Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Oct. 30, 1986, edition 1 / Page 4
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? Pago A4-The Chronicle, Thursday, October 30,1986 Winston-Salem Chronicle Founded 1974 IRNIST H. PITT, Publisher NDUMSIIOIMONYI AiLIN H. JOHNSON . Co-Founder Executive Editor ILAINI L PITT MIC HAIL A. PITT Office Manager Circulation Manager EDITORIALS Our, endorsements WITH DONALD TISDALE finally flushed from th? body politic, maybe the district attorney's office will sec good health again. Hoping to succeed the controversial incumbent ar< Republican Joseph J. Gatto and Democrat W. Warren Sparrow, both of whom appear to be decent, earnest men capable of restoring public confidence in the DA ? and both of whom have courted the black vote extensively. But there is an important difference: Gatto, who, at the relatively tender age of 33, already has been an assistant J _ A A 4 4 - * - - aisinci attorney, a District court judge and a trial lawyer, appears less likely to wilt under pressure. Where Sparrow wavers, Gatto is Arm. Where Sparrow is ambivalent, Gatto is decisive. Where Sparrow hedges, Gatto is outspoken. Where, for instance, the question of Sammy Mitchell'! second murder trial is concerned, Sparrow wouldn't comment. Gatto, on the other hand, criticized the seating of an all-white jury in the case. When the question of what will happen to the DA's staff once the election is over was broached, Sparrow said he'd wait and see; Gatto plainly said he'd clean house. Though Sparrow boasts 20 years of experience as a trial lawyer, he appears politically naive. Gatto knows both th< political and judicial turf and has the tools to be an independent; but fair, district attorney. ?-For dqngress ?? Stuart W. Epperson, a tall Republican who is short on Qnhctanfp annparc trt Kova Intc Af anr nw%A wwwvMAawy a IV BAM TV tVU l/l W1IV1 J (U1U AUVdllSillJJ money, if not much else. Epperson has unabashedly wooed the black vote for months, even linking hands recently with drug protesters in the Happy Hill Gardens public housing project. But Epperson fails miserably on the issues, especially where his would-be black constituents are concerned. In a talk recently to the all-black Greater Winston Kiwanis Club, Epperson hemmed and hawed on such questions as set-asides for minority businesses and South Africa. He also knew little of other issues that are high on th< black agenda. Steve Neal, the incumbent, has held office for sever terms and routinely counts on heavy black support. He like many white Democrats these days, takes a low-key ap proach when it comes to appealing to black voters, but hi: voting record speaks more loudly than any rally could. Neal supported a national holiday honoring Martir Luther King Jr. and the extension of the Voting Rights Ac of 1965. He also co-sponsored a House bill calling foi sanctions against South Africa. In addition, Neal opposed tuition tax credits for private schools and supported federally funded legal aid for th< poor. While Epperson blusters along with silly charges an< flimsy, symbolic appearances, Neal has rested on a prett; darn good record. He clearly has earned another term ii office. For U.S. Senator Like GOP mate Eooerson. Jim Brovhill has mari* hi share of overtures to blacks. But his record concernini civil rights, the poor and the elderly is dubious at best. A a 23-year congressman, Broyhill has voted against botl the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act He also has opposed funding for Head Start and Medicar and a proposed amendment to reduce the rents of elderl; public housing residents. Although he has softened hi views in the '80s, supporting the extension of the Votini Rights Act and the Martin Luther King Jr. national holi day, he most recently opposed sanctions against Soutl Africa and says he opposes minimum hiring quotas fo minorities. Democrat Terry Sanford, on the other hand, has built i distinguished record over the years as a friend of the disad vantaged and education. While Broyhill once opposed affirmative action, San ford has alwavs been fl civil riohts nrAnnn^t ff/\m k; # - w w?-.. w?T M |/? VpV4iVUW) A1V/AU 111 days as governor from 1960-64 to his tenure as presiden of Duke University. What's more, a man like Sanford could effectivel; counterbalance the state's notorious senior senator, Jess Helms. "By sending Terry Sanford to the Senate," notes th Greensboro News & Record, "we can remind the natioi that moderation is not extinct in this state, that Helms' ex Please see page A18 4 \ i - KPT"- ^ wh ??n> M Jhm^^ HWBfllBSi R^rvlll ( r^miBkl 1IMBI /Mil 1 *?" Democrats I Ths author Is chairman of ths Forsyth County Dsmoeratlc Party. I have been asked to state why \ black voters should support the Democratic Party in November. l In my view, it is for the same reasons that all other citizens should: The Democratic Party * has consistently and vigorously ' supported better schools for our children, adequate housing, | equal opportunities for jobs, a t strong and diverse economy and the protection of the dignity of our loved ones as they approach retirement and after. In short, to give all citizens, black or white, male or female, rich or poor, a ? fair chance in life and to life.? Every significant civil rights legislative initiative in this country . has been put forth by Democrats, not just for blacks but for other minorities, for women, for children, for older adults - for everybody. The Democratic Party has a solid f record of achievement in assuring equal opportunity for our"citizens and in supporting a strong and l vibrant economy in which to exi ercise those opportunities. i Let's talk specifics. Consider judicial appointments: k Democratic elected officials have appointed blacks to serve in ke> roles in government because oi 1 the strength of their characters , and the quality of their minds, not because of the color of theii j skin. People like Henry Frye, th< 1 ; Republicans i The author is chairman of ? the Forsyth County Republican Party. A JL 1 Tne Winston-Salem Journal of f Oct. 22 attributes to Walter Mar1 shall, president of the WinstonSalem chapter of the NAACP, comments that "many Democrats have taken black voters for granted, ... and Republican candidates have begun to realize that blacks can S be wooed into the GOP." S Marshall pointed to Gov. Jim S Martin, congressional candidate 1 Stuart Epperson and Joe Gatto, a candidate for Forsyth County e district attorney, as Republicans who have been actively seeking y the black vote. s 'They're actually out there g fighting and not shying away this time," Marshall said of the OOP ^ candidates. . Well, it's about time - at least time for both blacks and Republicans - to realize that a black loyalty to the Democratic - Party should not be taken for granted. . Many Democrats, both black s and white, have remained loyal to their party because of family ties, ll ^ ftAt a ? traditions ana aepenaency. But times *re changing, as Mr. y Marshall observed, and many e Republicans and many blacks such as Thomas So well, a black e economist at Stanford University's Hoover Institute (who also writes a syndicated column thai "-'appears in the daily paper periodically), and Jay Parker, ly ? ? *1 ! WV I Qotaoownihi&UNPEE f _! FSWXPSWe^dSTVSdJU *jjm MMMCKESPHDnicnONW Wm AHPH?CB?nON6PDCW 1 RnENEltMntlAMEPM^UV wrg?^wjwig?i? LJt-B w 1\ J>. , ^ have earned t POINT _ By R. MICHAEL WELLS first black justice on the North Carolina U.S. Supreme Court; Thurgood Marshall, the first black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court; Forsyth Country's own Richard Erwin, who served us ably for many years in the State Legislature, who was the first black judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals and is now a federal judge; Charles Beea ton and Cliff Johnson, who serve on the North Carolina Court of Appeals; our own Jim Beatty, r special superior court judge; Terry Sherrill, superior court t judge of Mecklenburg County, and our own Roland Hayes, state district court judge - just to name a few of many ~ have all ' demonstrated clearly that they can fill blacl COUNTERPOINT A t iiM A* ? Dy <J. UAVIU KfcKKLfc president of the Lincoln Institute for Research and Education, an independent, non-partisan public policy organization in Washington - believe that the i Dwocrats I W Republican Party can meet the special needs of the black community. As Mr. Parker stated in an interview published in The Review of the News on Feb. 8, 1984, 'The president's policies have , been aimed at holding back growth in federal spending and reducing taxes on Americans so that they can save and invest and get the economy moving again. A i growing economy generates jobs, including jobs for black Americans." Has it worked? Recent V w. (?get' >lack support arc capable and effective judges. They were appointed by Democrats. Judge Hayes and Judge Sherrill are Democratic candidates for judge in November. In the last few years, Republicans have had the chance to appoint judges to several of these judicial bodies; revealingly, no blacks have been seriously considered for the positions, and none has been appointed, despite possessing oustanding qualifica^fVooitoii ) %y~^r~ tions. The area of judicial appointments is just one small area, and this list is by no means exhaustive. The last Democratic governor's administration alone appointed hundreds of qualified blacks to key positions, many from Forsyth County, who servPtease see page A8 'is' needs statistics show that more blacks hold jobs than ever before nearly 11 million. ~ Since November 1982, black unemployment has fallen by more than 20 percent. Blacks have gained an average of 410,OCX) jobs a month since that ANT YOU time ? twice the job gain of whites. Nearly one out of every five new jobs is going to a black American. There are more black-owned businesses than ever before almost 485,000 at the end of 1985, an 80-percent increase over 1977. But what of the other Republican Party initiatives ones that affect youth or education in the black community? The Republican Party platform states that 4twejoffer more 1 '"'wmrii pjptfMS'*"** Involvement I means influence I ?U|jT COIUMN : I By V.L. ROBINSON I Tha author la chalnnan of tha 21at Cantury Political Ac-' tlon Commlttaa ot North Carolina. While politicos discuss whether the black community will join the > two-party system over drinks,: our political influence continues' to decline in both parties. The: Republicans continue to win elec-. tions statewide without black support. The Democrats, in their4 ""haste to chase the conservative* white vote, have left black folk , without a party which is willing, to trade policy initiatives for sup? port. Once it was said that the black; community is the only one that. ' had to worry about being ob-~ solete every four years. The situation has deteriorated. We now stand at the edge of being, politically irrelevant - ignored by both parties. In order to exert influence on the Democrats and the' Republicans, we must be deeply, involved with both parties. The Joint Center for Political Studies finds that the black com>, munity isv less aligned with the ; Democratic Party now than in ! the past. Other studies show that if the GOP received an additional \ 10 percent of the black vote, * Republicans would win; unassailable control of both * houses of Congress. This situa tion presents a great opportunity for the GOP to drive for majority ; . status and ior Jhe black com- ; munity to rejoin the political? mainstream. Both must cultivate * a working relationship with each; other on several levels. I My prescription for GOP I outreach differentiates the party] organization from Republican * candidates. The state party must; , - recognize that many . blacks-; distrust the "party of Helms, and any activities that can * possibly be misconstrued as racial bigotry will be. In this light, if makes no sense to have an all white GOP state party staff. The party must initiate . dialogue in the black community at the county level. Most blacks have never talked to a Republican face to face, and perceptions of the GOP are shaped by the media more than anything else. The party must constantly have speakers in the black community to open and keep open the lines of communication with opinion leaders. Candidates have a similar obligation to keep the lines of communication open. GOP candidates must learn the community's concerns and address those concerns while highlighting differences with their opponents. StU EDDerSOn Bets hitth marks fnr highlighting enterprise zones and resident management of public housing as alternatives to welfare and to attack poverty. Both Epperson and Broyhill fall down with their position that sanctions work against Poland but don't work against white South Africans. Rather than articulating a position th^t moves the debate away from , sanctions/no sanctions, these candidates defend the status quo and with it, apartheid. Incredibly, many black Republicans are mute on South Africa and run around praising the GOP position on economic development. The bottom line is that unless Broyhill, Sanford, Neal or Epperson leave politics and start a business on Claremont Avenue, hire black workers and' support black financial institutions, they will have no positive impact on economic development or employment with regard to black folks. Neither party's candidates " have done an adequate job of hiring Macks on their campaign staffs. When an occasional hire does occur, blacks are generally relegated to lower-level clerical or "minority affairs" liaison positions. Jesse Helms and William Cobey are almost unique in providing Claude Allen a senior cam- jj * . \
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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