Obama era sees rise in black candidates — in the GOP
Critics of the tea parties have tried to paint their membership as monochrome and their opposition to President Obama’s policies as rooted in racism. That story line doesn’t really hold up for anyone who has actually attended a tea party, and Gallup reported this week that, in terms of “age, educational background, employment status, and race — Tea Partiers are quite representative of the public at large.”
But a better validation of the wider appeal of the tea parties, and the ideas of limited government they stand for, is represented in this Clarence Page column:
President Barack Obama’s election has inspired a record number of African-American candidates to run for Congress this year. What’s surprising is that they’re running as Republicans.
(snip)
At latest count, 33 African-Americans are running for Republican nominations to Congress, according to the Frederick Douglass Foundation, a 2-year old organization founded by chairman Timothy F. Johnson, vice chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party. That’s the most black Republican congressional candidates since Reconstruction, the foundation’s leaders believe.
Twenty-two of the candidates listed by the foundation — a list that now totals 38 — are running for office in the South. Three of them reside in metro Atlanta: Cory Ruth, running for the seat now held by Rep. Hank Johnson, and two challengers to Rep. David Scott: Deborah Honeycutt and Rupert Parchment.
Page mentions the words “tea party” only once, and only in passing. In a column reporting the rise in black Republican candidates, he is nonetheless at pains to describe the party as hopelessly white — otherwise, he suggests, they’d be able to fire Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele without inviting a backlash.
But he offers no alternate explanation for the rise in black Republican candidates, and it’s important to note that the tea parties have helped to spur the candidacies of Angela McGlowan in Mississippi and Les Philip in Alabama, among others.
Page also goes on to argue that few of the black Republicans have much of a chance of winning, and points out that the GOP had seen a decline in black congressional nominees over the past decade. (We won’t know how many of today’s 38 candidates will become nominees until the primaries are over.)
Still, this is an under-reported phenomenon that deserves some probing. It may be that Obama’s election both solidified many minorities’ allegiance to the Democrats and gave others the confidence to run for office regardless of their ideology. In other words, Obama and his policies might not have increased the number of black Republicans but simply given them encouragement. Then again, it’s only logical that many blacks would be among the millions of Americans turned off by the president’s efforts to centralize more power in Washington.
I have written before about the value of voting blocs making their traditionally allied parties compete for their loyalty — e.g., black voters and the Democrats, or conservative Christian voters and the Republicans. Page echoes this when he writes that he believes, “as many of these candidates do, that black voters would benefit from having both parties competing for black support, along with that of other Americans.”
In fact, that kind of change — away from traditional identity politics, toward greater participation across the political spectrum by racial minorities — may be the truest test of whether Obama’s election ushered in a post-racial era in America.
Related: Black conservative tea party backers take heat.
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132 comments Add your comment
LA
April 7th, 2010
10:51 am
Kyle, be sure to check out where black conservatives are called names by left wing a-holes.
Donna P.
April 7th, 2010
11:00 am
What a black conservative? No way. They are traitors to their race! That is what the left-wing nut jobs will say about them.
At The Switch
April 7th, 2010
11:00 am
The African-American’s will take hold of the GOP and we will be living in the United States of Black America.
The Udder Side!!!!
April 7th, 2010
11:05 am
The key here is not how many are running, but how many will win primaries against white candidates and how much support (i.e. money) they wiil get from the national party and the big supporters…..
neo-Carlinist
April 7th, 2010
11:08 am
“underreported phenonomenon” – by whom? “deserves probing” – why? this is just so much “two party” – demographic pie chart nonsense. the difference between a Democrat and a Republican is ideological; and perhaps cultural, not racial. correct me if I am wrong, but African Americans have always been able to vote or run on a Republican ticket.
Dearie Smith
April 7th, 2010
11:14 am
Another wonderful candidate, who just happens to be black, is Lt. Col Allen West, an Atlanta native, running from the southeast district of Florida. During his interview today, with Bill Bennett Morning in America, he gave an interesting history of Black Americans and their early political party affiliations which were predominately Republican. Check it out on http://www.billbennett.com
MSG
April 7th, 2010
11:14 am
Mr. Wingfield,
The Republican party and the Tea Party is not one in the same and neither are their agendas. Additionally, minorities running as Republican’s in minority district is nothing new. Finally, just in case you are the readers don’t know “Minorities are not a Monolith” we all don’t think and vote based on the same criteria and until the Republicans move to the center on those issues the majority will continue to vote Democratic.
Keep up the good fight!
April 7th, 2010
11:18 am
Prior ignorant posts aside. I hope the GOP continues to welcome blacks, minorities and other groups. It would be helpful to this country to have at least two parties that understand the difficulties faced by these groups and can provide useful legislation that works through the nuances. Conservatives as well as liberals have a place in politics and hopefully with good solid laws that recognize solid policies and answers.
Of course, your “conclusion” about why they chose to rise now is unsupported by fact. Perhaps it is a direct response to the leadership of Obama and that he has shown many who felt they did not have a voice that perhaps they can make a difference. They are in fact turned on by OBama but they may not hold all of his political views. They may in fact be more center than right wingnut. Who knows…..with enough turned off by the extreme wingnuts in a state like Georgia, perhaps for center Republicans and some independents these candidates may have a chance to bring the GOP back from its extremism, lies and false claims….but I dont expect you to see that Kyle.
Kyle Wingfield
April 7th, 2010
11:19 am
Agree, Udder, but I think a higher number of candidates in the first place is a start.
Agree with you as well, MSG, but I would also argue various groups — not just racial minorities — tend to vote too monolithicly (is that a word?), to their detriment. I think any movement against the grain, and not just toward the GOP, is newsworthy.
JF McNamara
April 7th, 2010
11:21 am
Most of the African Americans I know, self included, identify with many of the principles of the Republican party. The Republicans idealogically appeal to the middle class and wealthy of all segments of society, but there is always a racist slant to the things they do. Maybe its real or maybe its imagined.
For instance, if a Republican says you only voted for Obama because he is African American. Is that insulting to all African Americans?
Yes, you are saying we are all so dumb that we can’t decide on anything other than race. How is that supposed to endear us to the Republican party?
How about the flag issue? I’m sure there were Democrats that didn’t want to change, but it primarily got put on the Republicans (as evidenced by Republican states MS and SC still having the confederate flag).
Republicans chose to cater to closet(and not so closet) racist instead of doing the right thing and just changing it. It sent the message that they are going to be forced by those n******* to do anything they don’t want to do. Regardless of whether you believe that heritage B.S. or not, you have to admit that it is/was offensive to African Americans.
Until the Republicans change their actions, they’ll always be thought of, in most cases rightfully, as a party that would prefer to not have large African American participation.
I’m not saying all, or even most Republicans, are racist so don’t go there. I’m just saying that the party’s actions on a lot of issues consistently go against what one would thing a non-racist would do.
Its not what you say when the cameras are on. Its what your pattern of actions show. In other words, they don’t really care that Obama is African American as much as he is in their best interest. The upsurge in African American candidates will help the Republicans, but they are going to have to change their pattern of behavior before we see a large shift of African Americans to the party.
Kyle Wingfield
April 7th, 2010
11:24 am
Actually, Keep up, I made that very point about people being motivated by Obama’s success even if they disagree with his policies. See third paragraph from the end.
We can only speculate at this point about the higher number of candidates, at least until we’ve heard from all of the candidates themselves. I doubt they will all give the same answers. I’ve written before that the lasting effect of the tea parties will be the way and degree to which citizens engage in the political process. That’s why I give partial credit to the tea parties here, but again it’s just speculation.
No More Progressives!
April 7th, 2010
11:25 am
Keep up the good fight!
April 7th, 2010
11:18 am
“Prior ignorant posts aside. I hope the GOP continues to welcome blacks, minorities and other groups.”
They never stopped inviting anyone.
No More Progressives!
April 7th, 2010
11:26 am
JF McNamara
April 7th, 2010
11:21 am
“Racist slant to the things they do?” Do you actually believe that bilge?
Kyle Wingfield
April 7th, 2010
11:27 am
I won’t disagree with much of what you said, JF. So here’s my question: Does this bump signal the beginning of a shift in broad opinion about the GOP, opportunism, something else, nothing at all?
JF McNamara
April 7th, 2010
11:28 am
Yes, I do. I gave examples. Did the flag issue not even have a tint of racism to it? If you are (were) African American, would you not have taken at least some offense?
Keep up the good fight!
April 7th, 2010
11:39 am
NMP, you are correct, the door may technically have been open but reality suggests that actions such as the new VA republican governnor reinstating Confederate month (and Perdue’s campaign promise to bring back the 1950’s state flag that was part of resisting civil rights) and that governor’s change to an executive order allowing dismissals for being gay is not truly putting out the welcome mat to those groups.
Kyle, I read your “encouragement” comment but you followed it with your “only logical” speculation that they are “turned off” which again is purely unsupported. There is a whole lot of possible speculation including a backlash against the wingnuts.
JF McNamara
April 7th, 2010
11:43 am
I just think times are changing. The bitterness of the sixties is fading as time passes and African Americans are now fully integrated into society. There is no single issue that bonds African Americans, so they are doing what is in their best interest. For many, that is going Republican.
As far as a broad shift, I don’t see it as long as the Republicans continue on this path. Quite frankly, there isn’t a lot of difference in the two parties so as long as the ghosts of the race issues remains its not going to happen.
I will say that the vote of African Americans under 40 is definately up for grabs if the Republicans will make the necessary changes to get it. There is no conspiracy. We will vote in our best interest like every one else.
Kyle Wingfield
April 7th, 2010
11:44 am
The two are not mutually exclusive, Keep up. I’m not trying to offer definitive answers on this one. Remember, I said the trend deserves some probing to see what’s going on.
Feel free to answer the question I posed to JF.
T.A.
April 7th, 2010
11:51 am
For me as a African-American, I don’t necessarily have a problem voting Republican when I find they have a better plan than a Democrat. However, what I find to be the problem with Republicans, more so than Democrats (and Democrats are also at fault to their own degree), is the lack of adherence to the value of limited government. Until I can see concrete adherence to this value, I’d prefer not to vote Republican. Democrats, on the other hand, are not to be glorified either, as they do not universally adhere to more freedoms for citizens.
In any case, I like the fact that these people have decided to diverge from the norm and offer alternatives. I’m curious to see if any of them win.
Keep up the good fight!
April 7th, 2010
11:59 am
I can’t speak for African Americans. I have heard some propose that some may be joining the GOP because of the need to have more minority participation in that party and the ability to advance to a higher level but that seems to have a degree of “affirmative action” claim to it. But again, I speculate that a number of potential candidates realize that perhaps there is a place for liberal republicans or moderate republicans and that in this political environment in some states, having a republican label in a historically red state increases the likelihood of being elected.
Then again, perhaps its all a grand scheme to be RINOs…..and once elected they will become Dems…..Oh I will have to bring that up at the next secret meeting…or maybe Beck figured it out on hic chalk board.
LA
April 7th, 2010
12:04 pm
Health care overhaul spawns mass confusion for public
Two weeks after President Barack Obama signed the big health care overhaul into law, Americans are struggling to understand how — and when — the sweeping measure will affect them.
Questions reflecting confusion have flooded insurance companies, doctors’ offices, human resources departments and business groups.
“They’re saying, ‘Where do we get the free Obama care, and how do I sign up for that?’ ” said Carrie McLean, a licensed agent for eHealthInsurance.com. The California-based company sells coverage from 185 health insurance carriers in 50 states.
Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/04/06/91696/health-care-overhaul-spawns-mass.html#ixzz0kQmT23Jh
David S
April 7th, 2010
12:12 pm
The real question is whether or not these folks are just the other side of the Warfare/Welfare coin that the current one-party system in this country has become. We don’t need more big government, endless warfare, anti-Bill of Rights, pro tyrrany republicans any more than we need their democratic party counterparts.
I certainly applaud the presence of anyone with the time, determination, and principles to want to throw themselves into the sewer that DC and congress have become. It is unfortunate that any pro-freedom candidates must have to run as either democrats or republicans as these two parties have both lost their way. What is more unfortunate is that if they are actually the type of candidates that will support freedom and liberty and a truly small government, the national and state parties will certainly work hard against them in order to maintain their power base. One need only look at how hard the national and Kentucky republican parties are working to try and keep Rand Paul from winning the upcoming US Senate primary. That’s all the power elites in this country need is another Paul, this time in the Senate, actually supporting principles and not just bowing to pressure from the party leadership.
Good luck to all freedom fighters!
RealityBites
April 7th, 2010
12:17 pm
AAs have been pretty conservative in values and beliefs since slavery ended. What other situation demands pulling oneself up by the bootstraps more than being a freed slave or the child of one? For generations family, hard work, and a strong faith became a cornerstone of the AA experience. It wasn’t until JFK came along that there was an overwhelming shift of AAs to the Democratic Party. The 1960 was the “hit the fan” moment in American history concerning racism with the dramatic conclusion of the Civil Rights Movement. That is probably the moment when AAs stopped viewing whites in general as racists and reduced the label to Republicans. There was a generalized belief that white Democrats were willing to support AAs while Republicans were not and that stigma has stuck over time because the Republican Party hasn’t done anything to prove otherwise.
Here’s the real kicker. AAs are at their most successful and wealthy point in American history. Sure, many ignorant folks still believe AAs are all on public assistance and live in the inner city and the only financially healthy ones won the lottery or are in some form of entertainment. Ignored are the “Cosby” AA families featuring successful hardworking adults and good children. These are the people the Republican Party should have been after since the 80s but instead they were generally ignored. As JF McNamara said, it is in the best interest of many AAs to go Republican for the same reason many successful whites are Republican, including less government, taxes, etc. Heck, AAs wrote the book on not trusting the government reaching into our homes. Tea Party and Republicans can learn a lot from AAs.
The problem with the Republican Party is not that they are openly racist, but anytime a concern of the AA community becomes a campaign issue, the general attitude by Republicans is that everything is ok the way it is and for those people to stop using government as a crutch. If Democrats are the only ones who will listen and act on the concerns of a demographic, who do you think that demographic is going to generally support? It’s not rocket science people. Look at the healthcare issue. Republicans are falling all over themselves saying that some change was needed, just not what is now referred to as Obamacare. Well Clinton tried to change healthcare and it was shot down then when the Republicans had their chance controlling Congress with a Republican president they didn’t do squat. Right back to the attitude that everything is ok the way it is and to pull yourself up by the bootstraps.
The moderate middle is the best place to be in general. Republicans are sticks in the mud, ignoring real issues as long as they are cashing in on the status quo. Democrats have no self control and love enacting new programs as long as they benefit from it while trying to gain new dependencies from the people. Both are dangerous to a government and a society. Think liberally, act conservatively; that combination is what help America grow to the greatest nation on the planet. Unfortunately we’ve gotten to the point of extremes and we must quickly snap back to the middle before we are torn apart.
No More Progressives!
April 7th, 2010
12:20 pm
JF McNamara
April 7th, 2010
11:28 am
Yes, I do. I gave examples. Did the flag issue not even have a tint of racism to it? If you are (were) African American, would you not have taken at least some offense?
When it was fashionable for blacks to wear Malcolm X tee-shirts, should whites have called all blacks wearing one racist? How about FUBU attire?
Real American
April 7th, 2010
12:26 pm
LOL….these black candidates realize they can probably get P-A-I-D by the same inbreds that have been supporting these “grassroot” tea parties. Its a hustle, that they learned from the same hustlers selling t-shirts and books and false promises to the “I WANT MY KUNTREEE BACK!” crowd. LOL
Real American
April 7th, 2010
12:27 pm
So wearing a Malcom X hat or FUBU clothing is racist?
BWA HAHAHAHAHA!!!! pilgrims are hilarious!
No More Progressives!
April 7th, 2010
12:30 pm
Keep up the good fight!
April 7th, 2010
11:39 am
What’s wrong with Confederate Month? As an avid Historian, I read about all aspect of history, good and bad. Those aspects include the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Dark Ages, the Crusades, et al.
There are Cowboy museums out west; should Indians be offended?
No More Progressives!
April 7th, 2010
12:31 pm
Real American
April 7th, 2010
12:26 pm
You obviously have a lot to offer.
Good luck with 9th grade.
Hamad Meander
April 7th, 2010
12:32 pm
Why is it so surprising that some successful, thoughtful black Americans are running on the ticket that supports individualism, less government interference, and more personal responsibility? Over the years, I have met hundreds of black Americans that call themselves Republican. I met one fellow the night of the election and he said “As much as I am excited that a black man has been elected President of the United States, I am so disappointed in the values and positions that our President-Elect stands for.”
CJ
April 7th, 2010
12:41 pm
Kyle wrote that, “in terms of “age, educational background, employment status, and race — Tea Partiers are quite representative of the public at large.”
Tea Partiers are quite representative of the public at large? Let’s look a little more closely at that Gallup poll that Kyle linked to.
According to this poll, blacks make up approximately 11 percent of the population, but make up about 6 percent of “Tea party supporters.” In other words, blacks are disproportionately under-represented by nearly half (whites make up the difference).
In addition to being disproportionately white, Tea party supporters are also disproportionately male and disproportionately conservative. In fact, it’s reasonable to conclude that the 28 percent who support the Tea Party movement (per the Gallup poll) are really just people who are still mad that the Republican candidate lost the presidential election. In all likelihood, these are the same 28 percent who made up the bulk of Bush’s 30-something percent approval rating when we appeared to be sliding into a depression just before he left office.
Unfortunately, the so-called liberal media has decided that they’re going to give these 28 percenters coverage disproportionate to their numbers—forcing their viewers to listen to the ramblings of ditto-heads and Glen Beck groupies every time they turn on the news.
Keep up the good fight!
April 7th, 2010
12:42 pm
NMP….. There is not enough time to educate you on the offensiveness of “Confederate Month” especially when McDonnell says that he did not mention slavery in his proclamation because he focused on issues he thought “most significant” for Virgnians and fails to condemn it. Recognize the “sacrifices of Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens” but fail to recognize the injustice they were fighting to preserve? I am sure you can google many commentaries from GA’s recent flag history, SC and even in the current news in VA. These soldiers already have a day of remembrance….its called Veterans Day.
But he did not declare Cowboy Month (and somehow you conclude that cowboys were enslaving a race or succeeding from the US?)…and yes, native americans (not Indians) would be offended and should be if there were a month to celebrate violations of the treaties signed by the US with native americans…..
lmno
April 7th, 2010
12:43 pm
Interesting statistics Kyle, but it seems to me that you are calling the “Tea Party” and the Republican party the same thing.
You start by writing, “Critics of the tea parties have tried to paint their membership as monochrome and their opposition to President Obama’s policies as rooted in racism”, and then counter that position by noting that the Republican Party is gaining black Candidates.
There is a disconnect there.
To the guy comparing the state flag to someone’s t-shirt, Are you joking?
The State of Georgia adopted that flag in the mid 1950’s (56?) as an open symbol of its disapproval of Brown v. Board of Education.
Some guy wearing a t shirt is not the same thing as a state government using its flag as an open slap against the federal government.
Voice of Reason
April 7th, 2010
12:51 pm
The deal is this…there have long been more blacks who are conservative than has been reported…many are Christians…many have obtained an education through sacrifice and hard work…many of whom have been suppressed and painted as traitors to their race by blacks who want the land of entitlements. If they show true conservatism, not some run as one thing and serve as another thing like we are seeing with Obama (he ran as a centerist and governs from the extreme left), we will see the true ‘color’ of the right…whites WILL support conservative blacks and the lie of the right being racist will be disproved…sure there are racists…on BOTH sides and of both colors…but to be conservative and/or to be Republican is NOT to be racist!
Atlantan
April 7th, 2010
12:53 pm
JF and others…the flag issue is ridiculous because if most people knew anything about history they would know that our current state flag is actually almost identical to the confederate states of america flag. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America
lmno
April 7th, 2010
12:53 pm
Kyle, the Gallup poll you cite also list the overall population percentage of “Non-hispanic Black” as 11% in the US. It states that 6% of Tea Party “Supporters” (not “members” as you stated) are “Non Hispanic Black”.
So, that number is almost half of the national population percentages. If that were true, you could not state that “tea partiers are representative of the public at large”. Furthermore, this survey has a Margin of Error at 4%+/-.
That means that you are way off base here Kyle. Its possible that what you’re stating is close to true, and its possible that its way off.
No More Progressives!
April 7th, 2010
12:56 pm
Keep up the good fight!
April 7th, 2010
12:42 pm
NMP….. There is not enough time to educate you on the offensiveness of “Confederate Month”…..
I’m “offended” by liberal/progressives trying to tell me what to think. If you don’t like history, fine. The liberal mantra is to re-write history. I’ll have none of it.
As far as time goes, I have all the time in the world to learn something new. This ain’t new. EVERYTHING offends liberals, blacks, illegal immigrants, Keith Olberman, et al. Somehow, you never seemed to get around to asking what offends me.
And yes they are Indians. They say so themselves. “Native American” is PC, which I consider rubbish.
No More Progressives!
April 7th, 2010
12:59 pm
lmno
April 7th, 2010
12:43 pm
“Some guy wearing a t shirt is not the same thing as a state government using its flag as an open slap against the federal government.”
How does a state flag “slap” against the Federal Imperial Government? This makes no sense. See the 10th Amendment.
And your attempted analogy fell on it’s face; in the Good Ole USA, only certain “groups” are racists/bigots. Other groups are exempt.
DBH
April 7th, 2010
1:01 pm
If more of us knew our history, we’d realize that the term “black conservative” or “black Republican” isn’t as far-fetched as the mainstream media make it out to be.
The vast majority of blacks didn’t affiliate themselves with the Democrat party until the New Deal days of the 1930s. Truth be told, it was the Republican party – NOT the Democrat party – which was founded as the anti-slavery party and fought to free blacks from slavery, which explains blacks’ allegiance to the Republican party up until the 1930s. It was the Republican party that passed the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the U. S. Constitution granting blacks freedom, citizenship, and the right to vote.
So, again, the term “black conservative” or “black Republican” isn’t as weird as people think.
South Fulton Guy
April 7th, 2010
1:05 pm
Its sad that being Black has become an ideology instead of an identity.
Black folks are conservative in church on Sunday, but somehow they are able to vote contrary to what they say they believe. You are Black for a time and a season, but a servant of God for eternity.
Those that vote Democrat will have to answer for their politics that has resulted in the deaths of millions of babies as American is reaping the consequences now.
It is time that Black stop their unconditional support of the Democrat Party who takes them for granted and throws them a bone once in a while. Hold both parties accountable for their actions not their words….
Keep up the good fight!
April 7th, 2010
1:06 pm
NMP….. somehow you being a ignoramus is offensive to me….but you never seemed to ask what offends me…
Objections to “Confederate Month” is not rewriting history… but then again, I guess we can have Union Month too. Let’s show how Sherman kicked arse!
Stan
April 7th, 2010
1:06 pm
Well lets see if we can look at the recent actions of republican governors of GA & VA….their reinstating the Celebrations honoring the confederacy clearly show an undertone of the good old days….when blacks were seen as property and not humans…..so to see an AA join a party that does not have issues with this is pretty misguided
Linda
April 7th, 2010
1:09 pm
We attend the 9/12 meetings which are similar to the Tea Parties. The last one we attended, Deborah Honeycutt spoke. She’s running against David Scott. She’s extremely intelligent, a Christian, graciously donates her services to her community, trustworthy, eloquent & gorgeous. She & her husband are both doctors. Visit her website & consider supporting her whether or not you live in that district. Click on her name above in Kyle’s article.
JF McNamara
April 7th, 2010
1:10 pm
No More Progressives wrote,
“When it was fashionable for blacks to wear Malcolm X tee-shirts, should whites have called all blacks wearing one racist? How about FUBU attire?”
Maybe they are racist. Maybe they aren’t. Maybe they just liked the movie or the shirt. I acknowledge there are African American racist if that was your point, and you can feel free to call them racist if you want.
On the flip side, Is every person I see with a confederate flag, T-Shirt, or bumper sticker racist?
In any event, people can do what they want. Governments and political parties should do what represents all people. The state of Georgia didn’t put an X on the flag representing Malcom X. If they would’ve, I’m pretty sure you would’ve wanted it changed.
Regina
April 7th, 2010
1:10 pm
As a woman of color and a Republican, I am upset with the push for amnesty for illegal immigrants and more government involvement in our personal lives.
DBH
April 7th, 2010
1:12 pm
@ South Fulton Guy: Good post and I concur.
It’s always amazed me how black voters who, as you pointed out, consider themselves to be “born-again” Christians, can pack the pews of churches and listen to a minister preach on the principles of God, not the least of which is the sanctity of life, and then turn right around and vote for a guy who unabashedly supports abortion at ANY point during the pregnancy and for ANY reason. The irony here, of course, is that had Obama himself been aborted by his mother, he obviously would not have had the opportunity to make history and become the first black president of the United States.
Only God knows how many other “firsts” have not come to fruition because of the travesty of abortion. I would that more black Christians would walk the talk and vote their Christian beliefs.
Craig
April 7th, 2010
1:15 pm
I saw a man on television years ago, do not remember his name, that said “slavery is not dead. The largest slave owner in the country is the white democrat”. He explained that through social programs the dems have found a way to keep many minorities dependent on the government for their livelyhood. Clothing, food, and shelter to name a few. According to this guy, it is similar to what the slave owners did during that time. Could this explain the hold that the dem party has on blacks? Could this also explain why you have more blacks admitting that they are conservative in their values? Don’t know if this is true but, something to think about.
DBH
April 7th, 2010
1:23 pm
@Craig: Your post about “slavery” reminded me of an article I wrote recently on my blog at hiphoprepublican.com:
“Harriett Tubman, the black abolitionist most noted for her sacrificial navigation of slaves to freedom via the “Underground Railroad”, once stated the following:
“I freed thousands of slaves. I could have freed thousands more had they known they were slaves.”
I have a painting in my home by Paul Collins, depicting a brave, vigilant and resolute Harriet Tubman, cautiously guiding the members of a sleep-deprived, scar-ridden, tattered clothes-wearing, barefoot family along this “underground” road, in an effort to, like so many others before them, experience the reality of freedom from the bondage and oppression which, to that point, had comprised every facet of their lives.
The painting is significant to me not because of some intrinsic artistic value, but because of the poignant message it conveys to me as a descendant of so many who shared the spirit of what the thirst for freedom brings: that my ancestors did not sacrifice their lives in the pursuit of freedom only for me, generations later, to become enslaved myself.
There is a strange irony brewing in our country today in that formerly it was “the white man” who, as “master,” was the chief propagator of the institution of slavery, whereas, now it is a black man – President Barack Obama – propagating government as our new “master.”
Not unlike the slave masters of long ago, President Obama knows exactly what he is doing. His behavior, though obviously more polished and refined than the Southern aristocrats and plantation owners of centuries gone by, is no less deliberate and agenda-driven. Instead of a whip, he adroitly uses a teleprompter to get his point across.
But, here’s the thing – back then it was clear to the slave who the overseer was and what his objectives and intentions were. With President Obama, however, the same is less clear because, instead of placing us all in shackles outright and sending us off to the fields to put in our day’s work, he uses the approach of the slow-boiled frog, turning up the heat ever-so-gradually so that the frog has no clue what’s happening to it, lest it instinctively jump out of the pot having, obviously, realized that the water was hot enough to immeidately bring about its demise.
This, I believe, is exactly what Harriet Tubman was speaking of, especially as it relates to my fellow black “brothers and sisters”, who fail – scratch that – who REFUSE to realize, simply because “we” now have a black man in the White House, that they are slowly and unwittingly being enslaved, and by the hands of someone who, unlike in times past, looks “just like me.”
President Obama is unabashedly relying on the ignorance of American citizens – especially blacks – to proffer and promulgate his socialistic ideal for this country. He and his minions are banking on the continued ignorance of that percentage of the population who, as Ms. Tubman so eloquently put it, “don’t know they’re slaves,” in order to succeed in his efforts to, as he himself said, “fundamentally transform the United States of America.” (His force-feeding the Health Care Bill down our throats is proof enough of that.) But, what’s truly sad, is how so many of my black friends and colleagues still believe that the bill the President just signed into law will now make health care “free” to everyone. It would be funny if it weren’t so sad.
The Unitarian minister, William Ellery Channing said, “The office of government does not exist to confer happiness, but to give men opportunity to work out happiness for themselves.”
As a black man, I long for the day when the 90+ percent of us who support the Democrat party would inculcate Channing’s attitude into our own lives as individuals, realizing that we need to stop looking to G-O-V for whatever we don’t get from G-O-D. Only then can we truly realize the power we have to make a difference in this nation – and the world – and put an end to the slippery slope of socialism which the President has now embarked us.
I challenge those of you who supported (and support) the President to wake up and realize, as it relates to what our ancestors fought and died to bring us out of, that it’s about to be “deja vu all over again”, only this time with “one of us” as slave master.
Linda
April 7th, 2010
1:26 pm
Rather than arguing about what you hear about the Tea Parties, why don’t you attend them & see for yourselves? There’s a huge Tea Party rally on 4/15 at the state capital. Various chapters around the state are having pep rallies & music followed by bus rides downtown.
Most of the chapters meet every week hosting various speakers.
Go to the website for the Tea Party near you.
The members of the Tea Party who are the angriest are those who are disappointed, those who voted for Obama, proving they are not racist.
I can tell you from first hand experience that the only difference between Tea Party members & average Americans is that so far the Tea Parties have been outside. We are outside Americans who believe the fed. govt. is spending the American Dream of our grandchildren (born or not). Who in the US (except Progressives) can’t agree with that?
Keep up the good fight!
April 7th, 2010
1:27 pm
Craig…perhaps your post suggests it own racism by its foundation that somehow minorites are dependent on the government for their livelihood or that only minorities receive “entitlements”. Perhaps there is a history of them being denied jobs or continuing racism? Perhaps the impacts of racism and slavery are not erased merely by cutting the shackles….. Something to think about….
joan1
April 7th, 2010
1:28 pm
I just hope these candidates are fiscal conservatives.