Tuesday, September 19: This post is closed. To comment about the Steele-Cardin campaign, go to the latest post.
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It’s well known that blacks vote for Democrats overwhelmingly. It is as certain as the sunrise. In fact, it’s such a sure thing that Democratic candidates could bet their lives on getting a hefty majority of the “black vote,” no matter what they stood for.
Will the U.S. Senate race in Maryland change the dynamic?
Will they vote for black candidate and Lt. Gov. Michael Steele because he’s black, even if he’s Republican, or will they vote for him because they believe he’s the better man? It will be interesting to see exactly what black voters in Maryland are interested in.
Ideally, skin color would be low on the list of reasons to vote for someone. Promises, positions on policies, character, and track records would fare much higher.
I changed my voting patterns after reflecting on what I believed in. For instance, before I became a Christian, I was beginning to realize abortion was murder. No, ifs, ands, or buts about it. Democrats tend to be “pro-choice,” which in my eyes is the same as “pro-murder.” So I stopped voting for Democrats.
Another example: When I looked at what I was paying the government in taxes and the wasteful programs my money supported, I was angry. I put that anger into action by voting for the candidate who promised not to raise taxes and advocated cutting wasteful programs. So I became a social and fiscal conservative by simply thinking about what I supported, and candidates whose ideologies were similar to mine were Republicans.
For me, ideology trumps race. I can say with 95 percent certainly that I will never vote for a black Democrat. I’ll bet black liberals feel just as certain about a black Republican. I haven’t been following the Senate race in Maryland, but I think I’ll keep an eye on it from now on.
Black voters in Maryland may surprise us all.
Related:
Update (9/16 @ 9:00 a.m.): I don’t know how I ended up on Michael Steele’s mailing list, but I was sent this link: a hare-brained person who works for Congressman Ben Cardin, Steele’s competitor, allegedly wrote on her anonymous blog that Cardin’s staffers should pose with Oreo cookies to race-bait. The silly person wrote other things, too, apparently unaware that her identity could easily be traced. The person was fired. Wizbang has the whole story. Others: Atlas Shrugged and Mary Katharine Ham.
Look what I found from the pre-blog days: Man of Steele.
Unrelated Update: In-fighting among “colored” and white libs. Always entertaining. More later.
Update II (9/17): The AP picks up on the story about Cardin’s ex-staffer, but fails to credit the source: Wizbang Politics.
What kind of journalism is that?
Similar story here…
I’ve voted mostly Democrat my whole life but voted for Bush in both elections, I’m still a registered Democrat and will probably stay that way. Only reason I voted for Bush was because of his stance on fickle on-demand abortion. Though I hate he lied about Iraq, I didnt think Kerry was any better.
Its a little different in the ol diry South, alot of the Democrats down here are much more conservative than the Republicans. So, I vote Democrat in the local and state elections.
There are a number of conservative black democrats in my area and some black republicans.
Most local black politicians here are liberal on most issues except abortion and gay marriage.
Besides abortion, every other issue is pretty much up in the air for me.
So, I vote for whoever is anti-abortion and if they both are, then whoever I think is lying the least…
Comment by lukeNC — 09.15.06 @ 8:27 am
I tend to agree with Luke on the issue of conservative Democrats in the south. I personally know a few that are Democrat but very conservative. I’m not sure if they are simply holding on to the parties original stance for the common man, or if they just don’t care enough to know that the democratic party is so liberal everywhere else. (or appears to be). I personally don’t consider myself either party but do lean toward republican strictly on moral values (or the appearance there of.
)
In any event, I’m fairly new to the political debate arena so feel free to correct me on any misgivings. It may not alter my opinion but it will at least force me to think about it.
Great post! I’ve really enjoying you blog. Glad it was pointed out to me.
Comment by Cygnux — 09.15.06 @ 9:00 am
Luke, Bush was mistaken about Iraq, he did not lie. That is a tired line I am sick of hearing. No one, not France, not Russia, not anyone said that they had no WMD’s. Saddam’s generals even thought they still had a stash somewhere. There is a difference between lying and being wrong. As to LaShawn’s point, I have family here in Texas that are “yellow dog Democrats”. They would vote for anything as long as it was part of the Democratic Party.
Comment by Toothpick Johnny — 09.15.06 @ 9:59 am
Rational reason is refreshing. It’s the reason I read your blog.
Comment by Rick — 09.15.06 @ 11:21 am
I, too , believe ideology trumps race. I’m 95% certain I’ll never vote for a black….or white republican. Most are too conservative for me. But whenever I see a black republican candidate, I take a close look at him/her in the hopes that I can give my brother/sister my vote. So far, however, none have won my vote. Colin Powell would get my vote, though. I’ve voted for a white republican a couple of times; they had a moderate ideology whereas their democratic opponent was too far to the left.
Comment by Leon — 09.15.06 @ 11:33 am
Sadly LaShawn, many voters (black, white, brown) still vote based upon the color of the skin instead of the content of the character.
I remember being extremely puzzled the day I saw a car with a JC Watts bumper sticker next to a Clinton sticker and additional stickers supporting every Democrat running in the local races. My confusion ended when I pulled up next to the car and saw the driver was black.
Since that day I witnessed this circumstance on numerous occasions. We are still a long way from Martin’s dream. I do not vote for female candidates just because they are women, they must also most closely represent my positions on political and social issues.
Comment by Judy — 09.15.06 @ 11:36 am
Great post as usual LaShawn.
I was an ignorant liberal until my misguided views were intellectually challenged when I saw Star Parker on C-SPAN back in college. For the first time, I actually had to think about issues instead of just ignorantly and emotionally reacting.
I find among most liberal leaning Blacks I know (which is most of them), there is no thought process (this goes for liberals in general). As soon as you back up an argument with facts, they attack you personally and/or repeat liberal jargon they’ve heard somewhere else.
I really feel sorry for them, because I used to be just like them, ignorant to the core without the ability to engage in intellectually fact-based dialogue.
Regardless of party affiliation, I vote for the candidate that is most closely aligned with my values. Until more I-just-vote-straight-Democratic-ticket-none-thinking-Blacks start to actually think and analyze the values of these candidates, nothing is going to change.
I hope Steele and Ken Blackwell win.
Comment by Cedjan — 09.15.06 @ 12:36 pm
I’ve been writing several stories on Steele since he announced he was running for the U.S Senate. I also live in Maryland. Kweisi Mfume knew that the Maryland Democrat Party completely overlooked his candidacy, yet he still plans to back Ben Cardin. That speaks of a devoted fool in my book. Mfume announced he was going to run six months before Cardin entered the race. Steele needs to go into the black churches and explain what he represent. His conservatism would play to his advantage in this area. If he let Cardin corner him on the operations in Iraq, Steele will be in trouble. Steele needs to come out swinging and attack Cardin on his positions on social issues like abortion, homosexual marriage, school vouchers, faith based programs etc. Cardin can’t compete against Steele on these issues. It won’t be long before the ever so tolerant liberals start using racial attacks on Steele, but I believe this time around it will backfire.
Comment by Tyrone — 09.15.06 @ 1:32 pm
“When I looked at what I was paying the government in taxes and the wasteful programs my money supported”
Wasteful Programs: Medicare Part D, Iraq War, Bush- Cheney Energy bill;
Those are More than enough reason not to vote Republican, I’ve had enough of these cronies raid my income to support their corrupt initiatives. What makes me more angry is that they continue to raid the US Treasury and leave the country bankrupt for grandkids
Comment by james burgess — 09.15.06 @ 1:35 pm
Burgess “Wasteful Programs: Medicare Part D, Iraq War, Bush- Cheney Energy bill”
I guess the tens of billions of dollars wasted on social programs don’t count right?How many trillions of dollars have been wasted on the “War on Poverty”? What are the democrat’s alternative plan? Maybe you can enlighten me on that. If you care so much about wasteful spending, I have a list of programs that can be cut to “save money”
1. Cut all funding to National Public Radio and the PBS.
2. Totally reform the the Welfare Program.
3. Eliminate 30% of the federal government bureaucrats.
4. Eliminate the Department of Education
5. Eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts.
6. Eliminate our contributions to the United Nations
7. Eliminate giving money to third world countries that support terrorism.
8. Only use federal money for the rebuilding of New Orlean’s infrastructure ONLY!!
I think that is a good start.:-)
By the way, how much was spent on the “Cheney Energy Bill” compared to the annual budget? Also, are we really at war with Iraq? I don’t recall Bush ever saying that we have waged “War On Iraq”? Maybe you can provide proof to justify that comment?
Comment by Tyrone — 09.15.06 @ 1:54 pm
james, why are you so mad? The Democrats have been doing this since the 30’s.
Comment by Toothpick Johnny — 09.15.06 @ 2:17 pm
Prediction for the Democrat strategy to take him down:
“A Vote for Michael Steele is a rubber stamp for George Bush!”
Unfortunately finding Bush Derangement Syndrome in Maryland cities is like finding the number between one and three in a cow pasture.
Comment by AnonymousOpinion — 09.15.06 @ 2:40 pm
I am not anti-democrat, but anti-Marxist ideology, so I will consistently vote for the candidate that is the furthest away from it. What definitely got me firmly in the anti-Marxist camp were some inner city kids who were constantly blaming me and white people in general for the work they didn’t want to do, and the “educators” and administrators who went along with and reinforced their whining. That was the last straw.
Comment by mj — 09.15.06 @ 4:54 pm
I’m finding this funny.
Steele has supported raising the minimum wage.
Steele supports affirmative action.
Steele supports more funding for student loans. In fact, Steele blasted the Bush administration cutting funding of student loans.
Steele’s first campaign stop after getting the nomination, was the Larry Young Radio Show in Baltimore on WOLB. WOLB is a Radio One station and leans liberal.
Steele is dedicated to Black outreach.
Steele claims he is friends with Mfume and Mfume has stated he is friends with Steele.
Steele has stated he is a member of the NAACP.
Comment by DarkStar — 09.15.06 @ 6:41 pm
Tryone, you list of programs to cut is boiler plate Republican red meat. If you really are conservative, the list should include:
o Defunding the Census department from doing anything other than the 10 year population survey.
o Abolish the Small Business Adminstration.
o Abolish not only the Education Department, but all funding it provides, for example Title I, Title II, student loans, etc.
o Cut back the duties of the Commerce Department to only deal with international trade (tarrifs) regulation of interstate commerce (and that’s a stretch).
o Defund NASA
o Abolish HUD
o Defund all medical research
Comment by DarkStar — 09.15.06 @ 6:47 pm
Ugh! I’m glad I don’t live in Maryland anymore. I’d have to skip this year’s Senate election. You know, with credentials like that, Steele just might stand a chance. I’m glad I included that question mark in the post title.
Comment by La Shawn — 09.15.06 @ 7:03 pm
Trust me La Shawn, you got out of Maryland just in time. When I have enough money saved up, I’m moving south. Steele does have a chance, if he sticks to the issues. The Baltimore Sun isn’t a fan of Steele, thats for sure. It’s not going to be easy.
Sorry Darkstar, I believe in cutting waste. To me all the things that I mentioned are WASTE. I have no problem at all defunding NASA, getting rid of HUD, defunding medical research paid with tax payer money. I would keep the SBA, at least they help individuals to start businesses. That’s an empowerment program in my book Darkstar. Also, I have no problem with the government having a student loan program. As long as that student pays back the money borrowed, it really doesn’t cost anything. Students benefit from being able to borrow money to pay for school, an educated person thus becomes a productive member of society. In other words, this is also another empowerment program worth keeping. I will give you an E for effort Darkstar as usual lol.
Comment by Tyrone — 09.15.06 @ 8:37 pm
NASA and other funding of private enterprise is not a function of the federal government.
The federal government should not help nor hinder business, internally. Tariffs are the exception because that’s at a country level.
Federal backed student loans and things like the FHA have put the government in competition with private business. Government should never be in competition with private businesses and by government I mean the national, state, and local level.
It is not a function of government to empower individuals. It is up to individuals and private groups to empower themselves and others if they so desire.
“Empowering people” is why we have the welfare system.
Given your response, you just want welfare programs that you deem “good”.
So, have you read The Federalist Papers?
Comment by DarkStar — 09.15.06 @ 9:24 pm
LaShawn, he is pro-life. Cardin is “pro-choice”.
You would skip the race?
Comment by DarkStar — 09.15.06 @ 9:25 pm
Darkstar, ie: your list in post #14, I don’t see much there that a Republican should object to… not enough to avoid voting for him. A lot of Republican candidates lean liberal, but they’re a long shot better than electing a Democrat.
Comment by mamapajamas — 09.15.06 @ 9:31 pm
Steele appears to be Pro-life from what I have seen. Even if a Democrat was Pro-life, their Party’s culture of death would put a ton of pressure on them to vote for the “choice” position. That should always push a pro-life to any one that does not have a (D)eath in front of it. I do not think we have to worry about that with Cardin since he has a 100% rating with NARAL.
I hope that I am surprised here in MD and that Steele does get the black vote.
As far as Steele going to the “black” churches. I would hope that it would help, but I am afraid his being Catholic will count against him.
Comment by Plasticturtle — 09.15.06 @ 10:12 pm
UPDATE
A Bin Cardin staffer was fired by Cardin for “oreo” hinged comments she made on her blog about Steele. She also made comments about a black Cardin staffer. Wizbang broke the story.
http://politics.wizbangblog.com/2006/09/15/secret-cardin-staffer-blog-exposed.php
Got it earlier. - Admin
Comment by Tyrone — 09.16.06 @ 10:35 am
In defense of Ursula Gruber
Ali-Bubba feels obligated to defend her. Ursula is no different than millions of other well-meaning Americans who have fallen under the evil influence of liberalism. Why, some of my best friends are white liberals ….
Trackback by Alabama Liberation Front — 09.16.06 @ 11:16 am
As far as Steele going to the “black†churches. I would hope that it would help, but I am afraid his being Catholic will count against him.
Since when has being Catholic worked against someone in the Black community?
Comment by DarkStar — 09.16.06 @ 2:21 pm
DarkStar “Since when has being Catholic worked against someone in the Black community?”
My sincere apologies I was in a rush, let me expand with a re-type. I really do hope that going to the black churches will help Steele get his message across. His message should resonate very well in predominantly black churches when give the oppurtunity. However, democratic leadership and some so called “black’ leadership will rail against him in greater ways than the way some have against Rich Santorum for how his religion affects his thinking on morality. If he was a Mikulski “Catholic”, he would be praised for not letting his church infect his thought and would be praised again for upholding the sanctity of abortion on demand.
I was referring to how a John Kerry gets a pass that a Michael Steele will not. Hope that clarifies it.
Comment by Plasticturtle — 09.16.06 @ 4:30 pm
Dem Staffer’s Racist Comments Rock Maryland Politics
As it has been since before the Civil War, the Democrat Party seems to still be the comfortable home of racism and anti-Semitism. We’ve seen that in postings at MoveOn.org, Kos, And DU. Now, Maryland Congressman Ben Cardin has had…
Trackback by Rhymes With Right — 09.17.06 @ 1:12 pm
I’ve been watching the Maryland race and all I can say is that I wish Steele was running for the Senate here in Ohio. Guess we’re stuck with DeWine because his opponent is a total dud and then some. On the positive side, we have an extraordinary candidate in Ken Blackwell. I have issues with him BUT he has spine and guts and that puts him light years ahead of his opponent who strikes me as a singularly unpleasant alternative for governor.
Comment by Gayle Miller — 09.18.06 @ 10:43 am
Steele should win simply because his opponent is shamelessly hinting that his election would result in a cure for cancer by 2015. Please. That falls into the “give me a stinking break” category.
Comment by RedBeard — 09.18.06 @ 12:23 pm
RedBeard #28: I agree. However, “cure for cancer” is a good prediction. Psychics use that one all the time. They prove that their prediction came true when they point out that this or that cancer was, indeed, cured.
“Cancer” is a generic term for numerous tumor-causing diseases, and cures are being found for this one and that one all the time. I was cured of a cancer myself :).
Because the various cancers are different diseases, each requiring a cure of its own and then broken down into cures that individuals can tolerate (would the “cure” kill this particular patient?) however, having “the cure for cancer” is a statement of gross incompetence in the area. It’s completely bogus. There can be no single cure for cancer.
Steele’s opponent should be slammed royally for spreading this kind of false hope.
Comment by mamapajamas — 09.18.06 @ 3:52 pm
The Bin Cardin staffer story has been a major topic of discussion on Baltimore talk radio. Bin Cardin was a guest on the Chip Franklin show this afternoon. He was asked about the staff/blogger. He said “She was only a JUNIOR staffer. In her blog however, she said she was a “SENIOR” staffer. Before her comments were removed from her blog, she talked about are power as a “SENIOR” staffer. Read the news story on Wizbang, then go to http://www.wbal.com and read Bin Cardin’s comments. Something is very fishy in this situation. Did Bin Cardin know about her blog before others broke the story about what it contained?
Comment by Tyrone — 09.18.06 @ 5:53 pm
Wasn’t it DEMOCRATS that were the biggist supporters of slavery and wasn’t it a REPUBLICAN that ended it?
Comment by BIRDZILLA — 09.19.06 @ 9:51 am