[bvw]

But they do steer the mainstream! The near complete absence of fringe parties in black politics -- it's all Democrat, a black Republican is considered fringe -- attests to the streering that occurs in white politics on account of the fringe.

[wimpycat]

I consider the Al Sharptons and the Louis Farrakhans the fringe in black politics, not black Republicans. They're the radicals, not black Republicans. From my perspective, black politicians tolerate their fringe element more than non-black politicians,not because they like the fringe ideas, but because they don't want to be dissing other black people in public. They've got a lot of dissension within their ranks, but it will be rare for any of us to actually see it. That has to do with common heritage, not common politics. There are elements in within black politics which can't be replicated elsewhere, so I think your example is not a representative one.