8:43 pm November 17, 2009, by jgalloway
The Reed campaign just confirmed that the Rev. Joseph Lowery will endorse former state senator Kasim Reed for mayor of Atlanta at a 3 p.m. Wednesday press conference.
Another civil rights icon, Andrew Young, is already advocating on Reed’s behalf.
Reed campaign spokesman Reese McCranie confirmed the endorsement in an e-mail just sent to reporters.
Lowery sat out the first round of voting on Nov. 3, expressing disappointment in the response by Reed and Lisa Borders to a memo by a group of activists advocating that voters unite behind a single black candidate who would reflect the needs of the African-American community.
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217 comments Add your comment
Kasim Rules!
November 17th, 2009
8:59 pm
With all these endorsements, Kasim has this election locked up!!! Norwood should drop out and quit wasting all that money. The African-American community is coming together to keep a minority mayor as it should be!!!
The machine at work
November 17th, 2009
9:04 pm
Even more evidence that Reed is the machine candidate. How many favors will Reed have to pay off to the machine that has endorsed him, and at what cost to the average citizen of Atlanta?
Perhaps if Lowery is willing to offer his endorsement of Reed, he’ll be willing to share his thoughts of Reed defending corporations like Cracker Barrel when they discriminate, since Reed or his backers seem to want evidence of that work to disappear from the public’s consciousness.
Angry Taxpayer
November 17th, 2009
9:05 pm
Unfortunate that Lowery is just about being black. I had much more respect for him – but that is lost. He has become the as those he fought against. I experienced this with Grandfather and unfortunately that generation is purely focused on race rather than the person.
Boooring
November 17th, 2009
9:08 pm
Does this really come as a shock? Who’s the next of the great black leaders to come out and endorse Kasim Reed? Maybe Jesse Jackson can come to town with Al Sharpton.
Let's hear it
November 17th, 2009
9:09 pm
Kasim Rules, since Kasim himself seems to be too modest to mention it, why don’t you tell us, in your own words, how proud you are that Kasim represented Cracker Barrel in an attempt to have them avoid any legal sanctions for their discriminatory practices.
Tell us how proud you are of Kasim for supporting Cracker Barrel in its attempt to engage in discriminatory practices
Ibe Dubblejammin
November 17th, 2009
9:18 pm
Well now, there’s a shocker!!! Weepy whiny bi*chy racist Joe Lowery
endorses the negro.
Imagine a devoted Christian striving every day to live in the Christ-like mode, loving all, always doing right, never lying, cheating or hating, and finally when the big day comes–going home to his reward in Heaven– there’s the REVEREND Whiny Bi*chy Racist Joe Lowery sitting there with angel wings a rhymin’ some racist Weepy Joe rhetoric!:) Somehow there seems something is wrong with this scenario.
Mary Norwood mess up
November 17th, 2009
9:18 pm
Wow look at Mary Norwood supporters they are scare and Norwood runninng scare this election is a done deal Mary Norwood mess up so many time. I just recieve a call from Kashim Reed staff to come out and early vote for November 18 for Kashim Reed why I never recieve a call from Norwood staff. I am waken up at 8:00 am to vote for Kashim Reed and some of my friends are going with me to vote for Kashim Reed on November 18…See you Norwood supporters when I vote for Kashim Reed
Let's hear it
November 17th, 2009
9:23 pm
Mary Norwood mess up, since you are also happy with Kasim, please share with us, in your own words, how proud you are of Kasim for representing Cracker Barrel and opposing those whose rights Cracker Barrel violated.
I’m sure that makes you proud of supporting Kasim, so please share that pride with all of us.
Tech 09
November 17th, 2009
9:24 pm
“It’s the turnout, stupid!”
Reed could be endorsed by God, Ghandi, MLK and Bobby Dodd and still fall flat on his face if the runoff turnout is low. I expect his brother is pulling overtime at his new part-time job (GOTV).
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
November 17th, 2009
9:25 pm
Norwood said she “couldn’t recall whether” she voted for her cousin, George W. Bush, then came out with an ad saying she’d voted straight Democratic, including before and after she was an elected Delegate to a Republican convention.
It is revealed: she is a liar…just like her 9/11-committing, draft-dodging closet-queen cousin, George W. Bush.
Kasim Reed isn’t fully fledged and if all true Atlantans pray to G-d that he be guided and inspired, it shall be so.
He isn’t Bush’s cousin: Good enough for Atlanta!
Angry Taxpayer
November 17th, 2009
9:27 pm
Will – you are simply a nut case.
Concerned for Atlanta
November 17th, 2009
9:33 pm
This is really disgusting. Joesph Lowery endorsing an attorney who has spent his career working to deny workers and minorities of their civil rights.
While Norwood was working to improve inner-city neighborhoods, Kasim was working to defend big corporations against workers and minorities who have their civil rights trampled.
And then Lowery endorses Kasim? I guess it really is just about race. I wish I had known before I voted for Obama.
This just in
November 17th, 2009
9:37 pm
Reed has been endorsed by God, Ghandi, and Bobby Dodd, as well as vanilla ice creme, chocolate ice cream, the rock group Cream, strawberry ice cream, strawberry fields forever, Grant Field, Soldier Field and last but not least the Unknown Soldier.
More endorsements
November 17th, 2009
9:41 pm
Earth, Wind and Fire have just announced they are endorsing Reed!
And Water has a press conference scheduled for noon tomorrow!
OMG a spaceship
November 17th, 2009
9:44 pm
A UFO just landed in my front yard! An alien knocked on the door. I asked him if he wanted me to take him to our leader.
He said no thanks, he just wanted to introduce his leader to me, and then the leader let me know that he too was endorsing Kasim Reed.
Then they left. Should I call the Air Force?
problematic endorsement
November 17th, 2009
9:58 pm
According to Galloway, Lowery didn’t endorse Reed or Borders the first time around because they both repudiated the now infamous memo suggesting blacks unite around one candidate.
By accepting Lowery’s endorsement, is Reed now endorsing that memo? Will any reporters have the nerve at tomorrow’s press conference to ask him?
Concerned for Atlanta
November 17th, 2009
10:03 pm
They need to ask him what they hell he’s doing endorsing a candidate who has spent his career fighting to deny the civil rights of workers and minorities. The very thing Lowery used to stand for.
Look here:
http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/news/0546.html
Mary Norwood mess up
November 17th, 2009
10:10 pm
LMAO look at all the evil Norwood supporters why have Zell Miller have not support Norwood and Clark Howard….Look what corncern Atlanta that Norwood was working to improve inner city why she sign to close 20 recreation center down in the inner city. Ok Norwood what have she done for 8 years while she was a city council she have done nothing. Thanks Joseph Lowery for endorsen Reed more to come….Early vote for Reed ….Ha Ha Ha whats going on with Mary Norwood campaign I wonder why she voted for Bush and se was a Republican delegate. That why I am LMAO
Speak up mess up
November 17th, 2009
10:15 pm
Come on Mary Norwood mess up, since you are so proud of Kasim, tell us, in your own words, how proud you are of Kasim for defending Cracker Barrel when they engaged in discriminatory practices.
Tell us how proud you are that Kasim opposed the NAACP on this issue.
Mary Norwood mess up
November 17th, 2009
10:21 pm
Ha Ha Ha wow Norwood ask to raise taxes on water fee’s in Atlanta. Reed just bust Norwood out with her record and his record. Norwood does not have a good record. Norwood is going to lose this race.
Speak up mess up
November 17th, 2009
10:23 pm
Mary Norwood mess up, please oh please tell us how proud you are of Kasim and his working in defending Cracker Barrel in their discrimination practices.
Don’t be shy for Kasim. Talk him, and his great work for Cracker Barrel up!
Bunnie Jackson Ransome
November 17th, 2009
10:26 pm
i have been bamboozled into believing a moderately educated, Southern white woman will something for me.
Mary Norwood mess up
November 17th, 2009
10:27 pm
Ok why would you bring up defending Crackel Barrel look Reed was a lawyer that wohat you do represent your client he get paid for that so you need to bring up something that you dont have fact on. Look at Norwood record she sign to close 20 recreation center and also she furlough the police dept. Ok she also ask to raise taxes on the water fee’s. Wow what have Norwood did to make Atlanta better.
Atlanta_Tiger_Fan
November 17th, 2009
10:30 pm
Big surprise that the so-called black leaders are supporting the black guy. Black people only care about color and not experience, obama is case in point!
Speak up mess up
November 17th, 2009
10:30 pm
Mary Norwood mess up, he made a choice to join a law firm, knowing it would defend the Cracker Barrels of the world.
How can we trust him to protect the rights of average working citizens in Atlanta, if he was so willing to represent an organization that repeatedly violated them?
Tell us Mary Norwood mess up
Mary Norwood mess up
November 17th, 2009
10:32 pm
sorry mispell *what correction Teela Ha Ha Ha when the saints go marching in to vote early Reed will win. Ha Ha Ha where is Norwood she running scare where her endorsement why have the teachers endorse Norwood. Why have any other city council endorse Norwood…Norwood dont count all the black votes to get you as mayor. You need the black votes to come out strong for you Norwood
TP4U
November 17th, 2009
10:34 pm
Norwood supporters – Please read mary norwood’s website telling back in 2007 she was going to take care of neighborhood blightness, affordable housing, public safety. Guess what folks? She didnot do anything but do the same thing she is promising now–” I am going to put a task force togehter to do blah …blah…blah! What a liar she is to fool Atlantans–well, we are not fooled or bamboozled. Norwood take your chicken wings and kool-aid. We are not falling for it. Folks you can check it out for yourselves. http://www.marynorwood.org. Again, this is from 2007! Committees, task forces, review–but no ACTION!
Mary Norwood’s Biography
Councilwoman Mary Norwood, Post 2 At-Large, brings a broad and deep record of civic improvement, strong business credentials, energy and integrity to the Atlanta City Council.
Through more than a decade of community activism, Mary has developed expertise in environmental, preservation, zoning, traffic, public safety, housing and homeless issues.
In her years as an activist prior to her election to Atlanta City Council, citywide, she lobbied for over 60 issues and had a 98% track record of success.
As a city councilmember she has worked on numerous issues, including:
* Affordable Housing: Working with the administration to provide affordable housing through a lottery and down-payment assistance program to city employees.
* Homelessness: Has been an advocate for the City of Atlanta and other entities to employ homeless men and women to clean Atlanta’s streets. City of Atlanta’s Solid Waste Division is currently employing homeless men and women from Samaritan House’s Clean Street Teams.
* Neighborhood Preservation: Chaired a task force to address appropriate infill in the redevelopment of the City and has worked with professional organizations in the development industry—led by the American Institute of Architects-Atlanta Chapter—to formulate and propose changes to the City’s Residential Zoning Code to assist with infill challenges.
* Neighborhood Blight: Working with the administration to overcome the obstacles in the present system of code compliance through a potential Code Enforcement Board and Blighted Vacant Building Registration.
* Transportation: Identifying the City’s worst traffic bottlenecks and working with the City’s Transportation Department and the Georgia DOT to resolve them.
* Public Safety: Initiated a review of Atlanta’s drug strategies to address the overwhelming and omnipresent presence of drugs in Atlanta’s neighborhoods.
Mary Norwood mess up
November 17th, 2009
10:34 pm
Norwood campaign in shamble what she going to do now because she only have one endorsement
this just in
November 17th, 2009
10:35 pm
Apollo 13 and Super Bowl XV have both endorsed Kasim Reed.
Reports out of Athens indicate that Uga VII has a press conference for noon tomorrow.
Mary Norwood mess up
November 17th, 2009
10:39 pm
TP4U good job that tell you something Norwood have not prove what she did for 8 years nothing.
Norwood look stop useing blacks votes for granted we are coming out strong for Reed.,
Politically correct
November 17th, 2009
10:41 pm
Any black politicians who have endorsed Norwood?
Any white politicians who have endorsed Reed (other than Barnes from Cobb County)?
Mary Norwood mess up
November 17th, 2009
10:41 pm
Bye Bye Bye Norwood need to drop out the race she is going to lose more endorsement not only blacks endorsen Reed. I bet the teachers union will come out to endorse Reed.
Wow look at Norwood eating chicken wings at Jr Cricket
Good to know
November 17th, 2009
10:42 pm
Glad you brought it up TP4U. If this was from 2007 look at this quote
We’ve all been kept in the dark about our City’s finances. Councilpeople, voters, taxpayers: we all should have been informed sooner.
This shows us that Norwood has been advocating for transparency all along, and didn’t just trot out this line in order to become mayor.
With all the endorsements, one has to ask what promises has Kasim doled out to his endorsees in his quest for personal power?
Bunnie Jackson Ransome
November 17th, 2009
10:43 pm
i like bamboozlin
Mary Norwood mess up
November 17th, 2009
10:44 pm
let sing the song We fall down and Norwood get back ….Ha Ha Ha more endorsement to come for Reed. Norwood take my advice fire your Campaign manager Levit and Zee Bradford.
TP4U
November 17th, 2009
10:46 pm
BTW, State Rep. Ralph Long is a nice guy but he should conduct some due diligence before giving an endorsement based on someone’s actions. Rep. Long showed pictures of the neighborhood blightness in his Georgia House District. Well, what has Ms. Norwood done since 2007 to improve the quality of life of the communities that are suffering from neighborhood blightness. NADA! That wasted endorsement will probably cost him. Will any of the City Council members from Ms. Norwood’s At-Large District 5,6, 7 or 8 endorse Ms. Norwood’s record?
KiddingMe
November 17th, 2009
10:47 pm
Now there is a shocker. Lowery backing Reed? Say it ain’t so. LMAO!
Seth Saltzman
November 17th, 2009
10:49 pm
Beyonce and Rhianna are endorsing Reed tomorrow morning.
mathewisadouche
November 17th, 2009
10:49 pm
Matthew Cardinale is spending every waking hour post links to his not so “progressive” new site. Mathew stop sucking up to Mary and for God’s sake please stop calling yourself a progressive.
Due diligence
November 17th, 2009
10:54 pm
Maybe some civil rights icons should have done some due diligence before endorsing a candidate that willingly defended corporations in their efforts to discriminate against minorities.
AH
November 17th, 2009
10:54 pm
Reed just won the noble peace prize for 2010 for the potential peace that he will bring to the world as mayor of Atlanta.
@Politically Correct
November 17th, 2009
10:54 pm
Norwood has the lone endorsement of one black elected official, State Rep Ralph Long and that is actually the extent of her support. She doesn’t have any other white leaders supporting her.
Kasim Reed, on the other hand, has earned endorsements from the following white leaders; Nan Orrock, Kathy Ashe, Pat Gardner, David Adelman, Karla Drenner, Jim Martin and Margaret Kaiser.
Just thought I’d shed some light on your inquiry.
@AH
November 17th, 2009
10:59 pm
Didn’t I give you Norwood’s campaign address earlier? Go to work for your candidate and get off this thread, bigot.
Teela
November 17th, 2009
11:00 pm
@Mary Norwood mess up: You are truly insane. But we knew that.
But I think the issue here all along is these old black civil (and not so civil in my estimation) rights leaders have always been about the color of skin…theirs. And this infects the asses like “Mess Up”. This is the road these ‘leaders’ have led their flock (sheep) down.
Zombies for Reed!
Mary takes the high road. But that is totally alien territory to many in Atlanta.
Yes, wonder how much ‘beholden’ Reed will have to all these endorsements….
We might find out.
Really
November 17th, 2009
11:04 pm
A real surprise there yet another endorsement for Reed. Anyone stop and think what is behind all these “endorsements”? From Franklin, to Borders, Lowery all part of the same corrupt political machine that has run this city into the ground. Hopefully people will wake up and realize what is happening….Vote for Reed sure and see what happens. Norwood is no saint that is for sure but look and see who is endorsing who, big business, political big wigs and “the machine” standing behind Reed. Neighborhood leaders and people in this city backing Norwood…..what does that tell you?????
Parzival
November 17th, 2009
11:05 pm
The Black people of Atlanta are absolutely terrified of having a white Mayor.
deborah
November 17th, 2009
11:10 pm
Tragedy———>Farce
Parzival
November 17th, 2009
11:10 pm
The rampant corruption, greed, cronyism, and neglect of the once great City Of Atlanta will end when Norwood wins the election. Reed is just another in a long line of Black Politicians ruining the City for personal gain.
The message of endorsements
November 17th, 2009
11:12 pm
Seems the Reed camp is misreading the message these endorsements are sending the average Atlanta citizen. The average Atlanta citizen is starting to see that Reed is the machine candidate. Borders has had ethics concerns. Franklin has had ethics concerns. Young has had ethics concerns. Barnes has had ethics concerns.
The machine is supporting Reed. Not so sure the average citizen is supporting the machine.
Kevrock/Smarty Jones
November 17th, 2009
11:14 pm
Just a matter of time if Norwood doesn’t win…and Afro-Americans are very lite for runnoff elections…If Reed does win expect the same lazy office that is in place and higher taxes for the rec centers he wants to open up…What a joke…but maybe only 4 years of it…