Kerry Dougherty
DENVER
Whether he knows it or not, Barack Obama has a new best friend in the Old Dominion.
Jack Howard of Virginia Beach.
Howard's role at the Democratic National Convention is whip for the Virginia Obama delegation, which means he's the guy who makes sure the delegates are where they're supposed to be, when they're supposed to be there.
In other words, he's herding cats wearing funny hats.
But Howard's goals transcend Denver. He says he wants to stun political pundits by delivering the Resort City to Obama on Election Day, thereby throwing the entire state to the Democrats.
If that happens, Howard says, Republican John McCain will have the unenviable task of trying to find those 13 electoral votes elsewhere.
"I think if Sen. Obama can carry Virginia Beach, he wins the commonwealth of Virginia," Howard said confidently as he sat at a bar in the Crowne Plaza on Monday, sipping an ice water. "The
demographic makeup of Virginia Beach is a perfect fit."
Before we let this 45-year-old Kaine administration official and father of two descend into demographic wonkiness, I know what you're thinking.
And you're right. His name is familiar.
For about seven years, during the 1990s, Howard was the afternoon antidote to Rush Limbaugh and G. Gordon Liddy on local talk radio. He hosted left-leaning "The Jack Howard Show," first on weekends and then weekdays on WNIS, AM-790.
Later, he moved to TV, doing a weekly "point-counterpoint"-style show with local conservative Bill Thomas that was called "Face Off." The two adversaries used to spar on the air, then have a beer together afterward.
Howard said that's the way politics should work.
"I consider myself a centrist," said the Kempsville resident, who serves as the Hampton Roads bureau chief for the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise. He add ed that he admires politicians who "carry into the political arena a sense of civility."
For instance?
"Mark Warner," he answer ed instantly. "And Meyera Oberndorf.
"And John Warner, too."
Howard sees no conflict in supporting the candidate of change for the presidency while supporting the candidate of the status quo for mayor at home.
"We need change nationally," he said, pausing to take a cell phone call, "but when I look at the city of Virginia Beach, I think the mayor is doing a fantastic job."
Speaking of Virginia Beach, Howard said the demographics - I warned you we'd be heading here - favor Obama.
The presumptive nominee's strongest support comes from young voters, women and, of course, minorities, Howard said. And guess who lives at the Beach? Lots of young voters, women and a growing minority population.
Howard, who grew up in rural Mississippi, is the son of a construction worker who had a seventh-grade education and a love of current events.
Growing up, Howard and his six siblings knew to tiptoe through their tiny, three-bedroom house during the evening news. In time, he came to share his dad's fascination with the world beyond the Mississippi Delta.
"My dad had that little black-and-white TV, which was a window to the rest of the world," he recall ed.
Howard said he's been thinking about his father, who died in 1991, a lot lately.
"To be here, when the first African American is about to be nominated for president and to be in a leadership position is mind-boggling. When I think about what my dad went through, the denial of opportunity... this would have blown his mind.
"To tell the truth, I never thought I'd see this in my lifetime."
Kerry Dougherty, (757) 446-2306, kerry.dougherty@cox.net
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And why are you really voting for BHO?
Oh how I wish this race was between Collin Powell and Obama. Then the people basing their decision on race would have an easy way out. I believe Powell would win by a landslide, and the lanslide would probably be caused by white voters. Most everyone, regardless of race, that I've spoken to say they would vote for Powell. Why Powell? Because of his experience, he has been a warrior, he has sat across the table with many national leaders and never showed anything but class and a love for his country. Etc.. all these things McCain has in common with him. But because of his color I believe McCain will be discriminated against by some. A little reverse discrimination? Three days into this convention and I still haven't heard how Obama is going to pull off his "Change" but that dosen't phase his supporters one bit. They know what they want! Or do they?
History lesson . . .
Last two U.S. states joined: Alaska (1958), Hawaii (1959).
I remember because I was born in that year.
Barack Obama is several years younger than me. Voila, he was born in Hawaii after it became a state. Cheers, MGM
vitriol or not
Vitriol or not comments are going to be made. This is a presidential election year and comments will be made with and without merit. I think it's up to others to folllow up with comments and prove or disprove what has been said. It's a time to educate those who have gotten a bit of information wrong.
Phrog
A "naturalized" citizen cannot be elected president. You have to be a born citizen.
As I've written many times
before, one resorts to insults, (without any usage of facts), when one is at a loss of ability to debate a point/counterpoint, with decorum & reason. That's neither debate or discourse; it's not even to the level of an uncivil argument, it's only drivel, even beneath, the civility of the very one's writing such vitriol.
Will the distractions never stop?
First it was the "BO is a Muslim" thing, now it is the "dual citizenship" thing. If these people don't like BO because he is multiracial why don't they just say that? Why do they continue the distractions? The truth is that BO was born in Hawaii (a lot of people are not aware that Hawaii is a state or even part of the United States; I guess that was before "No Child Left Behind!), so that makes him a U.S. citizen by right of native soil (jus soli) and his mother was/is an American citizen so that makes him a U.S. citizen by right of blood (jus sanguinis). If you are a racist and don't want BO to be president, just say so; stop making things up to cover your ignorance.
Obama is really an extraterrestrial.
He was born on the third planet from the sun.
Who is he?
Who is Howard Dean? Never heard of the guy and probably for good reason. I don't take semantics to heart and he sounds like Rush lite to me but I don't know much.
Is he really a citizen?
I still have to wonder about the fact that Mr. Obama holds dual citizenship and if it is constitutional for him to run for President. The office of the President of the United States is the only public/elected office that requires the candidate to be a naturalized citizen. Now, I know he was born in Hawaii after it officially became a state of the union. But he soon left and moved to Indonesia and became a citizen there. He has returned to the US and plowed his road to be nominated for America's highest office. But he still has his Indonesian citizenship. Why? To what end? That sends many flags, alarms, bells, and whistles up regarding his allegiance to this country. I want a president who firmly believes in this country and this country alone.
McCain will bring out the youth vote
for Obama.
The great thing about young voters..
is that they dont actually vote!!!
Myrmidons??
Myr·mi·don [mur-mi-don, -dn]
1.Classical Mythology. one of the warlike people of ancient Thessaly who accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War.
2.(lowercase) a person who executes without question or scruple a master's commands.
So, Orion, you are calling young voters, women, and minorities, ignorant and naive? And I guess that would also apply to anyone else who favored BO? (You don't use JM's middle initial so why BO's?) I am thinking a little self-reflective time is in order, possibly a check up from the neck up to see if you have hardening of the attitudes. Myrmidon, indeed.
In the kitchen
Maybe, just maybe, if more democrats would actually set foot in a kitchen there would be less teen pregnancy, less obesity, and less dependence on the government dole.
OOPS, they can't do that, they would lose their base.
Yeah
Women are so naive and stupid.
It's no wonder republicans want to keep them in the kitchen.
A centrist?
Hardly...
The presumptive nominee's strongest support comes from young voters, women and, of course, minorities, Howard said.
Howard is like the rest of the BHO myrmidons; BHO's support comes from the ignorant and naive, not from any demographic.