It should come as no suprise that the Democratic Governor Pat Quinn and Republican nominee Senator Bill Brady have what they think are the "politically correct" answers as to why they declined to participate in The Illinois Gubernatorial Debate in Chicago hosted by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity at Chicago State University tonight (Thursday, July 8th) but I want to remind the Kappa organization and Black grassroots voters that both Quinn and Brady's absence should come as no surpise for it is their campaign practice to ignore those community events that are not sponsored in some way by someone allied with them and grant them a predictable favorable audience.
When Brady and Quinn appear on Black talk radio station WVON, it is only with certain hosts that favor them and never have they accepted an invitation to appear on the many other talk show hosts programs that have extended invitations to them. And when they appear they do the usual name dropping names of noted Black people that they know who favor their campaigns, and you NEVER see them appear at invitations of true grassroots Black and poor constituent groups who have critical questions about their specific positions on issues that come directly from Black grassroots leaders and their membership. And with that continued ignoring of these groups, people wonder why almost 300,000 Illinois voters recently chose to sign petitions for Independent candidates to be on the ballot. Independent candidates who have been responding to the inquiries from leaders the actual grassroots leaders who represent Black and poor people's concerns.
Over 2,000 people recently attended a March in the Black community against violence headed by Father Michael Pfleger. Scott Lee Cohen and William "Dock" Walls partcipated and marched and was recognized by the crowd, while Governor Quinn said he could not attend because he thought the weather was too bad, even though Father Pfleger publicly stated that "the event would go on, rain or shine," and if the rain persisted, that the rally would be held inside the church. Mayor Daley, Police Chief Weis, new CAPS Director Ronald Holt, local aldermen, state reps, state Senators, U.S. Senator Roland Burris and so many other leaders attended, but NO PAT QUINN. Maybe it was because Quinn did not want to face a Father Pfleger led crowd after the Governor's office cut the funds of Father Pflegers successful SafetyNet crime intervention and prevention program. In the midst of a serious rise in community crime, how could Quinn show up and declare he supports stopping the violence while cutting a program that has helped save the lives of at-risk youth in the Black community?
Republican Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica and Republican Candidate for County Board President Roger Keats make their rounds to Black grassroots groups asking Blacks to consider Senator Brady, but they could never answer WHY Brady himself does not respond and appear himself and answer Black grassroots and poor people's concerns. No matter how many news reports are done on how Black voters are disenchanted with the two established party candidates, both Quinn and Brady will not respond to the Black grassroots leaders and their poor constituent groups and they will keep up with their regular stints with the Black talk show hosts on WVON and hiding behind the name dropping of their Black noted friends. Their missing yet another event the Black grassroots community just adds to the draw to the candidacies of those Gubernatorial candidates that continue to show up.
The media looks up and wonders why in the world would over 130,000 Illinois citizens sign petitions for a Scott Lee Cohen after they have done extensive "team coverage" of why Scott Lee Cohen doesnt fit the character of a person that would be Governor. Maybe its because in a historic devastaing local economy with record unemployment in the Black and poor communities, Pat Quinn is giving his staff pay raises while cutting poor people social service programs and laying off thousands of workers, while Cohen was putting people to work with those part time jobs circulating his peitions? Maybe it's because Cohen's running mate Baxter Twilley is criss crossing Black and poor people's community groups and engaging them on a everyday basis. Maybe its because William "Dock" Walls conducts public community meetings each week and listenting directly to hundreds of Black and poor voters and their leaders each week. And the same for the other Independent candidates, while Quinn and Brady campaign on staged events.
The Independent candidates for Governor and also LeAlan Jones, a Black candidate on The Green Party for U.S. Senate who polled at 26% among Black voters in a recent NBC Poll clearly show that they are working hard at reaching disenchanted voters which has resulted in more talk about the factor of Independent candidacies being discussed much higher than in recent years. But the media and pundits should not be surprised because it is a result of these Independent campaigns working hard to reach out and engage Black grassroots and poor voters.
Quinn and Brady can do all the sound bites and name dropping they want about how they care about young people and their future but the proof is in an event like the Gubernatorial Debate tonight put together at a University like Chicago State, and with a credible Black collegiate organization of men from Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and the group, the students, and Black grassroots community ignored by Quinn and Brady. So be it, Black grassroots voters must move on but remember in November that you do not have to be insulted and then hear later from the established Black leaders that support Quinn and Brady why they should be supported through their sound bites.
This may be the year that Independents have a major showing in these races, for they are working the hardest and truly engaging those voices, organizations, and constituencies that Quinn, Brady, as well as Alexi Giannoulius and Mark Kirk too have made no time for as well. I think it was The Huffington Post whose headlines read today that "Quinn and Brady Duck" The Kappa's Gubernatorial Debate at Chicago State University tonight, but I will keep reminding these Black grassroots leaders, the college stdudents, organizations and their constituencies that Quinn and Brady and others have thr right to "duck" your true grassroots forums, but you too have the opportinity to "duck" them as well by choosing to "Remember In November," who made you important enough to treat like they do the established Black leaders and media they choose to selectively respond to.
"Remember In November," -- Quinn, Brady, GIannoulius and Kirk may have got something started here. "Remember In November," for if they cant make you important today, that they can't expect for you to make them important tomorrow. Congratulations to the Kappa Alpha Psi organization and Chicago State Univetsity. This snubbing tonight by Quinn and Brady may be recorded as a signficant moment in this political election season. Stay Tuned !!
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: Governor Quinn, Illinois Governor's Race, Senator Bill Brady
No one mentioned the Green Party candidate Rich Whitney. He is running for Governor and is worth finding out about.
The two party system is outdated. VOTERS should get an EQUAL amount of INFORMATION on EVERYONE who has dedicated the energy to apply and get the signatures required.
I mentioned Rich Whitney in my earlier post on the candidates, but I have reached out to Green Party candidates and some of them take TWO WEEKS to get back to you and by that time, I have moved on to another subject, so if you know them , please tell them that grassroots media is just as important to respond to as quickly as they do the mainstream media. !
I just wanted to give you a heads up that Dock Walls and Rich Whitney will be holding a press conference at the Holiday Inn on west Harrison tommorrow (thursday july 29) at 10 am.