Comments on: The elimination of a woman in the middle

By: SEJ

SEJ — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:18:38 +0000

I find it amusing that white people who make up some 65% (and the number is dropping) of the U.S. population are viewing themselves as victims.

White people understand this, by simply being white you are afforded a 90 yard head start in a 100 yard dash here in America. If you have not taken advantage of that opportunity the problem is not with Black people. You really need to take stock in your self.

By: Scared to death

Scared to death — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:02:42 +0000

You know the old saying, “don’t cut off the hand that feeds you, well what about the “employees of the City of Atlanta”? Reed says he will furlough…Mary says she won’t…and folks wonder why when they call City Hall folks have attitudes? They’re over working the ones that are doing their jobs and working and not getting paid..but upgrading and promoting lazy ones….

GO FIGURE!!!!!!!!!! Guess who I’m voting for? Free Speech!!!!!!!

MARY FOR MAYOR!

By: Why Borders tanked so badly, and other thoughts | Fresh Loaf

Why Borders tanked so badly, and other thoughts | Fresh Loaf — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:52:22 +0000

[...] As the AJC’s Jim Galloway points out, Borders even studiously avoided self-identifying as black or white. [...]

By: Scared to death

Scared to death — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:46:20 +0000

I am a black person, african-american, colored, etc. and I resent the fact of the comments that black people can’t vote for a white Mayor. A lot of us voted for Mary and will vote for her again in December. I am almost sure that a lot of black people can look beyond race in this election and vote for a “person” who can make “change”. I think WE ARE ALL READY FOR THAT..No matter what color we are.

By: BPJ

BPJ — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:41:31 +0000

I know black voters who voted for Norwood, and white voters who voted for Reed (or Borders or Spikes). So it’s not a simple divide along racial lines.

Regarding the comment above (by Aaron at 6:02) that neither Norwood or Reed “have a real prior record where they have helped change in either the city or state levels”: as a state senator, Kasim Reed has sponsored and passed legislation increasing the homestead exemption for seniors in Atlanta; he went to his fellow legislators to acquire $500 million in low interest loans using the State’s AAA bond rating for the City of Atlanta’s water system, saving the city millions in interest payments; and he co-authored and passed legislation aimed at code enforcement and cracking down on crime caused by irresponsible bars that function as magnets for crime, increasing penalties for violations, in order to clean up neighborhoods and make the community safer. He has established excellent relationships with leaders of the state legislature (most of whom are rural, white Republicans). That’s why this white guy decided to vote for Reed. (I think Norwood is a good and likeable person, just with less of a track record of effectiveness.)

Now can we keep the comments a bit more constructive???

By: LensonAtlanta

LensonAtlanta — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:08:33 +0000

This conversation is very interesting. The race factor sure has been played up in the media, but then again the turnout seemed to be low. Why is that? Did voters see no real difference between the candidates? Are people not really interested in local politics? Now we’ll need to wait and see who Borders will endorse, and if turnout improve or suffer in the runoff.

By: DW

DW — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:55:03 +0000

@ Bill, because some people include “power” in their definition of racism. Those “without power” can’t be racist. I disagree with that definition, but that’s just me.

Great post, Mr. Galloway! One would have to question whether Ms. Borders’ heart was actually in this race. Why re-enter the mayor’s race after your concern for your parents’ help? Who talked her back into this race?

Also, the months Ms. Borders was out of the race were the death knell to her campaign. Those months were filled by Kasim Reed capturing a lot of the support Ms. Borders would’ve had for this race. This was too big a hurdle to overcome.

By: Kasim Rules!

Kasim Rules! — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:46:56 +0000

Lisa Borders need to tell all her supporters to vote for Kasim! Atlanta needs a black mayor to look after the interests of the African-Americans, not some rich white woman in the pocket of all the rich white people, trying to keep the minorities down in this city! African-Americans need to get out in the runoff and get Kasim in office!!!!

By: Truth

Truth — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:26:18 +0000

The most racist aspects of this election so far are two things: (1) white Atlantans that presume Mary Norwood is somehow more competent and less susceptible to cronyism than her black competitors, despite all evidence to the contrary; and (2) the national media seizing on and repeating incessently the Norwood campaign’s spin about how electing a white woman as Mayor of Atlanta is somehow the embodiment of MLK’s dream. Both ideas are a gross perversion of the truth.

By: Chris Murphy, Atlanta, GA

Chris Murphy, Atlanta, GA — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:24:27 +0000

Can it, Bill. Norwood had plenty of support from black voters. The story instead should be about voter apathy: turnout was pathetic. I suppose that speaks to the candidates themselves, none seemed to grab the voters’ imaginations. And now with a runoff, maybe 20-30,000 voters will determine the mayor of a city of over 500,000. Like I said, pathetic. Citizens came blame any politician they want, but the truth of the matter is that the problem with the city is the face that looks back at those non-voters in the mirror every morning.