I know, I know. Another “blacks and Republicans” post. It’s tedious, but I have to address this “independent” writer’s column. In USAToday, Don Campbell adds his opinion to the marketplace of ideas about why blacks don’t vote for Republicans.
I’ve written about this numerous times on my blog, and this column of mine, written in January, is still generating e-mail.
Before I excerpt the article, I want to say up front that I disagree with Campbell’s whole premise: Republicans need to “reach out” to blacks. I’ve gone round and round on this with my black liberal commenters, who believe Republicans should do something different with blacks than with any other race on the planet. I find “race politics” detestable. In fact, unless the issue involves a health matter (heart disease, high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia, for example), I don’t want race brought up at all. On to the article.
Campbell writes:
The abysmal shape that the Republican Party and George W. Bush find themselves in among blacks was vividly showcased at the GOP convention that just ended in New York.The White House was, of course, able to round up and put on stage enough African-Americans — and other minorities — to give the impression that the GOP is a diverse political party. But if you were watching when the cameras panned the convention floor, you may have noticed that the delegates looked like a bowl of rice pudding. (A New York Times survey found that 6% of the delegates were black.)
I’m no help at all with the image issue because I’m torn. One the one hand, I don’t believe blacks should be manipulated like stage props for the camera. On the other hand, we are a very image-oriented society.
Campbell continues:
The best answer is that the Republicans continue to rely on symbolism as a substitute for programs that would make a difference in the lives of many African-Americans.On Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Republican presidents like to visit a black church, recall King’s content-of-their-character-not-the-color-of-their-skin homily and then flee under the protection of the Secret Service.
I think politicians should attend church to hear the sermon and not campaign. While I agree with Campbell, he takes a cheap shot at Republicans who are simply mimicking liberal tactics. As I’ve said over and over, liberals are too good at racial pandering; conservatives are very bad at it. For that reason and the immorality of doing so, they shouldn’t do it.
And what’s with the remark about the Secret Service? Presidents have to be protected. Is he implying that the president is afraid of blacks? A homicidal nut is a homicidal nut, no matter what color he is. Talk about race baiting. Nice job, Mr. “Independent.”
The GOP promotes faith-based initiatives because of the perception that blacks are more religious than whites, and polls that show many blacks align with Republican orthodoxy on such social issues as same-sex marriage, abortion and school choice.
I disagree. Conservatives support faith-based initiatives because common sense and a pair of eyes prove that government hand-outs alone don’t work to improve people’s lives. Faith-based programs “partner” with government programs to advocate ancient concepts known as “morality” and “personal responsibility”, along with those hand-outs. Private and non-profit organizations are free to help individuals; some of the faith-based programs receive government funds.
An issue raised in this line of thought is whether Christian groups should accept government money to do the “work” of the church. Interesting. I’ll think about it and blog on it at a later date. Back to the article:
Republicans get absolutely giddy when someone such as entertainer Bill Cosby criticizes blacks for attitudes and lifestyle choices that keep them out of the economic mainstream. And they keep telling themselves that by appointing blacks such as Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell to high-powered government positions, they will eventually be rewarded by voters with the same skin color.This is a strategy of wishful thinking. At best, it might yield marginal political gains in 40 or 50 years. What Republicans need instead is a 10-year strategy that focuses on substance, not symbolism.
If Campbell perceived giddiness, it was merely relief that a prominent “person of color” spoke out about this stuff. While I wasn’t giddy, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Bill Cosby speak so forcefully about some of the pathologies in the black community, which liberals would have you believe are the “White Man’s” fault, whoever he is.
If Campbell thinks he’s independent, he’s deluding himself. He may not be a registered Democrat, but he’s definitely an “Independent Liberal” based on my assessment of this column. The word games we play.
I could go on and on, but my lunch hour is almost over. I will continue later. Count on it.
Addendum: A commenter brings up a very controversial man, Jesse Lee Peterson. I wrote a two-part review of his book, SCAM: How The Black Leadership Exploits Black America, Part I and II. My pal Casey Lartigue has his own opinion of the book in “SCAM? Yo Momma!”. Scroll down to the third entry.
{ 36 comments }
La Shawn,
I believe that blacks are a “lost cause” as it were in terms of Republican outreach. As such, I believe that the GOP would be better served by reaching out to other groups such as Hispanics in which there is a realistic possibility of making inroads without having to water down the platform too much.
This is not to say that the GOP would not be thrilled to have more voters in its fold. It is simply accounting for the reality of today’s electoral politics. What ails the black community cannot be cured by the government, as the Democrats often contend. Rather, it is to be cured by blacks themselves examining the moral and social rot that have permeated their community in America today.
These are not my ideas, but ones that were advanced in the spectacularly hard-hitting, but truthful and incisive book by Jesse Peterson called “Scam”. The deterioration of blacks in America today is sad, and the more they look toward the Democratic party’s government solution that encourages a victim mentality, the less likely they are to move toward solving their own problems.
From a completely strategic viewpoint, putting too much into gaining the “black” vote is not worth it.
First. A large number of blacks live in the south, where republicans dominate without the black vote. Also the hispanic population is growing rapidly in those areas.
Notice the implication that Condi and Colin were chosen for their positions based on the color of their skin. Apparently the liberal (excuse me, “independent”) thinks that they were not qualified enough to garner that position based on merit, but are only being used as pawns. That is silliness. I’d bet that if Bush had to choose any two people in the country for his NSA and secretary of State and he was unable to tell their race (or gender for that matter), he would choose these two. But apparently Campbell thinks (or at least implies) that there are white people who could do better.
And who is the racist?
This guy reminds me of people I meet who scream about being “Independent,” and never met a social spending idea they didn’t like.
Leave it to the people who bring us Michael Moore as a columnist on the REPUBLICAN convention to find another liberal to tell us how important it is to change defining policies so that we can appear to be “reaching out” to “diverse” groups.
Oh sure, we would have tons of blacks on the bandwagon if we would just disavow our opposition to affirmative action, punishing success, abortion on demand, gun grabbers, higher taxes, and Marxist governance techniques.
But then we would be DEMOCRATS. And we don’t need any more of that!
More Barbara Streisand.
On strategy and the black vote, I would think a Rep strategist obviously wouldn’t be thinking about “winning” it. But if the Reps can consistently take as little as 5-10% of the current black vote from the Dems, it would cause a political earthquake in many parts of the country. It may not matter so much at the presidential level (although there are several Florida-type states where a 5% move would be a 1-2% overall change that would be significant), but would matter greatly at the local level and in Congress. It would also likely mean that there would be significantly more solid black Rep politicians like Steele.
I think that chasing the “black vote” is the wrong way to put it. I think that the Republican party is increasingly speaking to more *black voters* who are finding that the Democratic party no longer represents their values or ideals. In other words, the Republican party appeals to individuals, not interest groups.
In fact, many minority groups (not just blacks) are beginning to fragment around values. The Democratic party is very much an areligious (if not outright anti-Christian) party, while blacks are overwhelmingly Christian and say religion plays an important role in their lives. Blacks are also very family oriented, and very much opposed to issues like gay marriage.
Ultimately, I see this as a good thing: blacks can no longer be addressed en bloc by politicians. They will have to be addressed rather as individual voters, which hopes and aspirations of their own. Which is just as it should be.
Le Shawn, in reply to your column, do you still hold true that Republican party was the party of civil rights, neglect simple facts in which bigots within the Democratic party shifted into Republican ranks.
Monty how is the Democratic party a anti-christian party?
Besides the standard Strom Thurmond fare, how many “bigots” “shifted” to the Republican party?
I for one look forward to the day people are selected or vote based on principles other than skin color or ethnicity. I look forwad to the day individuals assume responsibility for their own actions. Perhaps that day will come on earth, I know it will come in heaven.
Keep betting on heaven.
Daniel,
All the bigots shifted to the Republican party? Well, I guess Robert Bird must have forgot to change seats, he’s still on the wrong side of the aisle.
I also don’t remember any of those anti-integration Democrat governors changing parties after standing in the school doorways.
IF you really read this post you can see the condescending attitude just below the surface. Oh, and since when are Powell and Rice just tokens? I thought they were the best choices for their respective jobs based on ability. Not only has the Bush administration appointed Blacks to some of the highest Administration positions they have ever held, but they have also done the same with Hispanics.
Democrats talk, but Republicans just do it.
I don’t understand how people can describe Blacks as being religious and family-oriented in one breath, and then in the next breath decide that problems that Blacks experience in this country extend from moral rot and decay. Which is it? Tom B’s version or Monty’s version? If it is neither, or both, I suggest that people be very careful and targeted with their comments rather than generalizing. That’s what being Republican is supposed to be about right? Blacks being individuals, not a bloc. If we are discussing Black women over 40, or Black young adults in college, or Black male veterans, then we need to target that group’s characteristics and discuss them. Otherwise the comments amount to conflicting blather that leads to nothing but cognitive dissonance. Unfortunately, it is going to take thinking clear thoughts, making an educated hypothesis, and actually talking to Black people. If the Republicans could’ve chosen one group, say Black professionals 25-35, and put some effort into swaying them based on the characteristics of that particular group (our issues are homeownership, a fair workplace, debt, and not being able to get an interview with a name that starts with La) they may have been able to change that 8% showing from 2000. But no, Republicans listened to one side saying “they” don’t matter because “they” are out-voted in the South, and the other side saying “they” were really conservative but just didn’t know it. You’ve really moved towards solidifying the Black consensus. Congratulations. Good luck in 2008.
Daniel,
Is that a question or a statement?
How many bigots, like Robert Byrd, went on to be leaders of the party? Bill Fulbright, Al Gore Sr… they stayed Dems, and they had alot of influence on the men in the WH from 1992-2000…
Wasn’t it Bill “First Black President” Clinton that was sued in 1989 by the NAACP for intimidating black voters in Arkansas? Tried to overturn the election of a black representative (to replace with a white democrat) and was shot down by the supreme court? And didn’t he raise a certain flag over the state cap?
But anyway, enough about Bubba. I pray for his health. And the safety of the candy stripers until he heads home to recover from his surgery
I’ll admit the Republicans are racist cry is getting old… I am still waiting for Molotov and company to name at least 3 Republicans to use the confederate battle flag in their campaigns…
Chrissy, you’ll notice that I don’t call blacks “religious” and family-oriented (maybe you’re responding to another commenter). The “independent” writer of the article says that is what Republicans perceive. One of my favorite people, Star Parker, also perceives the religious part, but I’m skeptical. That is, I don’t know if they’re any more “religious” than anyone else.
I didn’t get the “names that start with La” reference. Elaborate, please?
Chrissy,
I think both groups of black americans exist (along with a few others) across the nation. There are plenty of folk (black, brown, pink, yellow etc) who have fallen into a state of moral rot. Witness the rate of children born out of wedlock, and the mothers that have multiple children by multiple men. The fact that the phrase “my baby’s momma” has entered into the lexicon is enough to show this, and give me chills. I think the republicans need to find a conservative path to help these people, but not pander to them. Offer them a hand, but if they refuse to take it, so be it (but keep the hand out in case they come around later)
For the religious and family oriented people out there, the republicans need to get the message out and make it clear, which set of values and policies are in step with these folk. Don’t need to pander, advertise, and show by example. If they join and stay, and exert influence on the party, and strengthen the ties they have on the party, all the better. And if they do, will we really care what color they are?
In short, do we want to replace the backhanded racism of the democrats by trying to gain a monolithic bloc of people based on skin color and playing them off other colors and groups? No. We want to break up the superficial blocs and allow people to go where their hearts lead them.
Daniel:
It’s painfully obvious that the New Left movement turned the Democrat party fully away from the Christian faith. You can see it in the barely-hidden hostility towards evangelicals; the overtly anti-religious policy (abortion, for example); and the continuing resistance to the “faith based initiatives” espoused by Republicans. There are many other examples.
Chrissy:
You are exactly right that I was generalizing, and I am properly chastised for it. I should not use the term “blacks” to mean all black people because that is obviously false. It’s mental laziness.
Still, I think that there are certain tendencies among ethnicities and cultural groups that hold true, and I think the Christian faith is a fixed point among most black communities (and I further think this is as true of young black people as of the older generation). Whether this will remain true in the coming decades is very much a point of debate. There are probably large regional differences as well, e.g., Southern folks (white or black) are more likely to be religious than a similar sample from the Northeast.
I don’t understand why Republicans blame Blacks for the success of The Southern Strategy.
Republicans went after the Southern vote, embracing the segregationists who left the Democrat party. Jesse Helms, for example, wasn’t always a Republican.
Michael Steele has said as much on a number of occassions.
DarkStar! Welcome back. Why are you so stuck on the “Southern Strategy?” Appealing to states’ rights was a legitimate campaign strategy.
(sarcasm off)
You see where appealing to skin color gets us? I’m reading you loud and clear; this is part of the reason I don’t like race politics! But certain people want a certain party to do more to “reach out” to blacks. If we’re not careful, we may end up with another Southern Strategy.
I think you’ve given me yet another blog topic. I have to start writing this stuff down.
I’ve been in Philly eating stuff I shouldn’t eat…
LaShawn, the Democrats are now in the process of doing their own Southern Strategy. That was why Clinton pimp smacked Jesse Jackson on a no-name “rapper” named Sista Souljah.
Republicans need to remember this when it comes to minorities… Nice and steady wins the race.
when the cameras panned the convention floor, you may have noticed that the delegates looked like a bowl of rice pudding
Actually it seemed to me that there were quite a few more black faces in the crowd than previous GOP conventions..and I thought at the time, that’s a good thing.
School choice / vouchers, and results of Rep policies, will be the polices that win the votes, eventually, of success oriented blacks. Victim oriented blacks will remain voting with the Dems — it’s whitey’s fault ( W I T E ), and the gov’t needs to give more money.
The ACLU looks anti-Christian to me, pro-Dem. NARAL , and abortion (to support promiscuity), is anti-Christian, pro-Dem.
Dems are like Kerry, ‘opose’ abortion, personally, but always always always vote to keep legal the selfish killing of any human fetus that is inconvenient to its mother.
The rice pudding comparison was totally uncalled for. Time and time again I either read or hear how the Republicans need to reach out for blacks. How about reaching out to every American. We can truly be a diverse sociecty if we focus on what is right for America and not for a certain group.
As ole Donnie Boy puts it in his article.
“Granted, it’s insulting to blacks to regard them as just another interest group, such as the National Rifle Association, because blacks have many of the same concerns as whites or any other racial group”
Yet ole Donnie Boy would rather focus on rice pudding. No thank you I have a piece of my American Pie.
Oh, I am soooooo bloodly enlightened…..yap, yap, yap. Mr. All Knowing Almighty Campbell says:
“It’s about tackling root causes. And I will guarantee that sustained support for this kind of agenda would earn the GOP a healthy share of the black vote, rather than the pathetically tiny fraction it now receives.”
What? What else have we conservatives been doing – minus the OBSESSION with skin color and the other blacks willful ignorance? They seem to be hangin on to our forefathers & grandmothers “issues” – in a shallow, narrowminded fashion, I might add – while not wanting to accept the message to ALL Americans of all colors……..the same one from the RNC only a couple weeks ago – when I was as happy as a pig in a pile of slop.
And since when do WE BLACKS care to address root causes? Uh, any input from the CBC or NAACP? Something other than “hate whitey” being recided since 1968, maybe?
If I can have seen the light for the last 20-25 years, as did another youngster at that time like Deroy Murdock…..so can other blacks.
If a blind man can all of a sudden see, has the world changed? Well then, I suppose the American Negro should open his or her eyes. The American Paradise is here for the taking.
Then again, we’re really just outta place africans. I wanna go hoooooooome!!
Can anyone here point out anything that shows what percentage of Blacks considers Africa home, rather than America?
Or is way over the top rhetoric a substitute for logic?
“I don�t understand how people can describe Blacks as being religious and family-oriented in one breath, and then in the next breath decide that problems that Blacks experience in this country extend from moral rot and decay. Which is it? Tom B�s version or Monty�s version? If it is neither, or both, I suggest that people be very careful and targeted with their comments rather than generalizing. That�s what being Republican is supposed to be about right? Blacks being individuals, not a bloc. If we are discussing Black women over 40, or Black young adults in college, or Black male veterans, then we need to target that group�s characteristics and discuss them. Otherwise the comments amount to conflicting blather that leads to nothing but cognitive dissonance. Unfortunately, it is going to take thinking clear thoughts, making an educated hypothesis, and actually talking to Black people. If the Republicans could�ve chosen one group, say Black professionals 25-35, and put some effort into swaying them based on the characteristics of that particular group (our issues are homeownership, a fair workplace, debt, and not being able to get an interview with a name that starts with La) they may have been able to change that 8% showing from 2000. But no, Republicans listened to one side saying �they� don�t matter because �they� are out-voted in the South, and the other side saying �they� were really conservative but just didn�t know it. You�ve really moved towards solidifying the Black consensus. Congratulations. Good luck in 2008″
That was the best post on this blog…
Sigh…
You see LaShawn why I have many conservative tendencies, I can never align myself with you all? It is like so many of you are so divorced from the day to day African American experience and the struggle to create a minimum parity…
Two things…
I have been working closely with our Republican senator here in Nebraska to create an economic development program that serves a predominant African American populace…during this process, I gave a blue print to the individual whom put me and the Congressman together for garnering the black vote, not now, but by 2012…and I am not even Republican…it is really a simple concept and I will write it out for you all or just put it on my blog some day when I have more time…
If those of you remember the majority of the black individuals within this country stayed with the party of Lincoln until the New Deal with Roosevelt came along, then it took about an election after that for the wholesale conversion…I have numerous pictures of “black republicans” old school of course…and LaShawn, this issue of not seeing color, wasn’t relevent to the old school black republicans…
So the tide changed and voters swung, why? Because the republican party wasn’t getting it done, so they hitched their wagon to another boat in hopes that the New Deal and some government programs would do what the free market and capitalism wouldn’t do, provide a system where blacks could participate in equality…not just on the back end, but from birth…
The potential is there for that to occur again, but the fact is that whenever I come in here or other republican sites and I see the tones in which people even talk about black folks, it may not be overtly racist or bigoted, but subtle inuendo’s and implications, cause me to pause and be like, “hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm”…
For the longest I have been advocating a complete boycott of all federal elections for one year by African-Americans…why? Because the parties are supposed to speak for the people, but now the parties speak, and propangandize and the speak for the party while giving the illusion of speaking for the people…neither party speaks for the African American which is the central feature of democracy (populace rule)…my hypothesis is that no negative damage can occur by boycotting because no positive change occurs through voting…and therefore a holistic strategy to make your voice heard must occur…
Until Dems and Republicans begin speaking and performing why would blacks ever cease voting for the lessor of two evils which they perceive are the democrats?
One last point, and I gotta run…
The perception problem occurs as well by the assumption many Pubs make that blacks are ignorant and homogenous and that is why they support the dems 90% plus. It is natural psychological theory, I can give you a link if you want, because the majority of you hard core pubs, believe 100% that you are right, and 100% that the opponent is wrong, and therefore even if only a smidgeon create a sense of self-superiority based upon ideology, others create a higher sense-of self superiority…couple this with the fact that blacks overwhelmingly support Dems it is natural because blacks are group identifiable to operate under the assumption that you are superior the opponent is inferior, white dems blend, blacks as a group stand out, therefore blacks are someone superior.
That is why you all hype Lashawn up so much, and I love her, but the fact is when someone speaks articulate from the other “Side” they all of a sudden seem to be a lot less intelligent, misguided, or uninformed than when they speak for yours, as opposed to just making a rational decision that the opposing direction is the way to go, white black or other. Consider yourselves and not just the process but the nature of a thing…
Well, HiRez, I don’t know who your post is directed to because I have no desire that you “align” yourself with me. Let’s be crystal clear about that. I’m not in the “selling” trade. I couldn’t care less whether people “align” themselves with me or not.
And I’m not a Republican. I’m an Independent Conservative.
I forgot to comment on this:
That is why you all hype Lashawn up so much, and I love her, but the fact is when someone speaks articulate from the other “Side” they all of a sudden seem to be a lot less intelligent, misguided, or uninformed than when they speak for yours, as opposed to just making a rational decision that the opposing direction is the way to go, white black or other. Consider yourselves and not just the process but the nature of a thing…
I have no idea what that means. But it sounds offensive.
The potential is there for that to occur again, but the fact is that whenever I come in here or other republican sites and I see the tones in which people even talk about black folks, it may not be overtly racist or bigoted, but subtle inuendo’s and implications, cause me to pause and be like, “hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm”…
I agree with the general gist of HiRez commentary. That’s been my big problem when “conservatives” in general discuss Blacks voting for Democrats.
This is not directed at you LaShawn.
As I said before, DarkStar, I’m not in the selling business anymore. I doubt if I’ll ever try to convince Democrat-voting blacks they’re aligning themselves with the true racist, to use hyperbole (that’s my thing, don’t you know?). And I don’t just mean men like Robert Byrd, former Klansman. I mean any white person who believes blacks need a different set of standards (lower) than other Americans.
About HiRez, he is a Christian and trips me up with the “I love her” comment, so I can’t really go off on him (and I shouldn’t want to). He and I don’t agree on political issues, but when I start talking about our Lord and Savior, we see eye to eye. I don’t know. I don’t have the answers. I’m just blogging.
Well, just for the record, two of the three delegates from my county were black and they wore Texas flag shirts and cowboy hats at the Republican convention just like the rest of the Texans there. Rice pudding?… yeah right. If you want to see a certain thing, then it’s certain that you will.
Hirez, I don’t want a party that speaks for the African-American, just a party that speaks the truth. The fact that 90% of blacks vote Democratic is a symptom of a greater problem. That problem being that those who vote Democratic and consider themselves to be Christian are misguided and ultimately wrong, they do not know the truth.
Niether party ought to pander to any one so called minority group, the focus should be on what the truth is and how to solve whatever issues our country faces in the most honest and effective manner possible. Any person, Christian or otherwise, who votes for Democrats are wrong for doing so simply on the fact that the Democratic platform supports immoral behavior in the form of abortion, homosexuality, and government pandering through welfare programs. Just the first two alone is enough to not vote Democratic.
Unfortunately ignorance rules when the subject of racism comes up given that there is no such thing as varying races. That is at the heart of this, whether speaking about politics, social issues or religion, race is not and should never be a factor because, logically it is falacious(only one race, human.) When people are able to come to realize this truth then, maybe, we can have an intelligent discussion about politics. We ought to desire that politicians appeal to us based on what is right and not based on any platform or special interest agenda.
Making a rational decision about politics has to start with making a moral decision. The fact that Miss Barber is well received and respected is because she speaks from a Christian-conservative stance, and ultimately speaks the truth. Whether you agree that it is the truth is irrelevant.
You are correct though, I do know that anyone who contradicts the truth is misguided. That is not ideology, that is reality.
I mean this in truth, and in humor, so anyone who takes offense, loosen up…
I like putting cinnamon, brown sugar and raisins in my rice pudding.
Bush can save his time and money and continue to ignore the Blacks because they will never support him: Bush does not pass the smell test.
I am a Conservative Black woman: A mother and an educator who does not believe in abortion, gay marraige, welfare (social AND corporate) and wholeheartedly supports the military and strong national defense.
Regardless, this year I cannot support the quote unquote Conservative candidate because of his character.
The buck stops nowhere with this President. There is no accountability (whether for the “intelligence failures” that make us look like liars on the world stage, the missing billions in Iraq that make us look like thieves or the fact that Muqtada Al Sadr is not only still alive, but actually thinking of running for political office ) and this President can say or propose any stupid thing ( like letting every illegal who makes it here stay if they promise to leave after three years: The Guest Worker Program or that he and his administration never stop looking for ways to destroy America) and his Media Army will step in to distort and cover for him.
The American people cannot make informed intelligent decisions with this man in office because there are so many out there willing to fudge every issue and muddy the waters on this govts behalf. Facts are irrelevant. It is all silly platitudes and feel good phraseology.
We are too used to con men in the Black community to be taken in with the way Bush is packaged. I do not believe that he is a religious man. I do not believe that he is intelligent enough to be directing foreign or domestic policy and I do not believe that he behaves with character or integrity (”F***k Saddam- we’re taking him out.”) and although I hate the Democratic Party and everything they stand for as poverty pimps exploiting blacks and the poor, this year I will vote for their candidate.
“I’m no help at all with the image issue because I’m torn. One the one hand, I don’t believe blacks should be manipulated like stage props for the camera. On the other hand, we are a very image-oriented society.”
Interesting. I’m not a Republican, but I’ve always thought that this is a no-win situation for the Republicans.
If they put lots of black Republicans as speakers, then the MSM will complain that this is deceptive since so few of the delegates are black. If they showcase very few black speakers, however, then the MSM will complain that the Republicans don’t even bother trying to give blacks even in their midst a chance (I can just see James Carville saying something like “Black Republicans are good enough to be on the floor, but the Republican leadership doesn’t want them joining their whites-only club onstage”).
I think that “going for the Black vote” will at best attract a bunch of low life race hustlers and the lowest element of the Black communities. This is not leadership. Go for quality. Let high quality Blacks and high quality members of other minorities be attracted to a Republican party that does not compromise Biblical/conservative values and thereby build a strong organization of strong people. In the end, the quality will produce the quantity. That is the way of leadership. By going for “the Black vote” the Republicans will just start pandering and wind up becoming the Democrats!
LaShawn – please run for office…
Wow!! It’s 4:00 AM and I am up reading this stuff. This is an interesting subject, yet, members on either side of th e argument make this into a black or white case(forgive he obvious pun).
The Republican Party, while obviously wanting to pull away a large percentage of votes from the Democrats; it is my belief that must resist the temptation to pander to a particular group and erode the principles that make up the CONSERVATIVE core.
What I am about to toss out to you is a tough pill to swallow: the ideas of Conservativism, the Republican ideals and Blacks here in America are diameterically opposing principles. As a whole, White liberalism seeing a need to ease their sense of guilt; have convinced Blacks that their existence is one of strife and struggle, and without the ideals and PRINCIPLES of the liberal argument, they(Blacks) are doomed. As a result, thirty years of suggesting that a race of people lack the strength and will of any other human being in this beloved country, has become an internal mindset.
I see on a daily basis, the foundations of success of any type, being turned on its heads by Blacks. We are our own worse enemies. This is why, when I see a Colin Powell, Condelezza Rice, Star Parker, LaShawn Barber,or any number of successful Blacks who HOLD to PRINCIPLES, I stand up tall. The question for Republicans/Conservatives is how do we show BLACKS that the stepping stones or building blocks of success are found in having a CORE of BELIEFS that make up a FOUNDATION? I do not believe that liberals possess such? In my opinion, liberals view life in a subjective way of feelings;”Blacks need us so much and cannnot do for themselves, that we must…” This is where we have time tested PRINCIPLES thrown to the wind in search for NEW ways of doing things. You can see it in everyplace ranging from head start to how academic grading is conducted. What results after these experiments are doses of REALITY smacking them in the face.
Therefore, the goal is to show the 90% staunch Democratic-voting electorate that their solution is taking part in the PRINCIPLES that make up this nation. How is it that an immigrant of no means can enter this nation and within a reasonably short time period move to the corner of success? Can the fact that they have not been indoctrinated in liberalism have an affect?
Mr. Campbell, in all of his back and forth suggestions, is dead wrong in the sense that Blacks are different from others who live in this nation. What I see slowly happening is that a new generation of Blacks are seeing that determination apart from entitlements will result in success.
Too much to write about. Too early in the morning to think straight? Need help with this insomnia. LOL
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