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A rump group of black Republicans, the National Black Republican Association, is desecrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s name with the bogus claim that he was a Republican. Still, the Big Lie begs the question: So? Today's GOP is not the Republican Party of the King era.
In 1968, the Republican Party included liberals like Nelson Rockefeller, Jacob Javits, Margaret Chase Smith, and the first black U.S. Senator since Reconstruction, Edward Brooke. ...Forty years later, President George W. Bush is the titular head of the GOP.
Meanwhile, a "small group" of black Republicans reportedly met with John McCain and asked him to reach out to black voters. The notables included former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, former Congressman J.C. Watts and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.
Steele told McCain:
It's important, especially with an African American running on the Democratic side, that the party reawaken its relationship (with black voters), no matter how tattered and torn it has been over the years.Why indeed. The latest Gallup poll shows four percent of blacks prefer McCain over Barack Obama. There is little that McCain can do to nudge that number to the baseline 10 percent black support that Republican presidential candidates typically receive.
When you make the fatal flawed assumption, "They won't vote for us; why bother?" you get what that assumption gives you.
By the way, McCain should not confuse leading black Republicans with black Republican leaders. To be a leader, one needs followers. But like NBRA Chairman Frances Rice, Steele, Watts and Blackwell represent a constituency of one – themselves.
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By: Jarvis on 7/09/2008 4:29PM
What is it going to take for Black America to "WAKE UP". I get tired of all of this bashing of the Republicans.
Look, I am not sure if MLK Jr was a republican or not.
The point is that he was smart enough to realize that he had to work in both parties to get things done.
Civil Rights legislature would not have pass if it was not for Republican support. The same thing was true of slavery...the republicans were pushing to end slavery.
No people should vote 90% for one party and expect things to change. Look at the other side for a change.
Let look at a few issues that Republicans are for:
1. Vouchers for school choice...most blacks want alternative to the failing government control public schools. Let the money follow the student.
2. Private/personal social security...since Blacks have a shorter life span on average and benefits are and will be reduce in the future, blacks agree with this Republican idea. President Bush understood this would help the working class poor. The Democrats in congress voted against this.
3. FAIRTAX...Do away with the IRS as it is now known. Give workers their entire paycheck and a monthly rebate check up to the poverty level depending on family size, eliminating taxes for the poor. This Republican idea would force everyone to pay their fair share and create an abundance of needed jobs.
These are just a few ideas the Republicans are pushing that most blacks are not aware of but when explained they agree. However, they will still vote Democrat and say the Republican don't do anything for Black people. GO FIGURE!!!!
THINK AND LOOK AT THE ISSUES...DONT GET CAUGHT UP IN DEMOCRATS SPIN GAME
Blacks should do what all other ethinic groups do...stop giving one party all of your votes in every election. Move to the center-INDEPENDENT and think for yourself.
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By: Debbie on 7/09/2008 6:27PM
First off, Colin Powell has been rumored to be in talks about becoming McCain's running mate. If this were true, what impact would it have on Black Voters.
And Second, Jarvis, don't blame "democrats spin" on simple issues. These are all typical republican propaganda issues, such as instead of supporting and promoting public education, giving their money to private schools; or removing the IRS instead of say, balancing the budget. While I agree with eliminating taxes for the poor, I notice you didn't include increasing tax to the wealthy.
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By: Geep on 7/10/2008 9:45AM
There are a few low profile Black Republicans. You can count them on one hand. There are no Black Repubs in the U.S. House or Senate. JC Watts is probably the most prominent Black Republican and he has been out of the House for a number of years, after failing to get anywhere close to that parties ruling elite. You would think that he should have made some kind of mark but he didn't. Perhaps if he had gained some notoriety there might be more African Americans feeling as though the Republican party had a place for them. It's almost sad to see Joe Watson on TV trying to uphold traditional Republican thinking. Even though Blacks in the Democratic Party are like crabs in a barrel, they have a much greater chance for advancement than they would within the Republican Party.
Why should African Americans embrace the party where all the Southern racists, led by Strom Thurmond, found a home, and to this day hold a stranglehold on the imaginations of white people in the South? The Republicans basically stood on the side lines during the Civil Rights era, and with the exception of a few moderates were adamant states righters, which meant they were synonymous to continuing segregation.
All of the social and political gains that African Americans have made were the result of activists within the Democratic party. That is why all of the black representatives in Congress are Black and the likely next President will be Black. The Republicans simply do not get it. Independents are usually to extremist to build much support. Cynthia McKinney is an independent, and she would be hard pressed to get 20 people to join her for a baseball game.
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By: Geep on 7/10/2008 12:26PM
Blacks agree with Republican proposals? Oh yeah?
1. "Vouchers for school choice" This would mean that all those people who formed their own private schools to avoid integration would be able to get tax money to keep their schools segregated. Don't think for a minute that even the most gifted child could get into one of those schools. This would destroy public education. Tax money would go to support religious schools, which is un constitutional.
2. "Private/personal social security" The Republican plan is to get rid of social security and have everyone invest in the stock market through personal retirement accounts. This is crazy! What happens if the stock market drops precipitously just as you are retiring. Your investment would tank. Corporations can fail like everything else. The social security system is under stress because the Republican administrations have been borrowing from the trust fund.
3. "FAIRTAX.." The Republicans always talk about eliminating IRA. It sounds good, "let the people keep their own money!" "People can spend their money better than government!" Well how would the cost of government be met? The Republicans say "do away with government!" There is no logic in Republican philosophy. Do away with taxes, eliminate government, give vouchers to people to educate their kids, get rid of social security. Get real!!!!!
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By: Jarvis on 7/10/2008 5:54PM
To Debbie: I have not heard anything about Colin Powell being McCain running mate, but if he was, it would have a minimal inpact on the Black voters. Blacks vote over 90% Democrat and this is the problem.
Blacks should learn to "hedge" their votes.
I don't think that school choice, social security, and taxes are propaganda issues. These are real issues that affect people everyday. Blacks just need to "LISTEN" to proposals and not discount them just because they are coming from Republicans.
More taxes for the wealthy! Who you think are creating jobs in America...The Poor. Please!! This is a "Democrat Spin" game to create "Class Warfare" so they can push their Socialist idea that the government can solve your problems better than you can.
To Geep: I disagree that all the Southern Racist came to the Republican party. They actually stayed in the Democratie Party. Do current Senator Robert Byrd D-West Virginia come to mind. He was a known member of the KKK before the Civil Rights era. Who knows what he is now.
The truth is these racist stayed in Democrat party so they could have more influence on Black voting. Many Whites woke up years ago because they saw the Socialist trend that the Democrats were taking.
Lets look at these trends.
Government run public schools. You don't have to be an Enstien to figure out that public schools are failing across this country. Democrats want to continue to throw more money at the problem, therefore raising more taxes instead of offering "choice" thru vouchers giving parents control.
Next...Universal healthcare. The first step toward socialize medicine. This will be a complete disaster.
If you want to see more of what happen to the lady at King County Government Run hospital, we need to leave this along. There are 300 millions people in America, 40 million without health insurance but look, 260 million do have coverage. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Lets improve the Medicare/Medicaid system.
Last but not least, Democrats wants to nationalize the Oil Refiners. Even higher prices and shortages are on the way.
As far as the FAIRTAX, I suggest you read the "The FAIRTAX book" and "The Truth about the FAIRTAX".
Stop the Democrats spin game...Think for yourself.
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By: Jarvis on 7/10/2008 6:44PM
There is no Social Security Trust Fund. President Lyndon Johnson destroyed it by funding his war on poverty programs and the Vietam War by creating a Unified Budget in effect lumping social security in with the regular government budget.
Private/personal Social Security....First, under the Bush plan that was proposed back in 04 and 05 would have given Americans the "CHOICE" of putting up to 50% of the amount that currently go to social security into a private account. Meaning you could have stayed entirely in the current system if you wanted to.
Also, Americans would have had severals different funds such as money markets which do not loose or gain base on the stock market or stock funds.
Geep, under the current social security system, if you pass away before you are eligible for benefits and have no children under 18, you loose that money after contributing 20, 30, 40, years or more to the system.
The "Republican Philosophy" is that your children should be able to inherit that money in case you pass away...Now if this is crazy...go ahead and commit me.
STOP THE DEMOCRATS SPIN AND THINK FOR YOURSELF
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By: Pinkie on 7/11/2008 12:00PM
Its ok to be a part of either party as long as you are a part of the process, however, my issue with the Republican party would have to be they do not want to meet and discuss anything with our community. AND as far as Republicans and education...PLEASE!! Can we say NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND? That has not worked out too well either. Colin Powell becoming John McCain's VP-highly doubt it. And if it is true, then Mr. Powell really does enjoy bending over and getting (you figure it out (IRAQ)).
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By: john l barker on 7/31/2008 12:52PM
Southern Racist find a home in the Republican Party? North Carolina just elected a Black woman it's National Committee Woman (there is one per state). We are deffinately a southern state! That Dr. King was a registered Republican 40 years ago is nice, but irrevelant. That we regularily elect black republicans in this state today is not!
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By: Chris Miller on 9/25/2008 11:53PM
"I notice you didn't include increasing tax to the wealthy"
This is what aggravates me about democrats and most black voters. It has been proven throughout history that raising taxes to the wealthy generally undermines the economy. While democrats pander to blacks and other underprivileged citizens by promising this, they actually rarely do. For example, Bill Clinton cut capital gains taxes, dividend taxes and other "so called" taxes to the rich. The effect was wealthy people having more money to invest into the economy, Venture Capital firms investing into technologies, more emplyed people being taxed, more tax revenue via sales tax on more product sold and, subsequently, the national debt being paid down. I am so exhausted with the utter ignorance of the left as to simple neoclasical economics. This is what is taught in the classrooms of all of our academia, these are the principles for which we have the strongest, freest and most powerful country in the world. I am sorry if it does not agree with your socialist ideals and what your politicians tell you. Socialism simply does not work. If you want a leg up in this country both sides (democrat and republican) are there to help. The democrats promise a fish to eat, the republicans promise a fishing rod. Take your pick!
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By: repub123 on 2/25/2009 10:08PM
Let me just start by saying that I am not black. But, I have absolutely nothing against a black president. Even a female black president (Condoleeza Rice). She gets my vote all day. It is unfortunate, however that she is viewed by many black Americans to be a "sell out." And, that is just a low down dirty shame. People need to start looking into the facts more and ignoring the pop-culture hollywood leftists that have hijacked the mainstream media and brainwashed a lot of Americans. Just look at the voting records of the two parties, people. WAKE UP! Abe Lincoln was a republican, right? Republicans also fought very hard for black rights such as the right to vote and they also played a very big role in desegregating schools in the 60's and 70's. The democrats or "dixiecrats" in the south as they were known were lobbying against desegregation. THAT'S RIGHT! The left in those days still wanted black Americans drinking out of seperate water fountains, ordering from different lunch counters and sitting in the back of the bus. I'm not kidding, people. These are facts. Look in to it. I served four years in the Marines and some of my best friends that I met in the Corps. are black and I still keep in touch with them today. Us white republicans are not the crazy redneck bunch that Katie Couric and Dan Rather would have you believe. Yes, there are extremists, but that's on both sides. Barak Obama, I'm afraid to say is a hard core socialist and his ideas about America are just plain dumb. I believe that he was voted in not because America felt he was the best candidate but simply because he is black and the propaganda machine that is hollywood and CBS, and others touted him with approval ratings that were just absurd. He won the popular vote by five million votes, that's it. So, his approval ratings were completely false. But then again, that's the media spin on everything. If his approval ratings were 80% he would've won the election by roughly 50 million votes. The media was just a little bit off, weren't they? Anyway, we need to vote our conscience, people, not what the loudmouths around us are telling us to vote. Get the facts, look at the voting records. Democrats are big fans of government control and big government spending, not to mention raising your taxes! A theory that I believe Ronald Reagan completely disproved as he minimized government involvement in our lives as much as he possibly could, and was the most popular president of all time, winning 49 of the 50 states in his reelection. We are facing difficult times people, and it is our job as Americans, no matter what color we are to get the FACTS, not the conspiracies, and hip jargon, the FACTS.
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