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Local
black leaders react to Moore
September
26, 2006
By JOSEPH
BUTLER
Index-Journal
intern
Since
the NAACP initiated a boycott of South Carolina in 2000 over
the Confederate flag flying on Statehouse grounds, the
organization has had its candidates forums out of
state.
This year’s forum will be on Oct. 12, in Augusta,
Ga., but it’s already stirring up another controversy of its
own.
State Sen. Tommy Moore, the Democratic candidate for
governor, has decided not to participate, while Gov. Mark
Sanford has accepted the invitation.
According to a recent
story published in The State, Lonnie Randolf, president of the
S.C. chapter of the National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People, said that Moore is disrespecting black
voters by not attending and believes his decision might cost
him the support of black voters.
Chris Carpenter, Moore’s
campaign manager, said in a letter to Randolf that it was not
appropriate to discuss South Carolina issues outside of the
state, according to the same article.
Greenwood Mayor Floyd
Nicholson, who supports Moore, said he assumes Moore has
“viable reasons” for his decision but can’t say what effect it
will have on the election. Black voters are beginning to
change, Nicholson said. They are not just looking at what
party a candidate is, but are looking at the
individual.
“I’m looking at his (Moore’s) platform,”
Nicholson said, “but I don’t want him to shun or disrespect
any group.”
County Council member Edith Childs agrees with
Moore’s decision. “It doesn’t make sense to go to Georgia to
discuss South Carolina issues,” Childs said. “I support the
NAACP, always have, but not on this issue.” Childs said she
doesn’t believe the decision will have any affect on black
voters.
“Black people will understand what is taking
place,” Childs said. “They will know the decision by Tommy
Moore was (reasonable).” Another County Council member, Gonza
Bryant, said he agrees that South Carolina issues should be
discussed in South Carolina, but he also thinks that the
boycott is a serious issue that should be discussed.
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