Rep. Artur Davis
At a recent reception, Rev. Jesse Jackson said you can’t vote against health care reform and call yourself a Black man; clearly referring to Alabama Congressman and governor candidate Artur Davis, Harvard Law grad and one of the leaders of the new school. The deans of the new school are the Congressional Black Caucus members from the South who have supported agriculture, the military and veterans for over a decade.
Rep. Davis, like President Obama, is an optimistic glass half-full kind of guy who hopes for the best America possible. Dude, those people in Alabama will elect you governor when I am able to write a check for one of those M-Class Benz SUVs I see heading from the Alabama MB plant in route to the Port of Savannah. They wouldn’t even give Turner Gill the football coaching job at Auburn. But, Davis should voted the will of his constituents who happen to be for more conservative/moderate than urban Black leaders can understand.
The health care reform efforts in congress will require some serious adjustments and any member who has concerns should vote his heart. Rev. Jackson’s contributions to America will always be appreciated but Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, former Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., Rep. Artur Davis and legions of Obama Administration appointees are leaders of the next phase; a phase that will be centered on honest analysis and logical solutions more so than government intervention. The old school got us so far but these new cats will take the torch and use it to burn down crack houses. If you wanted change, you are about to get it. I don’t have a crystal ball but our community is about to get a serious dressing down from those weary of the victim mentality and the head dresser-downer is sitting in the Oval Office.
In my community, we have always talked about the Black Police, that mythical enforcement team that determines who is Black enough and what we should be doing culturally, politically and socially. Since Black America is vast and diverse, we have a zillion different mindsets. In the 80s, Rev. Jackson was the chief of the Black Police to my college buddies and me but during that same period Rev. Jackson said that the Democrat Party should not assume they have all Black support because we are not sheep and don’t need a shepherd. I guess the same applies to him now.
How could a Black man vote against health care reform? He should if he was concerned with how it is funded and if it creates too many new governmental agencies. Personally, I would have voted yes with hope for changes in the conference report. New School, go on with your bad self and if you need us, hollar.
Black men can opposite our brother in the White House and therefore help him; and Black men ski.
Project Logic Ga 
I truly understand your logic, but I believe it is historical flawed. You speak as if we start from a position of equals for which Ray Charles can see that is a lie. The brothers you talk about are in the mist of situation which if they do not take the lead to fix what is wrong in the body the body itself will self destruct. I am a 62 year old man with 22 years of military service and 3 bullets holes to prove it. I don’t care too much for Mr. Jessie Jackson, but on this account he is right. The vast majority of the people dying without access to health care are black people so how can he vote against something that will eradicate that situation. Why is it that when “white politicians” get elected and they take care of their own no matter who voted them in, but when “black politicians” get elected they have to be worried about everybody? Just talking about what I am talking about.
Rev. Pettibone: Thanks for reading my blog and I truly respect your knowledge and wisdom. I don’t see the health care debate as a racial matter because the Clintons tried to reform the system when I was a congressional staffer. All Blacks don’t think and vote alike and these new guys are standing on the shoulders of Rev. Jackson, you and those who battled for equality. At some point, we grow south Georgians who have a newer outlook. Personally, I will remain on guard for the rest of my life because that’s in my DNA but I must also be on guard for the actions of kuckleheads in my community to look like me but have no sense of community.
Members of Congress could do a lot of things if there were an endless pot of money but there isn’t. I think the health care professions are gaming the system because they are making billions—why change? However, moving massive new policy requires deliberation and analysis. Rep. Davis is one of the good guys and I look forward to his fresh brand of leadership in the future. Some older cats are reluctant to change because their power could be diminished while Rev. Sharpton and our MOC respectfully assume the senior statesman roles. It’s a balancing thing. Wow, I must be one of the younger older cats so I try to let the innovators innovate without looking over their shoulders—the way James Bush tutored us back in the day.
Great now that is perspective! I guess we oftentimes react in accord or discrepancy because of our emotions, but listening another side, stormily delivered, really makes you think! I do not mind learning what you said here as it has really captured the esteem of the topic in a worthwhile good sense. With that, writer, I toast to you.
Thanks for share incredibly nice informations. Your net is so coolI am impressed by the details that you’ve on this web site. It shows how properly you understand this topic. Bookmarked this webpage, will appear again for a lot more. You, my buddy, ROCK! I found just the data I previously searched in all places and just couldn’t find. What a ideal web page. Such as this web page your web page is 1 of my new favs.I similar to this data proven and it has provided me some kind of inspiration to possess success for some cause, so keep up the good work
That’s an interesting way to see things. You make some good points.