Referendum efforts in Maryland revolve around the largest block of Democratic voters
They’ve been disrespected, hoodwinked, bamboozled and run-amok for as long as history cares to remember; from the years of Jim Crow up until last year’s congressional redistricting efforts. And more often than not, it’s been implemented by the least evident of those who surround them – the Democratic Party. However, the African American voters of Maryland now have the distinct opportunity to show their political strength, remembering all those years of political and electoral suppression, becoming the most powerful and sought after voting bloc in Maryland history; as they are set to be the crucial vote in two of the most divisive ballot initiatives put forth before the Maryland voters.
With the state Senate’s approval of gay marriage last night, 25-22 - added on to the already looming November referendum measure challenging the legislatures passage of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants at state universities – African American voters from around the state will be the tipping bloc of voters on whether both bills, which are equally unpopular amongst blacks, are upheld or overturned. And while the majority of the state’s Legislative Black Caucus seems to have voted in favor of both bills, which still polls highly negative amongst black voters; the question remains as to if their ‘yea’ votes on these measures will possibly cost them their seats in 2014.
However, when you look at Maryland’s track record regarding the petitioned-referendum process, though it is not as defined as that of the Constitutional Amendment challenges, it still has a very slim margin for success. When you look back over the past 140 years, Marylanders have shown a willingness to make improvements in its state’s governing documents, and laws; yet, have shown less deference and caution to do such when compared to their contemporary political leaders. For, while legislators in Annapolis have weighed their vote more on the basis of a successful re-election effort, Maryland voters will certainly view it more as a civil and human right, weighing the social justice of its passage more than the political will of the people! And that overtly political posturing of our current elected officials, may almost certainly lead to their political demise in two years – especially for those such as Senator Joan Carter Conway (D-43), who campaigned against Gay Marriage in 2010, only to vote in favor of it in 2011 and 2012.
“While the fight for the rights of other people to marry and be happy in their own homes doesn’t soundly resonate with African American voters, the fact that they believe their legislators should be addressing their political interests like increased jobs, education funding and other social concerns, over something as trivial as gay marriage, is what is more than likely going to lead them to vote against the measure in November,” says GCOMM Media’s political analyst Shaun Louis. “Yet, while African American voters are less interested in invading into people’s private lives, as a community they still remain overwhelmingly homophobic, which has led many to join in the opposition of Gay Marriage – mostly due to the lack of education and concern in the matter.”
And while the usual suspects, the state’s Republican Party, will certainly be pushing this effort statewide during the Presidential Election year; Democrats will need to figure out how to address a measure that remains least important to blacks who still remain the most unemployed bloc of voters in the nation. “I could care less about some damn Gay Marriage, I need a job to feed my family; and since social services basically told me and my wife the only way we could qualify for assistance is to have another child, I am still trying to figure out how I’m going to keep food on the table and the lights on,” said Reginald Barnes, who says he’d much rather vote against the measure just to get it over with. “I’m tired of hearing about it, people cheering and kissing in Annapolis like they done won the damn SuperBowl or something; get me a job, let me work for a living and maybe I’ll join you in that celebration?”
And while Barack Obama’s re-election efforts loom large, the likelihood of an increased African American turnout is increasingly unlikely, as Mr. Barnes was one of only over fifty black men who came out to support their children at a West Baltimore elementary school on Wednesday that says they believe Obama hasn’t done anything he has promised. “Why should I vote, I voted for the first time with President Obama in 2008, and I’m broker today than I’ve ever been in my life,” said 92Q radio DJ Squirrelwide. “Gay Marriage and In-State Tuition don’t concern me, not enough to get me to the polls at least. You want me to support your efforts, do something that will satisfy the black community, or these kids we’re here representing today, In-State tuition provides for people who are here illegally, yet we were forced over here by slaveholders hundreds of years ago – where is our in-state tuition?” The sentiment overwhelmingly felt by the African American community.
And while the last measure passed by the Maryland General Assembly to successfully have been voted down at the polls, happened when Bill Clinton was running for President in 1992, which liberalized the state’s abortion law; it wouldn’t surprise me that with today’s technology and the national pattern of referendum defeats on the measure – that the majority of those African Americans who do come out to vote for either Presidential candidate, will most certainly flex their political muscle, voting down both measures (Gay Marriage and In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants) at the polls. Yet, only time, and one distinctively underrepresented group of voters, will determine the fate of two of the most progressively controversial and racially divisive pieces of legislation ever passed by the members of the Maryland General Assembly.
For more information on this article and more email me here, follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, Join my Mailing List by texting GCOMMMEDIA to 22828 or browse the many services provided by GCOMM Media Co.
Comments