We have a big primary in North Carolina this year. I'm overseas and will be voting as soon as I get that ballot in hand. So, please share your endorsements here! Especially for the local and state offices; I'm already pretty clear on the presidential primary.
Editor's note: Joan wrote this a month ago, when many of us hadn't made up our minds. I think now people will have more to say. Consider this an official special rules thread. That is: You may only mention candidates that you are endorsing, please do not discuss people you don't support or why you don't support them. Comments that don't follow these guidelines will be removed. Thanks. =Ruby
Issues:
Comments
Endorsements
I support the Sierra Club endorsees in all applicable races, which include Dan Besse for Lt. Governor, Janet Cowell for Treasurer, local Representatives Joe Hackney and Verla Insko, Senator Ellie Kinnaird, County Commissioner Candidate Bernadette Pelissier, and Commissioner Candidates Pam Hemminger and Valerie Foushee (though they won't be appearing on the ballot, lacking opposition).
Outside of those races, I'm voting for Page Vernon for District Court 15-B, because lacking other criteria to base a vote for judge on, she has what to me appears to be the most extensive background and service record, though I think Glenn Gerding would do a great job too.
Since this is a local site, I won't comment on my endorsements in other state races, but I have posted my preferences elsewhere.
Last, but certainly not least, I'm voting strongly in favor of the Land Transfer Tax. Rather than give you an unnecessarily long diatribe here, I'll point you to a website I've set up on behalf of Orange Citizens for Schools and Parks which hopefully will help to make the case that the LTT is the least regressive of available options.
thanks...
Ellie Kinnaird
She has been the most effective State Senator in N.C. history when it comes to progressive issues. Despite the overall conservative, tunnel-visioned legislature down through the years, she has managed to secure leadership positions, advanced key environmental, social, educational, and health issues, shepherded an astounding number of her positions into law, and remained true to her progressive roots despite the constant pressure to "go-along, get-along" in the legislative club.
We cannot afford to squander the gains she has made in overall effectivenss as a legislator and leadership positioning in the Senate by not sending her back for another term.
Support Neloa Jones
Neloa Jones, a strong articulate advocate and activist for her community, has proven that she would be a tremendous positive force on the BOCC, bringing a level of integrity, critical and independent thinking that is sorely needed. Along with being fiercely intelligent and independent she thoroughly educates herself on any issue before offering an opinion. It is also obvious that along with her analytical talents she displays great empathy for all people and would base her advocacies on the citizen's interests and not special interests or her own political career.
DTH published an interview with Neloa Jones that is worth reading.: http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2008/04/18/City/Jones.Highlights.Activism-3334659.shtml
Neloa desearves support from all residents of Orange County.
"articulate"
articulate endorsements
Okay, but
Take note, though, Jim, that Joan didn't call anyone racist. She's just pointing out that the word can be loaded. And give both Joan and Dave credit for the fact that neither of them went off the deep end on the issue. They are just discussing it.
Notice this however, I ran two google searches:
"Hillary Clinton" articulate - I got 147,000 hits
"Barack Obama" articulate - I got 578,000 hits
What is that about if not the issue that Joan and Dave are discussing?
Okay, but
Mark, please note that I was not chastising Joan in any way. Indeed, I applaud both Joan and Dave for being so respectful (and articulate). Also note that I have no doubt that some people have used the word "articulate" to describe Obama in such a way that implies that most black people are not articulate. I condemn such speech. But it doesn't make Obama or others any less articulate.
If someone is using the word "articulate" in such a way that seems to have racist implications or overtones, we should call them on it. But it doesn't mean that "articulate" has to be a loaded word.
I tried your Google searches and got rather different results:
"Barack Obama" articulate: 164,000 hits
"Hillary Clinton" articulate: 146,000 hits
I get the same results that
I get the same results that you do. Not sure what I did differently yesterday.
Good points all round about the dialogue.
regardless of race
Obama really is a lot more articulate than Hillary Clinton. You could put the guys face in the dictionary next to the word. He's just a great speaker. But that said, I definitely get why some people would be suspicious of possible subtext behind that word in reference to an African American. It's something to consider.
AWB: articulate while black
Joan, I appreciate your
Joan, I appreciate your comments. I am usually sensitive to words, given the makeup of my family. My wife keeps a baseball bat handy in case I get out of line.
However, given the state of our primary and secondary education system as most professors and employers will tell you, being inarticulate is shared by folks of all ethnic backgrounds. Having been in the position of interviewing potential employees, noting that a candidate was articulate or not was part of the evaluation. It was not surprising that some college graduates could not write a complete sentence.
In fact, we have to look no further than our current president, which as Mark pointed out is in direct contrast to his predecessor. Personally, I have my own problems getting out my ideas and am always impressed by those who seem to have the skills. And Neloa's presentation to the all governements meeting was impressive.
I wonder if texting will become the new standard. OMG.
offended by those taking offense
It really gets wearisome having to keep up with all the manners in which thin skinned peoples of all races, cultures, ethnicities, genders, political bents, religions, languages and toenail lengths can come up with to take offense when none is intended. Will we ever grow past the politics of assuming victim status whenever it's politically expedient?
I believe that giving in to this growing list of politically correct and politically incorrect speech is a very vile form of racism and in some cases sexism in and of itself.
Nothing politically correct about it
Joan is not being "politically correct". What ever that is. (IMHO That phrase is just conservative talk to bash Liberals and to protect their hate speech.) Its easy not to understand the subtlety of language when race is involved. To accuse people of the very thing that folks like Joan are commenting AGAINST is a serious form of ignorance. Its Rovian doublespeak ala 1984! It does such harm to ignore the concern of anti-racists like Joan. The very dismissal of her comments is just disgusting!
We
willmay get over racist speech when black and brown folks have more justice in this world. Go ask people what they think about the ignorant slip that davepr made... My guess is many of the folks who come to the polls May 6 are doing so because racial equality in the US doesn't exist as it should!To tell the truth I don't think Joan has any "politically expedient" reason to comment. She's not a political ally of Nola's, as far as I know. Not everyone who comments on here has some agenda against your position.
Brian, I keep trying to
No Disrespect
Land Transfer Tax, etc.
Even though we may be selling our home soon, I am probably voting YES on the LTT. It just seems like the right thing to do, even though I don't make much money and could use the extra equity, but hey!
Also, for Lt. Governor, I am endorsing Hampton Dellinger because I am a volunteer for him for the following reasons: he is extremely intelligent, progressive, experienced in the governor's office, and will always do the right thing. These groups/folks feel the same way:
Dr. John Hope Franklin
NC AFL-CIO
Al Gore
NARAL Pro-Choice North Crolina
American Federation of Teachers
Mecklenburg Black Caucus
North Carolina Police Benevolent Association
Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
United Transportation (UTU) Union
Eastern North Carolina Civic League
People's Alliance of Durham
BOCC District 2
Leo Allison for BOCC
Leo is far and away the best choice, he has been involved in a number of projects in the Efland area, he has been on the planning board as well as a number of others. See his website, www.leoallison.com
Leo will not "go along to get along" but he will be collegial and with a larger board, this is even more important.
Let me also put in a good word for Dan Besse for Lt. Gov. I have never seen a harder working candidate than Dan and combined with his experience in environmental issues and his service on the W-S city council, he is the best choice.
I agree with you on Allison
Mr. Falduto, I support Leo Allison as well. I don't recall serving with him but I have seen Mr. Allison in a number of meetings and he strikes me as an even handed leader who will listen to others before expressing his opinion. I hope I get the opportunity to vote for Mr. Allison in November.
Patrick Mulkey
The rules
Steve Yuhasz for District 2
In addition, I think his success being a small business owner and a graduate of NCCU’s night law school indicates he will be able to sustain the commitment needed to be an effective county commissioner.
Allan Rosen
My endorsements
OK, I just voted and I had to make some hard decisions. There were two races where I liked both candidates so much that my choice was nearly arbitrary. Those are the ones with the slash (/).
Democratic ballot (front):
Obama, Neal, Perdue, Besse
Wood, Goodwin, Donnan, Atkinson, Cowell
Kinnaird, Pelissier/Jones
Nonpartisan ballot (back):
Wynn, Ruth, Gerding/Vernon
FOR the land transfer tax
Go vote!
I'm having trouble deciding...
anybody have input on these?:
Governor: Moore or Perdue? (I'm leaning towards just skipping this one)
Lt. Gov: Dellinger or Besse? (I'm leaning Dellinger)
Commissioner of Labor: M.F. Donnan or R. Anderson?
Superintendent of Public Instruction: E. Davis or J.S.C. Atkinson?
More Articulation
From http://www.theroot.com/id/47264 :
"A tone-deaf white person who refers to a successful black person as 'articulate' is called a condescending racist, when the person either spoke without thinking of the connotation or was unaware of it. If a white person is called out for saying something insensitive, the clichéd response is: 'Well, I can't be racist; I mean, I have black friends!'"
I understand the point but......
Semantics
Terri and Catherine, I don't mean to imply anything by providing the link. It just seemed relevant to the prior discussion. It's a semantic discussion, but that doesn't mean it is unimportant.
Okay, Mark
Eloquent