CNN Contributor Martin Blasts GOP: ‘They're Scared of Black Folks'

http://newsbusters.org/ ^ | July 13, 2007 | Matthew Balan

[lowbridge]

CNN Contributor Martin Blasts GOP: ‘They're Scared of Black Folks'

Posted by Matthew Balan on July 13, 2007 - 18:34.

CNN contributor Roland Martin took aim at Republicans on Friday's "American Morning, since Congressman Tom Tancredo was the only GOP presidential candidate to appear at a recent NAACP forum. Co-host John Roberts asked Martin, "what do you make of this idea that nine of the 10 Republican candidates took a pass on this convention?" Martin's response was blunt: "Of course, conservatives won't like this, but the bottom line is, the GOP, they're scared of black folks. I mean, it's as if they can't even talk to them."

Martin, a regular contributor on CNN's "American Morning," and a liberal talk show host based out of Chicago, has been given regular opportunities on the morning show to give left-wing lines about various issues without a counter-balance from a conservative. He continued his offensive by citing President Bush's single appearance before the NAACP in his several years as president, and Rudy Giuliani's "terrible history with black folks in New York" as the reason there was "no doubt he [Giuliani] was going to ignore the NAACP."

To his credit, Roberts followed up to Martin's answer by asking, "Let me just play devil's advocate here. They are afraid of African-Americans, or do they just think that the NAACP has been sort of historically hostile to Republicans?"

Martin's answer:

No, no, because over time, when you look at Republicans in terms of the ability to reach out to African-Americans, that is sort of this apprehension there. Of course, there's history there. The whole southern strategy, Richard Nixon, in terms of trying to ignore black voters, appeal to white voters in the South. And so, that was part of their strategy. Ken Mehlman, when he ran the RNC, he apologized for it.... Republicans have always had a difficulty in trying to speak to African-Americans. And let me tell you, John, issues like immigration, which Republicans are against, nine out of 10 of my callers will be absolutely against it. The issue of education, the issue of gay marriage, there are issues there the Republicans can dialogue on. But you can't continue to say, well, we want to reach out to black voters, we don't want them simply voting Democrat, but then you never talk to them. So, you have to cross that line. And so, frankly, not talking to them makes no sense. That was an opportunity that they lost.

One could predict, however, that the mainstream media, possibly including Martin himself, would have criticized Republicans for using "wedge issues" like immigration and gay "marriage" as a means to reach out to blacks.

The major detail that wasn't mentioned during the segment was the reason why President Bush didn't appear before the NAACP until 2006. When he was a presidential candidate, Bush appeared before the NAACP in July 2000. Just over three months later in October, the NAACP ran a race-baiting TV ad which featured the daughter of James Byrd, who was dragged behind a pickup truck for miles and was murdered. She blasted then-Governor Bush's decision to not support new "hate crimes" legislation in Texas. "When Governor George W . Bush refused to support hate crimes legislation, it was like my father was killed all over again." The media was largely silent in response to the ad.

It goes to show that Roberts was right to ask Martin if Republicans think that the NAACP has been "historically hostile" to the GOP.

[stm]

Blacks are far more racist against whites than whites are against blacks. But we don’t get to play the race card, they invented it.

[reg45]

Point taken. Even so, we can work today, to change the attitudes and values of individuals, even when the group seems beyond hope. Unfortunately, the MSM seems preoccupied with group-think.

[AliVeritas]

Once upon a time, if Michael Steele was pelted with Oreo cookies, Panthers, FOI, dems, libs, socialist, rich, poor, illegitimate, rapper, scientist and homemaker African Americans would have been all over whomever did it... period.

But, it meant nothing.

Same with Clarence Thomas, Condi and the Aunt Jemina cartoons and even Lieberman done in blackface.
But Imus says ho... when no one says it more than blacks (probably number 4 to the abhorent n word), and has to grovel on Sharpton’s show for hours. Meanwhile, every single rap CD you get will break a counter with all the worse degradation known to man re: black women... as well as how they sexed them, actual sex acts... you name it.
How many rappers have been on the show? Was it all over the MSM?

[TNdandelion]

Republicans have always had a difficulty in trying to speak to African-Americans.

Republicans also don't pander to women. As a member of that minority, it's quite refreshing to be treated as an individual rather than a member of some group that needs special attention.

[reg45]

It's still true today:

Free men vote Republican

Slaves vote Democrat

[Vision]

CNN Contributor Martin Blasts GOP: ‘They're Scared of Black Folks'

He should ask Republicans Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson.

[jdub]

Absolutely. Conservatives must win hearts and minds one at a time, for the power of the individual is at the heart of conservativism. Liberalism targets those that prefer a group identity, and are willing to sacrifice their freedom and individuality for the (false) security offered by the group.

I know you know this already, I just like saying it!!

[reg45]

[pieceofthepuzzle]

One very common trait of the left is to identify everyone as part of a ‘group’ or ‘community’, as though there is no individual variation within those ‘groups’. I can’t stand the term ‘black folks’, nor the terms ‘the people’, and ‘the ***** community’ (fill in whatever identifier you like) etc. Individuals are individuals. ‘Black folks’ don’t all think alike, and each has something special and unique to bring to the world, as do ‘White folks’, ‘Hispanic folks’ etc. The left's use of these type of terms betrays what their world view is. Leaders on the left (and I use the term leader very loosely) only recognize themselves as individuals. The rest of ‘the people’ are just the ‘masses’ that need to be ‘taken care of’.

[pallis]

The Republicans are afraid of black folks mantra, sometimes expressed as, Republicans are bigots, racists and mean spirited, is really just a way for Democrats to hide their fear of the day black folks are liberated from the liberal plantation.

[Heartland Mom]

When will they get it that liberals are the only ones stuck on the color issue. Period. Conservatives are for personal responsibility - and like when Bill Cosby held blacks themselves accountable for their lot (and the NAACP sure didn’t want to hear that!) - the NAACP in actuality is biased against conservatives because we don’t promise blacks endless welfare when they sure as heck are able-bodied and capable of taking care of themselves. By not sending them the subliminal message that blacks are poor and unfortunate and uneducated and need taking care of, we let them know that they are absolutely capable of more than settling for welfare. If we don’t know how to talk to blacks it is because a good many blacks have been conditioned to look for the hand out and not the hand up.

[UnklGene]

[Right Wing Assault]

They know that if they speak the truth, the NAACP won’t like it. If they lie, the NAACP will say they don’t believe them. So, what’s the point. They will vote Dem no matter what. Save fuel, save money. Oh, I forgot. Save the PLANET!

[geezerwheezer]

Martin continues to show the world why he is thought of as a real stupid dumba$$! He sputters, slobbers, and cries about his “brothers”, all the while making a buck off the angst felt in the black communities. What a winner this loser is!

[Altura Ct.]

Exactly! Roland Martin is the same racist that Paula Zahn would parade around as some sort of arbiter and race expert on her “Why Whites are still Evil” program. As long as the media insist on pushing individuals like Roland Martin, The Rev Al & Jesse Jackson etc as speaking for their community The worse relations will continue to get.

[Right Wing Assault]

But we don’t get to play the race card, they invented it.

We can use it if we pay royalties to Jesse Jackson.

[therut]

Has nothing to do with Black Folk and everything to do with the politics of the NAACP. When have you seen the Democratic nomines addressing the NRA, Concerned Women of America, In the pulpit of say a Conservative Church, groups that support tax cuts. Give me a BREAK. This guy is a racist.

[driftless2]

In 1960 Richard Nixon received fortyfive percent of the Black vote. This was before all the affirmative discrimination stuff and exploding welfare roles. Now the GOP is lucky to get twelve percent. This despite the fact that a greater percentage of Republican congressmen voted for the 1964 Civil Rights bill than did Dems. It’s not that Republicans aren’t speaking to Black people, it’s that through decades of wrongheaded government handouts most American Blacks have rejected the conservative way. I doubt people like the featured liberal idiot in the story even considers anything but life under the government thumb.

[Inquisitive1]

... If applied fairly (and that's the whole point)...

That's my concern: who will be the annointed ones to proclaim which speech is 'just ramblin' and which is legit political speech.

I'm enraged at how much of my history I was not taught in public schools or [more likely], how much I've forgotten through inattention.

[Blogatron]

Since an intractable 92% of blacks vote robotically for the democrat party, a Republican would have nothing to lose in talking to the NAALCP. It might be a great opportunity to talk over their heads and directly to the non-NAALCP who are tired of the unappeasable whining and of footing the bill for rampant irresponsibility.