This reminds me of that old saying about barn doors and horses…
Update II (5:15 p.m.): DNC “strongly denies” placement of political operatives. Drudge says “well-placed DRUDGE REPORT sources” made the claim but takes the DNC at its word. It’s a retraction of sorts, but as I wrote, kudos to Dean if he supported Landrieu over Nagin.
Update: Uh-oh! Time to lawyer up…
I must admit a faux pas. I compared Ray Nagin and Marion Barry, but I should have made a very important distinction: Nagin is not a crack head. He caved during Katrina, but he’s no drug addict. He was under stress during the disaster, and that’s understandable. Strength of character and leadership, however, are very important during such times. Nagin failed on so many levels and blamed others.
————————————————————————————————————————-
Howard Dean, failed presidential candidate and beleaguered chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), has performed a rare feat for liberals: He made a decision without regard to race.
Instead of supporting the weak Ray Nagin in the New Orleans mayoral race, Dean and the DNC supported white challenger and loser Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu. They apparently disregarded their usual MO and focused on what’s really important: competence.
All across the blogosphere today, you’ll read invective and accusations of “Racist!” from the left and the right because the DNC chose to support the white man over the black man. I couldn’t care less who runs New Orleans, so I find it all comical.
I do think it’s telling that even after Nagin’s pitiful performance and inadequate post-Hurricane Katrina leadership and his subsequent “chocolate city” remarks, he was re-elected (an epiphany!) It reminds me of DC voters’ fondness for caught-on-camera crack head Marion “Da Mayor” Barry. As I write this, the drug addict and tax evader sits on the DC Council writing the city’s laws. Then again, what does good character have to do with politics? 
Liberals believe Howard Dean is an ineffectual leader of the DNC. I predict that black liberals will be more upset about his not supporting Nagin than remarks he made to a group of black Democrats last year: “You think the Republican National Committee could get this many people of color in a single room? Only if they had the hotel staff in here.” For that comment alone, he should have been ostracized, based on liberals’ own standards.
A group of black Republicans called for Dean’s dismissal; I argued against it. He is good for our cause. He’s a bumbler. He embarrasses liberals, and that pleases me.
Last year I dared the DNC, tongue-in-cheek, to choose a black person to chair the DNC only because I knew it wouldn’t.
To liberals who re-elected men like Ray Nagin and Marion Barry, I say this: Congratulations. You’re getting exactly what you deserve.
Bloggers: Riehl World View, IMAO, The Daily Dish, Iowa Voice, Michelle Malkin, Outside the Beltway, Independent Conservative, Sister Toldjah…
Update: Chris Bowers at MyDD suspects Matt Drudge has ulterior motives for posting the “unsourced” info.
I forgot to mention this caught-on-tape bribe thing.
Commenter Dianne:
According to Drudge, the DNC/Dean “secretly†worked to defeat Nagin. Secretly, huh. That’s the part that should get people riled up. If Drudge is correct in his reporting, I think this is definitely a racist action by the DNC. What other reason could they possibly have for working against Nagin in secret other than to try to hide their actions from the black community and that’s racism in my book…Let’s see where this story goes. If it is substantiated, I bet the mainstream media won’t touch it.
He probably won because he got a lot of media exposure–it wasn’t all good, but was probably impressive enough for people who only watch instead of think.
Comment by mj — 05.22.06 @ 9:57 am
I’m just wondering where are those who were pandering about how this was going to be an unfair process due to all the disaffected voting residents they believed would not be voting due to their dispersion, etc. The question is why they aren’t out on the streets now that the election is completed and that their preferred candidate has won. Why aren’t they calling for someone’s head? Why aren’t they calling for an immediate repudiation of the results? Aren’t the same issues they complained about in advance still pertinent? Or is it that they were simply getting their argument in place ahead of the vote? I think I know, and I think there are too many who know that they were simply on their own agenda, which to me indicates a racist attitude on their part.
Comment by MikeW — 05.22.06 @ 10:05 am
I just wonder how bad it will need to get in N.O. before voters there wake up. Before Katrina the city was a cesspool. Crime ran unchecked in the city and some of the police and city administrators there were criminals as well. The people in N.O. will get what they voted for. I was just waiting to hear all the screaming and foul calls if Nagin lost. Jeez.
Comment by Dave B — 05.22.06 @ 10:42 am
Actually, one could say Kudos to Dean (if this story is even true). They recognized that Nagin was a worthless leader, and they decided to try to get rid of him despite the race angle.
It would be refreshing if they would have done this during the Marion Barry years, and it would be refreshing if the GOP would do the same. Recruit and support competent leaders, I say!
Comment by Mark — 05.22.06 @ 10:44 am
I think most of my readers know that Louisiana was my home, my birthplace, and where ‘most’ of my family is, even today, and I have CLOSE ties with the state and the people, so, I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn, the people of New Orleans are about as dumb as a box of rocks, leaving yourselves the option of electing the lesser of 2 incompetent evils??
You’re bound to end up with an evil Mayor that’s STILL incompetent…
Well New Orleans, you got what you voted for and any sympathy I had for New Orleans has been overcome by DISGUST, ignorance CAN be overcome, STUPIDITY is permanent…
And STUPIDITY is one thing New Orleans has PLENTY of…
Comment by TexasFred — 05.22.06 @ 11:51 am
According to Drudge, the DNC/Dean “secretly” worked to defeat Nagin. Secretly, huh. That’s the part that should get people riled up. If Drudge is correct in his reporting, I think this is definitely a racist action by the DNC. What other reason could they possibly have for working against Nagin in secret other than to try to hide their actions from the black community and that’s racism in my book.
Let’s see where this story goes. If it is substantiated, I bet the mainstream media won’t touch it.
Comment by dianne — 05.22.06 @ 12:00 pm
Because you’ve gotta use reverse psychology with voters like that.
You tell ‘em one thing, and watch the voters do the opposite.
There’s a big mistrust between the black community and mainstream party leaders.
Watch Governor Blanco get re-elected in a landslide, or do the powers-that-be like her?
I love reverse-psychology. I wish it worked for the white community ala Joe Lieberman. Where the Democrats keep telling white voters how horrible Lieberman is, and those same voters turn around and do the opposite, catapulting Lieberman into the stratosphere!
Comment by Glamchild — 05.22.06 @ 12:13 pm
I am encouraged by this. If the DNC cannot even win against Democrats, November should bring many Republican wins. There’s actually a parallel on the Republican side: Kathryn Harris is trying to get elected in Florida against the wishes of President Bush and the RNC. Will she win? I hope so-only because I like the idea of a political machine being challenged by an independent of the same party.
Speaking on Louisiana politicians,this being an election year, it will probably be claimed that Jefferson was set up as payback for Duke Cunningham getting busted. Uncovering corruption should never have a ’season’. Or an off-season.
Comment by Doug — 05.22.06 @ 12:26 pm
Hey La Shawhn,
The DNC is the only one supporting the white candidate over the black one. The Republican Party is doing the same thing to Ken Blackwell in the Ohio governor’s race and Keith Butler in Michigan’s senate race.
Comment by Ron — 05.22.06 @ 1:37 pm
Midday Line — May 22
In the run-off race for NOLA mayor, the DNC supported Moon Landrieu rather than the eventual winner, incumbent, Ray Nagin and La Shawn sends DNC Chairman Howard Dean a bouquet. Okay, maybe not.Hot news! Politicians lie! Pierre Legrand wonders why…
Trackback by Pajamas Media — 05.22.06 @ 1:37 pm
Ron - I’m surprised you wrote that. I assumed, incorrectly apparently, that you regularly read this blog. Liberals are the ones pontificating on skin color diversity, not conservatives. I don’t believe in “going after the black vote” or supporting candidates merely because they’re black. Dems do. When they fail to practice what they preach, they’re hypocrities. I hope Republicans never pander to black voters or candidates. If they do, but don’t endorse black candidates or appoint blacks to leadership positions, then your comment would make sense.
I want the best man endorsed, not the best black man.
Comment by La Shawn — 05.22.06 @ 1:45 pm
Hey Doug, what’s up with that? I can’t figure out why the Bushes’ distaste with Harris… Cause she’s overly made up?
Bush has a bad habit of supporting moderate or RINOs over conservatives. Arlen Specter over Toomey et al.
Captain’s Quarters touched on that meme somewhat, but I’d like to read a definitive post on the real deal with Bush vis a vis Conservatives/Independents.
Oh well, here’s to Blackwell, Swann and all the other independent underdogs in 06/08.
Ciao
Comment by Andy — 05.22.06 @ 1:56 pm
Lashawn: To liberals who re-elected men like Ray Nagin and Marion Barry, I say this: Congratulations. You’re getting exactly what you deserve.
I agree with you on this one, Lashawn. People do get what they deserve and ask for when they vote for more of the same.
So do agree that conservatives who put Bush back in office for a second term are in a similar category?
Comment by Angela Ferguson — 05.22.06 @ 2:01 pm
Well, I voted Bush back in office knowing his position of amnesty-for-aliens, so I suppose so…
Comment by La Shawn — 05.22.06 @ 2:09 pm
La Shawn,
I am a regular reader of your blog and clearly understand your point. However, I’m just trying to be realistic here. Both parties really don’t give a rat’s a** about black folk.
Paul Weyrich wrote a great piece on how the Republican establishment is doing everything in it’s power to frustrate black candidates who are true conservatives. Here’s the link: http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/3/19/140603.shtml
Comment by Ron — 05.22.06 @ 2:12 pm
Ray Nagin is NOTHING like Marion Barry. Before Katrina, Nagin had a good record of being pro-business and anti-corruption, much to the dislike of City “Ministers” and hanger-ons. I’m a middle aged, male, white business owner and I voted for Nagin over Landrieu. Yes he made some stupid gaffes, but he is an honest man.
I added an update for clarification. - Admin
Comment by JF — 05.22.06 @ 2:23 pm
Personally Ron, I don’t think EITHER party gives a rats a** about America, not just BLACK people, more like people in general… That’s why we MUST, in the very near future, put a true Conservative Party together, one that can truly challenge the powers that be… And IF we can do that, we MUST make it crystal clear to them, we WILL hold their feet to the fire and they WILL do the job they were sent to do…
It’s not too late to do exactly that with the Dems and Repubs even now, but it’s not going to be easy to get either of those parties to walk a Conservative line, best bet is to start over and then VOTE them out of D.C.
Comment by TexasFred — 05.22.06 @ 2:28 pm
William Jefferson Pulls Out the Race Card after Being Caught Accepting $100,000 Bribe
Finally, a Clue as to what Killed the democrats “Culture of Corruption†mantra! As expected, Jefferson implied that the government’s charges were racially motivated. Yeah, that’s right, he just happens to get caught with $90,000 concealed in hi…
Trackback by Webloggin — 05.22.06 @ 2:33 pm
Ray Nagin is similar to Marion Barry, in the sense that both played on race to win after scandals.
Comment by Independent Conservative — 05.22.06 @ 3:29 pm
Democratic National Committee Secretly Worked Against Ray Nagin’s Re-Election (*UPDATED TWICE*)
Well isn’t this entertaining ?
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE WORKED TO DEFEAT NAGIN
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) secretly placed political operatives in the city of New Orleans to work against the reelection efforts of incum…
Trackback by Independent Conservative — 05.22.06 @ 3:41 pm
POLLS: I’M DOING GREAT BUT MY NEIGHBOR IS NOT
The media was shocked when the nation announced that it wanted President Bush for four more years. Since then, the media has exacted revenge by returning the favor.
Trackback by THE GALVIN OPINION — 05.22.06 @ 3:56 pm
La Shawn and ALL:
There is a silver lining behind the “Nagin Cloud”.
The real reason Dean and the DNC opposed Nagin was that he is — GASP - a “dirty word” to the Dems - a CONSERVATIVE.
In truth, many conservative Republicans voted for Nagin, because Landrieu symbolizes good old boy business as usual in LA. In contrast, Nagin represents reform and a pro-business agenda.
Certainly, Nagin played the race card. But I believe he was the better candidate.
Comment by Frank Zavisca — 05.22.06 @ 4:00 pm
JF, #16 is correct.
1. Nagin is honest, and the alternative was the typical Democrat machine politician, who promised to bring back one of the most corrupt mayors we’ve ever had (Marc Morial) to advise him.
2. Nagin is guilty of plenty of screwups but he has also been unfairly blamed for a lot, especially for things Gov. Blanco did, like preventing the Guard from coming in earlier, and blocking the Red Cross from getting food and water into the Superdome.
I know bloggers need to pontificate - heck, I do it too - but you don’t know our politics or the ramifications of this election. You’re wrong about this and because you run a popular blog, you’ve encouraged other people to pile onto this as well. You seem to have bought into what the MSM dished out; that Nagin is irreversibly incompetent and the prime cause of the chaos after Katrina. And that’s just not true.
Nagin did no worse than every other pol we have around here, from Mary Landreiu who threatened to punch Bush in the mouth, Broussard who lied about a dead woman on Tim Russert and personally caused over a billion in damage when he sent away the pump operators, Blanco who gave the Levee Board which she appointed free rein to piss away tax money and not keep up the levees, stopped relief from getting to people who needed it because she was playing politics, and the Corps of Engineers, a decades-long disgrace that Paul from Wizbang has fully documented. Those other politicians for the most part got free passes because they toe the party line. Nagin crossed party lines to endorse Republican Bobby Jindal because he thought it was the right thing to do. And Blanco, the Democrats, and their MSM minions have been sharpening the knives ever since. Katrina was the perfect opportunity, when Nagin committed offenses of his own, to pile their baggage on top of him.
None of this is to say that Nagin is without fault - far from it. But he is not the man the MSM and now the bloggers have portrayed him to be.
Comment by Laura — 05.22.06 @ 4:09 pm
Maybe I’m not familiar with what goes on in NO, but I know that a so-called leader who’s whining, crying, complaining, and finger-pointing in the middle of a massive disaster is not a good leader. From what I could tell, the man was paralyzed with fear. Bad form. Crossing party lines does little to change that impression as far as I’m concern. Nagin deserves the criticism he got, and the popularity of my blog has nothing to do with it.
Additionally, I’d like to think my readers are intelligent enough to discern what’s true and what’s not.
Comment by La Shawn — 05.22.06 @ 4:22 pm
The criticism he got for being an emotional wreck, for running off at the mouth, yes, I completely agree that he deserved it. Criticize him for playing the race card, definitely. Whining and crying are bad form. Finger pointing, when inaccurate, is bad form.
But you could qualify that with the fact that no one else did any better, and to imply that Landreiu was the better choice is wrong. Landreiu is *considerably* less competent than Nagin - his main qualification is his last name. And Dean’s selection of Landreiu as the man to back has everything to do with Mary “Bring out your dead!” Landreiu’s Senate seat and revenge for Nagin’s crossing party lines.
You say that New Orleans is getting what we deserve in voting for Ray Nagin. This is the first time in my life that New Orleans has actually said no to politics as usual and to the corruption we are so well known for. Yes, I’m defensive about it. When you finally do something right, you desire affirmation, not criticism. And re-electing Nagin was the right choice.
Comment by Laura — 05.22.06 @ 4:43 pm
You just agreed with everything I wrote! Your beef is that I didn’t also name others, not that I’m wrong about Nagin.
Look, I couldn’t care less about NO’s choice for mayor. I just think it’s funny that Nagin was re-elected. Perhaps he’s learned something and will be a better leader during the next region-wide disaster.
Comment by La Shawn — 05.22.06 @ 4:48 pm
Frank is right about the ~2002 Ray Nagin. The ~2002 Nagin was a former Republican and still a Bush supporter. He was the Conservative that ran as a Demo because he was running in New Orleans. He acutally got 90% of the White vote then. The race hustlers saw him as a “sellout” who was a former Comcast Exec. (I think it was Comcast or some other communications type company.) He only got about 50% of the Black vote then. (And I’ve pointed out on my blog how more Whites voted in 2002 also http://www.independentconservative.com/2006/04/25/n_o_2002_election/ ) He was against the governor and endorsed her Republican challenger the last time she was up for election. He was loved by Conservatives. Even National Review sang his praises.
But even before Katrina hit he was starting to get cozy with Louis Farra-The-Con. And after Katrina he got cozy with Jesse Jackson and the race hustlers. He started crying about “this will be a chocolate city” and before that was crying about Mexicans. (Without regard to legal or illegal.) He’s become something new so he earned his current scorn. He’s started catering to the race hustling class. So he’s nothing like his former self. But he’s got another term in office now. So we will have to see how he does.
I will always say that the areas of New Orleans destroyed by that storm should never be rebuilt on. Nagin actually proposed that and the race hustlers shut him up. If he had stood up to them on that I might have a little more respect for him now. Because putting people in a known danger prone area to build again is insane. Unless they are willing to sign waivers that government assumes no responsibility for protecting them or giving them a single dime if the place is destroyed again.
I’m sick of my money going to people who know they live in dangerous areas. First it was the people who buy expensive homes on the coasts and now they are rebuilding in highly flood prone areas of New Orleans. I wish we’d get a President that would stand up to this foolishness and move to stop insuring it. Personally I don’t think the government should insure anyone, but especially people that know they are moving into a high risk area.
Comment by Independent Conservative — 05.22.06 @ 5:02 pm
No, I’m sorry that I was unclear. My beef is that you implied Nagin was incompetent. While I do agree that Nagin should have kept his mouth shut on many occasions and should have been a stronger leader, I disagree with what you said, “Instead of supporting the weak Ray Nagin in the New Orleans mayoral race, Dean and the DNC supported white challenger and loser Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu. They apparently disregarded their usual MO and focused on what’s really important: competence.”
The point I failed to make is that Nagin IS competent, and Landreiu is not. Nagin was an excellent mayor before Katrina, he fought corruption starting his first week in office. Yes, he made mistakes in Katrina, but far less than the MSM would have you believe, and their motives for spinning things the way they did were political. He was not perfect re: Katrina (no one was) but I would not categorize what I saw as incompetence.
Whatever you say, Laura.
- Admin
Comment by Laura — 05.22.06 @ 5:10 pm
JF, Frank, and Laura
I’m really glad to hear your point of views. It is interesting to hear that Nagin was supported by conservatives and that he was pro business and anti-corruption. It seems that he has been castigated for the most part due to being one of the many who were flawed in response to a once in a lifetime disaster that many were ill prepared for. Beyond that, he seems to have been a pretty good mayor who was willing to cross party lines. I’m happy that the people of New Orleans, of all races, stood firm and didn’t fall for the anti-Nagin sentiment and voted for the candidate whose overall track record made him the best candidate for the job.
Comment by Shade — 05.22.06 @ 5:12 pm
As someone who lives in New Orleans, I do care. Here is the thing, we had a choice between the lesser of 2 evils. Forman or Couhig would have been preferable to either Nagin or Landreiu. I would have been pleased if either of them had gotten elected. Landrieu is part of a political family who is entrenched in Louisiana Politics. Nagin, while admittedly not my first choice (and a nut), came to city hall and immediately began trying to clean up the corruption. I have GRAVE concerns about Nagin’s lack of discretion, and his ability to lead New Orleans but, for what its worth, I am not convinced that he is any worse than Landrieu.
Comment by Stella! — 05.22.06 @ 6:06 pm
I will take incompetence over corruption any day. I’m glad NOLA chose the lesser of two evils.
Comment by M.A. — 05.22.06 @ 8:20 pm
So what was so bad about Landrieu? I mean him exactly? What has he done in his own time in politics that proved he would do a poor job running New Orleans?
I don’t care if King Midas was his father and he’s part of a group that’s been running the world since Adam.
I just want to know exactly what made Landrieu bad from the deeds of Landrieu himself?
Comment by Independent Conservative — 05.22.06 @ 11:40 pm
I think Blanco and Landrieus have been working against Nagin for quite some time. He went against the established tide and they wanted him out. Nagin is VERY VERY VERY rough around the edges and that is typical for Louisiana politics. N.O. was given a choice between “lousy” and “terrible”, which is also typical for Louisiana politics. Strangely enough, they made the right choice.
However, the election is general is a sad reflection of the state of politics in Louisiana. I just hope Nagin pulls it together and becomes a better representative now that he has this second chance.
Comment by RepJ — 05.22.06 @ 11:56 pm
P.S. I agree w/La Shawn. The DNC should keep Howard Dean as long as they can!
Comment by RepJ — 05.22.06 @ 11:57 pm
OK, so Landrieu wanted Nagin out. But what policies were put forth by Landrieu that would have been bad for New Orleans?
With Nagin out and Landrieu in, how would New Orleans have suffered? Given Landrieu ran against Nagin it’s a given he wanted Nagin out
.
For us who don’t know Landrieu, please offer us some evidence? Plenty of us can cite actual acts by Nagin that we don’t agree with. Can people who say Landrieu is so bad please offer some examples?
If I’m voting for or against a candidate I know actual actions by the candidate that I can cite as good and bad. Can such a list however small be provided regarding Landrieu?
Yea he’s an insider and career politician, which is not necessarily cool, but what has he done that is so bad? I don’t see him simply disliking Nagin as proof he’d do a bad job with New Orleans himself. Please help us outsiders understand what you folks who know more about Landrieu are thinking. For me I don’t care who liked or disliked whoever else. I don’t care who is related to whoever else. I want to know what the individual wants to do or has done that is good or bad.
Comment by Independent Conservative — 05.23.06 @ 12:39 am