Speaking as black Republican, I can tell you that it's a line that once you cross it you damn well better make sure that you know what you are doing and are able to fully support your argument as to why you made such a "fateful" decision. If you can't do this then the black masses will have you for lunch. I'm a black school teacher (a double whammy)who openly stated my support for the GOP and had to defend it under intense pressure. What I didnt know was that there were other black Republicans among my colleages, but they kept their political tendencies among thereselves, which is their right. It was not until after November 2 that they pulled me aside in the hall and quietly told me that they too voted for the GOP. Personally, I think it's cowardice to hold a position and not be ready to articulately defend your position based on facts. But just to let you America know, the ranks of black Republicans is definitely growing. We are the generation who can after the Civil Rights Movement. The generation who questioned the welfare state. The generation who questioned the ideology of "the white man is the cause of our ills" (Funny, many thought the white man was the cause of our ills, but many African-Americans rush to put a white Democrate in office.) The generation who questioned the mentality of "the government will solve all our problems." I'm proud of Condi Rice and Colin Powell, not just because they are black--although that's part of it--but I'm prouder of the fact that they came from the dust and look at them now. If these two aren't positive roll models for America's younger generation then who is? Jesse Jackson??!!!