DNC Chair Says Democrats Party of Diversity
The Democratic Party is committed to addressing the needs of the African American community and should take over in the upcoming presidential elections, said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean in a speech last night in the Intercultural Center Auditorium in honor of Black History Month.
“The Democratic Party is the political party dedicated to Martin Luther King’s dream,” he said. “We are the party of inclusion. … In this election year, we will make history by electing either an African American or a female candidate.”
He stressed the diversity in the Democratic Party, noting that young Democrats — ages 18-29 — tend to vote along age, rather than racial, lines.
“Your generation sees itself as a multi-culturist generation,” Dean said, noting that young voter turnout rates are similar among different ethnic groups.
Dean expressed enthusiasm for the record-breaking voter turnout in this year’s Democratic primaries, in which more than 20,000,000 people have voted so far, as well as the increase in youth voting rates, up to 61 percent.
In addition to trying to increase turnout among Democratic voters, the party tries to sway independent voters to consistently vote Democratic, Dean said.
“We have to earn your vote every time,” he said. “You register independent, but you vote Democratic.”
Dean criticized the Republican Party, saying their policies and world view were out of date.
“When you look at the [Republican] Party, it does not look like your generation,” he said. “It does not look like America. … When they open their mouths, they don’t just look like the 1950s, they sound like the 1850s.”
Dean also criticized presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
“If you want a third term of [President George W.] Bush, vote for McCain,” he said. “[He] does not understand [economics] by his own admission.”
Dean highlighted the work of the Democratic Party’s New Neighborhood Leadership Commission, through which activists go door-to-door around the country to bolster support for the Democratic Party and candidates. This campaign increased the Democratic voter turnout by 12 percent in the last year, he stated.
Dean’s speech was preceded by an address by Brian Cook (COL ’10), who spoke about the role of the black population in American history.
This event was co-sponsored by the Georgetown University College Democrats, the Georgetown chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Black Student Alliance, the Center for Minority Education and Affairs, GU Brothers and Sisters for Christ and the Black House.
Mar 15 2008 at 4:21 a.m.
The democratic party is very diverse (tree huggers, yogies, and black people) with a rich history (Kennedy laid the ground work for Vietnam) and lots of strong traditions (like raising taxes and giving needles to addicts), but its members all have one common trait - they're a bunch of looneys!
Jan 23 2009 at 1:47 p.m.
Dean expressed enthusiasm for the record-breaking voter turnout in this year’s Democratic primaries, in which more than 20,000,000 people have voted so far, as well as the increase in youth voting rates, up to 61 percent.
Apr 03 2009 at 6:29 a.m.
African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa. In the United States, the terms are generally used for Americans with at least partial Sub-Saharan African ancestry.
Apr 03 2009 at 12:00 p.m.
The Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community (IDVAAC) is an organization focused on the unique circumstances of African Americans as they face issues related to domestic violence – including intimate partner violence, child abuse, elder maltreatment, and community violence. IDVAAC's mission is to enhance society's understanding of and ability to end violence in the African-American community.
Apr 04 2009 at 9:23 a.m.
Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG: 49.71, 0.27, 0.55%) has sold its Johnson Products Company unit, one of the world's most recognized market leaders in African-American hair care products, to RCJP Acquisition, Inc., a newly formed independent entity comprised of Los Angeles-based private equity firms Rustic Canyon/Fontis Partners, LP and St. Cloud Capital LLC, along with an African-American management team of industry veterans. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Apr 04 2009 at 5:14 p.m.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support of Democratic Party candidates, and not on public policy. The DNC was established at the 1848 Democratic National Convention.
Apr 06 2009 at 2:31 p.m.
While the tough economy has tightened the belts of many area foundations, the African-American Community Fund is actively seeking organizations to grant money to this year.
Apr 13 2009 at 6:07 p.m.
The African-American Community Services Agency is proud to announce that on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009, Teresa L. Deloach Reed, the first African-American female ever, was appointed to Assistant Fire Chief of the San Jose Fire Department. A “Regal reception” for our new Assistant Fire Chief in coming weeks is in its planning stage. Stay tuned for more information on date and location of this special occasion.
Apr 19 2009 at 7:17 p.m.
African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa. In the United States, the terms are generally used for Americans with at least partial Sub-Saharan African ancestry.