Send A Tiger To The U.S. Senate To Replace The Lion

By Stephanie E. Myers and Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
National Co-Chairs, Black Women for Obama for Change

On Tuesday, December 8, 2009 Massachusetts voters will select a candidate to fill the seat of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, known as “Lion of the Senate.” On behalf of Black Women for Obama for Change, a national volunteer network, we encourage voters of Massachusetts to select a new “Tiger for the Senate” -- Congressman Mike Capuano. Mike is the type of fighter we need in the Congress to push for healthcare reform, education, new jobs at home, increased contracting opportunities for women and minorities and most importantly--ending the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We encourage all voters--particularly African American voters and women, to support Mike Capuano--a tireless advocate for social and economic justice. We need his determined support to back President Obama’s agenda in the U.S. Congress and to continue Senator Ted Kennedy’s efforts on behalf of disenfranchised and underserved constituencies in our society. As we researched Mike’s record we were impressed with his advocacy on behalf of issues important to us including: his support for a woman's right to choose; his opposition against the War in Iraq; his support for civil liberties and opposition to the PATRIOT Act; his support for affordable housing; support for health reform and a public health insurance option. We also appreciated his establishing the Sudan Caucus, an effort dedicated to bringing attention to the ongoing genocide in the Sudan, and his leadership to find funding to help women who are victimized by the use of rape as a weapon during war.

We must remember the Massachusetts Senate seat means a lot to African Americans. Prior to his election as U.S. President, John F. Kennedy represented Massachusetts from 1952-60 where he supported Dr. Martin Luther King and civil rights leaders who fought segregation and worked for voting rights for disenfranchised black voters. For 46 years, Senator Ted Kennedy held the seat and fought for health rights, civil rights, immigration, cancer research, health insurance, mental health benefits, children’s health insurance, education and social and economic justice. Ted Kennedy also fought against apartheid, disability discrimination and intolerance.

We need Mike Capuano to represent Massachusetts as a “Tiger in the Senate” to continue the fight on those issues. His reputation as a street fighter and tough negotiator is needed during these difficult economic times. We, of Black Women for Obama for Change are counting on him to fight for job creation, health reform with a public option, early childhood education and education, economic development and increased opportunities for women and minority contractors. We are also counting on him to continue his opposition to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We are pleased to join Massachusetts First Lady Diane Duval, State Representative Marie St. Fleur, BWFO4Change leaders Faye Morrison and Shirley Wilcher, twenty Massachusetts Mayors and scores of Labor Unions in support of the future “Tiger of the Senate” -- Mike Capuano. We urge all voters—particularly Black voters and women voters to support him for U.S. Senate on December 8, 2009. It is imperative that we keep this Senate seat as a seat for social justice.

Black Women for Obama for Change is a national volunteer network headed by Co-Chairs Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq., Washington, D.C. Attorney and National Chair of the National Congress of Black Women; and Stephanie E. Myers, Vice President, R.J. Myers Publishing & Consulting Company and former Presidential Appointee.