VIDEO: Coleman Interview - Part 2

St. Louis Oracle

Wednesday, 6th September 2006 at 11:52 PM

 

Folks should really listen to this one. Sen. Coleman has some very telling remarks, and they come from someone who knows:

“I have really felt that this Democratic Party is missing the boat on what the real issues are in this state when it comes to the African American community.”

And further:

“I do know that if Democrats ever intend to really be a force to reckon with, they’re going to have to reach out to all minorities to bring people into statewide office that are like the people that they represent. We can’t keep expecting folks to give and give and give to us and the party never comes back and reciprocates.”

Doug Duckworth

Thursday, 7th September 2006 at 12:02 AM

 

Exactly.

The party of the people need to be composed of the people, whether they are black, white, blue, grey, yellow, poor, rich, or middle class. Diversity, along with merit, is key for the Democratic Party and it must be stressed. A coalition of groups across demographic boundaries will truly be a behemoth that the Republican Party will have to address. With such a force we could even seen policy changes in the GOP which will try to cater to the Democratic diverse electorate. In effect, this shift in representation will not only change the policy of the Democratic Party but politics entirely.

Travis Reems

Thursday, 7th September 2006 at 6:53 AM

 

Oracle:

Why don’t you join the Democratic party and come help us? You’d be a good addition.

Doug:

That is likely the most well written post of yours that I’ve seen. You are right on message.

Travis Reems

Thursday, 7th September 2006 at 8:09 AM

 

Antonio:

Great video editing and interview. It really helped to have the “grey” portions where you voice-overed your questions.

Anonymous

Thursday, 7th September 2006 at 8:12 AM

 

Maida’s new haircut makes her look like Moe.

Anonymous

Thursday, 7th September 2006 at 3:18 PM

 

Get a life Anon. If you can’t compliment Senator Coleman on her brave remarks on the shortfalls of the political party she belongs to, I think you should just keep your mouth shut. How many other elected Democrats, or Republicans for that matter, really tell it like it is?

I believe that Senator Coleman’s remarks were insightful and needed to be said. Dems need to start heeding the words of blacks. That’s who votes for them.

Nia

Thursday, 7th September 2006 at 4:46 PM

 

Senator Maida Coleman continues to demonstrate her committment to public service, the constiuents of the 5th Senatorial District and the City of St. Louis.

How shallow? A comment on a hairstyle after all of the significant information she shared.

Though it was a known fact that Senator Coleman supported Rep. Amber “Holly” Boykins in her bid for the 4th Senatorial seat; she is willing to take the “high road” and work with Jeff Smith for the good of the State, as she would have anyway, regardless of any of the five that might have won.

As I have previously stated; Senator Coleman used to work for Billie Boykins when she was a State Representative. Billie in turn was hired by Senator Coleman to be her Chief of Staff when she went to the Senate. There is a 30-year relationship there.

Senator Coleman is a selfless elected official whose passion for the people motivates her - not attention; money; power; or corruption like her male counterparts.

Selfish men:
1. Mayor “Francis the Bald” Slay. - for calling Senator Coleman and yelling at her about the letter she sent to Governor Matt Blunt in opposition of a state takeover of the St. Louis Public Schools.

2. Brian Wahby - Democratic City Central Committee Chair and 7th Ward Committeeman (Senator Coleman’s Committeeman) for not voicing support for her bid for State Auditor or License Collector. And, he probably offered no support when Francis the Bald acted up - maybe because his wife works for Slay.

3. Dr. Donald Suggs, editor of the St. Louis American for the ugly threats he printed when Senator Coleman expressed an interest in the Office of License Collector.

4. Mike McMillan - for not thanking Senator Coleman for opting not to seek the office of License Collector. He’s all over the press for everything else. If he can thank Gregg F.X. “I See Great Things in your Future” Daly, then he sure as hell can thank Senator Coleman for not splitting the Black vote; possibly allowing a white candidate to win. (Unlike another recently determined primary race). Furthermore, if his sorry tail thinks he spent alot of money in that hoax of an unopposed election, HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD HE HAVE HAD TO SPEND IF SHE HAD RUN?

Men, Let’s Get it Together.

Nia knows!

mr fat nuts

Friday, 8th September 2006 at 9:24 AM

 

Nia, Its nice to see you again.

Anonymous

Friday, 8th September 2006 at 11:31 AM

 

Why should anyone have voiced some support for her to run for Auditor or License Collector? She has
never demonstrated the ability to raise any money or win a contested election or have a political organization or have the name ID to win statewide or citywide. She has long ago outdistanced her talent with reality. She is lucky to be where she is and should try and be a good Senator, period.

Brian Wahby is supposed to be neutral in primaries as the Democrat Party Chair. He didn’t need to get involved.

Dr. Suggs had every right to say what he said. That is his paper and if you don’t like it then don’t read it.

Mike McMillan does not have to thank her for not doing something stupid. Where was he supposed to do that? Who was the target audience of that statement? Not doing something silly does not warrant a public thank you. And what is a “hoax of an unopposed election”? Why does someone deserve to be thanked for not splitting the black vote? Are black people in this town so stupid that not doing something ridiculous deserves credit? I guess he should have thanked every single AA elected official who didn’t run becuase they could have made him spend more money.

In regard to her “selfless” attitude, Coleman has been quoted by many as saying that she needs to know what is going to happen for MAIDA. That is the exact opposite of selfless.

Nia

Friday, 8th September 2006 at 2:21 PM

 

Thanks, Mr. Fat N….

ANON: Did I hurt your little “male” feelings. You rattled off your emotional rhetoric; now let’s deal with the facts.

FACT #1: Senator Coleman has an organization..Duh She is the Committeewoman of the 7th Ward Democratic Organization which comprises the Soulard area. For the past decade or so she has represented a diverse group of Democrats.

FACT #2: Look at the August Primary; you had three African American candidates in a race for State Senator of the 4th Senatorial District. A district that is approximately 56% African American.
*Remember: A liar may figure; but the figures don’t lie.

FACT #3: Senator Coleman does not have a history of raising money for any other purpose than that which is stated in the Missouri Ethics Commission bylaws. If you checked her report for her bid for State Auditor you will see that in 3 weeks she raised over $31,000 that amounts to over $10,000 per week!!!!

FACT #4: In 1998, Senator Coleman sought the Office of License Collector. At the time, another African American female “threw her towel in the race”. As a result the African American political community was split and Gov. Mel Carnahan (God rest his soul) appointed Gregg F.X. “I See Great Things in your Future” Daly.

FACT #5: No other African American elected official expressed an interest in the seat.

FACT 6: The citizens of the 5th Senatorial District and the city of St. Louis are fortunate to have Senator Maida Coleman. Reaching out to people is not luck; it’s work. It’s thinking “outside of the box”. Those men that I mentioned haven’t done too much of that.

FACT 7: In a republican controlled House and Senate she passed over 10 bills last session. CHECK THE RECORD!
I already have (smooches)!

FACT 8: Who can quantify the statement of “What’s in it for Maida…”? I do not believe that Senator Coleman said that; unlike many of her political colleagues (some who sit on the Board of Alderman) who will not “budge” to save North or South St. Louis from rape by developers.

FACT #9: I’ve been an avid reader of the St. Louis American for years. No one can deny the power of the press. That headline made frontpage; a cursory glance of the paper revealed the threat.

So don’t mention stupid…it’s politics.

It’s just about good democracy. That’s all. It’s about building bridges and mending fences.

After all…Niaknows WHAT WE DO DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Doug Duckworth

Sunday, 10th September 2006 at 2:17 AM

 

Nia, you should be paid for your factual information.

Give me a holla sometime.

Anonymous

Sunday, 10th September 2006 at 4:06 AM

 

There were no hurt feelings because several things that you said were completely baseless Nia.

Fact 1–The 7th ward does not have much of an organization at all. In fact, they don’t even have poll workers work all day on Election day to pass out sample ballots. Check the facts with either committeeperson.

Fact 2–Again, thanking someone for not doing something stupid does not warrant anyone’s time regardless as to whether other people are doing something stupid or not.

Fact 3–The fact that she raised $31,000 as the Senate Minority Leader, representing one of the wealthiest districts in the state, running for a statewide office is an embarrassment and not an accomplishment. Most people cannot even run for state rep anymore for 31K. Ask Rachel Storch, Rodney Hubbard, T.D. El- Amin, etc. “Remember: A liar may figure but the figures don’t lie.”

Fact 4–The fact that she wanted to be the License Collector in 1998 when Tom Nash decided to resign has nothing to do with how realistic her chances were in ever getting appointed. The likelihood of that taking place was about next to none. Ask the Carnahan family in a moment of complete honesty.

Fact 5–The men that you referenced that I referred to have all “reached out” to other groups. Brian Wahby obvioulsy has reached out because he represents the 7th ward that is very diverse and was recently elected party chairman unopposed. Donald Suggs must reach out constantly because you see advertising in his paper from every element of St. Louis every single week. He also sits on numerous civic and charitable boards where is one of few African Americans, which would certainly qualify him as reaching out. Mike McMillan has a very diverse ward as well and has managed to be elected in it several times.

Fact 6–If she did pass ten bills last year then it is interesting that with all of this power that she could not organize the Democrats to stop the Voter ID Bill that may just detsroy any chances that Claire or Susan Montee had. Why didn’t she lead a filibuster to stop that bill as such a powerful legislator? I bet Paula Carter would have never let that happen. And speaking of the Carter family, when did Maida Coleman thank Greg Carter for not running for the Democratic nomination for Senate when his mother died?

There are several people who can vouch for the “What’s in it for Maida?” mentality that she has expressed but they probably won’t because she is so bitter these days that they would rather not even deal with her.

Anonymous

Sunday, 10th September 2006 at 4:16 PM

 

I love Sen. Coleman, she’s my senator and she is a true public servant, unlike Slay and a true democrat, unlike Pres. Shrewsbury.

Anonymous

Monday, 11th September 2006 at 11:39 AM

 

Speak the truth! If Senator Coleman and the Democrats had not done all that they could do to stop the photo ID bill, the Republicans would not have called for the “previous question,” a political maneuver that is only used to call for the vote when the minority party refuses to give in.

Anonymous, if you understand the legislature, you would know that the previous question means that those in the majority resort to this measure when the minority party will not budge. It was the only way that the Republicans could pass this bill. Senator Coleman and SOME of her Democrat colleagues worked hard to defeat this bill.

And although my name isn’t Nia, I do know the legislative process. Check the facts anonymous and tell the truth!

Anonymous

Monday, 11th September 2006 at 4:15 PM

 

I asked a question Anon 14. I didn’t make a statement that was not true. I asked how did this happen under such a seemingly magnificent legislative career that can pass ten bills in a Republican controlled Senate. There was no untruth given, thus there is no need to change anything. The truth just hurts in this case obviously.

Paula Carter, Jet Banks, Gwen Giles, Frankiln Payne, T.D. McNeal, Ray Howard, John Bass or Lacy Clay would have never let that happen but things are just not the same these days in Jefferson City are they?