Posted on 06/23/2004 5:06:39 AM PDT by RonDog
Many on FR were calling a Bush landslide (the term "tsunami" sticks in my mind for some reason) up until about four days before the 2000 election.
I was HOPEFUL. When the DUI issue came out I was really worried. That, IMHO, is what made the election 2000 so close. It is something to remember this year, too. What will come out this year, four days before?
My Black friends all vote Republican. They are in the minority.
I'm not sure if there is a growing Conservative Black movement. If there is, and wouldn't that be great, I'm not aware of it.
I'm not an activist by any means, and certainly not--to use a Larry Elder term--a "victicrat"; the highest extent of my "activism" has been for W's reelection, and that has been comprised mostly of studying current events through Free Republic and conservative books.
IMO, the "Black Vote" has been damaged by people like Jesse "Shakedown" Jackson (I cannot in good faith call him a Rev.), Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan (sp), Maxine Waters, Yvonne Braithwaite-Burke, Carol Mostly-Fraud (Mosley-Braun), and any of these self-named "Black leaaders" who want to cry racism whenever they don't get what they want. There are many other reasons, which time does not allow me to post.
I think that the key to the vote, regardless of race, is education. You and I, and most people on FR, know that such an education is NOT going to come from the LameScream Fraudcast Media...though that is exactly where many people get their news entertainment.
I do my research here at FR, I signed up with the Conservative Book Club, I started listening to the conservative talk show hosts on the radio here in Los Angeles (Ingraham, Rush, Hannity, Elder, Tony Snow, Hugh Hewitt, and others), and through all of that, I now have facts to counter the lies of the left, and their all-too-compliant media.
In my case, though I was born in a lower middle class family in 1969, in a "depressed" area of Los Angeles (the "good" part of South Central)and my parents are long since divorced, I have always had my own mind. I never bought into the lie that one race is better than the other, nor that I was entitled to special favors because of my race or upbringing.
Some in my family have gone back to that...they toe the media line, and the "party" line. All I ever hear about is Black people, and how bad President Bush is. I think that I only have one pro-Bush person in my family, and she is a born-again Christian (as I am, hence the screen name) who shares the same beliefs as do I, and as does the President.
I'm not sure I've even answered your question, about the ability of W to carry 20% of the Black vote. I think it would be great if he did, but only if it were not on the basis of pandering to them, like the Dems are expert at doing. I think that the "Black vote" needs to be told the truth about the way things really are, starting with the two important things that really seem to drive elections: peace and prosperity.
The economy is getting better; there is more opportunity for those who want a job to get one. (That is the key, of course--do people really want to work, or do they want handouts/reparations?)
I went to college only briefly, 18 years ago. I did my studies on my own, to make sure that I had a skill that would translate into employment. Today, I work in the finance district of Century City, next to Beverly Hills, making about $30K with full benefits, and will start studying this fall for an MBA. But I digress.
I wanted to succeed, and I knew that handouts would not suffice for me. This economy allows me to make good money, and to save for retirement. I am able to do what I do, without fear of being attacked by barbaric enemies, because I have a leader who is willing to take the fight to the enemy, and to advance the cause of freedom, even at the risk of losing his job. The actions of this President, and of those who serve him, gives me hope that I will see my nieces and nephews live to fulfill their lives' calling.
I do think that if the message is delivered along the lines of reality and opportunity, instead of fantasy and victocracy (victim mentality), and enough people are willing to listen, then I will have more confidence in the "Black vote".
Apologies for the long post; oftentimes I feel the need to explain the reason for the answer that I will give. Thanks for your thoughtful post!
Outside of Welfare it seems that the Republican Party should agree with the Black Community. We are Pro-Christian, Anti-abortion, pro school choice through vouchers and tax cuts. Most of that should agree with middle class Blacks.
Stay with finance because it will teach you all you need to know about succeeding in business.
Keep the Faith and highlight those points and your family will take a second look. God Bless!
Pray for W and Our Shining City
Check FR for the posts of DrDeb. She does a great job keeping us informed about what the polls really mean. She came to the very same conclusions as Hugh. The ABC/WP poll is a joke. She goes into their poll in-depth and exposes the folly of it.
Can't rule anything out. A similar event could happen this time around.
Let's remain optimistic. While the popular vote will be very close again, I believe there could be big electoral numbers, significantly favoring Bush over Kerry. We shall see.
Thanks for the ping.
I love the graphic, Ron. And thanks for the good news, btw.
Thanks for the ping. I have heard lots of good stuff about Hewitt's new book "In, But Not Of". It's on my "must read" list.
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