Tag: Democratic party

Which Party Presents the Best Opportunity for African Americans?

President Trump received only eight percent of the African American vote in 2016. Since the 1930s, black voters have cast about 90 percent of their votes for Democrats. Yet the Republican party was founded on anti-slavery and racial equality. Let’s look at what has caused black America to identify as Democrats and why a shift may be on the horizon.

After the Civil War, almost all blacks considered themselves Republicans. The first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, was followed by 72 years of Republican presidents interrupted by only Cleveland and Wilson. Throughout this period, almost all people of color supported Republicans in national, state, an local elections. Even though blacks won the right to vote shortly after the Civil War with the passing of the 14th and 15th Amendments, most predominantly Democratic southern states continued to prevent black votes through poll taxes, literacy test, and other unfair practices.

It took over 50 years for the voting right of black Americans to be fully realized. During this time, it was Republican presidents and the Republicans in Congress who fought hard against the Democrat party to force all states to comply with all rights of black voters.

Seventy years of mutual loyalty between black citizens and the Republican party began to break down during the “Great Depression” of the 1930s. Democratic president Franklin Roosevelt’s “New Deal” helped minority communities find work. This sector of society hurt worst by the failed economy was persuaded to vote 71% for Roosevelt’s reelection.

When Democratic Vice President Harry Truman finished out Roosevelt’s term after his death, he ordered the military desegregated and ended racial discrimination in federal employment. Black voters overwhelmingly supported Truman’s election to a full term. By then, 56% of African Americans were registered Democrats.

The Kennedy and Johnson years in the White House saw the signing of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act solidifying 94% of black voter support for Johnson. By 2016, only 8% of African Americans considered themselves Republicans.

So, although the Republican party was the defender of African Americans against Democratic racism for seven decades after the Civil War, the Democrats held the presidency and congressional power during significant political advances for black America over the next half-century. The Republican platform generally supported these advances but didn’t get the credit for them.

The current generation African Americans have lived with the understanding that it’s the Democrats who have their backs. But what has resulted from this affinity? After these latter years of predominant Democratic leadership, median income of black families is $39,715, compared to $65,107 for white families. Family net worth comparison is staggering. Black family net worth is $17,150 compared to white family net worth of $171,000. Because of these disparities, black Americans receive far more government entitlements and assistance than white Americans. Democrats tend to favor these supplementals more than Republicans further enamoring African Americans with the Democrats.

What we have just experienced in the rioting and other chaos from the tragic death of George Floyd is evidence aplenty of the vitriolic state of race relations in America. The pent-up outrage of the under served minority has reached the breaking point. Why wouldn’t this be a catalyst for a shift back to the roots of Republican affiliation for the nation’s black citizens?

If further evidence is needed that African Americans are taken for granted and being paid lip service from Democratic leadership, they need to look no further than Joe Biden’s gaffs that I believe reveal his heart and that of most Democratic politicians. Biden’s “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black” remark should be grounds for every black voter to reconsider supporting him and his party.

What have years of government sustenance and insincerity from the Democrats gained African Americans? The answer is status quo if not decline in economic freedom and social justice. The solution to racial equality is economic, educational, and political opportunity flowing out of a national change of heart. Advances in these areas have been primarily from the heart of Republican leadership.

With this long-standing tradition of black voters feeling more secure in the Democratic camp, it has been difficult for Republicans to convince them that they would benefit long-range and long-term by economic growth, business expansion, and a better job market. President Trump proved that in short order during his first three year in office. The economic boom he led brought record employment and higher wages as well as other increased opportunities for African Americans. After recovery from the pandemic, there is every reason to think that economic boom will continue.

The Democrats realize what this president has accomplished for black America will likely start to swing them back to the Republican party. They are desperately attempting to paint him as a racist who is only concerned about the wealthy. I am hoping that my American friends of color will discern the truth about where their advantage lies for future advancement and opportunity. Over three centuries of racial injustice will not be resolved solely by politics. But resolution will not happen without political involvement. All Republicans should be urging their African American friends to come back to the Grand Old Party of Lincoln.

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Republican: Party for Black Voters

blackrepublicans

No, the title is not a mistake. With 95 percent of African-American voters aligned with the Democratic Party, Republicans can’t claim to be the party OF that demographic. However, without question, The GOP is the party FOR black voters. Throughout history, and more so today, black voters’ preference for the Democratic Party is difficult to comprehend. Let’s take a hard look at which party is really working for black Americans.

African Americans know the Republican Party was founded in 1854 by Abraham Lincoln and other opponents of the expansion of slavery. The party was birthed by opposition to slavery. It was Lincoln’s Democrat successor, Andrew Johnson, who vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and strongly resisted the 14th Amendment which ensured equal rights and protection of all blacks in America. Subsequently, Republican president Ulysses S. Grant implemented the dismantling of the KKK and protected black voting rights. Conversely, the next Democratic president, Grover Cleveland, won the office in 1892 by campaigning against civil rights of black Americans. Democrat president Woodrow Wilson declared that segregation was a “benefit” to the nation. Although Democrat FDR’s New Deal was a net positive for African Americans, black laborers were explicitly excluded from receiving benefits from Social Security and protection under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It was Republican President Eisenhower who implemented and enforced the elimination of segregation among federal employees. He also ordered the National Guard to protect black students during the integration of public schools. Democratic president Kennedy publicly advocated civil rights, but his actions were inconsistent in deference to his party’s base. Lyndon Johnson was the first Democratic president to actually make significant strides in African-American civil rights. However, a nation-wide backlash led by Alabama’s Democratic governor George Wallace was unsuccessful only as a result of the coalitions LBJ built with Republican legislators. Even though civil rights support waned somewhat within the Nixon and Reagan administrations due to the unrest of the 60’s, governor Romney and other Republican leaders relentlessly championed affirmative action, fair housing, and civil rights as the Republican tradition. For decades, Democrats have taken the black vote for granted and gerrymandered prolifically in order to create small districts of black majority voters with virtually no black influence in most others.

It would seem that this rich century-and-a-half history of Republican support for African Americans has been largely ignored in favor of the long-standing Democratic assurances of big-government assistance programs and overly protective policies. These programs and policies have created disincentives for career progression of people of color. Such Democratic actions are aimed at those seemingly trapped in the lower socioeconomic levels. Unfortunately, this system is a continuous cycle of generational economic stagnation. While blacks make up 12 percent of Americans, they represent only 5 percent of the nation’s wealth. Most have limited access to credit for starting a business and seldom rise to social networks that enhance mobility. Meanwhile, whites receive 76 percent of all merit-based scholarships and grant funding that provide well-paying careers. Statistically, blacks earn only 60 cents for every dollar that whites earn. Blatant discrimination can only account for a small part of this inequality. The injustice comes primarily from over-dependence on government assistance and under-utilization of economic opportunity.

President Obama made little, if any, advancement in the status of African Americans in the nation’s economic system. Apparently, being the first black president didn’t override the institutionalized Democratic proclivity for government assistance programs taking precedence over economic growth that enhances the lives of all people.

If we are to ever have the opportunity to free minorities from the history of socioeconomic disadvantage, the time is now. And, once again, it can be the Republican party that champions the advancement of African Americans. In just less than three years, President Trump has done more to elevate the status of all minorities than any other president in the last several decades. With unemployment for black Americans at a historic low, many economists believe Trump has been better for blacks than any other president including Obama. However, Democrats in Congress are maintaining a rocky relationship with the president largely because they don’t want the president and Republicans in general to win over the black vote.

The Republican party platform will never abandon free market capitalism for artificial protectionism such as endless affirmative action and forced diversity. But the party will consistently protect opportunity for minorities to compete fairly and equitably. The best employment environment for minorities is one where business is prospering, and all employees are benefiting from it.

Although, there is much improvement yet to be gained for most black Americans, the Republican party is determined to uphold its tradition of support. In 2016, black voters continued their allegiance to the Democratic Party with only 16 percent of them voting for Trump as they discounted Republican promises to raise the quality of life for their race. Now that the president has essentially made good on his promises of bettering their economic opportunities, it would benefit them to support his reelection and continue the advancement of all Americans, but proportionally greater for African Americans. Black America has a critical choice in this next general election–vote Republican and continue the breakout from institutionalized dependency or vote Democratic and return to the status quo.

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We Must Recognize the Democratic Party for What It Is

I have disagreed with the Democrat party for years, but have tried to accept it as a legitimate alternative voice in our government. However, I can no longer stomach its determined pursuit of socialism, devaluation of life, disdain for biblical truth, disruption of family, and disregard for civil order. The party has institutionalized evil. I am uncomfortable using that word, but darkness can only be overcome by light.

I first realized the Democrats’ blatant secularism during the 2012 Democratic convention when the DNC chairman proposed to reinsert the word “God” into the Democratic Platform. The chairman attempted three voice votes from the floor, and each time the vote was overwhelmingly against including “God.” The chairman finally ignored the obvious nay votes from the majority and declared the proposal as passed. The convention floor roared with shouts of anger. Now this week we learned that a key Democratic House committee has drafted new rules for the swearing in of investigation witnesses that leave out “so help me God.”

The character of a nation is largely defined by its spiritual awareness reflected in its politics. America is polarized between two philosophies of life or world views–Republican and Democratic. The Republican party is far from perfect and certainly has its share of moral lapses and wayward players. But as an institution, it generally holds to the biblical principles of freedom, peace, moderation, free market, patriotism, law and order, sanctity of life, and traditional family.

Conversely, the Democratic party has a history of promoting bondage, anarchy, extremism, socialism, rebellion, lawlessness, abortion, and LGBT activism. Although these characteristics of the party were evident as far back as the Kennedy era, they have become much more predominant in recent years. Just in the last decade, under President Obama, gay marriage became law, wealth was forcefully redistributed, our military served as the laboratory for radical social experiments, law enforcement was demonized, and thousands violently rioted in the streets over a legitimate election. Democratic obsession with so-called gender dysphoria created rampant confusion in children and young adults.

Many ungodly cultural shifts are being fostered through the liberal-leaning courts. The majority of current federal judges were appointed by Presidents Obama or Clinton, and the Senate Democrats are obstructing the confirmation of President Trump’s judicial appointments. The confirmation process for Judge Kavanaugh was a shameful spectacle of demonic-like behavior and contempt for law and order by Democrats on the Judicial Committee.

Just in the last few months, the mostly Democratic news media have made a celebrity of a socialist activist elected to the House of Representatives. Other newly elected Democratic Representatives spewed obscene hostilities against the President publicly. The early announcers for the 2020 presidential campaign are the most radically liberal candidates ever, making Bernie and Hillary seem angelic in comparison.

The Democratic personification of evil is not just in Washington. Hollywood, Broadway, and Nashville stars give us a daily dose of obscene hate speech against rightfully elected government officials. Some have threatened bodily harm or death. Almost all of these miscreants proudly claim allegiance to the Democratic party.

The five highest crime-rate cities in America–Detroit, St. Louis, Oakland, Memphis, and Birmingham–all have a long history of Democratic mayors. America’s highest poverty levels are almost all in cities led by Democrats. Again, leadership depravity results in the darkest environments.

These examples barely scratch the surface of Democratic iniquities. However, in my opinion, the epitome of evil acts by Democrats was the New York Assembly’s late-term abortion bill enacted just last week. New York joined seven other states, all with Democratic governments, in legalizing abortions up to the moment of birth. The assembly celebrated by standing ovation, and the governor lit up the new World Trade Center in honor of the “victory.” This law means a mother can go into labor and then decide to kill the baby just before delivery. Of course, that is no more despicable than a first trimester abortion, but it would have to require more emotional and spiritual numbness on the part of the mother and the abortionist. What possible sense does it make that, if a baby were born at 4:35, willfully killing him or her at 4:36 would be capital murder, but willfully killing him or her at 4:34 would have been perfectly legal and even applauded by many? New York’s legislature is 71% Democratic.

I believe many silent Americans see the lunacy in the Democrat party, but are afraid of being labeled politically incorrect. They are mesmerized by the liberal media’s promotion of the Democratic world view and fear being rejected by their peers. The heart of America is crying out for courageous men and women to stand up and be counted among those who truly love our country and who will fight to preserve all that is right, just, and good.

In labeling the Democratic party evil, I have had a few friends respond that some Democrats are moderate and do not agree with all of the party’s philosophy and platform. My retort is, if one identifies with any organization, he or she is supporting that organization’s values and principles. I believe the Democratic party has institutionalized evil and is destroying America from within. It is becoming the nation’s worst enemy. Democrats should be loved unconditionally as precious fellow men and women, but recognized for who they are and called out accordingly. There is a cultural war in America, and the battle is at the ballot box, not in violent reaction. We need to pray that America will come together in a spirit of civility recognizing our roots and faith that made us the greatest country in history. As for my fellow citizens associated with the Democratic party, I urge you to choose this day whom you will serve.

 

 

 

 

 

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