Al Gore's Endorsement Speech....

acedawg00-02 · #1 12-09-2003, 12:11 PM

Did anyone get a chance to watch Al Gore deliver his endorsement speech backing Howard Dean this morning? Overall, it was an okay impromptu presentation, but there were some parts of their oration that left my jaw hanging - LOL! Now, this took place in HARLEM....so, why did Dean feel the need to mention his "social resume" which included the following:

*His empathy for the Birmingham bombing (in which four young black girls were killed)
*His empathy for the loss of two great leaders, Robert Kennedy and Dr. King
*The fact that he was in his early 20's when the Civil Rights Movement was ending.

I think that Al Gore took the cake when he stepped to the mic and said, "well, the last time I was here, I remember playing basketball." LOL - now I'm not trying to incite anything...seriously. Because I'm still wating for the Democratic Candidates to stop the circus and put thier strongest person forward (and I won't even get into that). But I am just trying to raise the "average" level of awareness and promote critical thinking.

I think that Dean and Gore had good intentions, but are oblivious to the fact that they can appeal to African-American voters through a variety of subject matter - not just issues pertaining to race/stereotypes. I mean, look at the way products are marketed to different "test" groups!! McDonalds raps about burgers and fries. Chevrolet tries to appeal to us by bouncing cars on hydraulics. Sprite puts a hip-hop spin on how to quench your thirst! I MEAN, COME ON! If I want to buy a car, food or beverage...just give it to me IN PLAIN ENGLISH. I think that we are more than capable of understanding "mainstream" advertising. I will leave you with this: If Dean and Gore were in Rhode Island...they would not have been talking about Civil Rights or basketball. These comments and way of thinking are catergorized and type cast. Are we wearing blinders? When will we take note? Any thoughts.....?

Love_Spell_6 · #2 12-09-2003, 12:38 PM

Yes I saw the speech....and I thought the same thing when I heard him say the last time he was there he was playing b-ball. But hey...its politics. Actually what they should realize is that no matter what they say...it seems African Americans will vote Democtrat to the tune of about 90% anyway...sad but true...so I don't think the basketball thing really made a difference...

As for all the other ways the media tries to appeal to black folk...its about the bottom dollar. They look at what sells in the black community and watch videos...and now they got a top seller. I mean Sprite the Remix was funny! This is a capitalist society...and if they can capitalize on these things...so be it.

The real question is when will black folks as a whole stop feeding into this BS.

acedawg00-02 · #3 12-09-2003, 01:00 PM

Quote:

This is a capitalist society...and if they can capitalize on these things...so be it.

Hmmm......that really sounds kinda contradictory. I mean, I see some of your points....but.....

Love_Spell_6 · #4 12-09-2003, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by acedawg00-02
Hmmm......that really sounds kinda contradictory. I mean, I see some of your points....but.....

Explain bruh...what do you mean?

CrimsonTide4 · #5 12-09-2003, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by acedawg00-02
Did anyone get a chance to watch Al Gore deliver his endorsement speech backing Howard Dean this morning? Overall, it was an okay impromptu presentation, but there were some parts of their oration that left my jaw hanging - LOL! Now, this took place in HARLEM....so, why did Dean feel the need to mention his "social resume" which included the following:

*The Birmingham bombing (in which four young black gilrs were killed)
*The loss of two great leaders, Robert Kennedy and Dr. King
*The fact that he was in his early 20's when the Civil Rights Movement was ending.

I think that Al Gore took the cake when he stepped to the mic and said, "well, the last time I was here, I remember playing basketball." LOL - now I'm not trying to incite anything...seriously. Because I'm still wating for the Democratic Candidates to stop the circus and put thier strongest person forward (and I won't even get into that). But I am just trying to raise the "average" level of awareness and promote critical thinking. I think that Dean and Gore had good intentions, but are oblivious to the fact that they can appeal to African-American voters through a variety of subject matter - not just issues pertaining to race/stereotypes. I mean, look at the way products are marketed to different "test" groups!! McDonalds raps about burgers and fries. Chevrolet tries to appeal to us by bouncing cars on hydraulics. Sprite puts a hip-hop spin on how to quench your thirst! I MEAN, COME ON! If I want to buy a car, food or beverage...just give it to me IN PLAIN ENGLISH. I think that we are more than capable of understanding "mainstream" advertising. I will leave you with this: If Dean and Gore were in Rhode Island...they would not have been talking about Civil Rights or basketball. These comments and way of thinking is catergorized and type cast. Are we wearing blinders? When will we take note? Any thoughts.....?

Interesting what they did/said.

[sidebar]I watched Malibu's Most Wanted this weekend. (don't beat me) At any rate, the thugs in the movie encounter the gubernatorial candidate and as he is talking to them, they say something like just because we are in the hood, does not mean we are not informed. I was like hmmm true.[/sidebar]

At any rate, the Democrats need to realize that Black folks are not just going to give them the vote, although I can say that right now with Bush being the Republican candidate, I will be voting for the Democrat candidate for President in 2004.

acedawg00-02 · #6 12-09-2003, 01:47 PM

Sis,

A message board is one of the most challenging mediums to express yourself through b/c it's hard to gauge a person's tone or overall feeling on an issue. I'm just trying to spark conversation...and you know that we can hang out and sip martinis any day

.

Now, your points about Blacks voting 90% Democratic, and advertising being about the "bottom dollar" are well taken. But I do not agree with the idea of an entity taking advantage of someone's warped sense of self-perception. You said that, "this is a capitalist society...and if they can capitalize on these things...so be it." From that, it seemed as if your position was one of acceptance - I'm not sure. Personally, be it capitalist or not....it's improper and inexcusable. And you're right...we need to stop feeding into the BS. Nothing will change until we stop perpetuating these stereotypes...

TonyB06 · #7 12-09-2003, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by acedawg00-02
[B]Did anyone get a chance to watch Al Gore deliver his endorsement speech backing Howard Dean this morning? Overall, it was an okay impromptu presentation, but there were some parts of their oration that left my jaw hanging - LOL! .....

I didn't here Gore's speech, but, in a way, I've heard it all before...

Interesting comments, Acedawg and well taken, but I think to marketers and political spinmeisters, your thinking (and I think that of several GCers) is very much a "minority" position. Yes, we're diverse and can be reached on a variety of levels beyond "civil rights and race, (CRR)" but in Harlem and for the millions more of us watching the evening news, CRR are what they're figuring will catch our attention most effectively.

I agree it's condesending, but they do it because it works.

Love_Spell_6, your point on our 90 percent voting pattern is interesting too, but I have a different take. Clearly, we don't play to our strength voting like this but isn't it up to others (in this case the R Party) to put more of our vote in play.

My best friends' dad had an interesting theory. He said every other interest group courted by the Repub. Party, Right-to-Life, NRA, etc, to some extent has their issues addressed -- some platform concession, etc.. He asked why is it Repubs. expect "us" to come for free? I think it's an interesting question becuase I don't think we're as monolithic in our thought as most.

He said if R's want our votes, they needed to do more than complain about our 90% and make programmatic suggestions that are seen, in the main, as non-hostile to Black interests.

...and welcome to GC, Acedawg.

acedawg00-02 · #8 12-09-2003, 02:01 PM

Quote:

...and welcome to GC, Acedawg.

LOL...hey, thanks...but I've been here since last August. I just haven't had much opportunity to hang out and post. BUT NOW THAT ALL EIGHT OF MA KIDZ ARE OFF TO COLLEGE!! LOL....just kidding

. But seriously, I'm enjoying this...I love it when we can get together and have insightful "vebal relations"....LOL.

TonyB06 · #9 12-09-2003, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by acedawg00-02

LOL...hey, thanks...but I've been here since last August. I just haven't had much opportunity to hang out and post. BUT NOW THAT ALL EIGHT OF MA KIDZ ARE OFF TO COLLEGE!! LOL....just kidding . But seriously, I'm enjoying this...I love it when we can get together and have insightful "vebal relations"....LOL.

...Then my bad on the improper salutation; I'll just leave it at holla back

. It's always good to intelligently debate/discuss the issues of the day.

Love_Spell_6 · #10 12-09-2003, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by acedawg00-02
Sis,

A message board is one of the most challenging mediums to express yourself through b/c it's hard to gauge a person's tone or overall feeling on an issue. I'm just trying to spark conversation...and you know that we can hang out and sip martinis any day .

Now, your points about Blacks voting 90% Democratic, and advertising being about the "bottom dollar" are well taken. But I do not agree with the idea of an entity taking advantage of someone's warped sense of self-perception. You said that, "this is a capitalist society...and if they can capitalize on these things...so be it." From that, it seemed as if your position was one of acceptance - I'm not sure. Personally, be it capitalist or not....it's improper and inexusable. And you're right...we need to stop feeding into the BS. Nothing will change until we stop perpetuating these stereptypes...

Well I think we "let" people take advantage of us. Why complain about what someone else is doing to make $$? I think you hit it on the head with our "warped sense of perception." That makes me more upset than how corporate America makes its money. African Americans need to stop looking at what everyone else is doing to exploit us...and make the necessary changes in our community to stop allowing the exploitation. I wonder where corporate marketing departments would come up with the ideas to put men in their commercials with gold teeth, hydraulics on their cars etc... could it be to take a look at our urban youth? I put the fault squarely on the blame of our parenting (or lack thereof) and our community's acceptance of any and everything secular.

To TonyBO6
One question...tell me what the democratic party has done for us lately...besides try to woo us with programs disguised to benefit us that only really hurt us??

You look at it saying that the Republican party hasn't done enough to bring us to their party....my take on it is that the Democratic party hasn't done enough to keep us!

PS - I'm gonna take u up on those Martini's ace dawg!

TonyB06 · #11 12-09-2003, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Love_Spell_6
To TonyBO6
One question...tell me what the democratic party has done for us lately...besides try to woo us with programs disguised to benefit us that only really hurt us??

You look at it saying that the Republican party hasn't done enough to bring us to their party....my take on it is that the Democratic party hasn't done enough to keep us!

...the answer here, like most others is subjective and somewhat historial. A survey of AA's over age 50 may point to FDR's New Deal Policy, JFK's perceived overtures to the civil rights movement, or LBJ's civil rights initiatives. Leaving aside an analysis of the long-term effectiveness of any of these initiatives, in the main, Black people at least feel that Ds have tried.

But it's not my intent to be partisan. Believe me, I can argue either side of this debate. Even if you feel D's, particularly in the last 20 years, haven't done much but take us for granted why then have not R's capatilized on this? You cannot tell me that we're not as politically sophisticated as anyone else and able to discern whose acting in our best interests?

Long story short, (if it's not too late for that), Rs don't have the historical trust of AAs in the country over the last 60 or so years. To get that, they are going to have to make (or some would say make more) demonstrable efforts that are seen as sincere by the mass of the AA community. Some AAs feel they're doing this already, others feel they're not.

acedawg00-02 · #12 12-09-2003, 06:50 PM

Quote:

You cannot tell me that we're not as politically sophisticated as anyone else and able to discern whose acting in our best interests?

Hmmm....are we objectively....hell, just basically examing candidate's platforms and ideas? During the Civil Rights Movement (sit-ins, boycotts), Vietnam War (protesting), we WERE more aware and had an undying fervor for change! In contrast, over the past 20-25 years, we've seen a cascading effect in our zeal for political issues. We have acheieved great leaps, but quite a few of us have become somewhat complacent...and we've lost sight of being self-driven. Nothing will just magically appear...regardless of party affiliation.

If Howard Dean...or any candidate gets elected, will the city of Harlem....or any other "Harlem" in the United States be an item of interest?

I'm still looking for Trent Lott to come back and host a segment on BET....has anyone heard anything? LMAO......

DoggyStyle82 · #13 12-10-2003, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Love_Spell_6
.it seems African Americans will vote Democtrat to the tune of about 90% anyway...sad but true...so I don't think the basketball thing really made a difference...

As for all the other ways the media tries to appeal to black folk...its about the bottom dollar. They look at what sells in the black community and watch videos...and now they got a top seller. I mean Sprite the Remix was funny! This is a capitalist society...and if they can capitalize on these things...so be it.

The real question is when will black folks as a whole stop feeding into this BS.

Great discussion.

Your point about AAs voting %90 Dem is true, but the real figure is that only %20 of eligible AAs even bother to vote. Compare that to the other interest groups, like the NRA, RTL, and Conservative Christians, Gays, etc. Republicans can write us off and they have proven it by winning Demoratic strongholds, even places where Dems are the majority registered. That is because Black folks only get energized when the cops kill someone, a famous AA is villified in the media or courts (OJ, R. Kelly, Kobe) or a non-AA uses the N word. Bottom-line is that we are looked at by politicians and advertisers as children, either to be ignored, mollified, pacified, or lead astray. We need to grow up and the first stage of that is to be responsible for our own behavior and education.

ladygreek · #14 12-10-2003, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DoggyStyle82
Great discussion.

Your point about AAs voting %90 Dem is true, but the real figure is that only %20 of eligible AAs even bother to vote. Compare that to the other interest groups, like the NRA, RTL, and Conservative Christians, Gays, etc. Republicans can write us off and they have proven it by winning Demoratic strongholds, even places where Dems are the majority registered. That is because Black folks only get energized when the cops kill someone, a famous AA is villified in the media or courts (OJ, R. Kelly, Kobe) or a non-AA uses the N word. Bottom-line is that we are looked at by politicians and advertisers as children, either to be ignored, mollified, pacified, or lead astray. We need to grow up and the first stage of that is to be responsible for our own behavior and education.

Hear! Hear!

Love_Spell_6 · #15 12-10-2003, 10:03 PM

Oh yea,

as far as Gore endorsing Dean, I lost respect for him. I remember when Lieberman specifically said that he would not run for the Dem nomination if Gore ran. I saw Lieberman on Fox and Friends, and he said he found out initially about Gore's decision from the media.

I know its politics but dang! have a heart Gore! And THIS is the man that people claim is the real president of the US