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Page 6 Section II Portland Observer, August 8.1984 Portland Observer, August 8, 1984 Section II Page 7 I» * E Forum emphasizes new solutions WHOSE PARTY IS THIS, Black leaders split on platform issues by Lamta Duke by Lamia Duke G R A S S R O O T N E W S . N. W — O n the eve o f the Democratic N atio n al Convention, Deirdre English, editor of Mother Jones, Pat Caddel, political consultant to C a ry H a rt, M ichael H a rrin g to n , co-chair o f Democratic Socialists of America, Tom Hayden, chair of the Campaign for Economic Democracy. Michael Novak, scholar for the American Enterprise Institute, and Frances Fox Piven. author of Regulating the Poor. asked the question in a panel discussion, "Whose party is this, anyway?" Novak said the nation must deal with the new poor, "young males who have never been employed and single and teenaged mothers. Some call it the 'Feminization o f P o v e rty ,’ but I call it disgusting male irrespon sibility." Novak added that the Democratic party must strongly address peace, family, neighborhood and opportunity, if they are to win in November. " A new public policy vision that speaks to Americans in terms of values." Hayden said the problem was, "There is no political institution presented to party officials and instituted among the people. Unless we have some structure to carry it through, this country will be in a crisis." Hayden added that he believed the Democratic party must address the shift in the labor force (foreign work force) and the technological revolution. C add ell, the man credited with giving G ary H a rt many of his new ideas, said the Democratic party had G RASSR O O T NEW S. N. W. —One o f the most signi ficant issues during the Democratic National Convention was the floor right over the rive Minority Plank Amend ments to the Democratic Party platform. The Rainbow C o alitio n introduced four o f those planks: 1) Regarding affirm ative action, that the word "q u o ta s " be inserted and used as a timetable to help overturn historical patterns of discrimination; 2) A d d i tion o f a "V o tin g Rights A c t" that would advocate for the elimination o f dual primaries; 3) A commitment to " N o First Use of Nuclear Weapons” , and 4) A pledge for real reductions in military spending. The new ideas of presidential hopeful Gary Hart, part o f which comprised the fifth plank, proposed more re strictive conditions for the use of military force as an in strument of foreign policy. ▼ M ----- I daaaa «te y -J Q a n , Francas Foa PI van addraaaaa tha forum . Saatad ara ft-rl Dalrdra EngHah, moderator. Mlchaal Novak; gotten timid, "whereas Reagan, believes in something. Republicans are willing to right for what they believe in and lose if necessary. The Dem ocratic party does neither." He suggested a new agenda that H art and Jackson capitalized on. " W e should stand up fo r issues the Democratic party has always stood fo r." H arrin gto n indicated the party must reconcile a program that pulls groups together w ith self representation to rebuild the party's infra-structure. Piven said the Democratic party must build on the 10 m illion new voters o f minorities and women. "T h e y cannot outbid the Republicans for the vote o f white males. They must welcome, expand and lead these new voters if there is any chance o f victory in ‘14." Rainbow challenges Mondale by Lamia Duke GRASSROOT NEWS. N. IF — The presidential candi dacy of the Rev Jesse Jackson is over. He did not receive the nomination of the Democratic Party. In his convention address July 17, Jackson vowed to "support the nominee of this convention for the Presi dency of the United States." However, one question remains: will the votes stuck at the bottom that went to Jackson go for M ondale/Ferr- Jackson supporterà show thalr wild anthuslasm during an appiausa braak In hla hlstoric speseti. (Photo: Richard Brown) ■M T t CaddaH; and. Mlchaal Harrington. (Photo: Richard J. Brown) These issues divided Black leaders who either attempt ed to persuade convention delegates to vote for the ma jority platform or to insert the minority planks as part of the majority platform. The sides some influ en tial leaders chose to take on these amendments disappointed some delegates who joined a voice protest against those speakers by booing and hissing. On July 17, Mayor Andrew Young request ed delegates “ to vote for the majority platform. It gives us a mechanism to do something about voting rights." His cry for m ajority support could hardly be heard over boos and cries of "shame on you" coming from the floor. In an interview later that day. Young said, "They were not booing me, they were booing my stand on the issues." aro? The Black leadership group gathered to help Mon dale answer this question with a six-point agenda that addressed the concerns of the Rainbow constituency: I At least one Black congressperson per Southern state. 2. Internal positions o f authority in Mondale's cam paign. 3. Senior advisor in the campaign 4. Seats on the Democratic National Committee 5. A fairness commission to deal with the unfair rules in the primary system. 6. Public policy on jobs, peace and justice, along with a budgetary basis for their implementation. Jackson supporter Denise Gumm from O akland , California, said she could not vote for Mondale unless he "made some concessions to Jackson. At this moment, his nomination does not translate into my vote. I'm suffer ing now but it is not going to hurt me to suffer another four years." Rev. Herbert Daughtry, president o f the N ational Black United Front, agreed with Gumm. "Mondale must respond substantially to the issues placed before him by the Rainbow C o a litio n ." W alter Fauntroy, Rep. from the District o f Columbia, said Blacks may start having "serious reservations about the commitment of the Party and its candidate if those issues presented to Mondale are left unanswered." Jewel Jackson, president o f the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, added " It is painful once again to be invisible even though we carried a lot of the baggage." Barry Commoner, a member o f Jackson's national campaign committee, said "Mondale cannot win without moving over to Jackson. Otherwise, he would not be able to mobilize the huge constituency that Jackson pulled to gether." Daughtry left Black delegates with a sober message July 20 after the convention had adjourned. “ For the masses of Black people, it really won't make much d iff erence if it's Reagan or M ondale. Either M ondale responds or we are not going to go with him and he is not going to the White House " \ \ v y rv :, . » ja a ta r u Mrs. C oretta Scott King, widow of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., received the same response as she asked those who booed Young " to say I ’ m so rry." King was booed both times. She responded tearfully. Jesse Jackson said it was a source of embarrassment to him when he learned that Black delegates had booed Mrs King. M ayor Richard Hatcher of Gary. Indiana, said, “ We don’t have that many leaders. We do not need to destroy them." Jackson supporter Kathleen Harmon joined in on the voice protest against both King and Young " I t felt good It is time for Blacks to support their own. Jesse Jackson was very dedicated to the cause Dr. Martin Luther King, J r ., laid down and died fo r. N o m atter w hat, M rs. King should have walked with Jesse. Even if she was going to vote for M o nd ale, she could have said, ‘ Jesse, I'm with you to o .'" Rev. H erb ert Daughtry said, " I campaigned in G eorgia and I heard the d eep -seated rexentm en t against Young, King and Julian Bond. I heard the votes expressed by the masses as they defeated M a y o r R ichard H at- the M ondale forces in char of Gary. Indiana. Georgia." Jewel Jackson looked at (Photo: Richard Brown) the voice protest from a practical point o f view. "Booing people on issues is a part of the decorum of the convention. We shouldn't be super-sensitive. Booing is a part of the process.” The voice protest sur prised leaders at the con vention and they responded with a leadership c o n fer ence formed by members of the Rainbow Coalition and some of the Blacks associated w ith the M o n dale campaign. A cease-fire on public criticism was agreed to by all involved and, in addition, a six-point agenda of issues important to Blacks was presented to Mondale S H R Coratta Scott King, w id ow of Dr. M artin Luthar King. J r ., addressed Black d alagataa to tha Democratic Convention. King, a Mondala suppor ter. was booed by many caucua members. Mayor Richard H atcher of Gary. Indiana. Is on her left; Congressman Mickey Leland of Houston, Texas, is on her right. (Photo: Richard Brown) Coratta Scott King (I) la conaolad by C. Delores Tucker. Black Woman's Caucus member and Jack- son for President campaign member from Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, following tha voice protest from the convention floor to Mrs. King's remarks. (Photo: Richard J. Brown) Oregon delegatee M ary Wendy Roberta. Margie Hendrikaen and Ruth McFarland applaud the Ferraro nomination. a s » a (Photo: Richard J. Brown)
