DNC Chairman Meets with Black Political and Social Action Bloggers

9.16.10 - Today I attended a DNC meeting with Black Political and Social Action Bloggers and DNC Chairman, Gov.Tim Kaine. This is a 180 degree change from the days of black bloggers concerned about a lack of access within the DNC. I'm reminded about a post a number of years ago, by Liza at the culture Kitchen when she wrote: "These are the 20 liberal bloggers that met with Bill Clinton in Harlem.  As you can see, not one of them - black... It was great to see bloggers like Leutisha Stills aka "The Christian Progressive Liberal from Jack and Jill Politics, Black Snob's Danielle.Belton, Blogger Jeneba Jalloh "JJ" Ghatt, and a number of other bloggers at the meeting with the DNC Chairman. "The conversation  revolved around the DNC’s efforts to inform, engage and empower voters – especially African American voters- to participate in the upcoming elections.  The DNC senior staff have said if President Obama is to continue moving our country forward our community has to be informed.  Moreover, he needs allies in Congress and in order for him to have allies in Congress we need people to come to the polls and vote. The conversation with Chairman Kaine took place today at the DNC headquarters in Washington, DC with a conference call-in number for black bloggers who were not be able to attend in person.  Bloggers like Villager publisher of Electronic Village attended via teleconference.  There were background discussions with senior DNC staffers, including Clyde E. Williams, Political Director for the DNC, along with Derrick L. Plummer, Regional Press Secretary,  and Jamiah Adams, New Media Constituency Manager at the DNC.   Bloggers in attendance got a real opportunity to discuss the DNC’s detailed plan to engage voters and how the DNC can be a resource to members of the African American Political blogger community.  This meeting in many ways appeared to serve as a DNC coordinated follow-up to an earlier high level meeting between black bloggers and the Obama administration. As reported by Casey Gane-McCalla over at NewsOne,  President Obama's staff has been reaching out to an array of new black opinion-makers ---- black political bloggers and Pundits.   As reported by Casey Gane-McCalla, the White House meeting was brokered by Cheryl Contee of the blog Jack & Jill Politics, and was several months in the making. As reported by NewsOne, It also offered the bloggers a chance to connect with the administration and find ways to gain more White House access. Over 60 bloggers met in June with Jesse Lee, director of the White House’s Online Programs, and Corey Ealons, White House director of African American Media, while in the DC for Blogging While Brown conference. More HERE Regarding the meeting with the DNC Chairman Kaine it was organized by DNC Regional Press  Secretary Derrick L. Plummer, along with Jamiah Adams, New Media Constituency Manager with the DNC.    During the meeting we learned from the DNC Chairman that the DNC will provide an unprecedented amount of resources with a special emphasis on base turnout — youth, African-Americans, Latinos and first-time voters. I found the DNC Chairman to be thoughtful, candid, and willing to listen to ways to improve DNC communication to African American voters and African American bloggers. Advertising on black political blogs websites This Pundit asked whether there would be any special emphasis for the DNC to advertise on black political blogs. Something that has been a concern of mine and other black bloggers for some time. We will be asking that question again, and will inform our readers of the final answer. Show me the money! As I said back in 2007, more black voters will be reading these black bloggers views and opinions. There are progressive black political bloggers such Jack and Jill Politics, Afro-Netizen,Black Commentator, Black Agenda Report, Black Races, BlackProf, BrownFemiPower, Black electorate, Field Negro, Mirror on America, Negro Please, NegroPhile, Oliver Willis, Prometheus 6, Republic of T, Skeptical Brotha,Where Is The Outrage?,Francis Holland, and so many others, (don’t forget the Angry Indian – Voice of a Native Son) who just may be interested in advertising and the DNC's advertising dollar. Future Black blogger - DNC Coordination During the discussion with DNC Chairman,  Tim Kaine the former Virginia governor says given all the challenges his party's faced since the 2008 election, and despite the poll numbers, he's believes the Democrats can pull off victories in some races that will surprise people.  He pointed out Democrats need help from all segments to inform, engage and empower voters – especially African American voters- to participate in the upcoming elections.  AAP says: "I know I want my President to be successful. Do you? It's about rebuilding our nation, our communities our neighborhoods. Although I am not a Democrat, I believe it's time to rally with the President and his party around issues we agree upon. I believe progressive black political bloggers should support the President and the DNC... even when we disagree. Just remember to hold the DNC and the President accountable, if they don't address issues like high unemployment, poverty reduction and other issues important to our communities."

Black Bloggers Vs. NAACP

When black bloggers or Black journalist say that Barack Obama or Ben Jealous of the NAACP are not speaking to issues that are important to African Americans, the sparks fly.  Black bloggers and Black Journalist may even be called anti-black. Read the attack on Jack and Jill Politics in the comments section of Field Negroes blog. These die hard colored  extremist shock me every day! Then they get mad if I call them colored. when the organization the are die hard supporters that call themselves colored - The NAA of Colored People. Now when white Journalist say Obama does not have enough black on their staff, or The Obama White House is too white - not a problem. When a black blogger or Journalist says the same thing, your anti-black. What is truly another disgrace is these die hard NAACP and Obama supporters who don't like black folks speaking their minds, as we question the NAACP or the Obama administration.    Yes, I admit I said the National President of the NAACP is disgrace and a sell-out and should consider resigning as President of the NAACP. Yes,  I admit that I said he is part of the new crew of colored people advancing their own agenda, not a black empowerment or capacity building agenda.  Now why do I have to be attacked for having my own opinion by Kevin M., a Branch President of the NAACP on my Facebook Page. Check out the interaction: Kevin said: "AAPP, it IS certainly your right to do so and I for one would not insult you for being critical. However, when you continuously return to the meme "what has the NAACP done since the 60's?", I for one question whether you are as...king a real question or just being intentionally inflammatory. AAPP: @Kevin: I have no reason on earth to be intonally inflamatory. I am not the only one asking real questions about the National Office of the NAACP and it's lack of leadership. Infact, one would have to wonder why the President of the NAACP was intentionally inflammatory, in order to get it's name in the news by electronically lynching a black women - Shirley Sherrod...                  Kevin Said: What have we done? Really? I will just speak for my little band of folks out here in Kansas when I say that in just the last 2 years we've registered around 700 voters, wrote a couple state laws, blocked a bill designed to block health care reform, pushed for changes to the State voter registration system, helped countless folks with their census forms, spoke to hundreds of school children about leadership, built a world-class debate and oratory program for neighborhood kids, pushed to have our district locate the state's only elementary IB program right in the HEART of our community, investigated more than a hundred discrimination cases, developed our own rehabilitation program for children in Juvenile detention, and brought together 35 community organizations to pool our talents and resources and solve our own community problems, among other things... AAPP@ Kevin: I salute the great work of a number of local branches who do great work and are able to to show outcomes for their collective efforts. Now I read you don't want my congratulations - so be it. Not a problem, there are real community builders in my local community to congratulate and support. Kevin said: Now yes AAPP, it IS certainly your right as an American citizen to continue to call us fools, disgraceful, ignorant, worthless and all the other names you like to banty about on your blog... But just know that those responses you're receiving are coming from folks who are ALSO exercising THEIR rights as Americans to question you as to what have you actually done besides call black people who are volunteering in their communities a bunch of names on the internet. AAPP@ Kevin: I have no problem with folks asking what I have done lately. My record in community development and community capacity building throughout the country is an open book, if people want to know, just hit my up privately and we can discuss my body of work in community development. I have been in the trenches, even before many of these so called activist were born. Kevin: Here's the part where you usually make the distinction between the local and National office... But you know what - you shouldn't.. The NAACP is an Association of 2,200 branches just like mine. Sometimes awesome, and sometimes awful... but we are a network of 400,000 folks who are volunteering our own time and resources to make our communities better. And we are all coming together and saying goodbye to our past divisions.. So if you are talking about "our" President, "our" chairman, "our" national Board, or "our" national staff, please don't single me out for any type of singular appreciation - I don't want it. AAPP@Kevin: Yes, you have a network of 400,000 but the national office cant even put together a blog, or an internet networking vehicle to do grassroot organizing. How pathetic! Kevin: Now I know calling us a bunch of names is still good for building your readership - I ain't mad at ya... do your thing. But just know as a community, we seem to be reaching a 'tipping point'. I'm out in the community every day and I can tell you that a lot of us are simply getting weary of the "Let me demonstrate my independence by attacking Black people" routine... Pretty soon my brother, you're going to have to get a new gig. AAPP@ Kevin: I would expect nothing less of you, as a NAACP Chapter President to support everything that the national office does. I'm not the only one seeing the National Office of the NAACP for what it is. By the way, I'm not the only one who thinks the NAACP has been a failure for over 40 years. Please read Dewayne Wickman'sBlackChristianNews.com http://blackchristiannews.com/news/2010/07/naacp-is-putting-the-heavy-on-everybody-but-obama-about-jobs.html Yes, Kevin, Your right we seem to be reaching a Tipping Point. and the NAACP may just go the way of F.W. Woolworth's.  Yes, your right there are some that need new gigs. The current President of the NAACP is the one that needs to get the new gig. He is the one that attacked a black woman, Shirley Sherrod... without cause... But I guess you have not been following current events... ---- The national office of the NAACP has no credability! Now it sends out it's goof balls to attack me. Read what the NAACP had to say about George Wallace, Robert Byrd and other bigots who have destroyed the lifes of countless black folks and how they were snookered by of all people FOX News. These have to be some real stupid bastards at the national office to watch Fox News and believe it. NAACP Press Release: The NAACP also has long championed and embraced transformation by people who have moved beyond racial bias. Most notably, we have done so for late Alabama Governor George Wallace and late US Senator Robert Byrd -- each a man who had associated with and supported white supremacists and their cause before embracing civil rights for all. With regard to the initial media coverage of the resignation of USDA Official Shirley Sherrod, we have come to the conclusion we were snookered by Fox News and Tea Party Activist Andrew Breitbart into believing she had harmed white farmers because of racial bias. AAPP: Pathetic! Robert Bird? George Wallace? Transformed? This NAACP National Office is so... Pathetic... No wonder so many people believe the NAACP has lost it's way. The national NAACP has been so disorganized for years. How long will this new young and inexperienced NAACP President last? Hopefully not for long. The last NAACP President only lasted 19 months. The fact of the matter is the relatatively new President of the NAACP brought shame to the NAACP, yet it gratuitously uses the occasion to bash black bloggers for calling them out. Robert Bird? George Wallace? Transformed? Whatever.  Robert Bird was a recruiter for the Klan while in his 20s and 30s, rising to the title of Kleagle and Exalted Cyclops of his local chapter. After leaving the group, Byrd spoke in favor of the Klan during his early political career. Though he claimed to have left the organization in 1943, Byrd wrote a letter in 1946 to the group's Imperial Wizard stating "The Klan is needed today as never before, and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia." Byrd defended the Klan in his 1958 U.S. Senate campaign when he was 41 years old. Despite being the only Senator to vote against both African American U.S. Supreme Court nominees (liberal Thurgood Marshall and conservative  Clarence Thomas and filibustering the Civilm Rights Act of 1964, the NAACP supported this man who would lynch black men, women and children. Byrd has since said joining the Klan was his "greatest mistake" and the NAACP gave him a 100% rating on their issues. The National NAACP needs to transform itself and back it's attack dogs off of this blogger. Oh, that's right, the NAACP attack dog (Kevin M) recently lost a bid to become a member of the board, and will take any action he can to show he is worthy of a seat in the future. As Kevin said on his NAACP Chapter blog, "Sometimes success comes in stages and this was just the first stage of my road onto the board. ;)"  I'm coming back bigger and stronger than ever!" AAPP says: I guess that "bigger and stronger" can be accomplished by attacking me and other black bloggers bro Kevin?  In the name of getting an NAACP Board seat, let me attack a fellow afrospear blogger. Following in the Footsteps of Ben Jealous? Attack when you don't know the facts? Or attack to those who say the NAACP is out of step with the needs of the black community. Well Mr. NAACP Kevin M you won't be able to attack me on my own Facebook page anymore. You have been banned! UPDATE: As reported by another black blogger, Gina, at What About Our Daughters,  the NAACP Legal Goons have Invaded WAOD comments section following calls for Jealous to resign.  See, I knew I was not the only person under attack by the NAACP and their representatives.