NEW ORLEANS - A day after mayoral candidate Troy Henry lashed out at the media for what he categorized as racially biased coverage on the dynamics of the mayor’s race became further inflamed after Mayor Ray Nagin said on a local radio show that Henry’s accusations were accurate.
“He’s on point,” Nagin said when asked by WBOK talk show host Gerrod Stephens his reaction to Henry’s comments. “He’s absolutely on point.”
“You guys are referees," Henry said Wednesday at the impromptu press conference, which he held to "discuss the future of his candidacy." "You're not supposed to be wearing a jersey," he chastised reporters.
Nagin applauded Henry's comments and warned about possible attacks from the media: “You have Troy, God bless his heart, trying to come out yesterday and chastise the media. Now, I hope he's ready for it. For every action, there is a reaction.”
"They've beaten me up just about everyday since I came out and said everybody should return to the city. And don't talk about the Chocolate City speech. Since all of that stuff has gone down, I have been rentelessly attacked. So for me, the next four months, I'm looking forward to 2010. To me, it's time to speak up again, that's my motto."
Wednesday, Henry said he was disappointed by the coverage of the African American candidates in mayor’s race by the media, especially after an African American favorite in the race, state Sen. Ed Murray, announced he was withdrawing, saying that two journalists repeatedly were bringing up the possibility of a run-off with two white candidates, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu and John Georges.
James Perry disagreed with Henry, saying Henry’s press conference was a stunt. Nagin took Perry to task: “Who is running James campaign? Who is behind James? Stunt? Isn't this the same guy that ran an ad with people cussing to get attention?
“I don't know James. He looks like an intelligent brother. I applaud him for running, but I don't think he understands what he's into. I really don't.”
Quickly, Nagin’s comments spread, prompting Perry to respond via Twitter: “Ray Nagin just attacked me on The radio. He doesn't like that I want unify the City and bridge the racial divide.” Perry’s girlfriend Melissa Harris-Lacewell, a Princeton professor, MSNBC commentator and frequent contributor to the Huffington Post, also called into the station and argued with the mayor.
“I don’t get it,” said Nagin of Murray’s reasons to leave the race. “I think we’re being played.”
"A heated run-off election between Mitch and me,” said Murray in an earlier statement, “would probably become extremely racially divisive, whether either of us intended it or not. I am not prepared to get elected at any cost."
“It seems like with Ed getting out people are in disarray and don't know where to turn," said Nagin. “I love Ed Murray. He's a great guy; he's one of the most effective legislators that we have. The brother can get some stuff done in Baton Rouge. But to run for mayor was kinda out of his comfort zone. The brother is almost kind of standoffish.”
Gambit columnist and WWL-TV political analyst Clancy DuBos said in an earlier column, citing Dec. 30 polling data by Dr. Silas Lee shown to Murray that had the senator in low double digits but with room to grow among African American voters, “The lieutenant governor’s numbers in this poll showed him ahead by a large margin, with nearly 50 percent of the vote. When you account for the fact that ‘undecided’ respondents in a poll tend not to vote, Landrieu already has a majority of the decided vote.”
Nagin downplayed the polls, using his previous run for re-election. “This race is far from over. I don’t believe any of these frickin’ polls.”
“I seen this crap before. Don't be hoodwinked, don't be fooled and think that this thing is over, because it's not. And I use me as an example. Last time I ran for re-election, everybody counted me out but you, the people, you have the power. You have the numbers, you have the power, if you show up and vote.”
