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THE ARTIS BLOG
5/29/09
* President Obama's choice of Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the United States Supreme Court is an excellent one. I've been following this lady's career for quite sometime. She knows her stuff and will make an excellent Supreme Court Justice.
* If Republicans in Congress are smart, they will let the Sotomayor conformation go through with little or no controversy. After all, it was President Daddy Bush who first picked Sotomayor to serve on the federal bench. Republicans have a right to ask questions. Republicans should ask questions. However, if they ask the wrong question or appear to be unfair to Sotomayor, the Hispanic community won't forget. This could cause problems for Republicans on Election Day. As a result, Democrats will be winning major elections for the next generation.
* North Korea is at it again, trying to be the baddest bad boy on the planet. North Korea wants something, probably more foreign aid. North Korea has been playing this game for years. They find themselves in a bad situation, talk smack or do something provocative to make the world nervous and then negotiate some kind of foreign aid package which never makes it to the North Korean people.
* My comments posted in Wednesday's ARTIS BLOG on the use of merit pay raises for teachers got quite a bit of feedback from the readers of JeffArtis.com. There are three things most people don't understand about our schools. First, more often than not, teacher evaluations are subjective, not objective. As a teacher, I've had the pleasure of working for some pretty good people in education, people who always put the well being of the students in that school system, ahead of everything else. I've also had the misfortune of working for some people who had no business working in education, who took great joy in messing with teacher's careers, who were more concerned with themselves than the education the students in the school system were getting. The education profession is full of these self-centered types of so-called educators, running our schools.
Let me put it another way. I have a good relationship with my bosses at the Noel C. Taylor Learning Academy. In fact, I've never has this much enjoyment working in a classroom. This may not be the case if I taught at another school in Roanoke, Va. Would my style of teaching change at another school? No. Would the perception of my teaching change at another school? Possibly. If the merit pay raise system were in place in Roanoke, Va., could that change in perception of my teaching skills effect my chances at a raise or effect the amount of the raise I got for the next school year? Yes.
Until someone develops a quality objective way to determine the effectiveness of teaching styles, I'm not for the merit system.
* Second, there are three types of students in our schools; good students, average students and those students who could care less about getting an education. Teaching the good students is easy. The progress of these students is easy to measure. It's tougher to measure to progress of the average student.
How do you measure the progress of the, "I Don't Care Student?" For these students it is possible that their academic progress cannot be measured accurately. For example, Johnny may have missed 30 days of school and failed all of his classes in the first semester. In the second semester, Johnny may have only missed 10 days of school, bring his grade average up and turn in more school work than he did during the first semester. Plus, Johnny isn't causing as many problems in school the second semester as he did during the first semester.
However, Johnny's work in the second semester still isn't good enough to deserve a passing grade. Johnny has made progress in school. The teacher has worked with Johnny to make that progress. But, how do you measure it? Does that teacher deserve a merit raise?
In many cases, a school's best teachers are assigned to the Johnny's of education. In fact, the majority of these teacher's students are Johnny or Johnny's twin sister. These teachers aren't as concerned about Johnny making an "A" on a test as they are concerned about Johnny or his sister simply showing up to school on a regular basis. How do you measure the quality of a teacher who is teaching the Johnny's of education? How do you determine the quality of a teacher who improves the academic performance of Johnny, yet that improvement in academic performance doesn't show up on a report card?
* Finally, how do you measure the quality of teaching between teachers who teach students from communities where there is a strong commitment to education and teachers who teach students from communities where the commitment to a quality education is lacking? We already know that students do well on standardized tests and in the classroom where there is a strong community and home commitment to education. We also know the opposite is true. Should a teacher be penalized for having few, if any, of these students in their classrooms from communities and homes where education is important while another teacher down the hall has a class room full of these types of students? No. Again, how do you measure the quality of education taking place in a classroom when there are discrepancies between the home lives and community standards of the students?
Let me put it another way. Who is the better coach? The coach with a talented players who takes his team to the championship game or the coach without talented players who has a record slightly above .500 record for the season? Sometimes it depends. Sometimes it is a matter of opinion. The same holds true for teachers and those who evaluate them. No, I'm not a fan of the merit pay system for teachers.
* With less than two weeks left before the June 9'th, Roanoke, Va. Democratic Primary, get ready for "The Onzlee Ware, I'm a Victim Tour." Ware's already gone to his church and testified about the use of his campaign funds. And I'm sure Ware will testify about the controversy at other Black churches before Election Day. Ware has also told pro-Ware bloggers that he'd rather help the community with his campaign funds instead of building a campaign war-chest.
* It's easy to be noble when you are using other people's money. It's easy to play the victim game when it appears you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. Still, my issue with Ware isn't how he spends his campaign funds. The truth be told, the campaign finance laws in Virginia are pretty liberal. It's possible Ware did nothing illegal; questionable and unethical yes, illegal no. However, since Ware has refused to explain himself or his actions concerning the use of his campaign funds, even if Ware is innocent of any wrong doing, he appears to be guilty. Still, Ware only has himself to blame for the situation he is in.
* Ware needs to have a press conference, answer the allegations against him and be done with it. My guess is he's afraid of exposing himself to more questions, allegations and controversy. Plus, accountability has never been an Onzlee Ware strong suit. Frankly, stating his case the way he is doing it and playing the victim game is taking the easy way out.
* Still my main problem with Ware isn't his use of his campaign funds. My main problem with Ware is his sorry record in Richmond and the number of times he has sold out his district and the community in the General Assembly, detailed many, many times here in THE ARTIS BLOG. Ware isn't doing and hasn't done his job in Richmond.
WE THE PEOPLE
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND
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THE ARTIS BLOG
5/27/09
* I want to see Congress address the issue of health insurance. However, I do not believe Congress should make having health insurance mandatory. This is America. As an American, I should have the option of if I want to have health insurance or not.
* I disagree with President Obama on one thing, merit pay for teachers. There is no way anyone can come up with a system in which merit pay is decided fairly and equitably.
* I've been asked about the quality of education a child can get in the Roanoke, Va. Public School System. The drop out rate for the system is around 48%. The graduation rate for the system is around 52%. However, every year there are students who graduate from the Roanoke, Va. Public School System who have been accepted to attend some of the top colleges and universities in this country, including Harvard and the University of Virginia. If Roanoke City Schools were as bad as the statistics indicate, that simply would not be possible.
I tell parents, don't believe the statistics about the Roanoke, Va. Public School System. If they want their child to get a good education and then be able to go to the top colleges and universities this country has to offer, it is possible if their child is educated in the Roanoke, Va. Public School System.
* So what's the problem in the Roanoke, Va. Public School System? The problem is three-fold. One, there is little demand in several Roanoke communities for their children to do well in school. Second, there is a lack of programs in the Roanoke school system for those school children who have no desire to go to college; namely in vocational education. Third, too many students in the Roanoke Public School System take pride in under performing in school. To these students, "D's" or dropping out of school is cool.
* In the June 9'th, Virginia Democratic Primary for Governor, I don't have a clear choice. I do know I will support the winner of the Democratic Primary in November.
* I've been asked if the Roanoke, Va. NAACP will have a debate between Roanoke, Va. House of Delegate member Onzlee Ware and challenger Martin Jeffrey before the upcoming Democratic Primary on June 9'th. The answer is no, there will be no debate. Brenda Hale, President of the Roanoke NAACP, has endorsed Ware. This takes away any legitimacy of any debate between Ware and Jeffrey held by the Roanoke NAACP.
* I don't know why Hale supports Ware, given Ware's questionable voting record. The fact is, if Ware were a White Republican, the Roanoke NAACP would be raising hell about Ware's sorry voting record.
* I need to clear up something. I'd like to clear up the bad editing in my 5/20/09 ARTIS BLOG. The final entry of my 5/20/09 ARTIS BLOG said Ware was under investigation by the Virginia State Board of Election. I failed to specify that Martin Jeffrey has asked the State Board of Election to look into Ware's campaign spending. Due to that request, the Virginia State Board of Elections is looking into Ware's campaign spending and documentation of that spending.
* There are several questions within the district concerning the Ware campaign, namely the use of yard signs, the listing of people supporting Ware who don't live in the district or who are no longer with us, as well as, a number of other things. I listed those concerns along with I listed those concerns with those claims Jeffrey has made against the Ware campaign. I should have listed Jeffrey's claims and the district's concerns separetly.
* Still, I've seen Ware's campaign reports. There's no way in the world I would have done some of the things Ware has done with his campaign funds. There's no way in the world I would have left myself open to questions of questionable campaign spending.
I don't know if Ware has used his campaign funds as his own personal piggy bank. But, based on what I have seen, it sure looks that way. The Virginia State Board of Elections will soon decide if Ware did anything wrong.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU FRIDAY
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THE ARTIS BLOG
5/22/09
* I was very critical of Mike Vick, justifiably so. What Vick did was reckless, irresponsible, cruel, selfish, stupid, dumb, moronic and a host of other adjectives that describe inappropriate and criminal behavior.
* Mike Vick deserved to go to jail. He got what he deserved.
* That said, Mike Vick has paid his debt to society.
* Mike Vick deserves a second chance. Mike Vick deserves a chance to play in the NFL.
* Mike Vick has served his time in prison for the crimes he has committed. He has lost most of his money, about $150 million by some estimates. He has no hope of gaining any money from future endorsement deals. If he is allowed to return to the NFL, he will be paid far less than he would have been paid under normal circumstances.
* It's time to move on.
* I will be pulling for Mike Vick. I hope he becomes an All-Pro again. I hope he leads his team to the playoffs. I hope he leads his team to the Super Bowl. I hope he gets a Super Bowl ring.
* I will continue to keep my Mike Vick rookie card. I will buy Mike Vick action figures, if they ever make them again. I will wear a Mike Vick jersey.
* I want this guy to succeed. I want this guy to become a super star once again. Everyone deserves a second chance.
* Yes, Mike Vick did wrong. But, enough is enough. PETA and others are entitled to their opinions. However, it's time to move on.
HAVE A SAFE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
DON'T FORGET THOSE VETERANS WHO ARE STILL WITH US AND THOSE VETERANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES SO WE CAN LIVE FREE
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
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THE ARTIS BLOG
5/20/09
* BUSTED? Is Roanoke, Va. House of Delegate member, Onzlee Ware, using campaign funds for his own personal use? Read THE ROANOKE FREE PRESS article on this growing controversy. A link to THE ROANOKE FREE PRESS is posted above. You may also click on the following link: www.theroanokefreepress.com.
* There's always something with the Ware campaign. Let's see. . .
* Did Ware file the paperwork for his campaign on time?
* Is Ware using the names of deceased people in his campaign ads in local newspapers?
* Is Ware using his campaign funds to run a non-profit organization?
* Are Ware's lady friend, Ms. Malone, and Total Action Against Poverty getting campaign funds from Ware for their role in Ware's Juneteenth event?
* Is Ware actually paying people to put campaign signs in their yards?
* If Ware is using campaign funds for his own personal use, what is the full extent of this practice? Plus, is Ware the actual treasurer of his own campaign?
* Is the mainstream press going to look into this controversy or are they going to give Ware the usual free pass?
* Is Ware going to come clean on these issues or is Ware going to do what he usually does, hide and make excuses?
* The State Board of Elections is investigating. Hopefully we'll have the answers soon.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU FRIDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
5/15/09
* Less than one month to go until JUNETEENTH '09.
* Some people in the Black community are finally waking up and supporting school vouchers. It's about time. Black children, or any child for that matter, should not be made to go to crappy schools. After all, there's a big difference between children who fail in school and schools that fail our children. When schools fail our children, our children should have the option to go to another school. I'm all for school vouchers and charter schools.
* Here's something to watch out for as President Obama gets deeper into his political agenda. The biggest problem he will face will not be the Republicans in Congress. The biggest problem he will face will be fellow Democrats in Congress who will have issues with what President Obama wants to do, especially those Democrats from the far left wing and the far right wing of the Democratic Party.
* Speaking of which. . . the dreaded Torture Memos. Nancy Pelosi? What do you know and when did you know it? Did the CIA really lie to you as you claim? Given the climate in the Bush White House at the time, I'm leaning toward Pelosi's side of the story for now.
* Have you noticed Congressional Republicans moving closer to the center? That's got to really tick off Dick Chaney and Rush Limbaugh. I wonder if Batman and Robin will call those Republicans Democrats like they have called Colin Powell?
* Bird Flu? I told you so. We got all worked up for nothing.
* Have you read this month's Roanoker Magazine? There's a very interesting article about Roanoke, Va. City Manager Darlene Burcham. This time last year, the magazine was in Burcham's corner. Now, the magazine wants Burcham to go. What a difference a year makes.
* Money, money, money. Mel Gibson paid his ex-wife $52 million a year to keep quiet about their split. The payments began three years ago. Home Girl is getting paid. Hey Mel, I'll shut up for $29.95.
* In the meantime, America's favorite deadbeat father, K-Fed, is getting $40,000 a month in spousal and child support payments from Brittany Spears. Reports say K-Fed is going broke and will ask the courts for more of Ms. Spears' money. Like I said, America's favorite deadbeat Dad.
* The NBA finals? Lakers v. Cavs, Kobe v. LeBron. LeBron and the Cavs in 6 games.
WE THE PEOPLE
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND
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THE ARTIS BLOG
5/13/09
* Check out the updated list of participants and musical groups who will perform at the Roanoke, Va. SCLC's Juneteenth '09 Celebration on June 13. To see the updated list, please click on the "JUNETEENTH '09" link posted at the top of this page.
* To the readers of THE ARTIS BLOG who live in Roanoke, Va. be careful. There's a beef going on between the SW gang and the LTP gang. I won't go into detail into what has already happened. Let's just say these two gangs are not playing around.
* A few months ago, the thought of General Motors filing for bankruptcy protection scared me. Now, I think it might be a good idea. Bankruptcy protection might be the only way to keep GM from going out of business altogether. Here's what I don't understand. GM is doing great in China. If GM has its act together in China, what's GM's problem in America?
* I don't know about you, but, I can't wait to see Mike Vick play pro football again. The man's paid his debt to society. In fact, the man has more than paid his debt to society. It's time to move on.
* And yes, I'm a dog owner. My dog is part of the family. But, it's time to move on.
* I know you've heard all about it. Wanda Sykes was over the top at last weekend's big media gala in Washington. To her credit, she admitted she went to far when talking about Rush Limbaugh.
* This controversy also shows what sissies the Right Wing of the Republican Party are. I listen to talk radio. I've heard what Limbaugh, Hannity and others have said about President Obama. Yet, these guys cry like babies when someone gives them a taste of their own medicine. They can dish it out. But, they can't take it. Come on Right Wing Conservatives. Man up.
* I found this rather interesting. I've been told that Roanoke, Va. House of Delegate member Onzlee Ware has paid his good friend, some say girlfriend, Leticia Malone $2,500 to coordinate his upcoming Juneteenth event. The money came from Ware's campaign fund. Ware has also used campaign funds to set up his Juneteenth event.
* This is not illegal. But, it shows that Ware's Juneteenth event is political in nature. Given this fact, 4013-C non-profits could lose their tax exempt status by joining Ware in celebrating Juneteenth. By law, non-profits are not allowed to participate in political events. It is also why the Roanoke SCLC and I don't have any problem with Ware's Juneteenth event. As far as we are concerned, Ware's event is good for the community.
* Have you see that lasting NASCAR standings? Jeff Gordon, baby!
WE THE PEOPLE
I'LL SEE YOU FRIDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
5/11/09
* No, I haven't gotten lazy. I'm just spending some quality time with my family. But, here goes.
* I get a chuckle out of Republicans who have anything bad to say about Colin Powell. Actually, I hope these mad Republicans keep it up. Republicans like Limbaugh and Dick Chaney just show how extreme the Republican Party has become.
* You have to wonder about the Catholic Church. If a priest fools around with a girl, the Catholic Church publicly tries to get rid of the priest. If a priest sexually abuses an alter boy, the priest is secretly transferred to another church and the church blames homosexuality. It just isn't right.
* No, I'm not making this up. Some Black preachers in Washington D.C. have called former D.C. mayor, Marion Berry, (yes, that Marion Berry) a "moral leader." Why? Berry voted against making same sex marriage legal in Washington, the only Washington, D.C. City Council member to do so. In what world is Marion Berry the "moral leader" of anything? Someone needs to explain the meaning of "moral leader" to those Black ministers.
* When will we learn that gay marriage will not cause the end of civilization as we know it.
* Yes, I am a supporter of gay marriage. I support gay rights. I believe that laws against gay marriage is a violation of a gay person's Constitutional rights.
* I am embarrassed by the Roanoke, Va. House of Delegate Democratic Primary between Delegate Onzlee Ware and Martin Jeffrey. Jeffrey has raised questions concerning Ware's campaign paperwork. Instead of producing the paperwork and clearing up the matter, Ware is claiming the Jeffrey Campaign is only bringing up the paperwork issue to get publicity for his campaign.
* The way Ware plays fast and loose with everything he is involved in, it wouldn't surprise me if the paperwork controversy was real. Judging from Ware's reaction to Jeffrey's claim, the fact that Ware hasn't produced the paper work in question tells me that something is up.
* The Jeffrey Campaign has asked for an investigation. Don Caldwell, Roanoke, Va.'s Commonwealth Attorney, has said he won't participate in any publicity stunt concerning a campaign that is in trouble. I guess Caldwell has forgotten what his job is. By the way, Caldwell is a Ware supporter.
* Brenda Hale, the President of the Roanoke, Va. NAACP, is supporting Ware. First, Hale doesn't live in Ware's district. In fact, most of the heavy hitters supporting Ware don't live in his district. (And don't be fooled by all of the Ware campaign signs you see. I'm being told that some folks are being paid to put Ware's campaign signs in their yards.) Second, a Civil Rights leader supporting Onzlee Ware for re-election given his anti-Black voting record in Richmond? It makes a person wonder if the world's gone crazy.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
5/4/09
* As an historian, I don't put a lot of stock in a President's first 100 days. Frankly, it doesn't mean a whole lot. Nor, is a President's first 100 days a true indicator of how good a President a person will be. But, I will say this. President Obama is off to a great start. I'd give him an "A" for what he has done so far. I don't agree with everything he has done or wants to do. But, the man's got it going on.
* Plus, I just love listening to the sour grapes of people who thought President Obama was going to destroy America. He's been President 100 days and we are still here as strong as ever.
* Am I the only person in America that's not worried about the Swine Flu? Come on people. There are over 300 million people in America. There have been less than 200 reported cases of Swine Flu. Yet, everyone is in a panic. Why are we thinking the world is going to end? When did Americans become such sissies?
* Those who want to close the Mexican/US border because of the Swine Flu are either misguided or racist.
* No, the Republican Party is not dead. It's just reorganizing. And it's gonna be one hell of a fight.
* It's the Fantasy World, (the anti-everything crowd) v. the Real World, (those who don't view things as absolute). After a lot of blood letting, look for the Real World Republicans to win. America will be better off for it. After all, you can't run a country based on excluding 75% of your population.
* In the meantime, look for Democrats to be in charge for a loooooooooong, loooooooooong time.
* Arlen Spector a Democrat? The man's seen the handwriting on the wall. Spector can't win re-election so he switched parties. Spector won't be a rubber stamp vote for President Obama so we will have to wait and see how this thing is going to work out.
* I may sit out the Democratic Primary between Roanoke, Va. House of Delegate member Onzlee Ware and Martin Jeffrey. I will never vote for Ware. I haven't made up my mind about voting for Jeffrey. Still, I've got to be honest. Jeffrey will represent the 11'th district far better than Ware ever has or ever will.
* I've now know what DTV really means. Lousy tv reception. The picture goes out when the wind blows, when it rains, when it's cloudy, when it snows, when it's too cold and when it's too hot. I could see if this happened because I lived in the middle of nowhere. But, I live less than 5 miles from every tv station in Roanoke, Va. I want my analog tv back.
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
WE THE PEOPLE
THE ARTIS BLOG
5/1/09
THE FOLLOWING IS MY COLUMN FROM THE 4/30/09 EDITION OF THE ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL.
As warm weather hits and summer begins, I have a message to my young Black brothers out there. Stop being your own worst enemy. Stop getting involved in the American criminal justice system. Stop making babies you do not want to take care of. Stop flunking out of school. Stop chasing unrealistic dreams. Stop thinking you cannot be successful because you are Black, poor, or come from a single parent household. Stop thinking that racism will always hold the Black man down. Stop blaming the White man for all of your problems. Start thinking that the only thing keeping you from becoming a success are the limitations you place on yourself.
There is no excuse for the numbers we have in the Black community when it comes to the rates we have in the areas of crime, teenage pregnancies, absentee fathers, students dropping out of school, unemployment and underemployment, the HIV/AIDS and a host of other problems that adversely and disproportionately affect the Black community, especially when the solutions to these problems are so readily available.
It starts with self. Believe in yourself. Do not base your self worth on what others are telling you. Understand that those who say you are no good simply because you want to succeed only say so because they do not want you to succeed. This includes family members and friends who do not want you to succeed because your failure makes them feel better. Do not fall for this “crabs-in-a-barrel” mentality where people do not want you to be successful because they cannot be. Simply put, do not let anyone crush your dreams.
You must realize that you can do nothing without an education. It doesn’t matter if you can run as fast as a horse, jump out of a gym, sing like a bird or throw a baseball 100 mph. Without an education, you are doomed to being controlled instead of being in control. After all, isn't that what's life is all about, being able to do what you want when you want?
As your generation says, “It’s all about the Benjamins.” You need to understand that the most important thing you have to do in your life is get a good education. Education holds the keys to being successful in life. The more education you have, the more Benjamins you will make.
I hear a number of you young Brothers talking about being “hard.“ You take pride in your ability to beat someone up, fire a gun or disrespect young girls who should know better. Your vocabulary consists of words that should never be used in public. Brothers, let me tell you the truth. Being “hard” isn’t being a man. Being "hard" just makes you expendable.
Let me tell you something else. The most dangerous Black man in America doesn’t carry a gun. He carries a book. He takes care of his family. He avoids the American criminal justice system. He takes care of his community. He works for positive change. He doesn’t work for the chump change many of you get from an illegal hustle.
No, Brothers, I’m not passing judgment on you. Sometimes, the truth hurts.
WE THE PEOPLE
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND
FROM THE MONTH OF APRIL
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/9/09
THIS TIME, I HAVE TO SAY NO
Good Morning,
I hope all's well. I want to let you know that I will not be running against Mr. Ware in November. At this time, my rightful place is with my wife and family, not on the campaign trial. I am sure there will come a day when Ware and I will go head to head in an election. I look forward to that day. We need representation in Richmond for our district, not some wannabe delegate who is only interested in helping himself and his money men who don't even know where Ware's district is.
Thank you so much for your support while I decided what I was going to do. Given my wife's health, I know you will understand my decision.
* One other thing. If you took a look last week at the 4/1/09 edition of THE ARTIS BLOG posted below, you may have noticed a huge gap in the blog that looked like something was missing. Well, something was missing.
For the 4/1/09 edition of THE ARTIS BLOG, I posted my 3/26/09 column from THE ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL about Mr. Ware and why I don't support him. The first paragraph from that column was somehow missing from THE ARTIS BLOG; the column's opening paragraph where I wrote that I don't support amoral politicians who are more interested in being "Head Negro In Charge" than they are interested in representing their constituents. I also wrote some other things.
I didn't remove the paragraph. I'll give you three guesses as to who was responsible for the missing paragraph. The first two guesses don't count. I left THE ARTIS BLOG as it was so you can see for yourself what happened. I have since added the missing paragraph.
Of course, no one has taken responsibility for the missing paragraph. But, I'm was not surprised that someone would do something to THE ARTIS BLOG given what I wrote about Ware. After all, the truth hurts. Ware can't deal with the truth. Plus, I know how Ware and his people operate. They are gutless. They are cowards. They hate being held accountable for their actions.
Funny thing, however. Folks like that never scare me. I'm not afraid of thug politicians or their thug followers. In fact, folks like Ware and his flunkies only work to motivate me. And trust me, I am motivated.
HAPPY EASTER
WE THE PEOPLE
I'LL SEE YOU APRIL 20'TH
THE ARTIS BLOG
APRIL 1, 2009
THE FOLLOWING IS MY COLUMN FROM THE 3/26/09 EDITION OF THE ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL
If you have ever read The Artis Blog on my website, JeffArtis.com, you know that I am not a fan of Roanoke, Va. House of Delegate member, Onzlee Ware. I am often asked why. The answer is simple. I do not support amoral politicians, who sell out their constituents for their own personal gain, who also work to sabotage so much of the work by individuals and organizations that strive to make the community better. I will never support any politician who is more interested in being “Head Negro In Charge” as opposed to doing the job he was elected to do - representing the people of his district fairly and equally.
Roanoke, Va. community activist, Martin Jeffrey, has announced that he is running against Ware for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming June Primary. I wish him well. Jeffrey needs five things to defeat Ware; money, organization, credibility, political connections and possibly some information on Ware that no one knows about.
Like former Washington D.C. mayor, Marion Barry, many in Onzlee Ware’s district and some in the local media are very forgiving when it comes to Ware and his actions. It appears Ware has been forgiven for his involvement in the drug trade in 1975, as well as, Ware's cover-up of his involvement in the drug trade which nearly cost Ware his life. Ware's sorry record in the Virginia General Assembly which includes several sellouts of his constituents, a refusal by Ware to help remove a racist, sexist judge from the bench, putting campaign contributions ahead of his constituents and Ware's refusal to help Black candidates in local City Council elections does not seem to matter, either.
Ware has gotten a free pass for attempting to rig the 2008 Roanoke City Council Democratic Primary - his war on Carolyn Word, after she was elected head of the Roanoke City Democratic Committee several years ago when Ware helped form a second Democratic Party in Roanoke. I have also been told of Ware's attempt to keep noted educator, Mignon Chubb-Hale, from getting reappointed to the Roanoke School Board, and to have Roanoke civil rights icon, Perneller Chubb-Wilson, removed from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Ware also has worked to sabotage Roanoke’s SCLC Juneteenth Celebration in order to promote his own.
Ware has also received a free pass for introducing legislation in the General Assembly to make it easier for local governments to take the land of tax paying citizens through eminent domain by using the phony guise of public safety.
One reason Ware receives a free pass is because he is a master at going into the White community and saying one thing while telling the Black community the complete opposite. It’s interesting listening to Ware “talk Black.” During the methadone clinic debate, I thought I was talking with H. Rap Brown. It should be noted that Republicans love Ware - especially White Republicans who should know better. All the while, no one takes the time to check Ware’s record, especially some in the local Roanoke media who are either too lazy to do their jobs as reporters or who jump at the chance to kiss Ware’s ring whenever they can.
Roanoke, Va. Vice Mayor, Sherman Lea, can defeat Ware in any election. The problem is, Lea won't run. Personally, I wish he would. I would love to see Lea in Richmond. At least then, I would know my district has a representative who is actually representing me, not exploiting me.
To have a chance of beating Ware in the June primary, Jeffrey will need to raise at least $100,000 for his campaign. Given Ware's Republican support and his current war chest, even that amount may not be enough. Still, I admire Jeffrey's actions. It’s sad that Ware’s people tried to disrupt Jeffrey’s announcement to run against him. It’s never easy taking on the king. But, no elected official should be allowed to run for re-election unopposed. That is simply unAmerican. I will say this. The Ware - Jeffrey race will be interesting.