DarkStar Spouts Off

Black Republicans and the GOP

The RBE Survey: Engaging Unheard Voices

At the core of its mission, Republicans for Black Empowerment (RBE) seeks to bridge the vast chasm between the GOP and the black community. To garner a greater understanding of the views of black conservative voters and provide perspective to those seeking to target this group, RBE recently conducted a membership survey, the results of which we are pleased to share with the Presidential candidates, the Republican Party, media, members of the black community and general public alike. Our goal is to ensure that the voices of black conservative voters no longer go unheard.

From the RBE report:

What might be most notable, especially to those in the GOP, was the following question: “Which party do you think best serves the interests of black Americans?” Of self identifying black conservatives a full 49% of those questioned replied that neither party served the interest of blacks. This begs the question, how many blacks who would naturally tend toward conservative values vote democrat by habit or simply do not vote at all? And why is the Republican party seemingly content to continue to ignore this demographic?

When there are Black Republicans saying there are issues with the Republican party, how in good name can any public Black Republican place the "blame" on Black voters?

Hat Tip: New Leadership Blog

Short Sale

I have a few real estate search profiles set up and I'm noting more and more "short sale" comments in the description. Some interesting things I've notice:

• There are a few short sales that indicate Country Wide must be used to pre-approve financing. How the hell can a seller force the pre-approval issue? I'm sure they can't.
• All of the short sales that I have taken time to look at in depth, are not good deals. Each one so far is above the original purchase price according to the tax records.

I have a search set up for certain areas in Prince Georges County. Although that county is not on my list because of high taxes and poor schools, I've noticed a lot of short sale comments in homes for sale in PG County.

T.O., Youze a PUNK!

You Had To Know This Was Coming

You had to know this was coming. You had to know that Obama would, somehow, be asked to speak out against Farrakhan.

The Obama camp takes the view that its candidate, now that he has been told about the award, is under no obligation to speak out on the Farrakhan matter. It was not Obama's church that made the award but a magazine. This is a distinction without much of a difference. And given who the parishioner is, the obligation to speak out is all the greater. He could be the next American president. Where is his sense of outrage?

But how many people are asked to speak out against Rushton, Jared Taylor, or Charles Murray?

I Think This Is Funny!

I think this is funny!

UPDATE: Introducing Senator Clinton in Columbia, SC, Johnson seemed to reference Sen Obama’s past drug use while talking about the Clintons’ long experience in the civil rights movement. “As an African American, I am frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood that I won’t say what he was doing that he said it in his book,” he said.

Obama admitted using drugs in his 1995 autobiography “Dreams From My Father.” A top New Hampshire adviser to the Clinton campaign was fired last month when he brought up that drug use in an interview.

Johnson continued, “to say these two people would denigrate the accomplishments of civil rights marchers… and to expect us to now say we are attacking a black man? I mean, that kind of campaign behavior does not resonate with me, for a guy who says ‘I wanna be a reasonable, likeable, Sidney Portier ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’?’ I’m thinking to myself, ‘this ain’t a movie Sydney, this is real life!’”

Asked what Senator Clinton thought of a surrogate making a drug reference at one of her campaign events, Clinton Spokesman Jay Carson said “I don’t think that’s what he was referring to and her record on this issue is clear. She has made crystal clear to supporters and staff alike that no one should engage in negative personal campaigning.”

The reason why I think this is funny is because the last election cycle, some Black conservatives/Republicans on the Internet were saying that Johnson is a Republican! I said then that Johnson is an opportunist who sides with those who can help him. Well, here we have Johnson supporting Hillary Clinton. How nice of a Republican to do that, don't you think?

BTW, I'm starting to think the Clinton camp are putting out these statements, NOT, to do their own version of the Southern Strategy, but to do two things:

1. Insulate themselves against later charges of racist/racialism comments when they REALLY start bringing the heat, and;
2. To get the white Democratic vote behind them by stoking a backlash against the Black Democrats. Watch, I think there is going to be a moment where Bill or Hillary are going to come out saying that Blacks need to stop being so sensitive. This will be "Sistah Souljah, 2008!"

Look out Black Democrats, you're being PLAYED!!!!!

When The Editors of The Washington Times...

When the editors of The Washington Times correctly relates something about Black politics, you know there is a something special happening:

Interestingly, it seems the many of the older members of the CBC, contemporaries of civil-rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., and stalwarts in the civil-rights movement, are supporting Mrs. Clinton, while the younger generation of black leaders are favoring Mr. Obama. This falls in line with the national debate over whether experience or change is the most important value voters should consider when selecting a candidate.

The thing is, I doubt if they realize what is really happening. This is MORE than a generational thing. This is WAY more than just a debate about experience.

I'm thinking that with the racial politics coming out of the Democratic primary, and the friction between the "old guard" and the "new school" Black Democrats and the greater percentage of younger Blacks to be registered as independents, the Democratic party may be at the point where the younger Black Democrat politicians are going to force a "what are we getting out of this relationship" situation while other Democrats who want to win the South are going to say, "enough of our party being the 'Black party'".
In other words, I wonder if we are seeing the beginning of a Democratic civil war. And then I wonder if people like Shannon Reeves will be the ones who get the microphone or if it will continue to be the standard Black Republicans who get more mic time. If Reeves gets more time, then Black Republicans will show they are serious about trying to get more Blacks into the Republican party. If people like Mychal Massie get the mic time, you know that they are not serious.

But Some Of Ya'll Don't Wanna Listen To Me

Some of ya'll, mostly on da right, don't want to listen to me, but read this:

My generation of black voters is politically savvy and well educated. We couldn't care less about outdated notions of party loyalty. We are not our grandmothers, and no amount of candidate appearances at black churches is going to influence how we vote. We will certainly not sit back and allow Democratic candidates, or Republicans for that matter, to engage in Willie Horton-style tactics, even if the tactics are Willie Horton lite.

If Hillary Clinton competes against Obama fairly and without resorting to covert race baiting, large numbers of black voters will surely embrace her should she be the party's nominee. If she relies instead on racial fears and stereotypes, we should not give her our votes.

 

Ya'll, "on da right" who are of good will, need to rethink your stereotypes cuz they ain't right. (Pun intended)

Told You

I told you.

Ultimately, it is a fantasy of easy redemption. America's racial history -- mixed into our culture at its foundation -- will be with us always, even as personal prejudice recedes and inequality is chipped away. For all we know, a President Obama might make the so-called underclass his top priority. But Obamamania -- the phenomenon, not the man -- leads us to believe that if only we vote for an African American, an avatar of "change" and healing, we can slough off the burdens of our past -- the burdens of finding answers to problems such as the rising number of out-of-wedlock births, the obscene size of the black male population behind bars, the rotten state of city schools, the simmering white resentment about affirmative action, the black-white gap in life expectancy and the cascade of government failures that turned Hurricane Katrina from a breakdown of emergency relief into a disgraceful racial scandal.

I told you that every white person who supports Obama will be said to do so out of white guilt. And won't that charge, by itself, cause some white people to NOT support Obama? Where was this bullhist when Wilder ran for governor of Virginia? Where was this bullhist when people were trying to get Colin Powell to run?

Question

Do you love life?

If you don't, what are you doing to get the love of life back into your life?

What Did I Do Wrong?

What did I do wrong?
My offspring disappointed my pride.
She told me recently,
She doesn't like Slave's Slide.

How can she tell me,
She is about the crunk?
But don't want to hear
That old school funk!

I can't tell you
How it was such a thrill
For me to first hear,
Fencewalk by Mandrill.

Candy by Cameo
Can't make you Shake Your Pants?
And you thought school troubles
Only produced long winded rants?

I think it was the summer
I remember that hot sun
Listening to ConFunkShun
Jamming that song Fun.

My baby don't like the
Ohio Players or Dazz or
Bootsies Rubber Band?

Oh what rap hath wrought,
that music wasteland!

How can her mind be free?
She don't like
Brothers Johnson,
Strawberry Letter 23!

To the father of the funk
To the late James Brown
I apologize profusely
This funk disciple let you down!

Obama and Jesse Jackson Sr.

I'm going to fill this one in later, but I'm putting it out there now to force me to get back to it.

Public commentators are saying Obama is proving a Black politician doesn't have to be like Jesse Jackson, Sr or Al Sharpton. Here is the thing. Does anyone remember Jesse Jackson, Sr. running for the Democratic presidential nomination? Does anyone remember that a major component of the votes he, Jackson, Sr, received came from white voters? Does anyone remember that he, Jackson, Sr., and others were surprised by the number of non-Black voters he received? Does anyone remember that Jackson, Sr created The Rainbow Coalition as a result of this support?

[ UPDATE ]

Am I the only one to see the conflict here? If you don't see it, I'll spell it out for you.

Jesse Jackson, Sr., by getting the white vote, WAS a "new kind of Black politician"!

Can I say right now that the Obama candidacy is showing the mental instability of Black and white folks in the U.S.?

Iron My Shirt?

Iron my shirt!

ABC News' Kate Snow and Eloise Harper Report: During the middle of remarks in Salem, New Hampshire, a man bolted up in his seat, about 12 rows back from the where Sen. Hillary Clinton was delivering remarks waving an orange hand-down sign with the words "Iron my shirt!"

The man started yelling "Iron my shirt!" "Iron my shirt!"

Clinton was a little confused at first.

WHATEVER!

That was a CLINTON plant!

Rudy And Terrorism

Can anyone tell me exactly how Rudy Ghouliani fought terrorism in New York City?

My My My...

On the News & Notes Bloggers Round Table, I said that Black Dems need to watch out for what was going to come out of the Dem party if Hillary gets behind. Is this yet another example?

Clinton rejoined the running argument over hope and "false hope" in an interview in Dover this afternoon, reminding Fox's Major Garrett that while Martin Luther King Jr. spoke on behalf of civil rights, President Lyndon Johnson was the one who got the legislation passed.

Hillary was asked about Obama's rejoinder that there's something vaguely un-American about dismissing hopes as false, and that it doesn't jibe with the careers of figures like like John F. Kennedy and King.

"Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act," Clinton said. "It took a president to get it done."

Is this over the top? Is this a slap in the face? Is this a slight Negro Wake Up Call?

Good Television

Right now, the following shows are what I consider to be good television. 

1. Blue Angels: A Year In The Life on Discovery HD.
2. The Wire on HBO.

I suppose I should go into great detail as to why I like the shows, but I won't because, I like what I like. How can you NOT appreciate what the Blue Angels do and how can you NOT appreciate what it takes to be a Blue Angel? And The Wire? That's just good television.

My Melodic Voice

Is one of the voices on Monday's Blogger Round Table on News & Notes.

More later.

[ UPDATE ]

It is interesting hearing my voice on the radio. When I hear me, I have more bass in my voice. Not only that, but I had no clue I said, "uhhh" and "ummm" so much when thinking about phrasing my response.

Here is the link to the show.

BTW, please check out Black Self Help Information at http://www.blackselfhelp.info or at http://www.blackselfhelp.org.

Mental Masturbation

This opinion article by George McGovern is an example of mental masturbation.

As we enter the eighth year of the Bush-Cheney administration, I have belatedly and painfully concluded that the only honorable course for me is to urge the impeachment of the president and the vice president.

After the 1972 presidential election, I stood clear of calls to impeach President Richard M. Nixon for his misconduct during the campaign. I thought that my joining the impeachment effort would be seen as an expression of personal vengeance toward the president who had defeated me.

Today I have made a different choice.

This is good for absolutely nothing except relieving a little of his stress. I mean, who the hell remembers George McGovern!?!?!?

Interesting, The "O" Factor?

This is interesting. Obama got "the woman vote" when Hillary was supposed to get that vote. Was that the Oprah factor?

Youth Advisers Bring Order and an Empathetic Ear

Youth Advisers Bring Order and an Empathetic Ear

Havoc was the order of the day at Bladensburg High School in Prince George's County.

Students were fighting, skipping classes and stealing cars from the parking lot.

Officials were stymied until they sought help two years ago from a national program designed to help schools by reaching out to troubled youths. Enter the youth advisers of the Violence-Free Zone, a program of the District-based Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, who let the students know that they were there to help them. The advisers also brought a stronger message: Control of Bladensburg was going to return to the adults.

"Kids can't be controlled by cameras, curfews and cops," said Robert L. Woodson, president and founder of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise. "Those are threats, and they won't respond to that. . . . The Violence-Free Zone inspires them to obey the rules by providing life witnesses to them [who show] that just because you are from a dysfunctional household or a troubled neighborhood, you don't have to be a troubled person."

The Violence-Free Zone, now also in Largo High School, has been praised by school officials and community leaders for helping to turn around troubled schools.

At the same time, the program has fallen prey to the budget ax. Funded by Prince George's schools for the 2006-07 school year, the program is in danger of ending soon unless $500,000 can be raised to save it, authorities said.

Community stakeholders recently gathered at First Baptist Church of Glenarden to try find ways to raise money to continue the program, which Superintendent John E. Deasy would like to expand to more schools, said his spokesman, John White.

White credited the program with resolving significant conflicts and behavior issues at Bladensburg and Largo.

More at the link provided.

Damned If You Do...

I'm pissed!

If you are Black and support Obama, the media and some others will have you believe it is because Obama is Black. If you are white and support Obama, those on "the right" will have you believe it is because you suffer from "white guilt".

Enough of this b.s.! More later but I'm going to light people UP!

John White Jury Deliberations

I'm wondering why I categorized this under justice.

December 29, 2007 -- John White was going to face justice - one way or another - according to one of the jurors who convicted him of killing a 17-year-old white teen, Daniel Cicciaro Jr.

"If we let him free, Mr. Cicciaro [Sr.] will kill John White himself," the juror shouted, according to another juror, who asked not to be identified.

As his aghast peers fell silent, the male juror paused for 15 seconds, then said, "If it was my son, I would do the same."

At another point he added, "If there is a hung jury, I will go over to Daniel Cicciaro [Sr.] and apologize to him," according to another juror.

It was shortly after 8 p.m., on Dec. 22, the fourth day of deliberations, when Juror 10 snapped.

Earlier, he had left the 16-by-18-foot jury room after punching a wall.

 

More at the link.