Pajamas Media

84 Comments

1. Steve:

Where have you been Adam?

Everything that you mention has been tried with black voters.

A substantial amount of blacks vote Democrat because they perceive it to be an anti-white vote. Let them stay where they are.

What we need to do is get more of the WHITE vote!

If we do that and peel off some of the “very gettable” Hispanic votes we will dominate.

Jul 16, 2009 - 1:15 am 2. David Thomson:

“The challenge rests in eliminating black culture’s meme that black Republicans are sell-outs.”

The Democratic Party has an advantage with minorities because of affirmative action. Blacks, women, and other “members of the dispossessed” often don’t have to earn what they get in life. It is obvious, for instance, that both Barack Obama and Sonia Sotmayor are intellectual second raters. Such folks benefited greatly from the lowering of academic standards and job requirements advocated by Democrats. Republicans should judge people on the quality of their character, and not their status as officially approved minorities. Let the cards fall where they may. Bribing American citizens for their votes is morally reprehensible.

Jul 16, 2009 - 1:49 am 3. Ed Wallis:

Dear Mr. Graham:

You article would be better titled “Yes, Minorities Could Vote Conservative“.

Please refer to your last few paragraphs, in which you seem to use “conservative” and “Republican” interchangably.

WRONG.

Please refer to the pathetic behavior of Senate Republicans at the Sotomayor hearings. While I will withhold a final “judgement” on the GOP until after “the vote,” should the GOP in any substantial manner support Sotomayor,

the GOP is a GONER for me.

Any new liberty-oriented political party will have as its core
the backbone for such silly little things like
defending the U.S. Constitution.

Jul 16, 2009 - 2:18 am 4. brutus:

I dunno about that. I’ve been following the Sotomayer nomination and have been learning a great deal. I just wish that the Senators would ask some more pertinent questions that we, every-day Americans can relate to. For example, I’m looking for a dentist. Now I know that Latinas make the best judges, but I don’t know about dentists. Should I go with the black lady or the Asian guy. If we were talking about an engineer, no problem, we all know the Asian guy is better, but are they better dentists than black ladies?

Jul 16, 2009 - 2:51 am 5. cedarhill:

Won’t happen any time. The Democrats have effectively implemented part of that old FDR joke where the punch line was “set on your asses, this IS the Promised Land.” Once a person gets things for no apparent effort on their part, ideas don’t mean much.

Tell me how you will compete against:

“You get $300 dollars a week for being unemployed, nearly free housing, nearly free food and, now, nearly free health care.”

Versus

“You can study hard, work hard and become whatever you wish to become. We will make sure you have a level playing field.”

If the dependent cared, they wouldn’t be voting Democrat today. The GOP and, in particular, conservatives have been legitimized as the one to really, really, really hate and blame. Face it, time and effort is better spent promoting conservative ideas and simply ignore those that will not listen. The Democrats have successfully reversed history and made us the villain in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Maybe, if Adam Graham’s great-great-great grandchildren really try hard enough, blacks will shift, perhaps, 1% of their voting block to conservatives.

Just ask yourself this question: Have the Jews forgotten their slavery that took place under Egypt about 4,000 years ago? Check what happens in their communities around Easter.

Jul 16, 2009 - 4:51 am 6. davod:

“Yes, Minorities Could Vote Republican: Yes but the GOP needs to focus on ideas – not token minority candidates.”

This is the most important statement I have read for some time (I have not read your argument yet).

I could not agree more. I was not living in the US when the Reagan Revolution took hold of the USA and conservatives, but it is my understanding this is what Reagan did.

I have difficulty listening to conservatives who suggest we should move closer to the Obama message and therefore hive off some undecided voters.

Jul 16, 2009 - 5:27 am 7. c:

I agree with Adam Graham. If the conservative movements wants to attrack more minorities, they do need to focus on the issues as they pertain to mimority voters. I have said before that if blacks for instance took a close look at their core values, they would see that they have more in common withe conservatives than liberals.
I contend that the conservative movement has become a synonym with anti minority. Thus conservatives also need to stop putting down minorities who make into positions of power with the arguement that they are intellectual light weights. From my perspective George W. Bush was not the the sharpest tack in the box eventhough he was Ivy League educated and president of the U.S. of A. I’m not as familiary with Sotomayor as I would like to be so I am doing my research, but she does not seem all that unintelligent. You may not agree with how Obama operates, but evidence is there that he is some how intellectually inferior. Perhaps he is inexperiences, I’ll grant his critics that much, but to attack his intelligence, I wonder what this criticism is founded in.

Jul 16, 2009 - 5:31 am 8. davod:

“I dunno about that. I’ve been following the Sotomayer nomination and have been learning a great deal.”

The problem is backfootedness. With a 60 seat Democratic majority, the Senate confirmation hearings are a little late to be raising questions about Sotomeyer’s suitability.

I am now reading that even liberals (Not many, but they include law professors and lawyers) questioning Sotomeyer’s honesty.

Jul 16, 2009 - 5:38 am 9. Colin Wilkinson:

In Saint Paul Minnesota the independent candidate for mayor, Eva Ng is running against the DFL incumbent with GOP support and endorsement. She is being cagey about her use of the word Republican. She is a tremendous candidate and the fact that she is from Texas has not been held against her, yet.
Colin Wilkinson

Jul 16, 2009 - 6:08 am 10. AThinkingPerson:

Seeing how Obama was the catalyst to turn Chicago into Utopia as he did (surely he MUST have to warrant being elected right?), we can only assume he intends to do the same to the entire US. Lucky us!

I do feel for the minorities in this country that are treated like commodities. It saddens me to know that they are turning to the corrupt democratic party for their information. How to get around that is the question. With the current administration turning this into a nanny-state, I can see how minorities would be easily misled into signing up for a govt. hand out from their best friends, the democrats instead of being led into a life of self sufficiency.

Jul 16, 2009 - 6:13 am 11. BackwardsBoy:

One need look no further than last years’ presidential debates to see the GOP’s weakness: it is weakness itself. McCain had several opportunities to point out the fallacies of Obama’s arguments, but he failed to do so. By refusing to stand up and calmly repudiate the failed idealogy of the left, Republicans are showing the lack of fortitude that is vitally necessary to keep our country on the right track and benefit the broad majority of Americans. “Squishy” Republicans are the problem, not the solution.

Jul 16, 2009 - 6:24 am 12. "progressive"watch:

There has recently been a number of articles,all pretty much useless, on Pajamas Media about getting minorities to vote Republican,because they ignore what Democrats do to get minorities to vote Democrat.

Jul 16, 2009 - 6:53 am 13. Bilgeman:

Mr, Graham:
“This is not the stuff of political parties, but it should be the stuff of the conservative movement. During the age of the Soviet Union, conservatism was about the liberation of people from tyrannical regimes.”

You almost got the money quote here, but not quite, and it’s a shame because your entire article leads up to it.

“It means rejecting the self-appointed liberal mouthpieces for racial communities. It’s useless to give speeches to liberal organizations like the NAACP and the National Council of La Raza.”

Well done…recognize these syndicates for the Judas Goats that they are.

“In large urban centers across this nation, people live in poverty under corrupt, incompetent regimes that waste taxpayer resources. In Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New Orleans, the regime has succeeded in creating a permanent brown underclass that serves as a base for the Democratic Party.”

And here’s your money quote:

We need to show them that the Conservative path is the only one to take if they wish to set themselves Free.

Free of crime and gang-infested Government housing
Free of sub-standard and crumbling Government schools
Free of the pittances grudgingly paid to them from Government assistance.
Free of having nearly every aspect of their lives decided for them by some Government bureaucrat.
And Free of the politician who always represents as their “friend” and promises that he’ll make better things come, but who never manages to actually deliver on those promises.

It’s not about making our fellow citizens Free, but rather showing them the way to Liberating themselves.

Jul 16, 2009 - 7:01 am 14. AThinkingPerson:

Re BackwardsBoy #11: Well put! McCain was a dismal choice who came at exactly the wrong time. He epitomized the “squishy” Republican you spoke of (especially when he left the campaign trail to come back and AGREE with the democrats). I knew the GOP was toast at that moment.

Jul 16, 2009 - 7:04 am 15. Steve:

I do not really understand that given the fact that Lincoln went to war in effort to end slavery in the US, and were it not for Republicans in the mid 1960s voting to establish civil rights that the black population would even consider voting for a democrat. Also given the facts that most blacks are conservative and quite religious and the democratic party is anything but religious (at least towards Christians) it does not seems they would be a logical choice, but then again the last election didn’t make much sense at least to me either.

Jul 16, 2009 - 7:10 am 16. Gary Ogletree:

Education without pandering, identity politics, or tokenism. The Democrats’ long history of incompetence and corruption in their strongholds makes them vulnerable.

Jul 16, 2009 - 7:12 am 17. rocketeer:

@6 c – conservatives also need to stop putting down minorities who make into positions of power with the arguement that they are intellectual light weights.

Conservatives don’t put down minorities as intellectual light-weights because they’re minorities, conservative put down intellectual light-weights because they’re intellectual light-weights that happen to be minorities. This is an important distinction that is lost on the mainstream. Any critique of a minority is interpreted as racism, even if that critique is valid.

Jul 16, 2009 - 7:15 am 18. Clayton E. Cramer:

“If the dependent cared, they wouldn’t be voting Democrat today. The GOP and, in particular, conservatives have been legitimized as the one to really, really, really hate and blame.”

What you seem to be missing is that most blacks in America are NOT part of the dependent class. They own homes, go to work, and raise families, just like white Americans. Are we going to make inroads in the dependent class? Not very likely. But for the majority of blacks who largely share conservative values, yes, we can.

Jul 16, 2009 - 7:24 am 19. Clayton E. Cramer:

I agree with Adam completely. It is apparent that Miohael Steele was picked for RNC Chair because he was black. I suspect that many blacks find this a bit too obvious. We should be emphasizing the conservative values that most blacks share with most whites. And remember that a majority of blacks, like a majority of whites, oppose affirmative action. When Bush I criticized the “soft bigotry of low expectations” he was making the point that we see no reason to treat black people like idiots.

Jul 16, 2009 - 7:28 am 20. Todd in Japan:

This article maybe the best I have ever read on the issue of Blacks voting Republican.

There are many generations of blacks living in the ghetto of inner cities who have been taught that conservatives are the enemy. But their lives have not gotten any better, but in fact worse, under years of liberal leadership. We don’t need black candidates, we need to effectively get our message across. It will take time. But we have the easiest example of what has not worked to compare too. Take Reagan times 20, and simply say “Is your life better then it was 30 years ago”? Are you tired of the endless cycle of poverty?

I lived in Dayton, Ohio for quite awhile. Some of the best people I met were from the inner city. They had years of Dem leadership. They just want something better. Conservatives can give them this. But it will take time and patience. 30 years is a lot of programming to undue. A lifetime for most in that situation.

Point out the hypocriscy of their leaders. Is Jesse or Al hurting? Nope. Have they gotten rich while you have gotten more poor? Yep. Tell them the reason we are not racist is that we won’t tip toe around them, but be blunt and treat them like adults. Don’t run away when someone calls us racist. Call that bluff. You would be suprised how much respect I got for “keepin it real” when I worked with these guys and girls.

Again, it will take time, but in the end its good for conservatives, minorities, and the whole country if we succeed. Think of it as the Civil Rights movement 2.0.

Thanks for the great article.

Jul 16, 2009 - 7:35 am 21. Mike W.:

- Arkansas state Sen. Kim Hendren describes Chuck Schumer to some local wingnut group as “that Jew.”

- Sonia Sotomayor, despite having more federal judicial experience than any Supreme Court justice in 100 years, is daily slandered as a tempermental, white-hating Latina by GOP leaders Jeff “my nomination to become a Federal judge was rejected because I’m a racist” Sessions and Pat “Spanish is a ghetto language” Buchanan.

- Upon the election of a black president, the GOP unleases an avalanche of racist e-mails and pictures, including a picture of a White House Lawn covered with watermelon, a “welfare dollar” featuring the likeness of our president, and a gallery of presidents in which our currrent president is protrayed as white eyes over an all black background.

-Michael Steele claims that he will woo black voters back to the GOP with hip-hop parties and “fried chicken and potato salad”.

Could minorities vote Republican? Sure.

Will minorities vote Republican? No ****ing way.

Jul 16, 2009 - 7:56 am 22. mhr:

Why are Jews rarely mentioned as a “minority” that Republicans should try to capture? Jews are above the norm in income and education and should be smart enough to hear and understand the Republican “ideas” that are supposed to appeal to blacks and Latinos. They hear them all right- they simply don’t like those ideas. 80% of Jews vote Democrat. Democrats appealed to the Irish and Italians when group/think predominated in those communities. And Democrats play that game very well. As long as voters identify themselves primarily as members of a racial or an ethnic group and not as individuals, it will be hard slogging for Republicans.

Jul 16, 2009 - 8:05 am 23. blotto:

Geez, how many times can we talk about this issue. While Cramer #18 is correct, 24.5% of blacks live in poverty, he underestimates the race hustlers in the black community, the MSM, and progressives who tell the other 75.5% that they owe their status to progressive white pols. And after 50 years of indoctrination, the progressives have made all blacks a reliable commodity. We will never make inroads into this community.

And I agree with Steve #1 that we need to get more of the disaffected white vote.

And since the progressive party is now rapidly becoming a minority majority party, we should be able to siphon off a considerable amount. All we have to do is ask white America, what do the Dems do for you-the white American? Recall last night in the NYT what Dowd said about white males. Look, nobody wants to say this but our nation is become more and more balkanized along racial lines. It will end up white versus black, hispanic and progressive whites like Jews and leftist religious zealouts.

I think black American have become a dependent class. They want anything they can get for free because they consider it reparations for past sins. And the Dems are willing to give them almost everything they need. WE WILL NEVER COMPETE AGAINST THIS FORM OF INDENTURED SLAVERY.

C#7: “I contend that the conservative movement has become a synonym with anti minority.” No! It has been the progressive MSM that has labeled us with this albatross.

Jul 16, 2009 - 8:17 am 24. Saltherring:

Outstanding article and comments, with several posters offering a challenge to Republicans to quit with the “squishy” message to urban minorities and offer such people the opportunity to vote for candidates that offer real “hope and change”; that is, a chance to escape the chains of Democrat-sponsored government dependency.

By contrast, one of the most troubling agendas of the Obama administration is that Obama/congress seem determined to undo the welfare reforms of the 1994 Newt Gingrich revolution. Instead of a safety net, welfare is once again becoming a lifestyle option, replete with cradle-to-grave, taxpayer-sponsored healthcare. “Free” abortions, AIDS treatment, pain/mood changing drugs and needle exchanges. Illegal aliens welcome! Talk about accountability…..

Jul 16, 2009 - 8:19 am 25. Richard:

Republicans have been losing the minority voter because they can’t articulate how freedom and liberty translate to greater opportunity for someone on the bottom end of the economic scale. Freedom and liberty have done more to get people rich and out of poverty than any government program has ever been able to do.

Republicans can’t talk about this stuff because they have no freakin’ clue what it means. Instead they are trapped in the same “democrat lite” version of government vision. People can sense this, and its why their message rings hollow. The last person that was able to get even close to articulating this was Ronald Reagan, which is why he managed to get a lot of swing democrat/independent voters on his side.

Its so amazingly simple, its pathetic that republicans can’t figure it out. Freedom and liberty trump government programs every damned time. So why do republicans keep talking about how they’re going to get government on my side? Its a lie! Government will never be on my side, it will always be on its side. Give up trying to be democrat lite and start talking about freedom and opportunity for a change! Of course, that would mean that the existing congress critters would have to do a complete 180 on the policies they’ve been voting for over the past several decades.

Republicans will continue to lose as long as they pursue democrat lite as their agenda. New blood is needed and old dogs like Newt Gengrich need to be thrown under the bus as soon as possible. Its time for change in the republican party and more of the same isn’t change.

Jul 16, 2009 - 8:20 am 26. antaine:

“a constant education effort”

This is the key. Many groups used to lean Republican (some heavily), and were enticed in three or four generations to flock to the other side in droves (if it happened once, it can happen again).

Yes, “free stuff” is alluring to many, but I think there are parents who look at their children having to grow up and live in ever-worsening neighborhoods that would disagree, if they believed there to be a better way. They know the current programs allow them to barely tread water with the tide a-coming in…

They left suckered them in by pounding on the institutional racism and inequality that was practically everywhere and from which minorities had little or no practical legal recourse. Ideas of “fairness” and “equality of result” were proposed as answers-that-looked-good-on-paper and whipped up the young into a crusade mentality. Those young people are today’s parents.

But it hasn’t had any real positive effect. In fact, I would argue that while systemic and institutional racism has declined sharply, the economic positions of those communities have failed to improve (and, it might be argued, declined sharply as well).

So we may have a two-to-four generation job ahead of us, but it starts with the education. The GOP, if it wants to survive, needs community centers and programs in every one of those cities. Advocacy groups fighting for more business-friendly regulations and taxes, perhaps helping people who are trying to start businesses in the area with the legal and paperwork necessary to get started.

And over time the values will change.

In the first comment, Steve states, “Everything that you mention has been tried with black voters.”

I do not remember a time when conservatives went into the inner cities on a focused re-education campaign for three generations.

That’s how the left got them in the first place, and it’s silly to think that anything other than that will get them back…

Jul 16, 2009 - 8:20 am 27. Bill Perron:

Hey I got an idea, lets get back to the Constitution, live below our income, stand for something, rather than falling for the latest popularity fad. If you lead intelligently and courageously they will follow.

Jul 16, 2009 - 8:37 am 28. c:

Rocketeer, I did not accuse conservatives of racism. I am however pointing out that two fairly intelligent individuals have been labeled intellectual light weights with no real explanation for the label. It has been my observation that if a liberal minded minority (particularly black or Hispanic) person rises to a position of influence, that person’s qualifications and intelligence are called into question. You might have a case for Michelle Obama given the typos in her thesis, but what about Obama or Sotomayor has earned them the labels of intellectual light weights?

To 22: Just a thought, the Irish and Italian communities were able to do something Black and Hispanic communities were not, learn the language and assimilate into the dominate culture. By virtue of color of skin, and the prejudices that came with it, even blacks who were willing to assimilate could not because they looked different. Here we are in 2010 and we would like to move on but 400 years cannot be reversed in 60 or 70 years so easily.
Racial politics suck because they keep us divided. Republicans and Democrats have been equally guilty of playing them. How is it that racist Southerners came to be predominately Republican? Republican appealed to them through less than honorable means just as Democrats appeal to minority groups.

Jul 16, 2009 - 8:52 am 29. blotto:

Richard: Bravo! Salthering: On point!

Antaine: With all due respect, you are dreaming. The black race hustlers especially the NAACP own the inner cities and would never allow a conservative “community center.” I also disagree that the left went into the inner cities; I believe they used their bought and paid for acolytes like Sharpton, Jackson and the NCCAP to indoctrinate the inner city blacks. Your heart is in the right place but when you are going up against evil, heart will not win.

DaveW: cite your references, m####

Jul 16, 2009 - 9:01 am 30. blahblahblah:

Hey!! I’m Italian and nobody gives me free meatballs!!!

There is so much “give away” in our country. It will destroy us.

Jul 16, 2009 - 9:19 am 31. Strawman:

The biggest single thing that might cause black Americans to rethink their political paradigm may be when 0bama crashes and burns. But I doubt it. It’s no longer political. It’s tribal.

Jul 16, 2009 - 9:34 am 32. Craig:

2. Ed Wallis:

A Vulcan mindmeld. Agree in toto.

Jul 16, 2009 - 9:47 am 33. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Underlying virtually every comment in this thread is the assumption that blacks are lazy, welfare-collecting idiots, and if one happens to succeed in life it is only because of affirmative action.

Maybe y’all should look in the mirror when you wonder why blacks don’t vote Republican.

Jul 16, 2009 - 10:15 am 34. Mike W.:

The general consensus of the wingnuts seems to be “If blacks/hispanics/Jews weren’t so goddamn stupid, they’d vote Republican.”

Clearly, the most effective way to win any group over to your side is to continually patronize and demean them by baselessly attributing their successes to affirmative action.

Everytime someone like Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Eric Cantor, John Boehner or Phil Graham open their mouths, I am instantly reminded that racist right-wing hypocrisy knows no bounds. Right wing America has no qualms with complete morons continuing to get jobs for which they are clearly not qualified, so long as they are white morons.

Jul 16, 2009 - 11:06 am 35. College Know-It-All Hippy:

Blah blah blah WINGNUT blah blah blah WINGNUT blah blah blah WINGNUT blah blah blah WINGNUT blah blah blah WINGNUT.

Quitter!!!11

Don’t Bogart,

CKIAH

Jul 16, 2009 - 11:18 am 36. AThinkingPerson:

Mike W: “so long as they are white morons.”

Well, well, well, our little liberal poster finally shows his racist side. Didn’t take very long actually.

Now the only problem the GOP has is getting the truth out to the minorities that actually believe otherwise.

Jul 16, 2009 - 11:27 am 37. AThinkingPerson:

Blarty: Please provide proof of your usual mind-numbing bias that we all think that “that blacks are lazy, welfare-collecting idiots, and if one happens to succeed in life it is only because of affirmative action.”

You can’t because you didn’t read any of that in ANY comments. It’s so typical of uninformed liberals to make blanket statements without any factual data. I guess that’s why they have Obama’s campaign website bookmarked for their daily spoonfeeding of propaganda.

You’re one of the sadder liberal moonbats I’ve seen posting here if that’s possible.

Any more blanket statements you’d like to “proclaim”?

Jul 16, 2009 - 11:30 am 38. Annie:

I don’t believe I’ve ever heard Sarah Palin make racist remarks..

You don’t have to white to be a moron…look at Obama. I truly do not believe he has our best interest at heart.

When people vote color or religion they do us all a disservice.

I feel Sotomayor is a racist, she’s not white. I have not read her decisions, but the ones that we as the general public have heard of, are clearly racist. The firefighter she discriminated against is about to speak at her hearing. I will have to listen and decide. But, at this point, she’s a racist.

From what I read, there are a lot of you that spend your entire day on these posts. There is a great big world out there that you could be helping; instead of hiding behind a fake name and remarks. If you have such a rage, go out and find a way to change things to how you want them..or at least help.

Jul 16, 2009 - 11:31 am 39. Blarty Blarckleblart:

37 ATP:

A substantial amount of blacks vote Democrat because they perceive it to be an anti-white vote.

The Democratic Party has an advantage with minorities because of affirmative action. Blacks, women, and other “members of the dispossessed” often don’t have to earn what they get in life. It is obvious, for instance, that both Barack Obama and Sonia Sotmayor are intellectual second raters. Such folks benefited greatly from the lowering of academic standards and job requirements advocated by Democrats.

“You get $300 dollars a week for being unemployed, nearly free housing, nearly free food and, now, nearly free health care.”

I can see how minorities would be easily misled into signing up for a govt. hand out from their best friends, the democrats…

That’s just from the first few comments.

I repeat: Underlying virtually every comment in this thread is the assumption that blacks are lazy, welfare-collecting idiots, and if one happens to succeed in life it is only because of affirmative action.

Now that you see how it’s done, try it on the rest of the comments. It’s fun!

Jul 16, 2009 - 11:45 am 40. avoidswork:

But wait! I thought that the poor, aggrieved white man was a minority. Right? That is what I am learning regarding the Sotomayor confirmation hearings and commentary. Am I mistaken?

In other words, See #21 to start buying a clue as to why there will be an uphill battle to win the minority vote.

Jul 16, 2009 - 11:47 am 41. Moho:

Minorities could vote Republican, of course. They used to in fact–there was a spirited and very public fight for the black vote during the Kennedy vs. Nixon campaign and for a long while, no one knew which way Black voters would go. But know your history. It was Nixon and Buchanan who decided on the Southern Strategy, which bound Republicans to the task of picking up disaffected white voters in the south [and some other regions] who felt a backlash against their loss of primacy viz Civil Rights Acts.

Republicans are now in a bind–the only support they have left is in the racist block that they themselves cultivated. And their strategy was based on dividing the electorate, and picking up the white racists…you can’t have it both ways. Either you’re a party that values diversity, or you’re a party that mocks diversity as some kind of affectation. You can’t be both. The Republican party’s growing pains as it seeks a way out of the cul de sac it created for itself–and which was quite efficient until just recently–are obvious and visible to anyone turning on the news, and especially during the current confirmation hearings.

Jul 16, 2009 - 11:50 am 42. Strawman:

It was Nixon and Buchanan who decided on the Southern Strategy, which bound Republicans to the task of picking up disaffected white voters in the south [and some other regions] who felt a backlash against their loss of primacy viz Civil Rights Acts.

Really. Nixon made the donkeys do it. Right.

Jul 16, 2009 - 12:18 pm 43. Mike W.:

“The Republican party’s growing pains as it seeks a way out of the cul de sac it created for itself–and which was quite efficient until just recently–are obvious and visible to anyone turning on the news, and especially during the current confirmation hearings.”

I think by “growing pains”, you mean “death throes”.

Jul 16, 2009 - 12:21 pm 44. Strawman:

Then we have this: http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2009/07/boxer-but-youre-black.html

I’m not black, but I still wanted to throw something at that obnoxious white elitist. If anyone’s going to drive Blacks to the Republican party, it’s going to be these clueless white liberals with their pet black organizations, and their attitude that they have more authority speak for Blacks than real Blacks, because their pet black organizations have authorized them to.

Really, seldom have I had the urge to throw something at my computer like I did when I saw that.

Jul 16, 2009 - 1:48 pm 45. Edward A:

Reading many of these comments foretells the future of the Republican Party. In spite of many brilliant conservatives, the GOP is drifting towards its’ regional/racist southern strategy.

The Republican Party has become identified as the ‘No’ party and one that rejects most of America’s minorities. Today, it is viewed most frequently as being outmoded.

Jul 16, 2009 - 2:01 pm 46. Delia:

Until minorities stop insisting on having ’special treatment’ simply because of their ethinicity, then ‘racism’ will continue to flourish as planned by the Leftist DemoKKKrats.

Jul 16, 2009 - 2:53 pm 47. TOhio:

I am an African-American who was a Democrat for 20 years. I became a Republican almost 8 years ago because of exactly what you have said in this article – CONSERVATIVE IDEAS!

My eyes opened to the Democratic Party after 9/11. Because of this horrific event, I wanted to know why it happened. This led me on a reading frenzy that opened my eyes to the Democratic Party’s failure on national defense. Then when the Massachusetts gay marriage thing started brewing and I found out that the Democrats were pro-gay marriage, I became a Republican. I suddenly could see how far left the Democratic Party had gone and realized that I had been supporting a party simply because I was raised as a Democrat.

I am a Conservative. I believe in strong national defense, traditional marriage and fiscal conservatism. I don’t like big government and I believe that Democratic liberals have actually hurt and not helped Black Americans.

Interestingly, other African-American Republicans that I have befriended share the same values. Here are some of the things that I notice that we have in common: Educated (usually a master’s degree or above), Married with Children, and Socially Conservative. In fact, all of the Black Republicans that I know consider themselves Christians and live it.

Thus, I don’t believe that the Republican Party needs to get into racial politics like the Democrats. Conservatism is the key! (Let’s remember that it was the African-American vote that helped defeat the pro gay marriage ballot proposal in California.)

A few months ago, I became aware of The National Black Republican organization and its leader Frances Rice. She impressed me because she exposes the lies of the Democratic Party and is the first Black person I ever heard talk about Martin Luther King, Jr. being a Republican. I think that if the Republican Party wants to get more insight into how to tap into African-American community, that she would be an excellent spokesperson and resource. She has opened my eyes to many of the lies that I grew up with. Here’s a link to the National Black Republican site: http://www.nbra.info/

I believe that there are more Black Republicans than people realize and that there are more African-Americans than you think who love this country and are disgusted about the Socialism that President Obama is quickly trying to move us towards.

Focus on the message. It resounds not matter what color a person is.

Jul 16, 2009 - 3:46 pm 48. Delia:

47. TOhio,

AMEN, TOhio! You are freakin’ AWESOME.

BTW, have you ever been to the black sphere? A Black Male Conservative who I identify with a LOT even though I’m white. He’s amazing. Check him out if you haven’t already:

http://theblacksphere.net/site/

Your post was so inspirational. I seriously got a little weepy. *wipes a sniffle*

I think the higher UP Democrats would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE for ETHNIC relations to remain UGLY and divisive because they want minorities to remain perpetual victims. Sickening and DEMEANING.

Jul 16, 2009 - 4:29 pm 49. Stevemmn:

Republicans will not have any more success attracting poor inner city blacks than they have attracting poor whites for the same reason brought up above. Democrats have bought off the poor with free handouts to keep them in a permanent cycle of poverty.

But guess what, not all blacks are poor. It has now been almost 40 years since the worst overt discrimination ended in this country. Second generation middle class blacks are now reaching adulthood and having families, blacks who have never known poverty or overt discrimination first hand. They will inevitably have the same concerns as middle class whites regarding high taxes, crime, wasteful government, and dangerously weak foreign policy. They are the voters Republicans should be courting.

With the most corrupt, incompetent government in at least two generations now in power Republicans have an historic opportunity start siphoning middle class minority voters away from Democrats. Start with the middle class and then expand, if Republicans can attract just 30 percent of the black vote they will have a lock on power.

Jul 16, 2009 - 5:48 pm 50. Bilgeman:

#33 Barty:
“Underlying virtually every comment in this thread is the assumption that blacks are lazy, welfare-collecting idiots, and if one happens to succeed in life it is only because of affirmative action.”

That’s a valid observation, may I point out that is, however, exactly how Black Americans have been portrayed for far too long by the entertainment end of the MSM?
At least, when they’re not being broadcast in celebrating criminality and irresponsible child-making.

And the Entertainment industry is certainly stocked to the brim with folks of a Conservative bent, right?

So is it any surprise to you that the results of decades-long conditioning are apparent here?

I’m more worried about the results of this decades-long conditioning showing up among gang-bangers and baby-mommas.

They DON’T have to live like that, and they SHOULDN’T. This is Convict Prison “culture” broadcast to poison their minds and pervert their values so that they throw away their birthright…of Freedom…without even thinking about it.

Make no mistake, it is precisely because of this poisonous campaign and its’ proponents that Conservative Black citizens hold their tongues.

They’re not in fear of the Klu Klux Klan nowadays, but rather more the Crips and the Bloods, and their glorifiers in New York and Los Angeles media centers if they stand up and speak against the lies.

Young Black men have been killed by OTHER young Black men in numbers that would have shamed the Klan.
This is somehow the fault of Conservatives?
Only if you have deluded yourself into believing that the industry that has excused generational welfare and promoted the attitudes prevalent in prison culture is a hotbed of Conservatism.

How many more bodies must be buried before people start realizing that they’ve been used and abused by the party that claims to take up their cause?

Jul 16, 2009 - 5:48 pm 51. Delia:

49. Stevemmn,

Excellent post!

The thing that always snookered and bamboozled me was why people who believe in GOD would even vote ‘Dem’ when Libs are so blatantly ANTI-GOD? -And, Black/Hispanics for the most part, largely believe in God?!

Also, it should be noted that many ‘Lib-Soros-Trolls’ who post her make fun of people who are ‘Christians’ and yet a good percentage of the Liberal constituency are indeed those evil ‘Christians’ they love to bash.

WTF?????

I would love to see more ethnic diversity in the CONSERVATIVE movement.

Here’s a good laugh:

My white neighbors are liberals! My black and hispanic neighbors are conservatives! Go figure?

Jul 16, 2009 - 6:40 pm 52. AThinkingPerson:

Re Blarty:

“A substantial amount of blacks vote Democrat because they perceive it to be an anti-white vote. ”

How does that statement define blacks as “lazy, welfare-collecting idiots, and if one happens to succeed in life it is only because of affirmative action.”?

It DOESN’T.

“The Democratic Party has an advantage with minorities because of affirmative action. Blacks, women, and other “members of the dispossessed” often don’t have to earn what they get in life.”

How does that statement DEFINE blacks as “lazy, welfare-collecting idiots, and if one happens to succeed in life it is only because of affirmative action.”?

It DOESN’T. It clearly states that the democratic party has affirmative action on it’s side in the eyes of the “dispossessed” who often don’t have to work. “Idiots”? Didn’t read that in there anywhere. No labeling of blacks as lazy either. Funny how a liberal would read that into it.

““You get $300 dollars a week for being unemployed, nearly free housing, nearly free food and, now, nearly free health care.”

How does that statement define blacks as “lazy, welfare-collecting idiots, and if one happens to succeed in life it is only because of affirmative action.”?

It DOESN’T. Why does a factual statement on WELFARE irk you so? You ARE on the nanny-state side remember? I’d think that you’d be joyous reading how people were becoming slaves to the government. More handouts equal less incentive to succeed wouldn’t you agree? Well, if you were sane that is?

What you conveniently overlook Blarty is your own bias here. For some inane reason, liberals cannot see that minorities are more than their SKIN COLOR. They are PEOPLE. Did it ever occur to you Blarty that all people of color should be treated as people and not commodities?

You’re right about one thing though, pointing out how your comment was wrong was FUN!

Jul 16, 2009 - 7:12 pm 53. Bill Perron:

Notice to: C: Historical fact, the Ku Klux Klan was founded by the Demoncrats.
Notice to Mike W: The unions and their liberal lackeys the Demoncrats have been draining this country, for proof just look California and General Motors. Thanks for revealing who the real racist is with your “white morons” comment. And Mike W. your comment about the Republican “death throes” is really only wishful thinking, the reality will bite you in the ass.
Notice to Edward A: “Outmoded” just more wishful thinking, the reality is the bankruptcy the Obama socialist regime is bringing will soon destroy socialism while the Demoncrats struggle mightily to avoid the humiliation their narrow and selfish agenda brings. Fact is this nation is conservative not liberal. Obama won only because racists blacks and “white guilt” caucasions that normally don’t vote did. Many conservatives could not get behind McCain, THE FOREGOING ARE THE REALITY FACTS FOLKS !!!!

Jul 16, 2009 - 7:19 pm 54. Marc Malone:

I’m a Conservative, but I agree with most of the Libs’ criticisms on this thread. Listen to me, all of you!

As long as YOU keep seeing “them” as an identity group, WE will always lose “them”. The responses are chock full of denigrating comments that lump “them” into prejudged categories. For those of you who can’t get it, that IS prejudice. There is no “them”, if we don’t acknowledge a “them”.

We need to clearly offer the same message to everyone as individuals. We don’t go after racial groups. We go after individuals, one by one. Isn’t this what Jesus taught? Spread the good word. It’s the same for everyone. WE must ignore the identity groups all together. If we don’t, the Dems will always win, because we are allowing them to shape the dialogue.

Many of you on this thread should hang your heads in shame for the attitudes displayed. I have been guilty of this in the past, too. For this, I offer a profound mea culpa. No more shall I do this.

Jul 16, 2009 - 9:26 pm 55. chicago:

The GOP does not need to nominate minority candidates by default. The GOP does not need to become moderate or centrist-liberals in order to get the minority vote.

The GOP simply needs to ensure that they make people (not just minorities) understand that conservatism is better for everyone. Ronald Reagan did this but since then, there has been no GOP candidate that effectively communicated conservatism to the massess effectively.

All the polls we’ve seen since 2008 shows that majority in the country are still conservative in their beliefs. the country had always been conservative leaning yet why is it that the GOP could never get majority of the minority votes? it’s simply because of the fact that the GOP had never had an effective communication strategy to explain what it means to be a conservative and that the GOP is the party that brings conservatism into the fore (except that we’ve seen a lot of RINO’s gain control of the party in the last few years).

the democrats are very good in acting sympathetic to people even if we all know that they don’t have people’s prosperity in mind. the GOP need to learn from that and start talking about why and how they are conservative and how it would lift the country from its problems.

the dems always had pitted the poor and minorities against the GOP since the dems have managed to trick the people in thinking that democrats are the champions of the poor and the minorities. case in point, the democrats have effectively hijacked the history of the civil rights movement claiming that their party brought on the changes resulting from the civil rights movement, and people bought it. how effective has the GOP been in clarifying the fact that it was Republicans who fought against the Jim Crowe laws and it was the dems that brought those laws about. now, even when you say the Martin Luther King Jr. was a rebpublican, minorities simply don’t accept it.

the GOP doesn’t need a makeover. the GOP needs a good PR firm.

Jul 16, 2009 - 9:51 pm 56. chicago:

it also wouldn’t hurt for the GOP to start getting conservatives into school boards. the liberal and their minions have gained a strong foothold into the US education system that they’ve managed to effectively brainwash every kid that comes out of public education. that’s a fact.

it’s time to get the country back from the liberal monstrosity. start by taking back the education system.

Jul 16, 2009 - 9:57 pm 57. Bilgeman:

#54 Marc Malone:
“As long as YOU keep seeing “them” as an identity group, WE will always lose “them”. The responses are chock full of denigrating comments that lump “them” into prejudged categories. For those of you who can’t get it, that IS prejudice. There is no “them”, if we don’t acknowledge a “them”.”

I see your point, but the charge of prejudice should also be leveled at the group that has defined ITSELF as a racial or ethnic identity group, should it not?

Jul 17, 2009 - 6:45 am 58. c:

Perron,

I am well aware of the Dixiecrat Dems of times past. My point is that a KKK member today is far more likely to be a Republican than a Democrat. The Southern racist white person no longer claims the democratic party because the Dem strategy changed to attrack the minority vote. Republican stratgey changed to attract the disaffected white vote which in the South is often but not always racist as well.

My point is that both sides have engaged in race mongering of some sort to get ahead. Politics is about maintaining power and the Republican politician is just as guilty of less than honorable behavior as the Democratic politician.

Jul 17, 2009 - 7:08 am 59. TOhio:

51. Delia
Thank you! I like your friend’s site, too. I’m adding it to my favorites and will let other Black Republican friends know about it, too.

Jul 17, 2009 - 7:44 am 60. Strawman:

Marc and Bilgeman (54 & 57), I think most of the criticisms coming from the left are over-the-top, wrong, and/or disingenuous, but there is a lot of truth to the broader point that a lot of people just open their mouths without thinking, and the even broader point that this whole subject is a lot more complicated and subtle that many think it is. If we can at least get more people to understand that simple fact, we’ve made significant progress.

It’s easy to do the James Baker thing, and draw the logical inference “f*** the Jews, they don’t vote for us, anyway”. Baker’s logic is impeccable, as far as it goes. But it’s wrong and offensive on it’s face. Similarly, we have to resist the temptation to hold the fact that the preponderance of black Americans are yellowdog Democrats as evidence that they, as a group, are 1) the enemy, or 2) morally or intellectually deficient. These are gut reactions, not thoughts.

Whether or not Republicans, conservatives, and even libertarians deserve it or not, this is the inherited reality. Deal with it, or fall in the trap. I say buck up and deal with it.

Jul 17, 2009 - 9:26 am 61. Blarty Blarckleblart:

52 ATP

The first quote (”perceive to be anti-white”) assumes that blacks are such idiots they will use their vote just to be “anti-white.”

The second quote, after referencing affirmative action, declares that “Blacks, women, and other ‘members of the dispossessed’ often don’t have to earn what they get in life.” That statement isn’t true, and says “blacks and women are lazy” about as clearly as it can be said.

The “$300 a week” comment asserted – and none too subtly – that blacks would naturally rather collect welfare than work for a living. So yes, it assumes that blacks are, by their very nature, lazy, shiftless, welfare-collectors.

There were other comments that similarly relied on an assumption that black people are inherently inferior human beings. What is most striking is that, with few exceptions, nobody here even recognizes those underlying assumptions, or if they do, they are unconcerned about them.

I suggest you heed the words of your fellow conservative, Marc Malone, at #54. He speaks the truth.

Jul 17, 2009 - 10:18 am 62. Clayton E. Cramer:

“That’s a valid observation, may I point out that is, however, exactly how Black Americans have been portrayed for far too long by the entertainment end of the MSM?
At least, when they’re not being broadcast in celebrating criminality and irresponsible child-making.”

One of my wife’s fellow students in college was a young black woman from South Central Los Angeles. And she was frustrated how the media portrayed black people. She grew up with both parents. They owned their own home. They were employed. Yet the left has spent an enormous amount of energy focusing on (and often celebrating) what is a pretty tiny fraction of black America: hoodlums, welfare recipients, and victims. This is important to the left, because it builds white guilt, so that the left can continue to loot the middle class for the benefit of the wealthy.

Jul 17, 2009 - 10:33 am 63. Clayton E. Cramer:

“My point is that a KKK member today is far more likely to be a Republican than a Democrat.”

Probably true, just like the statement that a person who believes that all churches should be burned to the ground is far more likely to be a Democrat than a Republican. True, but a vanishingly tiny fraction of the population.

I actually met something quite remarkable last week: a person who openly espoused the idea that black people are lazy. It has been a couple of decades since I met someone prepared to make that claim–and I’ve met very few people that have even come close to such an assertion.

Racism (at least traditional, “blacks are lazy/stupid/inherently criminal” racism) has been almost non-existent in the U.S. for a very long time. But Democrats are still playing the race card–although increasingly to guilt-ridden whites.

Jul 17, 2009 - 10:51 am 64. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Racism (at least traditional, “blacks are lazy/stupid/inherently criminal” racism) has been almost non-existent in the U.S. for a very long time.

Come on down here to Mississippi, Clay. (It’s right here in the U.S., just left of the lower-right-hand corner.) Got some people you should meet.

Jul 17, 2009 - 11:25 am 65. Strawman:

My point is that a KKK member today is far more likely to be a Republican than a Democrat.

Let the record show that while the leadership of the national party couldn’t excommunicate David Duke from the state organization, the POTUS did disavow him.

I’m still waiting for the donkeys to disavow the Grand Kleagle and Exalted Cyclops from W. Va. Anyone?

Jul 17, 2009 - 1:04 pm 66. Clayton E. Cramer:

“Come on down here to Mississippi, Clay. (It’s right here in the U.S., just left of the lower-right-hand corner.) Got some people you should meet.”

Really! How do you know what opinions they hold? I suspect that for every person as forthright in his bigotry as the guy that i mentioned (in his 70s) there are probably 10 or 20 others who have the good sense to keep their opinions to themselves. But I find it very hard to believe that even in the Deep South that there are a lot of people who are so gauche as to express such an opinion, even if they hold it.

Of course, I live in that hotbed of liberal multiculturalism, Idaho.

Jul 17, 2009 - 1:05 pm 67. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Really! How do you know what opinions they hold?

They say them, and the sound waves travel to my ears.

Jul 17, 2009 - 1:32 pm 68. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Of course, I live in that hotbed of liberal multiculturalism, Idaho.

Last week our white housekeeper told me that she wants to move to Idaho “because there’s no blacks there.”

True story.

Jul 17, 2009 - 1:49 pm 69. Bill Perron:

68 Blarty: Is it possible that your white housekeeper has just had some very difficult experiences with black people, and is it possible that she herself is not to well educated or very worldly, and that the poor lady just assumes that by going to Idaho she will be better off because she will minimize the chance of having a similar negative experience, even though the possibility of a negative experience of a different kind brought on by her ignorance and lack of good communication skills is a very real possibility?

Jul 17, 2009 - 2:15 pm 70. Clayton E. Cramer:

“Last week our white housekeeper told me that she wants to move to Idaho “because there’s no blacks there.”

True story.”

She’s mistaken. There are black people here. Not as many as Missisippi, but my first traffic ticket here was written by a black Boise police officer. At my last job, I worked with a number of black people. Even out here in the sticks, my neighbor on the parcel just north of us was black.

Of course, once she arrives, she’ll discover that there are poor white people filling the same ecological niche that poor blacks do in other parts of the country, and with somewhat similar degraded cultural values and behaviors.

“our white housekeeper”: doing your best to keep up the liberal limousine image, I see.

Jul 17, 2009 - 2:49 pm 71. Strawman:

The troll has a white housekeeper? Need I say more?

Jul 17, 2009 - 4:08 pm 72. Delia:

59. TOhio

Aww. ((HUG))

TOhio, I hope you post here more often. We need more conservative perspectives from all ethnic backgrounds [no offense meant to white conservatives].

There was also an awesome young, black woman who had a conservative blog here and I hope she posts here again too. I thought I saved her link but I can’t find it.

Jul 17, 2009 - 7:07 pm 73. Tri Geek:

All of my teammates when I ran track back in the 70’s were black. They all had solid families, and were highly educated. Today they all hold conservative values. I loved those guys. That was the majority of the black community back then. At what point did the Liberal propoganda take over? Some of the most prejudice I have ever experienced was in the liberal strong holds of Boston and New York. These are the same liberal elites that always paint the average southerner as a toothless bigot.

Jul 17, 2009 - 7:58 pm 74. Stevemmn:

Delia:

Thanks, religion is another way Republicans can attract more blacks. Democrats have become openly hostile to religion, and many blacks tend to be socially conservative. I also think Republicans should embrace Martin Luther King’s vision and make it central to their platform. Democrats have abandoned the principles of Martin Luther King, they now want to judge everyone fundamentally by color of skin which is the exact opposite of what Dr. King intended.

Jul 17, 2009 - 9:23 pm 75. Pat J:

I chuckle at the Michael Steele approach. Bring out the fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Yeah that will bring the black people out to vote Republican. Why not use tacos and burritos to bring out the Hispanics? Yeah that will work.

Jul 17, 2009 - 9:28 pm 76. Blarty Blarckleblart:

Bill and Clayton: the point of the story about my housekeeper is that overt racism is alive and well in the U.S. It isn’t about what her motivations are, or whether there are really white people in Idaho.

As for “limousine liberal” – work hard and someday you too may be able to afford a housekeeper.

Jul 18, 2009 - 8:42 am 77. TOhio:

In addition to appealing to the religious and social conservatism that exists in the Black community, I think that there is another very important policy point that Republicans need to emphasize – school vouchers.

There are African-Americans in inner-city areas who want a better education for their children. These people know that this is the real ticket to a better life out of the ghetto. But they are trapped in bad schools. Why? Because the Democrats are in cahoots with the public school teacher’s unions.

Ghetto schools are failures. There are parents who want out but can’t afford to move to a better school district. Some struggle to send their kids to local Catholic schools and some (very few) are able to get scholarships for their kids to attend better local private schools. The rest are trapped in a failing system that will help keep them in poverty.

This whole thing is an outrage and provides an enormous opening for Republicans. School vouchers even the playing field and enables parents who want to send their children to better schools, to do so. The people who would most likely use these vouchers are the very ones who desire to work themselves out of poverty.

Education is the best ticket out of the ghetto and the Republican Party is all about people “learning how to fish for themselves instead of being given fish everyday.”

Why isn’t the Republican Party fielding candidates in the inner city who are passionate about school vouchers? Why isn’t this something that the party is advocating on a national level?

I bet you that if someone did a study of all of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, they would find that these people send their kids to private schools or live in upscale neighborhoods with excellent schools. None of them have kids going to school in the very ghettos that they are advocating for other African-Americans. (We already know that President Obama and his wife have always sent their kids to private school.)

School vouchers point out the hypocrisy of African-American leaders and is an excellent way to show the “fish for yourself” philosophy of conservatism. I believe that this would definitely get more African-Americans to vote Republican.

Jul 18, 2009 - 9:42 am 78. Bilgeman:

#60 Strawman;
“It’s easy to do the James Baker thing, and draw the logical inference “f*** the Jews, they don’t vote for us, anyway”. Baker’s logic is impeccable, as far as it goes. But it’s wrong and offensive on it’s face.”

As well as walking smack-dab into the trap that racism is.

If you refer to “Black Americans” you are being racist…even if you ARE a Black American yourself.
It’s a bad habit to have, and like most bad habits, tough to break Free from.

The Conservative movement should completely eschew talking about race or ethnicity in any form whatsoever, and limit itself zealously to hitting on the values that most folks in this country share, (or should be sharing).

When challenged by an opponent and the dispute is couched using the language of race, it should be identified as the racism that it is.

I think there’s ore in this vein, since I suspect that there’s a whole lot of Americans who will have been more than fatigued by “Race” and “Ethinic” thought and talk.

Jul 18, 2009 - 3:52 pm 79. Dero:

It all comes down to acceptance/rejection of identity politics. The problem is that conservatives try to have it both ways. It’s sort of funny because part of being conservative is a respect for cultural norms and traditions yet conservatives can’t even bring themselves to admit that the nature of being American is that we don’t all have the same shared cultural experience. And the more conservatives push this sort of “real american” culture as something that identifies all of us, the more people that don’t share that cultural experience think you have nothing to say to the rest of us. It’s like conservatives play their own version of identity politics by positing some white protestant rural cultural experience as somehow the neutral experience. This narrative leaves a lot of people out yet anyone that says “wait a minute, what about blacks, latinos, people that live in cities, non-christians etc.” is accused of engaging in divisive identity politics. Like I said, sorta funny.

Having people that can talk about racial politics with some sort of self-awareness of their own “otherness” (wish i had a better word for that) would be great. That would go a long way towards gaining credibility. Someone that can speak on minority issues without reverting to some dumbass “well, we’re all Americans so I’m going to pretend your issue doesn’t exist” sort of talk.

Jul 18, 2009 - 7:54 pm 80. Dero:

Forgot to finish my thought. My first solution was for if the GOP went the route of actually accepting identity politics. (as i said, right now they try to have things both ways)

If they go the route of ignoring them, then they have to GO THE COMPLETE ROUTE. Stop showing favoritism towards what you personally *think* are American values. I’m an atheist, i really don’t give a damn what your bible says about gays. I’m Black, i don’t want to hear you calling some lily white town “real america.” If I were Hispanic I don’t want to hear “english only” platforms being tied to your support for stronger border patrol. etc. etc. Anything that implies “I’m not bigoted but I think my values/culture are better than yours” has to be thrown out the window.

I didn’t mention the latter solution in my original post because I don’t see how the latter could be compatible with conservatives at all. Conservatives are too tied to the idea of the cultural superiority of this imaginary monolithic American culture that they’ve created in their heads. Giving that up would be too hard for a group that defines itself by it’s religion/protestant work ethic, etc. etc.

Jul 18, 2009 - 8:14 pm 81. Strawman:

77 TOhio, part of the problem is when there are successes, nobody wants to notice:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/opinion/08brooks.html

Jul 18, 2009 - 8:24 pm 82. TOhio:

81. Strawman

Thank you! Excellent article. You’re right. Nobody wants to talk about this type of stuff and how it works.

Jul 19, 2009 - 11:06 am 83. 888:

Non-sense — the majority of blacks and hispanics are conservative. They just cannot get themselves to vote conservative because they think they’re selling out to the white man. They don’t understand that by clinging to the Democrats, they’re actually enslaving themselves to the perpetual lies and empty promises of the Democratic Party and the liberal elitists who enjoy the brainwashing of the masses to ensure the masses’ allegiance and all-important votes.

I’m an Asian woman, and I’m very proud to be a conservative. When I travel, at domestic and international airports, I wear a tee-shirt that proclaims “Proud Member of the Conservative Movement”. I’m not ashamed or embarrassed to state emphatically that I have conservative views. It’s too bad other minorities are. That’s why they always seem to be angry, miserable and disillusioned. The minorities who do not live the double life and are secure with their conservatism, are happier in their outlook and in their prospects for a better tomorrow because they don’t have to deny truths and they don’t allow anyone to brainwash them.

Aug 22, 2009 - 3:06 pm 84. Bryce:

How is the Republican Party gonna come into town and create strong families. There just gone ride in from whiteville on their white horses and teach them how to be good christian middle class white suburban Americans. How are private schools a good solution in communities where people cant afford their rent water bill and buy food. What does regulation got to do with anything anyway. We need more small businesses in our urban communities, particularly African American owned businesses. Its gonna take government money and education and a lot of resources to make that happen. or i suppose you could just sit back and wait for it to happen by magic.

Oct 21, 2009 - 9:23 pm

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