How can a ‘fellow black American’ oppose Obama?

Larry Elder's picture

Mr. Elder,

I am shocked that you oppose Barack Obama and belong to the Republican Party. We must get over ourselves and realize there is room at the top for everyone and we must get there by helping each other — instead of agreeing with policies and old politics that are proven not to work.

To endorse John McCain, a person who will not make it easier for the underprivileged, is just too much. How can a fellow black American feel this way?
Your Former Supporter

Dear Former Supporter,

Do you have any Republican friends, let alone black ones? If so, how many of them want to make it harder “for the underprivileged”?

You also might want to familiarize yourself with the history of the Democratic and Republican parties, and see which party has stood up longer for the rights of people of color. Do you know that Democrats opposed the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution — abolishing slavery, granting citizenship rights to newly freed slaves, and guaranteeing the right to vote (at least on paper) to blacks, respectively?

Do you know that most of the politicians who stood for segregation were Southern Democrats? Do you know that the Ku Klux Klan was founded by Democrats, one of whose goals was to stop the spread of the Republican Party? Do you know that, as a percentage of the party, more Republicans than Democrats voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Do you know that inner-city parents want vouchers — the right to determine where their children go to school? Do you know most Democrats, including Barack Obama, oppose this? Republicans, for the most part, support vouchers. Where vouchers have been tried, kids appear to perform better, with higher parental satisfaction. You tell me, how many things are more important than a child’s education?

Do you know that 36 percent of babies aborted are black, while blacks make up 17 percent of live births? Do you know that polls show blacks are more pro-life than are whites? Yet the Democratic Party — to which over 90 percent of blacks belong — is the party of Roe v. Wade, requiring states to legalize abortion on demand. Do you know that Margaret Sanger, the founder of the organization that became Planned Parenthood, believed that poor blacks were inferior and that aborting their babies made our society better? Look it up.

Do you know that blacks stand to benefit more than whites through Social Security privatization, a position opposed by Obama but supported by McCain? Are you even familiar with the issue and what a powerful income-generating vehicle it would be for blacks? If not, take a look at the research done by the libertarian think tank Cato Institute and the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation.

Porous borders enable illegal aliens to enter our country and threaten the jobs and lower the wages of Americans, many of whom are unskilled people of color. Which party is more determined to deal with this — Republicans or Democrats? Obama called the foes of the House anti-illegal immigration bill “ugly and racist.” I did not support the bill, but vehemently object to characterizing those who did as “ugly and racist.”

You speak of policies that have “proven not to work.” What about the “war on poverty” that began in the ‘60s, the policies that Obama and his party want to continue and expand? Do you know that today 70 percent of black children and over 50 percent of Hispanics are born outside of wedlock? The welfare state — which Democrats want to expand — has played a huge role in discouraging marriage and destabilizing families.

Speaking of helping the “underprivileged,” I’d suggest you read a book called “Who Really Cares,” by Arthur C. Brooks. A non-Republican professor raised by Democrats, he examined the charitable spending habits of Democrats and Republicans. The results surprised him. Brooks found that Republicans give far more of their money and time for charitable purposes than do Democrats. And the giving is not confined to their churches or other houses of worship. This, by the way, has nothing to do with income. Poor Republicans give more than poor Democrats.

Compassion is not about making people dependent on government. Compassion is about encouraging personal responsibility, and getting people to understand that life is about making choices. Poverty does not cause crime. Crime causes poverty. Poverty does not cause a child to have a child. A child having a child causes poverty. Finishing high school is a choice. Not joining a gang is a choice. Not having a child until you have the maturity and the means to raise that child is a choice.

You ask how can a “fellow black American feel this way”? Quite a statement. You may disagree, but it doesn’t make me less caring and compassionate than you are. I’m sure you truly consider yourself open-minded and tolerant. But based on your letter, tolerance ends — especially with “fellow black Americans” — if someone has an opposing point of view.

Larry

[Larry Elder is a syndicated radio talk show host and best-selling author. His latest book, “Stupid Black Men: How to Play the Race Card — and Lose,” is available now. To find out more about Larry Elder, visit his website at www.LarryElder.com.] CREATORS SYNDICATE COPYRIGHT 2008 LAURENCE A. ELDER

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JeffC's picture
Submitted by JeffC on Thu, 06/26/2008 - 5:20pm.

Everything that didn't happen over a half-century ago is irrelevant to a Presidential campaign.

Elder's basic position here is that all of the black Americans must be ignorant because they are not Republicans. To stupid to recognize which side is looking out for their interest.


Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 7:44am.

Is it in anyone's "best interest" to keep suckling at the teat of the free lunch programs of democrats? For any race is learned helplessness really ever a good thing?

Wouldn't we better served as a country if people were taught to take pride in working for a living. When we steal money from people who do work hard to give to people who don't, we punish hard work. Is that ever a good message?

JeffC's picture
Submitted by JeffC on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 9:33am.

No. No. Yes. You are absolutely correct. No.


Submitted by Spyglass on Thu, 06/26/2008 - 10:15pm.

with one party, something is wrong. He said nothing about people being ignorant, you added that part, he is only sharing facts. Where does it say that Blacks are "to stupid" and ignorant?

JeffC's picture
Submitted by JeffC on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 9:30am.

Do you know...? repeated over and over implies a perception of ignorance. I only occasionally read him since he's so predictable. Has he ever written an article that wasn't just his ingratiating himself with Republicans by criticizing some aspect of black culture. Classic Uncle Tom. But he's making a great living at it so more power to him.


Submitted by Spyglass on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 9:48am.

Facts seem to bother you, especially when they put the Dem Party in a bad light.

Lighten up, both sides STINK in my humble opinion. But, both are needed in our current 2 party system, as things would get out of hand quick, if one party was in charge for a LONG period of time. I'm old enough to know cycles come and go on political parties. I can see the benefit in a John Lewis and a Lynn Westmoreland. They help balance the teeter-totter.

JeffC's picture
Submitted by JeffC on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 12:25pm.

What facts do you think might bother me? The article has to stretch back 50-100 years for examples of stuff the Democratic party did while at the same time it is trying to make a case as to why Elder is not supporting Obama today. He doesn't like Obama because the Democrats were against the 13th Amendment? The argument is ridiculous. Citing an unspecified poll that Blacks are more pro-life than whites then bolstering that dubious argument by bringing up Margaret Sanger who was born in 1879 and has been dead for over 40 years and who, just for the record, was a registered Republican? Illegal immigration? Republicans delighted earlier this year in killing any chance of immigration reform. 50-70% of black children born out-of-wedlock is a Presidential campaign issue? OK. How about supporting birth control? Is that a Democratic position or a Republican position? As I said, what isn't 50 years old is irrelevant to the Presidential campaign. Elder knows this and it is irrelevant to him too. His columns are only published because he is a black guy who writes opinion columns criticizing black people. That's mainly what he writes about. Hey, its a free country but Elder's columns are what they are.


Submitted by Spyglass on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 1:09pm.

but like I've said, you are a Dem water carrier, nothing more, nothing less.

Or at least that is the way you come across here.

In all fairness, it's not worth arguing about. You don't understand the article, and if you did, you wouldn't admit it. Smiling

JeffC's picture
Submitted by JeffC on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 10:57am.

I'm just trying to make the blog fair and balanced!


Submitted by skyspy on Thu, 06/26/2008 - 5:03pm.

Thanks for being a sane voice in the insane world of entitlement and pity parties.

Submitted by Davids mom on Thu, 06/26/2008 - 8:52pm.

Please review American History. Larry Elder depends on the uninformed when discussing what 'Democrats' have not done/ are not doing for the 'underprivileged/minority. Lincoln was a Republican. Strom Thurmond was a 'states rights Democrat' pro-segregationist. When Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act - the pro-segregationist Democrats (Dixie-crats) became 'Republicans. Hence - the solid Republican south. It will be great to see Americans dealing with 'issues' rather than race. I think we're slowly, but surely getting there. There are 'black' Republicans - but this year - the Republican Party has not lived up to 'fiscal conservatism'. The national election will be an 'eye-opener' - and will be decided on 'issues' - not 'race'. Thank a Democrat (FDR) every time you turn on an electric light! Labels can be misleading,

Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 7:31am.

A review of American history is important for everyone.

I found Lary Elder's book Stupid Black Men to be a pleasant surprise. He provided sources for his statments and his political opinons. He does address the issue of the "dixiecrates" at length.

For the past 20yrs I have been a registered democrat. Our party has turned into the "welfare-crats" or the "freelunch-crats" This is the first time I feel forced to vote republican.

I agree that republicans absolutely have not lived up to "fiscal conservatism". However, with the republican party I feel that there is at least hope that they will return to fiscal conservatism. I have lost faith that the freelunch-crats will ever stop stealing my hard earned money.

As long as we have affirmative action race will always be an issue in this country. We are punishing and entire race of people for the sins of a few. As long as we save a percentage of jobs and college entrance slots for people based on the color of their skin only; not on scores or ability, race will always be an issue that divides us.

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