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A Lesson in Racial Politics from Florida
Townhall.com ^ | November 21, 2018 | Star Parker

Posted on 11/21/2018 2:36:23 PM PST by Kaslin

Now that, finally, the elections in Florida have reached a conclusion, there are lessons worth learning. One is on the subject of race.

There was a fateful anomaly in racial voting in the governor's race between Democrat Andrew Gillum and Republican Rick DeSantis, now Florida's governor-elect.

Given that Gillum, formerly mayor of Tallahassee, was running to become the first black governor of Florida, we might have expected black enthusiasm for his candidacy on the order of the waves of black enthusiasm for the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama.

But it didn't happen.

Gillum received a lower percentage of the black vote than did Democrat Senator Bill Nelson, who lost to Rick Scott in the senate race.

White Democrat Nelson got 90 percent of the black vote and Republican Scott got 10 percent.

In the governor's race, black Democrat Gillum got 86 percent of the black vote, four percentage points less than Nelson, against Republican DeSantis' 14 percent.

Given the razor-thin margins, that difference in black support meant a lot.

When Gillum finally conceded the election, he was behind by 33,683 votes. Each 1 percent of the black vote equated to about 10,000 votes. So if Gillum had received 90 percent of the black vote, as did Bill Nelson, rather than 86 percent, he could well have had another 40,000 votes, which would have been his margin of victory.

Forty thousand votes is about 35 percent of the 112,911 votes by which Donald Trump won Florida in 2016. It's 55 percent of the 73,189 votes by which Barack Obama won Florida in 2012.

So understanding why Gillum received 4 percentage points less of the black vote than Nelson, and why DeSantis received 4 percentage points more of the black vote than Scott could make all the difference in what presidential candidate wins Florida in 2020.

Adding to the puzzle is the fact that racial politics played a high profile and nasty role in the Gillum-DeSantis contest.

Gillum was aggressive in his allegations of racism against DeSantis. "Now, I'm not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist, I'm simply saying the racists believe he is racist," he said. He accused DeSantis of getting financial support from white supremacist groups and speaking at their events.

DeSantis, a conservative former Republican congressman, made his support of Trump a centerpiece of his campaign, and President Trump campaigned for him in Florida.

So how does this all compute?

One convincing line of speculation is that DeSantis campaigned aggressively on parental choice in education and keeping in place and expanding the tax-credit scholarship program enacted under Governor Jeb Bush. Gillum campaigned on closing down the program, which empowers parents to use these funds to send their children to charter and private schools.

Polls consistently show that blacks support parental choice in education. And for good reason. Black children are disproportionately trapped in failing, violent public schools. Black parents want alternatives for their kids.

Gillum took the left-wing party line on education choice, against the sentiments of black constituents. This could have made all the difference.

The lesson here is that blacks care about issues more than they care about skin color.

It's an important lesson for Republicans going forward. They need to tune in to black concerns, which often are not the same as those of whites, and explain how the best solutions for those concerns are the conservative solutions.

In addition to education, this means addressing issues such as housing, urban violence and prison reform.

The governor's race in Florida gives us good reason to believe that a more aggressive, targeted effort by Republicans in reaching out to minority communities could make all the difference in the outcome of the presidential election in 2020.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: charterschools; florida; gillum; schoolchoice; scott

1 posted on 11/21/2018 2:36:23 PM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Just how was the race so close? The guy should not have run for dog catcher. Totally unlikable but articulate. Hateful supporters.


2 posted on 11/21/2018 2:44:49 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: Kaslin

86% of blacks voted for the communist Gillum and this Einstein level pundit concludes:

“The lesson here is that blacks care about issues more than they care about skin color.”


3 posted on 11/21/2018 2:45:11 PM PST by KyCats
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To: Kaslin

Should DeSantis and Rubio run for each others offices in 2022? Rubio wanted to be Gov. and it might be better for the long term. Set him up for a 2 term Senate run.


4 posted on 11/21/2018 2:47:04 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: KyCats

“The lesson here is that blacks care about issues more than they care about skin color.”

******************************************

Which is true but only so long as the *issues* and skin color match up properly in The Narrative Matrix.


5 posted on 11/21/2018 2:47:11 PM PST by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: KyCats
She's saying that Gillum got fewer African-American votes than Nelson because of his position on the issues and something like that could make a difference in a close election.

I don't agree with the exact words she used in this case, but I'm not going to jump on her and ignore what's of value in the article.

6 posted on 11/21/2018 2:49:56 PM PST by x
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To: Kaslin
The lesson here is that blacks care about issues more than they care about skin color.

The writer means 14% of black voters care about the issues to a certain degree. The 10% that voted Republican plus the 4% that didn't vote for the Governor but who still voted for the commie senator.

7 posted on 11/21/2018 2:50:10 PM PST by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: KyCats
86% of blacks voted for the communist Gillum

They basing this on a typical 1% exit poll sample or are their ballots color coded ?

8 posted on 11/21/2018 2:54:17 PM PST by redcatcherb412
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Florida has a way of making things close especially when adding the Broward County special sauce.


9 posted on 11/21/2018 2:58:42 PM PST by snarkytart
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To: snarkytart

Our Republican Governors represent our bench in the US Senate races(upcoming). As I see it Ducey(Az.) and the guy in Kentucky will hopefully keep their political careers in full gear. Turtle face is getting old and Az. is Arizona. I wish Jan Brewer would make herself available for an appointment in January + ONE run in 2020. That would be the perfect setup for Ducey in 2022. Prediction: He’ll nominate McSally or Megan McLame.


10 posted on 11/21/2018 3:07:34 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: Kaslin
I wonder what the differences were in Tallahassee
11 posted on 11/21/2018 3:09:30 PM PST by stylin19a (Best.Election.Of.All.Times.Ever.In.The.History.Of.Ever)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Andrew Gillum just barely beat out another candidate with much greater name recognition , on a plurality, nowhere near a majority, in the primary. Gwen Graham, daughter of onetime Governor, then Senator, Bob Graham, was leading in all the early polls, while Andrew Gillum was running a distant third.

As the primary neared, Gillum, suddenly and inexplicably jumped into the lead, apparently with a HUGE infusion of out-of-state cash. Gillum ran well ahead in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, do we begin to detect a pattern here?

Even the primary here was a sort of skunk in the kitchen thing. But the “good” Democrats did not call the same interlopers in Broward and Palm Beach counties to account, and we saw once again a little pressure on the scales to get the “right” candidate before the people.

Now, by all relevant facts, Miami-Dade does run a clean and largely untroubled election polling and counting process, fully accounting for where all their ballots go, and providing timely and apparently accurate reports on the tally.

But both Palm Beach and Broward counties have run a pretty slipshod operation for years now.


12 posted on 11/21/2018 3:18:49 PM PST by alloysteel (To try and fail, that is glorious. To never try at all, that is ignominy, far worse than failure.)
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To: stylin19a
Florida and Leon County Election Results: General (Nov. 6, 2018)
13 posted on 11/21/2018 3:21:07 PM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Nice article and Star is a fav. But why no commentary on the Snipes/Bucher voting fraud machine?

The RATS have got voter fraud all figured out. If nothing happens (listening Republicans?) to make voting fair again, 2020 is going to be a disaster.


14 posted on 11/21/2018 3:41:10 PM PST by upchuck (Once political violence becomes common, the toothpaste is difficult to put back in the tube. ~Lifson)
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To: Kaslin
One would be wise to recall Derbyshire's rules 10f & 10g:

(10f) Do not settle in a district or municipality run by black politicians.

(10g) Before voting for a black politician, scrutinize his/her character much more carefully than you would a white.

15 posted on 11/21/2018 4:06:55 PM PST by farming pharmer
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To: Kaslin
thanks. I should have been clearer.

Nelson didn't run against a black guy.
DeSantis got creamed in Leon county.
There were no other candidates in the senate race.
There were 4 additional candidates in the gov. race that got total, a tad less than 1% of the vote.

4% seemed like a lot and I am wondering where is the anomaly, if there is any. I was looking to see if that same comparison as below holds for Tallahassee..I haven't found the voting breakdown by race, yet.

In the governor's race, black Democrat Gillum got 86 percent of the black vote, four percentage points less than Nelson, against Republican DeSantis' 14 percent.


16 posted on 11/21/2018 4:27:35 PM PST by stylin19a (Best.Election.Of.All.Times.Ever.In.The.History.Of.Ever)
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To: All

Democrats fall under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)
b/c they are an “organized enterprise” with a “nationwide pattern” of unlawful behavior.
THE DEMOCRAT CON JOB NEVER DIFFERS FROM COAST TO COAST-—
When the polls close, the Republican is always ahead.... UNTIL Democrats “miraculously” FIND uncounted ballots.

No question......a pattern of wrongdoing, aided and abetted by committing criminal felonies.
This is organized crime.......Democrats should be RICO’ed.


THE FLORIDA RICO MO-—Florida Democrats used mail and wire fraud:

<><> Florida Democrats mailed “Cure Affidavits” to people who had improper absentee ballots…

<><>Florida Democrats altered the official affidavits to place an incorrect date on them.

<><>Florida Democrats mailed out the altered affidavits the day AFTER the election.


Full investigations centering on RICO conspiracies under 18 U.S.C. §1962(c) could be warranted because:

<><> (1) Democrat factotums

<><>(2) are employed by or associated with a public enterprise

<><>(3) that engaged in or affected social dealings “outside the normal commerce of civilized life”;

<><>(4) the persons operated or managed the enterprise

<><>(5) through a “pattern” of racketeering activity,

<><> (6) voters were injured by reason of the “pattern” of misdeeds.


17 posted on 11/22/2018 3:12:15 PM PST by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use.)
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To: All

Democrats planned to use altered forms to fix mail ballots across Florida.......after the deadline.

Under Florida state law governing “fraudulent practices,” it’s a third-degree felony to “knowingly and willfully ... make or use any false document, knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry” connected to the Department of State. While the fraud statute is not contained in the state’s election code, it relates to the 2018 election because the affidavit in question concerned the elections division, which falls under the Department of State.


Keep in mind...falsifying official documents is the preferred criminal method to cover-up larger crimes.

REFERENCE—Falsifying Government Documents. involves altering, changing, or modifying a document for the purpose of deception.......can also involve forgery and/or passing copies of false documents. Falsifying documents is usually done in connection with broader criminal aims, such as extortion, government fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, financing terrorism........

Types of documents commonly falsified may include:
Tax returns and income statements
Personal checks
Bank account records
Business record keeping books
Immigration documents (such as visas, passports, etc.)
Identification cards and birth certificates

Many different types of acts can be considered as falsifying a document, including:
Altering or misrepresenting factual information such as prices or monetary amounts
Stating false information when requested to provide truthful statements
Forging a signature
Using official letterheads without authorization
Concealing assets or property WRT obtaining federal/state grants
Knowingly using or distributing a fake document

A person can only be held criminally liable if they are deliberately acting with the intention of deceiving or defrauding another party.

Falsifying documents is a very serious offense and is generally classified as a felony. This means that a person charged with falsifying documents may be subject to the following legal penalties:
Having to pay a monetary fine
Incarceration in a prison facility

Depending on the gravity of the offense, as well as individual state laws, falsifying documents can result in a prison sentence of 5-10 years. Also, if government documents or authorities were involved, the legal penalties may be more severe. ..... legal penalties may increase with repeat offenses.

The penalty for falsifying government documents is outlined in the Crimes Act of 1958.


18 posted on 11/22/2018 3:15:31 PM PST by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use.)
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To: Kaslin
“It appears there may have been some ballots from yesterday mixed in with the ones for today,”
Broward Canvassing Board Judge Deborah Carpenter-Toye told reporters.

From left, Broward SOE Brenda C. Snipes, Judge Betsy Benson, and Judge Deborah Carpenter-Toye
at the elections office in Lauderhill, Fla, on Friday. PIC Credit Scott McIntyre for The New York Times

SNIPES: "I think s-c-o-t-t is a vote for Gillum. What do you say Judge Deb?"

19 posted on 11/22/2018 3:16:51 PM PST by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use.)
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To: All

In February 2017, Gillum apologized after the Tallahassee Democrat reported that his government office had been used to send emails through web-based software purchased by NGP VAN, a company that provides technology to Democratic and progressive campaigns.[39] An investigation into the emails started after Paul Henry, a retired state trooper from Monticello, wrote State Attorney Jack Campbell in March to allege Gillum committed grand theft and official misconduct by paying for the software with city funds when he believed they served no public purpose. A Leon County grand jury cleared Gillum of any wrongdoing.[40]

During his mayoral campaign in 2014, Gillum faced allegations of misconduct after hiring private equity investor Adam Corey as the treasurer. Corey is an investor in The Edison, a restaurant that received taxpayer money from the city to help with the Cascades Park development project. During a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation into the matter, city officials stated that Gillum’s vote did not constitute a conflict of interest[7] and Gillum cut ties with Corey.[41]

According to text messages uncovered by the Tampa Bay Times, Gillum accepted tickets to the Broadway musical Hamilton from his brother, Marcus Gillum, who got them through an undercover FBI agent conducting a corruption investigation. The agent was posing as a real estate developer.[42] Gillum responded to the Tampa Bay Times story, “These messages only confirm what we have said all along. We did go to see Hamilton. I did get my ticket to Hamilton from my brother. At the time, we believed that they were reserved by friends of Adam’s, Mike Miller. And when I got there after work, got my ticket, we went in there and saw it, assumed my brother paid for it, and so far as I know, that was the deal.”[42]


20 posted on 11/22/2018 3:35:56 PM PST by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use.)
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