Strategically, the Democratic Party’s lack of a presidential primary leaves blacks and other traditional Democratic South Carolina voters without any say whatsoever in the candidate who will stand for election in November from their party. Presently, Democrats have not stated how delegates will be apportioned for the convention. President Clinton and party leaders are forcing Al Gore down the country’s throat. Their politics as usual is aimed at locking African Americans into another eight years of lies and unfulfilled promises. Black South Carolinians can vote in the Republican Primary. This is the only choice you will have. However, your vote can send a message to the Democrats that black people do count and we demand a choice and voice in national politics.

The shadow of 1952 may be spreading across America. With Al Gore as their nominee, Democrats will have real problems facing Sen. John McCain. First, McCain starts out as an ordinary white boy, building his own reputation. He does not need to appropriate the accomplishments of others to make his record look good. McCain did not grow up as a member of the noblesse oblige with family ties and a silver spoon in his mouth, nor is now trying to pass himself off as a local yokel farm boy.

Second, Vice President Al Gore is endorsed by southern Governors, like Georgia’s Roy Barnes, who support flying the Confederate flag to honor their heritage of slavery. Gore’s game plan is to do as Clinton, keep the Vice Presidency in the south, thereby keeping the Presidency in the South. African Americans see no future in present Democratic Party politics, when Dixiecrats run everything. Gore/Barnes is not a ticket that will bring black voters to the polls to defeat McCain and win back Congress.

Finally, President Clinton’s incrementalism has not yielded one substantial improvement for African Americans after eight years of promises and symbolism. A mouth filled with promises, Gore, the new stud, is asking America to part its cheeks a little wider so he can drive in before Bill pulls out. Like streetwalkers, African Americans have been pimped, like "Ike did Tina." Like Ms. Turner, we will "not go quietly into that good night." After eight years of busting our chops without a tip, Gore engenders neither enough loyalty nor respect to bring blacks out to vote in numbers sufficient for Democrats to win come November.

George W. Bush, Jr.’s appearance at Bob Jones University and his support for ensuring a place of honor for the Confederate flag in the Texas Supreme Court building tell black voters he supports the Confederate flag and all its symbolism. Reminiscent of Eisenhower's rescue of the Republican Party from extremists in 1952 and his appeal to black voters on integration, John McCain offers change. African Americans should participate in the February 19, 2000 Republican Primary. Supporting McCain at this point will send a message that, with whites about evenly divided between the two major parties, African Americans will determine who the next President will be. Black South Carolinians should remember the power they demonstrated on Dr. King’s birthday. Let us do it again.

We must encourage everyone to go to the polls on February 19, 2000 and vote for John McCain, the only candidate we can vote for who represents a change.

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