DarkStar Spouts Off

Black Republicans, I Need To Know How You Stand By The GOP

How do Black Republicans continue to stand by the Republican party, when the recent ruling in North Carolina, to strike down the voting regulations changes, shows that the current Republican party, is ACTIVELY working to deny Black voters their right to vote?

How does this square with the history of the Republican party as the party founded to end slavery in the United States?

I really don't understand.

Things Many Public Conservatives, Including Black, Don't Want You To Know

I'm tired. So, here are some things that many public conservatives, including public Black conservatives, do not want you to know:

• Blacks don't consider Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, Sr., to be leaders:
  

  8. Which of the following speaks for you most often?

  Person	Percent (%)
  Reverend Al Sharpton,National Action Network	24
  Reverend Jesse Jackson, Rainbow PUSH Coalition	11
  Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D‐CA)	9
  Benjamin Jealous, President&CEO,NAACP	8
  AssistantDemocratic Leader, Congressman James E. Clyburn (D‐SC)	5
  MarcH. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League	2
  Michael Steele,former Chairman ofthe Republican National Committee	2
  None of the above	40

• A quote from Tim Scott
  

  And unlike other, more prominent black Republicans — Herman Cain or Ben Carson, for example — Scott isn’t likely to accuse black voters of being enslaved to the Democratic Party.

  “That language doesn’t suit me,” Scott says. “It’s really hard to offend someone into changing their minds.”

• Black business creation 2009:
  

  African-Americans and older Americans experience greatest increases in business-creation rates from 2008 to 2009

  ...

  Entrepreneurship rates by race show that African-Americans experienced the largest increase in entrepreneurial activity between 2008 and 2009. Rising from 0.22 percent in 2008 to 0.27 percent in 2009, the rate was the highest over the 14 years of reported data but remains below other racial groups. In contrast, both Latinos and Asians experienced declines in entrepreneurial activity rates.

•  

  Poor Blacks get LESS of the government benefits:
  Another finding of the study is that the distribution of benefits no longer aligns with the demography of poverty. African-Americans, who make up 22 percent of the poor, receive 14 percent of government benefits, close to their 12 percent population share.
• Black college degree vs. white college degree attainment:
  
• The out of wedlock birth rate for Black women is falling:
  Among unmarried black women, the birth rate dropped 11 percent between 2007 and 2012, to 63 of every 1,000 live births.
  
  

Al Sharpton and Black On Black Violence

*Sigh*

I'm not defending Al Sharpton, but read this:

The Rev. Al Sharpton is calling for a high-profile community summit to address black-on-black violence after Harlem was rocked by a wave of shootings over Memorial Day.

"Last year alone, nearly one black child a day under the age of 17 was shot and killed in New York City. Shot mostly by other black city residents," Sharpton said.

"Shootings and violence within our community by one of our own is an outrage and an issue that we must confront as diligently and as passionately as a sensational case of police misconduct or brutality."

If I can do a simple Google search and find this in the first 5 links...

Money Quote From Tim Scott (R)

Here is a money quote from Tim Scott:

Scott says he “has a heart for ministry.” He is prone to offering the tough love, up-from-your-bootstraps message that could come across as harsh if not for the fact that Scott has himself lived through some tough times.

And unlike other, more prominent black Republicans — Herman Cain or Ben Carson, for example — Scott isn’t likely to accuse black voters of being enslaved to the Democratic Party.

“That language doesn’t suit me,” Scott says. “It’s really hard to offend someone into changing their minds.”

That is all.

Local Black Radio: I Lost Medical Coverage Because of Obamacare

On a local Black talk radio station, in the morning, there has been discussion concerning people losing coverage under the ACA/Obamacare.

The host, Larry Young, has said that if anyone has had their plan dropped, they should be grateful because the plan they will get after this, will be better than the plan they had because their old plan didn't meet minimum standards. His co-host, "Coach" Butch McAdams said that he received a letter stating his health plan is being dropped and that he had three options. Continue the plan until it terminates in 2014, go to a comparable plan, now, that meets minimum standards, or let it lapse. Coach said his plan is "very good" and will continue until it terminates and then make a decision, but the cost of the comparable plan increases about $125/month. That is a $1,500/year increase in payments.

People who called the show, supported Obamacare and did not support Obamacare. There were a few people who said their coverage has been canceled as a result of Obamacare, according to the letters they have received, and those callers didn't appear to be happy, even with Larry Young saying they will get better coverage.

In listening over a few days, I was disappointed that no one was asking what the minimum standards were. For example, maternity coverage, abortion coverage, and birth control medicine are required to be offered in the coverage. Does a single man need that coverage? How about a woman past her child bearing time?

Also what wasn't discussed was the fact that employers were being forced to offer medical plans that are against their religious beliefs. Of course, the Catholic church is against the abortion coverage mandate.

I may call in if they discuss it next week to bring up things they didn't discuss.

Education: A Reason Why I'm Not A Fan Of Democrat Politicians

The stance of Democrats on education is one of the reasons why I'm not a fan of Democrat politicians. This story in The Washington Post nails it.

After taking the SAT, I was in the hall way and I saw a girl I went to school with in Jr. High. She was smart. She was in tears saying that she got all A's and B's in school but NEVER saw much of the material on the SAT. She brought up the math geometry questions and I told her I had geometry in the 9th grade and my classes built on top of that and I've had algebra since the 9th grade and was currently taking calculus. 

Johnathon Carrington grew up on the sixth floor of a low-income D.C. apartment complex, a building most recently in the news for a drive-by shooting that injured 13.

His parents told him early on that education could be his escape, and Carrington took them at their word. He graduated Friday as the valedictorian of his neighborhood school, Dunbar High, and against all odds is headed to Georgetown University.

But Carrington, 17, is nervous, and so are his parents. What if Dunbar — where truancy is chronic and fewer than one-third of students are proficient in reading — didn’t prepare him for the rigors of college? What if he isn’t ready?

“I don’t think I’m going to fail everything,” Carrington said. “But I think I’m going to be a bit behind.”

It’s a valid concern. Past valedictorians of low-performing District high schools say their own transitions to college were eye-opening and at times ego-shattering, filled with revelations that — despite taking their public schools’ most difficult classes and acing them — they were not equipped to excel at the nation’s top colleges.

When these students arrived on campuses filled with students from high-flying suburban public schools and posh privates, they found a world vastly different from the one they knew in their urban high schools.

For Sache Collier, it meant writing her first research paper. For Darryl Robinson, it meant realizing that professors expected original ideas, not just regurgitated facts. For Angelica Wardell, who grew up going to school almost exclusively with African American students, it meant taking classes with whites and Asians.

Democrat politicans must be held accountable for this mess, especially Black politicians!

Public Black Conservatives Refuse To Spotlight Blacks Handling Business

For some time I've said, and written in Usenet (remember that?) posts and web chat and blogs and Tweets here and there, that I don't think public Black conservatives really want to help those Blacks who are not doing well, to do well. I know that's a harsh statement to make, but I make it because, time and time again, you will read, hear, or see, most public Black conservatives stating there are problems in the Black community, and there definitely are problems, and that Blacks are not facing those problems.

They are wrong and they know it.

Let's start off with business. Many public Black conservatives will say that Blacks are not creating businesses nor do Blacks seem to be interested in business creation. For example, how many public Black conservatives pointed out this information?

Yet, entrepreneurialism is the one area in which these women stand out. Black women are starting businesses at three to five times the rate of all businesses, and entrepreneurship among black women has surged by 67% since 2002, according to a July 2012 report by the Center for American Progress

Also, many public Black conservatives will complain about the spending patterns of Black Americans, but will not point out the Black economic mainstay, Black Enterprise @blackenterprise, for years now, has been in the market of providing information so that Blacks will create businesses AND providing information to get Black readers to better manage their money. In fact, there is a regular feature that gives a Black family a financial checkup and advice on improving their situation. Earl Graves, Sr. backs Democrats. Is that a reason why Black conservatives refuse to spot light this magazine?

Years ago I approached Project 21 and asked why they don't add a section to their web site that highlights Black people and organizations that are doing exactly what they proclaim they say is needed. There was no response. That, and a prodding from Mike Bowen, caused me to create The Black Self Help Information web site (@BlackSelfHelpIn). (If you know of groups or people or news articles that should be mentioned, drop me an email).

Here is something sad and yet funny. On Twitter, I was blocked by @BlackRepublican for pointing out that public Black Republicans and public Black conservatives don't seem to give mention of groups like 100 Black Men (@100BlackMen), 100 Black Women, Concerned Black Men (@CBMNational) or people like Dr. Steve Perry (@DrStevePerry) or Corey Brooks (@CoreyBBrooks). 

Not only her, but Crystal Wright as well. In fact, you will find hundreds of Tweets by her claiming victim status, but not one from her proclaiming the work of Black organizations or churches or people working to fix the problems she Tweets about. I guess I'll mention here that I take it as a badge of honor that she blocked me as well. For what? Asking her why she doesn't post about Black organizations or churches working to solve problems.

I bet Sean Hannity would never have a panel of Black conservatives and ask them if what I wrote is accurate.

Sean Hannity Turned Public Black Conservatives Adults Into Babies

On The Sean Hannity show, Sean Hannity just made a group of grown public Black conservatives, male and female -- gender words chosen with care -- a bunch of whining, victim status seeking, babies, with the exception of one Black MAN who is a priest, and I DANG sure I'm not writing about Jesse Lee Peterson!

None Of The Above

Robert Johnson, founder of BET, had Zogby International/Analytics do a telephone poll of Blacks to find out their views on some items. Of those polled, 40% said none of the people listed speak for them most often.

8. Which of the following speaks for you most often?

Person	Percent (%)
Reverend Al Sharpton,National Action Network	24
Reverend Jesse Jackson, Rainbow PUSH Coalition	11
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D‐CA)	9
Benjamin Jealous, President&CEO,NAACP	8
AssistantDemocratic Leader, Congressman James E. Clyburn (D‐SC)	5
MarcH. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League	2
Michael Steele,former Chairman ofthe Republican National Committee	2
None of the above	40

I've known about this for about a week now, but what has been interesting, to me, is that the list of public Black conservatives that I follow, haven't said a thing about this poll. So, let's be clear about this. Of the Blacks polled, 40% said NONE OF THE ABOVE speaks for them most often.

This result from those polled does some things:

1. It breaks the media narrative of Blacks looking towards "civil rights leaders" as being "The" leader which means Blacks aren't lead by them. I know that's simple but just THINK about it.
2. It breaks the narrative of most public Black conservatives as Blacks being "lead astray" by so called Black leaders. I think this is simple but means something that I think most public Black conservatives want to face because it is hard: If they want to change minds, they have to address people on the individual level, which is something they have not done, for the most part.
3. From above, I think it should make more people wonder exactly if many of the public Black conservatives are serious about change or if they have alternative motives. See Artur Davis for details.

 

Yanking My Chain

VP Biden shot his mouth off again and said this:

“Look at their budget and what they’re proposing,” Biden said. (Romney’s vice presidential running mate is House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan.) “Romney wants to let the — he said in the first hundred days he is going to let the big banks once again write their own rules. Unchain Wall Street. They are going to put y’all back in chains.”

Emphasis mine. Hmmmm.... I don't understand the GOP "outrage" over the comment. It seems, to me, to be a play on words. Oh, way, POLI-TRICKS!

Anyway, I won't get outraged at this one when I consider all of the right wing people who have no trouble saying Blacks are enslaved or living on a plantation. That doubly goes for Allen West demanding the NAACP defend him against his opponent's ad. Again I'll ask, where were you Rep. West, when state GOP officials were sending racist pictures and emails around of the President and his family.

I think this opinon sums it up quite nicely:

This is the campaign that continues to be a-okay with supporter Donald Trump’s racist birtherism.

This is the campaign that has been mute in the face of Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) hyperbolic assertion that Obama would “rather you be his slave.”

This is the campaign that is allowing Newt Gingrich to host “Newt University” at the Tampa convention this month. The former House speaker is fond of calling Obama a “food stamp president.”A wicked phrase that has more racial baggage than a klansman’s El Camino.

This is the campaign of the candidate who uttered the equally racially fraught “if they want more stuff from government ... more free stuff”when talking to supporters in Montana about what he told the NAACP about his desire to repeal Obamacare.

Yeah, I think that was good rhetoric.

 

Shouldn't Black Conservatives Tout "The Hoodie Awards"?

I have a question.

Since Black conservatives say that Blacks need to create more businesses, shouldn't they then publicize and support Steve Harvey's Hoodie Awards?

• Best Barbershop.
• Best Bar-B-Que place.
• Best Car Wash/Detail.
• Best Church Choir.
• Best High School.
• Best Salon.
• Best Teacher.
• Best Church.
• Best Community Leader.

At least, THIS year I think they should have supported it because Pastor Corey Brooks from Chicago was up for an award. It would seem like they would be all over this. Especially those who tout themselves as urban conservatives.

IJS.

Political Analogy

Romney ==> Going to NAACP convention.
Obama ==> Skipping convention, again.
Even the CBC complained Obama was ignoring Blacks.

Obama is Chris Brown. Black Democrats are Riannah.

Black Enterprise: 10 Black Republicans You Should Know, But Don't

[ Update ]

Black Enterprise: 10 Black Republicans You Should Know, But Don't

I don't know the qualifications for this, but it was interesting. A lot of this is insider stuff.

Jackie Robinson Was A Rockefeller Republican

Did you know Jackie Robinson was a Republican?

Did you know Jackie Robinson backed Rockefeller when Rockefeller was running against Goldwater?

Did you know Jackie Robinson had to deal with the racist Goldwater supporters?

If a Republican mentions Jackie Robinson was a Republican, complete the story for them. End it with, "That's right, Jackie Robinson was a Rockefeller Republican!"

See the head spin.

J.C. Watts and the Conservative Black Forum

This can be subtitled Why I Left the Republican Party.

Set aside 30 minutes and listen to the segments I'm going to highlight at the conservative Black forum that took place on January 23, 2012.

Go into the forum at 00:25:00 and listen to J.C. Watts speak. After you stop listening to that segment, wherever that will be, jump to 1:16:00 and listen to J.C. Watts speak again. Also, please note the comments by Starr Parker. From my listening, I think Watts and Parker are doing ideological battle with Watts placing part of the responsibility on the Republican Party while Parker wants to deflect that responsibility to liberals.

Kudos to J.C. Watts.

Tweet Stream

Change of Registration

Going back to "non-aligned." I can't take the sanctioned and cheered insults to Blacks. If I don't take it from Democrats, why take it from Republicans?

Republican official praying for the death of the President vs praying for a change of his mind?

Enough!

Rush Limbaugh Praised Jackie Robinson on Politics, But Did He Know The Full Story?

I was looking to see what Rush Limbaugh had to say about the Herman Cain mess. On Limbaugh's website was posted a transcript of what he had to say. I read it and saw this:

Anything goes, as far as they're concerned, and they cannot allow a black or an Hispanic to rise to the top of a political establishment that is not Democrat.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: You think I'm wrong about this? Jackie Robinson in the 1960s was denounced. Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, was denounced as an "Uncle Tom" because he supported Republicans in the 1960s. Jackie Robinson. The left, the Democrat Party of the day called Jackie Robinson an Uncle Tom.

I remembered Jackie Robinson got slammed for backing Nixon, not Republicans in general. So, I did a search and came up with this, Jackie Robinson, Political Life After Baseball:

In 1964 Governor Rockeller asked me to become one of six deputy national directors of his campaign.  I had spent seven years at Chock Full O'Nuts.  I decided to resign from my job rather than ask for leave.  The knowledge I had acquired about the business world, I considered invaluable.  I had been criticized by some of my fellow officers in the company who genuinely felt I took the part of the employees to often, that I was too soft on them.  Even so I had been given generous raises and benefits, allowed to purchase a healthy bundle of stock, and been elected to the board.  I was becoming restless; I wanted to involve myself in politics as a means of helping black people and I wanted my own business enterprises.  I had been increasingly convinced of the need for blacks to become more integrated into the mainstream of the economy.  I was not thinking merely of job integration.  A statement Malcolm X made was more impressive.  Referring to some college students who were fighting to be served in Jim Crow restaurants, Malcolm said he wanted not only the cup of coffee but also the cup and saucer, the counter, the store and the land on which the restaurant stood.

I believed blacks ought to become producers, manufacturers, developers, and creators of businesses, providers of jobs.  For too long we had been spending much too much money on liquor while we owned too few liquor stores and were not even manufacturing it.  If you found a black man making shoes or candy or ice cream it was a rarity.  We talked about not having capital, but we needed to learn to take a chance, to be daring, to pool capital, to organize our buy power so that the millions we spent did not leave our communities to be stacked up in th downtown banks.  In addition to the economic security we could build with green power, we could use economic means to reinforce black power.  How much more effective our demands for a piece of the action would be if we were negotiating from the strength of our own self-reliance rather than stating our case in the role of a beggar or someone out for charity.  We live in a materialistic society in which money doesn't only talk - it screams.  I could not forget that some of the very ballplayers who swore the most fervently that they wouldn't play with me because I was black were the first to begin helping me, giving me tips and advice, as soon as they became aware that I could be helpful to them in winning the few thousand more dollars players receive as world champs.  The most prejudiced of the club owners were not as upset about the game being contaminated by black players as they were by fearing the integration would hurt them in the pocketbooks.  Once they found out that more - not fewer - customers, black and white, were coming through those turnstiles, their prejudices were suppressed.

When Governor Rockefeller invited me on board his campaign ship, I had no idea of any long-term relationship in politics.  I saw this as a sign that now was the time for me to enter into a new world of political involvement with a man I respected.  At the same time I could be free to pursue some business endeavors that had been proposed to me.  I had been approached about becoming a key organizer in a projected, new insurance company, an integrated firm that, I hoped, could be a force in correcting some of the unjust practices of some insurance firms that treat blacks unfairly.  At this time the group organizing a new bank in Harlem - Freedom National - had asked me to help put it together and to become chairman of the board, and there were other business ventures in which I felt I might be able to play a vital role.  When I submitted my resignation to Bill Black, he understood my aspirations.  He didn't want me to leave, and he was genuinely concerned as to whether I was making the wisest move.  He tried to persuade me to stay.  I appreciated his attitude, but my mind was made up.  I joined the Rockefeller headquarters.

One of the first things that became clear to me was that I had not been called on to be the black adviser to the campaign.  Often white politicians secure the services of a black man and slot him only for appearances and activities within the black community.  Sometimes they do this to avoid letting whites know that they are making a strong pitch for black support.  During the Rockefeller campaign I met with groups and made appearances before audiences which were sometimes predominately black, and other times mainly white.  On several occasions, when the governor came into town for a meeting with politicians or community people, I would accompany him.  At some of the larger meetings, I would be asked to introduce the governor.

I was not as sold on the Republican party as I was on the governor.  Every chance I got, while I was campaigning, I said plainly what I thought of the right-wing Republicans and the harm they were doing.  I felt the GOP was a minority party in term of numbers of registered voters and could not win unless they updated their social philosophy and sponsored candidates and principles to attract the young, the black, and the independent voter.  I said this often from public, and frequently Republican, platforms.  By and large Republicans had ignored blacks and sometimes handpicked a few servile leaders in the black community to be their token "niggers".  How would I sound trying to go all out to sell Republicans to black people?  They're not buying.  They know better.

I admit freely that I think, live, and breathe black first and foremost.  That is one of the reasons I was so committed to the governor and so opposed to Senator Barry Goldwater.  Early in 1964 I wrote a Speaking Out piece for The Saturday Evening Post.  A Barry Goldwater victory would insure that the GOP would be completely the white man's party.  What happened at San Francisco when Senator Goldwater became the Republican standard-bearer confirmed my prediction.

I wasn’t altogether caught of guard by the victory of the reactionary forces in the Republican party, but I was appalled by the tactics they used to stifle their liberal opposition.  I was a special delegate to the convention through an arrangement made by the Rockefeller office. That convention was one of the most unforgettable and frightening experiences of my life. The hatred I saw was unique to me because it was hatred directed against a white man.  It embodied a revulsion for all he stood for, including his enlightened attitude toward black people.

A new breed of Republicans had taken over the GOP.  As I watched this steamroller operation in San Francisco, I had a better understanding of how it must have felt to be a Jew in Hitler’s Germany.

Obama's Miffed, But I Think It's Because of Internal Polling, Not Criticism

Obama is upset that it is being reported that more Blacks are starting to criticize him and his administration because of the unemployment rate of Blacks and the state of the economy?

On BET, he said:

President Obama, slipping in the polls among black supporters and under fire from black Democratic leaders for policies they say fail to address black poverty and unemployment, said Monday that targeting programs to help one community "is not how America works."

...

Obama added, "The other thing I want to make sure you don't just kind of slip in there is this notion that African-American leaders of late have been critical. There have been a handful of African-Americans who have been critical. They were critical when I was running for president. There's always going to be somebody who is critical of the president of the United States."

First, he slammed "whining" by Blacks, most likely the CBC, and now he says this.

The recent polling data has shown Blacks increasing dissatisfaction with Obama. Some are dismissing the polls because there will still be strong support of Black voters for President Obama. I have a strong feeling that it isn't those numbers that is worrying the Obama re-election team. I think they have additional internal polling numbers showing Blacks are now less likely to vote. And I think members of the CBC are seeing the same internal polling numbers whether they are given to them by the DNC or they are doing their own polling.

 

Roland Martin Speaks With Shelia Johnson Newman About Jobs

On the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Roland Martin interviewed Shelia Johnson Newman to discuss what President Obama should say concerning boosting the economy. Here are the take aways, as I heard it:

1. Don't promote another stimulus package.
2. Lower taxes.
3. Taxing the wealthy cannot be the only solution.
4. Her business accountants are telling her they can't plan because of they are unsure of regulations that may come from the Obama administration.

This is Shelia Johnson Newman, the ex-wife of Bob Johnson, founder of BET. This is Shelia Johnson Newman, supporter of President Obama.

 

Black Dem Voters, I Say Unleash The Hounds

This opinion piece sums up nicely how I think Black Democrats can hold the people they elect, accountable, and exactly how they don't. As a result, Democrats take the Black vote for granted and the CBC, themselves, are nothing but paper tigers at best.

When asked why the Black members of Congress don’t pressure the president she replied, “We don’t put pressure on the president because ya’ll love the president. You love the president. You’re very proud to have a black man — first time in the history of the United States of America. If we go after the president too hard, you’re going after us.”

I almost fell out of my chair.  While what she said is absolutely true, I was just shocked to actually hear a Black member of congress say it publicly.

...

But that’s me and just framing your mouth to say anything negative about “the first Black president” around the wrong people could result in exerting the kind of energy I really don’t have to waste in arguing with people—who while they love their “first Black president” haven’t voted since 2008, won’t vote again until November 2012, and couldn’t tell me who their councilmember, Assemblymember, or State Senator is to save their life—but will fight to the death over “the first Black president.”

And no—I am not a Republican, but at the same time, I’m not and haven’t been feeling the Democrats either–who have a tendency to be just as racist as their counterparts—they just hide it better.

...

Now keep in mind that members of the Congressional Black Caucus are themselves member of Congress, i.e. politicians, who like any other politician are concerned with staying in office.  Waters herself knows that as long as Black people continue in this love affair with “the first Black president,” while she might want to say something against the president’s policies, it might not be in her best interest if he wants to get re-elected.

I say unleash the hounds. If the CBC members had stones, they would go for broke and then dare someone to challenge them. But, as I've written, the CBC doesn't know how to play politics.

If Black voters as a whole want to keep on voting for Democrats, then fine. At least vote people in who not only say they will look out for the interests but actually back it up and fight the Democratic masters when necessary.

Black Talk Radio Is Not Happy

Listening to Black talk radio this morning, it appears quite evident that many people are not happy with the "solution" to the funding bill. There are supporters who are calling the president weak and those who opposed him who are asking if Hillary Clinton would have caved.

The Black base of support has been complaining for about a year now, but the media are only now reporting it.

More Baltimore Politician STUPIDITY

I don't live in Baltimore and I suggest, strongly, that motivated and striving young people get out of Baltimore because that city saps your soul. Anyway, some FOOL politician wants to have a $1 per bullet tax as a way of reducing crime.

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/28595846/detail.html 

A mayoral candidate's plan to reduce violence in Baltimore includes a "bullet tax" that he said will increase the cost of committing a crime.

Otis Rolley said he would, if elected, propose a $1 per bullet tax on all bullet purchases in the city.

...

As for the bullet tax, Rolley said the measure would cause a decrease in "random firings that too often happen around holidays" and put a high price tag on the cost of committing a crime.

Does that fool think people are THAT stupid to think that it would help or that criminals won't go out of the city to get the bullets?

 

My Project 21 Experience and a Former Black Republican

Hat tip to Booker Rising for this one:

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.

...

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?

Generally speaking, Republicans are decent people, and naturally, many of my closest friends vote Republican. As with any large organization or group, there will always be people at the fringes who hold views that are not representative of the body.

An organization cannot control the behavior of each individual actor, but it can control its response to abhorrent conduct.

The latest incident in a string of tawdry, race-based actions was the promotion of a racist cartoon by elected Orange County Republican Party Central Committee member Marilyn Davenport. The cartoon depicted President Barack Obama and his parents as chimpanzees, while simultaneously implying that the president is not a legitimate American, but rather an African-born interloper.

What does that have to do with my Project 21 experience?

Here is the short version because I'm on a tech blitz to learn something and I'm taking a break.

Some time ago, I started asking questions of the then head of Project 21. After some back and forth, he invited me to be a member of an email list and I accepted. That list had a number of Black Republicans and Black conservatives on it. I lurked for a little be to get an understanding of what was going on before I chimed in. During that time, the FIRST Trent Lott association with the Council of Conservative Citizens came up. The list lit up with people saying they were tired of this kind of crap and the minority outreach group within the Republican party needed to make a public denouncement. Others said nothing needs to be said publicly but something should be done behind the scenes. Others said NOTHING AT ALL should happen and all should move on. That was the position of a person who was chair if the Republican minority outreach "effort" as well as some others.

At that time, I saw accusations of sellout being used and a non-response would be a justification of non-Republican Blacks calling Black Republicans Uncle Tom.  At that time, I was under the idea that all active party Black Republicans were on the same page and considered the charges of Uncle Tom as being unfair. However, some of THEM were calling others names and some of THEM were saying the larger Black community is some what justified in their views of the Republican party.

Since then my approach to public Black Republicans has changed and now that I am one -- at least for now anyway -- my arguments are more nuanced and come from an inside perspective.

The article the quote comes from is, really, nothing. The IN DEPTH thoughts of Ken Barnes are provided in this radio interview. I'm telling you, this interview is SERIOUS and, as I have maintained, once again PROVES the general idea of the Republican party not being hospitable to Blacks, cannot be dismissed. That's even with Ken Blackwell or Allen West or Herman Cain or the likes, taken into consideration.

Listen to the man talk about WORKING FROM THE INSIDE and his frustrations over what continued to happen.

NAACP Makes An Interesting Case For Punishing School Children

In an opinion article that appeared in The Washington Post, Ben Jealous makes an interesting defense of the NAACP for suing the NY school system:

There are two issues we are particularly concerned about.

First, the city has located charter schools under the same roofs as traditional public schools in a way that is unfair and unjust.

...

■ Students in the traditional public school must now eat lunch at 10 a.m. so that charter school students can enjoy lunch at noon.

■ The “regular school’s children” had library access for a little over four hours so that the “new charter school’s kids” could have access for almost seven.

■ “Traditional school students” were moved to a basement, where they were next to the boiler room, to make room for their charter school peers, and teachers of the regular students were forced to teach in the halls due to lack of space.

We are asking that the court require the city to follow state law and handle these shared space situations equitably.

Second, inequitable co-locations exacerbate the problem created by the city’s persistent failure to follow the law and engage parents before making major changes. New York state law requires the city to involve parents before announcing its intention to shut down a school or make way for a charter to share a school’s space.

In Maryland, charter schools, WHICH ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, are required to find their own spaces. If they use the space of the school, the school system had to have already closed a school at that location. If what Ben Jealous wrote is accurate, then they have a good reason to sue. If what Ben Jealous wrote is accurate, this is a good defense of their case. HOWEVER, if this is the case, why go in with the  teachers union? The NAACP's case stands on its own merit.

Unfortunately, Ben Jealous raises this question but doesn't address it.