Virtually all the candidates running for the 7th District Congressional seat came Friday to a church in the heart of the hood to discuss an issue impacting thousands of district residents — how to employ and keep employed former felons and ex-offenders. It’s an issue of vital concern, especially to our African-American community. In the past four years politicians, of all political parties, have addressed and embraced the issue.
All the candidates attended, with one glaring exception — Dr. Woodrow Myers.
Myers’ absence from a forum designed to ascertain candidates’ views on federal responses to ex-offender training, job opportunities and ending employment discrimination because of an ex-offender history was an insult to ex-offenders, their families and our entire African-American community.
It’s all the more troubling because of Myers’ spending millions on his campaign.
Last Thursday, Myers surpassed the Indiana donation record to a congressional campaign, dropping another $450,000, which brings the amount he’s given to his own campaign to $1,256,000. That beats the record of $1,206,204 set in 2002 by Republican millionaire Mike Sodrel.
In his million-buck TV blitz, Myers’ touts his Indianapolis roots, but Indy residents haven’t backed Myers with their cash. Through March 31st, just 14 Indy residents had donated $9,050 to his campaign. Chump change in a $1.5 million campaign.
Some 51.8 percent of Myers’ paltry $136,269 in non-Myers contributions came from Californians who don’t live in Indiana’s 7th District.
Myers is a rarity, an African-American millionaire candidate. There have been millionaire Democratic candidates who’ve cared deeply for the poor and working poor. One would expect a Black Democratic millionaire to be responsive to the least of these in his community. But that’s not what we’ve seen.
Woody Myers’ $1.256 million self contributions is excessive by American political standards. He’s ranked third by the Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign finance watchdog group, of all congressional candidates in the amount of cash donated to their own campaign.
Last month in his only prime time Black media interview with our WTLC-AM (1310) “Afternoons with Amos” program, Myers’ was taken aback when I asked his views on the problems former felons have in finding employment, even if they’ve had clean records for years after their imprisonment.
Myers was clearly unprepared for the issue. But if he’d been truly involved in Indianapolis the past few years, he’d have known and understood the issue’s importance.
Woody Myers campaign’s smoke, mirrors and pretty TV pictures were designed by East Coast white political consultants who told Myers what they think Indianapolis voters want to hear. For decades, Indianapolis’ member of Congress stood foursquare for working and poor people; Myers’ high and mighty campaign seems more Republican than Democrat.
I formally asked Myers’ campaign, in writing, why he skipped an event all the other candidates gladly attended. His campaign’s response — silence.
This column will adhere to its neutrality and won’t express a choice in the 7th District race. But regarding Woody Myers — our community already regrets the mistake many made when they voted for mayor last November. I hope our community doesn’t make the same mistake in this congressional primary.
What I’m hearing in the streets
It was a smart, risky and gutsy political move, Andre Carson’s endorsement of Barack Obama for president. Smart, because Carson’s district will strongly vote for Obama May 6th. Gutsy because he could’ve waited until after the primary. Risky because it could cause a backlash by Clinton voters.
The upside is, if as rumored, Obama campaigns or appears in ads boosting Carson. As Carson fights Woody Myers’ free spending campaign, Obama’s political star power could be the crucial difference.
The Obama endorsement puts the other congressional candidates in a bind. Though Myers has said in interviews he supports Obama, his campaign’s never officially confirmed it.
David Orentlicher’s spokesman had no comment.
Carolene Mays, who would greatly benefit by telling voters she’s for Obama won’t because of the Recorder’s non-endorsement editorial policy. Mays should make an exception and let voters know where she stands in the presidential contest.
Obama may be the epitome of cool, but his wife, Michelle, is the fire and passion of the couple. In an exclusive radio interview, I was impressed by Michelle’s passion for her husband and his issues.
Like him, Michelle’s an accomplished lawyer and community servant and she impressed during her Indianapolis visit last week. Her passion is evident as is her frankness and outspokenness.
Two Democratic Party elders, one supporting Obama, the other Hillary Clinton, appeared live together Friday on “Afternoons with Amos.” Rev. Jesse Jackson and Vernon Jordan talked about their candidates and party unity.
Jordan has known Hillary Clinton “since she was a student at Wellesley (College).” Jackson has known Obama since his Chicago organizing days. While both solidly support their candidate, both strongly believe Democrats must unify to beat John McCain this fall. And they’re confident that whoever loses this hard fought primary will work to insure that the winner wins in November.
When reading about political polls, beware of the methodology. Two polls last week showing Barack Obama ahead in Indiana were conducted using differing methodologies. A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg News poll showed Obama ahead by 40 percent-35 percent. That poll, of 687 likely voters, included listed and unlisted phone numbers with 11 percent of poll respondents African-American.
A second poll, by the Mike Downs Center for Politics at Indiana/Purdue University-Fort Wayne, surveyed 578 likely Democratic primary voters. But this poll surveyed only registered voters with listed phones (which excludes bunches of Blacks and young people). The survey seriously undersampled Black voters by 18 percent. But, that poll taken four days after the Times/Bloomberg poll also shows Obama leading by 50 percent-45 percent.
In all political polls in this primary, how Blacks are sampled and surveyed will be critical. If pollsters don’t include unlisted phone households and the proper percentage of Black respondents, consider those polls unreliable and suspect.
A smiling, energetic Herb Simon pledged to me that the Indiana Pacers will again reconnect with the community. The longtime Pacer co-owner gave a rare interview to me and other media as he announced he’ll be a more hands-on owner.
Simon’s announcement that legendary Indianapolis community servant Jim Morris will run the Pacers organization is welcomed. Morris’ knowledge of Indianapolis, including our African-American community, will help the Pacers re-engage a community that’s supported them from jump street.
See ‘ya next week.
Amos Brown’s opinions are not necessarily those of the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. You can contact him at (317) 221-0915 or by e-mail at ACBROWN@AOL.COM.
