Black Republican sick of being 'window dressing'

[Biggles of 266]

Boy, I say, boy, fetch my bags and be sharp about it!



The Back of the GOP bus
On the same day that the president decided to renominate Charles Pickering to the federal appeals bench, California's highest-ranking black Republican spoke out about persistent racism in the party of Trent Lott. Shannon Reeves, the GOP party secretary who resides in Oakland, is furious about the apparent Confederate sympathies of vice chairman Bill Back, a hard-right activist who is now running for state chairman.

In an e-mail to state GOP board members that is quoted at length in the Contra Costa Times, Reeves writes: "Black Republicans are expected to provide window dressing and cover to prove that this is not a racist party, yet our own leadership continues to act otherwise." Clearly Reeves feels stung by the controversy over an electronic newsletter sent out by Back in 1999, which carried an essay suggesting that America would have been better off if the South had won the Civil War. Back has rebuffed a demand by Reeves that he drop out of the race for state chairman against a moderate candidate.

In the same e-mail, Reeves tries to educate his fellow Republicans about the indignities he has endured during his years of working for the GOP.

"When I travel to speak at Republican conferences and events around the country, wandering through hotels, convention centers and social clubs, as I approach the rooms where I'm scheduled to speak, I am often told by Republicans that I must be in the wrong place," he wrote.

Although still an admirer of the president, Reeves also offers a bitter sidebar to the multicultural spectacle (or "minstrel show") that accompanied George W. Bush's presidential nomination:

"As a Bush delegate at the 2000 convention in Philadelphia, I proudly wore my delegate's badge and (Republican National Committee) lapel pin as I worked the convention. Regardless of the fact that I was obviously a delegate prominently displaying my credentials, no less than six times did white delegates dismissively tell me (to) fetch them a taxi or carry their luggage."

 

[amk714]

I sympathize with Mr. Reeves, but if all of what he said is true, why does he continue to stay with the party? 😕 Not that I'm surprised by his allegations, mind you. 🙄

 

[asutickler]

I sympathize with Mr. Reeves, but if all of what he said is true, why does he continue to stay with the party?

Because despite the few @$$hole racists you'll find sprinkled throughout the party, the majority of Republicans are normal, decent, well-meaning folks, as are the majority of Democrats. Also, Mr. Reeves would be just as likely encounter the same sort of treatment within the Democratic party, home of such notable racists as Senator Robert Byrd (WV) the former officer of the KKK who strenuously opposed the 1964 Civil Rights act, and recently uttered the N-word on national television. The Democratic Party is smart enough to try and hide the racists it can't get rid of... but they're still there.

 

[kurchatovium]

Amen, brother.

 

[ShiningIce]

I think Mr. Reeves fell off the Stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down and then decided to climb back up again.....

 

[amk714]

Because despite the few @$$hole racists you'll find sprinkled throughout the party, the majority of Republicans are normal, decent, well-meaning folks, as are the majority of Democrats. Also, Mr. Reeves would be just as likely encounter the same sort of treatment within the Democratic party, home of such notable racists as Senator Robert Byrd (WV) the former officer of the KKK who strenuously opposed the 1964 Civil Rights act, and recently uttered the N-word on national television. The Democratic Party is smart enough to try and hide the racists it can't get rid of... but they're still there.

Of course most people aren't racists, and those who are aren't necessarily Republicans. But the Democratic party has helped blacks more; that's why most blacks are Democrats. If the GOP wants to attract more African-American voters, it must do the same, or else they will continue to side with the other party, even if there are blacks Repubs like Powell and Rice.

 

[kurchatovium]

First off Lincoln was Republican and he abolished slavery so I think the Republicans should get at least a few brownie points for that. Granted it was awhile back but in terms of doing things for blacks I'd say thats pretty big. Also Bush has I think the most blacks in his cabinet more so probably than any other president (certainly more than Clinton) but I could be wrong about that. Republicans deserve I think a few points for that as well. I might also add that the big bad Lott was a Democrat before he turned Republican I guess he wasn't racist until he switched parties. Then of course you have Robert Byrd who is a racist but he's a Democrat and of course Clinton even spoke on his behalf similar to what Lott did for Thurmond. Gee why didn't Clinton get a whole lot of flack? Answer he's a Democrat so these things just get overlooked.


Also every see the movie "Bullworth". Basically the Warren Beatty character tells a black audience that the Democrats don't give a crap about you because they know no matter what you will vote for them. The Republicans don't want to waste any time with you because they know you won't vote for them anyway. So its an attitude thing if you want change you have not be so predictable. Make the Democrats earn your vote by doing stuff for you. Let Republicans or Libertarians think they have a shot at getting your vote then they will listen. The time Reagan won in a landslide I think he barely managed to get about 10% of the black vote.