By Zenitha Prince
Washington Bureau Chief
PITTSBURGH (April 13, 2008) – Most Democratic officials in Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, are firmly in the Hillary Clinton presidential camp. But the party’s most loyal bloc – African-Americans – is of a different mind.
Thomas Sumpter, Jr., chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic Black Caucus, said that among the 60 Black elected officials in Allegheny County, “The majority support Obama.”
Meanwhile, Jim Burn, chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, which is predominantly White, stated: “In Western Pennsylvania and in particular Southwestern Pennsylvania, the votes out have been heavily favoring Sen. Clinton – that’s just what it is.”
I love his message of hope. It’s bringing us in the community together and addressing the hopelessness among our young men.
The split, generally along racial lines, has created some uncomfortable situations.
State Rep. Joseph Preston of District 4, said being an Obama supporter in a sea of Clinton devotees has been tough.
“My campaign manager is a close friend of the Clintons and most people assumed that I was going to be a Clinton supporter,” he said, chuckling, “I usually go to his house on New Year’s but I met him in the supermarket and he told me he was so sorry but he had invited all these Clinton supporters.”
This is not the first time that Black Democrats in the Pittsburgh area have differed with Democratic leaders, most of whom are White.
The Western Pennsylvania Black Political Assembly was formed in 2003 after the Allegheny County Democratic Party endorsed a little-known but politically connected White candidate for county controller over a qualified Black candidate.
On April 12, the group held a forum at the Black-owned Pittsburgh Coliseum in East Liberty, where representatives from the McCain, Obama and Clinton campaigns made their pitches and were grilled on their policy platforms.
Rodney Slater, who served as Secretary of Transportation under Bill Clinton, offered an appeal on behalf of Hillary Clinton, saying, “I’m here asking you to keep your heart open to Sen. Clinton; there’s a place there for her as well as Sen. Obama.”
In response to policy related questions, Slater touted the success of the Bill Clinton administration. However, when challenged about Hillary Clinton’s fabrications about enduring sniper fire in Bosnia, Slater declined to comment, saying, “There’s too much that’s good to help us make our decision.”
Former Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey bore the McCain banner, painting his candidate as a maverick who “believes in everyone.” Black officials challenged him on whether McCain would be maverick enough to offer a different message than the usual GOP message of “pulling yourself up by the bootstraps.” Another expressed concerns about past Republican shenanigans to suppress the Black vote.
The clear star of the event was former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, who spoke on behalf of Sen. Obama.
“I’m here in a state that everyone seems to want to write off for some reason,” Mfume said.
Citing other contests where the former underdog has prevailed, however, Mfume said: “Send a message across the country that Pennsylvanians don’t do what they’re told to do – they don’t follow polls—they do what they want to do.”
Co-convener Rick Adams, a former Pittsburgh Board of Education member, said because Black communities in Pittsburgh are so dispersed, it has been hard to get political representation in a city that has never had a Black mayor, Congressional representative or city controller. This meeting was important to educate Black voters about their choices and to acknowledge that Blacks have an important role to play in the political process, he said.
“We have our own agenda, our own perspectives and our own needs,” Adams said. “When was the last have you heard candidates really talk about the issues facing Blacks in inner-city communities like Pittsburgh?”
The Black forum was nothing like a gathering earlier this year of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.
A straw poll among members of the Committee revealed overwhelming support for Clinton among the party leadership, including Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato.
Sumpter said the straw poll was a surprise; he thought the meeting was only to endorse local candidates.
“It didn’t click until you saw party officials publicly lining up in support for Hillary Clinton,” Sumpter recounted. “There’s a lot of weight that goes with that. Generally, if you are endorsed, your name is on the party’s election material. And Clinton was also invited to be the keynote speaker for the party’s major dinner.”
The actions of party officials have not dampened enthusiasm for Obama among Blacks.
Jeanine Wilkerson, a hairdresser at a hair salon and spa on North Highland Street, said, “I believe in Obama’s message of change,” she said while snipping away at a customer’s blond locks. “I like his urgency.”
Sabrina Clark, 36, who mentors unemployed youth, said she, too, supports Obama.
“I love his message of hope. It’s bringing us in the community together and addressing the hopelessness among our young men,” she said.
Such passion for Obama has caused some flak for some Clinton supporters such as City Councilwoman Tonya Payne, who represents a largely Black district.
In an April 3 New Pittsburgh-Courier commentary titled, “What to do with Tonya Payne?” former editor Lou Ransom wrote, “While the Democratic presidential primary fight between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has left many allegiances tattered, Payne is unabashed in her support of Clinton, even as Hillary supporter [Gov.] Ed Rendell spouts that certain parts of his state would never vote for a Black man. Payne, obviously, would not vote for a Black man, either.”
Though several phone calls and e-mails to the councilwoman were not returned, she defended herself in an April 10 rebuttal in the newspaper.
“I made my decision to support Hillary Clinton based on my experience and knowledge of politics,” she wrote. “I cannot understand why Mr. Ransom is suggesting that I choose a candidate based on race. The objective is to choose the candidate that you believe can win the general election.”
She added, “I assure you that if Barack Obama should win the Democratic nomination, I will work harder than anyone else to ensure that he is elected. The record will show that I donated to the Obama campaign long before one vote was ever cast in Iowa.”
For some Obama backers, that might not be enough. Black Clinton supporters in other parts of the country have had to come to grips with the reality of representing districts that back Obama by margins of 80 and 90 percent. Some will face challengers because of their support of Clinton.
Pittsburgh Recorder of Deeds Valerie McDonald Roberts said she became an Obama believer after she heard his rousing speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.
“I got on board last year when he didn’t have a chance,” said Roberts, a 20-year veteran of politics. “We need someone who is about people politics and not partisan politics. I support Obama not because he Black, but because he happens to be the face and name of what people need.”