Mrs. Dewson's perspectiveRuth Dewson, the owner of Mrs. Dewson's Hats at Fillmore St. and California St., where former Mayor Willie Brown gets many of his signature head coverings, used the term "mind-boggling" to describe the lack of support black leaders in the this state have given her presidential candidate, Barack Obama. She specifically called out preachers.
"When a politician comes to your church, you don't owe them anything," Mrs. Dewson said. She added that so many local black ministers support Hillary Clinton simply because they backed Bill Clinton in the '90s. She spoke with us from the Obama campaign party at the Fairmont Hotel Grand Ballroom.
Notably, Reverend Amos Brown, head of the San Francisco chapter of the NAACP, "should be ashamed of his people," according to Mrs. Dewson. She sees an opportunity being squandered by California's African-Americans. The Obama campaign won 12 more state primaries tonight, but still remains in a tight race with Clinton after the former first lady appears to have won here.
"South Carolina opened the door for us," Mrs. Dewson said. "They opened the door, and all we had to do was walk through and we'd have a president of our own."
She certainly wasn't giving up, however. Donned in a red-feathered hat, Mrs. Dewson was still chanting "Obama" as she got in a cab to leave. (Michael Leonard)
digg •
del.icio.us •
sphere •
google
•
Comments (1)
My wife and I met Ms. Dewson last week while having lunch on Filmore Street. We were in San Francisco vacationing. I personally hope that Ms. Dewson is not is not representative of the type of individual who is supporting Barack Obama and I know she is not. My wife and I have four chidren between both of us; with two of our kids backing Obama and two backing Clinton. This is not my point.
While sitting down to have lunch, Ms. Dewson sat down next to us. My wife, who is an extremely out going individual, said hello to Ms.Dewson and complimented her on her hat. They spoke small talk for a few minutes when out of the blue Ms. Dewson asked my wife who she was supporting for President. My wife said and I quote " who ever is the Democratic candidate." That was not not enough for Ms. Dewson, she started pressing my wife who she voted for during the primary; finally my wife said Hillary. With that Ms. Dewson stopped talking to her and pushed her hand at her.
Then Ms. Dewson starting talking about how slimy the Clintons were and it would be a travesty if they got back in the White House. She was very demeaning and starting saying other things about my wife's religion.
My wife and I have really never agreed politically. I am an independent closer to a moderate Republican and my wife is independent closer to a moderate Democrat. We have always been repectful for each others political views. We had just come from Phoenix where we were visting my wife sister and brother-in-law who are both Obama supporters.
So what is my point? Barack Obama talks about bringing us together and I believe him. I do not believe that Ms. Dewson has been listening to his speeches. Or if she has may she does not understand the words or worse yet does not really want to bring us together. I have always believed that we live in the greatest country on earth. A country where everyone was entitled to have their individual views and there views were to be respected. Ms. Dewson is as bad as the right wing radio hosts like Michael Salvage out of San Francisco who does not respect other peoples' views who are different than his. Ms. Dewson why don't you look in the mirror and understand in your own way you are a bigot.
Posted by Jerome A. Harris | February 17, 2008 07:04 PM