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Sorry but the truth hurts, after seeing many Obama supporters here believing the lies being thrown around about losing the emails at the IRS I can't help but point out that you've got to be a complete moron to vote for a Democrat today.
A complete moron, or distrustful of Republicans? Think about it.
Some of the ways black people suffered under this administration were cuts to public sector jobs and social welfare, which was pushed by a GOP house and state govts, predatory lending that was disproportionately directed at minority communities (on the likely premise that they were too financially illiterate to see the bullsh*t), and rapidly accelerating urban housing costs.
None of these issues are a result of Obama's presidency. Obama is a bad president for other reasons.
When an ethnic group monolithically votes for one party, in the short term it's really not practical for the other party to try to break that or snipe individual votes. Older black voters who have been voting for Democrats their whole life aren't going to change. What you can do is not back discriminatory policy and not put up racist but otherwise strong candidates, which won't help in the short term but will break the political lock among the younger generation. This is effectively what happened among American Jews: antisemitism pretty much left the political mainstream (except ironically among local officials in the black parts of Brooklyn) and while the older generation still votes overwhelmingly for Democrats the younger generation is much more split and you don't see otherwise center-right people voting for Democrats out of identity politics among the younger generation. A similar outcome is really the best that Republicans could hope for among black voters. This is really hard for a party to chase however because it's such a long-term investment: the politicians who would have to strive for such an outcome would almost all be gone before it would bear fruit.
Less abstractly, I think white Republicans telling black people that they should be voting for Republicans is really unhelpful. It's condescending and for many of them it's not the case. It only serves to alienate further. What is helpful - although like above, not in the short term but for breaking the political lock for the next generation - is putting up candidates who aren't racist and appealing to people based on ideology while ignoring ethnicity. The older generation will roll their eyes; young folks will listen, and in thirty years or so voting patterns will change.
When an ethnic group monolithically votes for one party, in the short term it's really not practical for the other party to try to break that or snipe individual votes. Older black voters who have been voting for Democrats their whole life aren't going to change. What you can do is not back discriminatory policy and not put up racist but otherwise strong candidates, which won't help in the short term but will break the political lock among the younger generation. This is effectively what happened among American Jews: antisemitism pretty much left the political mainstream (except ironically among local officials in the black parts of Brooklyn) and while the older generation still votes overwhelmingly for Democrats the younger generation is much more split and you don't see otherwise center-right people voting for Democrats out of identity politics among the younger generation. A similar outcome is really the best that Republicans could hope for among black voters. This is really hard for a party to chase however because it's such a long-term investment: the politicians who would have to strive for such an outcome would almost all be gone before it would bear fruit.
Less abstractly, I think white Republicans telling black people that they should be voting for Republicans is really unhelpful. It's condescending and for many of them it's not the case. It only serves to alienate further. What is helpful - although like above, not in the short term but for breaking the political lock for the next generation - is putting up candidates who aren't racist and appealing to people based on ideology while ignoring ethnicity. The older generation will roll their eyes; young folks will listen, and in thirty years or so voting patterns will change.
I'm getting more disappointed with both parties. That being said, this is what I have to say. If Republican politicians are truly interested in getting Black votes, they are going to have to start now, and continue with a long term plan. For now, that is all politicians on both sides really care about, the short terms. Yes, it will help not to have the likes of Trent Lott, Jon Hubbard, and the like within the Republican Party. That definitely helps.
And to add to it, consider Newt Gingrich. Yes, he supported Nelson Mandela, and still does. I will give him that. He supported Mandela when many conservatives viewed him as a terrorist. That said, the "seek jobs, not food stamps" statement was quite condescending, not to mention disingenuous. It plays on an assumption that the only thing Black voters look for are food stamps. Most Black people aren't looking for food stamps.
And you also make a valid point that telling Blacks "you should vote for Republicans" is not helping. It's condescending. This is what I have to say about that. Why all the concern for the way Blacks vote? How does it affect YOU? And two, such persons are so good at telling Blacks "don't vote for them". However, those very persons are not giving good reasons why they should vote for Republicans. None of that has been done. If Republican politicians want Black votes, then they have to come to Blacks, let them know "hey, I'm willing to work with you. We should work with each other, we have certain things in common with each other. Let's concentrate on that, and build from there."
What is helpful - although like above, not in the short term but for breaking the political lock for the next generation - is putting up candidates who aren't racist and appealing to people based on ideology while ignoring ethnicity.
That is great advice for the Democratic Party.
Harrier isn't holding his breath waiting for them to take it.
Ethnicity and racial division is the bread and butter of the Dems.
Are those few exceptions race traitors, Oreos, and Uncle Tom's?
Using language like that is not going to get Blacks to vote Republican.
And why all the concern about the way Blacks vote? How is it affecting YOU?
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