Posted on 02/03/2003 12:36:32 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Gov. Jeb Bush could have chosen any of a thousand places in Florida to make a Martin Luther King Day speech. But he chose Worldwide Christian Center in Pompano Beach, where he received hugs and cheers.
The 1,300-member congregation at 450 N. Powerline Rd. is predominantly black and predominantly Republican -- a rare combination in overwhelmingly Democratic Broward County.
''Years ago, I took a closer look at the platform of both parties,'' said the Rev. O'Neal Dozier, the church founder, who freely mixes politics and religion. ``The [Republican] platform is more in line with the word of God. I am Republican because of conviction.''
Republicans are hoping such institutions will become less rare.
Blacks have long been a core constituency of the Democratic Party. But the foundation has shown cracks, especially when Democratic members of the Broward County Commission called for the suspension of Supervisor of Elections Miriam Oliphant, a black Democrat. Many blacks felt she was being unfairly singled out.
Bush, the Republican governor, refused to suspend Oliphant. Three days later, on Martin Luther King Day, he appeared at Worldwide Christian and basked in the cheers.
Bush's relationship with blacks in Florida has often been strained, going back to his One Florida initiative, which rolled back affirmative action as it applied to the state university system's admission policies.
Many blacks blamed Jeb Bush for the chaotic 2000 ballot count in Florida that resulted in his brother becoming president.
CHURCHES HAVE A ROLE
Dorsey Miller, a longtime Republican and Bush appointee to the North Broward Hospital District, said blacks need to have representation in both parties if they want to improve their status.
''Things are never going to change if we continue to be all one party and not the other,'' he said.
Republican Party leaders say black churches can play a role.
''The black churches are a wonderful source of political activity,'' said Kevin Tynan, chairman of the Broward Republican Party. ``It's not always for my party, but they do a wonderful job of getting people interested in a race and going out and voting.''
In Dozier's case, that political activism has been controversial. He has been a vocal opponent of gay rights in a county that has been at the vanguard of gay rights. Dozier has referred to homosexuality as a ''sickness.'' He is also active in the antiabortion movement.
Dozier started his church in 1985. The congregation met in the cafetorium at North Fork Elementary School. After two years, it was time to find a new home.
He looked at what were at the time the mostly white suburbs of Plantation, Lauderdale Lakes and Lauderhill.
''I felt that the blacks were not willing to accept what I was teaching,'' Dozier said. ``I didn't want to go to an all-black community.''
But he had a hard time finding a landlord who would rent him space.
Dozier said he prayed about the issue and decided to return to where he grew up: Pompano Beach, the Collier City neighborhood.
He started in a strip mall. Membership grew. He served free barbecue and an abundance of dinners to lure members.
Soon, he had enough members to move to his current location, off Powerline Road, near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a pawnshop, and an abandoned apartment complex. In 1996, the church moved into its 10,000-square-foot space.
WAS MET WITH BOOS
Dozier estimates that 90 percent of the congregation votes for Republicans.
With Republicans in control of the governor's mansion and both chambers of the Florida Legislature, Dozier finds himself with newfound connections.
In 2001, the governor appointed Dozier to the 17th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, a board that recommends lawyers for local judicial openings. He's the only black member of the commission.
The Republican strategy to appeal to blacks is twofold, said David Bositis, senior researcher of a think tank for black issues, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, D.C.
By welcoming blacks into the party, Republicans not only diversify their own ranks but make themselves more appealing to white swing voters, Bositis said.
Although Republicans have had a foothold among Broward's black elite, black Republicans are still small in number.
In 1998, 6,380 Broward County blacks registered Republican. By 2002, the number was 7,480.
I know what I read, in Campolo's own book. He is a Scripture-twister, and is pro-abortion.
Jesse Jackson: "Mr Bush is causing a division between the white people and the brown people."
yeah, right Jesse. Its all Bush's fault.
I've never really understood how thin the line was between reality and what some think they know.
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