A growing political force to be reckoned with: black Republicans

heraldtribune.com ^ | Dec 01, 2003 | Rod Thomson

[Not gonna take it anymore]

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Article published Dec 1, 2003
A growing political force to be reckoned with: black Republicans

The ballroom of the Hyatt in downtown Sarasota was filled to capacity with 200 people at a $75-per-plate dinner. Typical Republican shindig, except for one thing: Most of the attendees were black. The occasion was the first inaugural banquet of the SaraMana Black Republican Club.

There is the sound of distant thunder in the two-party political alignment that is as real in Sarasota as anywhere in the country. Black voters, in small but growing numbers, are beginning to consider the Republican Party.
It sounds laughable at first blush. The Democratic Party has relied on about 90 percent, unquestioning black support for decades. But it is quite real, and could have stunning consequences for the balance of political power in the country.

I wrote about this last year, when a trolley filled with black Republicans rolled through all of the streets of Newtown before the November election to get out the vote for Republicans. It just seemed such a strange picture.
In that election, the black-owned Tempo News in Sarasota endorsed Republican Jeb Bush for governor, as did the black-owned The Weekly Challenger of St. Petersburg and the Broward Times of Fort Lauderdale, the first time the latter ever endorsed a Republican.

A few months later, the SaraMana Black Republican Club was formed and held its first meeting in April 2003 with 16 charter members. Seven months later, it held its first dinner meeting with 200 people enthusiastic about the conservative cause.
The banquet featured speakers, award-winners and a video presentation letting dozens of local blacks explain why they are Republicans.

One black woman who went at the invitation of a friend arrived as a Democrat but left as a Republican, giving a thumbs up to her party change.

"This will mark the beginning of changing the landscape of Sarasota and Manatee," said Johnny Hunter, president of the club and publisher of Tempo News.

Jacksonville state Rep. Jennifer Carroll, the first black Republican elected to the Legislature, gave the keynote speech. She told the group that the NAACP ran ads against her last fall without ever contacting her, simply because she is a Republican and despite the fact that she is a lifetime member of the organization.
But Carroll did not talk about fighting against the NAACP. She talked about taking over the NAACP with conservative blacks, and she was met with cheers. In fact, during a Saturday afternoon featuring one of the biggest football games of the season, the people were cheering her every remark.

And they were tough remarks, such as, "You do not have to be a Democrat. Last time I checked, slavery was over," and, "Liberalism is a cancer on inner city America."
Among the Sarasota African-Americans receiving awards were Ed James, an Eisenhower Republican who received a lifetime achievement award, and Jim Smith, a recent past chairman of the Sarasota County Republican Party. I was in Sarasota for several years before I discovered Smith was black. I simply assumed he was white -- you know, a Republican chieftain.

Perhaps this is just an anomaly in Sarasota? Apparently not. It is national in scope.

A study from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies last year found that in the previous two years, black support for Democrats dropped 11 percentage points, resulting in less than two-thirds calling themselves Democrats. Meanwhile, support for Republicans more than doubled among black voters, from 4 percent to 10 percent.
That is still a small percentage, but it does represent a 150 percent increase. Further, the largest Republican support comes from the youngest segment of black voters – the future.

If Sarasota is any indication, this trickle one day could turn into a dam-break.



Rod Thomson can be reached by e-mail at rod@plow.org, or by writing to the Herald-Tribune

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[Killborn]

YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! About time.

[mhking]

We're getting stronger and louder. More and more people are starting to notice, too.

I love it as a plan comes together.

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.

[FreedomPoster]

Ping. Encouraging.

[JohnnyZ]

But Carroll did not talk about fighting against the NAACP. She talked about taking over the NAACP with conservative blacks, and she was met with cheers.

Shannon Reeves says the same thing. He's in charge of his branch.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Ping!

[Joe Brower]

I was there. It was great!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, never mind. You are here :0)

[MarkeyD]

You took the word right out of my mouth!

[oblomov]

Welcome to the party!

[AgThorn]

good read and quite encouraging!!

[bobjam]

The last time black Republicans exercised political power, the Democrats passed a bunch laws commonly known as "Jim Crow"

[freedom4me]

Can I get a witness?

Say "amen" somebody!

I have been longing for a program on FOX News that would highlight the growing number of black republicans.
I'd like a "Hannity & Colmes" style format - a black liberal and a black conservative.

As conservative principles are presented, it will become more and more clear that the relationship between black and the democratic party is a slave/master one.

[stevem]

I'm pulling with every part of my being for this to be true. The proof, of course, will be manifest next November. Keep up the effort.

[Consort]

Project 21

[netmilsmom]

>>I have been longing for a program on FOX News that would highlight the growing number of black republicans.
I'd like a "Hannity & Colmes" style format - a black liberal and a black conservative.<<

How about Michael King against Leo Terrell?
I'd be THERE!!!

[Killborn]

Oops. :)

Maybe you could asy sth else? :P

[mhking]

How about Michael King against Leo Terrell?

Me against Leo? I'd never get a word in edgewise! [g]

[Consort]

The Black Conservative

[netmilsmom]

>>Me against Leo? I'd never get a word in edgewise! [g]<<

And I guess someone would have to chain him to the chair so he wouldn't walk out!