Conservative Blacks Choose Pigment Over Principle

townhall.com ^ | June 22, 2008 | Nina May

[Free ThinkerNY]

n the mid 1980’s I debated Gloria Steinhem on the Phil Donahue show, during the presidential campaign where Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman Vice Presidential candidate. The assumption by feminists, like Gloria, was that all women should vote for Geraldine because she was a woman. I asked her if she would be supporting Phyllis Schlafly if she were the candidate instead of Geraldine and if she would be offended if I made that same assumption.

When Allen Keyes was running for president, as probably one of the most brilliant candidates we have ever seen, he was ignored by the liberal media and the black community because, as a black Republican, he was deemed either irrelevant or out of touch. I often wondered if he had been the first black Democrat running for office if he would have been treated better, and then I had my answer in Barack Obama.

What is it about this man that has thoughtful, conservative blacks like Armstrong Williams and JC Watts saying they might vote for him? It can’t be his left of left politics that makes even Ted Kennedy look conservative. What thinking conservative could actually support a man who is going to raise taxes, increase the size of government, redistribute wealth, burden small businesses and the working class, and play nice with people who want to destroy us? It can’t just be about his skin color otherwise they would have been huge supporters of Allen Keyes when he ran for president, and as I recall, neither were.

Armstrong explains his position by saying, ''I don't necessarily like his [Barack’s] policies; I don't like much of what he advocates, but for the first time in my life, history thrusts me to really seriously think about it.'' JC Watts, former Republican congressman from Oklahoma,

[Anti-Bubba182]

........We’ll know that hell has frozen over if Clarence Thomas votes for Obama.

I agree.

[Dawnsblood]

I'm sorry if it was phrased badly. The point of the open letter was to explain that if a person was excited to have a black person as a President you had best make the first one elected top rate. Otherwise if he bombs when the next person of color runs people may say “I'm not voting for another Obama.” and we lose out on a great President who also happens to be black. I thought it was a good point anyways.

[RockinRight]

Now that I understand what you mean, I agree 100%. My wife and I were actually discussing that earlier.

I’ve even heard Obama supporters indicate as much, that Obama, if elected, will quite frankly be an awful President and ruin it for the next black guy.

[Hugin]

I’ve always thought Watts was a lightweight who was shoved to the forefront because so many Pubs wanted to have a “Black conservative”, any black conservative, to support, to show they care about values, not race. People were actually suggesting him for VP. Clearly, like Obama, he would not have gotten the attention he has if he wasn’t black.

[OKIEDOC]

I agree.

To even contemplate voting for a man or woman based solely on their skin color or sex just doesn't cut it in a world that is hell bent to destroy itself.

The citizens of Rhodesia now Zimbabwe (for those folks living under the tutelage of the NAACP plantation) couldn't wait to throw out the evil whitey.

Thousands of Zimbabwean citizens have died showing just how ill informed voters can be voting on race.

[RockinRight]

Throwing out Whitey turned that country from a halfway decent place by Africa standards, to a sh*thole that makes Ethiopia look like Paradise.

[JaneNC]

Because these folks tout their conservatism, and it is wrong to vote against one’s principles. That’s why.

HYPOCRITES

[JaneNC]

A conservative would never vote for Obama. Period.

He has 100 per cent NARAL rating, and he wants to disarm the USA. He promises to raise taxes and he wants to play patty cake with Ahmmy.

It is utterly disgraceful.

[OKIEDOC]

Yet, the very programs Obama and his radical Democrat supporters are pushing will eventually do the same for America. IMHO.

[RockinRight]

And what’s even worse in Zimbabwe, there was a decent guy elected, who won, but Dictator Mugabe basically strongarmed him (and God knows what else) into just giving up and giving Mugabe the throne again.

[rlmorel]

How depressing. Sigh.

[RushingWater]

Your post seems to conflict with this comment from RockinRight -

Actually, Armstrong Williams’ comments were out of context. Basically he said he wishes he could be “part of history” and vote for the first black President, but he can’t, because Obama is not the man who should be it. At least that’s how he explained it from what I heard.

Can you please clarify which is accurate, since you actually heard him discuss it? Also, does Armstrong Williams sometimes sub for Rush?

[Smokin' Joe]

Alan Keyes was not seen as a credible threat to the status quo, but Obama has traction.

I believe the word/concept is the same one which would have had allegedly conservative Republicans voting for Rudy over Duncan Hunter:

"ELECTABILITY"

[Ooh-Ah]

See:

Allen West's response to: Black Conservatives Conflicted on Obama Campaign

[Glenmerle]

What is it about this man that has thoughtful, conservative blacks like Armstrong Williams and JC Watts saying they might vote for him?

I think Williams and Watts have been exposed as neither conservative nor thoughtful. Better to find out now.

[wastedyears]

You know what, if Keyes ran as an old-school Democrat, he would have done much better I think.

Just having the word “Democrat” there would have moved mountains for him.

[LibertyGrrrl]

[Anti-Bubba182]

Cool!

[cherry]

I don't blame blacks for flocking to Barry.....the Mormons flocked to Mitt.....Catholics flocked to Kennedy......

it happens.....

[Nowhere Man]

Before this, I was a big JC Watts fan; now, I see, he’s just another racial whore. What next, JC, reparations? Oh, that’s right trillions in welfare is just a small part of that, but you and yours need more, lots more from Whitey.

Don't forget the deaths of soldiers on both sides of the Civil War. Although there were more issues than slavery, slavery was a part of it and a lot of soldiers died to bring about the end of slavery.

I think if Obama wins plus seeing stuff like this will set race relations back instead of forward. All it does is fuel the persona of the "Angry White Guy." I do understand how they are created when they are picked on in the liberal media and so on. I admit I'm one myself although I try my best not to buy into the race thing, but seeing fellow conservatives bolt because one candidate is the same race and color, well, that makes them look hypocritical. This Presidental race will create a lot of bitter people and of Obama wins, doubly so. Because of this, unfortunatly, race is a factor, it shouldn't be, but it has become that way. I keep thinking of the line from Yoda, "fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to more suffering." Well, I think we are at the anger stage now.

Basically, this monster has been created by the race pimps and the people who are dependent on everything from the government or they feel it should be that way. I also blame the young too, not the ones with their heads on straight, but the "yung uns" who fall for Obama like sheep for a shepherd, again, they want Obama to care for them through government. Not only you have race as a rift but sometimes age too. I guess being almost 42, the reverse can be true, unless one has their head on straight, don't trust anybody under 30.

I've voted for Alan Keyes, despite him jumping into the Illinois race in 2004 and giving us Obama, at least he walks the walk and talks the talk, same with Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell. I'm afraid, I'll have to throw Armstrong Williams and J.C. Watts under the bus now.