[url]http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/737279/posts?page=1[/url]
For Democrats to do well this year, they need solid numbers of black votes," said David Bositis, senior political analyst for the Joint
Center for Political and Economic Studies, a research group in Washington that looks at issues affecting African Americans.
"But if black voters perceive that elections in their districts are ultimately being decided by whites and powerful outside sources with
money," Mr. Bositis said, "they may conclude their votes don't matter and decide not to vote at all."
James J. Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute in Washington, said he feared a return to the 1980's, when Gov. Michael S.
Dukakis of Massachusetts, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988, rejected his group's endorsement, and Mayor David N. Dinkins
of New York refused to meet with him, concerned about angering Jewish constituents.
"This painting of Arab American donors and political participants as being terrorists in disguise is a garish and grotesque caricature," Mr.
Zogby said. "This is not about three or four donors, this is about widely targeted politics of exclusion that could end up in the
disenfranchising of the entire Arab and Muslim American community."
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, though many are disappointed at the loss of their colleague Ms. McKinney, said they would
welcome Ms. Majette.
[i]"If she comes here willing to work with us and is not skewed by the agenda of her supporters, of course we work with her,"
Representative Johnson said. "We all know we have to move past this."[/i]