–The latest back-and-forth originated after Sunday when Democrat Vincent Orange was out in Ward 8, handing out fliers developed by a group of residents that included this statement: “He walks like us. He talks like us…” The incident led to some pondering over what it means to walk and talk like Orange, and also denouncements over such a tactic.

DC is making some progress. Race cards not drawn until final weekend of the election. Very sad to see that happen at all.

April 24, 2011 4:33 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@DaveStroup

Dave Stroup

– Democrat Sekou Biddle’s camp has no shortage of apologies. Last time, it was Biddle himself who dismissed Marshall Brown from his campaign over “hurtful” comments aimed at whites. Then on Sunday, Biddle adviser Dennis Jaffe took to Twitter to call Bryan Weaver’s campaign “white-centric.” Jaffe was quick to apologize and retract the statement. In both instances, campaigners weren’t speaking on behalf of Biddle.

– Some residents in Ward 5 are calling for people to take to the polls and vote for Orange, calling this election “the last time that folks of color will be able to determine our own ‘DC’ destiny…” And in case you forgot how many people of color live in D.C., here’s a quick reminder.

–Washington Examiner columnist Henry Harry Jaffe’s endorsement of Republican candidate Patrick Mara, in which he referred to Orange as “a captain in the old guard. He looks and sounds like a snake oil salesman” caused pause for some Orange supporters:

I don't cry "racism" easily but 2 say man w/4 degrees, former 2-term CM "looks like a snake oil salesman" sounds like devisive code#four26dc

April 23, 2011 11:06 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@lewissdaughter

Andrea Pringle

– Oh, and then there’s the actual day of the election, which falls on Passover and effectively prevents observant Jews from voting. A lawsuit against the city’s election board called their denial in extending voting hours to 10 p.m. discriminatory. Early voting did occur on Easter Sunday, allowing some Jewish residents to still cast ballots.

The story included comments from Marshall Brown, who is D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown’s father and a member of Sekou Biddle’s campaign to keep his At-Large seat on the council. Brown is quoted in the Post story as saying that new white voters in D.C. “believe more in their dogs than they do in people. They go into their little cafes, go out and throw their snowballs. This is not the District I knew. There’s no relationship with the black community; they don’t connect at church, they don’t go to the same cafes, they don’t volunteer in the neighborhood school, and a lot of longtime black residents feel threatened.”

Were those comments reflective of how Biddle feels? He issued this statement late this afternoon:

The District of Columbia is a better city because of our growing diversity. While change can be difficult and at times uncomfortable, these kinds of comments are hurtful. My wife and I choose to raise our children here because of the diversity the city has to offer. Marshall Brown does not speak for me or my campaign and his comments in Marc Fisher’s story do not help move our city forward. While he is a longtime family friend, I found his comments to be counterproductive at a time when I am working so hard to bring people in this city together and I have asked him to step down from any future involvement in my campaign.