The Democrats Play The Reverse Race Card....

The Iconoclast ^ | December 23, 2002 | Murray Soupcoff (The Iconcolast)

[Apolitical]

ICONOCLAST DAILY NOTEBOOK....

The Democrats Play The Reverse Race Card....



December 23 2002: Emboldened by their success in destroying the political legitimacy of former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott by charging him with racism, the denizens of the left are gearing up for more of the same -- cynically seeing this gambit as their last chance before 2004 to deflect the growing swing among the American electorate to the Republican Party.

The essence of this race-based libel is the charge that the Republican Party's recent electoral success comes from constantly playing the "race card" while pursuing a "Southern strategy" to attract racist white voters, with veiled attacks on blacks and on needed "civil rights" stratagems for ridding American society of its stubborn systemic racism.

Just how credible is this ingenious gambit of Democratic politicians (and their sympathizers in the media) at playing the reverse race card in order to stigmatize the Republican opposition? For an insightful analysis, we refer to today's TownHall.com column, Republicans and the 'race card' by Mona Charen.

Here's Ms. Charen's take on the question of whether the Republicans Party has resorted to coded appeals to white racists in their many election victories:

Have Republicans slyly used race to win elections? When pressed, Democrats usually bring up only two examples from the past two decades: the Willie Horton ad and the Jesse Helms "white hands" ad.

The Horton ad was about a black criminal released by liberal Gov. Mike Dukakis who raped and murdered a couple in Maryland. When the issue was first raised against Dukakis, there were no cries of racism, because the candidate who brought it to national attention was none other than Al Gore, a competitor for the Democratic nomination in 1988. It was called "playing the race card" only when supporters of George H.W. Bush used it against Dukakis. The point of the ad, anyway, was that Dukakis was such a starry-eyed liberal that he permitted violent felons to leave prison on work-release programs.

The Helms ad showed white hands tearing up a rejection letter. The voice over said, "You needed that job, but it had to go to a minority." It was hard-hitting, to be sure. And it certainly drew upon white resentment of affirmative action policies, but that is not racism. You cannot institute policies calling for reverse discrimination and then denounce any complaints as racism.

As Thomas Sowell has demonstrated in his wide scholarship on the subject, preferential policies create strife and conflict all over the globe, from Southeast Asia, to Sri Lanka, to Africa, to Australia, to the United States.

In fact, what the critics of the Republican Party refuse to acknowledge is that the resentments that Republicans have successfully exploited lately among white southern voters (as well as many midwestern whites and Hispanic and black voters) is culture and value based -- in the context of the current "culture wars" between liberal advocates of moral relativism, non-judgmentalism, self-actualization, group-rights and judicial interventionism and traditionalist defenders of Judeo-Christian morality, individual responsibility, individual liberty, judicial restraint, and the validity of common-sense wisdom.

In essence, it's come down to a symbolic culture battle between the haughty educated elites who dominate our universities, media and the Democratic Party and the "ordinary" working class stiffs, rural folks and non-white-collar Generation-Xers who are increasingly identifying themselves as conservatives and voting Republican in national elections. The unrelenting assault on common sense, "conventional morality" and religious belief by the liberal-left -- through attempts (in the words of former Democratic Senator Daniel Moynahan) to define deviance down and normalize the aberrant and the unthinkable -- has alienated a giant swath of America (increasingly identified geographically as "Bush country"). And increasingly Republicans are benefiting from this moral and values backlash.

For example, the latent hostility that still remains among many Americans against the current gay "civil rights" agenda, does not emanate from an irrational homophobic hate which would criminalize sexual choice and sanction government or societal regulation of what happens in the privacy of Americans bedrooms. Instead, most of the secular critics of the gay rights movement would likely support this original liberal conception of minority "rights."

However, a growing resentment among ordinary citizens (particularly those in "Bush country") has emerged over the attempt by government and established authorities to redefine what is acceptable, desirable and praiseworthy in behavior, language and dress. In other words, it's one thing to say that the state infringes on individual rights when it attempts to criminalize or regulate the sexual preferences and sexual behavior of its citizens. It's another to insist on mandatory education courses in our schools whose goal is to normalize and promote "alternative" sexual choices and behavior. Or to persecute supposed violators of the strictures of political correctness.

Similarly, the backlash against the black civil rights establishment among many whites today is not grounded in an old-fashioned sense of racial superiority and fear, but rather in an instinctive belief in Martin Luther King's original "dream" of a color-blind American meritocracy. What these potential crossover voters to the Republican Party resent is the new racial preferences agenda of civil rights activists, dedicated to creating a society in which blacks and other minorities are treated in a preferential manner (through reverse discrimination supposedly needed to redress the damage of past discrimination against these groups) -- a society in which some racial and ethnic groups are "more equal" than others.

What these Republicans-in-waiting also object to is the attempt to rejig the educational and criminal-justice systems in a way that removes the onus of individual responsibility from members of preferred racial and ethnic groups and guarantees the promotion of their self-interest, regardless of the extent of their individual achievement (or non-achievement) or their lawbreaking. Of course, we're talking about racial quotas in our universities that favor underachieving middle-class black high school students over better-qualified, poor white students, as well as a "reformed" criminal justice system that excuses and ultimately encourages lawless brutality and violence (much of it black-on-black crime against women and seniors) in the name of addressing the "root causes" of crime and redressing systemic discrimination against the "powerless."

In other words, it's not some hidden race-baiting "code" that's attracting so many southern andmidwestern voters to the Republican party. It's the appeal of an emergent political ideology that validates their instinctive values and acknowledges the legitimacy of the traditional American ideals they venerate -- ideals which have increasingly been trashed by the nation's educators, media mavens and tastemakers over the years. It is the appeal of Republican politicians' acknowledgement and affirmation of a moral universe which has for so long been under attack by the "progressive" advocates of moral relativism, multiculturalism and post-modernist "critical thinking."

Contrary to conclusions of the media's "enlightened" punditry, America is not undergoing a new phase in the racial wars. Instead, it is nearing a cataclysmic climax in the culture and value wars that began in the 1960's......................

[Apolitical]

Fighting words.

[onedoug]

Let 'em play it. Americans are free to be stupid.

[Just mythoughts]

Election reform, no more voter fraud.

[oyez]

If they gonna' play it the're goana' a eat it.

[Doug Loss]

I posted this a couple of days ago on a different thread, but I think it's worth repeating:

I think it's time for us to take the offense in this area. When referring to our opposition to any kind of racial preferences, we need to start by saying, "as Martin Luther King said," and then quote the not-color-of-skin-but-content-of-character phrase. Then we can go on to explain our positions. When the other side complains in outrage over our use of Martin Luther King, we should say, "But he said exactly what we are saying. Don't you agree with Dr. King or believe in his vision for the world?" When they say that racial preferences are needed for whatever reason, we should say, "So you don't believe that blacks and hispanics are smart enough to compete on their own? We completely reject that mischaracterization of a large class of Americans. Those are the same beliefs that Dr. King and so many others (including the large majority of Republicans at the time and today) strenuously rejected."

[Alberta's Child]

When I was in high school we had a leftist woman for a history teacher who spent a lot of time in the first two months of the 1984-85 school year singing the praises of the Mondale/Ferraro campaign. She was devastated when Reagan won a huge landslide victory.

The day after the election, one of her former students stopped by for a visit at the start of class. He told her he had a brief lesson to teach us. He went to the blackboard, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote two huge numbers next to each other -- "12%" and "88%"

"Politics is really very simple," he said, "The party that panders to this voting group . . ." (he drew a big circle around the 12%) ". . . at the expense of this one . . . (he drew a big square around the 88%) ". . . generally gets its butt kicked on Election Day."

Even the teacher couldn't help laughing at that one.

[gov_bean_ counter]

The Dems have jumped on Lott's comments to cover p their own "race" problems.

Hillary Clinton and the Democrat Party turned their back on Carl McCall. When the Democrat Party had to replace two Senate candidates they turned to two old white guys. The Maryland Governor's race had an African-American on one of the tickets and it wasn't the Democrat's. Harold Ford's run at House minority leader sure was short lived. The head of DNC could have easily been a person of color had the Clinton's not gotten their way. Finally Al Sharpton's presidential campaign threatens to split the Black vote.

Miss Marple put together a great visual yesterday on this subject. Ping her for the details.

Let the Dems play the race card. The Pubbies can trump it if they chose to.

[monkeyshine]

I heard a soundbite on ABC radio on Friday, of Hillary! Clinton of all people, accusing the Republicans of playing the politics of race and calling on the GOP to stop using racial politics. It was such turnspeak that I was just floored by her quote.

[ssantomaur]

What is frustrating is that the Republican Party is the only party promoting ideas to help all the underpriviledged:
Here's a few examples:
Early 80's: Capital Zone R-Yes D-No, adopted in early 90's as Enterpise Zones, Result more jobs in minority community
Crime (Most crime is on Same race): R-Tough on Crime D-Tough on Cops, Result Safer Minority Neighborhoods
Welfare Reform: R-Yes D-No, Result: Fewer Minorities dependent on Govt.
Upcoming:
School Choice: R-Trust Parents D-Trust Teachers Union, Republican offer parents escape for failing schools, Dem's don't
Medical Reform: R-Tax Payer Choice, D-Medicare only, Republican plan covers more people for less money.
Social Security: R-For Individual Accounts D-Staus Quo, Shorter life span for Minorities mean they are subsidizing other retiremnet, Republican plan will allow them to pass assets to their Heirs.
Race Issues: Republican Deal with their problems (Lott), The Dems Cover thiers up (Byrd)

With all this it's amazing that Blacks are still voting Dem in such high numbers.

[chachacha]

What? This is incredible! Tell us not PC'ers this is not happening.

I thought after the Free Republic PC'ers rampage against Trent Lott the whole world would be a better place.

What a Joke.

The NAACP, Jesse, Al, Hillary, and all the rest of the liberal race baiters, are laughing their asses off.

We dumped Lott because we wanted to squash any idea that we were not the party of the minority. We wanted to look Polically Correct. Now that we caved once more to the Dem's lets be patient, I'm sure we'll find another cause to shoot ourselves in the other foot.

We wouldn't get the black vote even if we'd give them reperations.

Oh GOSH, I wish I wouldn't have mentioned that word. Now they'll do it for the Vote.

AND

THE OTHER FOOT.

Stay tuned folks the republicans will self destruct over their own voting records. They threw Trent Lott out because of his past voting record so, wait till they attack all the others. Correct me if I'm wrong but, don't most republicans like most Dems vote the same? What's good for Lott is good for the rest

We are so cool

[ssantomaur]

The reason Lott was removed was that he was an ineffective Leader. The Republican were looking to get rid of him and this gave them the opportunity. Dachle was running rings around him on the Senate floor. If he had been effective, he would have handled the aftermath better and defended his record better. The Dems overplayed their hand. Frist will not be as easy to deal with as Lott was, which is why in the end both Rep. Jophn Lewis and James Carville said they accepted Lott's apology, and why Daschle dissmissed the comment in the beginning.

[chachacha]

Whew! Carville? Do we now trust him also?

They are settiing the Republicans up like they always have.

Lets just set back and watch. My guess is they will cripple Frist before the New Senate gets sworn in.

Lets just watch the Dem's RACE BAITING MACHINE TAKE THE TRENT LOTT ISSUE TO LEVELS "UN-KNOWN TO MAN". OR SHOULD I HAVE SAID "UNKNOWN TO THE REPUBLICANS".

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[stand watie]

so what else is new?

i've said for years that the naaLcp is ONLY about gathering more POLITICAL POWER for the LEFTISTS & $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. nothing more,nothing less.

i am NOW ashamed that i USED to be a dues-paying member.

free dixie,sw

[nanny]

The reason Lott was removed was that he was an ineffective Leader. The Republican were looking to get rid of him and this gave them the opportunity. Dachle was running rings around him on the Senate floor.

Are you saying what I have believed all along - the Republican engaged in a race baiting campaign in order to get rid of Trent Lott because they didn't like his leadership?

It will be a shadow over everthing we need done in the congress - that is assuming the Republicans intend to do anything conservative.

[mvpel]

The race card, the reverse race card... we should come up with a card game!

[Theodore R.]

No matter what, the American black voter will stand with the Democrat, always will, for the forseeable future. Blacks think the Democrats "care" about them.

[RoseofTexas]

FORGET the racist BLACKS! They are racist's against all races, yellow, brown, red, if you are not black you are screwed! BUSH and the Pubs MUST, I WILL REPEAT MUST win the Hispanic voting block! Between both races, we'll KICK THEIR SORRY BUTT'S in every election!! The black community is a LOST CAUSE! I have TONS of hispanic friends who vote republican EVERYTIME!!

[Only1choice____Freedom]

New card game....
I vote for Cynthia McKinney - Queen of bleeding hearts.

[Kay Soze]

Amen

The Clintons were sued by the NAACP during their 5 term governorship over Arkansas.

Hillary and Bill never once made any effort to remove the star of the confedracy form the State flag,official documents or emblems.

Democrat Senators Robert Byrd and Ernest Hollings are staunch segragationists in word and deeds.

see Does the Democratic Aprty Owe reperations

-The 1924 Democartic Convention was known a s the KLANBAKE as was so heavily attended by KKK Democarts.

- So strong was the Texas Democratic Party’s commitment to maintaining its whites-only primary, it took four direct orders from the United States Supreme Court spanning four decades to remove the racist institution

- House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt was reported by Newsmax.com to have attended meetings with and even solicited the endorsement of a St. Louis area “white rights” organization during his first campaign.

- Byrd wrote to the notorious white supremacist Senator Theodore Bilbo, another Democrat, in 1946 announcing that he would rather “die a thousand times” than see desegregation in the U.S. military.

- In 1964, Byrd filibustered, along side Senator Al Gore, Sr., for 14 hours against the Civil Rights Act.

- Sen Fullbright Bill Clintons mentor was a staunch segragationists and Bill Clintom awarded him the Medal of Freedom !