[dave5150]

Polls have shown that many black voters, especially in the south are socially conservative yet nearly 90 percent continue to vote for the democrats. Could someone explain why? How can the Republicans win more black votes?

[BABRAM]

Polls have shown that many black voters, especially in the south are socially conservative yet nearly 90 percent continue to vote for the democrats. Could someone explain why? How can the Republicans win more black votes?

In my opinion many older generation blacks were actually social conservatives at heart that accepted government intervention and to some degree they needed to. The majority of black families have wholesome family traditions and values. At the core of the Democratic party, once upon a time, at least for forty years ago or so, they expanded government especially for the welfare of all citizens. LBJ was big in much of the black American populace and I believe this has carried over, even today. Not to be confused with the current abuses of a welfare system in constant need of reform. However back to topic, I think the Republicans always had some black support. You've heard the saying, "wanting a hand up, not a handout." That's the counterargument that some blacks have always felt with dignity and pride. I'm actually surprised more minorities are not registered Independents.

I think what you're really questioning is how can Republicans adapt to get more black votes from the Democratic stronghold? Well if you look at what's happening to the party lines they are starting to blur somewhat. Some Republicans are actually moderates now. For example: many people do not realize it, but Bush is a centrist Republican and less conservative than many of his peers and especially compared to the generation of his ex-president father and one Ronald Reagan. By just simply shifting more to the left in the past decade or so the results have garnished a relative gain in black support. You see more and more minorities involved in the Republican party and administrations, as well. I don't think the Clinton administration was as productive in the black communities as they want everyone to believe this 2008 election, nor has Dubya's Republican admin been any less. Although I suspect if Obama played the cards dealt to him he should capitalize on a majority of the black vote.




Bobby

[George_1950]

It is a holdover, perhaps the last, from the FDR coalition. Though many blacks were disenfranchised in the South, Eleanor Roosevelt endeared herself to black folks and dividends continue to be paid, to the extent that many believe that blacks are blinded by their Democratic party loyalty. Republicans need to maintain their principles, especially individual liberty and responsibility, while black culture continues to evolve.

[speechlesstx]

Although I suspect if Obama played the cards dealt to him he should capitalize on a majority of the black vote.

I heard yesterday that nationally, Obama has the support of something like 66 percent of black Democrats. Like the original question here my question is why? It's like the Hillary NH results, were women voting for Hillary because she's a woman and they sympathized with her? Are blacks supporting Obama just because he's black? Or picking Huckabee because he's likable and funny? I would like to think that American voters would go a little deeper than that when choosing a president, but I'm not so sure they do.

[George_1950]

I expect over half the electorate is female; females voted heavily for Bill; how deep were they thinking?

Let's look a little farther: "President Clinton won re-election with support from the majority of women voters, but less than half of men voters. According to exit polls, 54% of women and 43% of men voted for Clinton. Dole received support from 44% of men and 38% of women. Ten percent of men and 7% of women voted for Perot. Women comprised 58% of Clinton voters." See: Feminist Majority Newsletter - volume 8 number 4

[speechlesstx]

I expect over half the electorate is female; females voted heavily for Bill; how deep were they thinking?

So many possible jokes there I won't even begin :D

It does concern me somewhat that the election could turn on identity or emotion, i.e. blacks voting for Obama because he's black, female angst, or evangelicals picking the Baptist preacher without really diving into what the candidates are about. When I hear that that high a majority of blacks support Obama or that "the broads had had enough" for instance, I kind of wonder if these people have any business selecting our president.

[George_1950]

That is one rationale for the discredited "poll tax". I say, let's reinstitute the poll tax!

[Dark_crow]

Thatcher tried that and got riots

[George_1950]

Customary socialist/statist/communist answer to every issue.

[excon]

Could someone explain why? How can the Republicans win more black votes?

Hello dave:

Sure. The Republicans aren't friendly to black people. They could win more support if they were.

A very recent example is the voter ID card approved by the right wing. This law tends to disenfranchise poor black voters. Nobody disagrees with that, however some winger's right here will argue the point.

Some black people are very poor. In addition to traveling to town to vote, NOW they're going to have to travel to town and SPEND money to get a government issued ID card. To you and me, that may not appear to be a burden. But it IS to poor rural black people.

Instead of combating voter fraud, this law COULD be seen as a way to stack the deck in favor of the Republicans. Certainly, some black people see it that way. The Republicans could have made it easier for black people to vote. But they didn't. Instead, they made it harder.

Southern black people are poor. They can't travel to town every time the government decides they should. What southern black people AREN'T, is dumb.

excon

[speechlesstx]

Hello dave:

Sure. The Republicans aren't friendly to black people.

That must be why Bush had the first black Secretary of State, the first female black secretary of state, a black education secretary and a black HUD secretary. That must be why he "supported school choice programs aimed at helping to liberate African-American children from dysfunctional urban public schools," made it "easier for inner-city black churches to receive public support for providing social services," and pledged "a twenty-fold increase from Clinton-era funding levels—to help stem the AIDS pandemic" in Africa.

They could win more support if they were.

Ex, what does being more friendly to black people mean?

A very recent example is the voter ID card approved by the right wing. This law tends to disenfranchise poor black voters. Nobody disagrees with that, however some winger’s right here will argue the point.

Nobody disagrees with that? I see it this way, preventing voter fraud is more important than not preventing voter fraud and it seems the only way to do that is to know who is voting and that they only vote once. Aren't you tired of hearing about alleged voter suppression schemes?

Some black people are very poor. In addition to traveling to town to vote, NOW they're going to have to travel to town and SPEND money to get a government issued ID card. To you and me, that may not appear to be a burden. But it IS to poor rural black people.

You see it as increasing barriers, I see it as an attempt to maintain the integrity of an election. That's a good thing. This attitude just makes me think some would rather keep "poor rural black people" just that, poor rural black people, than give them incentive, encouragement and the kind of assistance to help them reach their potential. That's how the Democrats are more friendly to blacks, by keeping them dependent and keeping the fires of racism burning for no valid reason.

[Dark_crow]

I can't help but wonder just what the “Potential” is for the average poor rural Black; and just what Republicans or anyone else is doing to encourage, assist, and to help them reach their potential.

[tomder55]

Lets see now . I have to provide a photo ID for driving my car , boarding a airplane, enter a federal building, obtain a passport, write a check, use a credit card, open a bank account. But I should have some kind of objection to an ID for voting ? The poor people may already have a photo Id because they need it to cash their government assistance check .

It is just a ruse of people who want people uneligible to vote voting to turn the argument into racism.

[speechlesstx]

I can’t help but wonder just what the “Potential” is for the average poor rural Black; and just what Republicans or anyone else is doing to encourage, assist, and to help them reach their potential.

I happen to believe their potential is as great as anyone else's. Isn't it true, isn't that the message they need to hear, and isn't that helpful? It sure beats perpetuating an attitude of helplessness, hopelessness, oppression, "disenfranchisement," dependency and defeat.

[Dark_crow]

Fortune is a cruel mistress; that everyone is equal is a cruel lie, and perpetuating an attitude of helplessness, hopelessness, oppression, "disenfranchisement," dependency and defeat is a strawman.