Why Black Republicans Support Obama

Recent comments by well-known black Republicans J.C. Watts and Armstrong Williams that they're conflicted about the upcoming presidential elections and are contemplating voting for Barack Obama have sent shock waves through the Republican Party.

I'm hearing many black Republicans echoing similar sentiments. They say that because of the historical significance of casting a vote for the first legitimate black presidential candidate, they may cross party lines. These statements don't surprise me.

Thanks for the ping. Sad news, IF true. I can't see J.C. (with his very close ties to other Federalist-leaning Republicans) going through with it, but given that he has grown up in a world without Martin Luther King, Jr., it isn't beyond the realm of possibilities.

I'm old enough (and was very, very interested in the civil rights movement as a pre-teen, teenager and adult) to remember what happened to MLKJr.’s movement after he was assassinated. I also remember those in national security who voiced serious concerns about possible Communist ties by Dr. King.

I, personally, don't believe Dr. King was an anarchist or a communist, but if you look at what became of his movement and those who got control of it after his death, there were certain individuals whom I am certain side-tracked the message. These embittered, racist, individuals within his closest ranks took the African Americans of this nation down a path that could not but leave us where we are today. I remember very clearly how the Dr. Wrights of this country were born. I remember who gave birth to them, and I truly believe they're going to be just as pissed off on Judgment Day as they are now.

I think people are mistaking what he and others have said.

I think of it more like “I want to vote for the first black president, I just don’t want it to be Obama” rather than “I’m voting for Obama because he’s Black.”

In other words, they really wish they COULD vote for Obama.

LOL, we can picture them at the Pearly gates now......Hah! I would love to be there. I too was very very interested in civil rights when I was young. I don’t remember the ties to communism much, but we used a much stiffer yard stick in those days.

If BHO looses, the cry white racist stopped a great man from becoming president, will be loudly proclaimed and that America is a racist nation, it will have nothing to do with his leftist view of the world.

“I really hate to say this.....BUT...putting myself in their shoes I think that it would be difficult, if not impossible to resist casting such a historical vote.”

I know what you mean, skin color is so much more important than ideas, values, love of country, ethics, future of our country, etc.

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