Herein was set into motion the Eristic Pattern, which would repeat Itself Five times over Seventy-Three times, after which nothing would happen. Hail Eris!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

A POLITICAL WARNING FOR OBAMA

As we have noted, Barack Obama is part of the first generation of black ivies, black politicians who got elected thanks to passing white exams rather than crossing white police lines. Others include Corey Booker, Deval Patrick and DC mayor Adrian Fenty. The first two are doing well politically, but Fenty, who won every precinct in his first mayoral election and exudes, even more than Obama, an unappealing narcissism, is suffering one of the great political come-downs of recent history, as this story describes. Remember: a high percentage of the boos are coming from black voters.

Nikita Stewart Washington Post - Adrian M. Fenty wasn't even at the Academies at Anacostia graduation ceremony in the District on Friday, but when the mayor's name was mentioned, an unmistakable chorus arose: "Boo!" many in the crowd shouted. This Story

Almost simultaneously, across town, where Fenty was attending a funeral for go-go great Anthony "Little Benny" Harley, his attempts to deliver condolences were nearly drowned out by a similar din. The taunts were so thunderous that Pastor Deron Cloud had to grab the microphone to calm the crowd at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

"This is not the place," Cloud said, to no avail.

The chorus heard 'round some parts of the District is one of vocal dissatisfaction for the 39-year-old Fenty. It's a far cry from the summer of 2006, when drivers honked excitedly whenever they saw him campaigning for mayor. Then, residents were as tickled to see the young candidate come to their doors as if a celebrity had dropped by with a sweepstakes prize.

Now, Fenty is in a contentious battle with D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray, his chief rival for mayor, in the Sept. 14 Democratic primary. Supporters say that the criticism and boos are unfair, particularly because city services get high marks, students' test scores are rising, and new libraries, schools and recreation centers have opened citywide. . .

Outside the gathering at the law school, Ivan Lee Robinson, 66, sat in the shade with a group of friends. But he was alone with his Fenty sticker and Fenty sign.

"I'm the only one voting for him," the LeDroit Park resident said in jest but in a serious tone. "The man is good. . . . He did a pretty good job with the snow."

A friend asked: "Did you see him get out and shovel anything?"

In the citywide Democratic straw poll taken at the event, Gray garnered 703 votes to Fenty's 190 votes. Former television reporter Leo Alexander, also a candidate for mayor, received 75 votes.

In the past year and a half, Fenty has developed a reputation for arrogance, a lack of transparency, and a failure to work with council members and constituencies. He delayed giving council members tickets to suites at Verizon Center and Nationals Park. He would not disclose his whereabouts when he went out of town, drawing criticism when he missed several memorial services and funerals for victims of last year's Metro Red Line crash.

There has also been unrest in some parts of the District about Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, whose blunt style has rubbed many the wrong way.

A week ago, some Dunbar High School graduates and their parents booed Fenty, who was the main speaker at the school's graduation. They wanted Gray, a Dunbar alumnus who offered remarks to the graduating class, to deliver the keynote address.

1 comment:

Black politicians have been under so much pressure from the corporate media to separate themselves from poor and working class blacks. By caving to that pressure, they are alienating one of the core constituencies of the Democratic Party.