Pajamas Media

82 Comments

1. Ed Wallis:

EDIT:

Does the Democrat Party Have Any Real Shot At Attracting Self-Respecting White Voters?

Jul 1, 2009 - 1:51 am 2. lee:

Any Republican who’s able to effectively argue the merits of free market and limited government to minorities will gain ground.

Most immigrants aren’t pleased with the strict government regulation on smoking (they’re champion smokers). Immigrants in California who sell ethnic foods in markets and restaurants aren’t exactly thrilled with the government’s grading system. Not a few minority business owners employ non unionized mexican workers, sometimes paying them in cash to avoid taxes, and often break laws here and there to save money.

Jul 1, 2009 - 2:26 am 3. njcommuter:

President Bush’s “soft bigotry of low expectations” was playing the right theme; unfortunately, it was clumsily done. We have to ask, over and over, why it is that the places that have the strongest Democratic lock also have the worst and most persistent problems. We have to phrase it so that the cause and effect is clear, not inverted. “What have they done for you–and has it really helped you?” And we have to ask it, not of ourselves, but of the electorate.

Finally, we have to keep it up. We’ll have a hard time getting it past the media gatekeepers, but it can be done, especially in ‘debates’, even those that are set up to favor the Dems.

Jul 1, 2009 - 2:59 am 4. middleagedpatriot:

“…not going to connect on the strength of melanin alone.”

Apparently melanin is the only criterion on which the black vote is decided considering that 95% of blacks voted for the black guy (a percentage that stands in stark contrast and disproportion to the other races of people). Until it is no longer advantageous for the black man to hate the white man there is little hope of the Republican party attracting large numbers of black voters. The Republican party has never been a welcome abode for racists. Whether they be black or white. That’s why it was the party of Dr.M. L. King Jr.

Jul 1, 2009 - 3:19 am 5. DavidN:

There are several interesting points here. With Franken winning in Minnesota, we now have a filibuster-proof Democratic Senate, a Democratic House, and a Black Democrat for a president. If things don’t improve for the Black community, how are the Democrats going to sell this failure to the Black voters? It’s patently obvious the Republicans can’t stop them now…so who thwarted them?

Also, just as an aside, Eleanor Roosevelt’s sentiments appear to be genuine, but Kennedy’s weren’t, really. He won the election in 1960 (at least among blacks in the south) by tricking Nixon, after calling Mrs. King and speaking with her for about a minute while her husband was in jail. Nixon, oddly, had actually been an honorary member of the NAACP back in the late ’40s. After he lost the election in ‘60, he decided to abandon the blacks (because they’d abandoned him, apparently) and went with wooing southern whites.

I think we’re stuck with blacks being wedded to the Democratic party until they become prosperous enough to own businesses and wield economic power in large numbers. Until then, they’ll imagine that any lack of these things is due to white racism, pretty much no matter what’s actually going on.

Jul 1, 2009 - 3:27 am 6. Conservative1:

Forgert black votes, minority votes et al. How about the spineless white-guilt filled “independents” that sent this country spiralling out of control. We are getting everything we deserve. Thanks again all you who voted for the big zero. Maybe next time you will let the adults vote and govern.

Jul 1, 2009 - 3:31 am 7. SMay:

The GOP should not waste a dime trying to attract black voters. The truth is the 6 percent that typically vote conservative who voted for Obama will be back to conservative in the next election cycle but I wouldn’t expect anything beyond 10%. All conservatives need to focus on is maintaining the message that we are pro-freedom and for less federal government intrusion in our lives, lower taxes, and pro-life. Any self respecting voter regardless of race or ethnicity will embrace these basic fundamental values.

Jul 1, 2009 - 3:31 am 8. Gary Ogletree:

Who cares? I’m a white conservative who is disgusted with the GOP. You’re asking the wrong question.

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:35 am 9. Vaughn:

# 7, exactly right. this group will continue to be irrelevant going forward. Christian, family first Hispanics will determine the future of this country. Too many in the Black culture are spoiled from the Left giveaways over the past 50 tears. Conservatives,………move on!

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:39 am 10. cedarhill:

The best the GOP can do is to not play racial politics. You’ll never, ever, in a zillion years, convince 99% of black America to vote against Obama. Never. Happens right after the Easter Bunny becomes President.
Move on. Get a life. Quit snorting the funny stuff. Focus on energy. After all, look at the Jews – they’re still remembering slavery 4,000 years later and still vote Democrat even knowing Obama will destroy Israel.

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:43 am 11. "progressive"watch:

Our only policy and only hope of succeeding is being ourselves,conservatives. We shouldn’t pander. Most of the Republicans’s poor image is created by the Democrats and the lib-left media. Conservatives need to say who they are,stand up and explain who they are constantly and proudly,and be who they say they are.

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:49 am 12. Telly:

Another race article. Sick of it already. I don’t focus on people’s skin color.

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:57 am 13. RE:

The GOP should not be trying not attract people who wish to be dependent upon government, period. The ‘take care of me nanny state’ mentality is directly opposed to America’s founding principles and values. The GOP should remain faithful to small government, minimal government intervention in the markets, personal responsibility, equality of opportunity and not equality of outcome, etc, etc.

This selling of one’s soul by selling out core principles in order to pander and try to attract some identity politics vote is a counterproductive and largely responsible for the loss of so much of the support that Ronald Reagan brought to the party.

The GOP would do far better if it at least attempted to take control of framing this debate instead of always reacting and playing defense. At present its current willingness to only play defense and let its opposition frame the debate is so weak and pathetic that it drives conservatives and libertarians away from the party.

Leadership instead of pandering!

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:57 am 14. Tomp:

Forget them and move on. I’m sick of their constant whinning.

Jul 1, 2009 - 5:45 am 15. Duane Phinney:

I think that blacks will hook up with whites in the next 5 years. When push comes to shove, the leftists will back Hispanics over blacks. In cities like LA the Hispanics have declared open season on blacks, and it’s spreading across the country.

Jul 1, 2009 - 5:46 am 16. DaveinPhoenix:

Does the GOP Have Any Real Shot At Attracting Black Voters?

- The GOP is having a real tough time attracting this WHITE voter because of their in-ability to fight their way out of a wet paper bag……..

Jul 1, 2009 - 6:09 am 17. TMLutas:

corrupt urban 1 party jurisdictions can be made competitive by blacks and latinos who are majority minority, simply entering the GOP and making the city two party competitive. There’s your alternative model. Urban blacks could follow the Bloomberg model to improve their governance giving conservative minorities a voice. As a bonus, they would get to be power brokers inside the GOP, becoming roadblocks to the inevitable chuckleheads in any party that happen to be racists.

The funny thing is that the GOP couldn’t stop blacks and latinos from doing it and can’t do it without blacks and latinos deciding on their own to execute the strategy. The minorities are in the driver’s seat (whether they know it or not). All whites on the center right can do is point it out and not reject them if they come.

Jul 1, 2009 - 6:24 am 18. tom:

11. actually if you turn on RUsh, Coulter et al.. there’s your poor image creators. As long as you have that group representing the GOP, you’re days are done.

Jul 1, 2009 - 6:33 am 19. touche':

16. you apparently have never turned on Rush…liberals see race. As long as that is your view, you will never see the finish line. Ignore the races, that is not the issue. What makes this country the best is freedom. Push that message and you win. Liberals, hate freedom. Fight them in that arena, race is irrelevant.

Jul 1, 2009 - 6:49 am 20. sheesh:

18 Tom . . . Right. On. The. Money.

Here’s one just for fun . . . Neil Boortz, who said recent California wildfires started because “somebody not Mexican tried to use a weed eater.”

OK, one more . . . Boortz again . . . “Have you seen Cynthia McKinney’s new hairdo? She looks like a ghetto slut.”

As long as that stuff continues without comment from the right, conservatives are dead meat with minorities, which means they’re dead meat in elections. And they have nobody to blame but themselves.

Jul 1, 2009 - 7:04 am 21. Craig:

My advice to all of you Philistines and Anencephalics: PICK UP A BOOK AND READ. Conservative principles have no color. Period. End of Adam Smith, F.A Hayek, and Allan Bloom story.

The principles and tenets do the damn recruiting! We come to them. And if that means, we will always be the political minority…well then WAHHHH. I’m already use to it.

Evidently, this must be repeated a million times over to racebaiters, ignorant democrats, and anyone else who can’t decide whether an ACORN is a corrupt liberal cesspool or part of an oak tree-

…until the lightbulb flickers ON.

Jul 1, 2009 - 7:47 am 22. Mike:

The more relavent questions for the GOP is

Will the GOP ever be able to attract the non-religous Jew?

Jul 1, 2009 - 7:49 am 23. urbanleftbehind:

#21:

What you said rings true….when Republicans win, they get between 25% and 50% of the Jewish vote…the same dynamics apply to Asians. I notice that when Jews and Asians start talking about getting off the Democratic ship, thats when “white far-right wing wackos” are let loose, almost on cue. Since Jewish and Asian voters are less dependent on government largess, the Democrats have to appeal to their base survival instinct instead.

Jul 1, 2009 - 7:57 am 24. sheesh:

21 Craig . . . “And if that means, we will always be the political minority…well then WAHHHH. I’m already use to it.”

I think the opposite is true . . . You’re used to being the political majority and now you’re not. I guess 2000 to 2006 doesn’t count.

Jul 1, 2009 - 8:04 am 25. Middleman:

Well I think most of the comments sum up the uphill battle the GOP has. Be it black, hispanic, or asian, the fact is that minorities are going to take up more and more of the voting block so you’re going to have to cater to them sooner or later.

DavidN wrote:
“I think we’re stuck with blacks being wedded to the Democratic party until they become prosperous enough to own businesses and wield economic power in large numbers. Until then, they’ll imagine that any lack of these things is due to white racism, pretty much no matter what’s actually going on.”

Actually David, right now the MAJORITY of Black Americans are middle class and up. In percentages they are fairly equal to the white population in terms of percent living above the poverty line.

The real irony is that the thing I despise the most about the GOP, the moral grandstanding, is what would probably appeal to black and hispanic voters the most since they both still attend church regularly and prefer traditional family roles (believe it or not, they do).

It’s the Republicans failure to capitalize on it though, since it’s apparent that some of the Good Ole Boy element still want to write off people off color as mainly being fleet-footed good-for-nothings with a chip on their shoulder.

Jul 1, 2009 - 8:10 am 26. gordo 12:

It is over. The USA is done. Obama is the next Hugo Chavez with a muslim twist.

He does not need the black vote anymore because he will begin to fix all elections with the support of the senate and the house.

Get your house in order.

Jul 1, 2009 - 8:16 am 27. Craig:

24. sheesh

If you think Dubya was a true conservative…then you are a walking miracle….a true anencephalic.

Jul 1, 2009 - 8:25 am 28. Joe Bison:

If you are are party that advocates less
government spending, freedom and equal rights
for everyone you will have little chance of
success with a special interest group.

Johnson created policies that made a large
portion of Blacks wards of the state in one
way or another. Obama is extending that.
No way you will win that block regardless
of what you do.

When Obama’s popularity falls the explanation
will be racism. You just can’t trust old
Whitey. The Dems grip will continue.

In the real world meanwhile I would not
consider the Black community as naturally
conservative in thought. The racist remarks
I’ve heard so many times from Blacks I know
about Asians, the derogatory remarks about
Jews and Gays and the misogynist attitudes
expressed makes one cringe. While I’m around
the anti-White rhetoric is toned down, but
it is clear that the rule of thumb is not
to trust Whites too much. This puts them
in the big tent of Democrat identity politics
and special interests. There is a spot for
everyone even if you hate each other.

Jul 1, 2009 - 8:41 am 29. Mike W.:

Conservative1: “We are getting everything we deserve. Thanks again all you who voted for the big zero. Maybe next time you will let the adults vote and govern.”

Your welcome. I don’t see any adults in the GOP right now. I just see a bunch of sissies who would prefer to flee the country to cheat on their wives, bang their best friend’s wives, whine like a bunch of babies over the census(?!), and let their states go bankrupt rather than actually govern. Maybe next time the GOP can run some actual human beings. Until then, the real adults are governing.

27. Craig: If you think Dubya was a true conservative…then you are a walking miracle….a true anencephalic.

There’s no such thing as a true Conservative politician. Please name one actual, honest-to-God conservative who has ever served in national office. GOP politicians just pretend to be Conservatives in order to hoodwink you into voting for them. As soon as they’re elected, they get right to sucking on the big givernment teat, just like any other politician. So maybe technically Bush was not a Conservative, but Conservatives adored him anyway:
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/08/648516.aspx

And regardless of whether or not he was a true Conservative, he’s still GOP through and through, and the worst US president in modern history.

Jul 1, 2009 - 8:55 am 30. Bill Perron:

If you stand on principle you will attract the intelligent voter, no matter their complexion. Stop with all the demographic nonsense. Stop worrying about all the phony “what you think will sell” and just do the intelligent principled thing. STOP ACTING AND THINKING LIKE DEMONCRATS !!!

Jul 1, 2009 - 8:57 am 31. John Y:

Republicans can get more minority votes by sticking to their conservative principles in word and action, by never ever saying or doing anything nasty or racist, and by otherwise ignoring identity politics.

Jul 1, 2009 - 9:05 am 32. antaine:

“95% of blacks voted for the black guy ”

but, as per the topic of the article, that’s not markedly more who would have voted for a white Democratic candidate had one been run instead.

And I don’t see them voting in those numbers for a black GOP candidate even when running against a white Democrat…

The Democrats have won an education and perception war, starting with FDR and continuing to this day. They have taken possession of virtually all forms of media and the public education system.

The GOP needs to change THAT…the rest will follow as sure as the sun rises.

But remember, it took the Left 80 years to come this far, it will likely take at least that long to return to sanity.

Jul 1, 2009 - 9:24 am 33. blotto:

Wow, where to begin. MikeW.: If you look at the states in financial trouble,they are controlled by Dems despite having a GOP governor, i.e. CA and the governator.

Next, Reagan was a true conservative.

So you believe that the power grab being foisted on us by Obama and the Dems is considered adults running the nation? Then your bias is too great for decent debate. Bush was bad, but for 7 years we were in an economic uptick; he freed millions from terrorism and rape rooms; and perhaps began a modest democracy in the middle east besides Israel. He sold out his conservatism to buy votes with Medicare and prescriptions. But far from the worst.

Blacks have been living in ghettos for 50 years controlled by Dems in local and state levels and yet they still vote Dem. They have been conditioned and bought over the years. So forget them. Only the few who make it to middle class or above and have an unbiased education will vote conservative.

Forget American Jews: this has got to be the most goofy American subgroup around. They vote Dem and the Dems continue to be the most anti-Semetic and Israel hating party ever-besides the Nazis. They vote based on progressiveness. Look they are voting in a party that is making overtures to Muslims.

urbanleftbehind: Have to disagree. The only time we got the Jewish vote was Reagan. And he appealed to everyone.

Jul 1, 2009 - 9:26 am 34. Mike W.:

blotto: “Next, Reagan was a true conservative.

Wrong, bucko. Reagan was a moderate.

Ronald Reagan cut and ran from Beirut. Ronald Reagan negotiated with the Evil Soviet Empire. Ronald Reagan sold arms to Iran! Ronald Reagan raised taxes eleven times. Ronald Reagan was the one who gave illegal immigrants amnesty in the first place!

Reagan would be laughed out of the Republican primaries now. They’d call him a softie lib. God knows what Ann Coulter would call him. Yet you treat him like a demi-god. Why? Because you have no other Republican presidents you can be proud of.

Jul 1, 2009 - 10:04 am 35. Strawman:

People don’t vote for issues, they vote for faces. How is it that Prop 8 passes in the same California that sends so many loony-toons to congress?

You can get Blacks to agree 100% with the Republican platform, and they’ll still vote 90% for the donkeys. It’s not political or ideological; it’s sociological. It’s rooting for the home team.

If there’s any chance of changing the status quo, it’s not with changing the platform, it’s with rebranding. That’s what the donks have been doing since Clinton, and it’s generally worked for them.

BTW, READ THE LINKED ARTICLE, even though it may be in Ebony. He’s essentially saying the same thing. I don’t know who the author is, but at 22, he’s got more insight than most pros in the business. Keep an eye on this rising star.

Jul 1, 2009 - 10:09 am 36. Ken Hahn:

If the Republican Party plays identity politics it loses. To try to attract black ( or white ), latino, Jewish, Christian ( or any other religion, or even religious skeptics ) is to play the Democrats’ game. It is one the GOP can’t win. The Democrats will promise anything to get votes and the lapdog media will promote those promises. Republicans can’t out-promise Democrats. It’s impossible. The Democrats will raise the stakes every time and will never be held to their promises by a media that believes its function is that of a propaganda organization for the Democrats. If a Republicans says “It would be nice if this happens”, it will be treated as a personal pledge of fierce moral urgency. If a Democrat promises something, directly and without reservation, it will be treated as a goal.

Republicans need to appeal to all voters. Appealing to a specific set of them is never going to work. Democrats are the party of self interested splinters. Republicans need to be the party of Americans.

Jul 1, 2009 - 10:54 am 37. annie b.:

of course they do…just give em free stuff, that the other guys are working hard for and paying for..

OMG quit being so nice…facts are facts!!!

Jul 1, 2009 - 11:08 am 38. Rosita:

NO,DUDE. NO HOPE. MOVE ON. BUT IT’S THE WHITE VOTE THAT ELECTED OBAMA ANYWAY. LET THE DEMOCRATS BE THE “BLACK” PARTY. LET THE REPUBLICANS BE THE PARTY OF PEOPLE WHO “ACT WHITE.”

Jul 1, 2009 - 11:10 am 39. Delia:

‘Selling’ to a specific ethinic spectrum is SELLING OUT and pandering to people who have been pandered to so much already it’s ad nauseum sickening and embarrasing for the people who DO NOT WANT TO BE PANDERED TO.

Did anyone ever consider that black/brown people are tired of the pandering mentality?

Jul 1, 2009 - 11:13 am 40. Strawman:

Read the Asim article carefully. He’s not saying that the Rs need to pander; in fact he’s saying the opposite. He’s agreeing with everyone here, but he’s adding one more important point, which is the “branding” thing. The GOP needs a complete brand makeover.

It’s distasteful, but I can’t argue with his logic.

Jul 1, 2009 - 11:32 am 41. sallie:

#39,Delia………….”NO”

no need to consider it..the answer is “no”…

Jul 1, 2009 - 11:39 am 42. Juan:

It doesn’t matter what party is in office (or in favor) because as long as African-Americans think of themselves as victims, they’ll never significantly progress. It doesn’t matter who they vote for. How is it, I ask you, that Chinese, Japanese and Indian people come to our country, barely able to speak our language, and find wealth and prosperity? How is it that African-Americans, with the home-court advantage (knowing English, how our society works, etc.) maintain mediocrity for generations?

The answer is simple: their community sucks. I won’t even try to dress that up with cute verbiage. Men who objectify women and laud their criminal exploits are idolized. Women are thought of as “chickenheads” and nothing more than a slice of booty. There is no sense of responsibility to family–evidenced by the alarming out-of-wedlock birthrate–or to themselves. They’ve sold their responsibility for the almighty government handout. It’s pathetic.

On the other hand, the Asians/Whites have strong community values centered around education, family and financial success. Yes, there are your requisite losers in each culture, but in these cultures, those losers are outcast and castigated. In the black culture, they’re lauded and sympathized with–worse yet, those who succeed are accused of acting white and being an “Uncle Tom.” It’s funny how valuing hard work and education seems to make a people better off than valuing free handouts and a life based on subsistence rather than a fruitful existence. Something common sense, not statistics, can tell you has happened since the beginning of time.

The slaveowners died 100 years ago…it’s time to move on and stop voting race. It’s time to take responsibility for your own outcomes. Unfortunately, black people aren’t ready to do that. They want someone to blame more than someone to rescue them, and until that changes, the party of white (allegedly, seeing as the southern DEMOCRATS were the ones propagating Jim Crow laws and segregation, but that’s a silly little “inconvenient” truth, so we’ll just skip that) will never be anything but a convenient excuse to them instead of a viable solution.

Enjoy living in Harlem and eating government cheese. But it’s okay because someone “forced” you to go out and sell drugs instead of doing your homework and someone “forced” you to treat women like conquests and someone “forced” you to have too much pride to wear a condom or wait to be in a committed relationship. It’s not your fault because some white guy probably forced you to live your life this way.

Hate to break it to you, even those shouting from the rooftops we live in a socialist country, there are no more excuses. There are no more barriers. People have ultimate responsibility over their actions and their outcomes in this country. I’m tired of paying for bad actions–government, business or cultural–and a lot of Americans are beginning to feel the same way.

-Just another American tired of the liberal mantra…

“If it feels good, do it.”

Jul 1, 2009 - 11:39 am 43. Mike:

Only the blacks who have risen to middle-class and above can be swayed to vote Republican. This is because they will consider the issues-at-large, have a diverse group of friends, have formal education, and have mainstream concerns that are directly affected and addressed by eithe party.

Meanwhile, the blacks that are are mired in the ‘black underclass’ traditionally have very low voter turnout, comparatively less education and still cast an untrusting eye at the white population as a whole.

However, with people like Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin leading the GOP, and Dick Cheney reminding everyone how great he and GeeDubya did over the last eight years, you’ll find that you can’t even get white people to vote for you much less blacks!

Jul 1, 2009 - 11:59 am 44. Marc Malone:

I hope we never get the blacks back into our party, at least not until they pull their heads completely out of their backsides. I swear, every time I see a black Republican, he’s a moderate talking like a Dem. Except for Alan Keyes, who froths at the mouth, they seem to abandon principles at the drop of a hat and end up criticizing the Pubs, a la Powell and Steele.

Let them stay with the Dems and be hate-filled and miserable. I don’t want them until they get their heads on straight. If and when they ever do, then I will welcome them with open arms. Until then, I’d be welcoming a viper unto my breast.

Lots of good comments here, though. The main thing is that identity politics is the politics of hate. There’s no room for it in our party. It’s a sure path to failure for us and the country.

Jul 1, 2009 - 12:05 pm 45. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Show blacks this comment thread. They’ll be amazed at how well you know black people. They’ll be lining up to join the GOP.

Jul 1, 2009 - 12:43 pm 46. Blackwell:

I wish every black in the US voted Republican and a majority probably would if there was a GOP worthy of their vote.

First, blacks aren’t going to vote for martini-sipping, ascot-wearing, numeraled rich kids that emerge from all white clubs to announce solidarity with the “working man”. None of them know any working men or women and everyone knows it. The GOP would send jobs offshore in a minute; lower taxes on corporations and increase deductions for rich people’s avacado farms, but refuse to let a working man deduct the cost of his baloney sandwhich. Half the people on this thread are disgusted with the GOP too. Hint to GOP: purge the tired blue bloods; find new leadership. (not like the one that was almost elected GOP chairman this year who indeed belonged to an all white club)

Second, the GOP has to be the honest party: neither blacks nor whites see promise in a party that–aside from George Bush’s resolute stand on Iraq–stands only for corruption, incompetence and graft. Half the people on this site agree that the GOP blew its credibility in the past 10 years so don’t be surprised that blacks think the same way. Hint to GOP: if all you stand for is business’ chance to rip us off, don’t be surprised if voters don’t swoon at the chance to vote for you.

Third, its not necessay to appeal to blacks as victims: there is a definite trend among US blacks to shy away from being wards of the democratic party: Bill Cosby is only one of the more vocal and prominent, pushing education, manners, and all the old stuff that US blacks were told for decades they didn’t need, because it was “acting white.” The GOP has been so busy opposing gay marriage and dreaming of reversing Roe v Wade to make an issue of it. They should: they ought to come out and say directly that they stand for a better way. They’re too chicken to do it because they don’t want to do anything but sit down with developers and lobbyists. Again: oust the blue bloods.

Fourth, the GOP needs to shed its “Winston churchill–use only in case of war” limited appeal to voters as a “war party” and reconnect with America on a basis other than war making and defense: strength lies not only in big carriers and submarines, but in the quality of schools that teach our kids. On nuclear power plants the GOP didn’t do a thing -NOTHING-to advance while Bush was President. On controlling exploding college tuition and state pensions.

There is nothing wrong with insisting that schools shed the union hammerlock on teacher tenure and put the kids first for a change: imagine that–the GOP could say “we stand up for the kids not the school establishment.” The GOP might also inist that state money be used not to fatten teacher pensions but to hold Shakespeare festivals in inner city parks or schools, insist on public pools that work using non union labor instead of the perrennially inoperative public pools.

They could insist that libararies stay open longer instead of money going to higher teacher pensions. Blacks are inherently conservative and want to vote for the right person: the GOP can find its appeal in insisting simply that public officials do their jobs competently –not shaking down evry lobbyist in town.

Why isn’t the GOP looking into exploding tuition in college? Or state pensions that are bleeding states dry? Good question: it had enough time. It sat on its commodious rear end and did nothing.

Fifth: stop talking exclusively to reporters and pundits inside the belt way (those blue bloods again) and start sponsoring tv specials, movies and grade school books that emphasize US history, thrift, honesty, limited government etc.

Sixth, forget the “wedge” issus like gay marriage: blacks vote against it in california but still vote democratic. The wedge issues are not enough for an honest foundation for any party.

When this is done the GOP can appeal to voters–black and white. And they’ll come.

Jul 1, 2009 - 2:24 pm 47. blotto:

MikeW: As a flaming progressive, anything you say about conservatives is basically a lie. Therefore, any debate about what makes a conservative is foolish.

What a tool.

Jul 1, 2009 - 3:03 pm 48. sheesh:

1. Ed Wallis . . . “Does the Democrat Party Have Any Real Shot At Attracting Self-Respecting White Voters?”

You mean enough to win the house, the senate, and the presidency? Yeah, I think we do. Howza ’bout you, sparky? You think we got enough for that?

Jul 1, 2009 - 3:07 pm 49. sheesh:

39. Delia: . . . “Did anyone ever consider that black/brown people are tired of the pandering mentality?”

You know when that really hit home for me? When Mitt Romney stood with a bunch of black kids and let loose with, “Who let the dogs out . . . Woof . . . Woof!”

Jul 1, 2009 - 3:09 pm 50. Greg:

What should attract black voters is common sense. All blacks need to do is to take time to review all the tragic black historical results with Democrat “help” over the decades.

Jul 1, 2009 - 3:15 pm 51. myth buster:

The GOP doesn’t have to WIN the black vote; merely obtaining the same percentage of blacks as it gets of Hispanics will suffice for victory. If we can get a mere 25% of blacks to vote Republican, we’ll win.

Jul 1, 2009 - 3:37 pm 52. Middleman:

“Show blacks this comment thread. They’ll be amazed at how well you know black people. They’ll be lining up to join the GOP.”

Haha.. No doubt. Of course they’ll understand it as tough love and not condescension. They’ll then use that extra leg muscle to run right into the GOP big tent, because no one is right like a white middle class male 18-49.

Jul 1, 2009 - 3:42 pm 53. Delia:

49. sheesh:

You know when that really hit home for me? When Mitt Romney stood with a bunch of black kids and let loose with, “Who let the dogs out . . . Woof . . . Woof!”
~

I don’t get it?

Anyway, both sides of the isle suck smegma. Big surprise.

The people who are ’supposedly’ representing us are sickeningly spoiled rotten pimps who live so far above the actual ‘reality’ of the world that it’s no wonder they make the most inane, mindless decisions.

Phrontistery is a dying art.

Jul 1, 2009 - 3:56 pm 54. Joe Camel:

If I hear one more time that blacks are really “conservative” I will lose my dinner. What a crock.
One day, when they are all gunning each other down, issue solved. It is when whites find out that they are killing whites that they will then in fact take action; and when that happens..well it won’t be pretty, but it will in fact happen.
Why the move to get rid of the second amendment is always being pushed.

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:06 pm 55. Patrick of Atlantis:

The Republican should heed Limbaugh’s advice and be a party of conservative principles,the party of Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt and Lincoln and Washington and Jefferson. There is no way Washington and Jefferson would be Democrats if they were alive today. Any blacks, or any people in general, who want those things should be welcome; the rest can go elsewhere.

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:12 pm 56. sheesh:

54 Joe Camel . . . I’m sorry, Joe, who’s killing who when? And what won’t be pretty? Can’t tell from your post, and I think it’s important.

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:16 pm 57. B Dubya:

Sheesh.
Enjoy this while you can. It won’t go on for long.
I don’t think the Republican party is the force to be dealt with here, nor, if you look at polling numbers, are self declared Democrats.

Most of us are gone already. We self describe as Independants. 50% or more of respondents in a recent poll (Zogby, I think; it was published here) no longer claim affiliation with either party.

I see the Democrats surviving as a party. That club is like pond scum, almost impossible to kill, whether they are pushing slavery in the name of States Rights, or progressivism (read fascism) while pressing for the gutting of the COnstitution. The Republicans, on the other hand, as likely to fade away, just as the Whigs did in the 1850s.

If ethinic minorities who style their nationality with hyphenated names wish to be marginalized even further, then they should remain with the party of slavery. If they wish to not count, then they should contunue to wallow in grievance and self pity, and continue to be lifted up by the benevolence of their progressive betters. If, on the other hand, they wish to take their place in this society as free people, they will have to abandon all of that, because it is merely the form of their present chains.

I am an American. I am a mutt, and proud of it. I am proud of it because my people and my children are free to succeed or fail on their own merits, and not because they came from the wrong part of Europe, or Asia, or the rest of the places where the refuse of the old imperial cultures tossed my ancestors.

If your idea of identity politics is anything other than being proud to be an American, then I don’t want you in my politics.

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:17 pm 58. smarty:

Look, 99% of black voters fall into two main categories, as extrapolated from their voting patterns in the last 40 years:

1) Handout-seekers. They don’t want to work, they just want a free lunch.
2) Whitey-haters. They want white people to buy them lunch, serve them lunch, and then wipe their butts for them afterwards.

When they constitute less than 10% of eligable voters (keeping in mind the outragiously high rate of felons in the black community that liberals want to vote), they are not worth compromising the message.

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:28 pm 59. Blackwell:

54: Joe camel; are you munching on catfish and sitting on a patch wood, dirt-covered porch next to a broken down rusted ‘57 chevy truck, playing a banjo? They have internet there now?

Jul 1, 2009 - 4:38 pm 60. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Faced with the question of why there aren’t more blacks in the GOP y’all find yourself faced with two possible answers:

(1) The GOP is repugnant to black people for a variety of reasons, or

(2) Black people are too stupid to know what’s good for them.

I’m not surprised to see what the consensus is around here.

Jul 1, 2009 - 5:27 pm 61. middleagedpatriot:

Antaine #32

Actually, I think you are right. My contention would be that are we divergent in opinion or just seeing different sides of the same coin? Whatever the real reason, Obama owns the black vote and only Obama can change that. The GOP is wasting its time and money trying to infringe upon that.

Jul 1, 2009 - 5:48 pm 62. Reality:

I don’t know if it is a problem everywhere, but here in the Dallas area we have the Chicanos and even some whites following the example of the black thugs, pimps and losers, rather than following successful people of all races. They don’t want to go to school to learn and they certainly don’t want to follow the norms of the business world, so how can they ever get a job. The young blacks who won’t even learn how to speak English correctly can’t expect to succeed in the professional world apart from sports because you have to speak proper English to succeed. I am assuming that they are being taught proper English, but I could be wrong about that and if I am then we are really in bad shape if their teachers can’t speak proper English either. We should have a need for ESL classes for American born and raised people. Successful Blacks have to be willing to resist the pressures from their peers who tell them not to act “white”. Someone needs to tell them it’s not “white”, it’s acting for success.

Jul 1, 2009 - 7:01 pm 63. LogicalUS:

“Black people are too stupid to know what’s good for them”

Well Mr Smarty, explain this…

America for the past 50 years has experienced a economic boom unlike any seen in history. Yet Black people lost in third-world inner city ghettos of this country have increase three-fold. Despite this dismal record, Black people repeatedly continue to support and vote for the same LIBERAL do-gooder Democrats? And yet their situation’s have been in direct inverse to this explosion? NONE have ever met or been lead by a Conservative but believe LIBERALS when they blame those missing conservatives for their problems?

Apparently they DO lack the ability to KNOW when they are being taken advantage of. Take Barack Hussein Obama and his circle of friends as PRIME EXAMPLES. The poor people of South Chicago have mindlessly watch as a succession of con-men have come thru using their plight to enrich themselves and friends. Louis Farrakhan, William Ayers, Jeremiah Wright and all of Obama’s other friends used the plight of these people to hoist taxpayer money which they used to promote themselves. They all now live in HYDE PARK together, no doubt laughing their arses off at the sheeple. Even ole Barry himself controlled 155 million dollars in grants which was MEANT for Chicago’s school children and what happened to it? It all went to enrich his friends and their organizations while the kids got shafted again. How many scholarships, books, computers, etc. could you have bought with 155 million dollars? And Barry gave it to Marxist “education” groups headed by Ayers and other communists like Mike Klonsky so they could take control of the school board?

At some point, YOU must face reality!!! You have been had, but by all means keep voting for these do-gooder con-men and keep blaming those mysterious evil white conservatives. Idiots.

Jul 1, 2009 - 7:02 pm 64. Delia:

Maybe black people need to watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeusbhevqao

It addresses ‘black genocide’ and abortion.

Jul 1, 2009 - 7:43 pm 65. magnolia:

#53 Every person in the State of Georgia knows what “who let the dogs out” means. It means that the University of Georgia Bulldogs are whipping you! Go Dawgs!

Jul 1, 2009 - 8:16 pm 66. Thomas Jackson:

Its hopeless to vie for the “black vote.” Free market, education, opportunities have not swayed the jewish vote. Why should it sway the black vote. We see one party pandering to racial hatreds, class envy, generational warfare. So the GOP should adopt these positions? It can attract gay voters by advocating the end of traditions that have served the nation and civilization well?

Get rid of the RINOs and Big government types. Stress individual responsibility and freedpom are what constitute the American dream. That the individual not the government knows best. Those who will be swayed will join. Those who will not will fund ACORN.

Jul 1, 2009 - 9:24 pm 67. Peter0000:

I no longer care to play in the racial correctness sandbox. Both congressional parties have failed miserably in representing their constituencies regardless of their skin color. The media is pathetically ideologically driven. This Independent Voter is concerned with the preservation of our Constitution and our founding father’s principles, our Judeo-Christian heritage, free market economic principles, checks and balances in federal power, the preservation of State’s rights, the preservation of Democracy itself. Even the voting process is in jeopardy in this Voters estimation. I no longer recognize the Country I willingly fought for and love so dearly. Which party gets the black vote? This is the least of our worries.

Jul 1, 2009 - 9:30 pm 68. Dave H:

Every dollar spent on outreach to Black America is a dollar wasted. Black America has been steeped in victimization and identity politics. For the most part, Black Americans are simply unreachable by using the message of individual responsibility and merit rewards. Probably 95% of every dollar spent on outreach to Black America will be wasted, and the few dollars that are available for recruitment of minorities would better be spent on Hispanics and gay voters. This will result in a better return on equity.

Jul 2, 2009 - 3:42 am 69. Gdouble:

Why dont we just cut to the chase and stop pussyfooting around? The biggest draw back to Black folks like myself who might be interested in joining the GOP and Conservitives are the racist and bigots who make up the GOP and Conservitves. I’m talking about the people like those in South Carolina who would send emails of Watermelons on the Whitehouse Lawn. Those who call themselves Conservatives and god fearing Americans who wouls send out pictures of the 44 Presidents and show Barrack Obama as a black background with two white eyes peeking out (spook theory)……How do you expect black folks like myself to react to such racist garbage? During the campaign you had the GOP trying to make Barrack obama out to be some terrorist or Manchurian canidate (Ann Coulter). How do you expect people to react? Even this article suggest the only reason black people vote for Democrats “is because they want someone to save them” is total BS and insulting. And the author wonders why black folks like myself wont vote for a Republican. Even the rightwing teabagging/KKK rally were a joke. What does putting Barrack Obama in a Nazi Uniform and suggesting Obama is just like Adolf Hitler (monster) do for the recruitment of African Americans to the Republican party? The simple truth is: Conservatives, the GOP and Republicans are going to have to take a stand against the racist in their party that THEY DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT. Let’s keep it real (believe me there are plenty of White Republicans who feel the same way i do) Until the racist of the GOP are eradicated form the Republican party. The GOP will never get the black vote. Ask Colin Powell, John Mcworter, Armstrong Williams and other conservatives who decided to vote for the Democrat Barack Obama. The racist of the GOP took over the McCain-Palin ticket and turned off a lot of peopole. BLACK AND WHITE. P.s. Talk radio doesnt help the GOP either……..having public bigots/racist like Jarred taylor of American Ren. spew GOP talking points wont garner you any favors either…..Just keeping it real……….do with it what you want…….as Ronald Reagan once said……”the facts can be stubborn”

Jul 2, 2009 - 4:50 am 70. Meryl:

So….another piece of evidence that we ARE back to the color of the skin being more important than the content of character?

Guess MLK had it wrong.

I guess when he was proposing equality of the races, blacks didn’t realize that actual being equal means actually being EQUAL: not preferential, we’re-gonna-fuss-over-you-’til-you-love-us treatment.

Jul 2, 2009 - 4:59 am 71. Gdouble:

Meryl:

So….another piece of evidence that we ARE back to the color of the skin being more important than the content of character?

Guess MLK had it wrong.

I guess when he was proposing equality of the races, blacks didn’t realize that actual being equal means actually being EQUAL: not preferential, we’re-gonna-fuss-over-you-’til-you-love-us treatment.

This is all you need to know about the state of our society. First, is there any doubt that people like Meryl probably protested against people like MLK just based on the blogpage entry. Second, i didnt know people fighting for the right to be trested like human beings meant ” we’re-gonna-fuss-over-you-’til-you-love-us treatment”.
Something tells me ols Meryl doesnt believe in the bible and the whole idea of “doing onto others as you would have others do onto you”………People like Meryl are the reason why you have those on the right believing Barrack Obama is not a US citizens. And you wonder why black people dont want to be associated with Conservatives, extreme rightwing bigots and the GOP. I cant imagine why?

Jul 2, 2009 - 7:07 am 72. Kyrie Eleison:

As a Black female Christian conservative I desperately want the GOP to establish a real presence in the Black community. The Democrats have won loyalty from Blacs simply by pandering and feigning devotion. They make sure to keep a presence in Black community by constantly throwing crumbs to their followers all the while demonizing Republicans and Conservatives. Philadelphia, Detroit and other cities with large Black populations show the scars of Democratically controlled administrations.

Oddly enough, many Blacks are socially and fiscally Conservative themselves. Yet, they continue to stand by the Democrats because it’s the devil they know.

I’m an Independent, but one of the things that keeps me from registering as a Republican is their lack of a spine. You can’t be a punk when it comes to the Black community. I’ll be so glad when Republican stand on their principles and get down and dirty with Democrats instead of running away like scared little wimps.

Jul 2, 2009 - 8:01 am 73. Meryl:

71.Gdouble
“Something tells me ols Meryl doesnt believe in the bible and the whole idea of “doing onto others as you would have others do onto you”………”

I have no idea what your Bible quotation has to do with what I said, since the verse you quote does not say, “do unto those who are black as you have others do unto you.” Color is not an issue in the Bible. Why is it being made an issue in the profile of a political party? It’s the libs and lefties who keep screaming that everyone has to be identified by color, race, gender, etc. etc.

“People like Meryl are the reason why you have those on the right believing Barrack Obama is not a US citizens”….

uhhh….no. I question whether or not he’s a citizen because he has never produced evidence that he is, and much of what is known about his personal history indicates he isn’t. (Isn’t it censorship when we aren’t allowed to ask questions? Didn’t know we had to check with you, Bunky.)

Just my existence (”people like Meryl are the reason”) surely can’t be enough to influence the hundreds of thousands of people who wonder about this issue!!!! If it really is, why, I thank you, kind sir for the compliment. Actually, I suspect it’s flattery and you’re just trying to make me feel good.

And, just for the record: I did not protest against MLK. I watched the footage from Birmingham and every other point. I cringed when the marchers were beaten. I was horrified with the deaths that occurred because of heavyhanded enforcements. You see, you numbskull, you are deliberately confusing what the problem TODAY IS with what the problem in the 1950’s and 1960’s was.

The problem then was institutionalized and legislated discrimination. The problem today is a victim class that was created by The Great Society. As the victim class learns and burns, looking for fresh retaliatory strategies, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton just keep bringing in the trucks with the gasoline–gotta be sure that blasted fire doesn’t go out.

The manipulations being pulled off by the black political class on other black people are absolutely shameful. Maybe Thomas Sowell and Bill Cosby could have you for lunch and you’d learn something.

Jul 2, 2009 - 8:11 am 74. Class Clown:

Here is one of the iron clad rules of democratic politics: Any group that becomes too dependable as voters will no longer be listened to.

The Democratic Party will never take real political risks on behalf of blacks, because they already have 90% of their votes. The same goes for gays. Their votes are reliably Democratic, which is why Obama won’t take any real political risks on supporting same-sex marriage.

On the flip-side, the Republicans don’t need to make any real effort to hold onto the conservative Christian vote, so they don’t.

The real political future in this country belongs to whoever really figures out how to court the Hispanic vote, which leans Democrat but is far from monolithic. It also represents a large portion of the electorate in two of the most populous states.

What this all means is that, in the end, the only group which actually gets listened to are white women, which is the only demographic group that splits anything close to 50/50.

So you go, girls!

Jul 2, 2009 - 8:56 am 75. Strawman:

Why dont we just cut to the chase and stop pussyfooting around? The biggest draw back to Black folks like myself who might be interested in joining the GOP and Conservitives are the racist and bigots who make up the GOP and Conservitves. I’m talking about the people like those in South Carolina who would send emails of Watermelons on the Whitehouse Lawn.

And do you have any real statistics on what percentage of “the GOP and Conservitives [sic]” engage in this kind of conduct, or are you just painting with a roller based on a few hearsay anecdotes?

If you could back that up with real statistics, you’d have a solid argument. But as it stands, all you’re doing is trading in stereotypes. And racism is rooted in stereotyping. Put another way, you’re doing to “the GOP and Conservitives [sic]” what you’re accusing them of doing with the watermelon pictures.

Just to be clear, I’m not denying that these dolts exist*. What I’m suggesting is that they represent something on the order of 10%, and if you want to look across the aisle, you can find at least that many odious and stupid people. And they are just as racist, just less honest about it.

I once knew a Black man who lived in two American cities, one in the midwest/south, and one on the west coast. He said that he preferred the one in the midwest/south because there, if a person doesn’t like you because of your race, he’ll come out and say it.

Racism sucks. You don’t get to do anything about that directly. Racism itself will only go away when a lot of other social dynamics play out, and that’s not going to happen for a long time. The question is, who would you rather be around, people who will let you know when they think you’re not their equal, or people who pretend?
___________________________
*There are several example in this thread, but even then, you can never be sure if the comments are genuine, or planted there by trolls. Just one more reason why you can’t conclude anything from anecdotes.

Jul 2, 2009 - 9:17 am 76. Delia:

65. magnolia,

Thank you for the explanation. I know the ’song’ but I had no clue as to what the reference was [being that I'm from the West Coast].

71. Gdouble,

How many posts by Meryl have you read here? She’s not a racist by any stretch of the imagination. Can’t people argue a topic without playing the ‘race’ card? Yes, racism exists and there are black racists too. Hate is hate.

72. Kyrie Eleison,

Insightful post but, as soon as you say ‘black this’ or ‘black that’ it boils down to ‘pandering’.

Racism will continue as long as terms like ‘black community’ keep being used to death. Do you really want a ‘black community’? I would never call my neighborhood a ‘white’ community [namely because that would be a lie since we have Blacks and Hispanics and other ethnicities here].

Jul 2, 2009 - 9:18 am 77. Strawman:

It’s hopeless to vie for the “black vote.” Free market, education, opportunities have not swayed the Jewish vote. Why should it sway the black vote.

Good question. I tend to believe that the Jews are an unique historical-politico-socio-psyco-cultural phenomenon that defy rational explanation. I think it’s a mistake to project their experience on any other group.

Having said that, black Americans have a rather complicated historical-politico-socio-psyco-cultural system going, and it’s not at all clear what those dynamics are. In some ways, they’re very similar to the Jews (history of persecution and slavery), in other ways they’re diametrically opposite (cultural continuity and long-held traditions).

I just don’t know. But I don’t think you can simply infer one from the other.

Jul 2, 2009 - 9:28 am 78. Kyrie Eleison:

Delia, by “black community” I mean the black voter base the GOP needs to bring into its fold. I’m not using it to be separatist as some would. Do you deny there are Italian, Irish, and Jewish-American communities? I live in a mixed race community and pray it stays that way! I purposely did not move into an all Black community. My choice had nothing to do with race but the quality of the neighborhood and the desire to live amongst people who share my values regardless of race.

America has always celebrated its diverse ethnic groupings. I think the problem of racism in America has been perpetuated in part by White Liberals. I know Blacks who are sick of the “Blame Whitey” rant and Whites who always portray Blacks as victims so long as it furthers their own Liberal causes against traditional American culture.

Jul 2, 2009 - 11:37 am 79. Delia:

78. Kyrie Eleison,

I’ve never lived in exclusively ‘Irish’/'Black’/'Italian’/'Hispanic’/'Asian’ neighborhoods even though I’m sure they ‘exist’. -But, is that a weird form of ’self-segregation’? My husband grew up in the Chicago area and he *did* live in an ‘Italian neighborhood’ of sorts but, I grew up with friends of all ’shades’ of the ethnic rainbow and when my husband would tell me about the ‘ethnically’ divided neighborhoods he experienced I just couldn’t understand it because, I guess, frankly, I haven’t ‘lived’ it.

Even though the part of WA state I live in is predominantly white, the ethnic diversity is ‘here’ at least a ‘little’ bit. Seattle and the bigger cities usually have more black people.

The ‘other’ problem is, calling black men ‘Uncle Toms’ who join the GOP. Good grief. WHY?

The GOP needs a major overhaul, no doubt about it. I also think term limits would help the situation on both sides of the isle.

P.S. I really hate the term ‘Grand Old Party’. I dunno why but that phrase just makes me think of old men crapping in their diapers in an old folks’ home.

Jul 2, 2009 - 12:36 pm 80. Strawman:

Kyrie and Delia,

A lot of Americans don’t appreciate what a huge difference there is between the coasts, either. On the West coast, there are no white ethnic neighborhoods, except for recent arrivals such as Russians. There are Asian neighborhoods (again, mostly new arrivals), Hispanic neighborhoods (again, mostly new arrivals), and even the occasional Somali neighborhood (all new arrivals). The only persistent racially defined neighborhoods that continue generation after generation are the black neighborhoods.

The West coast comes closer to the ideal of the melting pot than the East (and from what I understand, the New South does as well), but there’s something unique going on with black neighborhoods.

Growing up on the West coast, I always thought that it was odd that shortly after the Civil Rights movement, with its emphasis on integration, the community organizers (ahem!) immediately went to work trying to “improve” the “community”, rather than annihilate it.

That’s why we don’t have integration. The powers that be never wanted it. The community organizers liked things just the way they were, and so did most Whites.

It’s hard to back out when you make a deal with the devil.

Jul 2, 2009 - 1:32 pm 81. Marc Malone:

#69 Gdouble – You are exactly what I meant when I said I don’t want the blacks in my Party until they get their heads on straight. You quote all these things you find to be racist. Some are Dem talking points. Others may indeed be valid criticisms. You’ve been told they are racist, so you believe it.

Let’s use the Ann Coulter example. The Manchurian Candidate charge. A quisling who becomes the leader of the nation in order to overthrow it from within. She was expressing concern that Obama is a Marxist, or a Muslim in disguise (I forget which). Either way, he would be hell-bent on ruining the country. So far, she seems to have hit pretty close to the mark. The point is, the charge had NOTHING to do with race!

So, go back to voting Democratic. Keep voting for your slavemasters and their HNIC’s. Keep voting for guys like Marion Berry of DC or Kwame Kilpatrick of Detroit. Those cities are 90% black… and miserable places. Keep voting Dem! Morons.

Jul 2, 2009 - 3:28 pm 82. Cybergeezer:

Black America wants EXCLUSIVITY, not EQUALITY; Isn’t that clear yet? They may have their own party (albeit Democrat) for the next election. Maybe y’all can vote for your favorite Black Panther! Will that fix your guilt problem?

Jul 4, 2009 - 9:54 am

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