NDG’s View
What an exciting time it has been over the past several months leading up to the Texas Primary elections. With the candidates (actors) showing off their very best “I promise” faces, allowing us those rare glimpses into the “windows of their souls” when convenience befitted the moment, and, of course, a tug or two of emotion could be collected and recorded for further resume building. What an exciting time of smiles and baby kissing, new generation photo-ops (selfies), and, at times, seemingly, never ending awkward applause rendered by hopefuls to their candidates (actors) of choice. Yes, an exciting time in history where candidates (actors) come before us in various settings, such as, intimate (maybe intimidating) town halls, pre-scripted debates and certainly media-guided Q&A’s specifically selected and approved by the candidates’ PR agent.
They come before us spewing their plans of how to make our home, America, better for everyone who walks with her soil under the soles of their feet. Indeed, they come with well intentioned plans to propagate citizens into a predetermined and presupposed ideal of how they envision and intend to make our home better. Each candidate (actor) stands before us presenting their well rehearsed monologues one-by-one, hoping (possibly praying) that the audience shows its gratitude and love for them by applauding (voting) their cause. And because they are actors auditioning for the role of lifetime, and with the stage being their home, they move to seek and solicit those in the audience who’ve been captivated by their performance to carry on their message of a better America.
Now in understanding our role in this theatre of democracy, the question becomes what message have we heard from our candidates, and are we being responsible in sharing in what we’ve heard?
As Democratic voters here in Texas, we have spoken and chosen via the democratic process, Hillary Clinton, as our candidate (actor) of choice. As Texas democrats, we’ve said to the audiences all over America that we have heard, and agree with Hillary Clinton’s ideals to make America better for every citizen and future citizens. We’ve let it be known to all that we will stand behind Mrs. Clinton, we have applauded her.
Yet, when the question is posed, “what have we heard?” from Hillary Clinton, the answers become rhetoric from her monologue. Meaning, she is very presidential, as she should be due to her eight years in the White House during her husband’s tenure as our national leader. She knows the proper places to stand on stage, she knows when to speak as the spotlight reminds her that all eyes are on her, and she, certainly, without any doubt knows her lines which have been pre-scripted for many, many years prior to her auditioning for the leading role of President of the United States of America.
So, again, what have we heard from Hillary Clinton that would make our America better?
Have we heard, or even been assured, and reassured that our children will be protected from hate-filled individuals who hide behind the badge? Do we know how she plans to return our jobs back to America that her husband began exporting during his tenure? Has she shown or expressed to our people that she truly, truly understands the disparity in which we live that heightens the poverty, food deserts, homelessness, and lack of quality education, legalized loan sharking via Payday and Title companies? Can she understand or is she aware of the genocide that is taking place among our people which starts with the public educational system’s pipeline to prison, and slowly whittles away at our self-preservation to sustain our families, our physical and mental health and our communities? Has she vowed to uphold the Affordable Care Act which has allowed so many to have the medical insurance we all deserve?
What is her plan to make America better? What are we applauding? The famous actor in the mighty and challenging role; Or the actor who is talented enough to execute their plan, and to serve all people of America equally, in the role of the mighty and challenging office of the United States of America?
Why black folks are drawing towards her like flies is beyond me
I (for one) have not concluded or conceded that she has won all that is to be won. There are at least 200 days between now and November. Anything can happen. I will continue to support Bernie until the final count. The local party conventions have not even been held yet.
However, it appears that most of the power brokers and soul sellers in the black community have already picked up their money and gone home. They and the major media are definitly counting the chickens before the eggs have hatched. I am not convinced that they can predict the future as well as they think they can.
It would seem that Michigan primary shows that the media even my favorite pollster Nate Silver cannot say absolutely that they know who will win. I actually think the media makes it seem closer than it is for the purpose of ratings as far as the Democratic race is concerned. While acknowledging I have not followed the delegate count as closely as the two previous elections – I do think Hillary has learned the delegate game from Barack.
The most interesting part of the race between Bernie and Hillary is the level of passion for the African American voters that are paying attention. The key focus of their passion seems to be Bernie: they either love him and fight tooth and nail online at least; or they think he is horrible and want to see him eliminated yesterday. Hillary gains their allegiance by default sometimes.