Latino Voters Double In North Carolina
Warrant Issued For Marvin Winans?
ST. PAUL -- All throughout the week I have spoken with blacks of different walks of life attending the Republican National Convention, from small business entrepreneurs to law clerks. All of them gave different reasons for joining the Republican Party, but one thing was consistent: they felt that the GOP's plans and policies are the best way to ensure that they succeed in this society.While he was a student at Grambling State University, Republican National Committee member Shannon Reeves was told by one of his professors that his writings were quite conservative. It was this comment that sparked in his interest in the Republican Party.
Reeves, a former secretary of California's Republican Party, says he actually made the decision to join the GOP "because I felt that black people were being used by the Democrats." He also agreed with Republicans on issues such as the importance of "personal responsibility and economic self-sufficiency." Ironically, at the same time Reeves was committing himself to the Republican Party, he was still the president of his college's chapter of the NAACP; belonging to two groups that on the surface seem fundamentally at odds with each other.
"People get more conservative once they have something to conserve," says Reeves, explaining the evolution, adding that both blacks and Republicans are interested in holding on to what they've gained once they've reached their goal. He continues, "When you buy that first house or get that first major job and see all the payroll taxes coming out of your check, you find out just how conservative you really are."
Reeves believes that the task of black Republicans is to not allow the Democrats to cast a racist cloud over the Republican Party so that blacks are scared away. Instead, "It's up to black Republicans to take the initiative, to lead the conversation in the black community. That's how we can attract more blacks.
"I have to vote for basic policies that create a certain quality of life for my today and my children's future," says Reeves, who also believes that race should not be a barrier to fulfilling the American dream. That's why he thinks that other African Americans who want to achieve should give the GOP a second look as well.
Comments: (373)
Add a comment
By: Cass on 9/04/2008 12:41AM
Fact: Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, signed the Emancipation Proclamtion" freeing the slaves
Fact: The NAACP was founded by Republicans
Fact: The first African-American to receive an electoral vote for the Presidency was Frederick Douglas, yes, a Republican
Fact: Blacks were allowed to vote for years until the DEMOCRATS created the Jim Crow laws
Fact: Dwight D. Eisenhower sent troops into Arkansas to desegregate the schools- He also attempted to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1956 but a certain Democrat would not allow it to be brought to a vote- Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Johnson.
Fact: Al Gore Sr voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1965. A larger percentage of Republicans voted for it than the Democrats
Fact: Lyndon Johnson called Martin Luther King Jr that damn n.....
Fact: Martin Luther King Jr was a Republican. Martin Luther King SR gave the benediction for Ronald Reagans inauguration
Fact: Richard Nixon signed into law Affirmation Action
The Democratic Party promises free handouts- The Republican party believes that all people are equal and believes everyone in this country deserves the chance to achieve the American dream-
Know the truth- research this if you don't believe-
The Democratic Party also has a former KKK member-
Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: paul on 9/04/2008 12:51AM
What has a democrat done for the black people?
And when I say democrat I mean of great importance.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Patricio on 9/13/2008 6:50PM
Rhonda, the CBC IS a special interest group and proved it when they refused to allow a white representative from TN to attend their meetings. Why can't a white person join that group if they agree with the agenda? What if all the white representatives formed the Congressional White Caucus? They would be called racist and the KKK of Congress, etc, etc,. I long for the day that all of these groups are abandoned. Any group that focuses solely on their own empowerment to the detriment of the rest is wrong.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: James Mitchell on 9/04/2008 2:01AM
Blacks and Republicain Party is like oil and water. It does not mix. I do not or have ever seen the GOP'S doing anything for blacks in the country. If you do not know that if you're black and plan to get some kind of help from your goverment it will come from the Democratic Party. Yes; Replublicians have the token blacks, but it's like I've heard before, master beat us, master rape our women, master work us all day, and master split up our families, but I still love master. We as black people need to get our token blacks back to reality and remember we finally have a black candidate from president and support him. Remember if we keep a republician president more and more of our young poeple will end up dying in Bushes' War in Iraq. WAKE UP POEPLE!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Paige on 9/04/2008 1:41AM
First off, the Republican party broke off as an anti-slavery party. While history is always forgotten this legacy could have grown had the party not been demonized. I mean Bull Conner was a democrat! Anyway, conservative principles are something that any American can appreciate. When I get my paycheck and I see that more than a thousand dollars gets taken out for taxes (and now I am hoping to get paid soon so I can get food to eat), that definitely makes me look at someone who wants to raise taxes over a trillion dollars. What is my paycheck going to look like then? If it is only taxes for the places I work, will they stop promoting people or giving them raises because money is being taken away from them? I think being a conservative is smart. Expecting the government to take care of you is retarded. When I look a one of my African-American students I want them to work hard to deserve what is coming to them, not to get handouts thus creating mediocre stock. Why don't we want our kids to be the best instead of the best with a ladder underneath them? Why should we get stuff for free? When do we move on from slavery and start taking back and advancing for ourselves. I don't want an affirmative action doctor and I don't want my kids to grow up affirmative action kids. When they get a job over a person of any other race, I want them to have earned it. This is the American spirit. I agree that affirmative action had it's place but that place is done now. Democrats are also driving this country towards European style social democracy and flaccidness. This is America! We are supposed to be strong, survivors, and fighters. Why let our kids sit around expecting handouts? Why let the government do for us what we could do for ourselves? Not only that, this world is changing and if any thinking person would look up from their small world problems, they would see that there is real evil in the world. Government handouts won't matter much to dead people. Study Islam (and if you don't, don't try to comment on it), study terrorism and realize that this is only going to get worse. Do we want nuclear states popping up around us while we have a president sitting around hoping to talk to people and make them change their minds? If a president Obama is willing to take what Amadenijad and Putin and Kim Jong Ill (who has resumed building nuclear sites) and all of the others (there are many) at face value then he is a fool. Who is the bigger fool? The fool who gets elected or the people that voted for him. The man has NO experience. I think a vote for Obama is a vote for 'hoping for the best.' And as far as selfishness - this is the ultimate selfishness - Oh we want a black president. I would love one too, but I also want a good president, one that is going to protect American families, that won't make it impossible for my brother's new business to succeed. Obama will not do this. Sorry, he just won't. He is not the change candidate. If he was, then why hasn't he done jack in the Illinois senate to help anyone but run for president and write books? I've met the man. He's charismatic. So was Hitler. I want a good choice, not a black choice. Now if some black man or woman comes up through the ranks and is a great choice, they have my vote. Obama is not it. Sorry if the truth is uncomfortable, but no one seems to give a crap about the truth these days. That is the real selfishness. You'd let are country go to ruins or even be destroyed just so you can have a black president. After we're all meeting our maker or whatever you believe in - in your list of accomplishments you can cite voting for a black president. If that makes you proud, that ought to answer itself. I'm voting for a my country, not a man.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: AB on 9/04/2008 1:43AM
Being a Democrat is the lesser of two evils. Sure the Democratic Party was the pro-slavery party. But that changed during the 1950-60'2 era and the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic Party migrated into the Republican Party. The Republican Party is nothing more than a bunch of hyposcrites and bigots. They claim to have these values but those values are always compromised whenever the need arises. But they try to shine the light on anybody else who may experience the exact same thing. For years Republicans have been denegrading the young African American mother who is unmarried as "lacking self-control, irresponsible, welfare moms, etc." But now that teenage pregnancy has showed up on their front door, all is well and forgotten. Hypocrites!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Bob on 9/04/2008 2:01AM
If I remember correctly, it was a Republican president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who sent troops in to enforce integration in Georgia while the governor who was a "loyal" Democrat, stood in the doorway with his arms folded to "bar" them. Mississippi and Alabama both had governors who were members in good standing as Democrats. The Democrats were not "friends" to Afro-Americans and it seems that they since solicit the black voters to keep themselves in office. The last sentence is my own personal opinion. The first two sentences are facts.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: H.B. on 9/04/2008 2:39AM
To be black and republican is scary. The history behind the relationship of blacks and republicans are so bitter you could almost relate it to Blacks taking a chance on marrying a white person. There will always be the fear of them calling you the N word during an argument. Be real people...it happens. So why take the chance of being the house nick? It does not take me becoming republican to want to be successful. My father has only an 8th grade education and my mother only went to the 11th grade. But we didnt live off of the government. My parents worked and so do I know that I am of age. It is sad that the excuse is that republicans motivate people to be independent. What Ever! My entire family is democrate! All 170 Youngs of SC, descendents of Mose and Coot Young. Shannon Reeves, Denzel Washington and a great deal more need to read my comments, real talk!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: senora layne on 9/04/2008 4:54PM
We are not monolithic so people should vote for those they feel are aligned with them on issues. I am proud to say that I am one of those African Americans who has fought to ensure that those who came after me would have better educations and jobs. I am also proud that my children, who did benefit, are the kind of people who are willing to be taxed more so that children of those less fortunate have the benefit of early childhood education, better health care and a hand up to where they are blessed to be. Nothing I have heard from the Republicans makes me think this is what they will invest our tax money in. I'd rather support early childhood education than a big corporation that ships jobs out of the USA; just as I'd rather support a program that offers students a college education (to be repaid by service to the country) than tax breaks to big oil. My advice would be this: Do your research, make objective comparisons,then VOTE. Most important... VOTE.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: mulloverthis on 9/04/2008 3:48AM
Another reason Blacks join the Republican party is because right now, the party platform regarding critical issues for Christians, are more in line with some quintessential ideals. Abortion. Same-sex marriage. Transgender laws. The Republican party is looking better nowadays because the Democrats are entirely to liberal.
Reply to this Comment | Report This