The attacks continue
Via The Watch Log
The narrative has become trite, the thoughts behind it more transparent. The idea – the malformed idea – that the Republican Party offers nothing to the black voter and, in fact, eschews that demographic is as unfortunate as it is false.
The Rev. Joseph A. Darby wrote a guest OpEd piece in The State newspaper titled “Scott unlikely to attract many black voters to GOP.“ The argument Rev. Darby proffers is that even a popular figure like South Carolina’s junior Senator Tim Scott, an African-American, is not enough to bring black voters into the Republican fold. He writes:
I appreciate his apparent intent, but I’d suggest that he and those who sing his praise consider four things if they truly want to appeal to South Carolina’s black electorate.
The first is that black voters — like all voters — make decisions based not on skin color but on stated political intent. Black voters tend to be conservative when it comes to social issues and private-sector initiatives, but also appreciate government’s role in assuring that those at the bottom of the ladder of opportunity don’t fall off as they climb and that they have an equal, legally protected chance to climb with a decent wage. Black voters aren’t impressed when Republicans label that interest as a desire to “freeload” or gain a “handout” — especially in a state where corporations receive handouts and white citizens are the majority beneficiaries of public assistance.
The notion that “black voters – like all voters – make decisions based not on skin color but on stated political intent” is madness. In his first run for the presidency, Barack Obama pulled in 96% of the African-American vote and 93% in 2012. In 2008 he got 89% of the DEMOCRAT vote! In 2012, it was 92% Democrats for Obama. In each election, more blacks voted for Barack Obama by percentage than did Democrats. “Not on skin color but on stated political intent?” Reverend? The only place you’ll see higher numbers than these are in North Korea!
As for Republicans believing that entitlements are “handouts” for “freeloaders,” Rev. Darby is mistaking fiscal accountability to a nation for charity. Republicans and conservatives are not against helping people, and the Democrat mantra to the contrary is a lie they love to tell. What Republicans prefer to do is create more opportunities for everyone, not reserve the spoils for the few. Small businesses, many of which are the lifeblood of the black community, suffer under the heavy restraints of Democrat imposed taxes, regulations and now, ObamaCare. It’s the old adage of teaching a man to fish.