Black leaders switch to GOP in Florida

The Washington Times ^ | 11/25/05 | Brian DeBose

[LdSentinal]

One current and one recent Florida county director for the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization have switched party designations from Democrat to Republican, showing some of the first signs that the Republican Party's efforts to reach out to blacks are working.

Darryl E. Rouson, recent past president of St. Petersburg chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Derrick Wallace, Orange County chapter president, both have registered Republican in the past two months.

The announcements were seen as a boon for state and national Republicans eagerly seeking allies in efforts to reach out to the black community, but the two men said their decisions to switch party affiliation were based on the local political and business landscape.

[digger48]

Even losers get tired of being losers.

[Hadean]

"As a people, if 50 percent of the black population was in each party we would be getting a whole lot more than we are getting now, but because we are 85 percent in one party, when Republicans are in power we are a beggar race," he said. "And when the Democrats are in power we are a beggar race, because they take us for granted."

Bingo.

[bert]

....when Republicans are in power we are a beggar race....

One wonders what thoughts crossed his mind when Democrats were in power?

[Kimmers]

"given only lip service to inner-city economic development," he said.

For years now the democrats have been giving lip service to all they claim to represent. They take your money and take your vote with nothing in return. I am sad to say that I am starting to feel the same way about some of our Republicans too.

[i_dont_chat]

A person who changes from Democratic Party to Republican Party is no LOSER. If so, most of the Republican Party would be losers -- because not so long ago, we were in the big minority.

But no more. We are winners in that our party is attracting new blood.

[Hadean]

....when Republicans are in power we are a beggar race....

I had to stop and think about that quote when I first read it. But I think in the context of the article it was implied that when Reps are in power and Dems are trying to win elections, RATS always try to play the poor black card (beggers) for votes (isn't that always the case?), and do nothing to keep them when they win.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Florida GOP (once again) gets it right on outreach and expanding the party *ping*

[digger48]

They sound more to me like someone who 'blows with the wind'

But I welcome them aboard, just as we did Bloomberg. What again has that gotten us other than points on the scorecard?

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

This story brings to mind a quote I heard from Donna Brazile regarding the Democrat Party: "Even I have trouble explaining to my family that we are not about killing babies."

[FormerACLUmember]

The rat party is absolutely terrified at this prospect, as evidenced by endless vile rascist slurs by democrats at black Republicans.

Why? because if 20% of Blacks vote Republican, the democrats will be totally out of national power for the next 50 years.

They will be DEAD!!!!

[hsalaw]

"And when the Democrats are in power we are a beggar race, because they take us for granted."

[rdb3]

What again has that gotten us other than points on the scorecard?

What, exactly, did you expect for this to bring?

[digger48]

I will say though, it does take considerable courage on their part, knowing how they will be vilified by their former affiliates and 90% of the media

[digger48]

Just having an (R) behind their name doesn't always work out so well for us except when arguing the numbers of the "ins" vs "outs"

[jackbenimble]

....when Republicans are in power we are a beggar race....

I hope they became Republicans because they embrace our values and principles such as: low taxes, small government, individual freedom coupled with personal responsibility, strong national security, respect for life, strict construction of the Constitution, etc. I welcome anybody of any race or creed that embraces those things that make us Republicans.

But the way I read what he had to say it sounded like they joined the Republican Party because they felt they would get more handouts. The Republican Party has been badly diminished by all the recent hispandering where we have sacrificed our law and order, national security, and national sovereignty principles to buy Hispanic votes. It is hard to imagine what we will stand for if we start giving handouts to the blacks to buy their votes too. We will have become what we used to despise. We should leave the racial group politics to the Democrats. They have proved it to be a losing strategy.

[Frank T]

"Florida GOP (once again) gets it right on outreach and expanding the party"

And from reading the article, it *wasn't* because the Republicans played Left and tried to be Democrat lite.

[i_dont_chat]

Hey, guy, I think you addressed this to the wrong person.

I agree with you 100%.

[bad company]

What again has that gotten us other than points on the scorecard?

It opens the door to other people coming here legitimately

[jackbenimble]

Sorry. I didn't mean it as criticism of you. I just liked your quote.