African-Americans in northern Nevada even considered a boycott of the election to protest how state Democrats treated Mr. Neal. In contrast, Ms. Boggs McDonald received much attention and support from local and national Republicans.

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Thursday, November 07, 2002 Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Party loyalty cuts both ways?

Democrats turning their backs on Neal may have repercussions

African-Americans in Nevada, who are predominantly Democratic Party supporters, received a blunt object lesson Tuesday on true party loyalty.

Democrats, for the first time in Nevada history, ran a black man -- longtime state Sen. Joe Neal -- at the top of the ticket. Republicans, meanwhile, offered African-American City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald up for the U.S. House. Both faced a steep uphill battle against white incumbents.

What happened to these two candidates in 2002 should not be lost on African-Americans in Nevada.

State Democrats shunned Mr. Neal in his gubernatorial bid. Top candidates shied away from standing on the same podium with Mr. Neal; traditional Democratic money sources abandoned his campaign; and local unions not only refused to actively support Mr. Neal, they endorsed incumbent Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn.

African-Americans in northern Nevada even considered a boycott of the election to protest how state Democrats treated Mr. Neal.

In contrast, Ms. Boggs McDonald received much attention and support from local and national Republicans, even though her candidacy was a long-shot from the get-go. Republicans gave her money, stood alongside her on the campaign trail, and gave her all the traditional support expected.

Had these circumstances been reversed -- with state Republicans giving the cold shoulder to a qualified black candidate running for a major office on the GOP ticket -- you can bet the mortgage that Democratic operatives would have been whispering "racism."

Democrats are not guilty of racism here, of course. There were pragmatic reasons for them to be less than enthusiastic about Mr. Neal's gubernatorial candidacy -- his independent streak and a hugely popular incumbent opponent, among them. The fact remains, though, that Democrats are only too happy to count on energetic support from the minority community, but when an African-American man led the ticket, their support for him was nonexistent.

Republicans, on the other hand, heavily supported Ms. Boggs McDonald, who demonstrated some voter appeal that will serve her and her party well in future campaigns.

Democrats may think "The Betrayal of 2002" will be forgotten. We doubt it. When push came to shove, African-American voters in Nevada should remember which party put its money and support where its mouth is.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2002

Answers

So, he lost. big time, I guess.

Did she win?

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2002


Just spoke with my sister in Vegas. Sounds like Nevada's elections were even muddier than Massachusetts'. She ended up voting consistently for the dumped-on candidates.

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2002

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