Empty Threats: A History
Republican George W. Bush—11 percent of the black vote (election winner)
ELECTION 2008
A big sticking point for many panelists at the NAACP's Freedom Weekend Freedom Institute's forum was that the Democratic Party "takes the black vote for granted," said Bankole Thompson, Michigan Chronicle senior editor.
Source: Detroit Free Press April 27, 2008
"But before Democratic superdelegates get too itchy to snuff the Obama campaign, they should consider the new animal that move might spawn: the Obama Republican. I know: the notion of black folks and young folks and progressive white folks abandoning the Democrats en masse if the Wife of Bill is the nominee ain't exactly new; Right here on The Root, the writer William Jelani Cobb espoused a McCain protest vote in November, and has since accepted a ticket to Denver as a Democratic delegate in August. But that makes the threat no less real. Any Democratic honcho needing a lesson in the power of disaffected black voters need only Google "2002 and Clarence Mitchell IV."
Source: The RootApril 25, 2008.
"Let's be clear. When black folks switch parties, we do it decisively. After nearly a century of unwavering commitment to the party of Lincoln, it was Republican Barry Goldwater's presidential bid in 1964, designed to appeal to entrenched American racism, which led to an increase in black Democratic Party identifiers from 59 percent to 86 percent in a single election. Despite Obama's call for unity in his North Carolina victory speech last night, black Americans will not stand behind a candidate who deploys a Goldwater strategy within our own party. Our opposition to the war will not allow us to vote for McCain, but we can choose to exit the coalition, withhold our votes, to protest a Clinton candidacy. This is not a threat. It is an observation based on historical evidence."
Source: The Root, May 7, 2008
Final 2008 tally?
Casey Lartigue, Jr. is an education consultant based in Virginia.
Discuss:
Empty Threats: A History
Member Comments
-
Posted By:
-
Posted By:
-
Posted By:
View All Comments »EarthTone at 06/10/2008 9:22:27 AM
Comment:
[1] I am serially amused by the refrain from Republicans/conservatives that "we mustn't forget it was Republican Abraham Lincoln who freed them from slavery." It is hilarious that they need to look back to events that occurred over a hundred years ago to justify why we should vote for Republicans today. I guess a bad argument is better than no argument at all.
[2] The NAACP does have some value. Every 4 years, they produce the Presidential Candidates Civil Rights Questionnaire, which highlights the presidential candidates??? positions on civil rights and black advancement issues.
It's here: http://www.naacp.org/news/press/2008-02-01/index.htm
NOTE: Clinton and Obama responded to the Questionnaire; McCain dd not.
[3] The sad truth is this: the Republican Party has a Southern Strategy which uses racial polarization to get the votes of the white majority in the southern states. This was an explicit policy in the 60s and 70s, and it is an implicit policy now.
As long as the GOP is willing to use racial division to get white votes, I see no reason to vote for them, period.
I disagree with the thesis that Democrats take the black vote for granted. But at least, the Democratic Party wants my vote. Meanwhile, the GOP has cruelly calculated how to use fear of blacks to get white votes.
That makes this AA's voting decision quite easy to make.
EarthTone at 06/10/2008 9:20:55 AM
Comment:
[1] I am serially amused by the refrain from Republicans/conservatives that "we mustn't forget it was Republican Abraham Lincoln who freed them from slavery." It is hilarious that they need to look back to events that occurred over a hundred years ago to justify why we should vote for Republicans today. I guess a bad argument is better than no argument at all.
[2] The NAACP does have some value. Every 4 years, they produce the Presidential Candidates Civil Rights Questionnaire, which highlights the presidential candidates??? positions on civil rights and black advancement issues.
It's here: http://www.naacp.org/news/press/2008-02-01/index.htm
NOTE: Clinton and Obama responded to the Questionnaire; McCain dd not.
[3] The sad truth is this: the Republican Party has a Southern Strategy which uses racial polarization to get the votes of the white majority in the southern states. This was an explicit policy in the 60s and 70s, and it is an implicit policy now.
As long as the GOP is willing to use racial division to get white votes, I see no reason to vote for them, period.
I disagree with the thesis that Democrats take the black vote for granted. But at least, the Democratic Party wants my vote. Meanwhile, the GOP has cruelly calculated how to use fear of blacks to get white votes.
That makes this AA's voting decision quite easy to make.
Samantha T at 05/15/2008 11:51:43 AM
Comment:
Melissa - I'm not attacking people for being Obama supporters, I'm attacking people who would stay home rather than vote for Clinton were she the nominee (unlikely at this stage). It would be irresponsible and short-sighted given the state this country is in. I am not an Obama supporter presently and am disappointed that Clinton won't be the nominee, but I will vote for Obama come November because I recognize that it is imperative to get the Republicans out.