‘When you attack City Hall, you’re also attacking black politics’
Interesting paragraphs from a piece in the New York Times today, exploring the possibility that Councilwoman Mary Norwood could become Atlanta’s first white mayor since 1973:
Ms. Norwood has addressed the race question only obliquely, though her campaign photographs and videos emphasize her interactions with black voters.
“Dr. King said we should be evaluated on who we are, not what we look like,” she said in an interview on Tuesday. “I’m focused on public safety, city service delivery, quality of life issues and growing the city. That’s what the citizens of Atlanta are interested in.”
Ms. Norwood has set the tone by relentlessly attacking the Franklin administration’s record on crime and city finances, forcing the other candidates to distance themselves from the mayor.
“When you attack City Hall, you’re also implicitly attacking, to a degree, black politics,” said Michael Leo Owens, a political science professor at Emory University. “And this is a message that in some ways plays well with the white electorate.”
At a time of high anxiety over taxes and crime, it also resonates with voters of all races. The candidates have spent the bulk of their time in debates and forums arguing over who has the experience necessary to fix the city’s money problems and who has the best public safety plan.
It’s worth noting that Owens has contributed to the campaign of Lisa Borders.
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51 comments Add your comment
Mary Unfiltered
October 21st, 2009
3:10 pm
Mary’s not the sharpest tool in the shed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS0ekhf6PHM
Larry
October 21st, 2009
3:13 pm
Norwood hasn’t been able to get anything done in the City Counsel because she is impotent and lacks leadership skills…period. Additionally, anyone who has seen Mary Norwood in a live debate or forum knows that she’s a horrible speaker and has no presence.
Angry Taxpayer
October 21st, 2009
3:13 pm
She has probably been a lot more successful than you have. I be you are the sharpest tool!
Larry
October 21st, 2009
3:16 pm
She’s a homely Sarah Palin!
If Norwood could get through a whole debate without being coached by her campaign staff, I’d be very surprised.
James, T.
October 21st, 2009
3:17 pm
What’s lost in this discussion about how Mary could “become Atlanta’s first white mayor since 1973″ is whether or not she has the intellectual capacity, managerial acumen, and relevant executive experience to effectively perform the duties of mayor. I would submit that she does not. Her inefficacy during her 8 years on City Council and her inane “12-point public safety plan” are proof enough to discredit her in my eyes. Don’t get me wrong, I think she’s a nice lady, but there are lots of nice ladies in Atlanta who should not be mayor. I am voting for Lisa Borders now and will be voting for Lisa Borders again in the runoff.
Wow, Just Wow
October 21st, 2009
3:17 pm
Poor Larry… when you attack someone’s intelligence, you should at least spell “Council” correctly. And anybody who knows the difference betwee a forum and a debate must be a campaign staffer. Just noting the obvious…
Betsy
October 21st, 2009
3:19 pm
If Mary Norwood becomes Mayor, it will be the biggest mistake Atlanta has ever made. That worm is pandering to Blacks for years, including her recent videotaped lovefest at The Beautiful Restaurant and her upcoming PAID endorsement. I can’t believe she has the city of Atlanta duped so easily!!
Wow, Just Wow
October 21st, 2009
3:21 pm
Excellent point, James T. People fail to ask that question.
James, T.
October 21st, 2009
3:21 pm
@Wow, Just Wow: you clearly know that there is a difference between a forum and a debate. Does that mean you are a campaign staffer? Understanding the difference between a debate and forum is a matter of basic knowledge. You’re right, it’s highly ironic Larry spelled “Council” incorrectly, but your suggestion that someone who knows the difference between a debate and a forum must be a staffer is idiotic.
Krooked Kasim
October 21st, 2009
3:21 pm
http://www.notkasim.blogspot.com
Tracey
October 21st, 2009
3:24 pm
Mary Norwood doesn’t know Black Atlanta like Kasim Reed. When the majority of this city is STILL Black, the city needs a Mayor that will provide for that constituency and not just for Buckhead.
Betsy
October 21st, 2009
3:27 pm
Khasim wouldn’t last five minutes in Buckhead.
Betsy
October 21st, 2009
3:34 pm
I don’t think I’d want *this* kind of “Black” politics in City Hall in Atlanta: http://www.blackcommentator.com/178/178_cover_negro_corporate_politician_dixon.pdf
Oxford Educated
October 21st, 2009
3:40 pm
Mary’s ability to occupy words in mayoral debates and still leave the average individual satisfied with the nothingness is her greatest skill. Her ability to shift the focus, responsibility, and place blame on strategic scapegoats is what will get her elected. Mary’s political movements and lack of rhetoric is why she will be sitting in the mayor’s seat in January and that is unfortunate for the city of Atlanta.
cletus T Rockafella
October 21st, 2009
4:09 pm
Who cares? Who, in their right mind would care any longer who ‘governs’ atlanta? The hellhole pit of the south, the city now too easy to hate. When you have garbage politicians like the satanic Hussein Obama holding office, who would care about a fight between the lawn jockies and the cracka’s? All of them are abject losers, looking for power, influence, and how much money they can put in their pockets later on, if NOT in office. Been here 48 years, hate the city of atlanta with a passion with it’s crummy roads, it’s ugly buildings and it’s corrupt politics. I say dig Mussolini back up and make him mayor. Marta will run on time.
Wow, Just Wow
October 21st, 2009
4:19 pm
@James Yes, I have been a campaign staffer on Senate and Congressional campaigns. The second comment does not belong to me, although I do agree with your point. I regularly point out that current staffers fill this blog and it’s simply a waste of resources. The circular fire is sickening. There’s nothing idiotic about that..
Betsy
October 21st, 2009
4:26 pm
Wow, Just Wow…where there’s smoke, there’s fire…
jconservative
October 21st, 2009
4:36 pm
“When you attack City Hall, you’re also implicitly attacking, to a degree, black politics…”
This is a silly remark. If you attack the Democratic Party do you implicitly attack black politics? If you attack the White House position on Iran do you implicitly attack black politics?
Shirley Franklin is not a “black politician”. She is a very accomplished politician who happens to be black.
@@@@
October 21st, 2009
4:40 pm
@jconsersative,
Keep throwing rocks and hiding your hands! Norwood has built her name on attacking City Hall and Atlanta’s political structure. Whether she’s right or wrong, this is offensive to many African Americans because she has never really been on record criticizing our state leadership for their failures.
Angry Taxpayer
October 21st, 2009
4:49 pm
@@@@ you might read the Sunday AJC before pontificating……you honestly do not know what you are talking about.
cletus T Rockafella
October 21st, 2009
4:54 pm
Please, read these with thought:
“Shirley Franklin is not a “black politician”. She is a very accomplished politician who happens to be black.”
“Keep throwing rocks and hiding your hands! Norwood has built her name on attacking City Hall and Atlanta’s political structure. Whether she’s right or wrong, this is offensive to many African Americans because she has never really been on record criticizing our state leadership for their failures.”
This is why atlanta is a failure, and will remain a failure. African american people don’t count, nor do white people when it comes to solving a city’s ills. Shirley Franklin, a decent lady she is, possesses no real management experience and is as corrupt as her predecessors (look at airport concessions), and the sewer/water debacle. Color does not matter. Knowledge, and a character that exhibits something other than attempting to gain power and influence matter. Borders today said she would use eminent domain to steal your property. Is that what voters within atlanta want?
I doubt it. The real reason all of the people who are running for mayor is simple: power, influence, and money in their pockets. If they say otherwise, they are liars, each and every one.
Betsy
October 21st, 2009
5:06 pm
jconservative, Shirley Franklin is not an accomplished politician PERIOD. Her boorish behavior towards reporters says as much. And she happens to be Black. We’ve established THAT much.
I wonder how much that bill at The Beautiful Restaurant cost. It’s a shame to know the Black vote can be sold for the price of a meat and two sides.
@Angry Taxpayer
October 21st, 2009
5:10 pm
@Angry Taxpayer,
I used to work for Mary Norwood. She knows what I mean when talk about her lack of leadership and failure to criticize the state leadership. Thanks, but i’m a “real” and know Ms. Norwood very well.
Betsy
October 21st, 2009
5:16 pm
Uh oh…you wouldn’t like Angry Taxpayer when he’s angry. He might…pay some taxes!
Have a Coke and a smile and sit down, dear.
derek
October 21st, 2009
5:21 pm
I am thinking about relocating to Atlanta, but just reading some of these comments about the candidates and about the city, it is making me have second thoughts. I really want to leave Chicago, cause it is very cold during the winter months, maybe i should start looking somewhere outside the city of Atlanta or maybe Florida, just wondering if i amright tosay that.
@Angry Taxpayer
October 21st, 2009
5:24 pm
Also, what are you so “Angry” at? you should be angry that Norwood has sat on the City Council for the past 8 years like a bump on a log (except in the evenings, when she was out using your “tax” dollars to campaign for mayor) and got nothing done of any significance. Her colleagues, Felicia Moore and Clair Muller, worked her under the table.
Betsy
October 21st, 2009
5:34 pm
Derek, hun, unless you’re bringing guns or a 9mm, you might as well stay in Chicago. Or, you could go to Detroit. Twice the crime and half the heat!
liz
October 21st, 2009
7:55 pm
Franklin isn’t running for mayor. What she does, how she acts, why she does what she does aren’t the issues anymore? Norwood will have her chance in just a few days. Let’s hope she has the ability to move the city forward, since whatever she’s said and done has garnered enough support to win without a run off. It is possible she’ll be a more effective mayor than she has been Council member. She admits she hasn’t been able to accomplich much. White or black, male or female, young or old being mayor is a bear. Derek, the survived Campbell and will survive Norwood. Come on down.
Dan Deacon
October 21st, 2009
8:22 pm
Mrs. Norwood can turn the city of Atlanta around over time. This loudmouth mayor that’s in there now has ruined the finances of the city, the integrity of the city and created an environment of high violent crime. It will take some one like Ms. Norwood to get it straight…someone honest with a high degree of integrity that has the backbone to stay away from relatives hired by the city, contracts that have been negotiated with business ties that wreaks with unethical behavior. Can the current mayor say none of this happened on her watch? Let’s look deep into the financial dealings with the airport and contracts by the city. Can Kasim say that? Just go back to his past and let’s see if there are skeletons in his closet wreaking with relatives given jobs and airport contract questionable transactions.
It seems that blacks jump behind a black candidate before they use their brains. Racism starts with supporting a candidate because their black, even though there are questionable, if not verifiable, behavior and or lack of experience in running a big city. Andrew Young, Rep. Johnson, Bond and the like show their racism by backing Kasim who has no evidence of being able to manage a big city like Atlanta and perhaps has questionable financial dealing with the airport and lobbying the airport for the city a few years ago ( no wonder they’re backing him…..) and the hiring of a relative. For Gods sake, he’s an attorney – that’s enough to not want him for mayor.
Let’s see some high profile blacks get behind Mrs. Norwood to show they aren’t racist people and want to back the King philosophy (content of character, not color of skin). How many want to step up to the plate? Although she will not need you to get elected, not doing so reveals those high profile blacks that fail to endorse and support her publicly.
newA
October 21st, 2009
8:58 pm
Mary will lose in the run-off to Reed.
Lee
October 21st, 2009
9:18 pm
It would be a travesty to all who live in ATlanta if Reed wins. I know he has goten the majority of his monies to run his commercials from airport contractors and individuals who do not even live in Atlanta nor Georgia. The majority of people in Atlanta are not funding his campaign. Our city would be bought by airport contractor and out of towners. THIS MAN IS NOT A COMMUNITY, PEOPLE PERSON. If you see him on the street he would not even know how to talk to the average Atlantan. His NASTINESS, ARROGANCE, and UNLOYALTY will prove to be to the demise of the average Atlanta citizen. We need a mayor who is INTELLIGENT, SMART, TRUSTWORTHY, HONEST, AND LOYAL TO THE CITIZENS AND EMPLOYEES OF ATLANTA. That person is LISA BORDERS. Her history bares this out. She has worked for this city for Grady Hospital and as President of the Atlanta City Council. Her family history depicts community service, honesty and compassion for the people of this city. I cannot say the same for the other candidates. We cannot let the spirit of this person not be in the seat as mayor of ATlanta. At this time in the city’s history we need a person like her. WE DO NOT NEED MONEY GRUBBING, SLICK WILLY, UNLOYAL PERSON AS MAYOR OF CITY HALL. You all know who I am talking about. IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT!!!
WE NEED LISA BORDERS!!! OR SOMEBODYELSE!!
PoliticOracle
October 21st, 2009
10:10 pm
@Deacon Dan
There is absolutely nothing unethical with Kasim’s brother working for the city. Kasim is not the Mayor, a cabinet member or a member of council therefore the brother’s employment is a moot point right now. The city has ordinances against the relatives of elected officials working for the city.
Reed’s firm getting vity contracts is also not unethical or illegal. Kilpatrick Stockton competed and got the contract. If you can find anything illegal about either of these acts, I implore to file suit or call for a criminal investigation on the state or federal level. If you can’t, find a better way to enhance your candidate.
What many fail to realize is Norwood won’t lose because black voters are prejudiced. Mary will lose because she is an empty suit, full of promises and low on substance to back them up. Research shows that Southern whites are far more likely to vote along racial lines than black voters in the south. Black voters have loyally supported white politicians for years and this still happens today.
Please explain how Norwood isn’t atleast partially complicit with the city’s current morass, since she was elected at the same time as Mayor Franklin and was supposed to be providing oversight on the decisions being made. Yes Franklin is chief executive, but a real leader would stand on principle everytime. Ms. Norwood has been running for mayor for the past 8yrs so she missed her chance to lead.
Oh yeah, you don’t want to start prying into closets if you want Ms. Norwood to win.
Citizen
October 21st, 2009
10:44 pm
I love the way some of you attack her for her speaking – I bet you didn’t say that about Obama and his speaking….I mean teleprompter….
City Employee
October 21st, 2009
11:17 pm
Dan Deacon @ 8:22. There are articles in the AJC saying that Norwood has more support from blacks than Reed or Borders. So what are talking about, blacks being racist and support black candidates first? Whatever.
GaTechMan
October 22nd, 2009
12:01 am
No matter who wins the election one thing is for sure, Atlanta is at a cross-roads. We can either continue to accept corrupt, inefficient city government, that doesn’t seem to work with the surrounding suburbs or the state, or we can let city hall know we, the tax paying citizens, have had enough.
Fulton Resident
October 22nd, 2009
12:21 am
@ Tracey -
You said “Mary Norwood doesn’t know Black Atlanta like Kasim Reed. When the majority of this city is STILL Black, the city needs a Mayor that will provide for that constituency and not just for Buckhead.”
WOW – Really? I don’t know how exactly providing for a black constituency or white constituency differs. Could you explain that racist comment please. Since the majority of the United States is white, following your thought process, Obama should not be president since he clearly doesn’t “provide” for that constituency.
Unreal.
Sluggo
October 22nd, 2009
7:04 am
Let’s rev up all the code words because we need the back racists in order to win. In the clinch the politicians always reach for race to win.
Dawg Fan 74
October 22nd, 2009
7:15 am
Why can’t we all just get along?
Rodney King
ghostwriter
October 22nd, 2009
7:23 am
I don’t know the level of Black support Mary Norwood has, but I happened to stop in at Justin’s about one month ago at a political function and was surprised by the Black support for Mary Norwood. Myself, as I’ve stated before, as a Black person, I’m voting for her becaused I’m tired of the shenanigans of the “connected” Black political class.
Donny Fairplay
October 22nd, 2009
8:48 am
I’m not really clear on the comments made by the Emory professor. It read as if he was saying that the nature of politics at City Hall were inherently Black or somehow indicative of the way that Black people operate.
I think that what he was trying to say is that when Mary Norwood talks about the history of “do nothing politicians” at City Hall and alludes to financial mismanagement, she is speaking in code. She is in fact saying, “If you’re tired of the “do nothing” Black politicians who steal like Bill Campbell or can’t manage money then vote for me.
Sadly, that message plays well in North Atlanta and some parts of SWATS.
Jackalope
October 22nd, 2009
11:36 am
Dear All of You Volunteers and Staffer of Reed and Borders:
Get off the blogs. It hasn’t worked and it isn’t working. Mary (you you all say sucks) is running circles around your candidates. Go knock on some doors or something. You have 2 weeks, NO money, minimal mass media presence and are both behind in the polls by double digits.
Norwood is going to come very close to winning outright and then will blow whoever the competition is out of the water in the run off.
MCRP 09
October 22nd, 2009
11:40 am
@ GaTechMan
Better watch what you say about city hall…that prick from Emory might think you’re racist.
liz
October 22nd, 2009
12:18 pm
I agree with City Employee. Blacks are supporting Norwood. The black voters are divided beteeen the candidates. It’s the white vote that is solidly behind the white candidate. This is politics as usual for the white Atlanta voters. Blacks have demonstrated their support for white candidates for decades and in lots of dufferent political campaigns. It’s been white voters who don’t see beyond race…. Wake up Dan Deacon. I don’t support Norwood because she can’t talk about the issues and admits she’s been ineffective as a Councilmember. What is her public record? Nada.
PoliticOracle
October 22nd, 2009
3:09 pm
@Jackalope
You again? You are in for a pleasant surprise come Nov. 3rd. Mary isn’t running circles around anyone. She’s in an expected position, for someone that’s been running for mayor for the past 8 years. She actually be way above 50%, but there are too many smart voters for that. Voters that will come out in mass for Borders and Reed are historically under-polled because pollers use landlines. For example, I am a super-voter; meaning I vote rain, shine, sleep or snow. I get all the candidate mail but I never get a call from polling firms. You know why? I don’t have a landline. Mary Norwood is as weak as they come and this city will be worse off if she’s eleted mayor. Not because she’s white, but because she’s Mary Norwood. Jackalope!!!!
Jackalope
October 22nd, 2009
4:02 pm
Make up your mind. A year ago, all the blogs said Mary would be out of the race by this time – Not leading by 15 or 20 points…so chill with the “expected position” BS.
And your polling info is just BS too. No one believes that. That’s why everyone still does polls – and as a matter of fact, there is cell phone polling.
Keep trying to convince yourself all you want, but Mary has been ahead in every poll ever done in this race for the past year – her polling, the competition polling and independent polling. She has more money than Lisa and Kasim combined. Those are FACTS.
She will get over 40% on election night and be in the lead going into the run off. Bet.
PoliticOracle
October 22nd, 2009
4:17 pm
@Jackalope
I never predicted where Mary would be a year ago. In fact, I don’t recall anyone predicting it since Lisa Borders was in and out and Kasim Reed hadn’t even resigned from his State Senate seat. It’s obvious that you are a political novice and you aren’t aware that there are many Atlantans that are generally pleased with their city and will go to the polls and vote based on qualifications and not emotions and rhetoric.
Do you even live in Atlanta? Do you know that Shirley Franklin consistently polled low against her opponent in 2001 and won without a run-off? You probably didn’t know that. You keep on wishful thinking though.
BTW, why do you want Mary Norwood to be Mayor so bad?
PoliticOracle
October 22nd, 2009
4:25 pm
Right now, the black vote is split three ways and the white vote is solid for the white candidate. Now you tell me who really votes on racial lines. The run-off will decide which black candidate will be mayor.
Base
October 23rd, 2009
12:27 pm
The COA is sewer that cannot be fixed by Mary or anyone.
Lee
October 23rd, 2009
1:09 pm
PoliticalOracle, let’s get something straight. Shirley won without a “run-off” because of the hard working people she had working in her “field operations.” Believe me, it was not her “personality” that won. Yet when she won, she did not assist any of those individuals, qualified or not, with get employment to replace Bill Campbell cronies and operatives in City Hall. That is why Kasim’s campaign cannot win without a run off because those same people he managed, as her campaign manager, who helped Shirley in her first campaign will not touch Kasim, or Shirley, with a 10 foot pole. THEY ARE ARROGANT, “DISLOYAL” PEOPLE WHO WILL DECEIVE AND USE YOU AT EVRY CHANCE THEY GET.
I LIVE IN ATLANTA, AND YOU PROBABLY DID NOT KNOW THAT!!
VOTE FOR ANYONE ELSE EXCEPT THOSE ASSOCIATED SHIRLEY FRANKLIN. YOU KNOW WHO I AM TALKING ABOUT!!
CJ Dawg
October 25th, 2009
7:26 pm
Atlanta needs to wake the fuuudge up and quit being a racist city. ATL is in the gutter. It has been controlled by corrupt BLACK leaders for too long. It is HIGH time Mary Norwood is given a chance. She is the most qualified candidate by far and she will not be an embarassment like so many of our recent mayoral…well you fill that in. All of you crying out now simply want a black mayor for no other reason than being black. Pathetic.