A growing political force to be reckoned with: black Republicans

heraldtribune.com ^ | Dec 01, 2003 | Rod Thomson

[Not gonna take it anymore]

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Article published Dec 1, 2003
A growing political force to be reckoned with: black Republicans

The ballroom of the Hyatt in downtown Sarasota was filled to capacity with 200 people at a $75-per-plate dinner. Typical Republican shindig, except for one thing: Most of the attendees were black. The occasion was the first inaugural banquet of the SaraMana Black Republican Club.

There is the sound of distant thunder in the two-party political alignment that is as real in Sarasota as anywhere in the country. Black voters, in small but growing numbers, are beginning to consider the Republican Party.
It sounds laughable at first blush. The Democratic Party has relied on about 90 percent, unquestioning black support for decades. But it is quite real, and could have stunning consequences for the balance of political power in the country.

I wrote about this last year, when a trolley filled with black Republicans rolled through all of the streets of Newtown before the November election to get out the vote for Republicans. It just seemed such a strange picture.
In that election, the black-owned Tempo News in Sarasota endorsed Republican Jeb Bush for governor, as did the black-owned The Weekly Challenger of St. Petersburg and the Broward Times of Fort Lauderdale, the first time the latter ever endorsed a Republican.

A few months later, the SaraMana Black Republican Club was formed and held its first meeting in April 2003 with 16 charter members. Seven months later, it held its first dinner meeting with 200 people enthusiastic about the conservative cause.
The banquet featured speakers, award-winners and a video presentation letting dozens of local blacks explain why they are Republicans.

One black woman who went at the invitation of a friend arrived as a Democrat but left as a Republican, giving a thumbs up to her party change.

"This will mark the beginning of changing the landscape of Sarasota and Manatee," said Johnny Hunter, president of the club and publisher of Tempo News.

Jacksonville state Rep. Jennifer Carroll, the first black Republican elected to the Legislature, gave the keynote speech. She told the group that the NAACP ran ads against her last fall without ever contacting her, simply because she is a Republican and despite the fact that she is a lifetime member of the organization.
But Carroll did not talk about fighting against the NAACP. She talked about taking over the NAACP with conservative blacks, and she was met with cheers. In fact, during a Saturday afternoon featuring one of the biggest football games of the season, the people were cheering her every remark.

And they were tough remarks, such as, "You do not have to be a Democrat. Last time I checked, slavery was over," and, "Liberalism is a cancer on inner city America."
Among the Sarasota African-Americans receiving awards were Ed James, an Eisenhower Republican who received a lifetime achievement award, and Jim Smith, a recent past chairman of the Sarasota County Republican Party. I was in Sarasota for several years before I discovered Smith was black. I simply assumed he was white -- you know, a Republican chieftain.

Perhaps this is just an anomaly in Sarasota? Apparently not. It is national in scope.

A study from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies last year found that in the previous two years, black support for Democrats dropped 11 percentage points, resulting in less than two-thirds calling themselves Democrats. Meanwhile, support for Republicans more than doubled among black voters, from 4 percent to 10 percent.
That is still a small percentage, but it does represent a 150 percent increase. Further, the largest Republican support comes from the youngest segment of black voters – the future.

If Sarasota is any indication, this trickle one day could turn into a dam-break.



Rod Thomson can be reached by e-mail at rod@plow.org, or by writing to the Herald-Tribune

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[FlyVet]

I'm thinking young blacks, as well as young whites, are a lot more skeptical of what the alphabet media attempt to feed them than previous generations. It's no longer, "Well, Walter Cronkite/Dan Rather etc. said it, therefore it must be true." They are thinking for themselves. They have the Internet, and I'm hearing more and more blacks call in to conservative talk radio hosts.

And then there was the old grey-haired guy in the movie "Barbershop", produced by black filmmakers. His comments on Rosa Parks and Jessie Jackson made my jaw drop to the ground. Made me say, "Hmmmmmmm......"

[speekinout]

Some of the bravest people in America are Black Republicans. The retribution of leaving the plantation are severe in the Black community.

I got thoroughly trashed for saying just this in another thread. I think this is a real obstacle.

[Conservative til I die]

The Caucasion male lives longer, and the female lives longer than both. Dean, a popular Democrat contender, wanted the age of SS entitlement increased even more. For some reason, the majority of blacks still support those who harm them.

Because the GOP feels it's not worth it to tailor their message to blacks. Two issues right off the bat I could think of to send to blacks 1) School choice to help poor black children stuck in crumbling public schools and 2) Social Security reform so that blacks, who get screwed the most, can make the most of their earnings later in life.

[Conservative til I die]

Deroy (can't remember his last name),

Deroy Murdock. His latest editorial blasts the GOP for being a party of big government.

[freedom4me]

Amen. He's a truth-teller.

I've enjoyed watching him have his liberal counterparts for lunch.

[freedom4me]

Deroy is, indeed, brilliant. I keep writing to FOX, hoping someday they'll listen.

[The Mayor]

We're getting stronger and louder. More and more people are starting to notice, too.

It is great, just wish it was happening in Buffalo

[freedom4me]

"Would love to see Alan Keyes and Jesse Jackson - Nah, that would be like swatting a piss ant with a sledge hammer."

I wouldn't use those particular words, but I would like to see a match up between the best black conservatives and the "best" black liberals. Certainly the conservatives would win the day when it comes to content.

However, a very strong moderator would be needed to keep the libs from hogging the time.

Whenever I see a lib on FOX, he or she doesn't come up for air. Katrina Vandenhovel (The Nation) was on O'Reilly tonight and she was absolutely obnoxious. Tried to hog the whole segment.

I'd like to see FOX dump their Saturday night lineup (Rita C. and John Kasich) and put in its place a black conservative/liberal talk show.

[Chu Gary]

The Sarasota Herald Tribune is a Marxist newspaper just as bad as the New York Slimes. For them to report this is earthshaking - I have great hope that this reporter is reporting credible data; the Sarasota Bradenton area is real nice but could be infinitely better with a moderation of the hateful Dim attitude of the press.

[Holly_P]

Katrina Vandenhovel (The Nation) was on O'Reilly tonight and she was absolutely obnoxious. Tried to hog the whole segment.

I saw that. It seemed that she had her liberal rant memorized and she had to spit it all out without a break or she would lose her place and not be able to finish.

I just bought O'Reily's book today "Who's Looking Out For You" I felt a little guilty for spending $20 but it's my only vice.

[Chu Gary]

"I'd like to see FOX dump their Saturday night lineup (Rita C. and John Kasich) and put in its place a black conservative/liberal talk show."

That's a great idea although I would miss seeing Kasich's spot. I don't have much use for Rita and her annoying voice.

[Holly_P]

but it's my only vice

That and the fact that I have a potty mouth sometimes.

[Sloth]

My "dream" panelw would be Larry Elder, Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, Armstrong Williams, Star Parker, Deroy (can't remember his last name), Ward Connerly, et. al.

Wow, it just now struck me how many well-known black conservatives there ARE, not to mention several more you didn't even name (such as Alan Keyes, J.C. Watts, Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice, etc.). Who could have made such a lengthy list ten or fifteen years ago? Yes, they were around, but they didn't get any press. With the increasing number and prominence of such people, the 'Uncle Tom' talk will sound more and more desperate as control of the "plantation" slips away from the liberals.

[Serb5150]

Most excellent=)

[Holly_P]

I used to really like Greta until it became all Kobe/Scott/Lacy all the time.

My favorite is Alan Keyes and I think he was on MSNBC for a while but I might be wrong on that.

Does anyone know if he has a show now?

[Conservative til I die]

I like Deroy because he is principled, not just a GOP/Bush/conservative flack. I see myself moving in the same direction, as much as I believe in the President and the GOP.

[freedom4me]

"Wow, it just now struck me how many well-known black conservatives there ARE, not to mention several more you didn't even name (such as Alan Keyes, J.C. Watts, Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice, etc.). Who could have made such a lengthy list ten or fifteen years ago? Yes, they were around, but they didn't get any press. With the increasing number and prominence of such people, the 'Uncle Tom' talk will sound more and more desperate as control of the "plantation" slips away from the liberals.

Agreed. We must win the black pastors/churches. Bush's push for faith-based initiatives has resulted in many new alliances in the black community. We need to pray that the black pastors will have the courage to stand for truth. In recent days, many black pastors have taken offense at remarks made at the last democratic debate about the gay marriage issue being a civil rights issue.

This may be the issue that finally causes many a black pastor to take the leap. I pray so.

[freedom4me]

Love your tag line. Just stay open to hear the arguments from all sides.

[freedom4me]

Bump

[cyborg]

I can't imagine why you would get trashed for saying that. I've heard some of the most disgusting, foul things come out of black people's mouths about black pubbies. Of course, the people I know saying these things, they're a little light in the wallet and just jealous IMHO.