Amos Brown Cracks Up Over Carson-Dickerson Poll

On my way to the blogger's forum this afternoon with several Democratic legislative candidates, I did something I've never done before and will never make the mistake of doing again: I listened to Amos Brown's radio talk show on WTLC-AM. During the short time I listened to Brown's rantings, he was having a complete crack up over WTHR-TV's poll showing Republican Eric Dickerson edging Rep. Julia Carson (D) by a 45%-42% margin. It seems, according to Brown, WTHR conspired with Republicans to fix the poll's outcome by deliberately under-representing African-Americans and over-representing Republicans.

Now, it is always fair to question the methodology of a poll. They are not always reliable, and they offer a mere snapshot of what voters are thinking during an election. I would observe that Brown or none of the other Democrats complained when WISH-TV released an incredible poll last month showing Melina Kennedy with a lead over Brizzi, and another poll showing Carson with a 20-point lead over Dickerson. That latter poll showed Carson capturing 55% of the vote, a feat she hasn't accomplished in any recent elections. There was reason to believe that poll's methodology was suspect, but you didn't hear Dickerson, Brizzi or other Republicans jumping up and down screaming foul.

As he and some of his callers ranted about the poll, I was taken aback by the degree of the hatred he and some of his listeners seem to direct at Dickerson for daring as a black man to challenge apparently the only person qualified to represent black people in the district, Rep. Carson. While claiming that the poll was rigged, Brown expressed concern that the 7th District would send the only African-American Republican to Congress this year as a member of the minority party, assured that Democrats will recapture control of the House this election. He thinks that would be a big waste because Carson is sure to have lots of influence if Democrats regain control of the House. Carson is currently ranked dead last in influence among Indiana's current congressional delegation, even among those with lesser seniority. It is hard to see that change any in the new Congress, particularly with the challenges she faces from her declining health.

The hypocritical Brown recently raised questions about Dickerson's outreach efforts to black ministers for support. He accused Dickerson of buying access to black churches. Interestingly, he makes no mention of the fact that Carson is shown by local television stations entering black churches to campaign every election year--a clear violation of federal nonprofit laws which prohibit churches from engaging in partisan politics. Brown also recently tried to tamp down concerns that Sen. Barack Obama came into town to raise money for three white Democratic candidates but not Carson. Quoting Obama, Brown said: “Julia, she is so far ahead, that she really doesn’t have an opponent. I just love Congresswoman Carson.” “(But) our focus really has to be on those marginal races that are really going to put Congress over the top,” Obama continued.

If Brown's tirade this afternoon is any indication, Dickerson better be prepared for the worst two weeks of his life. It is clear that Carson and friends like Brown will do everything conceivable over the next two weeks to personally destroy him, not that they haven't already been doing their darned best to do just this. Carson and Brown are very threatened by any emerging African-American leaders who don't kowtow to their thought of what makes an acceptable black leader. It is unfortunate that a successful member of the Indianapolis black community has to be disrespected so much by the likes of Brown and Carson just because of the political party they identify themselves with--the party I might add that freed the slaves, gave us the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, integrated the U.S. military, initiated the first school desegregation efforts and made possible the Civil Rights Act of 1964.