This summer's loser. The Gang's Ms. Scott for her giddy (& unfortunate) pronouncement that "The Democratic Party is the party of the blacks."

In their 11-19-04 PI column Baxter & Galloway report that the Republicans are taking over everything within sight under the Gold Dome, including such things such as prime office space formerly occupied by Democratic office holders.

In this column they also report that one political strategist had theorized how one piece of Republican sponsored legislation could wreak even further havoc on the weakened Democratic Party.

The Republicans could "ram through legislation that would make 45 percent the winning margin of victory in all state primary contests.

"In 2002 and 2004, African-Americans made up 45 and 47 percent of the vote. The guaranteed nomination of black candidates would likely speed the flight of white voters who remain in the Democratic fold."

The above figures come from the 11-17-04 PI reporting that the Secretary of State's office just released some figures showing the following:

Blacks made up 47 percent of 721,890 voters who picked up a Democratic ballot in the July 20 primary.

Blacks cast only 2.5 percent of 664,239 votes in the Republican primary.

The first-noted 11-19-04 PI column also discussed "the organizational meeting of 'the rural caucus,' chaired by Jeanette Jamieson of Toccoa. Most are white, many have been listed as possible switchers to the Republican Party. Ideally, Jamieson said, the rural caucus will serve as a voice on issues ranging from transportation to water to public health to education."

The PI also noted: "Keep in mind that this is the same group that ruled the state Capitol — and all of Georgia — for more than a century. And now they're a minority caucus within a minority party. It wouldn't surprise many to see a rural caucus turn into more of a way station."

In their 11-17-04 PI column, by way of leading into reporting that blacks had cast nearly half of July's Democratic ballots, Baxter & Galloway observe:

"The Secretary of State's office released some figures Tuesday that have everything to do with the state Democratic party's current effort to preserve itself by maintaining the biracial coalition that's defined it for 30 years."

For myself and my Party, I intend on doing anything and everything over the next couple of years to assure that the strong biracial coalition that has served our Party well for three decades not only continues, but is strengthened. I urge all Democrats, black and white, to do the same.

Such talk quoted above -- about the "guaranteed nomination of black candidates would likely speed the flight of white voters who remain in the Democratic fold" and the newly-formed Democratic rural caucus "turn into more of a way station" -- causes me to reflect on a most unfortunate statement that was made on The Georgia Gang after the August 10 primary regarding Denise Majette's victory in the Democratic runoff nomination for the U.S. Senate.

Black panelist Alexis Scott could hardly contain herself as she exclaimed for all the world to hear: "The Democratic Party is the party of the blacks."

Of course, based on the results from the Secretary of State's office showing that the blacks made up "only" 47% of the voters voting Democratic in the July 20 primary, Ms. Scott's prononcement appears to be a bit premature.

Regardless of whether it ultimately proves accurate and whether she did no more than what some might call observing the obvious, I consider the comment most regrettable and shortsighted.

I regret to relate the number of times since the runoff that I have heard it reported that the "black woman" on The Georgia Gang said the Democrats are now the Party of the blacks, and when such was related to me, it was with an obvious tone of resentment about the manner in which the statement was made and that it was said (as I have noted before, it sounded a bit like a victory speech). And yes, those relating this to me were white voters.

I understand why Ms. Scott was excited. The nomination of a black woman for a U.S. Senate seat from Georgia was indeed significant.

But just as Rep. Majette did her Congressional District a disservice in deserting it for a folly -- God directed or otherwise -- Ms. Scott did her Party a disservice in making a statement that risks alienating white Democrats who are just as proud of their Party as she was of Rep. Majette.

I am a big fan of The Georgia Gang, and am also proud to be able to say I know and consider Ms. Scott to be a friend. Since her comment following the August 10 primary, she has done much better. And as she does better, her Party -- make that our Party, mine, hers and yours -- does better.

It is something we all must work on, because as we all know from what happened on Nov. 2, much more is at stake than just the "state Democratic party's current effort to preserve itself by maintaining the biracial coalition that's defined it for 30 years."

Hopes and dreams are at stake, and as the party of hope and dreams, we owe much to many.

We are and always have been a party of inclusion, and as such, together we’ve got a lot of work to do between now and 2006.

(And for the record, the references to 30 years and three decades should be 40 years and four decades. Why? The Dean says 40 years, and as you know, if the Dean says it, I take it to the bank.)

My earlier 08-15-04 post about Ms. Scott's comment follows:

That high-pitched whine is the sound of Martin Luther King, Jr. twirling in his grave

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood."

"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

"[L]et freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! . . . When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

It's been almost 41 years to the day since Dr. King delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial.

In little more than 41 hours after Denise Majette was declared the victor of the Democratic Primary runoff election for the U.S. Senate, and not too far from Stone Mountain, Alexis Scott of The Georgia Gang this week declared with glee: "The Democratic Party is the party of the blacks."

I don't think this was included in Dr. King's dream. Further, I even suspect Dr. King may have rolled over in his grave when he heard this pronouncement that sounded a bit like a victory speech.

I recognize that in my saying this, some will say that I must be an ostrich with his head in the sand; or that I am a white Democrat in a state of denial.

I respond to this by saying that I consider myself a Democrat, not a white Democrat. That ours is the party of the people, the party of inclusion.

That if we are to be labeled as a racially identifiable party, let it by someone other than those among us who still consider us to be the party of inclusion.

Fellow panelist Bill Shipp was quick on the draw in coming to Ms. Scott's rescue by not missing the opportunity to note that the late Manuel Maloof epitomized everything good about the Democratic Party.

And it was natural that Bill Shipp would be the one who would do this. Not too long ago he reminded his column readers that my favorite low profile political trio – Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, Attorney General Thurbert Baker and former state Democratic Party Chairman Calvin Smyre – remain most vigilant in rebuilding our state's white-black Democratic coalition as we all work together in reviving the crumbled Democratic power and putting back together again our Humpty-Dumpty Democratic Party of Georgia following our November 2002 whipping.

In law we often say bad facts make bad law. I am not going to address the specifics behind Ms. Scott's statement other than observe that many factors were involved in Majette becoming our Party's nominee for the U.S. Senate.

And regardless, I do not believe the great majority of Democrats -- white and black -- believe the candidate herself merited Ms. Scott's conclusion. To paraphrase Secretary of Treasury Lloyd Bentsen, Congresswoman, you're no Barack Obama.