Posted on 06/22/2008 6:20:31 PM PDT by 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,
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
JC Watts might have made an off the cuff comment. I cannot believe he would vote for Obama.
Blood is thicker than water and always has been. People tend to vote for their own kind, racially, ethnically, spiritually or philosophically. Hey, all you Freepers out there that were pushing for J.C. Watts for McCain’s VP? Care to explain your lack of political insight here? Anyone who couldn’t see that J.C. is at best a moderate Pub needs new specs.
Even Michael Steele has been waffley about Obama. Would like to be a fly on the wall to see how he actually votes in the privacy of his voting booth. Says he’s for McCain, but says a lot of nice stuff about Obama too. I’m not so sure about where even he stands when it comes to supporting your own race over ideology.
Statement From J. C. Watts
Former Congressman J. C. Watts this afternoon issued this statement after The McCarville Report Online posted part of an Associated Press story in which Watts is quoted as saying he is considering voting for Democrat Barack Obama. Here is Watts’ statement:
It has come to my attention that an Associated Press article on black conservatives indicates many are considering voting for Barack Obama for president in November. The writer refers to me and states, “(Watts) said he’s thinking of voting for Obama.” That is the writer’s interpretation of my statement.
If recent polls are accurate, a large percentage of Evangelicals and minority conservatives are leaning to or have committed to Senator Obama. I am not one of them.
Like many Republicans across the nation, I consider myself a “free agent” this year, which is what I told the AP. Presidential candidates are going to have to work to earn my vote, and not assume it.
I’m urging my friends and associates to follow their hearts in November. I’m hopeful, as the course of the campaign plays out, that Senator McCain will work as hard to merit our votes as he is for other voters, that he would give them reason to vote for him in November.
The article further lists some of my concerns with the Republican Party over its lack of outreach to the black and Evangelical communities. Those concerns are true, and anyone who has spoken to me or read my writings in recent months and years should not be surprised by that position.
But I regret to conclude that the GOP leadership — the party I embraced and for whom I have worked diligently across the nation — has come to place evangelicals and Republicans who are concerned about the black community, in the same boat. It seems the party leadership is taking this loyal group of voters for granted and no longer feels the need to work for our votes.
White students can get federally-funded student grants if they go to Black colleges.
I’ve known at least two to do so. They attended Howard and I think Middle Tennessee State.
Why not? White conservatives are voting for McCain over principle.
“The writer refers to me and states, “(Watts) said he’s thinking of voting for Obama.” That is the writer’s interpretation of my statement.”
He said it. You can tell by how he hedges above. “the writer’s interpretation”. Yeah right. Says he’s a free agent. My foot. Watts has always been a moderate Pub at best, with an Evangelical bent, but Rick Warren has an Evangelical bent too, and he’s for Obama. I don’t trust Watts any further than I could throw him.
Maybe I didn't get the whole interview, but when Laura Ingraham was questioning him on this, he seemed coy and didn't give a direct answer, IMO.
In fact, his answers left Laura gasping a bit....along the line of 'please tell me you're kidding'....
But knowing who he is, I was struck with his waffling attitude to the question and that he left the answer rather opened ended.
Hmm, is that your opinon, or simply your analysis? I disagree on both points.
I seriously dislike McCain. However, I see significant differences between the two. How much better it will be with McCain, or how much worse with BHO can only be guessed at.
As far as "showing the world the U.S. is not a racist country", IMO it would change nothing. Much of the world will believe what they want to believe. More to the point, do any of us seriously think the election of BHO would signal the end of the racial hate mongering by the left? I suspect it would get worse.
I feel the same way. His slooooow talking tripe always grated on me.
“even though he was elected by whites”
And shunned by the congressional black caucus
But many conservatives say Obama is no different from Mccain. So you still haven’t said why, if that’s true, it’s not okay to go ahead and vote on the base of race. It won’t make a policy difference to the U.S. if Obama and Mccain are the same in all ways but color anyway.
But if they don’t vote for Obama, Mccain will get in anyway. If there are two bad choices on policy, but one good choice on some other reason (they think race), I don’t see why that is voting against their principles.
I have not researched that...but I trust the man who told me.....So until I know different, I will give J.C. the benefit of the doubt.
When I was on his site I left him a message, and he answered me back in less than 12 hours, and it wasn't a form letter response either, but a genuine reply from a genuine person that truly knows what's at stake in this nation. I mentioned that I heard about him through Free Republic, and he told me to "say hi to all the FReepers for me!"
This man is truly a great American who has served America admirably, and believes in preserving the constitution of this nation. I hope he wins this November, and I hope to be able to vote for him on the national level some day. God bless Allen West.
You can still vote for Allen West. He’s a real conservative who deserved national attention, but the liberal media is afraid to let a conservative African American take the spotlight from that liberal Obamunist.
I’ve heard about Allen West; do you think there is a chance McCain may tap him for VP?
I strongly believe, and I mean STRONGLY BELIEVE, that if all of us are successful in helping Allen West get into Congress...
...in 4 years he will be on the shortlist for Vice-President.
Go West!
I heard that Allen West will be giving a speech this Saturday addressing Obama and the use of “race” in politics.
The GO WEST campaign will be videotaping the speech and it should be released sometime next week.
www.allenwestforcongress.com
The headline is misleading. What does voting for the erratic, statist McCain have to do with “principle?”
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