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Opinion Black Americans and Mitt Romney “Challenging People to Shape a Better Future Now” B ERNIE F OSTER Founder/Publisher B OBBIE D ORE F OSTER Executive Editor T ED B ANKS Advertising Manager J ERRY F OSTER Account Executive L ISA L OVING News Editor H ELEN S ILVIS Multimedia Editor D AVID K IDD Graphic Designer M ONICA J. F OSTER Seattle Office Coordinator J ULIE K EEFE S USAN F RIED Photographers The Skanner Newspaper, established in October 1975, is a weekly publica- tion, published each Wednesday by IMM Publications Inc., 415 N. Killingsworth St., F ormer Massachusetts Gover- nor Mitt Romney’s recent statement, “I’m not con- cerned about the very poor….We have a safety net…. If it needs repair, I’ll fix it” has caused once again considerable debate about poverty in America. But for mil- lions of impoverished Black Americans the focus should be on encouraging education, self- empowerment and economic development as a means of getting out of poverty rather than waiting on some non-caring presidential candidate to patch a gaping hole in the so-called poverty-prevention safety net. In a democracy all citizens should have the right to run for President. Of course qualifica- tions and experience are factors that voters should weigh when making a decision about who to vote for and to support. For over 45 million Black Americans, the 2012 elections are extremely important. We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines and to take the November 2012 elections for granted. I keep emphasizing that it is counterproductive for Black people in the United States to be cynical or non-involved in the national political debate concern- ing the issues that affect the quali- ty of life in the Black community across the nation. Mitt Romney’s confession did more than expose his seemingly insensitivity toward the poor. It revealed Romney’s comfort with a certain percentage of the popula- tion that will according to his logic always remain in poverty in need- E DUCATION S ERVICES Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. of a safety net. Romney rhetorically joined the likes of Fox News com- mentator Bill O’Rielly who con- descendingly reminded a national television audience that in the observed, “The scorecard then reads like this: Gingrich, Santo- rum, and Paul, all have asked for and gotten endorsements and sup- port from African-Americans. There is no record or evidence that the supposed more moderate Romney has asked for or gotten any black support or even taken a photo-op with some dutiful blacks. The question that will loom even larger as Romney closes in on the GOP nomination is. Where are Romney’s blacks?” Romney’s comments on poverty, Please do not underestimate the power and the importance of every vote this year Bible it says, “The poor will always be with us.” African Americans do not always have to be poor! Again, what Romney said or what O’Rielly said should not come as a shock. Those state- ments just remind us that if we do not get ourselves up out of pover- ty, there will be no others that we should depend on to change the situation of poverty that too many continue to face in our communi- ties. Noted scholar and author Earl Ofari Hutchinson raised an appro- priate question with respect to the absence of Black Americans who have some noticeable role in the Romney presidential campaign staff or support. Hutchinson therefore, were not a mere slip of a politicians tongue during the heat of a tense campaign. He is not in touch with the reality that most Americans have to endure in 2012. And in particular, Romney is so far out of the loop of reality when it comes to Black Ameri- cans’ state of existence, that it is cause for serious concern. The fact is for Black children and youth the poverty rate is nearly 40% as a direct of the systematic underdevelopment of the African American community during the last 50 years. Too many African Americans live in poverty today at a rate greater than one out of every four persons. Of course our eco- nomic and social predicament is not the result of statements by Mitt Romney. The point here is, how- ever, that for the vast majority of Black people in America and throughout the African world, the candidacy of Romney for Presi- dent raises serious implications about his stated sense of inclusion and of ‘caring’ and empathy for poor people in general and for poor Black people specifically. Regardless of who emerges as the Republican nominee, Black Americans have to take a proac- tive responsibility to ensure the largest voter turnout in American history come this November. To all of the “playa haters” some of whom are White and Black who are trying to seduce Black people into the self-destructive lethargy of not voting, copping out, and non-civic engagement: “We will not be put asleep. We will remain wide awake. We are going to mobilize voter participation in record numbers in the face of voter repression in more than 30 states across the nation.” Please do not underestimate the power and the importance of every vote this year. We have to join with others who share our interests for a better future for ourselves and for all people. The worst form of oppression is self-destruction and the fear of liberation. Mitt Romney has made clear where he stands. Where do you stand? How will you vote? Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is President of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and Education Online Services Corporation and P.O. Box 5455, Portland, OR 97228. Telephone (503) 285-5555. E-mail: info@theskanner.com World Wide Web site: http://www.theskanner.com Week on the Web Fax: (503) 285-2900 The Skanner is a member of the National Newspaper Pub lishers Associ- ation and West Coast Black Pub lishers Association. All photos submitted become the property of The Skanner. We are not re - spon sible for lost or damaged photos either solicited or unsolicited. Tyler Perry: The ‘Good Deeds’ Interview … in Entertainment For The Skanner News on your smart phone go to www. theskannermobile.com or scan this QR code with your app. Jefferson Middle College Program Adds Three Schools …in NW News © 2012 The Skanner. ALL RIGHTS RE SERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION PROHIBITED. To see The Skanner News on your smart phone go to theskannermobile.com or scan this QR code with your app. Events for Portland Youth Include Summits Feb 10-11 and Feb. 17 …NW News Occupy Seattle: Counter- Protest Westboro Baptist Church’s Pick- etline at Murdered Boys’ Funeral … in NW News New Health Care Model Makes Doctors Visits/ Pre- scriptions Affordable for Unin- sured …in NW News Who Knows the Coolest Books? Seat- tle Public Library’s Teen Advisers …NW News www. • • • • • • • • Local news Opinions Jobs, Bids Sports Entertainment Music reviews Bulletin board RSS feeds The Skanner.com has a photo archive, automatic updates for weather and sports, the latest news from Portland and beyond ... it’s your go-to place for news you won’t see in mainstream publications. It’s your community. It’s The Skanner online Page 4 The Seattle Skanner February 15, 2012
