PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
by Chris Freind
Up until the 1930's, the majority of blacks were Republican, proud to be in the Party of Lincoln. In fact, the national anthem of the NAACP, Lift Every Voice and Sing, was written by a black Republican in 1900---to celebrate President Lincoln's birthday. Even more telling is that the NAACP itself was formed nine years later, on Lincoln's 100-year birthday, by three whites---three white Republicans.
Now fast forward to 2000.
George W. Bush captured a mere 8% of the black vote. 8%?
A) How did that happen, and B) much more important, what needs to be done to re-establish the GOP relationship with one of its most natural constituencies?
Answer A) Incompetence, a lack of foresight, political expediency---and FDR's New Deal.
Answer B) Bold, aggressive leadership that ignores political correctness. This must entail going for the jugular of all who label real solutions "racist" or "bigoted".
Answer B is simple, and is applicable to solving most of the problems we face, but it is certainly not easy.
Are we there yet? Is there such a Republican running for President who can heal the wounds and be a uniter?
No. And for evidence, look no further than when the top four GOP frontrunners skipped the debate on race relations several months ago, citing ridiculous excuses for not attending.
The truth is they refused to attend for a simple reason. They looked at the numbers of blacks who vote Republican, and, figuring they would get pummeled by the black audience (it was held at black Morgan State University), stayed away. For the record, there were six candidates who did have the courage to show up, and there was some constructive dialogue, but since they weren't "first-tier", it didn't get covered.
After their no-show, Freindly Fire rained fire on those Republicans' gutless political maneuvering:
"Any Republican who believes the status quo is acceptable---and a deliberate absence at such an event makes that their position--- doesn't deserve to lead our nation. Running for President should not just be about cozy fund raisers and scripted speeches to friendly audiences. It must be about tackling the most pressing issues, even if it means walking into the lion's den, standing your ground, and outlining your vision for success."
A leader is needed to stand up and embrace Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A leader is needed to remind blacks about their former alliance with the GOP. But most of all, a leader is needed to explain to blacks that they are still Republican in their values, and to show them the way home.
Dr. King espoused Republican ideals more eloquently than most. Look at the words in his most famous statement " I have a dream that my four 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". Is there anything more Republican than that? True Republicans strive to live in a color-blind society, where people are judged by their deeds and on merit, not because of their skin pigment.
The blacks find themselves in the same position as most rank-and-file union members. They share the core beliefs of the Republican Party, but their leaders have their own agendas---most often contrary to the best interests of those whom they purport to represent. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, the CBS executive involved in Don Imus' firing, Congressional leaders...the list goes on. Yet God forbid that a black person actually says the truth in a straightforward manner! That is "un-allowable", resulting in personal insults and vicious attacks. Look at the heat Bill Cosby took when he scolded the black community for using excuses and for not picking themselves up. He was demonized by black "leaders" nationwide.
But he is right.
Who is most affected by violent crime? Who is most impacted by outrageous taxes and ever-increasing public transportation fees? Who, more than anyone, strives to have a solid family unit, knowing the catastrophic results of a child growing up without a father? As a group, who opposes same-sex marriages more than any other? And who better understands the reality that many of our failed public schools, especially those in the inner city, have become literal battle zones—-and that the only way to achieve a quality education, and with it one's dreams, is through parental choice in education?
Black Americans.
Bold leadership isn't going to garner the Republicans a huge vote swing in the next election---you don't reverse seventy years of thinking overnight. But the irony is that this shouldn't be about votes at all.
If the GOP does the right thing, for the right reasons, the votes will follow. And that is what politics should be about.
Contact Chris Freind at CF@TheBulletin.US.
