It looks like these black politicians are suffering, from what Maynard JAckson use to call, “SCARED NEGRO DISEASE”". Maynard said this was a disease that black people and/or politicians suffer when they do not want to offend white people. However, they do this at the expense of the policy needs and services, either social, politcal, and/or economical, of black people and minorities. For these black politicos to back away from the letter because it addressed the desired need of the black community shows we need to very wary of these black politicians. Nothing in the letter was untrue. The only controversy in it was it chosing one candidate over another. The people will decide that based on their need and who they feel comfortable with. But for black politicians to shy away from the facts of this letter is beyond me. They are playing politics with all os us, especially us in the black community, when they shy away from the facts of the letter. Every last one of the black mayoral candidates are suffring from “SCARED NEGRO DISEASE” in this regard. If they get in office, I am very afraid of what type of mayor they will be. Will they be arrogant against black people concerns and need to appeal to white constituents in serious community matters in order to “not offend” them?? This is something we and them need to think about before, during, and after the election of any of these candidates. BEWARE OF “SCARED NEGRO DISEASE.”

“HAIL MAYNARD JACKSON”

How about this? What’s being overlooked in the original memo and the most recent Turpeau response is that the real agenda of the Black Leadership Forum is driven not out of fear that a white candidate will be elected, but that a white candidate will end the jobs program that city hall has become for the black community. Read the Turpeau memo again. See his four specific agenda items? It’s all about the jobs, jobs, jobs, and jobs.

The racism (you really can’t call it anything else) that is expressed both in the original memo, the professors’ commments, and in the Turpeau response is bad enough, but this concept of city hall as a jobs program is equally outdated and just as harmful to the city’s future. It’s time that we get a mayor – black, white or other – who will do what is best for ALL Atlantans. That means electing someone who will manage the enterprise efficiently and competently, with fairness and with compassion. That’s what I’m looking for in a candidate.

Yes, the old views of black vs. white need to go. But the concept of feeding your friends and family at the city trough – which predates black mayors, by the way – is likewise outdated, and needs to be buried. Mismanagement and waste have kept our good city from becoming the great city that it should be. We need someone who can address the waste, corruption, fraud and inefficiency that siphons off city resources, neglects poor neighborhoods, weakens public safety and holds Atlanta back from her true potential.

Instead of just focusing on a black agenda, how about we try to focus on an Atlanta agenda? It’s time for Turpeau and his crew to move into the 21st century. And it’s time for every Atlantan to consider what’s right for All Atlanta.

Turpeau: Her racist strategist, who has conveniently been “banished” from the Borders kingdom of underhanded politics.

(Matt) Towery: The republican hack, who so selflessly saved a dying campaign with an unscientific and bogus poll.

Tom (Bell): The Borders’ fundraiser, who called President Obama a SOCIALIST.

She’s a very very fickle lady.

Its time we quit electing Mayors because they are part of the Jackson-Young machine. Norwood should not be elected just because she is white, no more than Reed or Borders should be elected because they are black.

None of them are up to the challenge. I don’t know enough about Spikes — but at least he is not a whiner likes Borders and Norwood.

Anyone who takes on Atlanta’s bloated city govt and outdated pension scheme gets my vote. Until those fiscal demons are brought under control, the Mayor (whoever that is) will simply keep raising property taxes. In Atlanta, if you are a homeowner, you are nothing but a cash machine to people like Borders, Reed and Norwood.

What’s in your wallet? The Atlanta City Govt, and they want it all.