5 Reasons There Are So Few Black Americans In The Republican Party

Townhall.com ^ | September 7, 2012 | John Hawkins

[Kaslin]

How is it that the party of Lincoln, a party that led the way in opposing slavery, Jim Crow laws, lynching, the KKK, poll taxes, led the way on integration and voting rights for black Americans, and percentage wise, voted for the 1964 Civil Rights Act in greater numbers than Democrats is now only getting about 10% of the black vote? Democrats say racism, but any objective observer would quickly discard that explanation given the significant number of popular black Republicans. If even a large percentage of Republicans were racist, certainly Allen West, Herman Cain, Clarence Thomas, Michael Steele, Tim Scott, Mia Love, Condi Rice, Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, Star Parker, and Larry Elder couldn't exist, much less be popular with conservatives. Additionally, although Republicans don't support Affirmative Action, very few black Americans actually benefit from it and many are harmed as well.

So, why are Republicans doing so poorly with black Americans?

1) Economics: Black Americans are suffering economically compared to the rest of the country. "In 2009, the average net worth for white households was $113,149 and $5,700 for black households." 14.1% of black Americans are unemployed compared to 7.4 percent of whites and "black households’ median annual income fell" more than twice as much over the last two years as white Americans.

Since black Americans have been monolithically voting for the Democratic Party for 40 years, those numbers are actually a terrific argument for voting Republican. Unfortunately, as a practical matter, it doesn't work that way. People who are doing poorly economically tend to welcome any short term help they can get, even if the increased dependence on the government ultimately makes it more likely that they'll remain mired in poverty. Combine that with the fact that black Americans are dramatically over-represented amongst government workers (11.6% of the population vs. almost 20% of the government work force) and there are strong short term incentives for many black Americans to stay in the Democratic Party even if they'd ultimately benefit more from adopting a more conservative philosophy.

2) The skin color of the speakers: One of the great ironies of the race debate in America is that Republicans have internalized Martin Luther King's famous saying, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character," while most black Americans have rejected it. This creates a bit of a Catch-22 for Republicans. Black Americans are much more likely to listen and consider what black Republicans have to say, but there just aren't a lot of black Republicans to say it. This is a problem that's slowly, but surely being corrected as more and more black Americans are rising to prominence within the GOP, but we're just not there yet.

3) Racism culture: Even black Americans who are extremely prosperous and have never been significantly harmed by racism in their lives feel compelled to talk about America as if Democrats like George Wallace and Bull Connor were still running wild. There are three reasons for that.

A) It's at the core of the Democrats’ political strategy in dealing with black Americans. No matter how poorly served black Americans are by the Democrats, they won't listen to what Republicans have to say with an open mind if they're falsely convinced we hate them.

B) If you say that racism is no longer a serious problem for black Americans, then there still has to be some sort of explanation given for why black Americans aren't doing that well compared to white Americans. Many black Americans fear that other Americans might conclude that the old school Democratic racists were right and they are inferior. This is why pointing out that racism isn't a serious impediment for black Americans today can almost come across like a slap, as opposed to a plain statement of obvious fact.

C) Shouting "racism" is easy and it doesn't require you to do anything other than complain. Tackling other issues that are hurting black Americans like children being born out of wedlock and out of control crime in the inner cities is really hard.

Most Republicans do not consider racism to be a significant impediment to success anymore and that puts us up against a deeply ingrained, shared cultural belief with black Americans.

4) Outreach: That last item is the biggest factor in the GOP's mediocre, almost but not quite, non-existent outreach to black Americans. White Republicans assume what they say will be de facto ignored because of their race at best or they'll be called a racist no matter what they say at worst. Moreover, most Republicans have an almost instinctive dislike of identity politics that keeps us from creating a conservative NAACP and hiring our own Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons to push the conservative message to black Americans. So, the solution to this problem has been to do very little outreach and hope that black Americans will just drift into the Republican Party on their own. Judging by the number of black Americans voting for the GOP, this strategy isn't working and isn't likely to work in the foreseeable future.

5) Issues: The Republican Party is on the same page as most black Americans on "abortion, gay marriage, and being friendly to Christianity. Many black Americans also agree with the conservative stance on illegal immigration, school choice, being tough on crime, and supporting entrepreneurs." We have to do a better job of working with black Americans in areas where our interests coincide instead of expecting them to come to us. We also have to start using conservative principles to address issues that disproportionately impact black Americans. We need to find ways to implement enterprise zones and micro-loans to help black Americans in inner cities. It's also a disgrace that any American, in any neighborhood, has to worry about getting shot in his yard or drug dealers selling on the corner where his kids go to school. We're the law and order party. We should be effectively tackling that the way Rudy Giuliani did in New York. It's not enough for Republicans to say, "Look at the places we agree." As John Maxwell once said, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." We have to show black Americans we care, not just with words, but by rolling up our sleeves and tackling the issues the Democrat Party has been ignoring for decades.

[Altura Ct.]

that keeps us from creating a conservative NAACP and hiring our own Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons to push the conservative message to black Americans.

Lord have mercy. So ideology really isn't all its cracked up to be.

[Uncle Miltie]

Once, while on a trip with two governors, Johnson reportedly made the following comment in explaining why the civil rights bill was so important to him. He said it was simple: "I'll have them niggers voting Democratic for two hundred years."

From Professor Ronald Kessler's book, "Inside the White House", as reviewed on Amazon, here:

http://www.amazon.com/Inside-White-House-Ronald-Kessler/dp/0671879197

[cynwoody]

Nicki Minaj endorsed Mitt Romney though. :P

http://global.christianpost.com/news/nicki-minaj-death-threats-rapper-slammed-for-mitt-romney-endorsement-81245/

[Aevery_Freeman]

A great deal of that has to do with brilliant governmental policies; the War on Drugs and the effects of the Great Society initiative.

The black population we see is a direct result of failed government programs.

[loveliberty2]

Kaslin, thank you. On another thread you posted Jonah Goldberg's thoughts. My post on that thread applies to this thread also--perhaps even more than there.

While Col. West and the other outstanding thought leaders named by Hawkins are doing their part, "We, the People" long for and need Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates who, themselves, will address the ideas which are essential to opportunity and success for all individuals. The "other" side in the current debate rely on ideas, not on results. The problem is that theirs is a wrong set of ideas.

On the other thread, Jonah Goldberg spoke of the Romney campaign's emphasis on "competence," not on ideas.

Speaking of "competence," what about the "competence" of articulating the difference between individual freedom and oppression by big government?

America's founding ideas of liberty, if articulated competently, will strike a note in the hearts and minds of a population now looking for the "hope and change" which Obama and his cronies have not delivered, and cannot deliver using the tools of "redistribution."

We need leadership which sharply distinguishes why "redistribution" is an enslaving idea! We need leadership which allows no "moral equivalency" between the idea of "redistribution" and the founding idea of "freedom of individual enterprise" and respect for "private property rights."

The proponents of "redistribution" are selling an "idea" that is dooming future generations to slavery, and we're focusing on "jobs" and the "economy"?

Romney's focus should be broad enough to allow that Americans can understand that "jobs and a robust economy" are consequences of freedom and liberty.

"Jobs and a robust economy" will never result from a mindset and world view that allows some people to plan, order, choose winners and losers, give preferential treatment according to their limited understanding, and "redistribute" the earnings from the hard work of those they wish to govern.

"Ideas" are not hard. They just require focus. After all, THE FEDERALIST essays were written to explain the ideas of the American Constitution to farmers in upstate New York and across the states.

We're choosing between freedom and slavery to government, after all.

What's so difficult about this businessman's listing of seven principles for measuring legislation?

"1. Does this legislation or idea increase, or decrease, individual freedom and creativity?

"2. Does this legislation or idea increase, or decrease, the power of some citizens over other citizens?

"3. Does this legislation or idea recognize that the persons who will exercise the power are themselves imperfect human beings?

"4. Does this legislation or idea recognize that government is incapable of creating wealth?

"5. Does this legislation or idea authorize taking from some what belongs to them, and giving it to others to whom it does not belong?
If 'thou shalt not steal' is a valid commandment, can we assume that it is meant to apply only to individuals and not to government (which is made up of individuals), even if those persons in power pass laws which sanction such redistribution of the wealth of others?'

"6. Does this legislation or idea encourage, or discourage, the very highest level of morality and responsibility from the individual?
. . .when government makes actions 'legal' by some citizens at the expense of other citizens, the result may be behavior which would not be considered possible by individuals acting alone.

"7. Does this legislation or idea propose that the 'government' do something which the individual cannot do without committing a crime?"**

**7 principles drawn from James R. Evans book, "America's Choice: Twilight's Last Gleaming or Dawn's Early Light" and reprinted in a Stedman Corporation (Asheboro, NC) booklet entitled "I'm Only One, What Can I Do?"

[zeestephen]

Re: “We need to find ways to implement enterprise zones and micro-loans to help black Americans in inner cities.”

Until I read this sentence, it looked like a pretty good essay.

Government cannot create productive citizens by limiting competition and reducing standards.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” Miserable failures inside Blue Cities, Blue States and Deep Blue School Districts - total failures, except when indoctrinating black children against white people and certainly white conservatives and Republicans, instead of educating them! “

This, and welfare.

[Red Badger]

6. Mis-education or more correctly non-education.....

[Marcella]

The Republican Party of Texas was started by a black man and I believe that was in Galveston, Texas.

[BuffaloJack]

I’m always amazed that the GOP does not have more blacks, since Martin Luther King was a Republican.

[Sherman Logan]

I have never understood how having a present Thug father is somehow better for a child.

I assume decent black men are already fulfilling the father’s role. The non-decent ones being around would not be a help to their kids.

[Jim Scott]

The Republicans have attracted the bright members of the minority - siphoned them off - and they are great leaders, without exception - one might call it the “brain drain!”

Yes, they came to the GOP on their own. Simply put, intelligent, industrious blacks recognize that Republicans offer opportunity for all while the Democrats offer dependency and pandering. Unfortunately, far too few blacks want to recognize this and remain mired on the Democrat 'plantation' while accepting the lie that their lack of success is solely due to 'racism' and Republicans. It's as frustrating as it is sad.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***or have a criminal record so bad that they disqualified themselves for military service.***

Not a new idea. Ertta Kitt insulted Lady Byrd Johnson back in the 1967 with a remark similar to that.

[wayoverontheright]

I have interviewed, hired, and fired prospective employees, black, white, male, and female for years.

The biggest impediment to black success in the workplace is not a lack of ability, smarts, knowledge, attitude, or industry. The impediment not mentioned in this article is simply the willingness for some blacks who come into the workplace to succumb to the thinking that any failure, any setback, is not due to their own performance, but to some form of discrimination on the part of those judging their work.

It is a shame that some young blacks, having been brought up by their parents to become winners-the principal ingredient being to blame no one but yourself if you fail, are force-fed this loser-blame-racism excuse by the culture at large.

Only a few do not buy into this loser mentality, and they generally become superstars. (See Herman Cain, Allen West).

[stephenjohnbanker]

” I saw them quoting Jeb Bush at the DNC about how the R party is too extreme,. Thanks Jeb, the DNC is waiting for you. “

Jeb Bush should be forced to sign up as an agent of Mexico.

[muawiyah]

Surprising but otherwise meaningless list. Blacks made a conscious decision in 1964 to become the major faction in the Democrat party.

In the aggregate Black voters are about 40% of total Democrat actual, "You Can Count On It" voting strength, and if you look only at the blue states, Black voters DOMINATE the Democrat party.

They are slowly but surely taking over Congressional districts in those states, and they so dominate numerous cities that it's inconceivable that a non-black could ever win a mayorality election.

For the most part they don't need to do coalition politics in those places they dominate ~ hence the absence of all but a handful of white candidates there.

As far as political issues go Black Democrats are not far off the mark of most Republicans, but they have a senior coalition partner of far greater importance and that's the 60% of the Democrat voting base who are not Black.

One of the prices of coalition politics is that you lose some things and you gain some others. Democrats have that part down pat.

Most Republicans seem to be unaware that within their party they are part of a coalition with others who have slightly different interests. The group we tag with the GOP-e name are maybe 15% of the Republican coalition. Socons are at least 40%, and the TEAPArty is somewhere between 20% to as much as 30% ~ with overlap here and there.

The first rule of coalition politics is that you have to give up something. The GOP-e has forgotten that which leads us to a situation where a sitting President who almost anyone could beat this year, is facing a Republican candidate who is clearly outside the bounds of "almost anyone" ~ making this race a lot tougher than it ever needed to be.

I found it more than a little interesting to find the quintessential GOP-e gopher-boy, Karl Rove, proposing the murder of a Socon candidate.

That's a sign of serious desperation ~ as well as a recognition that the professional agents hired by the GOP-e to do their dirty work know this is the last hurrah for most of them.

The Socons and the TEAParty will still sweep the ranks of Congressional races ~ which, combined with previous gains last year and the year before will leave them pretty much in charge of the Republican party.

[faucetman]

No we don't need an extensive AA outreach. I have no problem with Reps pointing out how they are more in line with AA values. I have no problem pointing out how Democrats are just using them and taking them for granted while aborting half their babies.

Let them come to US as we are. No special considerations on our part. We are a color blind party, so we can't recognize them for their color. It's up to them to make the switch. Until they realize it, the Dems can have them.

[Bob]

Black Americans are much more likely to listen and consider what black Republicans have to say...

That might be true for some blacks if their "leaders" weren't labeling those black Republicans as "Uncle Toms", sellouts, and Oreos.

[Venturer]

This article is a boatload.

Stop beating around the bush and spill it, Tell it like it is.

The black vote is bought and paid for by the Democrat party thanks to entitlements, affirmative action,and the Justice Department sucking up to them.
They hate anyone who works for a living or made it on their own including other successful blacks.
Racist whites in the Democrat party know how to buy black votes.No one really thinks that Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid or Steny Hoyer actually have any blacks in their social strata do they? It’s all a game.