The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who seems to be vying for employee of the month, has been ubiquitous around the White House. While Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., issued a stinging rebuke of Clinton, her stance was rare. It is not news, of course, that African Americans have been strong backers of Clinton. In 1992, while Clinton won only 39 percent of the white vote, he won 83 percent of the black vote. In 1996, a similar configuration occurred, with blacks giving Clinton 84 percent of their votes, compared to 43 percent for whites.
Polls continue to show extremely high black approval ratings for the president.
A New York Times August 29 survey found a support rate of 94 percent. Clinton has clearly tapped into the ethos of redemption that remains strong in the black community. But all has not been rosy with the Clinton administration. These have been devastating to African Americans, workers, women and others. African Americans and other traditional Democratic constituencies need to begin to think about the future.