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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 24, 2014)
National News By Freddie Allen NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – If the Democrats lose the United States Senate and more seats in the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elec- tions, Marcia Fudge, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said that the Republicans would impeach President Barack Obama. Even though he won’t be on the ballot in November, the CBC hopes to use the Republican threat of impeachment and other per- sonal and political attacks on President Obama to fuel Black voter turnout for the 2014 midterm elections. Fudge said that if Repub- licans win the Senate they would continue to challenge President Obama’s legiti- macy by threatening him with lawsuits, questioning his birthplace and intelli- gence, and accusing him of violating the Constitution. “We’re going to have two more years of that foolish- ness, if they takeover the Senate and win more seats in the House,” said Fudge. “They will make our lives miserable for the next two years.” Lorenzo Morris, political tion for the DNC, announced a national part- nership with Black churches designed to rally Black vot- ers and increase civic engagement. Fudge said that by collab- orating with thousands of churches across the country, the “Freedom Sunday” campaign hoped to reach 12 million people before the November elections. Morris said that the strate- gy that the CBC is undertaking is important because churches have the capacity to mobilize voters independent of individual candidates. “While we know that voter turnout significantly decreases during midterm elections we also know that there is an opportunity to ensure that African Ameri- can voters and particularly those where we have high- ly-contested Senate races know what is at stake in this election,” said Fudge. During the 2010 midterm elections, Black voter turnout was 44 percent, compared to White voter turnout which was 49 per- cent, according to the U.S. 2010 Current Population Survey. During the 2012 elections, Black voter turnout eclipsed White voter turnout by more than 2 per- cent. expansion program, and not just in the 19 targeted con- gressional districts where the African American vote will make the difference, in terms of winning or losing, but also in eight Senate races.” Brazile continued: “This is not just a campaign to say, ‘go out and vote.’ We’re talking about crucial issues like raising the minimum wage, preventing gun vio- lence, making education more affordable and pro- tecting voting rights.” She said that during the last election cycle, candi- dates or incumbents won in 65 districts by less than 1 percent. “By just increasing Black [voter] turnout, Latino and youth [voter] turnout, which also drops off in non-presi- dential years, we know that it can make a difference in this election,” said Brazile. “If it’s close, we can push somebody over the top.” In states like Louisiana, where the Black population is more than 30 percent, Fudge said, Blacks can clearly tip the scales in close races. “So we’re going to be spending a lot of time in Louisiana,” added Fudge. But Morris noted that many of the state Democrat- ic candidates who are ‘African Americans, as well as, Latino and even Asian voters were mobilized by the sense that the Republican Party was trying to disenfranchise them’ science professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C., noted that the focus on the threat to voters’ rights through stricter ID requirements, redistricting and plans to reduce early voting in some states, moti- vated minority voters and saved President Obama dur- ing the 2012 election. “African Americans, as well as, Latino and even Asian voters were mobi- lized by the sense that the Republican Party was trying to disenfranchise them,” said Morris. Fudge said that Republi- cans would not only continue attacks on Presi- dent Obama, but also continue efforts to make changes to entitlement pro- grams like Social Security, Medicaid and food stamps that would disproportion- ately hurt Blacks. During a recent press con- ference at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Headquarters, Fudge, joined by Rep. James Clyburn (D- S.C.), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and Donna Brazile, vice chair of Voter Registration and Participa- The CBC also plans to tar- get 19 key district and House races where they believe Black voters can make a difference in Cali- fornia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Arkansas, Colorado, New Jersey, Nebraska and Vir- ginia. “The African American vote is crucial for Demo- cratic successes all across the country,” said Brazile. “The Democratic National Committee has launched the most aggressive voter running neck-and-neck with challengers have distanced themselves from President Obama and his sagging approval ratings. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) who faces a tough battle in Louisiana, publicly criticized President Obama in the wake of the Afford- able Care Act rollout last year and Senator Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) said that the president had not “done enough to earn the lasting trust of our veterans and implement real and perma- PHOTO COURTESY OF NNPA CBC Joins Black Churches for “Freedom Sunday” “the African American vote is crucial for Democratic successes all across the country,” said Donna Brazile. “the Democratic National Committee has launched the most aggressive voter expansion program, and not just in the 19 targeted congressional districts where the African American vote will make the difference, in terms of winning or losing, but also in eight Senate races.” nent reforms” in the wake of the Veteran Affairs scandal that forced resignation of then-Veteran Affairs Secre- tary Eric Shinseki. Morris said that a big loss in November for the Democrats would make it harder for Obama to leave any kind of lasting, progres- sive legacy of agenda items on the table on his way out in 2016. He said, “This [midterm] election can be a real cliffhanger and all it will take is for African Ameri- cans to be mobilized to make a difference.” We honor the many accomplishments of African Americans. It is our primary goal as a labor union to better the lives of all people working in the building trades through advocacy, civil demonstration, and the long-held belief that work- ers deserve a "family wage" - fair pay for an honest day's work. A family wage, and the benefits that go with it, not only strength- ens families, but also allows our communities to become stronger, more cohesive, and more responsive to their citizens' needs. Our family wage agenda reflects our commitment to people working in the building trades, and to workers everywhere. In this small way, we are doing our part to help people achieve the American Dream. This dream that workers can hold dear regard- less of race, color, national origin, gender, creed, or religious beliefs. The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Representing more than 5.000 construction workers in Oregon State. Do you want to know more about becoming a Union carpenter? September 24, 2014 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 9
