Jack and Jill Politics - Latest Comments in Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

bluedov69 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:11:43 -0000

And of course the republican party sees beyond it self too! Give me a break! I am an African American and this just seems like a big cop out for their basic attitudes towards African Americans. I think as you see by this election we are no longer the angry non-conformists you make us out to be.
As for the party that believes in small government and big business ... you haven't been that in years.... In recent years, the republican party just seems like bitter racists who refused to see that the world has changed around them. By the way, you talk about handouts and how people should be ashamed in receiving them but you have no problem when these corporations get billions and billions of dollars in government funds (corporate welfare)

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

bluedov69 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:59:16 -0000

I think that African Americans do not want to join the republican party is because they simply do not associate themselves with African Americans. Yes they have figureheads like Colin Powell, Condelezza Rice or Alan keyes . However, they use these figures as background piece and expect African Americans to jump because they see black face which is an insult to black people.
Sarah Palin is a figure head too although I doubt she knows it .
Reality CHECK REPUBLICANS
WE DIDN'T VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK, ME AND A LOT OTHER NON-BLACKS VOTED FOR HIM BECAUSE HE REPRESENTED CHANGE. IN FACT, HE SPENT A LOT OF THE YEAR TRYING TO CATCH UP TO HILLARY CLINTON WHO WAS GETTING THE BLACK VOTE IN JULY IF YOU REMEMBER .

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Ms.Martin — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:22:00 -0000

Ms. M-

I agree with your theory. I've thought all through this campaign about why the Republicans would offer the choices they did and decide on an embattled, old McCain.

At first, I thought they probably just let him have it so he could have his last change when they knew they weren't going to win.

Your theory is plausible though.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Ms.Martin — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:48:00 -0000

D-
I would like to beg your pardon. It’s this type of thinking - AAs want to live off the government - that makes me want to puke. I could never be a part of that type of thinking. All we want is respect and a government that provides for us in a fair, just and civil manner just as it would and does for white Americans. These provisions are unspoken but understood. AAs want a government that is not full of representatives that have and would deny us the right to vote, deny equal funding to our school systems, deny basic rights and through our legal and judicial system devise elaborate schemes to maintain the status quo. All while focusing their attention and the nation’s resources on personal and special interests that serve only a small percentage - really you stupid mofo, do I need to go any further!

I have some conservative views; however, I can’t ever see myself joining a party where it has been made clear I am not wanted or needed. I also can’t see myself a part of a party that includes Pat Buchanan and George Bush and Lord knows how many other segregationists and racists.

IMO the AAs who are currently associated with the Republican Party are for a couple of reasons:

1) Financial reasons – There are some AAs who have achieved a level of success that requires that they support the policies of the Republicans that benefit them financially, even though the very members of their party inserted the road blocks that would attempt to deny them the success they achieved.

2) Superiority Vindication – They have a need to be included and not viewed as a typical AA given that they have found a way succeed in spite of policies that would have denied them. It’s the old I’m not like them. The need to be accepted and deemed superior for their achievements.

It’s a sad and sick affair.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

isonprize — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:24:00 -0000

Our community's biggest problem has come from mistrusting each other within the community; and stabbing one another in the back within the community; taking advantage of our black neighbor, our black relative within the community. Reflecting upon this, perhaps the biggest reason -- the absolute biggest reason -- all along as to why I personally despise how Hillary is running her campaign is less about her methods, may be that I have seen her bullshit mirrored too often within the black community. And those tactics fail the group as a whole even as it enriches the few. Meanwhile, those who are enriched believe (like Hillary) that they deserve to be enriched at the expense of those they fuck over.
___________

Nita @2:22, you gave me the words for what I was feeling. Plus, hillary (and black folks who do the same thing...) think nobody sees that shit.

I see it, it's the 'crab in a barrel' mentality that my daddy always talked about.

Now as for FEMA and New Orleans, Bush appointed dude who ran the Arabian Horse Association to run FEMA.

What the hell did he know from emergencies?!?!

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Mrs. M. — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:35:00 -0000

Not sure how many of you watch Hannity & Colmes but rest assured Black people are being used.

Once Obama is completely raked through the coals (which is the plan) by either McCain and/or Clinton, the nomination will go to Clinton.

Obviously MANY people will not be voting for Massa's wife Missus Clinton, so McCain will win.

McCain is ancient quite frankly so obviously he will pick a young/youngish running mate. Would not be surprised if for some reason he doesn't complete his term (bad health, etc). So the Republic VP will be come President and voila the right will have the person they wanted in the first place in office.

So be sure to pay attention to who McCain picks as his running mate....

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Admiral Komack — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:33:00 -0000

"@admiral komack, i usually agree with your posts, and i agree with the one you wrote here... except that I don't think you took it far enough and you've let Democrats off the hook for the environment of New Orleans before Katrina."

-Nita, I believe that Nagin, Blanco, et al are not blameless concerning Hurricane Katrina.

My point is state resources couldn't handle the enormity of the disaster, the governor sent out the disaster declaration...the federal government was supposed to respond...and nothing happended, and people died because of that lack of response.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Admiral Komack — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:24:00 -0000

Hi, nita.

When Governor Blanco sent the disaster declaration to the White House on August 26, 2005, it was incumbent on the federal government to act.

When the federal government got that disaster declaration, it was their responsibilty to act, and they did not.

The federal governmet had to be SHAMED into acting.

And since the Bush Administration were staffing those organizations

that would deal with the disaster and its aftermath (Department of Homeland Security/yeah, Brownie, Chertoff, I'm talking about YOU), yeah, I'm blaming the Republicans.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

justice58 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:07:00 -0000

Nita,

When it happened to Bill Clinton back in 1992---Bush Sr. was in office! This crap makes you wonder!

"You can bet someone paid for the breach. Who's trying to go out like Nixon? because whoever did it needs to be barred from politics for life".

What if...

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Nita — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:04:00 -0000

@anonymous 5:57pm, since felons can't vote in many states, isn't the war on drugs a way of removing people's right to vote?

(and now I'm thinking of the tragedy of DMX's XXL interview) What are Democrats doing to ensure that people's rights are resecured once they've paid their debt to society? why should permanent disenfranchisement for felony offenses be a state issue, and less important than stupid flag burning?

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Nita — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:01:00 -0000

Hi Justice, thank you for bringing this up. I hadn't heard about it (others may have) until you mentioned it.

Folks are talking about security breaches against Clinton back in the 92 race because someone was trying to find information about what he was doing in the 60s. That kind of information. So we'll still need to see if it's about planning something for the future; or attacking Obama through his past. Also, who those two aids were double-agenting for also needs to be revealed. That information was important to someone.

You can bet someone paid for the breach. Who's trying to go out like Nixon? because whoever did it needs to be barred from politics for life. Who's going to be our Bernstein and Woodard?

also, at Free Republic they've got a photo of Clinton and Pastor Wright from the 90s, and they think the Clintons orchestrated this shit in spite of knowing Pastor Wright and his message and not having a problem with it then.... in order to hurt Obama. Echoes of Rezko. But who knows. Anybody can get invited to the white house, as Poppy Bush found out when it came to Eazy.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:57:00 -0000

"But, at the same time, can anyone say what the DNC has done for blacks, other than lie for votes",

If nothing else, they've prevented the Republicans form having a completely free hand in this country. If the DEMS had done nothing at all, a lot of us wouldn't even be here talking about who we are and aren't going to vote for, beacuse a lot of us wouldn't have the right to vote. It would have been taken away- again.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

justice58 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:52:00 -0000

Nita,

" What other information is given about the security breach? who took the information, and why? someone planning to protest, or someone planning to kill him"?

-----------------------------------

That's what I'm talking about! You know "Sean Hannity had on his web-site that he believed someone would assassinate Barack"! He has now taken it down! This is outrage!

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Nita — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:46:00 -0000

@justice58, i'll file that with 'why are we just now finding out about the disappearance of the Clintons presidential library CFO?' What other information is given about the security breach? who took the information, and why? someone planning to protest, or someone planning to kill him?

@ronnie b, you're right, Republicans don't want us, are not looking to kiss our ass in the same way Republicans kissed the ass of (and outright lied to) evangelicals, and if we arrived at the gate many would gleefully ignore us while taking our votes. oh well. that doesn't mean going back to the Democrats.

@ angela, i saw that about mccain. the fact remains that the mccain aide did it in the first place. it's not acceptable from hillary. it's not acceptable from mccain. mccain doesn't get to be the 'good guy' by sacrificing members of his own campaign in order to big up himself.

he pulled the same shit on that dj who mocked obama's middle name (the dj claims that mccain's campaign encouraged him, before mccain used the opportunity to backstab him). he's as bad as hillary. mccain is just allowed to get away with it. and that ain't right.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Nita — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:39:00 -0000

@admiral komack, i usually agree with your posts, and i agree with the one you wrote here... except that I don't think you took it far enough and you've let Democrats off the hook for the environment of New Orleans before Katrina. The Republicans fucked up. Hard. It was McCain's birthday party Bush was all laughing it up at, McCain's birthday party Bush thought was more important to attend than to the nation. And I don't remember McCain EVER being recorded as saying 'hey, we have a problem in the Gulf region maybe we can cut things short'.

But New Orleans was corrupt before Katrina. Poor Ray Nagin had to switch parties -- from Republican to Democrat -- in order to be electable enough to sweep out the corruption within New Orleans' deeply Democrat political system. And from what I remember, Nagin was succeeding, pre-Katrina. Nagin was succeeding. Bush and Chertoff and crew screwed up Katrina. Screwed it up monumentally. Did it intentionally. But so did the Democrats, pre-Katrina, because backstabbing and taking for one's self was more important than taking care of the community's needs present and future.

I am not going to be pulled into partisan games (if I can help it) of demonizing people based on the letter behind their name, anymore.

And symphony, I agree with you about manipulation.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

justice58 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:35:00 -0000

There was a security breach in Obama passport files in January 2008. 2 employees(contract employees) have been fired & a 3rd person disciplined! And it'S just now revealed!!! The dates January 9th, Febuary 21st, & March 14th!!

WTF!

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Symphony — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:17:00 -0000

the Right really doesn't understand black America And the Left does? No, they just know how to manipulate.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:08:00 -0000

The most conservative people in this country tend to be black folks, the only thing they don't like is that the USA condones and enforces institutional racism, when they can be fair and color blind, then maybe the blacks will consider joining, but, at the same time, the GOP does not want nor need blacks as voters, they are now gong after the Hispanic voters. No one wants a handout they want a fair and equal chance, something Republicans just can't get.

But, at the same time, can anyone say what the DNC has done for blacks, other than lie for votes, and, then have the gall of the tag teaming Clinton's to tell you that you aren't smart enough to pick the right candidate in a primary?

This country needs a viable third party, the two dinosaurs GOP and DNC are totally out of touch with the real needs of real Americans.

Peace.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:40:00 -0000

Ta-nehisi,

You are a liberal(or I guess it's progressive now) who just happens to be black. Are all blacks as liberal as you? Maybe, maybe not. Some may be pro-life, some may support the war, some may be against gay marriage, may own a gun, support school choice, are anti-illegal immigration or own a small business. Do they truly feel comfortable being Democrats?

How do individuals who happen to be black feel about the issues that confront us? I don't know.

There only seems to be 'the black community.'

Individuals can be intimidated into going along with the 'black community' or risk being labeled a 'sell out', 'uncle Tom' 'House Negro' etc, simply because they may disagree with the 'black community.'

The Democrat Party does not promote individualism, nor tolerate dissent or independent thought. It airs the grievances and makes concessions to various groups of 'victims'. The party is bound by 'victimhood' and the promise of rescue by the elites in power, both black and white.

Blacks should be free to choose, liberal, conservative, or independent, free from fear of intimidation by the 'black community.'

Has the Democrat party truly served everyone so well as to deserve you unwaivering support?

And how will you feel if Hillary becomes the nominee?

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Nita — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:38:00 -0000

Hi, Ta,

Thank you for coming in. I have a lot of thoughts on what you've posted in response to replies. But I'm glad you've made it here. Perhaps you can do more guest blogs on occasion? It's not for me to ask, though. It's just nice to see folks come in who have been featured.

Sincerely,

Nita

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Nita — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:34:00 -0000

@ Anonymous 2:05pm wrote The Republicans have held the reins of power for most of the past 30 years.

If that's so, it's because Democrats let them.

I remember the Reagan years, even though I was a middle schooler. It blew my mind even then that Democrats had a MAJORITY, but all the blame was placed on Reagan for what occurred during those years. I went along with it, because I grew up in a household where I could study maps of the precinct, the district, and all the other campaign stuff my father would lay out as an active party member doing his part for the party within the community. I went along with it, but it never really made sense to me.

Fast forward to the Clinton years. Clinton fails on some major issues he should have had help from the majority Democrat Congress..... and the Republicans mount a strong Contract with America and win. So it becomes the Republicans fault all over again, in spite of those earliest years when the majority Democrats in Congress should have helped Clinton. I didn't think about the problem because I was still the 'good Democrat'.

But I'm thinking about it now.

Now Democrats have a numerical majority, with the nation's first (white) female Speaker of the House. It's groovy. The nation made a statement on the Bush years and on the Iraq war through the Democrat party. That's fine. What's been accomplished?

Apparently, the official word is that it's still Republicans fault. I'm through with that, Anonymous. Democrats need to stop blaming the other guy; just as Republicans need to stop blaming Democrats. Everybody needs to move past that, past partisan blame.

There's a real issue at blame here, and it may not have anything to do with party affiliation. THAT'S what needs to be rooted out.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Nita — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:22:00 -0000

Coates writes "That's because conservatives believe that black America's biggest problem is itself, and thus they see no role for government. There basic ideology is if black people would start getting married and parenting, they'd be fine. There may be some truth to that, but from there perspective--despite decades of racist policies enacted by the government--there's absolutely nothing government should do to help.

Government is an aid, not a crutch. And black folk shouldn't treat it as a crutch. That's for other people, and for corporations. They can get away with it. We can't.

Gotta be like the vietnamese, the chinese, the albanians, the somali and (yes, even... yes, especially) the illegals on this one -- in my opinion. The group's resources going back to the group should take precedence on depending upon the government to make things right.

Our community's biggest problem has come from mistrusting each other within the community; and stabbing one another in the back within the community; taking advantage of our black neighbor, our black relative within the community. Reflecting upon this, perhaps the biggest reason -- the absolute biggest reason -- all along as to why I personally despise how Hillary is running her campaign is less about her methods, may be that I have seen her bullshit mirrored too often within the black community. And those tactics fail the group as a whole even as it enriches the few. Meanwhile, those who are enriched believe (like Hillary) that they deserve to be enriched at the expense of those they fuck over.

Things aren't so different. It's all one beast. We need to be our own beast. Remember when the majority of businesses in black neighborhoods... actually had homes in black neighborhoods? were actually black?

I ask because is that on us, or is that on purpose?

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:05:00 -0000

The Republicans have held the reins of power for most of the past 30 years. If there was ever anything they wanted to do for blacks, they had ample time in which to do it. No, we're not missing out on anything except what must be the strange feeling of working for anti-black policies.

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

The Christian Progressive Libe — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:53:00 -0000

Remember the Republican debate at Morgan State? Of the Republican front runners, McCain, Giuliani, Thompson, and Romney all chose not to attend. What kind of message is that supposed to send to black voters who might be interested in their platform? Their decision to not attend was a slap in the face IMO, and only shows that black issues take a back seat in the Republican party. Cameron
__________________________________

Cameron, you nailed it. The GOP basically told Tavis and African-Americans thinking about the ReThug party to go Cheney themselves. So, there's no reason why African-Americans should ever consider the Republican Party for squat.

Shoot, if you watched Tavis' minstrel show back in February, former Lt. Gov Mike Steele basically dissed his party for failing to show up at Morgan State and talk about how they would have included Blacks in their visions for President.

They missed their "MLK/RFK" moment and will pay for it as long as their party exists.

Their attitude has, and always will be, "F-- them Niggers".

_

Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates on Why Black People Won’t Join The Republican Party

The Christian Progressive Libe — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:47:00 -0000

Ta-Nehisi laid it down in the fields!

The ReThugs do think "F--- them Niggers" when they think about us.

OTOH, they need House Negroes like Ward Connerly and Shelby Steele to make them look like they're diverse and all-inclusive. Only the House Negroes are falling for it.

I'm reading "SellOut" by Randall Kennedy, and he argues that the history of Uncle Ruckus turning in the slaves attempting to escape was not because Ruckus liked being a House Negro, but because Ruckus knew those uneducated slaves didn't have a clue how they were going to survive if they got away from Massa.

To which, this has to be the first book I've read where the author wants us to think about the House Negro in a different context, and I'm finding myself shouting, "Get the Cheney out of here!" as I'm reading. Startled a guy sitting next to me on the Blue Line this morning, too.

I'm flinging that book to the curb and will wait for Ta-Henisi's book. She's keeping it real.