Why African Americans support Democrats

Perhaps because they actually show up?

It was lost on no one at the Urban League's candidate forum last Saturday that the debate among congressional hopefuls was one-sided. Although all candidates for the 8th, 10th and 11th congressional districts were invited to the Saturday morning event at TC Williams High School in Alexandria, none of the Republicans showed up, leaving the three Democrats and one independent to debate issues among themselves.

The only Republican voice on the stage was that of Bill Cleveland, the former vice-mayor of Alexandria who was speaking on behalf of President Bush's reelection campaign. The lack of Republicans saddened Jackie Madry-Taylor, a member of the Reston Links, who helped organize the event.

"They want to know why African-Americans continue to support in large numbers the Democratic Party, well, you see who was on the stage," she said, calling the Republican no-shows "unacceptable."