The New (Old) NAACP

This month's Streetvibes has an excellent article (written by Lew Moores) about the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP (so give a buck to the next vendor you see and get a copy!). Moores argues that the NAACP has experienced a "renaissance" under the leadership of Chris Smitherman, much as it did under the leadership of Marian Spencer several years ago.

Certainly, Smitherman (with whom I sometimes disagree, but for whom I have a great deal of respect) has revitalized the local chapter of our nation's foremost civil rights organization. Its membership is up dramatically, and over the last couple years, it has helped to shape our local political discourse in ways that it did not during the first part of this decade.

For Smitherman and the NAACP to advance their agenda any further, however, they must develop and put into action a solid get-out-the-vote strategy. Yes, of the three ballot initiatives identified with the NAACP (the "jail tax" opposition, red-light camera opposition, and PR), two passed. But (without diminishing the effort it took to place these on the ballot), these were layups. It's not hard to convince people to vote against the increase of a fundamentally regressive tax or the onerous red-light cameras, which no one seems to like.

This year's election results bear out the NAACP's GOTV failures. In the City of Cincinnati, turnout was just 58%, lagging well behind county-wide turnout of 66%. What's more, of the 134,000 ballots cast, 20,000 (or 15%) recorded no vote (meaning no vote at all, not a "no" vote) on Issue 8, which would have brought a return to proportional representation in City Council elections. Local races and issues always receive a significant undervote, but Issue 8's undervote is extraordinarily high: Issue 7 had just under 13,000 undervotes (about 9 percent).

Of the two NAACP-backed initiatives on this year's ballot, certainly Issue 8 would have had a greater overall impact on Cincinnati than on Issue 7, making it the more important of the two. (In fairness: Issue 8's undervote is likely due in part to extremely poor ballot placement, as it was the only contest on the last page of a four-page ballot. Some voters may not have even realized it was there.) With Issue 8 failing by just 8,000 votes and 20,000 voters participating in the election but sitting out the Issue 8 contest, the NAACP failed to either a) educate the public about the issue, or b) get its supporters to the polls.

While the Cincinnati NAACP still has some work to do, it's terrific to see the re-emergence of this important voice in our community, and it will be exciting to see the continued growth of both the organization and its president.

(Current vote tallies available here.)

Setback for Downtown

While we were busy talking about the election and Halloween last weekend, the Terrace Hotel (on Sixth between Vine and Race) suddenly closed its doors. This is a pretty prominent spot right in the middle of the primary business and entertainment district, so its disheartening to know that the building will likely be vacant for some time.

Anyone have any inside scoop on plans for the building?

Peter Bronson, Constitutional Law Scholar

With the election over, we can turn our attention to this blog's favorite pastime: exposing the foolishness of Peter Bronson.

Yesterday, Mr. Bronson published an essay on his most recent trip to Gettysburg. I'm not sure what his point was (civil war is bad?). This little nugget, though, caught my attention (emphasis mine):

The South's cause was tainted by the slavery they relied on to produce 60 percent of America's exports and 75 percent of the world's cotton. But their reading of the Constitution was correct: The states delegated powers to the federal government, and they had a right to file for divorce if the domestic abuse was intolerable.

So, Peter Bronson believes that the Constitution gives states the right to secede? Wow. Maybe the Alaskan Independence Party will invite him to introduce Sarah Palin at its next convention.

I pulled open my Constitution, looking for a Secession Clause. I didn't find one. And guys like Bronson believe that the only rights guaranteed by the Constitution are those specifically enumerated therein. So why does he believe in such a right?

What's more, Bronson's position--that there is a right of secession--was squarely repudiated by the Supreme Court. In Texas v. White, Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase (near and dear to the hearts of Cincinnatians) held that Texas--which was once a sovereign republic--had no right to secede. Chase wrote:

The Union of the States never was a purely artificial and arbitrary relation. It began among the Colonies, and grew out of common origin, mutual sympathies, kindred principles, similar interests, and geographical relations. It was confirmed and strengthened by the necessities of war, and received definite form and character and sanction from the Articles of Confederation. By these, the Union was solemnly declared to "be perpetual." And when these Articles were found to be inadequate to the exigencies of the country, the Constitution was ordained "to form a more perfect Union." It is difficult to convey the idea of indissoluble unity more clearly than by these words. What can be indissoluble if a perpetual Union, made more perfect, is not?

I'm not sure what prompted Bronson's miniature states' rights tirade. Perhaps he was thinking that if Obama won, he could lead Ohio to secede from the United States. But it'd be nice if someone at the Enquirer would "fact-check" Bronson once in a while before going to print.

Roses Are Red . . .

And Hamilton County is blue.

I hope to post some actual analysis later today, once I've recovered from a long day yesterday and had enough time to process what happened yesterday.

But one thing seems undeniable: Hamilton County has shifted, whether demographically, politically, or both. The Democratic candidate for President carried the county with just over 52% of the vote.

Steve Driehaus defeated Congressman Chabot.

And perhaps most surprising (and the biggest departure from recent tradition), Democratic-endorsed judges won two of three contested elections in the Court of Common Pleas.

Hamilton County saw relatively low voter turnout: less than 67%, according to the preliminary numbers from the BOE. Of course, this does not include provisional ballots. But this is lower than early state-wide estimates, and lower than the 2004 election.

There's much thinking to do about yesterday's election.

Know Hope --- President-Elect Barack Obama

I can only join with Satchmo --- as a child of the old South, as a descendant of slave owners, I have gone from seeing "Colored" restrooms and "Whites Only" restaurants all around me to this moment. It is an amazing moment.

More on the Campain Trail

Some more scenes from the Obama get out the vote efforts:

Early morning at the polls in Mt. Washington.


No language barriers for Obama supporters!

The After-Parties

In what I am sure will be victory parties, here's the list I've got on where to go to party an Obama/Democrat win:

1. Cadillac Ranch - Main Cincinnati Obama Party
2. Northside Tavern - Cincy Rocks Obama
3. Tickets in Covington - NKY Dems.
4. Sulley's - Driehaus Party
5. The Comet - America Votes
6. Below Zero - Human Rights Campaign

Any other locations?

UPDATE#1: Added the HRC's event at Below Zero.

UPDATE#2: While not a party per see, the big screen at Fountain Square will have on CNN starting at 6:30 PM with the election returns. No actual events are going on since they are putting in the ice rink.