Black Conservatives: Don't Fall For It

One of today's Yahoo News headlines informs us that 'Black conservatives [are] conflicted on Obama campaign.' Armstrong Williams, Rep. J.C. Watts, General Colin Powell, Senator Edward Brooke and, sadly, my friend Joseph C. Phillips may be falling into the trap which I have repeatedly described--one lined with pride and with fear: pride of race and fear that Obama is the last chance for a black president to be elected. (GOPAC chairman Michael Steele isn't going for the okey doke, however; but that may be only due to his position.)

People say that women have problems thinking objectively and strategically. Well, I'm seeing a whole group of men who are having that problem. Friends, you're letting the nearness of a dream's seeming fulfillment blind you to what will likely come after that ephemeral happiness is dissipated, after the novelty has worn off: the nightmare.

And guess who will get blamed for that short-sightedness? Not just you.

With 90+ percent of black Americans voting Democrat regardless of who the candidate is, it will be bad enough as it is. But I, for one, expect you, black conservative Republican men to have enough balls to stand on principle, not on your emotions. You've shown your testicular fortitude by being publicly conservative against a tide of Identity Politics. Don't start behaving like castrati now.

Stop thinking selfishly. We're not choosing a President of Black American Dream Fulfillment; we're choosing a President of the United States.

UPDATE: Hi Lizards and Hot Airians!

Comments

[Adina Kutnicki]

This is a very trenchant analysis It would be akin for as, as a Republican Conservative Jew, to vote for the most radical left Jewish candidate. As if. In a pig's eye!

[MS]

I thank you for your passionate plea. I am a white 50 year old female that would gladly vote for a Black Man/Woman as President.( Sec. Rice comes to mind) Mr Obama and his connections frankly scare the hell out of me. This wave of transfixed adoration is not normal and should alarm reasonable thinking people. I will just continue to pray.

[ladycatnip]

How lovely to put a beautiful face to a fellow Lizard. Yours is an excellent, well-reasoned post. The mindless adulation of Obama scares the heck out of me. And thank you for your service to our country.

[Patricia Graham]

Would black liberals vote for Walter Williams or Thomas Sowell if they were running on the Republican ticket?

Not a chance.

This white woman would vote for either of them in a heart beat and I'd spend every free minute campaigning for them.

[Lorraine]

As a 75 year old white woman I would gladly vote for Obama if he were a conservative - in the mold of Walter Williams, Thomas Sowell, Michael Steele, Condoleeza Rice as well as others that I may not be aware of.

I just can not bring myself to support his liberal views and what policies he may push on our country.

Thanks for your post. My first visit here.

[Sigmund, Carl and Alfred]

Well said.

Identity politics must never be allowed to supplant issues and values.

Yes, it really is that simple.

[D.C. Thornton]

All I can say to the above is "amen". Well put.

[John]

Would black liberals vote for Walter Williams or Thomas Sowell if they were running on the Republican ticket?
==================================

If they had a chance of winning, many blacks would cross over.

It's about race and it's not about race.

The first time in history any black person ever gets this close to the presidency and everybody acts shocked that blacks would get excited.
Do you know a shred of anything about history?

Blacks had it bad, bad, bad until recently. There was no redemption for them. And to move from that to a nomination (at a time when nearly all blacks alive today were either born during Jim Crow or have parents who were) is what? A boring event?

Of course many blacks are "going batty"!
Is this the only effect of 450 years of slavery and legal/extra-legal discrimination, then by God! they're doing well in America.

Give them some slack. Even if Obama loses, blacks will never be the same again. This is good for them from any angle.
Maybe now they will feel as if they belong in America.

[Jaibones]

Nicely done, baldilocks. Salut!

[Kafir]

Jackie Robinson broke down the racial barriers in professional baseball not because he was the first black major league player but because he was the first and he was damn good at the game. Had Jackie gotten out there and sucked, how many more decades would it have taken before someone else got a chance? The same is true for Obama. He has the chance to be first, but he is a lightweight and will be another Jimmy Carter, both in policies and number of terms served.

[Zemanga]

Thank you for your this.
I am a proud black man in a early 30's and i will not support Obama.
I think that McCain is the best candidate based on principles and i will not vote on race.

Let me give you another example. I am catholic and when the great J.P II passed away, some of us wanted a black pope. I prayed that we have a good Pope regardless of his race. And thank god we had one!

Stick to your principles and to your faith, that is all we have in this world.

[Danny Lemieux]

I, too, would have no problem voting for a black person to be president - I also happen to believe there are many black people in political life qualified to be POTUS. That person is NOT Obama, however.

Jackie Robinson broke racial barriers because he was an unqualified success. He gave racists no peg upon which to hang their hat.

So here is my question to all black voters enthralled with the idea of an Obama presidency just because he would be the first black President:

What do YOU think will happen to the political prospects of black people when, inevitably, an Obama presidency becomes a disaster, not because of his race but because of his socialist economic and anti-American, appeasement-driven foreign policies?

[Glynn]

"If they had a chance of winning, many blacks would cross over."
==================================
I don't believe this to be true. I have never seen the black community unify behind a black conservative in politics. Never. In fact, the opposite is true. How many times have I read where Condi Rice or Colin Powell were called an Uncle Tom. And what about Ward Connerly. No, I simply don't see it and I think that is incredily sad. Obama is not a black man. He is a mixed race man. I am not sure why that is mentioned so seldom.

[docweasel]

Lost in all the identity politics of the first woman and the first black, in the ancient history of this campaign we had a chance to elect the first ethnically named president (Guiliani) amid all the Anglo McCains and Clintons etc. and as a 2nd generation Italian, that did occur to me. And I supported Rudy early on, until it became apparent he had no stomach for the fight.

We still might get our first president whose name ends in a vowel, but he won't be of Italian descent. That just goes to show I guess, blacks have come farther (or further?) than Italians in this country.

[baldilocks]

Glynn,

Obama is not a black man. He is a mixed race man. I am not sure why that is mentioned so seldom.

Because, outside of African immigrants of the last forty years, almost all black Americans are mixed race.

I have discussed this here and here.

[rc]

Thank you baldilocks...you are a credit to our country...yours and mine. You and I don't have a race. We have a dream about a beautiful country that doesn't know or care about skin color..only a free and happy group of people who are thankful we have each other and thankful for all those who came before us to give us this chance to continue to fight for that dream...bless you.

[Tom]

What know what the funny thing about this post and blog is?

All of your readers are undoubtedly white Republican men, regardless of what they claim to be.

[Beto Ochoa]

This election on a national stage exposes the entrenched racism in the Democratic Party. Black scholars "in the mold of Walter Williams, Thomas Sowell, Michael Steele, Condoleeza Rice" are not welcome in the party because they cannot be manipulated. The only black intelligentsia allowed access to power are frauds like James Cone, Cornel West and most especially, Barak Obama. The white power structure in the democratic party cannot allow true scholars with black skin anywhere near the top because they wont stay on the plantation. We see example after example of those the dems have put up embroiled in corruption and the matters "whitewashed" in the national marxist media.
Think of the damage it will do when senator Obama's past is held up in the light along with the failures he has already surrounded himself with on an international stage. I would bet that "HE' hasn't actually picked any of these Carter Castaways and is only doing what the Massas are tellin' him to do.
I am fully tired of the democrats grinding people of color under their tyrannical boots, generation after generation uneducated, in order to keep a white stranglehold on the political reigns.
Real men and women need not apply.

[baldilocks]

Tom,

And?

[Glynn]

"Glynn,

Obama is not a black man. He is a mixed race man. I am not sure why that is mentioned so seldom.
Because, outside of African immigrants of the last forty years, almost all black Americans are mixed race.
I have discussed this here and here."
==================================
I appreciate the information. This is my first visit here, came over from Hot Air. Regards,

[The Atom Bomb of Loving Kindness]

Tom, you are right. How absolutely horrible that all these honkey rethuglican bastards listen to the opinions of a black woman. Well, sadly in my case you are wrong -- I'm a libertarian. But I am a white male, so maybe you'll reckon that's close enough. And, yes, I come to this web page sometimes. But this isn't the only black woman's opinion that I take the time to consider. My doctor is a black woman. When she says to stop eating so much meat and exercise more, I stop eating so much meat and I exercise more. My boss is a black woman. When she says to work on the weekend, I work on the weekend. So I really don't get your point. Is it that it is somehow an affront to you that someone has an opinion different from yours? Are you truly that arrogant and self-centered? Believe it or not, you are not God. It is entirely possible for someone who is not evil or stupid to disagree with you. Truly it is. I think you need some lessons in how to tolerate people who are different from yourself -- that is to say, how to tolerate the rest of the world that isn't you.
But I'll bet money that you just drove past, left a vaguely insulting anonymous post and scooted away.

[Kowboy]

"Is this the only effect of 450 years of slavery"

Posted by: John | June 14, 2008 at 06:03 PM

There's a figure I've seen used before. Now, considering that slavery was here in this country for a little over 100 years and less than 80 as the USA, where does 450 years come from? Care to show us some proof there John? Or are you just talking out of an alternate orifice?

[helen]

We do not need to guess if African Americans vote for Black conservative. They had their chance with Michael Steele in MD, who was perfectly qualified and had a good chance to become to become Senator if he got their vote. He and his sister were brought up by their single mother and both got good education, etc.
Obama campaigned against Steele.
I hope this is not a reason Steele does not fall into this trap.

Steele did not get to the Senate.

[kivi]

If Obama looked white and chose to identify with his white half, he would not have gotten the time of day running for president based on his complete lack of qualifications and unsavory associations.

Blacks and other Democrats are treating the presidency as just another affirmative action opening and feel-good exercise at a dangerous time for the United States and free world.

Instead of color-blind, they are color-blinded.

[Jim]

To Atom Bomb:

The first African slaves were brought to Europe (Portugal, I think?) in the 1440s, and to the New World (Hispaniola, I think?) about 100 years later. If you want to split hairs, you can claim only 80 years of slavery in the *United States,* from its formation in the 1780s to the 1860s, but obviously that's specious.

Of course, Muslims had been enslaving black Africans for hundreds of years before that, so the argument could be made that blacks have suffered over a thousand years of slavery... just not at the hand of whites.

[DfD (Democrats for Deportation)]

Race and skin color are so irrelevant any more. There's plenty of reasonable black voters out there. It's those "starry-eyed" Far Leftists supporting Obama that scare me. Watching them listen to Obama in 'Frisco, I felt like I was in the movie: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.

[Helen]

Juliette, thank you for saying this. JC Watts signaled a long time ago on Fox that he was voting for Obama. He refused to condemn Jeremiah Wright and generally weaseled. It's such a shame to see men like Watts, Williams, and others abandoning their conservatism and going for Obama for racial reasons. It's madness! Does conservatism mean nothing to Watts and Williams that they would vote for Obama, a Marxist communist, and an ignorant one at that?

What ideas has Obama offered that have seduced blacks who claim they are conservative? None. It is incredible that having a black face in the WH is more important than the policies that man will support, the judges he will select, and his ability to govern. So much for black conservatives clinging to content of character rather than color of skin.

Where the rubber meets the road, many conservative blacks might as well be Democrats. I can think of no greater insult to cast at them.

[Tom]

"They had their chance with Michael Steele in MD, who was perfectly qualified and had a good chance to become to become Senator if he got their vote."

I'm curious as to what qualified Michael Steele to be the senator from Maryland? In his life, he never won a single election on his own. Getting elected lieutenant governor doesn't count because he on a ticket, and he was the bottom of it, and people never really pay much attention to lieutenant governors.

Did you ever consider that the REASON Michael Steele lost is because the voting public got a good look at a black conservative and decided, "Wow, this guy is a friggin nutcase".

You know, comparing your Jewish Democratic opponent to the Nazis because of his support for stem cell research.

Well, it tends to turn off moderate voters, and those we like to call "rational human beings". Of which your party is in desperate need of these days.

And voters, of course. LoL.

[Ryan Small]

All people looking to vote for a black into the position have had this opportunity more than twice twice: Jesse Jackson and Alan Keyes. While neither inspired the political prowess, both could have had the backing purely under the guise of change.

But Obama is taking advantage of a much greater friction to change than what existed in the previous run, so the theme of change has a bigger cast of merry men to chant the slogan.

[baldilocks]

Did you ever consider that the REASON Michael Steele lost is because the voting public got a good look at a black conservative and decided, "Wow, this guy is a friggin nutcase".

Are you stereotyping, Tom? And I'm still waiting to for you to explain your point regard the alleged white, male Republican-ness of my readership.

[SAM]

Please forgive me. First time on this blog; I linked over from Hot Air.

Helen at 7:55 pm, is it true that Obama campaigned against Michael Steele? I'm from Ohio, and he seems outstanding. I wish the Republicans would find a way to get that man a higher profile. I'm a cracker white guy, and I desperately want a chance vote for him and for others of his high caliber--regardless of color.

[baldilocks]

Ryan,

The theme of change has a bigger cast of merry men to chant the slogan.

I would assume that the use of the phrase 'merry men' is no accident. :-)

Robbin' Hood, spelling intentional.

[Tom]

"And I'm still waiting to for you to explain your point regard the alleged white, male Republican-ness of my readership."

I'm sorry, I forgot you are a Republican, and therefore a fairly stupid human being who needs things explained to them like a child.

I was obviously mocking the simple, irrefutable fact that no one in the black community CARES about your opinion. 92-94% of the black community will vote for Obama, and about the same amount would have voted for him even if the Democrats nominated a white candidate.

The arrogance of black conservatives who like to pretend like they represent the black community has always amused me. But hey, I guess that explains the depthless rage and nuttiness of people like Michael "my Jewish opponent is a Nazi" Steele and Alan Keyes, who needs no introduction.

It must suck to be a part of the super-super-super-super-minority.

baldilocks sez: Thanks, Tom, for letting me know that my efforts in this post are effective. See, when trolls react to what I say in the manner that you have, I know that I'm making a difference.

And, apparently you care about what I say, don't you, Poor Baby?

[RMR]

So Armstrong Williams,J.C. Watts, General Colin Powell, Senator Edward Brooke and your friend, Mr. Phillips, are "conflicted" about Obama, huh?

Maybe you should ask these "black conservative men" why black liberals have never felt so "conflicted", and are quite comfortable viciously attacking "them" and other conservatives like Condoleezza Rice, Clarence Thomas, Michael Steele etc.
Fact is, most black liberals believe "blackness" is only relevant if you are a liberal. If you are conservative you "loose" your "blackness". What else could explain their euphoria for Barack Obama and their utter contempt for the remarkable achievements by conservatives like Clarence Thomas and Condoleeza Rice?
I am truly disappointed to hear that black conservative men who have endured a lifetime of ridicule and hatred from black liberals are now "conflicted" about an ultra-lib like Barack Obama, simple because he is half-black.
I am one black man with enough balls to stand on principle, and I will join you in asking these "black conservative men" to grow a pair.

[Mwalimu Daudi]

As an embittered G*d-and-gun-clinging typical white person (the sort of non-human white liberals like Tom love to hate) I recall the 1976 Presidential election, and how many evangelical Christians were all atwitter over the former governor from Georgia and what a wonderful Christian he was. The assumption was that he would make a good President simply because he was a Christian.

I will refrain from commenting on Jimmy Carter's Christian faith. But the non-stop horror show of incompetence, stupidity and deliberate malice that was the Carter administration is fair game. The deadly danger of identity politics is that voters will not look past skin color/religious affiliation/national origin until it is too late.

[James]

Remember how they treated black conservatives in 2006?

http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com/2006/11/you-have-shamed-us.html

[Kini]

baldilocks, I have followed your comments on many different posts on HotAir. Kudos on your post and Right On!

It's "thinkers" like you will provide the voice of reason and logic. Aloha, Kini

[Michael]

Too true and well said. Identity politics has kept race a constant in American politics when it should have died along with Jim Crow laws.

[Chap]

As the boss once said: "Keep the main thing the main thing".

[notropis]

"JC Watts signaled a long time ago on Fox that he was voting for Obama. He refused to condemn Jeremiah Wright and generally weaseled."

As someone somewhere has said frequently recently of others, "If this is true, I'm greatly disappointed. That's not the JC Watts I knew. That's the sort of backward-looking divisiveness I oppose."

[Merovign]

Gee, I hope "Tom" doesn't think he's here to make friends and influence people.

What an unpleasant, bigoted person.

[baldilocks]

Tom pathetically put his words in my mind, somehow transferring his assumptions onto me--that I somehow claimed to be representing anything other than conservative ideology.

People like Tom can't figure conservatives out because they can't fathom a perspective that's different from their own.

Tom projects onto me the things which are important to him--such as groupthink--and lambastes me, his ideological opponent, for not having the quality which he cares about, but I don't and never have. He's mad at me for being an individualist.

Poor Tom. He doesn't realize that he paid me a compliment.

[Branch Rickey]

Baldilocks: Beautiful and brilliant as always! Obama and race is kind of like how my grandfather so wanted an Irish-American Catholic president in his lifetime, but he drove his elderly aunt around all day {after he had voted for Nixon} so she could NOT cast a vote for JFK in the 1960 election. His aunt got very upset with him but he just kept telling her it was for her own good. Sure enough a year or two into the JFK presidency he kept quiet counsel as his aunt was able to honestly say to her friends, most of whom had voted for JFK only because he was an Irish-American Catholic, they needed to do a novena for the people killed at the Bay of Pigs because they had voted him in office and she had not. My grandfather would have really loved your blog! ;^)
Love your passion. Stay strong.

[Subsunk]

Baldilocks,

The only one with balls, is you, my dear. The rest of the gents you mentioned have forgotten where theirs are, and what they once stood for. I am proud to be associated with you, even in the smallest of ways. Because it is women like you who made this country great, and served Her when there was no thanks for doing so. God bless you, ma'am. I'd back you up anytime you need me, anywhere.

Press on.

Subsunk

[Metro]

Where's the Greek/Irish candidate?

I'm screwed.

[Vasily]

To the best of my recollection: When Alex Haley was researching his Irish background for his book, Roots, he was amazed at the color-blindedness he experienced in Ireland. But, he said the doors to more research in one particular area closed when he was asked, "Now Mr. Haley, you're Catholic then, are you now?" I suppose the priest was a white, Irish Republican, eh? (Hint, there is a double entendre in "Republican". Tommie, "double entendre", two meanings. Secret knowledge. Eeeeeee!)

[Bill]

I was hoping that Condoleezza Rice would run for President. I would have gotten involved in that race.
Not excited about either candidate at present, No way I could ever vote for the Marxist Obama though.

[Lyn]

It is so sad that so many Black conservatives are not staying true to their conservative principles. Even Black ministers are getting goose bumps over Obama. No one speaking so far left and firmly opposing the right of an innocent baby to live, can give me goose bumps. mothers are killing their own babies. In Romans ch. 1 vs. 26-27; God calls homosexuality vile affections. WAKE UP PEOPLE! It doesn't stop with Obama, it's his appointees and liberal ways changing the face of America. America the Great might end up like other countries; instead of the giver, the needer of aid. Bush has already asked the Saudi's for more oil.

[Kim Priestap]

Excellent post. Will link at Wizbang.

[centralcal]

Great post, baldilocks!

I love Michael Steele and wish we had many more like him in the Republican Party - of ANY color!