Hear hear. Britt Robson has this exactly right. If that sort of statement is intended to inoculate white liberals against voting for SSB's opponents, then it is unseemly and disingenuous in the extreme. This is the voice of desperation crying out in a wilderness of fear and frustration over a record that haunts Sharon's re-election. Even of she were to win same, it cannot and should not be because she is a woman of color, but because voters are not feeling the case has been yet made to replace her. It is, indeed, the very job of a challenger to provide voters every opportunity to issue a vote of confidence in the incumbent or shift horses. No challenger should let up on the record just because the incumbent is of color. What would we be about if all we did to stave off this nonsense would be to run people of color against an incumbent of color? We'd be about dishonesty. It is dishonest to presume the race card is in play at the 11th hour of this primary. Most people are predicting Sharon to receive one of the two finalist slots. Trying to push her totals to 45% or more using the race card will backfire significantly in the general. There is no mandate here that the chief executive must remain a person of color simply because we have now had one. I wish everyone the best as they cast their votes in their most honest fashion, and if Sharon survives her challenge, she'll be stronger than ever. If she does not, she will have made her own mess through eight years of an administration over which the majority of voters have grow displeased. In either case - vote. I can't - at least over there. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul ------ "I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually." - James Baldwin (1924 - 1987) "I love St. Paul more than any other city in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually." - Andy Driscoll (1939-) > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 21:20:55 EDT > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [Mpls] E -12:00 hours: The race card is now in play... > > In her all too accurate heading, "The race card is now in play..." Ms. > Sluyter smears all three of the Mayor's opponents, plus named and unnamed > supporters, with vague accusations, and closes with the shrill cry that > "Sharon is going to lose thousands of votes for one reason--the color of her > skin." > > Let me just politely say that such tactics do not do the candidate any > favors. Even the most guilt-ridden PC white liberal might have to stop for a > moment and remember that, oh yeah, Sharon Sayles Belton has already been > elected Mayor twice already, by a city that was a lot whiter in those > elections than it is now. > > If you're going to fight dirty, please don't insult our intelligence along > the way. > > Britt Robson > Lyndale > _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
