of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Portland Black chapter partnered with the Urban League of Portland, Basic Rights Oregon Our families, and western states center for a national coming out day event like no other in Oregon’s history.  Research on the Black LGBTQ community was the focus of a year long effort to build unity with in the African American community.  Here is a link.

Transportation Justice:  This year we saw rate hikes in the major transit system Trimet and the free zone fare less square no longer exists.  This saw considerable resistance from Organizing People Activating Leaders (OPAL) with the campaign for a fair transfer and Occupy Portland actively protested some of the proposed changes to Portland’s transportation system.  Fair increases and service cuts disproportionately affect working people.  We also heard this year that law enforcement on Trimet stops is set to increase.  Here is a link

Food Justice: Activating Communities for Health Innovation and Environmental Change (ACHIEVE) is a coalition of community leaders, faith community, and Multnomah county to help increase healthy food access in the county.  This year Pastor Hardy of Highland Christian Center was the key note speaker for the county Food Summit, Corliss McKeever of African American Health Coalition also was featured on the lunch panel.  Yugen Rashad and Rachael Banks are the mentors for the program.  It was an event that featured voices of the Black, Latino, and Native American communities in workshops and dialogues about food justice.  Here is a link

Student Movements: The Oregon Students of Color Coalition, Oregon Students Equal Rights Coalition, and Oregon Students Association have been mobilizing and activating a new generation of leaders in Oregon.  This year students recorded a record never been seen of 50,000 new voters registered before the November 6th election.  Also the Northwest Student Leadership conference and the Oregon students of color conferences were maxed out.  Check the new website for resources.

Elections:  President Barack Obama successfully won reelection.  Also nationally the congressional black caucus won 5 seats but lost 2 in the election.  The biggest lost has to be Jesse Jackson Jr. who resigned a few weeks ago do to personal health, he was a champion of raising the national minimum wage to 10$ and oppositional force to American wars.  Tim Scott was appointed in South Carolina to replace Tim DeMint.  Locally there were some efforts by Black candidates.  Lew Frederick won reelection.  Teressa Raiford ran for office for City Council seat currently occupied by Amanda Fritz, lost in the primary.  Bordnax Woodrow representing the green party received 11,000 votes, for 3rd district representative for congress seat.  Cameron Whitten ran for Mayor primary before running again for state treasurer for the Progressive party receiving more than 38,000 votes, celebrate this young future politician. (Multnomah County Results)  (State Results)

Legislative Advocacy: The Urban League of Portland hosted its second annual legislative day in Salem meant for lobbying, galvanizing and getting political with the state legislators. We gathered a group of 50 people in the state capitol in April.  This year I recognize that only 2 elected in Salem are of African descent Lew Frederick and Jackie Winters, which means that they need our support.  The 2013 session should see more involvement by people of color than ever before.  JoAnn Hardisty has 3 public safety related bills that will focus on police accountability, Center for Intercultural organizing has a police profiling bill, the Urban League of Portland has a natural hair care bill and a cultural competency for health care professionals bill, and many others that require our support.  We must hold our elected officials feet to the fire on these issues to make sure that they don't slip through the cracks.  If you would like to become more involved in 2013 legislative session please register for this legislative day http://conta.cc/UUqdf9 on February 19th 2013.

In summary we have accomplished a ton of excellent work in 2012.  Oregon is often looked at for innovation, drive, and creative movement development as you can see we are stronger than ever.  We work together, we are influencing the powerful, and we have solid victories to point to.  I feel more resolve than ever and I hope that you do too.  Get connected to a movement and make an impact where you can. I’m looking forward to a beautiful new year in 2013.

P.S. Honorable mentions:

Decolinize PDX - Keton Otis monthly Vigils

11:45 and Big Brothers Big Sisters partnership - recruiting 200 mentors

International Center for Traditional Child Bearing - Breast Feeding Black Babies summit

Portland Albina Ministerial Alliance - healthy food nutrition policy

African American Aids Awareness Action Alliance (A6) - Balm in Gilead program

Black Fatherhood Project - local film maker making national moves

Liberation based healing conference - Lewis and Clark professor Andre Brown

[geoffreyacooper]

Young voters weigh possibility of second term for Obama

By Geoffrey A. Cooper

With an economy slow to rebound and job scarcity looming, young and impassioned voters hold the key votes to sending President Barack Obama back to Capitol Hill for a second term. 

Some of those once loyal supporters say Obama’s duties remains unfulfilled, and are wary of granting him another chance. Yet, if successful, members from that crop of Obama’s electorate also say he must end gridlock, and make good on a slew of promises made four year ago – the prime directive remains refurbishing the country's economic fabric.

George Mason University student Shannon Collier recently traveled from Fairfax, Va., to Richmond – her hometown – at a rally in Byrd Park to hear Obama's talking points one last time before Election Day. The 22-year-old nursing senior said she understands the odds were stacked against Obama before he even took his oath of office, adding that certain fiscal measures were necessary at the time to save the economy from collapsing. 

She said Obama's first four years in office hasn't been perfect, but wants Obama to finish the work he's already implemented.

"When we think about new presidents coming into office … The president needs that time, first, to repair and make changes. Then they'll have the opportunity in the next four years to produce the progress we want to see," Collier said.

Election Day is near, and supporters of Obama's reelection efforts in Virginia say they will need, again, a formidable showing by young voters too stay competitive with the GOP and its presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The statewide efflux of 18-29-year-old voters to the polls played a significant part in turning Virginia blue in 2008 – the first time in more than four decades.

At Virginia Commonwealth University, local grassroots organizations have worked for months to mobilize and register youth voters, many who will cast ballots for the very first time. 

Obama and Romney campaign strategists conclude many Democrat votes are located on VCU's campus and throughout Richmond. The trick is getting youth voters to revive the same level of enthusiasm they had for Obama in 2008.

"The motivations are a little bit different, but I don't think the results will be that much different in terms of who young people on this campus support," said Michael Plumb, vice president of volunteer coordination for VCU Young Democrats.

Plumb said the key to drawing youth support for Obama – especially from those voters who casted ballots for him in 2008 – is reminding them where the country was before and after he took office. 

"We have to educate people on the everyday impact the president's policies have had on their lives," Plumb said.

Obama clinched Virginia from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., 52 to 46 percent respectively. Political pundits deem Virginia as a hotly-contested swing state in this year's presidential election, with numerous polls indicating Obama and Romney remain in dead heat among likely voters.

Obama's battle for universal healthcare, slashing the costs of higher education, immigration reform, and keeping competitive jobs domestic is evidence he cares about the future of young voters, Plumb said.

Obama's campaign for months has been criticism of slow economic recovery and high unemployment under his watch, and with young voters, many of them are bearing the brunt of the dismal economy.

Generation Opportunity – a non-profit, non-partisan U.S. organization which mobilizes young citizens on economic issues – reported earlier this month that the non-seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate for 18-29 year olds for September was 11.8 percent.

Romney surrogates continue to echo how the massive debt load, high level of fiscal spending, and Obama's failure to secure and create jobs will affect young voters' job prospects.

James Marconi, a business senior at the University of Richmond and intern for Romney's campaign, said he encounters many young voters who are disillusioned with the candidates rather than voting for another candidate out of spite, many young voters decline to vote all.

"We need young people to be engaged," Marconi said. "If you lose a voter in one cycle, chances are you're going to lose them for future cycles."

Marconi said with Romney’s business background, as president, the economy would be better.

"(Romney) is going to improve the economic prospects of everybody, whether it be the currently unemployed, or the recent graduate, or soon to be graduate," Marconi said. "We can introduce an umbrella approach in which we can rise all boats."

Local residents line up outside to leave Byrd Park in Richmond after hearing President Barack Obama give a speech at The Carillon, Oct. 25, 2012. Obama spoke to more than 15,000 local residents as part of a last minute stump through the battleground state of Virginia. (VCU/Geoffrey A. Cooper)

  Podcast: Lifelong local Republican Starlet Stevens reacts to Election Night results

[grizbrisq]

Google Ghana #2012Elections #WestAfrica #Ghana #Presidentia

[geoffreyacooper]

Well... I guess I can't be too surprised something like this is happening.

[geoffreyacooper]

Editorial: My thoughts on the 2012 presidential election

If the Democrats received a "shellacking" in 2010, then I guess it would be fair to say Republicans suffered a TKO this time around.

Coming off a bruising fight between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney for the U.S. presidency, Republicans are left picking up their teeth and unscrambling their brains after suffering a severe beating Tuesday.

If you're a progressive, you loved every single bit of the outcomes from Election Day:

Democrats maintained a stronghold in the U.S. Senate.

Key swing states such as Ohio, Wisconsin, and Florida also went for Obama. Obama did lose one key swing state though -- my home state, North Carolina.

In terms of gay rights, same-sex legislation passed in Maine, Maryland, and Washington state.

In Minnesota, voters -- primarily the young and minority -- denounced an amendment defining marriage between a man and woman, and a voter ID measure.

What was once seen as a reliable state for Republicans, Virginia pulled for Obama in a second straight presidential election. Here in Virginia, even Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell admits there's much work to be done in the metropolitan areas of NOVA (Northern Virginia), Richmond, and parts of the Hampton Roads. Those areas have grown tremendously over the past decade and are now hotbeds for government workers, minorities, and young college-aged voters. 

This election season was met with high enthusiasm by hardcore conservatives, viewing this as a prime opportunity to unseat Obama and clinch key victories in  several high-profile races.

Quite honestly, it wasn't like the Republicans didn't have the right tools to make Sen. Mitch McConnell's dreams come true -- make Obama a one-term president.

Romney and his vice presidential pick Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., had endless bankroll from GOP masterminds like the Koch brothers, Karl Rove, Grover Norquist, and their Super PACs. Those billions raised went to ads, mailers, and television spots -- by the way, I'm so glad I won't see anymore of these -- labeling Obama as a president with a hidden socialist agenda, whose idea of a sustainable economy is taxing the wealthy to the high heavens, and creating class warfare between the rich and poor.

Romney and Ryan campaigned like crazy in swing states, and even made last minute visits to some of them the day before elections. Plus, Republicans capitalized on every opportunity to discredit Obama's first term, mainly slighting Obama on his fiscal and economic policies.

Realistically, incumbency wasn't on Obama's side. He had to campaign with dismal records of high unemployment, low job creation, and a national debt peaking $16 trillion.

And yet, despite all of those pitfalls for Obama, Republicans still couldn't yield a victory.

Many questions now linger about who's truly to blame for the GOP's surprising defeat, and how the party will bounce back from these crushing losses. If you're like many befuddled Republicans out there, I guess you're asking this golden question: What in the world went wrong?

Here's a few things...

It's been clear for some time that the traditional Republican Party has been hijacked by far-right, ultra-conservative, religious zealots. America has to deal with fringe members who champion toxic stances on social issues like abortion (see Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo.); who believes Obama supporters are a threat to the gene pool (see Rep. Allen West, R-Fla.); and constantly makes erratic claims without facts in mind (see Rep. Michelle Bachman, R-Minn.)

Long gone are the days of sensible men and women, willing to come across the aisle and effectively legislate. Lawmakers like Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, is retiring because she said she's fed up with the hyper partisanship engulfing Capitol Hill. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., who has been a seasoned fixture in the Senate for 36 years, was ousted by Indiana Republicans during his primary contest simply because he wasn't as far right as his challenger. Who'd they replace him with -- a Tea Party faithful who makes appalling statements about women being raped as "part of God's plan" (see Richard Mourdock.) We all saw how that contest turned out.

As long as you have members and ideologies like that, good luck on trying to convince the rest of America you're worth the vote.

Also, the demographics of U.S. voters are changing. Those older white men and women Republicans depended on for so long are disappearing. We're seeing a growing electorate which is youthful, of darker shades, idealistic, tolerant, and less inclined to put up with senseless and divisive rhetoric from the GOP.

Lastly, more inclusiveness is needed. I can't tell you how many times I've attended GOP rallies and Tea Party shin-digs, only to see two or three other faces that look like mine. Then GOP supporters have the nerve to champion the attendance of those same two or three dark faces and call that "diversity."

Excuse me as I try not to die from laughter.

The reality is, Republicans have done a lousy job over the past two elections of reaching out to minorities such as African Americans, Hispanic and Latinos, and Asian Americans. The sad thing is there are plenty of those minorities who wouldn't mind identifying with the Republican Party on some of its platform -- especially deficit reduction, job creation and cutting taxes.

But once you start mud-slinging, and throwing around language and stereotypes that ostracize people, you're just asking for backlash.

You can't bully teachers in Wisconsin or any other government worker; tell women what to do with their vaginas; constantly call blacks lazy and welfare kings/queens; chump young people as if they are stupid and entitled; protect the rich but step on the middle class and poor; think every LEGAL Hispanics/Latino person walking down the street is ILLEGAL; treat gay people as if they are an abomination; and still expect to gain traction as a party of acceptance.

I hope this election was a wake-up call to the top brass in the Republican Party. Do us all a favor:

Clear out the clown car. Recruit quality candidates with impeccable backgrounds who are going to clearly communicate conservative principles. Tell the right-wing wack jobs to stay at home and keep their day jobs. This isn't amateur night.

Tell John Boehner to grow a spine and stop caving to the far-right. His performance as Speaker of the House has been ineffective due to his constant pandering to the neo cons in his chamber. 

Learn to compromise --  Oftentimes, I can't tell if Americans elected politicians or crybabies. Every time Republicans don't get their way, they piss and moan, and throw a temper tantrum. If I wanted all of that, I'd go babysit my nephew. Work with the Senate and White House to actually pass some meaningful laws that will move this country forward.

This election should serve as hard evidence that most Americans want to see cohesive action from both parties. They're sick of the games. They're sick of the empty promises. They're sick of the theatrics. 

Political grandstanding can wait. 2016 is a long time away. Right now, Americans want civility. They want action.

I think they're worth that much. Don't you?

[geoffreyacooper]

But seriously... All partisanship aside... How can you not appreciate this?

[geoffreyacooper]

Here's a small video clip from last night at the Omni Hotel in downtown Richmond of Ken Cuccinelli, attorney general of Virginia, trying to rile up the crowd to support Republican George Allen. Allen ran against former Richmond mayor and Virginia governor Tim Kaine for Sen. Jim Webb's open U.S. Senate seat. Kaine defeated Allen last night.

[indiependentheart-blog]

I would like to thank all Americans, especially those who voted for Barack Obama. You may or may not know this, but you just elected the better president for the world. The one it needs now. So thank you.

I don't know how to explain this feeling of Obama winning. But it's this tingling feeling of happiness. 

For women.

For same-sex marriages.

For healthcare.

You guys have a lot to look forward to. And so does the world.