Viewpoints: Racist cartoon of Obama forces me to leave GOP

SacBee.com ^ | 6/12/2011

[Altura Ct.]

I was one of those rare species: a black Republican, the guy willing to spit into the wind of conventional thought, who was often showcased on camera at party events to prove inclusiveness.

But as a proud black man, I can no longer be a member of the Republican Party.

Being a Republican has long been a part of my personal and professional identities, so leaving the party is a difficult and emotional decision.

In 1998, as a young man searching for what I believed were shared values, I cut ties with the Democratic Party and became a Republican. Democrats, in my view, had become unwelcoming to those holding center-right views not in lockstep with the party, and it was my belief that through hard work, the Republican Party could be utilized as a vehicle for improving our community.

For the next 13 years, I dedicated myself to growing the conservative base of the Republican Party, and in the process bound myself in emotion and deed.

...Ken Barnes is a small-business owner in Sacramento and a member of the executive committee of the California State Conference of the NAACP.

[dila813]

which cartoon? the one that the Democrat Artist created?

[The Iceman Cometh]

I can no longer be a member of the Republican Party

Democrat, Republican..... all part of the establishment.

We need another course.

[kabar]

And so it starts. The race card will be played over and over again. The GOP will be branded racists and bigots. 2012 will one of the most divisive campaigns in our history. Obama is desperate.

[max americana]

but any cartoon that insults white Republicans is A-OK, right?

[Let's Roll]

“which cartoon? the one that the Democrat Artist created?”

That’s just what I was thinking.

That was easy, wasn’t it? Guess they’ll be making more of those.

[Scanian]

Hey, Dude...how much bitching did you do about all the Democrat depictions of George Bush as an ape?

[no-to-illegals]

I guess I am fool to believe he voted for zer0.

[Mr. K]

um... OK I believe all this... uh huh.,..

If you were a true republican you would know that IF there was a racist cartoon, it was the reflection of the Author’s racism and not the entire GOP

So... I call BS

[Altura Ct.]

A member of the NAACP whining about ‘racism’. Imagine that. What next the black caucus crying about the evil white man too?

[Bryan24]

This guy is not a conservative.

[Scanian]

The only people who care about that anymore are numb-nuts who would vote Democrat anyway, no matter what.

[Jeff Chandler]

[driftdiver]

Does he have any problem with Al Sharpton, Jesse or Louis?

Guy is obviously confused, but then he’s in Kalifornia.

[Mobties]

This smells a lot like a “seminar caller” letter, though I suppose I could be mistaken. Whatever. I suggest the writer play a few of Jeremiah Wright’s DVDs.

[Jeff Chandler]

[PalmettoMason]

Here is a man who excelled academically at the finest schools in the world...

Prove it. This is B.S., just like the rest of the letter. This guy is a phony.

Now, can someone post the picture of Johnny Ringo saying "Uh, bye"?

[Jeff Chandler]

[MNDude]

Has he ever noticed how those like Clarence Thomas are treated by democrats?

[muawiyah]

This is the one instance where anyone ever depicted Obama as a Chimp. However, this guy really has it wrong. Did he forget that it was the Democrats who spent 9 years teaching us that the correct way to portray the President was as a Chimp.

It was impossible to miss that.