Spring Break
A good history exists with GOP and blacks
Torey Reese
Issue date: 2/24/05 Section: Opinion
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It's been 135 years since the first black senator was elected into office. Starting in 1869, the first group of black representatives came into power. All were Republicans. What has happened to the political party that freed the slaves? Up until FDR, there were more black Republicans than Democrats. Blacks could identify with the Republicans. After all, the anti-slavery movement is what created the party of Lincoln. Republicans pushed the Fourteenth Amendment, recognizing blacks as citizens. Republicans also supported the Fifteenth Amendment, allowing recently freed slaves the right to vote.
It all seems to be forgotten by today's blacks. They are the only voting block that consistently votes for the Democratic Party. Why? What liberal policies have moved blacks up the economic ladder? The War on Drugs is a failure. Raising taxes has proven time and time again that it is a futile policy. Today, blacks vote for Democrats for the same reason Hispanics become Catholics: daddy told them to.
Truth be told, Republicans haven't successfully broken away from the racist stereotype that liberals love to constantly mention. Anytime conservatives debate important subjects like education, the military, social security, or taxes; liberals have one response: racist. Say it enough times and some will begin to believe it. But what political party's policies have reflected racist attitudes?
Former Ku Klux Klan member and current President Pro Tempore Senator Robert Byrd, a Democrat, led a filibuster, along with Al Gore Sr. to stop the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights bill. After Republican Senator Everett Dirksen broke the filibuster, the final vote showed more Republicans voting in favor of the bill, than Democrats. A total of 82% of Republican Congressmen voted yes, while only 69% of Democrats did the same. In the Senate, only six Republicans voted against it, and 21 Democrats voted no.
Republicans can take credit for a lot of minority firsts: the first female Supreme Court Justice, the first black and black-female Secretary of State, the first black-female National Security Advisor. The most diverse cabinet in history can be found in the Bush White House. In fact, George W. Bush has appointed more minorities in the highest positions of power than any Democratic administration. In addition, Bush, despite his critics, has supported and signed legislation that favors minorities. The No Child Left Behind Act, tax cuts, and faith-based initiatives are all targeted at improving the social and economic position of minorities in this country. Today, minority homeownership is at an all time high.
So what will it take for blacks to switch back to the party that first fought for their basic rights? The record shows that there is no record from the Democratic Party when it comes to helping minorities. Liberals have for a long time taken advantage of the black vote. Blacks should be willing to engage today's conservative message: family values, lower tax cuts, a strong national defense, an educational system that needs reform, and a compassionate America. The liberal platform has never favored minorities. Not one policy, that Democrats have introduced, has made life better for blacks. Blacks still dropout, are born out of wedlock, and fill prison cells, at a high rate. It's time they turn back to the party that's worked on behalf of all Americans, them included.
It all seems to be forgotten by today's blacks. They are the only voting block that consistently votes for the Democratic Party. Why? What liberal policies have moved blacks up the economic ladder? The War on Drugs is a failure. Raising taxes has proven time and time again that it is a futile policy. Today, blacks vote for Democrats for the same reason Hispanics become Catholics: daddy told them to.
Truth be told, Republicans haven't successfully broken away from the racist stereotype that liberals love to constantly mention. Anytime conservatives debate important subjects like education, the military, social security, or taxes; liberals have one response: racist. Say it enough times and some will begin to believe it. But what political party's policies have reflected racist attitudes?
Former Ku Klux Klan member and current President Pro Tempore Senator Robert Byrd, a Democrat, led a filibuster, along with Al Gore Sr. to stop the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights bill. After Republican Senator Everett Dirksen broke the filibuster, the final vote showed more Republicans voting in favor of the bill, than Democrats. A total of 82% of Republican Congressmen voted yes, while only 69% of Democrats did the same. In the Senate, only six Republicans voted against it, and 21 Democrats voted no.
Republicans can take credit for a lot of minority firsts: the first female Supreme Court Justice, the first black and black-female Secretary of State, the first black-female National Security Advisor. The most diverse cabinet in history can be found in the Bush White House. In fact, George W. Bush has appointed more minorities in the highest positions of power than any Democratic administration. In addition, Bush, despite his critics, has supported and signed legislation that favors minorities. The No Child Left Behind Act, tax cuts, and faith-based initiatives are all targeted at improving the social and economic position of minorities in this country. Today, minority homeownership is at an all time high.
So what will it take for blacks to switch back to the party that first fought for their basic rights? The record shows that there is no record from the Democratic Party when it comes to helping minorities. Liberals have for a long time taken advantage of the black vote. Blacks should be willing to engage today's conservative message: family values, lower tax cuts, a strong national defense, an educational system that needs reform, and a compassionate America. The liberal platform has never favored minorities. Not one policy, that Democrats have introduced, has made life better for blacks. Blacks still dropout, are born out of wedlock, and fill prison cells, at a high rate. It's time they turn back to the party that's worked on behalf of all Americans, them included.
