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A growing political force to be reckoned with: black Republicans
heraldtribune.com ^
| Dec 01, 2003
| Rod Thomson
Posted on 12/01/2003 8:53:48 AM PST by Not gonna take it anymore
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
TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: black; blackrepublicans; florida; republicans
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To: freedom4me
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. She was blantatly obnoxious! She tried to run the show! OReilly threatened to cut her microphone if she didn't stop.
The same thing happens on Hannity and colms. The liberals feel they have to scream over everyone else to "get their message out." Omg! Their message is too far out! No one wants to hear it!
To: cyborg
Not entirely true (less wealthy Blacks taunting Black Pubbies). Remember Harry Belafonte bashing Colin Powell?
To: Not gonna take it anymore
Great news bump!
123
posted on
12/01/2003 10:50:26 PM PST
by
PGalt
To: Not gonna take it anymore
If Sarasota is any indication, this trickle one day could turn into a dam-break. I figure the watershed mark is around 25%. If Black support for Republicans, at every level, reaches that, it's all over for the Democrat plantation system. Furthermore, once the taboo is broken that blacks can't vote Republican, it will bring with it many White voters who currently vote Dem out of sympathy for Blacks. A corrupt heirarchy can command the loyalty of its subjects for only so long, as the Papacy learned in 1520.
To: XtreMarine
ping for your info and attention.
Semper Fi!
125
posted on
12/02/2003 6:05:03 AM PST
by
MudPuppy
(Young Marines - Strengthening America's Youth)
To: concerned about politics; Conservative til I die
Really good comment. If social security reform were to take place, black folks stand to be THE most improved class of people. Here is some research on the topic of social security reform and it's positive effects for minorities, specifically African Americans.
African-Americans would be among those with the most to gain from transforming Social Security into a system of individually owned, privately invested accounts, similar to IRAs or 401(k) plans.
- Higher benefits: Through the power of compound interest, all workers would be able to accumulate substantial savings. Take, for example, a 28-year-old worker making $13,500 per year and paying $1,674 in Social Security tax. If she invested in a conservative savings program that earned just a 4 percent return, she would accrue $177,147 by age 67. That amounts to a monthly benefit of $1,243 -- $400 more per month than the benefits promised by Social Security.
- Private property: Workers would own their savings. If an individual died young, he could leave his accumulated savings to family members.
- Improved economy: The increase in savings caused by moving to a fully funded retirement system would stimulate the economy and lead to increased investment resources. That would be particularly important for those areas the most in need of capital.
Finally, Social Security privatization must be looked at in light of the alternatives. Incremental reforms to prop up the existing system -- such as raising payroll taxes or cutting benefits -- could disproportionately harm African-Americans.
Source: http://www.socialsecurity.org/africanamericans.html
This is a great source for information regarding social sercurity reform and minorities. African Americans (minorities, in general), women, and low-wage workers are the top 3 groups that would benefit from massive social security reforms. Two of the 3 are PARTICULARLY beholden to the libs-demoCREEP party.
It has to stop.
In my opinion, #2 is the real CRIMINAL aspect to the demoCREEPs agenda: the lack of perpetuity. Why? Not being able to pass on property prevents true economic liberation. It doesn't allow an African American man to pass along his hard-earned and notable savings to his family and/or children. So, the family and/or children not only lose a spouse/father, but the wife and/or children get none of the "earned" social security money. No money to improve their life circumstances. No money to go to school or enter a vocational program. No money to better the family in the long run.
Worse yet, without reform, his children continue to be part of a system that holds them down, just as it did their father. With a private savings account, that all changes. The lib demoCREEPs know that this would end their power base. African Americans would finally (and truly) be off of the governmental plantation.
Conservatives, not liberals, have been working for social security reform for years. All the while, they have been called every name in the book.
Perhaps the winds of change are upon us? I hope so.
126
posted on
12/02/2003 7:15:20 AM PST
by
mattdono
(Big Arnie: "Crush the democrats, drive them before you, and hear the lamentations of the scumbags.")
To: Not gonna take it anymore
This trend won't make the New York Times or other mainstream media. The big guys are missing a great story.
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.
127
posted on
12/02/2003 7:43:09 AM PST
by
GOPJ
To: Serb5150
Reminds me of the guy who was at dinner in Old Town, the Reagan fan.
128
posted on
12/02/2003 8:12:10 AM PST
by
jwfiv
To: Not gonna take it anymore
You do not have to be a Democrat. Last time I checked, slavery was over.
These are some great Americans. Some real Americans here. I am proud of them, and proud to be in the same party with them. Good for them for standing up for their rights.
To: FreedomPoster
It's a beginning.
To: Not gonna take it anymore
Welcome home!
131
posted on
12/02/2003 7:12:58 PM PST
by
CPT Clay
(57 in '04)
To: freedom4me
ooh ooh ooh, yes! Great idea! Did you write to Roger Ailes or Britt Hume? Wouldn't even have to be a nightly thing to start. Maybe they attracted some African-American viewers since they joined with the Black Caucus in airing two of the Democrat debates who may come back for something like what you suggest. FNC: Find two good people and a time slot!
132
posted on
12/02/2003 7:25:37 PM PST
by
arasina
(I can't believe I said that.)
To: GOPJ
The big guys are missing a great story.Actually, the "big guys" are ignoring a great story. They don't want Blacks to think being a Republican is a good thing.
133
posted on
12/02/2003 7:38:33 PM PST
by
arasina
(I can't believe I said that.)
To: freedom4me
Rita Cosby is almost as brutal as Greta.. I cant take anymoe Greta! Replace her with JC Watts!
To: MizzouTigerRepublican
I agree. Their voices (Rita C. and Greta V.) are enough to give me a headache.
I hate when they hash and re-hash a story until it drives me nuts.
There are so many "good" stories, personal interest stories about people making a difference in their communities.
I'm so tired of hearing about Scott Peterson and Michael Jackson.
O'Reilly must still think he's at Inside Edition. Ever notice how many days a week his show contains sex stories. It's bad enough that he talks about various deviant behavior, but the visuals he uses are very offensive.
To: arasina
You're right:
Actually, the "big guys" are ignoring a great story. They don't want Blacks to think being a Republican is a good thing.
136
posted on
12/02/2003 9:18:47 PM PST
by
GOPJ
To: mhking
We're gonna make it happen in 2004!
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