Political Pandering of the African-American voters

Ben Lanka hedges in his article about race not mattering on the ballot. Lanka wrote several other articles about the potential candidates running for Mayor which conspicuously left out the names of Ivan Hood and Wilbert Brown, both African-American males running for the position as Republicans. Lanka in his most recent article uses a quote from Andy Downs,

Andy Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, said race undoubtedly affects local politics, as it does everywhere. The reason is simple, he said.

“There are still some racists out there,” he said.

Downs uses this statement with the word "racists" to show his solidarity in the uplifting of the African-Americans in spite of his privileges received by being a spoke person for the African-Americans community. When in fact we all live in a racist society. But people exhibiting a deep seeded belief in maintaining this system practice racialist behaviors which is against the law. This behavior is built into organizational structures, developed as a culture of permissible practices of discrimination and segregation.

Andy Downs, board member for the Allen County Election Board is incorrect in labeling voters who do vote for African-Americans as racists. Both the Republican and Democratic Parties encourage racialist behaviors by it leaders and followers.

Lanka used another quote by Micheal Cunegin, who is a republican to suggest that race does not matter yet, Cunegin often appealed to the African-American community voters who normally voted on the Democrat ticket,

Mike Cunegin, a Republican, served as president of the Allen County Council before losing a race for county commissioner and then leaving to take a job with the state.

Race did not play a factor in losing the Republican primary to current Commissioner Nelson Peters, Cunegin said. He said the main color in that race was green – Peters was able to outspend him.

. Cunegin suggest it was green that determined the outcome, which takes the issue away from the fact that over 90% of African-American lives in the city of Fort Wayne and not one of the County Commissioners are African-Americans.

African-Americans have the right to run for office based on the Constitution, on representation, not green. Party leaders suggest that they have to select which African-American candidates represents a certain model for running as an African-American for their respective party. The political parties are made up of many people but the African-American voter is told he or she must earn the support from the party. In other words, the African-Americans must seek permission to run by raced whites who think they are running things, you see!

When in fact, the party leaders are saying go to the back of the line, and if we need the African-American vote to get our preferred candidate, like Tim Pape,we will allow you, African-American to appear on the ticket. I say appear on the ticket because the party will not fund the candidate to run a viable race. And at the end, the party will say the African-American candidate did not have enough money. Money that could have come from the party. You know from those little fundraisers

The local Democrats have been found out to be a party that is a mini-Republican, not accepted by the Republicans and unwilling to go to the back of the line. These Dixiecrats, I mean local Democrats use the African-American voters to get their candidates into office. The local Democrats are not trying to be the inclusive party for the African-American. Take one look at the webpage, and you will see the only type of inclusiveness that the Democrat is building has to do with raced white women, and says nothing about welcoming African-Americans in that picture. The Party keeps its money but needs the African-American vote, yep need the African-Americans votes found throughout the city. How do you explain just one African-American on the city council seat and one on the county seat where over 90% of African-Americans live...Ben, race does matter, go ask Obama.