Update [2005-7-16 20:39:33 by Armando]: From the diaries by Armando. I don't agree with the part on the black "values" voters as a major problem, but this is an intelligent diary which addresses an issue that merits serious attention, maintaining a strong appeal to African-American voters.
Well, I've found a couple of live ones, average people, not pundits, writing about why they've moved over to the dark side. While you may not agree with them, their views provide an interesting look at why the GOP is siphoning off black votes, as well as why the Democratic establishment is asleep at the wheel. Bear with me for the lengthy ride, but it's well worth it if you're really committed to fixing what's broken about the Democratic Party.
Dems, they aren't waiting for you, and here's why
"Most black people are against Homosexual marriage, or anything of the sort. Many blacks switched and voted for President Bush over this big issue last year during the Presidential election. That and the issue of abortion. Those seem to be the two biggest topics that have dominated news headlines in the past few years. Black people want to keep our traditional values. So we turn to the Republican party."
Just so you know, self-described conservative activist Fee Benamon actually quotes the
Free Republic, if that tells you anything. She may be on the fringe of the conservative movement, but her opinion piece on
NC Rumors is exactly what the Dem establishment needs to hear. It's the sound of the socially conservative, religious black voter taking their toys and going over to the open arms of Ken Mehlman to play. The GOP has been spinning its web of lies for quite some time now, pushing all the emotional political buttons in the black community that are sure to siphon off just enough votes toss races to the Repugs.
President Bush has been the only President in history to ever elect so many people of different racial backgrounds to his cabinet. The more notable ones are Colin Powell & Dr. Condoleezza Rice. She is the first black lady elected as Secretary of State. She is an inspiration to me. She's a hard worker, very intelligent, and is TOUGH! President Bush saw something in her, she had the qualifications (stellar qualifications might I add) and is doing quite wonderfully now. President Bush sees no color, only your accomplishments. I am glad to see more conservative journalists, and people in the media emerging. Funny how we conservative black people who support the Republican party get labeled as "Uncle Toms, Aunt Jemima, sell outs, etc." [See the post"Black wingnut Armstrong Williams - whore of the Bush admin] Anything racist like that. What is wrong with thinking for yourself and making a decision what party to support? Everyone assumes that blacks will automatically vote Democrat. Well, not anymore.
You almost don't know where to begin here, but suspend your knowledge at how completely vapid and ridiculous Condi has been in this admin -- just for a minute. If we're counting colored heads, I will give her that -- Bush has made his appointments of color where it counts -- in highly visible and powerful positions. The Dems are going to have to explain themselves to a black audience that is now paying attention to a party that has taken this consituency for granted. The message is stale, the politicians only show up at a church to mingle with black folks when the vote is on the line. That's hard to defend in a sound bite. Actions speak louder than words.
It's also incredibly hard for Dems to fight back when the pastor in the pulpit is on the faith-based initiative take, Bush's minions are seducing supposed pious leaders of the community and the joke is going to be on the black community. Otherwise, why you have someone like Fee Benamon saying (I presume with a straight face):
The next time you go to a gathering of Republicans, look around. These are people who are bonded together by their love of family, conservative values & traditions, love of God, etc. It shows mightily. I have seen many people of different backgrounds at Republican gatherings. There is such an atmosphere of love when I attend. It's not at all like what you hear. I have experienced no racism whatsoever. Only good friendships and a welcoming spirit. The Republican party has come a long way, but it still has a ways of getting out its message to blacks and other ethnic groups. It is definitely a party of inclusion of all people.
Remember, with the country basically divided in half politically, it will only take a sliver of votes from blacks and Hispanics to make the difference in many races. Are the Dems ready to step up and make a real case -- an politically attractive case -- why minorities should stay in the party?
I have to quote the fabulous Congressman from my state, Democrat Mel Watt, who seems to be one of the few elected officials not afraid of the land mines.
First of all, we allowed Republicans to say we were advocates of gay marriage rather than framing it as a personal liberty issue or standing up and saying we don't believe in it. We ran away from that; nobody wanted to talk about it, we knew it made people uncomfortable. Instead of having our community engaged in open discussion about it and moving on to other issues or seeing how it related to pocketbook issues, we let the Republicans control the message...You can't avoid these issues. For us to bury our heads in the sand and say these issues aren't to be discussed, that's just unrealistic. We need to be talking about them in our own terms and not allowing [Republicans] to define themselves as the moral arbiters of what's right and wrong.
...I think they chipped off more black voters than we would have liked for them to chip off. You don't have to chip off a lot of black voters, Republicans have found over the years. Just as the Democrats have found if they chip off some of that center, you don't have to move a lot of voters but you have to move some. We haven't been able to move those voters at the center toward the Democrats. Republicans have been successful in moving some African Americans and progressives on issues of security, religion, abortion, gay marriage. Those issues move enough people or get them wavering enough that they say, 'Well, the election is too difficult. I think I'll just stay home.'
Black Repug gets the cold shoulder from GOP - but it's better than being a Dem
Here's yet another facet of the "New Black Republican." We have the side represented by Fee Benamon, who sees all joy, grace and acceptance in the Big Tent, and now we have the apprehension (but also hope and desire to be accepted into the Repug fold) of Nelson "Joseph" Taylor, who asks "Are White Republicans Ready for Black Republicans?" He sees first-hand that all is not well in his party -- but he refuses to call it outright racism -- even though it's obvious what he's talking about. He knows that tent isn't big enough, but he wants in.
President Bush has taken the lead in being historically inclusive and many republicans have privately (with little fanfare) taken up the cause by demanding that, black republicans have open access to the GOP political structure and leadership.
I felt overjoyed by the responsiveness of dozens of my fellow young republicans who warmed up to my wife and me with an incredible sincerity in Las Vegas.
Unfortunately, too many republicans are stuck on stupid and are resistant to change. Words can't explain how unwelcoming the looks, behavior and lack of engagement from some fellow republicans left my wife and I discouraged at times during the convention (despite my initiating with them). If I had a weaker constitution or a lack of self-confidence I would've allowed my discouragement to fester into a social/political retreat.
But, I'm just not that guy; so, I won¹t give up and won't stop working with my white brothers and sisters because I know they'll eventually realize that African Americans want the same things they want and that there is no need to be so standoffish.
This essay is just plain sad. He wants so much to be loved and accepted in this party; he truly believes in the libertarian principles that used to exist in the GOP. Unfortunately those folks are on the sidelines, supplanted by the strength of the AmTaliban and what he calls the "Country Club" Repugs. Neither wants the darkies in the party. But he speaks the truth, even in the haze of self-loathing.
There are two kinds of white republicans that are going to destroy the GOP if we let them. They are the so called "Country Club" republicans and the "fascists" or "Right Wing Socialists" who hide among us.
I am a proud capitalist pig and advocate the use of Country Clubs (even the ones not open to black folk it's a freedom of association thing). The problem is that, the republican cats that would frequent a Country Club which, openly rejected qualified black applicants on the basis of race tend to bring that snobbery into the political game and our economy. The hard leftists sometimes find their political rhetoric about my GOP being validated by Country Club republicans actions and they tout this validation at every opportunity while of course, ignoring the rampant bigotry of the left.
The right wing socialists on the other hand are far more serious. They would legislate from the bench just as quickly as an ACLU democrat would so long as; the ruling was something they wanted. Right wing socialism is simply "authoritarianism" that like its leftwing cousin it too assumes that we the individual are too stupid to handle freedom responsibly.
Folks like this are ripe for the picking, Dems. How can we get this man back in the party? Is he too much of a capitalist pig to be concerned about his rights? Maybe so, but it's a sad state of Democratic Party affairs when a black person is willing to tolerate the abuse of these backwards GOP bastards to join a party that talks the talk (even if it cannot walk the walk). Nelson "Joseph" Taylor doesn't hold back about what he thinks of the Democrats, and I can tell you from people I know, he's not a lonely voice:
Regardless of whatever differences I may face with my fellow republicans I know for sure that the leftist democrat response will be what it has been toward young black leaders banging on the door of the powerful elite -- nigger take your place at the back of the political bus, do not pass go, do not forget to collect your welfare/unemployment check and thank you for flying perpetual poverty airlines.
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Note: Rants of mine on race on my blog, Pam's House Blend, rarely garner significant comments here, which is interesting. As I am black and a lesbian I post on both topics a lot and by far, there is more reader comment on gay issues. I have my own thoughts on why this may be the case:
- most of the folks reading may not be of color and don't feel they can speak to these issues of race (which is nonsense, of course). I talk about all kinds of things that I cannot personally relate to (look at the Freepi, for god's sake, I wade in that mess all the time on my blog and here at DKos).
- folks don't have any real answers as to how the Dems can do anything about this erosion.
I just don't get the second one at all. No, I do. It's the whole ball-less factor. Just like the Dems run away from gay issues, they refuse to acknowledge that the base is taken for granted. When I read Fee Benamon's piece, it was so pathetic, she really buys that the Repugs are her friends...they will turn on her and it won't be pretty. But what's the alternative?
In many ways, I don't blame her. The Dems are letting her be seduced by the lies because they don't want to put in the public effort to retain the base. They are too busy chasing soccer moms or security moms or Joe Six-Pack - code for suburban, working class and upwardly mobile whites that are working hard to move into gated communities away from the colored masses, as if all black people are part of the underclass. Remember that animated section of Bowling for Columbine?
This machine is broken, folks. The next election cycles are going to be very interesting and very disturbing if Dems run on autopilot and we all don't put the cards on the table.
You also might want to take a look at my diary from earlier in the week, NAACP's Julian Bond blasts Bush - again
The original posts appear on Pam's House Blend