The Black Republican: The vicious cycle of black marginalization

I got the following in my email today, unsolicited, from someone named Andre Bright. I don't see anything previously in my email from this gentleman, and a check of the site indicates we've never gotten a comment from anyone named Andre. (I do delete a rare few comments, usually for vulgarity or racist remarks, sometimes for just being remarkably stupid - neither of which fits the style and tone of this email.)

Why are you not speaking out and challenging Mayor Giuliani, Senators Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney & John McCain to show up for the All-American Presidential Forum on September 27, 2007 at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD?

This is why many African-American voters, myself included, do not take the Republican party seriously as a political option. In the words of Tavis Smiley, "how can we take them seriously, if they don't take us seriously?"

First the GOP presidential candidates fail to commit to Hispanic voters for a debate sponsored by UniVision, and now the top four candidates pull a no show for a forum geared at speaking to issues that affect African-Americans?

How can the Republicans continue to ignore the many Black and Brown voters of this country, and expect to be taken seriously as viable options by minority voters?

My first reaction - tongue planted firmly in cheek - was: "How can we take Tavis Smiley seriously, if he seriously expects us to believe he'd ever take Republicans seriously?"

We can take this ad infinitum. Who wants to play the chicken and who wants to be the egg? To the tune of some 90% per presidential election, blacks have made known their opinion that the Republican Party doesn't care about them. Public opinion polls, boundless anecdotal evidence, and regular references in popular culture indicates most blacks (and liberals) think we're racists. And so Republican elected officials and candidates make no effort to fight the losing battle. When they dare to believe, despite the benefit of past experience, that they can try to fight the battle, and then go to a function sponsored by "black leaders", they're usually ambushed by left-leaning propaganda skillfully woven into "black-themed" issues. Worst of all, large portions of the Republican base, jaded by that past experience, sometimes look at such attempts as pandering to blackmail perpetrated by those who wish to perpetuate the cycle - which is, of course, what it is.

The email goes on to hint at a sad truism in today's society - the only people who can make efforts to resolve this are the people who don't have the power to resolve this.

This forum, by many accounts, has been regarded as the fairest and most balanced of all of the presidential debates. This was addressed by former Vice Presidential candidate Jack Kemp just a few weeks ago in an editorial he wrote for the Washington Times and on www.TownHall.com. Mr. Kemp also spoke about the wonderful opportunity this will be for the GOP to reach out and express their ideas to an audience composed primarily of people of color.

I was even more impressed to hear that Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, also spoke favorably about the forum and the opportunity for the GOP to reach minority voters.

Count me among those who will continue to beat our heads against the wall of black disenfranchisement in the our-way-or-the-highway Democratic Party. But when the only people who can afford to speak out are people not running for office, and the perceived lack of attention from people running for office is used to further the con run by the other side, it does not bode well for our future success.

I fear all we can hope for is patience, that the continuing rise of the black middle class and the gradual erosion of strict definitions of black vs. white, amid the growth of interracial marriages and integrated suburban neighborhoods and schools, marginalizes not "the black community" per se, but only those who think there ought to be one separate from whites.

Comments

that has to be the lamest response to a serious inquiry i have ever seen. why did you even bother posting the letter. LOSER

Posted by: eric | September 19, 2007 02:30 PM

http://www.watcherofweasels.com/

Posted by: Richard | September 19, 2007 03:47 PM

This blatant insulting action only furthers the stereotype that Republicans only represent non-colored people.

If they can't present and defend their ideas to all Americans, then they don't deserve to represent all Americans in the office of President.

How can I convince my friends and family to at least hear the Republican point of view if the Reps won't even try?

I'm so emabarrassed by this. "Scheduling conflict?" You think so little of me. You assume that just because I am black and am interested in the black point of view that I MUST feel I need to vote Dem. You are not helping!!!!

Posted by: mikoniko | September 20, 2007 06:10 PM

mikoniko, I don't excuse the excuses, but I'm also not going to get all agitated just because none of the leading Republicans will apparently saddle up for one of these insulting dog and pony shows. If you really want candidates to speak to the needs of ALL Americans, why are you getting upset when a candidate fails to show up for the segmented-American-debate-of-the-week? Are your concerns about national security, economics, and crime really different from mine based on the color of your skin?

Posted by: Chris | September 20, 2007 06:36 PM

Eric, he who hath ears should listen to himself speak. We've posted plenty of serious discussion over the years, and never once have you posted anything above the level of snark.

Posted by: Chris | September 20, 2007 06:38 PM

can you give me one example of serious discussion on this blog? do you wonder why you get no hits? LAME. i come here from time to time to see if there is ever any intellect, but alas, there's none to be found.

Posted by: eric | September 21, 2007 11:59 AM

Add one more snark to the list, apparently.

Maybe if you weren't illiterate, Eric, you'd be able to find the serious discussions, and read the hundred times I've said that I don't write the blog for any other reason than to get out my frustration when I have something to say. It's actually lucky for you I don't devote any time to finding fawning lackeys to spike my stats, because you probably can't count very high, either. And how seriously should we take the criticism of someone demanding serious discussion, but who is too lazy to even press the SHIFT key, except to spell out his own last name?

Posted by: Chris | September 21, 2007 12:52 PM

mikoniko, I find it more than a bit hypocritical that you state "they (Republicans) don't deserve to represent all Americans in the office of President" because they refuse to treat one group of people differently from all others. Uh, isn't that the point? To represent ALL Americans equally, regardless of skin color, or religious belief, or whatever other "difference" - real or perceived - there may be? Why is it you feel one group of people is entitled to be treated differently? Because that is what your basic gripe is here, that Republicans are not showing up and treating your group more special than all other groups.

Republicans try very hard not to see people as groups - i.e. Black, Hispanic, GLBT, etc. - and, by extension, try very hard not to treat any one group of people differently from another. And for that we are the ones dubbed racists and bigots. In your world we are supposed to "represent all Americans" yet treat the group you favor differently? Special? Better? Why isn't being treated the same good enough? Why is it that in your quest for equality you inevitably demand special treatment? Why is it that our ignoring the color of your skin makes us racists, while pandering to you because of the color of your skin makes Democrats progressive?

Posted by: Steve | September 21, 2007 02:25 PM

At some point a GOP candidate needs to point out that the Democrats tiny stipend checks and food stamps don't do the minority voter any favors. It merely keeps them "in their place." It keeps getting Democrats votes. The GOP needs to bang the drum about lowering taxes on the poor and providing them real opportunity.

Posted by: Ol' BC | September 24, 2007 10:46 AM

Chris, I appreciate what you are doing. This is my first time on this site and my comment isn't relevant to the discussion. I just wanted to let you know that you are doing a great job providing an alternate point-of-view to the brainwashing many blacks have succumbed to.
I have no problems with liberals that have conviction and believe that of which they speak. My problem lies with those who regurgitate the rhetoric of so-called "black leaders" without understanding the thought behind the idea. As a former journalist and a proponent of free speech, I am confused when black conservatives are shut down by other blacks and not allowed to express their views. Keep up the good work.

Posted by: Jonathan | September 24, 2007 11:25 PM

Thanks a lot, Jonathan. Though I must disagree with you on one point: I find your comment highly relevant.

Posted by: Chris | September 24, 2007 11:33 PM

The Black Republican

A defense of the enduring principles upon which the Republican Party was founded

The vicious cycle of black marginalization

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