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Forum Blacks for Perot will pick pres The campaign strategy of both George Bush and Bill Clinton makes it abundantly clear that neither has any intention of solving the nation's catastrophic economic problems, and certainly not the problems of black people. Either that or neither man has the capacity for comprehen sive innovation. who becomes president "Clinton's shrinking lead now rests exclusively on black voters, ^ince the contest is a tie among Vwhites," the New York Post reported. Unfortunately, those gross numbers won't translate into any benefits for blacks, but a strategic approach would reap a huge political harvest TONY BROWN Syndicated Columnist H. To eliminate the deficit and revive the economy, it will be neces sary to cut various voting-bloc enti tlements. Although it would obviously help the country, it is also obvious that they fear it would not be good for their political careers. Therefore, the Democrat and the Republican presidential nomi nees are using the traditional entitle ment deals to pander to the special interest groups they feel they need to get elected (Bush: parochial schools, the rich, law enforcement, etc. Clin ton: labor union, homosexuals, dairy farmers, etc.) while publicly reject ing stereotyped special interest groups such as defenseless welfare mothers and blacks. Of course, Social Security is the most favored entitlement Neither Bush's play-it-safe eco nomics not Clinton's soak-the-rich sleight of hand can revive the Amer ican dream or produce any real improvement in our lives over the next four years because the country really needs a policy of radical eco nomic change and fairness. It goes without saying that neither candidate is telling us that we must sacrifice to get both. In light of this situation, what should the' taken -for- gran ted (by Democrats) and isolated (by Repub licans) black voters do? Blacks can get out of the hip pocket of one party and gain conces sions from both major parties if they vote as a bloc for Ross Perot in 1992! With Perot on the ballot in all 50 states, blacks have a viable alter native to Bush and Clinton and a strategic opportunity to determine In presidential elections, a can didate needs 271 electoral votes to win. Nine states alone can control 241 of the necessary 271 electoral college votes. These key states are: California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jer sey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. A concentration of black votes for Perot in those states alone would determine whether Bush or Clinton wins. In Michigan (18), New Jersey (15), Pennsylvania (33), and Illinois (22), where the '92 contest will be decided, blacks account for 10 to 19% of the electorate. A shift of 10 to 19% of the vote (along with 22 electoral votes) out of the Clinton column in Illinois, for example, would doom his chances. These four states hold 88 elec toral votes ? one-third of the num ber necessary to win the presidency (add Ohio's 22 electoral votes for a clincher and a total of 109). Blacks voting for Perot as a bloc in the nine mega-vote states won't give him the presidency (with the black vote, he would get about 10% of the U.S. total), but blacks could legitimately claim credit for a Democratic loss and lay waste to the GOP's ethnic cleansing xenophobia at the same time. Were this to happen, both par ties would make key political con cessions to blacks for *96. In addition to the pragmatism of using Perot's quasi-candidacy for this political objective, it is only fair to note that, unlike the two major candidates, Perot has a workable blueprint for reviving the economy and doing something for black peo ple. In his little $5 book, United We Stand, he proposes sharp cuts in entitlements for all groups while making a case for helping the urban azeas and helping blacks help them selves, something you are not hear ing from Bush or Clinton. They share a tacit contract to avoid raising policy issues that relate specifically to blacks. The Democratic Party's strategy is to publicly reject racial inequality, but never do anything about it The GOP marginalized black voters with its southern strategy and now its cul ture ware. I questioned Perot's motives when he was an active candidate. But those concerns are no longer rel evant because he can't win, although "he'll be on the ballot in all SO states in November. What is germane now is that Perot's placement on the ballot can be used to politically empower the black community. However, to this day, a fear of disloyalty to the Democratic Party prevents black political empower ment Cynical blacks who put the Democratic Party's interests before the interests of black people will tell you this is a Republican ploy to elect George Bush. Although it's not, what if it were? Blacks don't owe the Democrats or the Republicans any thing. For over 120 years, blacks have slavishly supported first the Republi can and now the Democratic Party. Never have blacks defected from a political institution controlled by whites. No such displaced loyalty kept organized labor from withdrawing its support from George McGovern in 1972 and watching him lose to teach the Democrats a lesson or the southern white Democrats switch to Republican Richard Nixon the same year in their own best interest The end result is that today both labor unions and southern whites are shamelessly wooed by the Democrats and Bill Clinton. And today, blacks, who out of political desperation remain loyal to the party in spite of the insults and abuse, are roundly ignored. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out If blacks vote for Perot in *92, they'll be courted in *96. Views on Blacks and '92 Olympics Well, the times have sure changed some aspects of the pres ence of largQ numbers of skillful African- American athletes at the Olympics. Most Americans were thrilled to see all of the U.S. athletes compete successfully in the historic international sports event in Barcelona, Spain. Some of us have not completely forgotten the 1968 Olympics in Mexico. It was at the Mexico Olympics when two African- Ameri can runners, John Carlos and Tommy Smith, won the gold and sil ver medals. At the awards ceremony, Carlos and Smith shocked the world by raining their fists with black gloves in the air and rendering a Black power salute. Yet, what these broth ers were protesting was the state of oppression in the African-American community. Of course, the Olympics is real ly not the place to engage in poli tics. But we believe it is the place to raise questions about the plight of the state of the communities from which these gifted athletes have emerged. Athletes and entertainers are not exempt from social responsi bility. This should be the case, not just for African- American partici pants in the Olympics, but for all of the athletes. This year, the sight of Gail Dev eTS winning the 100-meter final, alonp with the irrepressible Carl Lewis winning anotfter gotrt mcnat, made people have a sense of pride in their dedication to reach for excel lence in sports. We would like to be able to gauge the level of racial sensitivity, 'especially during the Olympics, as compared to the overall public view when the Olympics is not in ses sion. J For decades, African -American amletes have performed beyond the call of duty in far and distant lands only to return to a society that refus es to affirm the equality of all humanity. In particular, Brother Charles Barkley, at times during the game with Angola, appeared to be too aggressive and even assaulting. The "Brothers" from Angolan teams were trying to understand the motive of the "Brother" from America who severely elbowed and pushed them CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL By BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS JR. Racism and racial discrimina tion is just as blatant in 1992 as it was in 1968. It is against this his torical backdrop that people of color ? athletes, entertainers, and those in other high-profile profes sions ? have to run, jump, and out perform in order to be taken seri ously as a vital component of this society. It is important, however, to point out that sometimes one can carry athletic competition too far. For example, the U.S. Olympic bas ketball team was referred to as the "Dream Team." To have Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, and other great players on the same team was, in fact, a dream come true. Basket ball has developed into a highly physicn* sport, nrrl thus, it was not ~ tou tr rrrr aggressive the U.S. dream team played against their opponents. As we reflect on the manner in which the dream team played against the basketball team from Angola, we see the necessity to give a critical comment during the game between the U.S. and Angola. Barkley was quoted as saying, "Next time, maybe I should pick on a fat guy. You never know though, those skinny guts could wind up being like Manute Bol ? got a spear somewhere." Given the fact that the Bush Administration refuses to allow official recognition of Angola as a sovereign nations, it was a bit of an irony that in the 1992 Olympics, the U.S. had to "officially" face Angola, at least on the basketball court The inequities exposed at the Olympics are both economic and social. The disparities between the rich and poor countries are astound ing. For those who live inside the U.S., no one can afford to insnlt, assault, or mistreat others, particular ly in the aftermath of sports events between nations. Everyone should be thy brothers and thy sisters keeper. Yes, Black men can jump. But make sure you know why you are jumping and what changes it will facilitate. UM,..OKAY. HJ?'R? me PBPF&WS RJCKANP I HAVE 0E?H HAP PILY /HAMB> FCK WHAT, TWUM5 YEAJ&, HONEY* YIP.' PUS 7HBH\ f #K5| HJZUVEV jxeiHe*! / u&usee, I HAP 70 & suRe-iP EezfiPt kCWQSP... ALSO, SHE HJA5TMIN6 T06&T HER CAFEBR&jjtNG,. lHAVSm JAKE A HU&.' OUT! vouhap wannm X?AtH7KN 5R?!i?f*L MCAPuh. &WT1NE FAMtUf WLUESO?CX\ FOUG. M?vr TAKZA MINUTE. NO PROBLEM. STOP SUCKIN6 HFEAMAV UP.MIKB. I GOT A FAMILY f If SURB POf A HHTCH POESNT BEAUTIFUL MEAN HJtRE NOT LITTLE &FL ' UKMAN'S lookZ\ twrvCHtose. fy* ^ ^ZTv\n Ls.s Nfa LOOKING COUPLE, LETS CHECK OUT THEIR VALUES. YOUBtT. UJE HEP THE KNOT JUST THIS YEAR. ANPNOUJ UE'FE LOOKING PORkJAFP TORA&NG A FAMILY! I \TQoem wuKsair&HDR?.\ WHAT? JUST BECAUSE we're pro - CHOfCE * ktmrsTH/s, CULTURAL PWHCAVOti OE&cf / HEY,WMC$B\ NAME fS UP there* he* THERRAHCHm!\ \ [ GREAT. WHEREf t RJ6HT HERB NMAUBU. \ I'M IN SHOW BUSINESS. I HMTTVtUORK close m HOME' I HOUXUtOOP EUTE. NEXT! 1 NO... NO, IVS NOT HtS UKE THAT! WE'RE GOT A PROM THE CHAPVON 6UHI6O HESTON UMNG! 6ET YOUR \ ^ ^ 6JHH0NM I 0 .k ^ I ROUTE? | UH-HUH. I'M VERY ROUTE f / IUHATT MJHAT ARE YOU lookjn'at? / SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS FAMILY VALUES! HECK J LIVB MTH MY FAMILY! THArS HOU1 \ ? MUCH I VALVE THEM! MY FAMILY RAISEP ME RJ6HT? ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE, LOTB OF THANK-VDU NOW6TD THE GRANPFWtENT5, ANPAB' DRUGS, EXCEPT 10 BE ROUTE. FINALLY.' A QitmcmiJHbh ?MBO0fB9 FAMILY WLUES! | yCUSAIPIT! sJUST LOOK AT The KIPS BAR ANPI RAISEP' ' V J.f 9-n ' 1 JlU'J ?.? TRUE. LITTLE NSlUBCrr CAUGHT UP IN THATWFUL S&L MESS, ANP GEORGE JR. HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF" INS/PER TRAPtNG... ^,p\ WE REGRET TV INFORM OUR READERSHIP THAT. .. 1 9-rt ... NOT A SINGLE CHARACTER. HAS PAS5EP OUR FAMILY VALUES EVALUATION EXAM. .?ANQJEB MY HAVE AOCSntP A FEW CONTRIBU TIONS FKQM CROOKS ANP SURE, DOROGOTPIKXCeP, BUT, HEY -MARVIN TURNCP out great! \ V \\!/ UJOUJ...YOU REALLY ARB PCADN THEMTER. NO!...MUT!HQLP m THIS !5 My fSSUEf \ / fW! ~ I x G&'lijk Wi J ~S0 THAT U& MAY tNSTJU-. 1 UtfTfA MINUT! fyljf A MINOT^ (for new subscribers only) Durable, washable tote bag with a one- or two-year subscription to the Winston-Salem Chronicle Send for yours today! Allow 1 - 2 weeks for delivery of tote bag. ? 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Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Sept. 10, 1992, edition 1
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