GOP drive to woo blacks via church alarms Brazile

The Washington Times ^ | March 3. 2005 | Donald Lambro

[Coastal]

An aggressive Republican campaign to court black voters with the help of church leaders "should be cause for alarm" among Democrats, who risk losing a larger share of their most loyal political constituency, says Democratic strategist Donna Brazile.

Miss Brazile, one of her party's most respected voter outreach specialists, warned Democrats at the start of the 2004 election cycle: "Don't take African-American voters for granted." At the end of that cycle, President Bush had increased his share of the black vote to 11 percent nationally and by 13 percent to 16 percent in battleground states such as Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania.

[NCC-1701]

"...I love the smell of rat fear...."

It smells like future victories for Republicans.

[justshutupandtakeit]

"Black" Irish were the descendents of Spanish sailors from the Armada who washed up on Ireland's shores or whose ships wrecked there because of the storm which destroyed the Spanish fleet. It was not a real racial designation.
However, the KKK would not like her anyway because most Irish were Catholic.

[justshutupandtakeit]

That doesn't change my post.

[NCC-1701]

Images like those are the reason for the IRS to remove the tax-exempt status to churches that participate and condone this activity.

[teenyelliott]

Well, yes, I know that. My point is when does one simply become American? How many generations does it take to get rid of the hyphen? Would my grandmother have been African American, Irish American, or simply American? Colin Powell's parents are Jamaican. Is he still African American? Halle Berry's mom is white. Why is she hailed as a successful black woman? Tiger Woods' mom is Asian, and his dad is only half black, I think. How much black ancestry qualifies one as being black?

IMHO, if your parents are immigrants, you can claim the something-American label. If your ancestors came over from another country generations ago, you are simply American. I wish we no longer felt the constant need to categorize people.

[cyborg]

I didn't ask you to change your post.

[teenyelliott]

The KKK hate Catholics. I'm still trying to figure that out

I think the answer is that the KKK hates everyone, unless you have a mullet.

[cyborg]

I agree, except that there's a lot of money in bean counting for some people. Plus some of it is emotional for some people. Just calling myself American eliminated a lot of explanation and outlining of my life *lol*

[cyborg]

And more than one tooth.

[teenyelliott]

Black" Irish were the descendents of Spanish sailors

You are correct about the black Irish thing. However, my g g grandma was black. She just happened to be from Ireland.

[NCC-1701]

"...How many generations does it take to get rid of the hyphen?..."

For me, not one second. The flag that flew over the hospital I was born in was the flag of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I am proud to be a 100% pure non-hyphenated American.

[cyborg]

Just an American bump!

[NCC-1701]

You got that right!!!!!

[AmishDude]

I ain't black. I ain't "African-American." I'm "Flavored."

Mrs. Dash.

[AmishDude]

That pic doesn't bother me at all. Bringing him to the pulpit is disgusting. We all know who's being worshipped. Or, at least, Bill does.

[teenyelliott]

I am proud to be a 100% pure non-hyphenated American.

Me too.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Hats off to Grannie and a Happy St Pats to you. That is a major Holiday here in Chicago.

[teenyelliott]

Thank you. Same to you. In regard to my grandma, I find it interesting that even though she lived in the early eighteen hundreds, she was married to a white man. Wouldn't think that was too common back then. I also wonder how well they, and their children, were received in the community, and if the fact that she was a "free woman" from Ireland made any difference as to whether or not she was the victim of racism.

[justshutupandtakeit]

If she lived in Ireland it is probable she was considered a curiousity and not treated too badly. There were none of the factors which fueled racism here present there. No economic threat to the lower classes since there were few blacks there, no fear of miscegenation on a large scale, probably no great cultural differences, etc.

[teenyelliott]

No, I mean once she moved here. Sorry, I forgot to mention that they did indeed live until their deaths in the U.S. I'm not sure when she immigrated to America, but her children grew up here.