Volume
1 Issue 1 - March 2001
Independent Voters
It is not about which flag flies over the capitol dome! Nor is it about religious preferences!
It is about economic development, educational quality, tax reform, health care and financial growth. Voter News Network is targeting key pocketbook issues that impact our daily lives. It is a news service focusing on the politics of Alabama and Washington. We are implementing a new political strategy for independent thinkers. Voter News Network is bringing us together as "political free agents."
The political free agent idea was originally conceived to encourage black voters to carve out a political niche; to mobilize and organize an independent group that demands the attention of everyone seeking state or national offices. We advocated this concept in an editorial published in the Birmingham News, Montgomery Advertiser, and other newspapers around the state. The overwhelming positive response from non-African Americans to the editorial forced us to reevaluate our audience.
[Editor's note: this editorial is available on the website VoterNewsNetwork.com]
In response to the editorial written by Voter News Network's publisher, Donald V. Watkins, The Birmingham News wrote, " Watkins has a point, but it extends well beyond black voters. In fact, every voter should strive to pick leaders based on their record and their positions, not their party affiliation. Because it's not which party the candidate belongs to that matters; it's where the candidate stands on issues that affect the community, the state, the nation." We agree.
As customary, for many officials, party allegiance has overshadowed what is good and what is right. Blind allegiance to any party dilutes political strength. Voters are taken for granted and ignored.
Voter News Network's immediate goal is to communicate to over 150,000 adult Alabama residents monthly. The launching of this website is the first phase of the news service. This will be followed by the publication of the monthly newsletter. Expansion plans include a syndicated radio talk show, five nights per week broadcast throughout the state and interactive Web TV. Our long-term goal is to increase our ability to communicate with over 300,000 adult Alabama residents by January 2004, and expand the website to include news coverage for independent voters in other states.
Our mission is to organize and mobilize independent voters by using every communication vehicle available. Voter News Network will work to make Alabama a national landmark for political free agents and independent voters.
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LEGISLATIVE HOT POTATOES
UA TO GET NEW TRUSTEE - OR MAYBE NOT!
IT'S POLITICAL JOCKEY-ING TIME
BUDDY OR BID PROCESS: PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS APPROVED BY STATE AGENCIES
ALABAMA LEGISLATURE WILL FACE MANY CHALLENGES IN 2001 REGULAR SESSION
by: Seth Hammett
PARTY POLITICS: BEST WAY TO GO
by: Earl F. Hilliard
FLAT TAX PROPOSAL
by: Richard Shelby
BLACK VOTERS MUST BECOME POLITICAL FREE AGENTS
by: Donald V. Watkins
WASHINGTON POST ADVERTISEMENT: CONFIRM JOHN ASHCROFT!
by: Donald V. Watkins