I love the film work of Spike Lee. I like the fact he takes on controversial topics. But his politics are something else.
I am a Black Republican. I support Republican ideals. You know, things like if you work hard you deserve to keep more of what you earn. Being self-responsible instead of relying on the Government. Having a strong militiary is one part of having a safe nation. And so on.
I disagree with the policies that President Obama and the Democrat-led Congress propose. Thing like letting the Government pick my healthcare for me. Having the Government decide how much money I should have. The Government deciding where my money should go instead of allowing me to expand my business or give to a charity or cause of my choice. Talking to nations and groups that have sworn to their God to kill all of us – and increasing their power by doing so, instead of ensuring they can’t hurt the nation and think twice before doing so. Forcing conservation by jacking up electricity costs and closing power plants. Stuff like that.
Does that make me a White man stuck in the 50's? Does it make Afican Americans like Colin Powell, Ken Blackwell, Condoleezza Rice, Janice Rogers Brown, Erik Rush, Ken Hamblin, Thomas Sowell, Yaphet Kotto, Lynn Swann, Karl Malone, Akindele Akinyemi, T.D Jakes, James Meredith, Vernon Robinson, Stanley Crouch - and I believe Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcom X – among so many others White? Spike Lee seems to think so.
He may not agree with the views of the Republican Party but that does not mean he should insult all Republicans with stereotypical comments. Just as he would be upset if he was stereotyped, or labeled as a liberal, tree-hugging, socialist, racist. I don't think such things can be said about him or most Democrats, but niether should Republicans be blasted.
And most of all I hate the way that Black culture, and American society in general, insists that African Americans must be Democrats. Like we don’t have minds and philosophies of life of our own. Like race is the only issue that we care about.
If Spike Lee makes a new film, I’ll still probaly go see it. But I’m way past tired of being blasted for a choice I make for my own life.
4 comments:
Comment as found at 1800blogger.com, where I am a contributing author.
RhondaCoca Says:
November 7th, 2008 at 9:10 am e
As a former black Republican who left the party, he is correct. Your rationalization ignores bigotry, fear-mongering, insensitivity and propaganda sold by the Republican party about anyone not white and protestant (blacks, hispanics, arab americans, muslim americans).
Its the truth and even Jeb Bush said it when he said,
“I would suggest that conservatives need to do the math of the new demographics of the United States,” said Jeb Bush. “We can’t be anti-Hispanic, anti-young person, anti-many things and be surprised when we don’t win elections”
Colin Powell articulated it on Meet the Press when endorsing Obama.
Being in denial is not going to help.
The party has a lot of work to do and it needs to revamp.
Also, please stop pushing the MLK as Republican meme and neither him nor Malcolm X would look the direction of the Republican party today. MLK was especially not a conservative. He was a liberal.
Most blacks are socially conservative like Jakes, Crouch and others but they do not feel welcome into the party.
I also resent that you began your discussion based on the lie that blacks want the government to take care of them and lack “personal responsiblity” when that is not the case. It is highly offensive.
I also like how you left out the likes of Ward Connerly who seems to have a deep resentment for his own people as do too many other black Republicans when they aide in or defend the racist propaganda spewed by the Republican party and conservative.
I am tired of the culture wars, the attacks, the division, so are many others.
It is simply a fact and it contributed to your defeat on Tuesday.
RhondaCoca Says:
November 7th, 2008 at 9:13 am e
One last thing, there is a difference between diversity and tokenism. What you call diversity is simply tokenism.
Rhonda,
I’m glad you have strong opinions on this subject. But I must disagree on some points.
First I started this post with traditional conservative and Republican ideals. My contrast was not to race but political Party beliefs. You mistook race as being my motive. And you were incorrect.
But on that subject, yes there is a decided lack of self-responsiblity in the Black community. Just as there is in American society at large. It is what it is. I blame that on the doctrines of the Democratic Party, which seem to basically be that it can take care of everyone better than they can do so for themselves. That would include all Americans.
If you are offened by the truth, or misinterpert my words by reading more into them than what I have written, I can’t help you.
As for “rationalization ignores bigotry, fear-mongering, insensitivity” and “left out the likes of Ward Connerly” you are right. Because every Party or group in America has outcasts, extremists and racists. I do not count them as the main body, since in 2008 they are not. But in 1950 they would be. As would Democrats.
And as far as bigotry, fear-mongering, and so on was it not the Democratic Party and Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign that first introduced race into the Primaries? Was it not her campaign that spread thoughts of Obama as a drug dealer, emails of him as a Muslim terrorist? Did not Bill Clinton diminish the importance and results of President Obama in the Primaries? And was it not states like West Virginia Democrats that refused to vote for a Black man, as polls clearly stated?
Becareful where you throw stones.
And yes the Republican Party has many problems, as does the Democratic Party. But Republicans have a social stigma when non-Whites mention thier support or belief in Republican conservative ideals. And that is wrong. It also intimidates many into not joining the Party, thus making any problems look worse and take longer to correct.
Oh, and by the way, many Hispanics as well as Blacks share the core Republican beliefs. The youth tend not to, but that is the way of inexperience. They often also believe they know all the answers until they learn a bit more. We’ve all been there.
And Colin Powell did not say what you imply. He did state that the Republican Party is moving too far to the right, becoming too extreme. But the Democratic Party is already to the extreme left. Or did you ignore what was going on during the Primaries?
And yes I believe that both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were Republicans, as most Blacks were at the time. Nothing wrong in telling the truth. I did not say they were the Republicans of today. And I seriously doubt that either would agree with the ideals the Democratic Party currently promotes. Tey would stand for self-reliance, and small business creation without Government intervention. That’s what they said then, who does that sound like in today’s political environment?
And please don’t confuse liberal views with the acceptance of basic Rights. MLK was a conservative preacher that sought the full experssion of the Constitution and Amendments. To my knowledge I have yet to read of his desire to share the wealth or cap pay potentials. Or give money to people that have not earned it.
And if we review the election, as I have from 2006 up to today, you would realize that President Obama did not win because of a false sense of cultural division. He was severely in danger of losing up until the economy fell. With an incumbent President being Republican, the blame fell on that Party.
Which is a shame as the problems of the mortgage crisis can be directly tied to many current and past Democratic leaders, as well as some Republicans. But it is the current Democrats like Barney Frank and Chris Dodd that lied to the public and slept at the wheel causing the degree of pain felt now.
But incumbents always get all the blame, or the rewards, whether deserved or not. And that’s why Obama won. Because any other President in the same situation would win with a 20% margin. President Obama did not. That says a lot about what the nation believed, which the electoral vote does not convey.
Lastly you chose to see Black Republicans as a token. It’s that mentality that prevents more Blacks from joining the Republican Party though they are socially conservative in their views as you say. You refuse to accept the diversity that does exist, and persecute those that brave the waters.
You may disagree. That is your right. As was Spike Lee’s. But I see it differently. And unless President Obama makes drastic changes to his policies America will regret his election.
Not because of his race, but his politics. And being Black does not change bad policies any more than being White would.
Let me begin by letting you know that I am an independent and not a democrat. I like neither Republicans nor democrats so rationalizing the issues within the Republican party with what is wrong with Democrats or the Democratic party does not faze me because that was never the point I was arguing. I am discussing the Republican party and the points that were raised in your post.
I think that you missed my original statement in my post, I was a Republican. I am still registered as one even though I will be changing it before the end of the year to become independent.
Much of your rhetoric is highly partisan and based in a profound lack of knowledge and understanding of the bigger picture.
Let me address a few points that you raised:
“As for “rationalization ignores bigotry, fear-mongering, insensitivity” and “left out the likes of Ward Connerly” you are right. Because every Party or group in America has outcasts, extremists and racists. I do not count them as the main body, since in 2008 they are not. But in 1950 they would be. As would Democrats.”
I am aware of the philosophical variances of conservatives in the Republican party however no one can deny that over the last 10 or so years, the Republicans party has been hijacked by the far right. I could go back further of course but I will stick to the last few years. Much of the appeal was centered around intolerance and fear-mongering.
“And as far as bigotry, fear-mongering, and so on was it not the Democratic Party and Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign that first introduced race into the Primaries? Was it not her campaign that spread thoughts of Obama as a drug dealer, emails of him as a Muslim terrorist? Did not Bill Clinton diminish the importance and results of President Obama in the Primaries? And was it not states like West Virginia Democrats that refused to vote for a Black man, as polls clearly stated?
Be careful where you throw stones.”
This had to be the most offensive part because I cannot stand the Clintons. I never liked them and they got plummeted by me for their primary race-baiting along with the vast majority of blacks. They are actually my neighbors. I live two blocks away from them. I am far from being a fan. You speak about throwing stones as if I am a democrat. You are either challenged with basic reading comprehension or you only possess the ability to argue from a hyper-partisan standpoint.
“And yes the Republican Party has many problems, as does the Democratic Party. But Republicans have a social stigma when non-Whites mention their support or belief in Republican conservative ideals.”
Please explain.
“And Colin Powell did not say what you imply. He did state that the Republican Party is moving too far to the right, becoming too extreme. But the Democratic Party is already to the extreme left. Or did you ignore what was going on during the Primaries?”
More partisan nonsense from you. You don’t give up. I am not discussing the Democrats because go on any liberal blog and I am fighting with them too. Colin Powell believed that the party was getting too narrow and he also mentioned Islamophobia. I noticed that you skipped over what Jeb Bush said.
“And yes I believe that both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were Republicans, as most Blacks were at the time. Nothing wrong in telling the truth. I did not say they were the Republicans of today. And I seriously doubt that either would agree with the ideals the Democratic Party currently promotes. They would stand for self-reliance, and small business creation without Government intervention. That’s what they said then, who does that sound like in today’s political environment?”
“And please don’t confuse liberal views with the acceptance of basic Rights. MLK was a conservative preacher that sought the full expression of the Constitution and Amendments. To my knowledge I have yet to read of his desire to share the wealth or cap pay potentials. Or give money to people that have not earned it.”
I will not go to hard on you because you did disclose the fact that this i to your knowledge which means you knowledge is very limited.
The vast majority of southern blacks aligned themselves with the Republican since the Democrats were complacent in satisfying Southern whites who opposed racial equality and segregation (this of course shifted after LBJ signed the Civil Right Act).
Now, Malcolm X was a black conservative being a black conservative does not directly align with mainstream white conservative. Malcolm X had very little interest in aligning himself with mainstream white institutions and political parties. He went after both Democrats and Republicans on various occasions. An interesting point that I would include is Rev.Dr.Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. is a black conservative but not in its mainstream sense and so is Louis Farrakhan. Therefore, it is often hard translate black political thought to mainstream white political thought.
To say that MLK was Republican and would not support the things you claimed he would not support is false. There is an abundance of information to support my claim. For example you say that, “I have yet to read of his desire to share the wealth”.
I will ask for you to look into MLK after 1965 when he moved far, far left and called for a “redistribution of wealth” and complete transformation of the “system”.
He realized that he integrated African Americans into a burning house and that there needed to be systematic change in order to solve issues of both racial and economic inequality.
Lastly, please go get me the stats on blacks in the Republican party. Name me a black Republican who holds a popularly voted, statewide office. The point of the matter is, the party is not diverse. It can become diverse but it is just not at the moment.
Post a Comment