Artur Davis 'Arrogant As Hell' For Ducking Black Media: Roland Martin

Rep. Artur Davis' stunningly lopsided loss in the Alabama gubernatorial primary has been attributed, in large part, to his unwillingness to court the Democratic base and, in particular, black voters, who seemed completely un-enthused by the notion of electing the state's first African-American governor.

The strains between Davis and the black community, indeed, ran far deeper than conventional wisdom ever held. So much so that Roland Martin, a prominent CNN analyst, syndicated columnist and television talk show host felt compelled to email the Huffington Post a withering critique of the Alabama Democrat for ducking African-American media.

Davis lost, Martin said, because "he was arrogant as hell."

Davis pointedly refused to do black media. He turned my TV One show down six times; he didn't do Tom Joyner's show, with 8 million listeners - TJ is a Tuskegee native; he turned down dozens of requests from Joe Madison of Sirius/XM; and he didn't do many others.

He assumed because of his skin blacks would flock to his campaign. Sparks outhustled him and worked black voters in a major way.

Any smart politician knows to shore up their base. He was advised by top Democratic strategists, from the White House on down, to solidify his base. He never did that.

National media types were perplexed and shocked because they coronated him as a rising black star. Those of us who follow black politics closely were not shocked.

I hope national media outlets would stop lifting up black politicians as future stars. They have to earn it. Going to an Ivy League school doesn't guarantee success. Black voters are like anyone else: you must speak to them, work with them and not take them for granted.

He did. And lost. Badly. He deserved to lose for running a tone deaf campaign that ostracized and minimalized black voters.

Martin's is a remarkably pointed and filter-free critique, made all the more acidic by Davis' drubbing in Tuesday's primary election.

The extent to which the black community went sour on Davis is, indeed, remarkable. And, as Martin notes, it's an indictment of the (predominantly national) press corps for not recognizing this development before the election took place.

Comments

[okiedemocrat]

08:21 PM on 06/08/2010

Artur is a weird dude. Bye bye.

[scorpioleidy]

10:59 AM on 06/07/2010

The days of voting for the Black candidate - just because he's Black - are over. My parents did that, but things are different now ... and you've gotta bring more to the table than skin color to identify with & endear yourself to voters.

This was demonstrated brilliantly in 2008 - when Barack Obama was elected president. White people didn't vote for him because he was Black, and neither did Blacks. (In fact, HRC was my first choice ... until I heard Mr. Obama speak in Iowa - I was an instant convert!) Americans voted for President Obama based on the issues - and it didn't hurt that he was easy on the eyes & had a firm grasp of the English language, unlike W.

Had President Obama not engaged or listened to ALL people in the electorate, he'd be right where Mr. Davis is today - at home.

[ladydragon]

10:47 AM on 06/07/2010

He didn't dance with the ones that brung him. He took Black folk for granted, he shoulda known we don't play that!

[wildn0102]

03:32 AM on 06/07/2010

Well, well, well! What happened to "blacks voted for Barack Obama because he's black"? I do recall BO hitting the campaign trail and talking to the Black community. Hence the reason he went on The TJMS, Warren Ballentine, Joe Madison and other shows-- (Sorry, Tavis!). But, this is a prime example of proving that Blacks aren't puppets. Do you hear this.....Republicans?!

[Acharn]

08:27 PM on 06/06/2010

"...it's an indictment of the (predominantly national) press corps for not recognizing this development before the election took place."

Yep. But it's not surprising. It's just another example of how the political punditocracy lives in their own bubble. They're mostly self-absorbed and only listen to each other and Sally Quinn. And most of them are too old. Look at any television panel -- how many of them are under 60?

[Kimpeach]

04:45 PM on 06/06/2010

I don't feel a bit sorry for Artur Davis and I predicted he would lose two months ago on this site when he voted against the HC bill. This is why Harold Ford, Jr. will never hold a political office again. Black people are waking up and are demanding TRUE representations and not just a black face. Davis even refused to campaign in the black community at all, but I wasn't surprise because he's been a Tom for a while. This is a wake up call for all those who take the "black vote" for granted!


The only reason Davis received the votes that he received from the black community because alot of older blacks voted for him, but young blacks voted againt him. We sent a message and we are color blind!

[troy ramsay]

05:50 PM on 06/06/2010

So I guess you voted for Sparks? Other than gambling and gas stations what do you know about him?

[Kimpeach]

07:09 PM on 06/06/2010

I can't vote in Alabama elections because I live in Georgia. However, I follow black politics nationwide and I know all about people like Davis and Ford---those Toms are getting what they deserve!


I would have voted for Sparks based on what I know about Davis. Davis sold the Democrats out for his own personal gain. At least, Sparks asked for the black vote...Davis never cared and never asked for their votes because he expected them to vote for him. He took his own community for granted and his community sent him (and other black leaders) a message.

[Eric Flanagan]

01:37 PM on 06/06/2010

I am black and for me, simply being black does not mean that the issues/ideologies that you support are in my best interests. Unfortunately in America we tend to vote for people based on culture and the image we wish project onto our leadership. I'd really like to see an Asian or Indian POTUS since they're demographics are the farthest away from mainstream American culture battles.

[Cakey4814]

09:14 AM on 06/07/2010

I hope you're not implying that Black people voted for President Obama simply based on his color because we didn't; he was the BEST candidate.

[troy ramsay]

11:48 AM on 06/06/2010

Sparks has been sued three seperate times for racial discrimanation in the work place. I dont think that is the kind of leader AA should get behind.

[marka]

10:34 AM on 06/06/2010

You cannot impress Democrats of any ethnicity by reaching out to them with Republican ideas, during a Democratic Primary, He got sent out to the woodshed like he should have been. I hope that the same thing happens to Lincoln in Arkansas. In the past year there have been too many obstructionists in our own party. It is time for that to change...

[Acharn]

08:30 PM on 06/06/2010

Exactly. This is the flaw in Rahm's seeking out the Blue Dogs. What good is it for a political party to spend their limited resources helping people who are going to vote against fundamental interests of the party?

[aquarius64]

09:02 AM on 06/06/2010

Davis did make the mistake of not reaching out to AA voters more to win the primary; but remember Alabama is still a blood red state. The guy who beat Davis, what was his history in dealing with issues pertaining to the AA community? I hope he's not pulling a Scott Brown-using a certain voting demographic to win an election and throwing them the under the bus once he's sworn in.

As for the criticism of Obama, he had to get a healthy number from all demograhics to move into the White House; you can't rely on just one these days. And if you do that, you need to continue to shore up that base, or present a reasonable argument for decisions they would object. I understand that a balance needs to be struck so that a president (or a governor) demonstrates he/she is looking out for the interests of all. Help them see the big picture and how it would positively impact them and you will retain their loyalty.

[kat52770]

10:26 AM on 06/06/2010

Artur Davis did not even support the President's health care agenda. Artur Davis was a catering to the conservatives by only campaigning on education instead of the economy and health care like Ron Sparks. The black community here is intelligent enough to vote for the candidate that is campaigning for their interests.

[Lahonda]

02:15 AM on 06/06/2010

A Cory-nation?

[chazzman]

01:01 AM on 06/06/2010

So what else is new?????

[Tails]

12:34 AM on 06/06/2010

"All politicis is local." Tip O'Neill

[tjr101]

12:05 AM on 06/06/2010

Arthur Davis is a DINO and got what he deserved. Well done Alabama!

[njstarrr]

11:45 PM on 06/05/2010

April 2007, I went to DC to hear then Sen Obama speak at a campaign rally. Mr. Davis introduced Obama at the event. The crowd was majority AA. At this point I was still a HRC supporter, but, very impressed with Obama. Davis didn't impress me one bit. Call it a gut feeling.

Men like Davis and Harold Ford Jr. are so predictable. Maybe it's a southern thing. These guys are always trying to appease white people. They are the first to take anti-minority positions and usually marry non-minorities (don't know Davis's marital status.) Their failure to realize the extent to which interaction with their community is measured, is often costly indeed. Davis and others may now understand this.

Exhibit A: President Barack Obama
Exhibit B: Justice Clarence Thomas

Both black men on the outside, while inside, a different story.

[skillz38]

12:33 AM on 06/06/2010

What???? I totally disagree with you on Ford Jr. and Obama, Davis Didn't put in the work. Never really cared for Justice Thomas. But that "marrying non-minorites" and "Black men on the outside, while inside, a different story" Statement is just ignorant.

[njstarrr]

12:46 AM on 06/06/2010

I'm not ignorant. What I stated is my opinion, of which I'm entitled. You may disagree,
Black men that marry white or non-minority women usually have issues with black people.
Clarence Thomas is a shining example. Tiger Woods, Harold Ford Jr., OJ Simpson, Cuba Gooding Jr. and countless others. Nothing new here. It's been going on for a long time. The slave mentality is alive and well and began with the treatment of the "field" vs. the "house" slave.

[Cakey4814]

09:20 AM on 06/07/2010

Exhitit A..President Obama..Black men on the outside..WTF...you're actually comparing President Obama (who is married to a beautiful Black sister) to Justice Thomas?