Posted on 05/20/2014 5:21:44 AM PDT by dignitasnews
Beset by scandals on both the national and statewide level, Democrats find themselves in danger of historic losses in the 2014 midterms, as in addition to the "angry white males" they find themselves facing a new threat, that of the "angry young black male." A growing trend of young black makes defecting to the GOP has caused fears among Democratic Party officials who have largely ignored the concerns of a constituency that has been loyal for decades.
It is ironic that with the election of the first African-American President, the party that garners roughly 90% of the black vote finds itself in danger of losing the young men of this community, not just for one election cycle, but for generations to come. Despite its rhetoric and numerous ties to the African-American community, young black black males have become increasingly frustrated with a party they feels promoted policies which emasculate them and offer few opportunities for them to achieve the American dream. Much of the elation that came from Obama's historic political achievement turned into an eye-opening experience for many black men, who noticed the gulf between the feel-good rhetoric of Democrats as hollow as inner-city unemployment has grown during the tenure of the first black President.
"I'll be honest, when Obama announced his candidacy, I was ecstatic." notes consultant Shermichael Singleton, who as a high-school senior lobbied the local school superintendent to attend an Obama campaign rally in Dallas, TX when first denied by his principal. "It was a great experience. I applauded his speech and him for running," although this early enthusiasm has since changed, "but I've been extremely disappointed."
Following high school, Singleton attended Morehouse College, where college, where he was instrumental in organizing the first College Republican group at the traditionally black college. He noted that this caused some raised eyebrows, but overall found support for this stance. "Singleton, we think you're crazy as hell," he laughed, "but brother, we support you and glad you're standing up for what you believe." Six years into Obama's presidency, he may be finding more support than he ever thought he might.
While there is no dispute that the Republican Party has much work to do in order to gain support from of the African-American community, key data from the 2012 elections results do shed light on hopes that they can be more competitive in the future. President Obama won an astonishing 93% of the overall black vote against his opponent, Mitt Romney, but a closer analysis of the support the GOP standard-bearer received from young black males is enough to warrant the fears of Democratic Party leaders that their vote cannot be taken for granted. According to Pew Research exit polling, a full 19% of young black males between the ages of 18-29 cast their votes for Romney, while only 2% of black females in this age group went with the Republican.
This startling anomaly was one of the primary drivers in the White House's unveiling of its "My Brothers Keeper" initiative, designed to help improve the opportunities of young black males in the national cities. Like many Democrat policies of the past few decades, however, it has largely been met with skepticism and yet another example of empty rhetoric designed to keep a long-time loyal constituency "in its place."
Many young black men see themselves as the expendable causalities of "Great Society" social-welfare programs which have been both the key to Democrat electoral success among the African-American community, and the cause for many of the problems associated with the inner cities. 50 years of the liberal-progressives signature policy has resulted in an alarming increase in single-parent household rates among the black community, as well as a disproportionate rate of welfare dependence, abortion and crime.
"They keep feeding the same line about hope, help and power to the people," grumbled Terrance Ramsey of Long Beach, CA, "but its nothing more than hype. Welfare checks and excuses about racism. I'm tired of it, man." This is a sentiment that is quietly growing among young men who feel they have taken for granted by the Democratic Party that expects they will receive the votes of African-Americans simply because they are the party considered "standing up for blacks." Although the anger is brewing, Ramsey says Republicans need to do a better job of engaging the community, "Many of us vote Democrat because they are the one's that show up. They may be full of (expletive) but they show up at the churches and events, so that's who people listen to."
"Our communities need a new direction, a new plan," he states, "and if more Republicans would get out into the community and tell folks what they are all about, I believe they would be surprised at how much support they would get. We are tired of what's going on out here and getting the same old promises from the same old crooks, but don't have many Republicans we can look up to as role-models. I saw Allen West speak once in 2013 and he really woke me up to the fact that there are brothers who are Republicans. I swear Ill never vote for another Democrat as long as I live."
School Choice is a potential issue where the Republicans can find common cause within the black community in its efforts to both gain more support and show how conservative policies can benefit the lives of its residents. Despite strong resistance from a Democratic Party who are beholden to Public Employee and Teachers Unions, these programs have found increasing popularity among African-American parents of school aged children. The program, in essence, provides parents with a "voucher" equivalent to the public school per-year spending on a pupil, giving them the opportunity to use this at a private or public school of their choice.
"School choice helps children rise from poverty by allowing students to attend quality schools when others are failing," states 19 year-old Lee Jackson, Maine State GOP Committeeman, "when schools compete, students win. Funding should go where students want to learn, not to schools they are forced to attend.
"There’s a clear choice that’s been placed in front of us," the rising Republican star continued, "Either we allow the federal government to enact laws that force students through unsuccessful programs, or we celebrate the variety of successful schools and empower parents and local governments in making the right choices for their children’s future."
If Republicans are able to combine a growing dissatisfaction with liberal policies and combine that with an effective program of economic and educational opportunity, they can harness the resentments of young black males against the Democratic Party and overcome the fears instilled against the GOP.
By Paul M Winters
Sources:
BET TheRoot WallStreetJournal PeoplePress DignitasNews
And why are they the only ones to show up? Maybe it is because of the vitriol thrown their way by upstanding members of the black community? Maybe it is because when they were growing up, conservative blacks were ostricized by their people of their own race, because they dared to step out of line.
When blacks begin to cut the cancer out of their communities, then they can begin to be free.
If they are coming to conservatives, it’s probably the only real chance they have to live a decent and free life.
Wait a second, Lyndon Johnson said he’d had them voting Democrat for 200 years, there’s still 150 years to go on that guarantee!
Any black American who wants to see this country prosper and wants an opportunity-filled future for their children should be interested in the conservative movement.
In the meantime stand by for more “disparate impact” nonsense from Eric Holder.
I’m sorry, but the number of young black males who actually defected to vote GOP would likely fit in two booths down at the local Dennys.
Color me skeptical.
School choice should be an issue pounded on over and over again in low income communities. It’s the perfect example of how the Democrats look to appease their coalition and the Republicans look to find a (somewhat) free market solution to a problem. What’s more important to your average American family than your kids education/future? Yet what issues are we talking about? Amnesty and Man Made Global Warming....
This just shows how idiotic the Republican party is. If Blacks ever defect to the Republican party, by and large it won’t be because of the Republican party. It will be an accident...
Conservatives have been expounding on this for years yet the GOPe is afraid of saying it.
Why, exactly, do you have this guy’s back?
Because he’s “gettin’ YT”! That’s why!
Good having you on FR.
:D
They now will not vote for a demoncrap. They got mugged and corrected their views.
I feel good! (credit to James Brown)
FMCDH(BITS)
Republicans need to tap in to an increasingly frustrated black middle class.
That is, there are black families out there that work hard, get educated, live decent lives, and strive to better themselves. But then something weird happens.
Culturally, they are lumped together with blacks who are criminal, lazy, ignorant, and generally worthless. And it bugs the Hell out of them.
Let me emphasize that: it enrages them. And they have a point.
Like him or not, the comedian Chris Rock, who though he only has a GED, observed the horror of blacks with college degrees and even postgraduate degrees, when compared with blacks who had served felony prison sentences. “I’m just like you. I went to prison. That’s like a Masters degree!”
Imagine how oppressive it would be to white professionals, if our culture thought of them as no different than ill behaved lower class whites?
A big part of the problem with the black middle class is that when they succeed, they expect *recognition* as being successful.
Ironically, the white middle class doesn’t do this, to anyone. To them, being middle class means being left alone. To live in isolation in a suburban home surrounded by other suburban homes.
But to middle class blacks being left alone is a snub. They find it offensive when the *recognition* they expect to flow to them with success doesn’t come.
So what can the Republicans do?
Their outreach to middle class black America needs to incorporate some form of recognition, that conservatism and Republicanism is “the success club” to which they are, and want to be members. That once there, they are completely different from black people who are failures and Democrats.
This is not easy, but the end result would be worth it.
Its going to take a sustained effort, but it first takes the GOP even recognizing there is an opportunity. I pointed to Obama’s “My Brothers Keeper” scheme because it shows THEY are looking at the polling data and seeing the threat...but is the RNC? That will be the question.
He - he - he - he
I've often wondered how a Jamaican in this country feels about being called African American. Any idea mon?
The repubs will do the same to them as they do to us conservatives. Both parties are traitors.
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