By Jackson W. Nanje |
Some have said that Republicans win
elections when the turn-out or the democratic base decide to stay at home and not vote. And that they (democrats) win when the turn-out is massive. Democrat Presidential candidate,
Senator Bernie Sanders, has made this point repeatedly during his campaign
outings. What he and others have failed to understand and to address is, why do these
potential voters, especially minority voters, stay at home. This is what our
investigators have uncovered as we seek truth to power.
The American electoral system can no
longer overlook the exponentially growing minority segment of its population vis-à-vis
their participation in either state or national elections. The population of Hispanics
and Blacks have become vitally decisive to any candidate in elections nowadays.
But while it is true that when the Hispanics and Blacks stay back at home, it unequivocally
helps the Republicans and hurts the Democrats. By unlocking the mystery this time around will help
the Democrats retain the Whitehouse which the Republicans are desperate to have
in order to draconically complete the transformation of America.
The following investigative analyses explain the reasons why the Hispanics and Blacks stay home.
The Michael Dukakis and Rev. Jessie Jackson Factor
In
1988, the Massachusetts’s Governor, Michael Dukakis (white), ran a fierce
campaign against the Reverend Jessie Jackson (black). It was unclear who was
going to be the Democrat candidate
to face the Republican candidate, George H.
Bush. The 1988 elections was the closest a black presidential candidate came to
becoming the front runner, and to represent the Democrat Party, ever in the history of this country. The expectations of black
voters were fired up and they believed that even if their candidate did not secure the Democrat
nomination, a Vice Presidency could have been a better way of appreciating
their efforts. The stage was set for the Democrat Party at the Democrat
Convention held in Atlanta, which is one of the largest black cities in the United States of
America. The dancers were all present but the musician failed to show up. The
Democrat Party picked Michael Dukakis as their candidate of choice in the 1988
Presidential Election to compete against the Republican candidate, George H.
Bush. Reverend Jessie Jackson was not only thrown behind the
bus, something
which is akin to the Republican Party, but he was embarrassed in front of his own people. He was thrown out of his house (Atlanta) by the democrat party. Michael Dukakis then selected Lloyd Bernstein as his Vice Presidential running mate, keeping Jessie Jackson further away from the party. This shear rejection by the party of Jessie caused the blacks, who had hopes of the second spot. This act of disrespect of Jessie Jackson resulted in the black population staying away from the National Election Their rejection of the party gave the less sophisticated George H. Bush the
presidency.
Rev. Jessie Jackson |
Michael Dukakis |
They (black voters) could have stayed away
from the Democrat Party for good if the policies of the Republican Party were
inviting. Bush continued the disastrous Reaganomics policies which were quite
harmful to the black population and when a charismatic Bill Clinton emerged as
a candidate for the Democrat Party four years later Black voters were swayed towards
his friendlier policies towards them.
The Bill Clinton and Al Gore Factor
President Bill Clinton’s policies uplifted
and gave hope to the minority population. And after his eight (8) years tenure
in office for which he received tremendous minority support, his Vice President,
Al Gore, a natural successor to the office, decided to distance himself away from him and his lofty policies that had brought relief to the disfranchised minority
population. It is true that President Clinton’s sexual escapades were an
embarrassment to the oval office, but his policies were not. Presidential
candidate, Al Gore, who could have been the last man standing beside him and to campaign
vigorously on his policies which were the direct result of America’s
prosperity, distanced himself away from him. Where he could have found a way to eloquently tell the success stories of
President Bill Clinton’s economic policies in order to enable him win the National Elections. Instead, he abandoned a man whose shortcomings
were somewhat excused by majority of American females who believed that the Men
in Congress who were impeaching him were themselves victims of same crime.
They were right, because so many of the Republicans resigned from congress when
their own sexual escapades were uncovered by Larry Lynch.
Al Gore |
Al Gore lost the elections because he'd alienated
minority voters (Blacks and women), who were still very loyal to President Bill Clinton. They too refused to come out and vote democratic causing the Republicans to win in the 2000 Presidential Elections.
Obama and the 2014 Democrat Candidates
Factor
President
Obama will arguably go down in the annals of American Presidential history as
one of the best presidents, if not, the best. Like most Democrat Presidents who succeed their Republican coimterpart, he was left with a dirty Whitehouse and country to clean up. President George
W. Bush had sullied the economy of the United States in his eight years as
president and, it was at the verge of massive depression. President Obama's policies virtually
changed the misfortunes which were bound the United States and it would be
insane for anyone not to embrace his enigmatic policies. Yes, the Republicans succeeded in telling American Democrats during the
Mid-term elections that, running on President Obama’s ‘failed’ economic policies
was a recipe to disaster. They believed the Republican rhetoric and virtual
every single democrat running in the Mid-term elections
distanced themselves from policies they ought to have embraced. As a consequence, they all lost.
But why did they lose? The lost because the minority voters, who have
now become the deciders of elections, decided again not to embrace all the
candidates who’d refused to embrace the successful policies of President Obama.
Another hard lesson learnt by democrat candidates and Democrat Party as we all
hope that such an insipid miscalculation shall never again be replicated by this party.
And now,
The Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders
Factor
It
appears that Presidential Candidate, Hillary Clinton, who has been around quite
for sometimes now, has learnt the lessons of the past. She has smartly embraced
the policies of President Obama and has made everyone (especially minority
voters) to believe that candidate
Bernie Sanders is distancing himself from the
president's successful economic policies. While it is evident that her quick rush to embrace and run virtually
on President Obama’s successes with slight modifications where improvement of
his policies are necessary, there is a caveat for her not to make the beloved
Bernie Sanders a stranger to the party.
Hillary Clinton |
Hillary Clinton may be the Establishment candidate, but Bernie Sanders
has brought a lightning excitement to Presidential politics arguably slightly
better than that of Candidate Barak Obama. It is this excitement that the
Democrat Party and Front runner, Clinton, should be careful not replicate the
errors of the past, prone to the Democrat Party, and lose the elections which
in my opinion, is over.
Knowing that she will win the primary
elections and become the candidate to face the
Republican candidate in the
General Election, her incisiveness should warrant her to bring Bernie Sanders
to the drawing board and ask him what he wants and give it to him. What the
Democrats must avoid is a disgruntled Bernie. If we get a disgruntled Bernie coming
out of the Democrat Convention, we are finished. His followers who will not
want him to be dissatisfied, may just walk away and Bernie’s fears of the democrats
losing the National election if they stay at home may have come to fruition. So,
give Bernie what he wants and keep his voting block together. This shall be a nightmare to
the Republican Party in November. This will be a win win for the Democrat party if we are in tact going to the convention, and speaking with one voice after the convention. The obituary of the Republican Party and their candidate, has been written.
Bernie Sanders |
1 comment:
The US political landscape has been dominated by two parties; GOP and Democrats with race, colour of the eyes, skin, hair and state the cornerstone of American political history, major and crucial campaign and elections issues. Historically, African Americans have had more sympathy, affiliated, identified and loyal to the Democrats than the Republican. We cannot take away their democratic and fundamental human rights to freedom of association and alienable rights to choose and vote which they fought hard to achieve. In the last 40 years, it has been extremely difficult for the Democrats to hang on to power beyond 2 terms though they have had 6 Democrats Presidents serving more than a term 2 more than the Republican.
In spite of African Americans loyalty to the Democratic Party, the Republican Party has projected and nominated African Americans to very senior political positions than the Democrats. To wit; General Powell and Aunty Cody as Secretary of State. Obama might have been a historic first but the African continent has not benefited from his foreign policies, programmes and influence. For the first time since 1970, with an African American President, the US had no clear cut African policies or policy direction on Africa and trade relationship was at its lowest. Africa has witnessed the fastest decline in good governance, erosion and decline of democracy and credentials an advancement of dictatorship under Obama as US President.
The number of African dictators who have changed the constitution to eternalize themselves in power is growing, as Obama is more interested in propagation of gay rights than political emancipation of Africans from the grip of dictators and vampires. Of what meaning is an African American President to the hapless people of Burundi, CAR, South Sudan, Uganda, Congo, Gabon, Togo, and Cameroon who are suffering under the yoke of dictatorship? Of what meaning is Obama to the Nigerian people whose under his watch, refused the sales of arms and ammunition to the Nigerian government to fight Boko Haram citing spurious reasons , which has seen the menace and scourge consuming the region? What is the meaning of Obama to the people of Libya, who supervised the destruction of that country with an agenda for regime change? How can an African American President promote the destruction of an African country?
I have no qualms seeing the Democrats or Republican win the Presidency, but I am concerned with the ripple effects on Africa. To wit, the election of George Bush Jnr had a devastating effects on Africa as we saw the emergence of Kabila Jnr,( DRC) Eyadema Jnr,(Togo) Bongo Jnr (Gabon) and the grooming of successors in Senegal, Egypt, Uganda all making references and political correctness to the Bush Political legacies. If Hillary is elected, will there be any condemnation for Mrs. Biya, Buhari, Mugabe, Moseveni, Obasanjo, and Eyadema winning party nominations to contest as flag bearers? Or is America following the footsteps of INDIA, where political offices are linked to dynasty?
TATA ALBERT MOTALE
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