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A growing political force to be reckoned with: black Republicans
heraldtribune.com ^ | Dec 01, 2003 | Rod Thomson

Posted on 12/01/2003 8:53:48 AM PST by Not gonna take it anymore


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




TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: black; blackrepublicans; florida; republicans
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To: hosepipe
Alan Keyes is great, but he is an intellectual, as are most black republicans.

We'll never reach 85% of their population that would rather watch BET than read a newspaper.
We have a much better chance going after hispanics and asians.
81 posted on 12/01/2003 1:08:53 PM PST by CMClay
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To: Not gonna take it anymore
Wonderful news!
82 posted on 12/01/2003 1:20:13 PM PST by Unam Sanctam
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Shouldn't sound laughable. It's not to me. Backstabbers, but no surprise there. That's the ultimate challenge. Shannon Reeves did it in Oakland, California though. Amen and amen. Blacks enrolled as Republicans en masse when they first left the plantation. Then slowly the Democrats made the plantation look more like a resort, while still a plantation at its core, and manage to lure back blacks. It's about time to leave the plantation again. Make it so. For all of our futures. For life, liberty, and justice for all.
83 posted on 12/01/2003 1:56:46 PM PST by CounterCounterCulture (Racism is wrong, no matter who the government discriminates against)
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To: mhking; Not gonna take it anymore
Now what I want to see are some southern blacks flying the Confederate flag. When did the "Civil War" start? (April 1861). And when was the Emancipation Proclimation signed? (Jan 1, 1863)... looks like about a two year gap there. Hmmmmm, the War Between The States was really fought because of slavery___________________ .
84 posted on 12/01/2003 2:19:54 PM PST by Xthe17th (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/repeal17)
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To: mattdono
Deroy Murdock writes some of the most excellent articles. Yes, you're right - absolutely brilliant. Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams, look out!
85 posted on 12/01/2003 2:25:58 PM PST by Xthe17th (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/repeal17)
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To: Not gonna take it anymore
I sure as heck hope so. It would be a wonderful day if we could even achieve a 80%- 20% split. Looking forward to the day!!
86 posted on 12/01/2003 2:26:32 PM PST by faithincowboys ( Zell Miller is the only elected democrat in America who isn't committing treason.)
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To: Not gonna take it anymore
Thanks for the post...this is very encouraging. I'm sure Sean Hannita would be happy to have a b/c go against a b/l. This could be one interesting and enlightening program. Sean has alot of black callers and is very good with liberals...let's them "open mouth and insert foot" every time.
87 posted on 12/01/2003 2:35:27 PM PST by TatieBug
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To: Not gonna take it anymore
The tide is FINALLY beginning to turn.

...When you read about a life-long Democrat coming into a Repulican event and changing her political affiliation, that speaks volumes about the moral bankruptcy and failure of the Democrat Party in Black America...not to mention being a wonderful feast for my eyes.

...That sound you hear is the screeching and wailing coming from the headquaters of the DNC and the offices of Black Commentator and Bill Maxwell.

-Regards, T.
88 posted on 12/01/2003 2:36:41 PM PST by T Lady (Who Let the 'RATS Out?!!)
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To: CMClay
We'll never reach 85% of their population that would rather watch BET than read a newspaper.

I disagree. You reach all people with a positive message that speaks to the issues of the day not those of decades past. The formula for success in this country is color blind which isn't to say that all the players along the way are. But that has been a truth for many minorities in this country who forged ahead based on the power of hard work and self created opportunity, not the joyless weight of victimology. The great lie that Dems perpetuate is that somehow, someway, the government can replace the process. To the extent that the black middle class in America is growing this message is beginning to resonate. These folks know how they got there.

89 posted on 12/01/2003 2:56:45 PM PST by Dolphy
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To: Joe Brower
Wish I'd been there also....will definitely try to make the next event!

BTTT
90 posted on 12/01/2003 3:21:41 PM PST by JulieRNR21 (One good term deserves another! Take W-04....Across America!)
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To: Trueblackman
Ping for your interest!
91 posted on 12/01/2003 3:28:59 PM PST by ConservativeMan55 (The left always "feels your pain" unless of course they caused it.)
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To: CMClay
[ We have a much better chance going after hispanics and asians. ]

I disagree... going after any one group, smacks to me of, trying to trick someone into not being a member of a lieing disingenueous band of cutthroats(democrats), I prefer appraoching everyone with as close to the truth as you can get it..

like Ann Coulter...., to bad many republicans believe as you do..

92 posted on 12/01/2003 3:30:53 PM PST by hosepipe
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To: Blue Highway
"delete" has priority over "backspace".
93 posted on 12/01/2003 3:46:52 PM PST by perfect stranger (No tag line today. Tag line yesterday, tag line tomorrow, but no tag line today.)
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To: mhking
We're getting stronger and louder. More and more people are starting to notice, too. I love it as a plan comes together.

Bump! This does a body good!

94 posted on 12/01/2003 4:16:47 PM PST by JustPiper (Teach the Children to fight Liberalism ! They will be voting in 2008 !!!)
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To: perfect stranger
It's a good day when you see that there are more than a handful smart individuals to see the democrats (demogogues) for who they are. My hat is off to the SaraMana Black Republican Club. More clubs like this will make the likes of Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Lois Farrahkhan and the ilk as irrelevant as Al Franken selling books.
95 posted on 12/01/2003 4:32:39 PM PST by Blue Highway
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To: Blue Highway
I'm suprised at the fact that this came from the local Saratota paper (owned by NYT).
96 posted on 12/01/2003 4:37:11 PM PST by perfect stranger (No tag line today. Tag line yesterday, tag line tomorrow, but no tag line today.)
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To: Not gonna take it anymore
During the 80's and 90's one of the fastest growing Demographic groups in terms of both econimc growth and education wwas Black Americans.

As people become both more affluent and more educated there is a higher propensity to become conservative.

This article is a further indication of that.

Unlike the Democrats, we welcome Blacks who think independently.

97 posted on 12/01/2003 5:18:13 PM PST by Michael.SF. (To decide to be non-judgemental is a judgement call.)
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To: freedom4me
"Deroy (can't remember his last name)"

Are you thinking of Deroy Murdock? He's great.

And how about getting Stanley Crouch on one of these "new" shows? He's pretty unclassifiable, I think, but that would make him a great third panelist.
98 posted on 12/01/2003 5:18:33 PM PST by jocon307 (The Dems don't get it, the American people do.)
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To: perfect stranger
Just had to post this. Might as well throw the NYT in this graphic as well...
99 posted on 12/01/2003 5:29:26 PM PST by Blue Highway
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To: Blue Highway
Well played. You sir, truly make Jimmy Carter seem like a Marxist. Albeit, it doesn't really take much to do that.
100 posted on 12/01/2003 5:32:58 PM PST by perfect stranger (No tag line today. Tag line yesterday, tag line tomorrow, but no tag line today.)
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