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.
“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.