That, and it hurts the overall conservative message. To be clear, I think it's legitimate to talk about many of the issues that seem to attract such comments (e.g., black crime rates, black-on-white crime, black academic performance, black culture, etc.) but it undermines any legitimate points that might be made about those things to talk about them like a stereotypical racist. It turns black conservatives off. It turns plenty of whites off, too. And I've been told by more than one black that the reason they don't and won't vote Republican is because racists feel too comfortably at home on the right. So when people ask, "Why do black and Hispanic conservatives vote for Democrats?" the answer is that the belief that Republicans and the right are racist is so poisonous to the "brand" that those groups want nothing to do with Republicans or the right. That's sad, bad, and counter-productive.
Moroever, instead of making it clear that there is no room in the conservative position for bigotry, there are folks who try to apologise for it, rationalize it, or allow that it is one man's opinion, to which he is entitled, but that should not ruin it for the rest of us.
Well, my copy of the Declaration of Independence says something about all men being created equal, and we conservatives, who wrote that document, might just start from that position, as well as the rest of the declaration and the constitution, all of it, including the 14th amendment, which states rights folks don't like, and the part prohibiting searches and seizures except upon probable cause, and warrant issued under oath or affirmation, a clause the law and order and WODies don't like.
Before we can start attracting a majority in under our broad conservative tent, there are a whole host of pretty disreputable folks we need to start throwing out.
Is that why Colin Powell voted for Obama? I just figured it was because he is a black racist. Thanks for setting me straight.