'White Guy' Remark Explained

Philip E. Pannell , the outspoken president of the Ward 8 Democrats, said after the September Democratic primary that he couldn't believe he was defeated for shadow senator by "some white guy." When he said it, there was no question in his mind what he meant.

Even Michael D. Brown , the white Ward 3 resident who won the seat, didn't give it much thought. Not until a friend read the quote from Pannell and pointed it out.

"I think a lot of white people were offended by it," Brown said. "I wouldn't have made an issue out of it."

Pannell and many others in his predominantly black ward couldn't believe that Michael D. Brown had overwhelmingly defeated one of Southeast Washington's most popular sons. Now if it had been Michael A. Brown , that would have been a different story. People in Ward 8 know him.

There was only one explanation, said Pannell backers in Ward 8. People got the two Browns confused. Michael A. Brown, who is black, waged a year-long bid for mayor, campaigning tirelessly in Ward 8, and he is the son of the late U.S. Commerce secretary Ronald H . Brown .

Pannell and others said the lack of a clear distinction between the two men on the ballot gave the Michael D. Brown an edge. Both Michael D. Brown and Michael A. Brown said people told them they were puzzled, particularly after Michael A. dropped out of the mayor's race just a few days before the election. He said some voters told him they thought he decided to run for shadow senator instead.

Michael D. said two women called him and said, "We voted for you, but we wanted to vote for Phil," adding that they thought he was "the other Michael Brown."

"I said, 'You didn't want to vote for Phil, you wanted to vote for the other Michael Brown.' "

That's what Pannell was referring to when he was asked about the election he lost. He said Michael D. Brown had name advantage.

"Of course, he took advantage," Pannell said in an interview at the time. "Anytime I lose my ward by 72 percent to some white guy, how do you think I feel?"

Since that remark was reported in a Washington Post article Sept. 16, Pannell said he has been shocked at the level of criticism.

"When I said 'white guy,' I meant a white guy who was totally unknown and hasn't done anything in the ward," Pannell said. "When I first read it, I said, 'I know I'm going to get in trouble for this one.' It can definitely be interpreted as I'm being resentful and racially insensitive."