MD-SEN: Russell Simmons Endorses ... GOPer Steele!
GOP Senate candidate Michael Steele's efforts to win black voters -- which some predicted would fizzle given his party affiliation -- may have just gotten a big boost: He's just won the prized endorsement of media mogul Russell Simmons. This appears to be only the second time Simmons has backed a Republican -- the first was Mike Bloomberg -- and this one's particularly surprising, since this race could help decide whether Dems win the Senate.
Simmons is also throwing a fundraiser for Steele which will include Cathy Hughes of Radio One. He's certainly an unlikely supporter of Steele. He registered black voters en masse against President Bush in 2004 and has even contributed to the Huffington Post. The eventual Democratic nominee will either be white Congressman Ben Cardin or black former Congressman and former NAACP head Kweisi Mfume. If it's Mfume, it would have been hard indeed to imagine that Simmons, of all people, would be campaigning for the Republican.
That is why I think Democrats or DNC or Move-On should have a generic ADS all over US --vote for a Straight Democratic ticket or vote for a Dem majority in Congress and Senate for oversight and accountaability--to protect Social Security, and check right wing miltaristic and corporate agenda and protect middle class interests. ANd to encourage people to vote Democratic even when they like their Republican incumbent.
Dems need to educate against rubberstamp congress and the benefits of oversight.
August 24, 2006 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Russell Simmons as a supporter is unimpressive. He is nothing but a rebel. He was raised upper middle class, and refused to graduate from college just to spite his parents. He dropped out his senior year, right before graduation, just to prove to his dad he did not need a college education to succeed. He is no one to be impressed about.
Mfume is the better candidate. Blackwell is bought.
August 24, 2006 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
When you've got them by their FCC licences, their hearts and minds will follow.
August 25, 2006 5:16 AM | Reply | Permalink