The eight Democratic presidential candidates participated in a debate at Howard University—one of the nation's historically black colleges and universities—that focused on issues considered key to black voters, such as equality, health care and HIV/AIDS. PBS televised the debate moderated by Tavis Smiley.
After a 15-minute introduction by several parties, including radio host Tom Joyner and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, the candidates responded to several questions on domestic policy. (The format was cumbersome and restrictive, allowing only one minute for responses and no engaging.) One of the highlights of the night was the exchange on HIV/AIDS. Sen. Hillary Clinton drew the loudest cheer and the night's only standing ovation when she addressed the manner in which HIV/AIDS was treated in this country.
“Let me just put this in perspective,” Mrs. Clinton said. “If HIV/AIDS were the leading cause of death of white women between the ages of 25 and 34, there would be an outraged outcry in this country.”
“If we don’t begin to take it seriously and address it the way we did back in the ‘90s, when it was primarily a gay white men’s disease, we will never get the services and the public education that we need.”
Clinton's standing ovation came just moments after Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico complimented the Bush Administration's work to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. (More on the nascent Richardson campaign later today.) But it was Sen. Barack Obama who first mentioned blacks and homophobia. "We don't talk about this. We don't talk about it in schools. Sometimes we don't talk about it in churches. It has been an aspect sometimes of our homophobia that we don't address this issue as clearly as it needs to be." Unfortunately, Obama failed to note the lack of black leadership from the black church on HIV/AIDS and homophobia, but, this was a friendly audience and that definitely would have cost him support.
The candidates criticized the Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling from earlier that morning and reminded everyone that race remains the third rail of American society. "We have made enormous progress, but the progress we have made is not good enough," Sen. Obama noted. He also took a jab at President George Bush's No Child Left Behind program:"You can't leave money behind and unfortunately that's what's been done," he said.
The debate was perfect platform for former Sen. John Edwards to expand upon his strong positions on health care, race and economics, "We have two health care systems in America. And we know that race plays an enormous role in the problems that African-Americans face and the problems that African-Americans face with health care every single day." Edwards added, "There are huge health care disparities, which is why we need universal health care in this country."
Democrats Court Black Vote [LA Times]
Domestic Issues Frame Democratic Debate [NYT]
Live Blogging the Candidates:4 [Republic of T]
Obama Addresses Black Homophobia [Pam Spaulding]
Some Background ...
SCOTUS Rejects School Diversity [R20]
Obama Warns of Black "Quiet Riot [R20]
Newspaper Headlines Michelle Obama as "Sassy" [R20]
Clinton and Obama Targeted by Death Threats [R20]
Deval Patrick to Introduce Candidates at Debate [R20]
Clinton Names Prominent Gay Supporters [R20]
Obama Campaign Names Gay Supporters [R20]
Behind the Gay-Friendly Faces [Advocate]
The Advocate: Clinton vs Obama [R20]
Memo to Mr. Geffen: Get Over It [R20]
Hillary Big Brother "Ad" [R20]
Obama Strategist Behind Hillary Big Brother Ad [R20]
Good point. Richardson 
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell
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