The Substandard Performance of African American Republicans(food for thought)

myself ^ | 18 April 2003 | Trueblackman

[steve8714]

The problem is, the Republican party appeal to black men and women is all reason and no emotion. To gain enthusiasm, the party must pick a "red meat issue which will resonate emotionally and over which there is an easily perceived difference with the Democrats. Crime should be the issue, but must be coupled with the need for black self defense and the racist basis of all gun control. "keep guns out of the hands of "criminals" code word for blacks...etc.

[Cicero]

I can only guess that few blacks want to make a career of being viciously attacked by other blacks and being demonized as Uncle Toms. Nothing inspires the Democrats to pile on so hard as a black Republican politician, because they realize that if any black is allowed to get away with that, it will break the logjam and end their monopoly. Regretably the media fully support these attitudes.

Clarence Thomas is the obvious example of what happens to a black who sticks his neck out and goes against the trend.

When I started out teaching at NYU, there was a young black professor who taught eighteenth-century English literature. He was very bright and very good at it. But he was offered triple his salary to go into administration. Naturally he agreed. Nowadays, you look around, and you find that 99% of black PhDs are either in administration or in Black Studies. Very few of them simply teach literature.

You can't entirely blame them for going along with this system. They get better pay and more respect from their peers. I hope things will change, but it will take a few really dedicated mavericks to start the change. I agree that politics is an essential area of change. In their own most selfish self-interest, blacks need to be represented in both the major parties to gain more political leverage. And in their own true self-interest, blacks need to join the party that will better encourage them to take responsibility for their lives and the lives of their friends and families.

[steve8714]

The problem is, the Republican party appeal to black men and women is all reason and no emotion. To gain enthusiasm, the party must pick a "red meat issue which will resonate emotionally and over which there is an easily perceived difference with the Democrats. Crime should be the issue, but must be coupled with the need for black self defense and the racist basis of all gun control. "keep guns out of the hands of "criminals" code word for blacks...etc.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I bet if you where to ask 3 of them where Martin Luther King and Alabama Avenues in Washington DC (Ward 8)are located they could not even tell you.

I can, and I'm a skinny white guy (who used to work in Anacostia.)

[anymouse]

Bump for a heroic and noble goal. Although your comments are most applicable to black conservatives/Republicans, it also applies to us all. Each of us needs to reach out to those we know share our values, but for whatever reason tend to vote for the other side.

The left knows that winning elections is a numbers game and they make sure their base gets to the polls. Sure they juice it a bit with the usual voter fraud, but the usually pull out all stops to get key voters to the polls.

With the huge amount of voter appathy out there, we only have to get a small part of those non-voters to come out and vote for our candidates to make a big difference. If we can sway some of those regular voters that happen to vote Democrat to come over to our side, then that makes it even easier to win. When you can win over diciplined voters, that is worth a dozen haphazard voters.

[beachn4fun]

I read your article with much interest. I am glad to see a Republican, especially an African-American, come out swinging to try to get peoples attention on some realities. I just want to say that I have been trying to tell the GOP for months that they need to start educating people (especially those who normally vote Democrat) why the Republican agenda makes more sense than the Democrat one. One of the ones that converted me from Democrat leaning (which was before I ever registered to vote) was the fact that the poor are never going to get rich if you keep taxing them to pay for social programs. The Democrats represent tax-n-spend. Anyone who has ever had to live on a budget knows that if you spend more than you make, you will never get out of the hole. Another example, is if you give all of you money to charities, you won't have anything left to pay the rent. That's why we always hear Dems talk about raising taxes. Not reducing them. They don't want to give up their social programs, but want more money to pay for more social programs. So, what do you hear.... "well, we just don't have the money to pay for schools, so we MUST raise your taxes."

My point is that I think the whole Republican party needs to start being more vocal. I agree with you on how much the liberals get away with, yet the Republicans never challenge them. Trent Lott is a good example. I told GOP that the Dems rallied around Clinton even in his darkest hour. Most supported him whether they like what he did or not. So today we have a lot of people who think Clinton never did anything wrong. They've forgotten the perjury.

My closing two cents, it is a crying shame that it is considered "against the black culture" to be successful (is it just in politics? The celebrities/sports figures seemed to be worshipped) as many are. And that Powell and Rice are made to feel ashamed of their success. Good Luck to you.

[itsinthebag]

Yes, I agree with the statement: "actually, as the CBC becomes more senior in the Dem caucus, and more ossified, and moves farther to the left...it'll be easier for conservative black Republicans to distinguish themselves, move tothe middle ground, and win a few seats..." This is what my sister tells her daughter who is a freshman at Columbia University. She's majoring in political science, wants to attend law school and eventually go into politics. She's conservative and finds herself in quite a few debates with her friends who find her position on the issues quite extraordinary for an African American. Recently, she was the lone voice among her group of friends who objected to the whole affirmative action issue in the case of Univ of Michigan. It will take conservative young African Americans to instigate a major paradigm shift in black political ideology. She recently received an email about applying for an internship this summer with one of the Reps of the CBC. She was not interested, whatsoever. In fact, she expressed interest in seeking an internship with FOX News in NYC. My sister told her to go for it! Also, your analysis regarding "minority" districts is excellent.

[Steven W.]

because it is my fault as an African American Republican that the Republican Party cannot get any traction in the African American Community.

No way! to the contrary, it's your 'fault' that, everday, yourself & others like minded are heard and given a chance to influence those who are willing to think things through & realize that the DemoncRATs and many of those in their (supposedly) "black" leadership have no further use or aspirations for their future outside the liberal plantation, and I thank you & salute you for your continuing dedication & patriotism in frustrating the likes of Tom Daschle & Jesse Jackson!

[dansangel]

Trueblackman and mhking: I am so proud of all that you both do, not only as "black Republicans" but as "just plain conservative Republicans."

Many of us here on FR realize that you've got to work much harder at promoting conservatism because of the obstacles and barriers that you must deal with. Although we may not say it often enough, we *appreciate* it and you.

Because you hold yourselves to a higher standard, you may not readily see the progress you are making. IMHO, I believe you are making outstanding progress. I have to believe that the next presidential election will tell the tale.

[ken5050]

Thanks for your kind comments. I wish your niece well. Columbia is one of the most institutionalized hard-left schools around...and the poly-sci department is the reaql pits...you've seen all the recent publicity, no doubt. As she continues to speak her mind, I hope she won't be "punished" in her grading....it's a common practice, and sadly, she'll have to be careful. She should start to keep notes on her experiences....there's probably a magazine article in there somewhere....re internships..FNC is a good idea...but heck, I'd tell her to go for the gold....send her resume and a letter to Condi Rice......ya never know....

BTW..re the CBC, I'm pinging you on an esay I poseted yesterday..more thoughts on what's happening there.....enjoy..

[tjg]

Political philosophy is a misnomer. It should be called political religion, because people are not easily swayed by reasoned arguments.

My father in law was a decorated WWII vet and a lifelong democrat. He was recently buried at Arlington with full military honors. I knew him for almost twenty years. We shared a value system that couldn't have been closer if we grew up in the same household. Yet he defended Bill Clinton till the day he died. It would have been a betrayal of a lifelong loyalty. There was no way he could come to grips with the fact Clinton was the exact type of man he despised.

Both sides of my family are liberal democrats, and my FIL was the rule, rather than the execption. Decent people that thought rejection of Clinton was endorsment of Republicsans.

The reason I bring up the example is that reason and education don't go a long way when you are up against an entrenched ideology. Don't be too hard on the people that aren't swayed by logical arguments. There is so much more to it.

You've taken on a Herculean labor. God bless you and good luck.

[GraniteStateConservative]

How do we recruit other African Americans as Republicans, when we don’t defend those already in our party?

Not to bring up old issues (you can look at my posts on old Trent Lott threads), but we don't have to defend the words of someone like Lott-- black people, white people, or purple people. His comments were either idiotic (he had no clue as a highly educated Mississippi attorney and an aide to a bigoted Rules Committee Chairman that the States Rights Democratic Party/Dixiecrat Party was founded primarily to advocate the segregation of the races and the racial integrity of each race) or were a reflection of his beliefs (a reasonable assertion since he had made the same exact comments at least twice before in public and who knows how many times in private).

There are places like Ohio which have a thriving minority GOP base. Have you and your group studied all the successes and studied the failures and presented Racicot with a plan? It doesn't seem all that complicated to me.

[Ebony-Patriot]

Once again, you have articulated what we are thinking. NOW is the time to take more action. The best way to do this is via a "Grass Roots" movement.

Go into the Black neighborhoods, be vocal (by this I mean being able to not only state the problems in these areas, but to offer solutions)and be passionate. There's nothing worse (in my humble opinion) than a person or group that talks a good game but when it comes to actually doing something, they are nowhere to be found.

Thank you again, Trueblackman for carrying the standard for us to go by.

[JohnnyZ]

Any strategies for winning Republican support in black neighborhoods? There are people who would like to do something about it, but don't know how. Personally, I've never campaigned for anyone and don't know how to win support in ANY neighborhood!!!

I would think sustained presense (aside from election season -- but in what way?), welcoming events, and direct appeals (through radio and electioneering) would be part of any solution.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Kevin,
I'd also suggest you focus on the black voters born after 1970. I saw a survey that showed they are seriously independent and not tied to the Democrats at all. They aren't tied to the GOP either, of course, but they seem very open to persuasion. Converting older blacks is probably a bad use of resources.

[Amalie]

Thanks for your post.

[mhking]

I can, and I'm a skinny white guy (who used to work in Anacostia.)

And you're either really brave, or have more guts than brains.... ;)

[mhking]

To expect one's reps to be totally selfless is not going to get you good representatives.

Good point. No one in their right mind can expect all their reps to be totally selfless; ambition and greed are part of the human condition. But we can ask that those that represent us have at least a reasonable measure of desire to do "the right thing."

[mhking]

I can only guess that few blacks want to make a career of being viciously attacked by other blacks and being demonized as Uncle Toms.

I disagree; there is not a single black conservative who had the burning desire to become a pariah in their own communities or in their own families.

I certainly didn't. At the same time, there are small numbers of us in every walk of life. Some are more vocal than others, but we're out there.

[mhking]

Political philosophy is a misnomer. It should be called political religion, because people are not easily swayed by reasoned arguments.

Touché. That is one heck of a point, and one that is difficult to counter....