6 Things President Biden Can Do Concerning Voting Rights
Wednesday, July 13 I had the pleasure of watching CNN anchor Don Lemon’s show. Although I appreciate Mr. Lemon’s efforts to get the truth out, I am no longer a consistent viewer because we have different opinions on how high the stakes for Black Americans are. I believe he is in the fight for equality but ultimately, he is not willing to lose his well paying job in efforts to ensure the whole truth meets the airwaves. As a result, the truth has come second to a caution that muted important conversations about police reform, reparations and ``both sides” journalism that accepts false narratives and creates a space for debate.
Two events occurred that inspired this piece. The first was a new commercial sponsored by the RNC where a middle aged Black man spoke in his “we” voice about the benefits of Voter ID. Yep. Once again, Republicans carved out the one issue we are comfortable with about voting laws to blunt the realization of racist extremism in their current strategy to control voting outcomes. It highlighted their consistent razor sharp way of selective fact sharing and using it to create effective, anti-black, destructive messages. The commercial ran at least 4 times in an hour. The more I saw it, I understood how it sparked a frustration in me and I would think many Black viewers. What is the frustration? Democratic Party leadership mindsets and fight tactics. This brings me to the second event.
Mr. Lemon’s segment on President Biden’s speech with former Advisor to President Obama David Axelrod and former South Carolina Representative and Attorney Bakari Sellers encapsulated an issue we don’t talk enough about. Normally characterized as an intra-party disagreement, Sellars and Axelrod shared their points of view about 46’s speech with Sellars challenging the President’s next steps and voicing the experience of millions of Black folk still waiting to experience an American society that actually treats people of color fairly and equally. Sellars also reminded viewers like President Obama words when in office, we have been here before (my words, not his). Mr President, we elected you, the two Georgia Senators and gave you a majority in The House of Representatives to do what you promised. Sellers suggested using the Executive Order process to force change. In addition he challenged him to find ways to demonstrate the urgency he expressed in his compelling speech. Mr. Axelrod’s was, “What do you want him to do?” He then expressed his personal frustration as a person who has been behind the scenes in The White House and dealing with this issue first hand.
This was the moment I had that magical feeling of deja vu as America’s most important issues to Black people continue to hit the wall of the opposition. “What do you want him to do?” I felt the built-up frustration of hearing those same words spoken in political circles since the Civil War. I wasn’t there but when President Lincoln ensured slaveholders were compensated to the tune of approximately $9 million dollars for the inconvenience of no longer being able to use kidnapped and abused Africans as property for mass income production yet somehow didn’t get around to ensuring payment was administered to former slaves. Ultimately the next President Andrew Johnson reversed the order of land assignment agreed upon in 1865. Then there were the moments of well meaning anti-Jim Crow allies promising to legislate equality, waiting for FDR’s New Deal to fully apply to Black Americans, then looking to the new Democratic party to value and fight for the needs of Black people after the backlash from Brown v. Bd of Education/school integration and the Civil Rights Act. Blocking equality has been a consistent 400 year fight regardless of party identification while the promises from white allies to Black voters acknowledging their needs and values are as old as I am (I’m 59 years old).
I heard that frustration from Mr. Axelrod that his former VP was doing all he could so what is your suggestion? Too often there is this relationship among politicos and the media of a level of respect that mutes honest communication. In the face of Republican and Democratic obstruction, here is what President Biden can do to demonstrate Black voters matter:
- Put LBJ-like Pressure on Resistant Democrats:
Anyone who knows history knows LBJ was not pro-equality. Yet he wanted to win at all costs. Biden is a tough guy yet hesitates to flex his muscles. I thought I understood why but truth is, I have no idea why but I know if he fought for Black interests the same way he fights for his kind wife and children, there might be a few bruised Dems but all would carry the party line.
2. Take The Issue To The Streets:
I have fought hard to avoid saying it but #45 rallied his people in a way that energized them and they sang to his tune. It’s time to stop focusing on #45’s sins. His followers will never come to Biden’s side. Some GOP anti-45 voters will never come to Biden’s side but Independents and new voters will when they hear why we should all be in the fight for equality and why Black and Latino issues are American issues. This reluctance to call out GOP racism makes Biden supporters recall the Obama era where Black voters knew there were certain things the first Black President could never say in public. An 80 year old White man does not have to pull his punches. He has agency to speak every absolute truth. In addition, go into the lion’s den of West Virginia, meet with the current Governor who has political ambitions beyond the state. He never hesitated being vocal about needing Covid funding even as his Senator was slowing negotiations. Go to Texas and energize the base, they’re watching you yet are pushing their state government to reconsider the draconian voting changes Republicans want to pass. Go to Arizona and criticize the state GOP voting audit actions. You promised to appeal to “moderate” voters. Why aren’t they vocally committed to fairness voting rights? Maybe they are but haven’t been asked to express their support.
3. Adopt Judicial Strategies:
Tradition is not the friend of Black and Brown people. Although we may be Conservative about some things, “tradition” translates to maintaining the status quo. That means systemic oppression continues. Your opponents went to work on the courts during the Obama Administration and appointed more judges than any president in modern history in the last Presidential term. How many have you recommended? Why don’t your supporters hear you discussing the necessity for judicial fairness as a remedy for decades of racial disparities in sentencing? Then there’s adding 2 Black women to the Supreme Court………
4. Put Your Donors To Work
$25 million for voting rights education is the campaign treasury of some US Representatives, not a world power that wants an educated and informed voter base. Half of America’s eligible voters did not vote in 2020 even though we had the highest vote totals in history. Wealthy Democratic donors don’t seem to be in the fight for equal rights. Does it matter to them past the rhetoric? Maybe they can influence reluctant or resistant Democrats. If this is a critical fight, don’t we need all soldiers on the field?
5. Use The Executive Order Process
If the US government refuses to do business with companies that support inequality, you might lose some buddies but cultures will change quicker than a jack rabbit during hunting season. The threat of a boycott in Georgia had companies hiring interracial couples for advertising, the state also lost the MLB All Star Game motivating companies to join a political fight for their own survival. An Executive Order on voting rights might be just the thing to soften the wall of obstruction. Time to get creative on protecting the lives of American voters when states want to allow “poll watchers” permission to look over the voter’s shoulders. Yes post Covid they want to allow anti-equality enthusiasts to come close enough to strangers they could pass on Covid if they are also anti-vaxxers.
6. Increase Federal Hiring
At one time, the US Government was the largest Black employer. People retired with pensions they could live on. Then the “government is too big” narrative took hold and resulted in a 30 year purge of government workers. Now Walmart is the largest Black employer. Walmart. The anti-union company unwilling to pay a minimum wage of $15 per hour. We know middle class income has been declining over the last 5 years in a way that has devastated Black and Brown families. We also know we do not have enough employees in the IRS to recoup tax earnings from evaders and cheats that make more than $1 million in yearly income. Whose keeping up with those corporations or are they just lawyering their way out of paying their fair share?
This is hardly the extent of “what a President that is for equality can do”. Bottom line, anti-equality Americans are willing to go to any length to ensure their goals are accomplished. Conservatives have fought hard day in and day out for decades for a court that is decimating voting rights one section at a time and they don’t stop. The terrorist assault on the US Capitol is cemented proof anti-equality Americans will kill to have the country they want.
What are you willing to do to have the country the voters who supported you want President Biden?
