Reader Jeffrey W. sent me this link.
Some local black Republicans said they understand why Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs McDonald last week called the Democratic party the “last plantation in America.”Democrats quickly held a press conference Friday to call for an apology from Boggs McDonald, saying it was “unconscionable” and “inexcusable” to use slavery — one of the nation’s darkest periods — in political campaigns.
“To invoke the comparison is irresponsible,” said Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates.
But the Republican party is increasingly using powerful language to say that Democrats take blacks for granted and aren’t doing enough to empower the black community…
[E]qual opportunity, school choice, tax relief and faith-based organizations that help the community….”Those are the things that matter most to my family and why I’m supporting our leaders in Congress and President Bush,” she says.
Local black Republicans said they agree that the Democratic Party pays lip service to blacks during election season but does little to bring blacks to the table when it comes to setting policy….
“African-Americans have to look more toward self reliance, less government and being able to create more opportunities for themselves….We’re dealing with the remnants of the ’60s,” [Cornell] Clark said. “But these young, so-called upwardly mobile people — they’re open minded. They don’t think like the old crowds.”(my emphasis)
I have to add Ms. McDonald and Mr. Clark to my People-to-Meet list.
On a side note: Roger Clegg, once a frequent contributor to National Review Online and Vice President and General Counsel of the Center for Equal Opportunity (not to be confused with the skin color preference pushers at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission), sent me a bound copy of a law review article he wrote for Georgetown University titled, “Black Culture and Black Conservative Thought: Toward an Anthology.”
First of all, Roger Clegg knows who I am. 
Secondly, he obviously went out of his way to track down my work address. Thirdly, he wrote a personal note on the cover of the article. Wow. As I said, you never know who’s reading your blog!
Addendum: I’ll blog about Clegg’s article after I’ve finished reading it.
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1/18/06 – Looking for info on plantations? Follow this link for updates. – La Shawn
Ditto that Dems play the race card, but don’t want Reps to do the same.
This morning I just about laughed out loud – some town was building some kind of monument to apologize to Indians for stealing their land and to Slaves for slavery.
The first is an oxymoron – how can anyone steal something that belongs to everyone? The Indians didn’t believe in private property – “Mother Earth” belongs to everyone. Only Dems could be that dense.
Yeah, it’s “unconscionable” and “inexcusable” to invoke comparisons to slavery in political campaigns (at least when such comparisons are leveled at Democrats), but it’s perfectly fine, if not outright mandatory, to compare Republicans to Klansmen and Nazis. Looks like another case of someone who can dish it out, but just can’t take it when it’s thrown back at him.
Frank, just because they didn’t think of themselves as owning the land doesn’t mean that by western standards they didn’t own the land. If you look closely at John Locke’s arguments for private property, you’ll see that his understanding of who owns what derives from who got to it first and started using it. That would mean that he should have considered them to have owned it, and the founders who were basically Lockeans would have said the same thing if they’d been thinking carefully about it. The only way your argument makes any sense is if you’re a cultural relativist and think their standards are what determines what we should say about them.
Typical of old line Dems believing they are the only voice for African-Americans. This is about the same response they gave to Star Parker for her book, “Uncle Sam’s Plantation.” I’m just waiting for the Uncle Tom and sellout comments to follow for the Black Republicans.
“some town was building some kind of monument to apologize to Indians for stealing their land and to Slaves for slavery”
And of course they want to pay for it with OPM (Other People’s Money while the pushers claim political points.
Some 56% of black youth end their high school education as non-literate people.
This failure is due to bad incentives in schools, protected by Teacher Unions, protected by Dems.
Blacks have much higher abortion rates (see blackgenocide.com); even Jesse J was, at one time, pro-life. But now the Dems are the pro-abortion, pro-sex church of government rewards for those who are irresponsible.
Please Please Please LaShawn — lead your people to freedom! It’s only their own voting history which keeps them on the Dem plantation.
It’s the NAACP leaders who are the “House Niggas” — see my fantasy Condi speech (one of the Legends on my blog); what is the evidence for who is who.
By the way, how many of these folks complained about Ted Rall’s cartoon against Condi? There they go again … double standard.
I think it would be nice for people to realize that both sides of the isle have their spin doctors, and they both say equaly silly things about the other side. NO ONE is really fair about political discusion. So can we just say that everyone is equally unfair and move on with our lives? Im not trying to defend democratic comments, cause a lot of them are silly. I’m just trying to point out that repubs say just as many silly things. There’s fairness in the balance of rediculous criticisms, and not pointing that out, and saying that one’s side is much more fair than the other is an experiment in unfounded self importance, and downright incorrect. Its a shame politics have reached such a sensationalist state, but those are the times, and its not gonna get better unless people can cut through the spin themselves, and get as critical of their own party as they are of the other one.
I encourage this commissioner to stand firm. She should NEVER apologize and certainly not to those fear mongering, poverty pimping so called black “leaders.”
I am about sick of the media promoting clowns as the leaders of black people. Heck, the even appointed Bill Clinton as King of the Negroes.
Exactly my point.
Great post. I just added a cross post to my blog.
Ok fine. But really, let’s be honest. Is it not the democrats that every four years whip out the race card to scare the mess out of potential black voters? Isn’t it the DNC and their lib buddies that constantly label conservatives as racist and bigots? The libs can dish it but they sure as heck can not take it.
The fact is that it has been the 30 plus years of liberal policies that have kept African-Americans from reaching our full potential. And we as a people are beginning to see that. Black power indeed.
Roger also sent me a copy this morning. Shoot me an e-mail with your thoughts. I thought it was well done. I even called him to thank him. I had to leave a message, but he called me back 20 minutes later, would ya believe?
Black Republicans don’t really want to go down this path.
Black GOP’ers claim that Blacks are emotionally tied to the Democrat party.
That’s a fair comment.
Black GOP’ers say that Blacks need to examine things in a non-emotional way.
That’s a fair comment.
Now they start with the plantation stuff?
Ya’ll don’t want to go down that path. Especially when there are Black GOP’ers whose words can come back to haunt them.
Think I’m kidding? Do this search in Google. Use the quotes. It’s one search.
“shannon reeves” “window dressing”
When you get the results, use the cached copy to get to the Contra Costa Times article.
Here’s a quote:
“Black Republicans are expected to provide window dressing and cover to prove that this is not a racist party, yet our own leadership continues to act otherwise,” party Secretary Shannon Reeves wrote in an e-mail to party board members.
I don’t get it. What are you trying to say?
If Black Republicans don’t like the rhetorical name calling, then they shouldn’t name call.
Not only that, but there are quotes from Black Republicans that can be used against them.
The quote by Shannon Reeves is just one such example.
It’s definitely not perfect on the Democrat side. It’s definitely not perfect on the Republican side.
I still question whether some Black Republicans/”conservatives” really want change or if they are in it for themselves. See Alan Keyes for details.
As if all Black Democrats are altruistic and not in it for themselves?
There’s going to be sniping from groups within each party saying that their party isn’t doing them right or doing enough for them.
“If Black Republicans don’t like the rhetorical name calling, then they shouldn’t name call.”
Oh…you mean like Democrats calling Black Republicans ‘Uncle Tom’ and publicly wishing for their death, like they do Clarence Thomas?
Or do you mean like asking that classiest of all questions, “What kind of skeeza is Condoleeza”?
Or do you mean the claims that all of the above, plus Colin Powell, are ‘race traitors’ for supporting anyone OTHER than a Democrat and refusing to toe the line?
Of course, we should not be racist and limit our discussion to just black people…wanna talk about those TV commercials that ran in Florida in 2000, attempting to identify George Bush with the death of James Byrd (Film clip of chains dragging behind a pickup truck; voiceover: “So when George W. Bush refused to support hate-crimes legislation it was like my father was killed all over again”)?
Will Black Republicans be subjected to THAT kind of ‘rhetorical name calling’?
Horrors. How ever will they stand it?
Darkstar – I had been directed to that story once before. I didn’t put any faith in it then, and I still don’t now. You’re pointing to an article about a Republican in one of the top two Liberal states in the country. The letter mentioned in the article is obviously insulting, but one person’s comments, even from a high-ranking party official like this one, are hardly enough to make a case on.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s still racism in this country, but mostly the institutionalized racism has faded away. You don’t put people into the positions that Colin Powell and Condi Rice have for “Window Dressing”. The whole point of the post, as I understood it, was to point out the hypocrisy of the Democrat party – the ones who cry “Racism!” every time a black person gets denied something, whether they deserved what they were denied or not. When someone turns the tables on them, they then cry “Unfair!”, like a bunch of children.
As if all Black Democrats are altruistic and not in it for themselves?
I guess you missed this:
It’s definitely not perfect on the Democrat side.
Will Black Republicans be subjected to THAT kind of ‘rhetorical name calling’?
Two wrongs make a right? I guess you missed the many times I’ve written it shouldn’t happen at all?
The letter mentioned in the article is obviously insulting, but one person’s comments, even from a high-ranking party official like this one, are hardly enough to make a case on.
It made national news. In fact, the person running for the California leadership position dropped out of the race because of so much bad publicity from Shannon Reeves. But, hey, facts don’t matter.
When someone turns the tables on them, they then cry “Unfair!”, like a bunch of children.
So, please tell my why Black Republicans are treated so differently by white Republicans?
Rush Limbaugh always states that Republicans/conservatives are called RacistBigottedMeanSpiritedHomophobes and other nasty names. So it seems that Black Republicans are being treated the same. Yet white Republicans want to make a bigger deal of it coming from Blacks.
Why is that?
“Reverse-victimology”?
I’ve never understood the allegiance the black community had to the Donks, since the civil rights legislation that LBJ had fought for years as a senator, yet was made to sign as president, was authored by Republicans. In fact, the first civil rights law was proposed by Republicans in 1888! It took us darn near 100 years to get it past the dumocraps!
I didn’t miss what you said. I was acknowledging your point and attempting to reinforce it. My apologies for the poor sentence structure.
It is imperfect on both sides. Both sides want the vote. I believe both parties use minorities as window dressing. In the meantime, poverty stricken minorities are left with nothing but government handouts and no real solutions. Each side is so hateful of each other, if anyone comes up with a solution, they try to defeat it just because it came from the other side. I believe there are Democrats who offer practical solutions, but aren’t listened to because they are simply Democrat and vice versa. Remember how bad Patrick Moynihan was excoriated for coming up with bi-partisan welfare reform?
Here’s my question:
Do African-Americans need to follow the words of Malcolm X, who said that African-Americans should register as independents? His words from 40 years ago are eerily reminiscent of the words Republicans are using today, simply substituting Republican for independent.
I’m interested in hearing everyone’s take.
One other point. I also believe that Republicans have made the most progress to get past the label of window dressing. I doubt Condi Rice, Colin Powell et al are merely there for window dressing. I SHOULD HAVE EDITED my statements to say that Republicans historically have used minorities as window dressing to cover for their past bigotry. Even with those sentiments being expressed by the African-American community, I believe the Republican party offers the best solutions for today and the future.
Reverse victimology? I hardly think so. I’m not playing victim to people calling me racist. I simply work hard to prove otherwise. That makes at least 1 white conservative that doesn’t believe in reverse-victimology.
Do African-Americans need to follow the words of Malcolm X, who said that African-Americans should register as independents?
I am, so of course I will say yes.
I’m beginning to think we should *all* register as independents.
I’m a proud Independent Conservative! I’m on no party’s mailing list…
Actually, I registered “Undeclared” when I signed up to vote, but IC sounds better.
It made national news. In fact, the person running for the California leadership position dropped out of the race because of so much bad publicity from Shannon Reeves. But, hey, facts don’t matter.
Ok, I’m struggling to follow the direction here, I guess I’m having a brain cramp, but I’m not seeing how the fact that it made national news changes the fact that it’s one person’s statement. Maybe I should have made clear that I would put more faith in the story if it had some supporting opinions by other conservatives (black, white, or whatever). I was also trying to get across the notion that I don’t find it especially likely that a strongly conservative person would rise very high in California politics.
When someone turns the tables on them, they then cry “Unfair!”, like a bunch of children.
So, please tell my why Black Republicans are treated so differently by white Republicans?
Well, as I said above, without supporting testimony, I’m inclined to take the Shannon Reeves statement with a grain of salt. I realize that things may have happened to him to make him bitter, but I think that it was also a bit of an exaggeration, especially after reading some of the other articles that search turns up. I am also having a hard time understanding what this has to do with the top statement, as I was implying that Liberals feel it’s legitimate to call Conservatives all the names they want, but think it’s hate speech when accusations of racism are directed at them.
Even if Shannon Reeves was NOT exaggerating, it’s valid to call it hypocrisy if Liberals can just attack someone for implying that they are not all true-blue equalitarians, instead of providing evidence that the accusation is not true, when they are guilty of the same kind of accusations that are being called “unconscionable” when applied to them.
Don’t ponder it too much, Wayne. DarkStar always does this. If a Republican publicly criticizes his party’s stand on an issue or civil rights record or whatever, that’s all he needs to argue why we shouldn’t vote for Repubs. If the Repub in question happens to be black, it’s even more proof.
Maybe I should have made clear that I would put more faith in the story if it had some supporting opinions by other conservatives (black, white, or whatever).
I understand. If one Black person says something you agree with, you’ll take it as gospel. If one Black person says something you disagree with, you’ll say it’s not representative.
How about looking up Faye Anderson, who used to be co-chair of the New Majority Council of the GOP, and read some of her comments. Especially what she had to say on why she left the Republican party.
I was implying that Liberals feel it’s legitimate to call Conservatives all the names they want, but think it’s hate speech when accusations of racism are directed at them.
Do 2 wrongs make a right?
And, if “Black conservatives” say there should be no name calling, why are they engaging in it?
Because the hold Dems have over blacks is akin to living on a plantation, in my view. Old style rhetoric and race politics are so outplayed in 2004.
LB-
Guess the Dems don’t think so, since Jesse Jackson has now signed up on the Kerry campaign.
I call my campaign to get Blacks away from the Democrat plantation “The Harriet Tubman Project.”
Why do you think I gave it that name?
If a Republican publicly criticizes his party’s stand on an issue or civil rights record or whatever, that’s all he needs to argue why we shouldn’t vote for Repubs.
That’s a gross misrepresentation of what I’ve stated.
I’ll state it yet again.
People blindly criticize Blacks for voting with Democrats. Yet, Republicans, white and Black, have stated there are reasons why Blacks don’t vote for Republicans and some of the blame lies with Republicans themselves.
That’s radically different from what you wrote.
If the Repub in question happens to be black, it’s even more proof.
It doesn’t matter to me if they are Black or white. Jack Kemp, Mary Matalin, Newt Gingrich, and Tony Snow have said that the GOP needed to do more and have made mistakes.
Blacks aren’t stupid but it appears that conservatives like saying Blacks are stupid.
If a Republican publicly criticizes his party’s stand on an issue or civil rights record or whatever, that’s all he needs to argue why we shouldn’t vote for Repubs.
That’s a gross misrepresentation of what I wrote. I’ll state it again.
Conservatives/Republicans want to say that Blacks non-thinkingly vote for Democrats. But there are conservatives/Republicans, white and Black, who have stated that Blacks haven’t voted for the GOP because of some things the GOP has done and has not done. In other words, some white and Black Republicans have stated that the GOP has not given Blacks a good reason to consider the GOP.
It’s interesting that the party that “preaches responsibility,” doesn’t want to take responsibility.
If the Repub in question happens to be black, it’s even more proof.
Actually, it would be better if I included more white Republicans like Jack Kemp, Tony Snow, Newt Gingrich, and Mary Matalin. They all have criticized the GOP in regards to the Black vote.
DarkStar,
I’ll give you the first 3, but after marriing Bettlebrow, Matalin can’t be counted as a republican anymore.
Just kidding.
90% (love is blind, but does it have to be stupid, too)
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