Posted on 12/24/2002 10:02:42 AM PST by TLBSHOW
The Republican Party is at a crossroads. Will it choose the failed, race-baiting politics of the past or will it regain its moral compass and move forward in the spirit of our party’s great leaders—Gerald Ford, Thomas Dewey, and Bob Michel? Senate Republicans must take the strongest stance possible in repudiating not only its racist history, but also the vile racism that permeates the party today. That is why Bill Frist must go. The Republican Party just got through dumping one redneck neo-Klansman. Why choose another to replace him? Trent “T. Lo” Lott is from Mississippi, where most white people pour acid on black school children. Bill Frist is from Tennessee, where they use hot oil instead. Is there really a difference between the two senators? Both are white Southern Christians. And everyone knows that “the South” is just a code word for supporting lynching and eating grits.
Bill Frist has an abysmal record on race. In fact, he received an “F” on the Federal Legislative Report Card issued by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). According to Black Entertainment Television’s Online political reporter Joe Davidson, Frist voted with the NAACP only 19 percent of the time during the last congressional session. He also voted to oppose a Transportation Department affirmative action program during the 1997-1998 session.
I do not mean to suggest that these votes provide conclusive proof that Frist is a racist and a segregationist. In fact, I do not believe that he is a racist. But Frist is a problem for the Republican Party. His legislative record is, at best, troubling and, at worst, indicative of a desire to burn down Condoleeza Rice’s family home. While Frist’s rhetoric on race might be slightly less offensive than Lott’s, his actions reflect that he is no different. Frist will provide all sorts of racial headaches for Republicans. His past, while not technically racially discriminatory, creates the appearance of insensitivity. For that reason, he must step down as Majority Leader.
Ralph Neas, President of the People for the American Way, told BET.com:
“It was important to the nation that Lott be replaced as majority leader. It is more important that the White House and GOP leaders make a break not only with the segregationist past but with their policies and actions that continue to undermine civil rights protections in America today.”
These sorts of charges will not remain confined to far Leftist groups like the People for the American Way for long. In fact, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, and others have begun to speak of the stain of racism on the Republican Party. Picking another Southerner to be the face of our party when there are a number of highly qualified, sophisticated, pro-integration Northern Republicans available for the job is a horrendous mistake.
The rumblings about Frist’s past are probably going to start any day. As a doctor, he probably served a disproportionate share of white patients. Also, there is a rumor of a black woman in western Tennessee who swears that in 1973 Frist cut her off on a main highway while doing 70 in a blue pickup truck. She is 95% sure that he mouthed the n-word as he sped past her. Moreover, an elderly black man from Memphis claims that he saw Frist eating a ham sandwich in the shape of the Confederate flag while whistling “Dixie” and reading a Bob Jones University brochure. And just last Christmas, a black minister saw a maniacal twinkle in Frist’s eye as he sang “White Christmas.”
Taken separately, these incidents may seem like innocent coincidences. But taken together, they reflect a troubling pattern of race hatred. Frist is probably not a bigot, but why take a chance on a guy who would probably own slaves if he had the chance?
There is no doubt that paleo-conservatives will rush to Frist’s defense. The usual suspects—Pat Buchanan and Bob Novak—will find some way to blame Israel for Frist’s problems and claim that a “Jewish-Black conspiracy” is trying to purge the Republican Party of true conservatives. But the paleo crowd is part of a dying breed of racists and anti-Semites who really have no place in the party. The time has long past for these fringe extremists to hang themselves and bequeath their wealth to Charles Krauthammer.
To whom should the Republicans turn? There is only one clear choice—Lincoln Chafee. Chafee, a Northern (sane) Republican, has endured great hardship as a member of an increasingly Southern-based GOP. He has had to defer to a bunch of redneck yahoos who do bizarre things like pray before meals, say “y’all,” and try to lower taxes. Chafee’s public record is without any appearance of anti-black sentiment. He supports racial preferences, is skeptical of school vouchers, and hates tax cuts. No one could accuse him of supporting segregation or praying before supper. The perfect leader! By firing Frist and hiring Chafee, the Republican Party could sanctimoniously claim the moral high ground and return to its rightful place as the Party of Lincoln.
We must look forward to that glorious day when GOP leaders can wish all America a “Happy Kwanzaa!” without their motives being questioned and their integrity impugned.
You and I were together on Lott, but I'm not supporting your jihad against the Republican Party. We should help them grow some spine, and we can start by ignoring people like Sabia.
Do you agree with this? This is watermelon-style-hatred.
Why, indeed...lol
Best endorcement I have seen for Frist yet..
Did the minister say he also had "ho ho" in his vehicle?....or pre..haps a "little debby"
BWAHAHHAH! BWAHAHAHHA! LOL! LOL! LOL!
Why did he even bother writing this?
It's clearly just a waste of everyones time, including the authors.
Why dont you go and see someone to help you get over this need you have to go after Republicans, because they had the nerve to not follow your wishes?
Morning, noon and night, I can find you here, sharing stupid opinions from stupid people, in support of your jihad.
At one point it was funny, but now it is just sad. You really need to stop this.
I can't believe he said that..
Why didn't the stoopid Pubbies elect an enlightened Northerner as SML?
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