Dean, DNC Black Caucus in Detroit..."From the Table to the Ticket"

[madfloridian]

And it appears the Republicans planned an event as well, like oh we did not know the DNC would be here. Right. Sure they didn't. More on that below this article.

More than 600 expected at DNC Black Caucus this week-end

Dean to discuss role minorities could play in midterm elections

DETROIT -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean says this weekend's African-American Leadership Summit is not just about mobilizing the black vote, but also about reshaping the Democratic Party agenda to get more minorities to run for state offices.


He said more than 600 people are expected to attend the program called "From the Table to the Ticket."

"It's not going to be about a place at the table anymore as it was in the civil rights movement," Dean told The Associated Press in a phone interview Thursday, a day before he was to give a speech at the conference. "I want it to be about a place on the statewide ticket."

"Sara Anderson, a spokeswoman with the Michigan Republican Party, said she didn't know the DNC would be in town when the GOP decided to bring in Frances Rice, chair of the National Black Republican Association, to talk with activists on Saturday.

More about the DNC meeting at this link:
DNC's Black Caucus Hosts 2006 African American Leadership Summit

National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie M. Rollins announced that the DNC will hold an African American Summit at the Marriott at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, from September 22-24, 2006. The national summit will provide an opportunity for African American leaders across the country to gather to advance the Democratic vision for a new direction for America and discuss the importance of mobilizing African American voters for the upcoming mid-term elections.

And more about the Republicans meeting, and the person they picked to come there.

Meet Frances Rice of the National Black Republican Association.

From Right Wing Watch, No Apology Necessary
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2006/08/well_then_no_apology_necessary.html

And visit Rice's website and see their goal...to move that community into the "ownership society." Well, ok, then good luck on selling that. A lot of harm has been done in the name of the "ownership society."

http://www.nationalblackrepublicans.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pages.aboutnbra&x=819384

"Our vision is that black Americans will become power players in the political arena so that they can seize control over their own destiny and move into our ownership society through small business and home ownership."

[madfloridian]

1. Dean had an interview on NPR today about this conference.

It is about 6 minutes long. He was calling in from SC, then to Michigan for the caucus.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6123420

Good interview.

[madfloridian]

2. Pictures from the Detroit caucus.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060923/ap_on_el_ge/democrats_black_vote_1

"The Democratic Party can no longer sit back and wait until three weeks before an election to ask minorities for their vote, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Friday.

"In many ways, the Democratic Party hasn't moved itself out of the '60s and '70s," Dean said in remarks to the DNC's African-American Leadership Summit, which is aimed at mobilizing black voters and encouraging more minority candidates for state offices.

"If we don't get smart about having folks on the ticket that look like the people whose votes were asking for, in meaningful positions of authority, then we're not going to win. And the party that gets to do that first is the party that's going to win," Dean said.

Annie Mae Holt, a 59-year-old Detroit teacher who attended the gathering, said Democrats must be careful not to allow Republicans to create a divide."



Vernon Watkins, left, executive assistant to the secretary treasurer of the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council greets
former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, Friday, Sept. 22, 2006, in Detroit. Dean says this weekend's
African-American Leadership Summit in Detroit is not just about mobilizing
the black vote, but also about reshaping the Democratic Party agenda to get
more minorities to run for state offices. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)



Howard Dean , chairman of the Democratic National Committee greets
congressional candidate Nancy Skinner, left, and supporters on his arrival
at the African-American Leadership Summit in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 22,
2006. Dean says this weekend's summit is not just about mobilizing the black
vote, but also about reshaping the Democratic Party agenda to get more
minorities to run for state offices. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

[snowbear]

3. Great reporting MadFloridian ... Awesome Job Dr. Dean !!!

And great photos! ~~~~~~

[JNelson6563]

4. Wish I coulda been there!

Glad Dean's helping out in MI. We need all the help we can get!

Julie

[Totally Committed]

5. Totally awesome!

Someone oughtta tell Rice that an "ownership society" is based on each and every person, first and foremost, having equal power at the ballot-box. Corporations do not pay attention to blocks of people who cannot or will not vote. With the concerted effort by the Republicans to make sure African-Americans remain disenfranchised, the "ownership society", even one based on "small businesses", cannot begin in earnest.

What we are seeing now is an "ownership society" run amok. Only rich white people (overwhelmingly men) of both Parties get taxbreaks, and with that disposable income, the attention and care of the corporations. Since only they can afford healthcare, even the Pharmas are behind on cures for what ails people of color, diseases of the poor, and women -- they aren't cost-effective. But, as we know, every man who can afford it can have an erection on demand, well into older age, because -- that's what pays.

Until there is equality across the board, an "ownership society" can only benefit the rich at the top of the pile. And, true equality starts at the ballot-box, where ever person's vote is counted, every person who is registered can vote, and an equal effort to register every person to vote and then to get them to the polls is made.

TC