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June 8, 2010

Truth and Consequences

Since most of you keep up with politics around here, I'm very sure you are aware of the situation with former Congressman Artur Davis. The promising young politician took a solid thumping last week when he lost the Democratic primary to former agriculture commissioner Ron Sparks in a 67-percent to 38-percent blowout.

I can't say I was at all surprised, according to my "scientific poll" of the voting public. You know, folks at the barber/beauty shops, local watering holes, street corners and churches. It was pretty unanimous -- Artur Davis' vote on the health care reform issue was the albatross around his neck. As one person told me, he didn't just shoot himself in the foot with that vote. He shot himself in the head.

Many Democrats, particularly African Americans, saw this vote in particular as a deep betrayal, so much so that some actively worked for Sparks to help him defeat Davis. I wrote my analysis of the campaign on my Facebook pages, where I am still getting folks who are reading and sounding off on the issue.

If you don't have a Facebook account yet, I have added a few of the best comments from it:

Wade Black Vickii, Artur lost because he became a Republican. I voted for him anyway because I liked his vision of an Alabama that can be better than it is now, and because from personal experience I find him thoughtful and caring. I thought he might regain his senses. But let's be honest: in this election I wanted to vote AGAINST politicians who had opposed the health care bill, who voted for the Patriot Act, who opposed gays in the military, who opposed the stimulus package ... you get the picture.
Sharon McClure Good Article Vickii. I was an Artur supporter and I was upset because the health care vote was too important to play politics with. We would have rallied around Artur and came out for him like we did for Obama but he was blinded by Alabama Politics and neglected the people who put him there. I am taking my vote more serious now and I need to know where Sewell and Smoot stand as far as really supporting our President. Do not want to be fooled again.
Darlene Slaughter @ Andrew L. Marrisett no he didn't lose because Alabama is not ready for a Black leader... He lost because HE is not ready to be a BLACK leader. He cannot separate himself from the Black voters and expect the outcome to be good! I heard him say that Obama probably would not win the election. He should have said that for himself. He has underestimated the Black vote again. He said he is finished with politics- I don't believe him. I think he is finished as a Democrat. He'll be back as a Republican!
Darlene Slaughter His mistakes were such HUGE ones. His flip flopping and abandonment of the party was a signal."Beware! Your needs are insignificant to me." I know he has a lot of loyal friends and supporters, I was one. He lost me when he said Obama would not win. He could have at that time influenced hundreds of people NOT to vote. (I have heard of people not voting because their" vote don't count") Gladly people voted anyway. The tide has changed, Susan. People WANT their vote to count. They are no longer just talking about concerns; they are using the power of VOTE! to get the point across. I'm tired of voting for the lesser of 2 evils...Let's show EVIL running for an elected position is a waste of time and money!

If you don't have a Facebook account, you can read it here on our blog.

The point is, Artur gambled and lost. The loss was so stinging he vowed this was the end of his political career. I don't believe it is. He spoke from the emotion of the moment. Davis has never struck me as a quitter. He's far too ambitious to let his dream of being governor slip away. Maybe it will take a little longer than he expected. Maybe he'll have to run for seats he thought were too small. But the Good Book says not to despise small beginnings. Hopefully, he'll learn from his missteps, and get back in the saddle again. Like Wade and others, I still believe he has a lot to offer.

New Show Tomorrow

If you're a political junkie in need of a fix, then tune in to tomorrow's show where I and political analyst extraordinaire Major Click talk about the governor's race and other interesting results from last week's election.

We also interviewed Shelia Smoot, the Jefferson County Commissioner who is in the runoff with lawyer Terri Sewell to replace Davis in the 7th Congressional District. They would do well to keep in mind the sentiments of the voters in this district, including Wade Black, Sharon McClure, and especially Ms. Darlene Slaughter.

Birmingham View Television airs 6:30 a.m. Wednesday mornings on My 68 (network channel WABM). If you miss the show, you can check back tomorrow on our YouTube Channel to see parts of the interviews and the full show on our website.

Have a great day!

vickii