Politics

RECENT POSTS

September 20, 2010 | 10:34 AM | By

WaPo distorts our Kojo – updated

vincentgallegos

WAMU 88.5's Kojo Nnamdi, last Fall, Busboys and Poets

So yesterday, the Twitterz were burning up with a link to an opinion piece that WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi had written for The Washington Post. It’s a great read– except for one problem. The title. WaPo called it, “For D.C., Vince Gray’s election is a bold step backward”…but that’s not what Kojo wrote:

The District today is becoming more racially, ethnically and culturally diverse than it has been in my 41 years here. The tax base is expanding, something every mayor in every city finds desirable. But this also means more affluent residents are displacing poorer residents. And with our city’s troubled racial history,gentrification can be socially and politically volatile.

That volatility has resulted in Mayor Adrian Fenty’s ouster. Vincent Gray, a decent and thoughtful man, benefited from black voters’ anger at Fenty, a result of four years of real and perceived slights by the mayor toward his black constituents. But that anger has propelled us into a future that concerns me. While the past should inform the future, it shouldn’t handcuff it…

Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Media, Kojo, Politics, Vince Gray, Washington Post
September 16, 2010 | 3:59 PM | By

Fenty’s Poor Navigation Skills

The Atlantic’s Ta-Nehisi Coates on Adrian Fenty:

A lot has been made of the role of race in this campaign, and the sense that Fenty is the tool of white interlopers seeking to turn D.C. into Seattle. Fear of the oncoming white horde of gentrifiers is old in D.C. and I do not doubt that the paranoia was an integral part of the political landscape. But having understood that landscape, it’s a politician job to navigate it.

…The business is politics, not debate club.

It is not enough to simply be right, if only because sometimes you aren’t.
FILED UNDER: Elections, Government, 2010 Elections, Fenty, Gentrification, Politics
September 16, 2010 | 11:39 AM | By

Tommy Wells calls Milloy’s column “a window on DC”

twitter.com/TommyWells

Wells' reaction to Milloy.

I stumbled on to Tommy Wells’ (Council member for Ward 6) Twitter account because he is live-tweeting the “Unity Breakfast” which is going on right now, featuring local politicians, including Vince Gray and Adrian Fenty. Wells is sharing sentiments like this one, from Gray to Fenty, “I know you will help make me the best Mayor possible” while he simultaneously uploads pictures he is taking of everyone from soon-to-be Council Chair Kwame Brown to current Mayor Adrian Fenty.

That’s swell enough on its own, but I was more intrigued by the tweet I captured, which you see to the right. Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Media, Gentrification, Politics, Race and Class
September 13, 2010 | 3:54 PM | By

The Root, on D.C. Politics

In a feature titled “The Chocolate City’s Two Faces”, The Root kicks off a three-part series examining D.C.’s local political scene:

…(Harry) Thomas said there are pockets of the city and residents who are not benefiting from its new status, with a population that is steadily increasing as urban centers become more attractive. “The issue becomes not just about race but about economics, salaries and opportunities,” he said…

Some members of Congress “ran this city like a plantation until Marion Barry came into office,” said Bernard Demczuk, assistant vice president of District of Columbia relations at George Washington University. “Blacks made up 70 percent of the city and did not have those jobs.”

Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Government, Fenty, Gentrification, Politics, Vince Gray
September 8, 2010 | 5:45 PM | By

Saqib Ali: “It’s plain for anyone to see.”

This afternoon, I wrote about a piece of campaign literature from Maryland State Senator Nancy King, which featured a picture of King’s opponent, State Delegate Saqib Ali sporting a noticeably darker complexion. I wondered if the picture had been photoshopped, but the King campaign denied editing the image in any way.

I called Ali to tell him about his opponent’s denial. This was his response:

It’s plain for anyone to see, if you put them next to each other. It’s very obvious. I don’t know why they did it, it doesn’t make sense. I wouldn’t expect this kind of behavior from any Montgomery County Democrat. I think she owes everyone a real explanation, not just an evasion. Voters should wonder why they are doctoring photos in this way and why she won’t come clean.

FILED UNDER: Elections, Campaigns, Maryland, Politics
September 8, 2010 | 4:20 PM | By

King Campaign Denies Darkening Ali

The questionable image I asked about...

Earlier today, I wrote about a piece of campaign literature currently circulating in Maryland from State Senator Nancy King, featuring what looks like a photoshopped picture of her opponent, State Delegate Saqib Ali. In it, Ali’s skin looks visibly darker. I contacted the King campaign to ask about it and this is what they had to say:

First off, at no time, in any way whatsoever, did we, or would we, alter photos or attempt to insinuate anything about Delegate Saqib Ali other than the verified facts we have consistently laid out through this campaign — the fact that he fell asleep and missed a crucial vote on education funding, and the fact that he broke his promise to reject special interest funding and then accepted $50,000 in corporate and PAC money.

That’s interesting, and I’m grateful they took the time to respond, but if they didn’t alter photos, then why does the picture of Ali look like it’s a recolored, mirror-image of the other photograph in the mailer? Curiouser and curiouser…

FILED UNDER: Elections, Campaigns, Maryland, Politics
September 8, 2010 | 1:51 PM | By

The Color of Campaigns

I spy, with my brown eye…some photoshopping.

UPDATE: We reached out to both campaigns for their reactions. Here is a statement from the King campaign and here’s a response from Saqib Ali.

.

We’re in the thick of campaign season and while I tend to focus on the Mayoral race or candidates with confusing names here in the District, last night I saw something eye-catching from Maryland, where State Delegate Saqib Ali is challenging State Senator Nancy King to represent the 39th district.

What you see to the right is a mailer that King sent out to potential voters about Ali. I saw it and had flashbacks to O.J. Simpson’s infamous mug shot, on the cover of Time magazine. I thought of that moment in magazine history because of the striking change in Ali’s complexion. Now, it is entirely possible that in four years, Saqib Ali got some sun. Also possible? That whoever designed this flier used the same photograph, but flipped it directionally, recolored the suit…and Saqib’s face. There’s only one way to find out– I just reached out to the King campaign for comment. Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Elections, Campaigns, Maryland, Politics
September 7, 2010 | 12:46 PM | By

Vince Gray’s Fans who were Formerly Fenty’s

Have you seen “Formerly Fenty“? It’s an offshoot of Vince Gray’s campaign site featuring voters who were once fans of our current Mayor. Most interesting/potentially damning? The videos from two ex-Fenty staffers, who describe their issues with their erstwhile boss. Here’s his quondam Deputy Chief of Staff, Neil Richardson:

Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Elections, 2010 Elections, Campaigns, Fenty, Politics, Vince Gray
September 1, 2010 | 2:01 PM | By

Mayor Wars: Fenty Strikes Back

Depending on what sticker one was wearing, half of a crowd would cheer wildly as people exited the Newseum.

Mayoral challenger and current Council Chairman Vincent Gray put Mayor Adrian Fenty on the defensive at the Big Debate which just occurred at the Newseum; yes, I know it ended an hour ago. But I promise, you’ll appreciate my inability to update this space in SUPER-FAST fashion when you read the last paragraph! No, really, lower your expectations right now, please. I’m not DCist or the Washington Post (one of the sponsors of this Big Deal, along with WRC-4 and my wonderful, supportive, delightful employer: WAMU). I’m just a blogger who was chosen to write about a city I love. So that’s what I’ll do.

Here’s what I found memorable: Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Elections, 2010 Elections, Campaigns, Fenty, Politics, Vince Gray
August 30, 2010 | 11:16 AM | By

Vote Early, not Often

Ballot Box

NewsHour

Early Voting started today!

Lining up forty minutes early to cast your choice? Looks like DC is excited about early voting. Via WaPo:

D.C. election officials reported that at 7:50 a.m., about 25 people were already lined up Monday morning to cast their ballots in D.C. — the first time residents have been allowed to vote early in primary elections. Voting was slated to begin at 8:30 a.m…

Today through Friday, voters can cast their ballots at one site — One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street, N.W. Beginning Saturday, Sept. 4, four additional early voting locations will open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are:

  • Chevy Chase Community Center, 5601 Connecticut Avenue, NW
  • Hine Junior High School, 335 8th Street, SE
  • Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, 701 Mississippi Avenue, SE
  • Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue, NE

    • That sounds simple enough. Not so simple? Remembering that you can vote on Labor Day but NOT on the set of Sundays which fall on September 5 or 12.

    FILED UNDER: Elections, 2010 Elections, Early Voting, Politics