Obama-Endorsed Rep. Hank Johnson to Participate in Segregated Forum? UPDATE: Johnson Will Not Attend
Posted on | June 2, 2010 | 23 Comments
UPDATE 3 p.m. ET: Da Tech Guy reports that Rep. Hank Johnson’s office says the congressman will not attend tonight’s “Newsmakers Live” forum due to a scheduling conflict.
PREVIOUSLY (11:55 a.m. ET): When Dan Riehl told me about this I couldn’t believe it, but it’s apparently true: Georgia Republican congressional candidate Liz Carter was told by organizers of a “Newsmakers Live” 4th District candidate forum tonight that the event is for black candidates only:
Just informed “Black Candidates” Only Tonight” So because I’m white I’m not invited to participate even though it is a Democrat and Republican debate?
While the organizers have invited Democratic incumbent Rep. Hank Johnson and his two Democratic primary challengers, as well as black Republican candidate Cory Ruth, they have reportedly excluded not only Liz Carter but also two other Republican primary candidates, one white and one Hispanic.
It’s a private event and the organizers are free to invite whoever they want but it’s hard to believe that Hank Johnson — who has been endorsed by Barack Obama — would participate in a segregated event.
Liz Carter is asking her supporters to call the event sponsor, WAOK 1380 AM, at 404-892-2703 and ask why she has been left out of this event.
UPDATE: Da Tech Guy is on da story:
I tried to call the radio station the mail box of the news department is jammed. I reached another person and was told that the station had nothing to do with the event although there were aware of it. It turns out the event is being organized by something called the Newsmakers’ Journal.
If anybody can get to the bottom of this, Da Tech Guy will.
UPDATE II: Twitter friend Kurt Schlichter:
1956 just called, it wants its anachronism back.
Somebody needs to ask Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs about this.
UPDATE III: In the comments, Georgia blogger Obi’s Sister reports:
WAOK claims they are not a sponsor for the event. But they are more than helpful in passing on additional contact information.
Mr. Maynard Eaton, of Newsmakers Live (404.223.5910 and 404.254.8322) claims he’s never heard of Liz Carter. He said the forum had nothing to do with color, even though it is a “blacks only” private event. He said they would have a Republican event later, when when asked why he invited Cory Ruth, a black Republican, he didn’t have an answer.
When I asked if he’d reschedule the event to be able to include all the candidates, he asked, “Why?”
Evidently HopeNChange has nothing to do with making things right.
Eugene Talmadge and Lester Maddox could not be reached for comment.

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