In an election in which the name Donald Trump is tossed around as a "legitimate" (I use that word very loosely) candidate for president, nothing surprises me. Well almost nothing.
I will admit, however, to being somewhat surprised to hear who was declared the victor of the first GOP debate of the 2012 election season: Pizza mogul Herman Cain. Cain not only won, but according to a Fox News focus group, won decisively. This is noteworthy because he was one of the least known candidates at the beginning of the debate, with the least amount of support, but by debate's end participants in the focus group were practically falling all over themselves to sing his praises.
Did I mention that Cain is African-American?
This means that if Cain was to succeed in the GOP primary--and at the moment I realize that's still a big "if"--we would have the first ever showdown between two African-Americans for the nation's highest office. The history-making nature of this possibility aside, I think that if Cain runs a competitive race at all--even winning one or two primary states--it could be one of the best things to happen to the GOP, as well as voters of color, in a while.
A few short years ago two of the highest profile members of the GOP were African-Americans, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, both of whom served as Secretary of State, becoming the first black man and black woman to do so. And in case you missed it, they were both appointed by a Republican president. This fact was certainly not lost on some, including a younger generation of black voters. As I discussed in my first book Party Crashing, a growing number of post Civil Rights generation era black Americans began distancing themselves from the hyper-partisanship and knee-jerk loyalty to the Democratic Party displayed by our parents. In polling for the book (conducted in conjunction with Suffolk University's Political Research Center), we found that more than a third of young black voters ages 18 to 24 identified as registered independents, while 41% of total respondents ages 18 to 45 identified themselves as "Registered Democrat but politically independent."
My interviews with some of these voters were enlightening. One of them--a former intern for one of the nation's most powerful Democrats--pointed to the appointments of Rice and Powell as proof that Republicans were not the bogeymen her parents had made them out to be. That spurred her evolution from born-and-bred Democrat to registered Independent. Of course this was before the Obama-mania really took hold. Not of the Democratic Party, but of the GOP.
The fact that a poor, black guy, named Hussein beat the very embodiment of American patriarchal power--a rich, white, war veteran from a powerful family named McCain--appears to have shaken some corners of the GOP to its core. And in the midst of the earthquake, some of the racist relatives that appear to have been hidden away the last few years have come tumbling out of the closet.
Though George W. Bush is unlikely to go down in history as one of the great American Civil Rights presidents (especially due to his mishandling of Katrina and controversial opposition to some affirmative action programs), the GOP that has emerged in his wake in the age of Obama, has practically made him look like the second coming of LBJ by comparison. While he wanted to find a compromise solution on the issue of illegal immigration, supporting the controversial Arizona law is now a prerequisite for any GOP-er looking to be a serious contender in 2012. While he appointed African-Americans to key positions within his administration--and allowed them to maximize the power their positions entailed for good and bad--Michael Steele became GOP Chair and was then forced to kowtow to the Rush Limbaughs of the party and infamously acknowledge that Limbaugh and his ilk were the ones with the true power.
And on top of it all, the number of GOP-ers with leadership positions within the party who have made blatantly racist jokes, comments, asides and references about the president and his family (or simply those of us who happen to share a skin color with the Obamas) has become so common that at this point the offenses have to be truly egregious to generate extensive media coverage. (I'm looking at you, Marilyn Davenport.) (Click here to see a list of some of the most racist moments from members of the GOP in the Obama era.) The race-baiting has become so common and cavalier that when Donald Trump insinuated the president was an affirmative action baby it was hard to spend any real energy getting outraged because the comment--though clearly dripping with racial under- and overtones--was tame compared to others. (I was halfway tempted to tweet "Step up your game Trump. Marilyn Davenport is running racist circles around you.")
Jokes aside, these embarrassingly offensive moments have not only been disappointing for the GOP heading into 2012, but disappointing for voters of color. Many of us hoped that unlike our parents, who had to choose between voting for a segregationist and "the other guy," we wouldn't be reduced to such choices at the ballot box. But, every time yet another GOP-er sends around yet another "hysterical" Obama watermelon or monkey joke, the realization sets in that maybe our choices aren't so different from our parents' after all.
Then again if Herman Cain can actually get some traction in a GOP primary, then maybe those of us who fear that the GOP of 2011 is not so different from the GOP of 1961, will be proved wrong.
But just like the likelihood of Donald Trump being elected president of anything besides his own fan club, that remains a big "if."
This piece originally appeared on TheLoop21.com for which Goff is a Contributing Editor.
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 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
| Romney | Santorum | Gingrich | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegates | 1.47 Thousand | 254 | 138 | |
| Fundraising | $76 M | $16 M | $21 M | |
| Intrade | $9.61 | $0.06 | $0.01 | |
| 570 K | 200 K | 1.5 M |
The GOP has gotten a bad rap for being against welfare, and for giving people money. Why? Simple philosophy, not racism... Give a man a fish you feed him for a day... (Now change that fish to the word money) Teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime...(Now change that fish to earn money) That is the focus of the GOP, fiscal responsibility and ability for all not just whites. Herman Cain understands that. Problem is most blacks are told the GOP is against them getting help, when in fact the GOP wants to help, but not in the way that Democrats think they should.
Get It? Got It? Good!
The conservatiÂve base has little to nothing in the way of open mindedness or flexibilitÂy and it shows in the persistencÂe of the Southern Strategy.
Once you put a face on the mindless fear baiting of the GOP's attacks... it takes the teeth out.
They look like out of touch old guys in suits, lying to protect rich people.
Small wonder no one is buying into it.
http://www.ourweekly.com/los-angeles/congressional-black-caucus-says-newly-elected-black-republicans-will-be-welcomed
Over 90% of African Americans voted for Obama this year and more than 10% voted than the election after 09/11. Surprise? No. It certainly doesn't support a view that african americans are politically diverse though.
Democratic congressmen/women who are african american such as Maxine Waters and have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar refuse to resign, instead shouting out that they are guilty because others are racist.
President Obama stood in El Paso last week and shouted out that the borders are safe (a week after two policemen in AZ were shot by a man who was supposed to be deported) in a grandstanding that is a lie and meant to court latino votes. The democrats are attempting for the third time to pass the Dream Act even though they know it won't. Why are they saying the borders are safe and pushing legislation for amnesty when it won't pass? To court race votes.
I see the Dems with the bigger race problem.
Good point on Bush appointments with the black Secretaries of State. But it should be equally noted that Bush allocated more funding to fight AIDS in Africa than any US president to date. He also allowed funding for black colleges, while the current President limited the funding.
That all being said, Obama did a good job taking out bin laden.
Why do you need to wonder?
Trump is a worldwide figure and brand name, he has his own show on TV . . .
Oh, hell, yes. Irreversibly.
I am Black.
I am Angry.
You are Black.
You are Angry.
Shame in Black Anger is no virtue.
Brothers/Sisters, we must get the hell out of perceptions and put more truths in.
Thanks.
Be specific, I'm wondering if you actually know what a right is.
The biggest problem we have is the problem of the MONEY-HOLDER RACE versus the HUMAN RACE that remains when you cull out the .001% who have the world by the short hairs.
So long as we chase our tails or the carrots or the bullets the GREENBLOODS (money ink color) hold out for us, of course we are going to grapple over things that are symptomatic rather than causative.
Race, abortion, Sexism and national issues are smoke screens the masses gleefully run into in order to enjoy the frustrations and endorphine-producing argumentation.
The solution lies in restoring human dignity in our society....one on one, first and then in Washington and every other "dome of power" where people are manipulated to make adjustments in other people's bank accounts.
If you deny the GOP has a race problem you are merely saying that you don't want the GOP to win.
Every other race, religion, gender, age group, etc. has a larger number of independent voters than than African Americans do.
I can't explain this.
From an Independent's view, there is no way to shift the African American vote . . . African Americans are the only race, religion, gender, etc. in this entire country that votes in bloc.
For whatever reason, African Americans only vote for Democrats or they don't vote, I've never understood this especially considering that over the past 50 years the Democrats haven't lifted them to prosperity or anything like that.
Really???
Only 64 percent of Democrats in Congress voted for the 1964 Civil Rights Act (153 for, 91 against in the House; and 46 for, 21 against in the Senate). But 80 percent of Republicans (136 for, 35 against in the House; and 27 for, 6 against in the Senate) voted for the 1964 Act.
The balanced budget in the 90's was because there was a Republican congress for the first time in 40 years.
Hispanics - 67% Dems
Blacks - 95% Dems
White - 43% Dems
Asian - 62% Dems
18-29 - 66% Dems
Jewish - 78% Dems
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/exit-polls.html
There is no independent thoughts among the AA community currently.
So what evidence do you have to back this assertion up?
"So what evidence do you have to back this assertion up?"
He has no evidence he just feels this way..there end of debate...