Why blacks are refusing to condemn gov
He's seen as 'inclusive' -- and 'innocent until proven guilty'
African Americans who are supporting impeached Gov. Blagojevich aren't ignorant.
Nor are these voters more tolerant of corruption than other people.
(AP)
In fact, the lone vote against impeachment that was cast by state Rep. Milton Patterson probably best reflects the will of his constituents.
Patterson represents the South Side community that includes Englewood.
"I went by my own gut feeling, simple as that," Patterson told a Chicago Sun-Times reporter.
"If the government is going to indict ... let them do that," he said.
Since the criminal complaint against Blagojevich was announced, the mantra in the African-American community has been the governor is "innocent until proven guilty."
Indeed, I've been dodging shoes for just suggesting that Blagojevich should be held to the same standard as police officers and teachers.
After all, community activists have demanded that police officers accused of abusive behavior be taken off the street. And parents would not tolerate a teacher in the classroom who has a cloud of sexual misconduct hanging over his or her head.
But African Americans are a fiercely loyal group when it comes to supporting those in political leadership.
I know that is a sweeping generalization, and someone is going to yelp at me for making it.
But it is rare for the black community to turn its back on a politician who is viewed as "inclusive."
Former President Bill Clinton is a case in point. During the Monica Lewinsky scandal, African Americans were among his most ardent supporters.
Although Blagojevich was often at odds with House Democrats, few black elected officials have publicly blamed the governor for the ongoing scandal.
But he has had run-ins with black elected officials over the budget and has been accused of reneging on promises he has made to provide funding for pet projects.
At the same time, Blagojevich didn't pass up an opportunity to show ordinary black folks that he is a friend.
When fire destroyed the landmark Pilgrim Baptist Church, within days, Blagojevich announced that the state would provide a $1 million state grant to help to rebuild the "non-church" portions of the building.
With his trademark dramatic flair, Blagojevich donated $1,000 of his own money toward the rebuilding while attending an event at another black church.
It wasn't unusual for Blagojevich to jump into the pulpit at a black church and join in the gospel singing.
We saw that same Blagojevich on Friday, when he appeared at a press conference with a lineup of ordinary citizens who have benefitted from his health reforms.
The obvious exploitation was shameful.
But Blagojevich has also taken some tough stands on controversial issues involving race.
For instance, in 2006, he came under fierce fire for his appointment of Claudette Marie Johnson, the chief of protocol for the Nation of Islam, to a state panel combatting discrimination and hate crimes.
He refused to back down.
Friday, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan seemed to be returning the favor.
In a radio interview on WVON-AM (1690), Farrakhan pointed out that Illinois has a "culture of corruption" but declined to condemn Blagojevich.
"I would say that if in America, a man is innocent until proved guilty by a jury of his peers, it is sad that even the criminal complaint took on a circus atmosphere of destroying a man," Farrakhan said.
"Regardless to what you think, if you think this is a nation of laws, then the process should be allowed to work itself through before judgment is arrived at."
Frankly, Blagojevich is a brilliant politician, and like all brilliant politicians, he knows how to manipulate the emotions of voters.
You also have to consider the relationship between the black community and the criminal justice system.
Too many black families have been nearly bankrupted trying to defend loved ones against false charges.
Too many black families have been destroyed because a loved one has spent decades in prison on a wrongful conviction.
Patterson, the lone dissenter, said he isn't "comfortable" casting an affirmative vote for impeachment.
Patterson's vote probably wasn't politically correct.
But there's no question in my mind that it was politically honest.