Update (7/17): Commenter DavidTheMan writes (emphasis added):
“I stumbled on your site from InstaPundit. I must say you hit the nail on the head. I’m a black conservative male and I’m sure you know the looks you get when you talk to other blacks about Democrats…It is pointless for Republicans to try to pander to blacks to get their votes, there is no need for it because they will simply ignore your efforts. Republicans are better off standing strong on their ideals and the conservative principles and letting people come to the party than trying to go to different ethnic groups and cater a specific message to all of them.”
I concur. And about the so-called Southern Strategy, please read Martin Knight’s comment.
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I’m only one black American among millions, and I’m no authority on black people, nor do I speak for black people.
But I can provide insight.
Back in 2004, Republicans were trying to appeal to black voters. Newt Gingrich and the rest wanted to secure at least 25 percent of the “black vote.” Dream on! I poured a bucket of water over their piddling flame. Won’t work, I said. I explained my reasoning in “Why Courting the Black Vote Won’t Work,” which was published in the Washington Times.
Unlike some black conservatives and Republicans I know, I don’t think the party should appeal to voters based on skin color. I criticize white Republicans when they do it, and I’m disappointed when right-leaning blacks encourage them to do it.
Earlier this year, I reviewed a book called Wrong on Race, by Bruce Bartlett. He correctly pointed out that most of the raging racists you’ve read about in history books were Democrats and that Republicans were the anti-slavery party. In fact, the GOP was founded on the principle. Republicans supported major civil rights legislation right up through the 1960s, while Democrats filibustered the bills and spoke out against equal rights for all. Republicans still support equal rights for all.
And therein lies the problem.
Knowing history is important, obviously, and all this makes for good reading. But I need to break it you: blacks who vote for Democrats do not care about this history. The only bit of history they care about is the one that provides excuses and finger-pointing opportunities: ancestors in bondage, great-grandparents and grandparents struggling to gain first class citizenship in this country, etc. They don’t care who did what to or for whom in the past. All they care about is who’s offering them the most goodies today.
Bartlett is on a mission to set the record straight, and from my perspective, he’s accomplished his goal. He has a piece in today’s Wall Street Journal, “The GOP Is the Party of Civil Rights.” Bless his heart. An excerpt:
“While Harry Truman deserves great credit for ending racial segregation in the military and the civil service, his efforts to pass civil-rights legislation also died from Southern Democratic opposition despite strong support from Republicans, who controlled Congress in 1947 and 1948. This makes Dwight Eisenhower’s success in passing civil rights bills in 1957 and 1960 all the more remarkable, since Democrats then controlled both Houses of Congress.
“Lyndon Johnson consistently opposed civil-rights legislation while he was in Congress, but as president worked hard to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Neither would have passed without the strong support of congressional Republicans, who provided the margin of victory.
“Richard Nixon is said to have developed a ‘Southern strategy’ of using racial code words like ‘law and order’ to gain votes in the South. Yet he did more to desegregate southern schools than any president in history. Nixon also created affirmative action to help break the power of racist labor unions, and minority set-asides for government contracts to aid black entrepreneurs.
“Historically speaking, the Republican Party has a far better record on race than the Democrats.”
Bravo, Bruce. But if you or any other white Republican think all these facts will suddenly change black people’s minds, you’re destined to be disappointed. Democrats know they’ve got an eternal lock on 90 percent of the “black vote.” All they have to do is continue to promise black Americans bigger and better government programs and government handouts (so-called affirmative action, set-aside contracts, and other entitlements qualify as handouts to me), and encourage them to blame third parties for their troubles. (And I’m talking about blacks as a group here.) No grand theories. Along with reasons I mentioned in that 2004 article (federal government as savior, for example), it is that simple. Only my opinion…
Living up to American ideals like fierce independence, radical liberty, brazen individuality, and an unfettered pursuit of happiness is just too scary and challenging for some people. They’d rather sup from the enabling teat of a system that has contributed to their condition.
Also see Repeating History.
Update: Bruce Bartlett e-mails:
“I think you misunderstand the point of my book to some extent. Of course, no Democrat, black or white, is going to decide to vote Republican because of their party’s racist past. The point of the book was to give Republicans a story to tell to make it easier for them to go into the black community to seek votes. They haven’t tried to do that for a long time. If they do I think they will find many parts of that community receptive to their message. But Republicans have to ask first, they have to learn how to interact with black people and learn about their problems first hand. Once a dialogue has been established, Republicans will learn better how to tailor their message and their policies to better attract black votes. One area I mention in my book where I think the Republican message will be well received is on immigration because blacks and Hispanics are natural competitors and political rivals.”
I agree that Republicans ought to remind blacks of the Democratic party’s past. Good luck with that. Driving a wedge between blacks and hispanics won’t work, though.
Update II (7/17): A commenter says my “driving a wedge between blacks and hispanics won’t work” statement undermines my “entire thesis that such things’ (sic) dont matter.” To the contrary. It is my opinion that blacks hate Republicans more than they dislike illegal aliens, and will not vote for Republicans even if they promise to protect their interests over illegal aliens. Crazy, eh?
