Black Cons Leaving Republican Plantation…

To be a Black Republican has always taken a cast iron stomach. The principal function of black conservatives is a front men, to be placed in visible positions for the press to provide plausible deniability to the Republican racism issue.

While both parties have their requisite numbers of hotheads, racists, and morons – the Republican hog has fed at the trough of racial animosity since the days of Raygun. The penalty for that has been the evolution of a Party dominated by small minds, and even smaller morality. If you don’t believe that, look at the assorted weak sisters and mental midgets which now dominate the Republican wannabe President list. The salient point here being “wannabe”.

It’s not about America anymore, it is about special interest groups and “the base”, which in the case of the Tea Party which now dominates the Republican body politic is hardly distinguishable from the Third KKK or the German American Bund.

I think the key point here is that the flocks of folks deserting the sinking ship aren’t suddenly coming to their senses and becoming progressives – what they are becoming is “not-Republicans”. They are holding on to a conservative dream which has been sold down the river so many times…

They are left in an ocean of disappointment.

The latest escapees? Black conservatives, tired of holding that lantern out there on the lawn.

Former "Black Republican", now Independent, Ken Barnes

Viewpoints: Racist cartoon of Obama forces me to leave GOP

I was one of those rare species: a black Republican, the guy willing to spit into the wind of conventional thought, who was often showcased on camera at party events to prove inclusiveness.

But as a proud black man, I can no longer be a member of the Republican Party.

Being a Republican has long been a part of my personal and professional identities, so leaving the party is a difficult and emotional decision.

In 1998, as a young man searching for what I believed were shared values, I cut ties with the Democratic Party and became a Republican. Democrats, in my view, had become unwelcoming to those holding center-right views not in lockstep with the party, and it was my belief that through hard work, the Republican Party could be utilized as a vehicle for improving our community.

For the next 13 years, I dedicated myself to growing the conservative base of the Republican Party, and in the process bound myself in emotion and deed.

During that time, I worked on behalf of Republican candidates at all levels, from presidential and gubernatorial campaigns, on down to local elections.

I have had the pleasure of serving as president of the Sacramento Republican Assembly, a term as a member of the California Republican Party executive committee, and most recently as treasurer of the Sacramento County Republican Party.

Last year alone, I donated more than 400 hours of my time to the Republican Party and made financial contributions to a number of Republican candidates.

As of late, however, when I look at myself in the mirror there is one question which perplexes me: Can I, in good conscience, remain affiliated with an organization whose message purveyors of racism and bigotry find attractive?

Black Republican Accuses Cong. Alcee Hastings of Sexual Harassment

I guess the only question I would have here is WTF would they have hired this woman in the first place? Alcee is certainly no saint – but there are some pretty big red flags on this woman. She appears to be associated with the scum side of the right wing, and is trying to promote her book. That isn’t to categorically say she is lying – but there seem to be a lot of motives…

Alcee Hastings, Fla. Democratic congressman, faces sexual harassment allegation

The conservative legal group Judicial Watch announced Monday that it has filed a lawsuit against Rep. Alcee Hastings, accusing the 10-term Florida Democrat of sexually harassing a policy adviser who worked on a commission that Hastings once chaired.

The lawsuit, filed Monday with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, accuses Hastings of making “unwelcome sexual advances” and taking retaliation against the female employee, Winsome Packer, from January 2008 to February 2010. Packer, a Republican, worked on the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, which Hastings had co-chaired until Democrats lost their House majority this year.

Also named as defendants in the lawsuit are the commission and its former staff director, Fred Turner.

According to the lawsuit, Hastings made repeated sexual advances toward Packer, including asking her to accompany him alone to his hotel room; asking her “humiliating and inappropriate” questions in public; and making unwanted physical contact, including “hugging her with both arms while pressing his body against her body and his face against her face.”

Black Tea Bagger at CPAC – “I get confused for a waiter a lot…”

Oh Yeah…It’s the bow tie…

It’s Hard Out There For A Black Candidate At CPAC

Texas Railroad Commissioner Williams. Looks a little bit like Louie Armstrong - but hardly the waiter.

Wandering around the vast and labyrinthine CPAC yesterday, I stumbled into Michael Williams, a Texas Railroad Commissioner (an important elected gig in the Lone Star State) and a Republican candidate for the Senate seat Kay Bailey Hutchison is retiring from.

Last year, I interviewed Williams — who at the time was among the lucky conservatives to have Sen. Jim DeMint’s (R-SC) endorsement in the Senate race that was supposed to happen when Hutchison quit after her run for governor (she didn’t, so Williams had to wait.) During our chat, he told me how conservatives need to do a better job reaching out to the African American community, where he acknowledged right wingers have little entre or experience.

When I ran into him yesterday, it appeared conservatives have not made much progress on that front. Ahead of me was a CPAC attendee rushing past, as they are wont to do in this giant place.

“Hey, are you Herman Cain?” the young man asked Williams, referring to another African American conservative running for federal officeand attending CPAC.

I asked Williams if that happened a lot.

“Not really,” he told me. “A lot of people think I’m a waiter.”

Williams blamed the confusion on his trademark bowtie, which — like a lot of conservatives — he wears all the time, and wears well.

A friend with him said that on more than one occasion, people had asked him to get them a drink.

“I think it’s really because of the bowtie,” Williams explained.

Confusion over who is and who isn’t a waiter is certainly not limited to CPAC, or to conservatives in general.

But Cain and Williams, along with Rep. Allen West (R-FL), who’ll be delivering the keynote address this afternoon, are pretty much the only black elected officials in attendance. It’s at least a little striking that people here get the men confused or think they work here.

Update: ABC News’ Michael Falcone tweeted today that West has also been confused for Herman Cain at CPAC.

All ya’ll look alike!

Black Arizona Republican Forced to Resign After Tea Party Threats

Forer District Chairman Anthony Miller

The sole black Republican district chairman in Arizona resigned just hours after the assassination attempt on Gabrielle Giffords citing threats from Tea Party members and fear for his family’s safety.

Citing “constant verbal attacks” and other forms of intimidation District Chairman Anthony Miller resigned, along with several others active in the local party.

We have all been hearing about how the language of the Republicans and Tea Baggers isn’t really threatening…

That doesn’t hold much water when lifelong Republicans, afraid for their lives, are being blackmailed and threatened out of office.

Gabrielle Giffords’ Arizona shooting prompts resignations

Miller, a 43-year-old Ahwatukee Foothills resident and former campaign worker for U.S. Sen. John McCain, was re-elected to a second one-year term last month. He said constant verbal attacks after that election and Internet blog posts by some local members with Tea Party ties made him worry about his family’s safety.

In an e-mail sent a few hours after Saturday’s massacre in Tucson that killed six and injured 13, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Miller told state Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen he was quitting: “Today my wife of 20 yrs ask (sic) me do I think that my PCs (Precinct Committee members) will shoot at our home? So with this being said I am stepping down from LD20GOP Chairman…I will make a full statement on Monday.”

Pullen was in Washington, D.C. and not available for comment, an employee in his office said. State party spokesman Matt Roberts said he could not discuss details of the district’s disputes but, “Anthony has been a good Republican and was really involved in LD20.”

The newly-elected Dist. 20 Republican secretary, Sophia Johnson of Ahwatukee, first vice chairman Roger Dickinson of Tempe and Jeff Kolb, the former district spokesman from Ahwatukee, also quit. “This singular focus on ‘getting’ Anthony (Miller) was one of the main reasons I chose to resign,” Kolb said in an e-mail to another party activist. Kolb confirmed the contents of the e-mail to the Republic…

Miller said when he was a member of McCain’s campaign staff last year has been criticized by the more conservative party members who supported Republican opponent J.D. Hayworth. The first and only African-American to hold the party’s precinct chairmanship, Miller said he has been called “McCain’s boy,” and during the campaign saw a critic form his hand in the shape of a gun and point it at him.

“I wasn’t going to resign but decided to quit after what happened Saturday,” Miller said. “I love the Republican Party but I don’t want to take a bullet for anyone.”

Alan West Joins Congressional Black Caucus

Think they signed in the wrong black Republican – but the doors should be open. My problem with the CBC’s membership rules is that Membership is based on the race of the Congressperson… And not their constituency. Seems to me that someone, regardless of race, representing a majority black district should be a member of the CBC. There has been t his huge disconnect in Congress – and not only just the CBC, in that they are not there to serve their constituency, but themselves.

Black caucus swears in first GOP member in years

The liberal Congressional Black Caucus has sworn in its first Republican member in more than a decade, welcoming newly elected congressman Allen West of Florida at a ceremony Wednesday.

West and Tim Scott of South Carolina were elected in November as the first black Republicans in Congress since former Rep. J.C. Watts left eight years ago.

While Scott declined to join the caucus, West pushed for membership, saying he wants to try to steer the group away from what he calls failed social welfare programs and big-government solutions.

A strident conservative, West is the first Republican to join the caucus since Rep. Gary Franks of Connecticut lost his seat in 1997.

The 43-member caucus also elected Missouri Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver as its new chairman.

What I think is interesting is that the CBC could, operating as a group,  effectively tie the House in knots under the Republican Majority. I would love to see them use that sort of power to force Republicans to negotiate, and bargain with the CBC to be able to effectuate anything. Of course it would take someone with strategic vision, courage, and ruthlessness to get it done…

Characteristics which seem in woeful short supply in today’s Democrats.

(And why didn’t Boehner join?)

Black Caucus Caves

After a week of the typical Republican racial pandering, the Congressional Black Caucus has followed the Democrat tradition…

And turned chicken-isht.

What they should be doing is offering South Carolina Representative Scott a seat at the table…

While challenging Alan West’s legitimacy to hold a seat in Congress.

Criminals and Felons quite simply should not be eligible to hold a seat in Congress.



The "New" Democrat Donkey - All Dressed Out With a Yellow Stripe

Black caucus says it will welcome Republicans

The Congressional Black Caucus says it will allow two recently elected black Republicans to join the group if they ask.

The all-Democratic caucus had wavered over the issue since Tim Scott of South Carolina and Allen West of Florida were elected last week. Chairwoman Barbara Lee had pointed to the group’s liberal mission statement as a potential point of conflict.

But in a statement Tuesday, the group said the two would be welcomed if they request membership.

West has said he wants to join to bring a new perspective to the group. Scott hasn’t decided.

The 42-member caucus has had two Republican members in its four-decade history. The most recent black Republican in Congress, J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, declined to join.

The black caucus includes a handful of moderates but is mostly made up of liberals serving in safe Democratic districts. The addition of Republicans would likely shake up its weekly meetings and require its leaders to navigate around them to discuss strategy.

West, a former Army officer, said in an interview he’s eager to steer the group away from “failing liberal social welfare policies that have caused the demise of the black community.”

West said the black caucus must confront overwhelming issues in the African-American community including high teen pregnancy, incarceration and unemployment rates. Those are issues that require “competence and character,” not the caucus’ “monolithic voice that continues to promote victimization and dependence.”

West defeated Democratic Rep. Ron Klein despite opposition from African-American Democrats such as Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida.

 

 

Meet Jennifer Carrol, Candidate for Lt. Governor of Florida

There is a very good chance that Jennifer Carrol, running as a Republican will be the new Lt. Governor of Florida. So – to see what Jennifer is about, check her out on this video where she is campaigning for the guy who lost (Bill McCollum) to the guy she will now be campaigning for and with (Rick Scott)…

Politics indeed makes strange bedfellows.

In any case – Jennifer might be someone to keep an eye on in the future.

Running On Empty – Herman Cain

Herman Cain has a shot at the VP slot on the Republican ticket for one reason, and one reason only – there just aren’t any other electable Republican wannabes at this point.

There isn’t any way Americans would want to elect George Bush again – and there is no reason any rational person would want to elect George Bush in blackface.

Now, while I certainly admire Cain’s accomplishments, his professionalism, and his charisma – it just isn’t possible to shake the feeling he is just Clarence Thomas with a charisma transplant – born out by a number of his pronouncements.

The Republican Party is badly in need of racial cover right now, and people like Cain, whose political careers have been based on providing that black shield against exposing the party’s rampant racist core have been busier than ever. The first variant of this Minstrel Show was Clarence Thomas, a man – who if he was a political candidate would find it difficult to win a race against George Wallace…

In a majority black neighborhood.

Along the way we’ve seen some pretty decent folks (Colin Powell, JC Watts) used and abused, as well as the plethora of buckdancer wannabes. The core problem is that it isn’t the face that’s running…

It’s the politics. And until Herman and other black conservatives fess up to that problem, and cut the buckdancing…

There just isn’t going to be any viable Republican in any district over 30% Minority – much less nationally.

Herman Cain: Possible ‘Dark Horse’ 2012 GOP Presidential Candidate

Herman Cain is many things, including an African-American Republican, a former chief executive of Godfather’s Pizza, a cancer survivor — and the host of a popular radio show in Georgia. Recently, a “Draft Cain” movement has emerged, with the goal of drafting Cain into a presidential run. According to Doug Deal, the creator of the “Draft Cane” Facebook page, this is a grassroots effort to “try to help convince him that there’s support out there for him.”

What makes Herman Cain an especially potent force is his charisma, and the fact that his supporters don’t just admire him — they love him. “He has the ability to really have the ‘wow’ factor,” said Maurice Atkinson, another leader of the Draft Cain movement.

Almost everyone I talked to described Cain as a man of principle and someone with strong leadership skills — desirable traits in the Oval Office, regardless of ideology. “Herman Cain is an unconventional politician and a leader in every way,” said Martha Zoller, host of a popular conservative radio talk show based out of Gainesville, Florida. “He makes things happen and understands the two things lacking in the current administration — American exceptionalism and economic principles.”

The fact that Cain is a black Republican doesn’t hurt his chances, either. As Politico’s Roger Simon recently wroteof Michael Steele: “As a black Republican nominee, Steele could get many of the white votes a Republican usually gets while cutting into the Democratic black vote. In this manner, he could defeat Obama in 2012. And that would be his pitch for getting his party’s nomination.”

If that’s true, then Herman Cain may be Michael Steele without the baggage. “I think Herman could effectively heal the race divide,” Atkinson said. Cain has been laying the groundwork for a run. For example, he was the featured speaker at a recent Tea Party held in Des Moines, Iowa, he has already lined up the support of Joe the Plumber – and he has launched a political action committee called The Hermanator PAC.

More Conservatism Makes Black Folks Crazy – Black GOP candidate Corey Poitier calls Obama `Buckwheat’

As further proof that conservatism makes you stupid, and black people crazy – here is the strange case of Corey Poitier, who is running as the GOP candidate for Kendrick Meek’s old seat in Florida. Here is Corey at the 9-12 Tea Bagger shindig -

Black candidate Corey Poitier calls Obama `Buckwheat’

In the midst of delivering an impassioned speech decrying President Obama’s health care reform, GOP congressional hopeful Corey Poitier veered dangerously off-script.

“Listen up, Buckwheat — this is not how it is done!” Poitier blurted out.

The HNIC Steele Plays the Race Card

Uncle Mikkie plays the race card in the White House’s request for Governor Paterson of New York not to run for re-election…

more about “The HNIC Plays the Race Card“, posted with vodpod

Getting Noticed…

My blog on Black Conservatives apparently hit a few nerves!

I’ve been linked on Amy Rienour’s National Center Blog, which is the company blog for The National Center on Public Policy Research which is one of those conservative “think tanks”.

To Quote Amy -

No independent thought tolerated: A sample of the abuse black conservatives routinely receive.

Since you can’t reply to their blog, I decided to send an email;

Dear Amy – (info@nationalcenter.org)

I routinely back-check people who link to my blog. You can’t imagine my surprise and joy that at least one conservative site had picked up something I had posted. On September 18th in your What’s Happening Now Page, I apparently made the grade, with:

“No independent thought tolerated: A sample of the abuse black conservatives routinely receive.“

Suggest you sit down and read the whole article, since obviously you stopped somewhere in the middle. I hate to rain on your Poor Pitiful Black Conservative Victim Parade – but I clearly pointed three groups of black conservatives who I identified as legitimate voices, and clearly pointed out there were analogies on the left to the two conservative groups I derided. That is hardly damning all black conservatives with a single brush.

Indeed, it would appear what you are really upset about is two things – first, your organization, The National Center for Public Policy Research,  is partially funded by the “5 Conservative Sisters”. Second – you are the white conservative front organization, and financial sponsor one of the “black” conservative groups I mentioned – Project 21. An organization which supplies black conservatives to “the media”, who will reliably regurgitate conservative mantra on the issue of race.

Gosh… I can see why you’d be touchy!

BTx3
BTx3.wordpress.com

On Black Conservatives and Logjams

This one, from a question posed by one of my regulars, Tafaraji -

I don’t know bt, are there too many ego’s among black Conservatives? Do they have any real GOAL, other than to simply be different than the rest of us?

They could create a movement within the Republican party that would finally run racist out to sea, permanently. Giving them no cover.

Black Conservative Media Appearance is Far Out of Proportion to Actual Numbers

One of the reasons I started posting over at Skinny’s was to get an understanding of the black conservatives.

Interesting exercise. The black conservatives seem to be divided into roughly 4 groups, two of which get most of the press and are unquestionably on the money train, Tomming for dollars.