Republicans Come Up Short Courting Black Conservatives

Washington Post ^ | 1/10/05 | Terry Neal

[jebanks]

Recent polls show that blacks are more likely than whites to oppose gay marriage. As my colleague Darryl Fears reported in The Washington Post just before the November election, "A study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life showed that since 2000, black Protestants have become far less likely than other Protestant groups to believe that gays should have equal rights. Black Protestant support for gay rights dipped to a low of 40 percent this year, down from 65 percent in 1996 and 59 percent in 1992."

One of the reasons more blacks don't vote Republican, some analysts say, is that when it comes to "values," many black voters remain convinced that the GOP is less moral than the Democratic party on social and economic justice issues. Those issues -- from tax cuts, to school funding, to affirmative action -- combined with the general feeling that Republicans are hostile to the interests of African Americans, outweigh the social values the two groups may share.

[jebanks]

Read the rest of the story at the above listed link. Very interesting.

[mhking]

One of the reasons more blacks don't vote Republican, some analysts say, is that when it comes to "values," many black voters remain convinced that the GOP is less moral than the Democratic party on social and economic justice issues.

No, one of the most overriding reasons is that many in black America are still convinced (even though it isn't true, thanks to the lies of the Soul Patrol and the Left) that the GOP has ulterior and nefarious motives when it comes to blacks.

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

President Bush received a higher black vote in 2004 than he did in 2000 and there are probably more black Republicans being elected now than any time in the past 100 years. Additionally, there are getting to be more and more prominent black conservative Republicans each year.

I believe this is a long road to be traveled, but that the Republican Party is doing a good job at attracting black conservatives.

[loreldan]

Walter Williams for Pres!!!

[L98Fiero]

"One of the reasons more blacks don't vote Republican, some analysts say, is that when it comes to "values," many black voters remain convinced that the GOP is less moral than the Democratic party on social and economic justice issues. Those issues -- from tax cuts, to school funding, to affirmative action --"

The left loves to try and sell tax-hikes, school-funding, and affirmative action as "values" issues. They are not. This part of the article is just, well, tripe.

You are correct, though. Bush had siginificant gains in the black vote. This article seems to be written from the perspective that he didn't.

[guitarist]

You're right. I believe we ought to treat all people--black, white, Hispanic, whatever--the same, and pay as little attention as possible to race in hiring, promotion, etc. 40 years ago I'd've been a liberal; now I'm a conservative!

[KC_Conspirator]

They are more than welcome to join and get involved in the GOP. We can only lead a horse to water. They are only marginalizing themselves.

[bert]

The tecnique is incrementalism. Eight percent this time, ten the next. Pretty soon you've got a real voting block.

[gaspar]

There is a certain honesty in the Republican party: If a black is a horse's ass, he is labeled as such and shunned like the plague. In the Democrat Party, there is never such an admission; rather there is an understanding that when a powerful Black is a horse's ass, he is tolerated because, in the words of Teddy Kennedy, "he (she) is OUR horse's ass". Now the question Conservatives must ask themselves: Do you want more horses ass in the Party?

[Bigh4u2]

"f a black is a horse's ass, he is labeled as such and shunned like the plague. In the Democrat Party, there is never such an admission"

For some reason Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson come to mind!

[slowhand520]

Well I see it like this. Bush did well among Black voters in the states that had the gay marriage issue on their ballots. Here are some numbers:

Oklahoma Bush got 28% of the black vote
Ohio Bush got 16% " " " "
MS,MI&MO Bush got 10% " " " "

I would consider those voters "Black Conservatives".

That seems good to me.

[bowzer313]

If all you desire is a free ride on somebody else's nickel, then you're bound to vote Democrat. That explains why 90% of the black community votes Democrat. Its that simple.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

President Bush received a higher black vote in 2004 than he did in 2000

He got a whopping 9% in 2000, I'm sure its up, is this just an attempt to rationalize?

I think if Republicans want to appeal to black conservatives, the best thing they ever do is stop pandering and treating them different from white conservatives. Another idea for the GOP is to try actually BEING conservative rather then just blasting the Dems for being liberal.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

There is no question that more and more Blacks are taking a good hard look at the Republican Party. They actually have no choice. History is working against them. With Hispanics passing them and becoming the largest "minority" group in the nation the Black vote becomes less important then it was ten years ago. And....Hispanics being mostly Catholic and against abortion, will keep the number one minority position for the forseeable future. In addition, Hispanics have learned that being politically diversive is just plain old good common sense. Blacks have not yet learned that, and as such stay tied to the bottom of the economic totem pole by giving their undying loyalty to the Democrat Party. As reality sets in, and Blacks come to realize that both their so-called leaders and, certainly the Democrat Party has failed them and the goals and aspirations for their children, the "sea change" in politics will begin. In fact, it is already underway!!!

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Walter Williams for Pres!!!

Wouldn't that be wonderful.

[Know your rights]

Another idea for the GOP is to try actually BEING conservative rather then just blasting the Dems for being liberal.

Worked for Reagan, and for "Contract with America" Congressional candidates.

[traviskicks]

Lester, noting that Bush's black support grew by 2 percentage points, said it is entirely possible that number could grow to say 15 percent with the right candidate, such as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.), who is seen as more connected and empathetic by some black voters.
---

???? How is this? Why stick Frist's name in this story?

[Cicero]

Regretably, most blacks believe what they are taught in school about American history by leftist teachers, what they see on TV, or what they read in the MSM or black magazines and newspapers.

All of these sources misrepresent the truth. The Democrats cleverly pay off black leaders to lie to their people, and the lies are believed because that's all they hear.

Those who don't study American history, for instance, will have sucked in with their mother's milk that Nixon was responsible for Vietnam--although in fact it was JFK and LBJ and Nixon had very little to do with it.

Similarly, most blacks believe that Republicans are racists who have oppressed blacks for a hundred years. Never mind that the South was ruled by Democrats for the past hundred years, that Jim Crow was a Democrat, and that most or all the members of the KKK were Democrats.

None of that counts, because the truth has been hidden from them from kindergarden on up.

[GVnana]

Bump.

[Congressman Billybob]

The focus of the article, revealed in its title, has the subject *ss-backward. The problem is not that Republicans are doing a poor job of attracting black conservatives. It is that black liberals, with the assistance of the likes of the Washington Post, are peddling racist twaddle that scares blacks into voting against their own interests.

It's really quite simple. But it's too complex for the Post to comprehend.

Congressman Billybob

Click for latest, "Lessons from Waves of Disaster"

[massgopguy]

Will Mrs. Williams still get her "list of chores" to do before she can do First Lady stuff?

[AuH2ORepublican]

"I believe this is a long road to be traveled, but that the Republican Party is doing a good job at attracting black conservatives."

---

Absolutely, but the road is still long and treacherous. And it would certainly help if white Republican primary voters would actually vote for black conservatives, especially when they are running against white candidates who are less conservative than them or who do not bring as much to the table. For example, just last year, Georgia Republicans voted for the pro-abortion Johnny Isakson over black conservative Herman Cain for the Senate nomination, Oregon Republicans voted for pro-abortion Jim Zupancic over black conservative Jackie Winters for the U.S. House nomination, and NC Republicans voted for pro-gay Virginia Foxx over black conservative Vernon Robinson for the U.S. House nomination. In a heavily Republican GA congressional district in which two conservatives, one white and one black, were in the GOP run-off, primary voters preferred the middle-aged white guy over young photogenic black conservative Dylan Glenn, who would have become an instant star in Congress. And in a heavily Democrat Milwaukee congressional district where a black Republican was our only chance at an upset, primary voters chose a white guy over black conservative Corey Hoze, who had been endorsed by former Governor Tommy Thompson and Speaker Hastert. We need to start putting our money where our mouths are, because while I believe that the GOP can start receiving upwards of 30% of the black vote, it will not happen until we start electing black conservatives to office who can then spread our message far and wide.

[Clemenza]

A major problem that the GOP faces is that most upwardly mobile blacks that I have encountered are 1. female and 2. single.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"A major problem that the GOP faces is that most upwardly mobile blacks that I have encountered are 1. female and 2. single."

---

You're right, single women are not very likely to vote Republican regardless of skin color. While I think that we need to recruit from among the upwardly mobile who get screwed by liberal tax policies, we will not make a serious dent in the black vote (the 30% figure I keep reiterating as the key to making the Democrat Party obsolete) until we get black people of faith to listen to our message. Blacks are probably the most religious racial or ethnic group in America, and it is a travesty that we have allowed the Democrats to use welfare and affirmative action to con 90% of blacks to vote for the abortion and gay rights party. And when such scandalous percentages of blacks are being born out of wedlock partly due to failed Great Society programs that discourage marriage and work, why should black people of faith keep voting for a Democrat Party partly responsible for the destruction of the black family?

And there are plenty of other issues that should lead even the poorest blacks to join the GOP. For example, the Democrats have blocked school choice whenever and wherever it has come up, and few things would help inner-city blacks as much as a school voucher program that will (i) allow them to send their kids to a better school and (ii) introduce competition into the current public school monopoly, which will result in quality public schools even in inner-city neighborhoods. And blacks are affected by crime more than any other group, and the GOP should make clear that it is the Democrats who coddle criminals and who appoint liberal judges that make our streets less safe, not to mention the fact that it is the Democrats who do not want law-abiding blacks to carry a gun for their own protection and that of their family and property. We need to get the message out not just to middle-class black voters in Westchester County and Eastern Queens, but to lower-class blacks in Bed-Stuy and East Harlem.

[AuH2ORepublican]

I believe you'll find this thread to be of interest.

[frannie]

All conservative Republicans in N.C. didn't vote for Vieginia Fox in the primaries, I voted for Robinson.

Though in the last days of the primary Robinson's campaign was handled very badly. To much character assassination and not enough facts.

We may never have another candidate as qualified as Vernon Robinson.

Frannie

[cyborg]

bump

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Thomas Sowell for prez.

NO LIBERTARIANS NEED APPLY!!!

:0)

-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)

[winker]

Conservatives are always right and they know the differences between PUBBIES and Real Conservatives This is RICH!; and RIGHT ON!

[Sinner6]

I think if Republicans want to appeal to black conservatives, the best thing they ever do is stop pandering and treating them different from white conservatives

That might sound good in theory but blacks and whites have different concerns. Whites are more concerned taxes, judical activism, while blacks are more concerned with school vouchers, and gay marriage. A good conservitive will fight on all these issues but should stress different parts of his message to different people.

[MEGoody]

"Recent polls show that blacks are more likely than whites to oppose gay marriage."

Yes, that is true. Unfortunately, many in the African American community have allowed themselves to be conditioned to vote Democratic because of the left's promises of free stuff. Humanity often will choose free stuff over principles.

[sasafras]

"One of the reasons more blacks don't vote Republican, some analysts say, is that when it comes to "values," many black voters remain convinced that the GOP is less moral than the Democratic party on social and economic justice issues. Those issues -- from tax cuts, to school funding, to affirmative action"

Oh this is too much, the only values that I see repeatedly on TV is hip hop values - sex, mistreatment of women, drugs, gangs, out of wedlock birth, premarital sex, racism, etc... Like blacks can really talk about values when their culture celebrates deviancy and immorality. There are some good black role models but they are shunned from their own culture and the democratic party. This article is a joke.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"All conservative Republicans in N.C. didn't vote for Virginia Fox in the primaries, I voted for Robinson."

---

And I thank you for that. I don't live in NC, but I donated to Vernon Robinson's campaign because I understood the importance of electing a principled conservative in the 5th CD. But unfortunately, you and the thousands of other conservatives who pulled the lever for Mr. Robinson were outvoted in the run-off. Mr. Robinson got 45% in the run-off against Virginia Foxx, the same 45% that Dylan Glenn got in his run-off against Lynn Westmoreland in Georgia and that Jackie Winters got in her primary against the pro-abortion Jim Zupancic in Oregon. In future primaries, we need to turn that 45% into 50%+1 and start electing qualified black conservatives who will help us reach those millions of black voters that reflexively vote Democrat in spite of their cultural conservative principles.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Frankly, I'm shocked that Dylan Glenn hasn't been more successful, up to this point.

He seems like an ideal candidate, in so many different ways.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Whites are more concerned taxes, judical activism, while blacks are more concerned with school vouchers, and gay marriage. A good conservitive will fight on all these issues but should stress different parts of his message to different people."

---

Amen. It is by no means "selling out" to stress one part of the conservative message to one group and another part of the conservative message to another group. That's how Ronald Reagan got 59% of the vote and carried 49 states.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Frankly, I'm shocked that Dylan Glenn hasn't been more successful, up to this point."

---

He ran very strongly in the old 2nd CD in 2000, but unfortunately it was going to be nearly impossible to unseat the popular moderate-to-conservative black Democrat Congressman Sanford Bishop in that district. Even though President Bush got 54% in the district as then drawn, Bishop also got 54%, with conservative white peanut farmers voting for Bush and Bishop because Bishop is pro-life, pro-gun and had clout in the Agriculture Committee. Bishop has even more clout now as a member of the Appropriations Committee, and Bush's 2000 percentage was reduced by 4% in Democrat redistricting (which also removed Dylan Glenn's home from the 2nd CD and placed it in the 8th CD), so Bishop is safe until he decides to leave the seat. I have long argued that we should try to convince Bishop to become a Republican, since his voting record is acceptable (and would become even more conservative once he left the shackles of the Democrat Party) and since he would be able to win easily as a Republican in his district.

So Dylan Glenn had to wait for the 8th CD to open up, and it did when Mac Collins ran for the Senate. Dylan did a great job in the primary, garnering a spot in the run-off, but unfortunately lost 55%-45% in the run-off. Bad weather in his hometown of Columbus sure didn't help, but an attractive young candidate such as Dylan should have beaten Westmoreland handily even with Westmoreland having a larger geographic base. The people of the 8th CD missed out on having a real star in Congress, one who would have been invited to debate Congressman Harold Ford and Senator Barack Obama on TV just about weekly. I wish Dylan Glenn the best, and hope that he does not give up the fight for conservative principles.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

That might sound good in theory but blacks and whites have different concerns. Whites are more concerned taxes, judical activism, while blacks are more concerned with school vouchers, and gay marriage.

Well, I was just trying to stop us from the perpetual cycle of debasing ourselves and pandering for the mythical black "conservatives" majority that must live with the unicorns and Bigfoot because they haven't shown at the polls since FDR.

When you like at the reality that idiots like Randy Moss are celebrated in the black community for the most part, and certainly not challenged, along with the skyrocking illegitimate birth rate ect, the real abstract theory here is that blacks would ever stop voting Dem.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Amen. It is by no means "selling out" to stress one part of the conservative message to one group and another part of the conservative message to another group.

Yeah, except its a strawman to say that is what I meant. I was referring more to the Republicans to pander with unqualified token appointments, by not aggressively opposing real actual discrimination going on today in the form of Affirmitive Action, by not rolling back the welfare state for fear of appearing racist etc. All of these actions that are not in our best interest have done real great in making a black Republican majority. Bush's 9% in 00 was the lowest Republican total with blacks in American history. Nothing is being accomplished, and it won't because I don't believe blacks take Republican pandering as anything other then insincere and suspicious. Its like they're hiding something, if they just put forth a colorblind message they have more hope, although even that is slim.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"I was referring more to the Republicans to pander with unqualified token appointments, by not aggressively opposing real actual discrimination going on today in the form of Affirmitive Action, by not rolling back the welfare state for fear of appearing racist etc. All of these actions that are not in our best interest have done real great in making a black Republican majority."

---

On that we agree. Those are examples of taking positions contrary to conservative principles, and doing that will not help us win net voters of any stripe.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

I tend to agree with you vis-a-vis Congressman Bishop.

I can think of at least a dozen Republican congressman, right off the top of my head-beginning with the lamentable Christopher Shays of Connecticut-who I would implore to switch places with Sanford Bishop.

Glenn does seem to have hit upon a series of unfortunate obstacles in his question to attain higher office.

I've followed his career, from the slightly humorous take of the documentary "Vote for Me", where his first race against Mr. Bishop was chronicled, to the more serious-but equally informative-accounts of his progress in such magazines as "National Review", among others.

[Kuksool]

A good book to read is "Fighting The Good Fight" by the late Reggie White. In his book, the Green Bay Packer star spoke of how he was pro-life and pro-family. The WI GOP even tried to recruit him to run for office. But he declined. He was dismayed when the state party did not seriously back Ron Greer, an African-American Christian, in his many campaign challenges to Tammy Baldwin. That left a sour taste in Reggie White. It gave the impression that the GOP didn't welcome minorities and it wasn't serious about social conservatism. To increase the GOP black vote, electing more African-American Republicans would be a good start.

[mafree]

You have said it well- the GOP needs to do more to support Black candidates for office, especially when they run in firmly Dem. districts where, admittedly, the chances for victory are slim. What the GOP needs is to establish itself in those areas as an entity people know is there for them. Not to dole out handouts but to keep making the case for Blacks supporting the GOP.