Ryan Frazier (Image courtesy of Frazier for Congress website)

By Javier David

It is a truism that the relationship between African-Americans and the modern-day Republican Party has been marked by hostility and contentiousness. This reality is often difficult to reconcile with the GOP’s historical opposition to slavery and the Democrats’ often whitewashed track record on race relations. Despite an impressive roster of prominent African-American Republicans, blacks and Republicans sometimes seem as compatible as oil and water.

But nearly two years removed from the election of President Barack Obama, a subtle but remarkable political revolution has been set in motion. A cadre of black political candidates is angling to assume its place in Washington - as registered Republicans. With some convincing, they may yet help re-orient the historically troubled dynamic between black voters and the Republican Party.

In fact, no fewer than 20 minority candidates have declared their intention to run for Congress in 2010, a surprising number given that many are running in urban areas with sizeable black populations. Many have benefited from the GOP’s renewed emphasis to gain traction with minority voters, a priority voiced by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele - the first African-American to hold that position.

And the candidates certainly have their work cut out for them. Not only do black voters voter near-monolithically Democratic, but blacks who self-identify as Republicans or conservatives often come in for what author Shelby Steele once termed “a stunning amount of animus, demonization…and flat-out, undifferentiated contempt” from within the rest of the community. And in the past, black Republicans have won in conservative-leaning (and in most cases, predominantly white) suburbs, thus eluding the skeptical undercurrent that often confronts black GOP candidates from urban voters.

Ryan Frazier, a Republican Congressional candidate from Aurora, Colorado whose national profile has been on the rise, is all too familiar with those sentiments. In a reply to an e-mailed question from theGrio, Frazier described one of his toughest challenges with urban voters as “trying to explain how many conservative principles are more beneficial than big government policies. I like to say that as a country we want to give people a hand up, not a handout.”

Like other black GOP candidates for office, Frazier emphasizes common-sense solutions to intractable problems like the jobs, education and health care reform, all chief concerns of blacks and other voters of color. Widespread dissatisfaction with Washington and the stagnant job market - which has hit black communities hard - may be enough to convince some black voters to reappraise their relationship with the GOP and view black Republican candidates with new seriousness.

READ MORE - http://www.thegrio.com/opinion/could-2010-be-the-year-of-the-black-republican.php

By Cleo E. Brown 

       St. Patrick’s Day, also referred to as St. Paddy’s Day, began on March 17th, 461 A.D. with the death of St. Patrick.  St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland although he was not born an Irishman.  The day has been celebrated in Ireland for over one thousand years.  Although he was not born an Irishman, but was British, St. Patrick and the celebration of his day as a National Holiday in Ireland; and as a day of celebration for the Irish and all things representing the Irish in the United States can be attributed to his years of service to the Irish in Ireland in which he converted the predominantly “pagan” people to Catholicism.  “Pagans” are people who either do not believe in God, or those who worship false gods.  St. Patrick believed in the Trinity comprised of God-the-Father, God-the-Son, and God-the-Holy Spirit.

      The story of St. Patrick is an interesting one.  He was born in 385 AD in either Scotland or England.  Patricius Maewyn Succat was his given name at birth which was shortened to Patrick.  His father, named Calpurnius, was a Roman-British Army Officer.  One day, as he was playing in Great Britain with a group of other children, he was kidnapped by pirates who sold him into slavery in Ireland.  Patrick spent six years imprisoned in Ireland during which time legend says that God appeared to Patrick telling Patrick how to escape Ireland and return to Britain.  Eventually, however, he joined a monastery in France where he spent twelve years learning how to be a cleric.  Once he became a Bishop, Patrick returned to Ireland to convert the people to his religion and to tell them about the God that he believed in.  Although Patrick was arrested several times because of the converts he made, especially among the Royal Class, he escaped each time.  He traveled extensively throughout Ireland establishing many monasteries across the country.  St. Patrick also established schools, churches, and church councils as well as a church hierarchy of clerics (priest, monsignor, bishop, cardinal). 

St. Patrick is also attributed with having driven all of the snakes out of Ireland.  Religious symbols associated with Saint Patrick, which have become secular in nature are, the three-leafed shamrock (which he used to teach people about the Trinity); the leprechaun; the wearing of green; the blarney stone; and the pot of gold.

      The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade took place in the United States in New York City on March 17th, 1762.  The parade helped those Irish soldiers, who were then a part of the English Militia, to reconnect with their Irish roots as well as with other Irish soldiers who were members of the militia.  For the next thirty-five years, the tradition of having St. Patrick’s Day Parades grew until there were many parades held by Irish Aid Societies throughout New York City.  In 1848, however, these societies decided to combine the parades into one large parade. 

Today, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City is the world’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States having over one hundred and fifty thousand participants.  It is estimated that, each year, over three million people line the one-and-a-half mile parade route to watch the procession which takes over five hours to view.

The parade route, which begins along fifth avenue at 44th Street at 11:00 A.M. marches past St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 50th Street, the American Irish Historical Society at 83rd Street, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 83rd to 86th Street finishing between 4:30 and 5:00 P.M. Although the city of New York has been ordered to stream line the length of all New York City parades by twenty-five percent in 2010, this new law, which will not go into affect until April 1st, will not affect this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade which is expected to be five-and-a-half hours long.  The Grand Marshall of this years parade is NYPD Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.  St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated today as a secular holiday in many regions of the world.  Although it is not an official holiday in the United States it is celebrated extensively by the Irish in the United States, especially in New York, but also  including Washington D. C., Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, and Seattle.

About The Author: Cleo E. Brown has a Master’s Degree in Contemporary African-American History from The University of California at Davis in Davis, California. She also has a B.A. Minor Degree in Political-Science and has completed course work towards a Ph.D. in Education from The University of San Francisco in San Francisco, California. She is a Free Lance Writer and a Senior Editor at HHR

By Travis Johnson

The Democrats are imploding.  Republican Scott Brown won a Senate seat previously held by John F and Edward Kennedy.  Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are scrambling for every vote they can get for a health care reform bill most Americans do not want. The people of Nevada have turned against Reid.  Legendary Congressman Charlie Rangel is under investigation by an Ethics panel for allegations of fraud.  His fellow New Yorker Eric Massa has been brought down in a hail of accusations, as well, but he went down swinging at White House Chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel.

The Democrats’ ritual circular Firing Squad is loading its weapons.   Progressives are angry at moderates over their votes on health care reform.  Moderates think Progressives are going too far.  And above it all stands a President who is unable to rein in his own party.

Republicans are positioned to benefit from the Democrats weakness.  But, are we positioned to win, or just not lose?  I’m worried that gains we make will not be because America wants us to lead, but because we’re the only fallback position in a two party system.

We’re not going to lose in 2010.  How do we win?  How do we retake the country from the Democrats and create a long-term, sustainable Republican majority?  Here are three suggestions:

No American Left Behind:  “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day; teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” This should be the cornerstone of all of our future efforts.  Rather than offering draconian cuts to entitlements, we need to transform them into short term investments in the future of America.  Instead of just extending unemployment , let’s work with our school system to get the unemployed retrained in the types of careers businesses are currently importing  immigrants to do.  Instead of fighting health care reform, let’s work to feasibly put control of health care back in the hands of families.

Consistent Conservatism:  I just saw a “conservative” t-shirt that read “I’d rather be waterboarding.”  This is unacceptable.  We cannot defend the Constitution from governmental overreach with one breath, then, in the next breath defend extra-Constitutional means of dealing with prisoners.  We cannot be pro-life without supporting programs which would make the decision to abort seem less reasonable.  We cannot be against Big Government controlling our economy and for Big Business doing it.    The traditional three legs of conservatism can no longer act independently.

A Unified Front:  “RINO hunts” must be a thing of the past.  How can we survive as a Party and build a governing coalition if we’re driving people out of the party because they have the temerity to disagree with the Party line?  How can we achieve a national majority status if we don’t accept that some regional party factions follow variations on the central Republican theme?  How can we create a sustainable majority without actively recruiting members from our fastest growing demographics?  One answer to all three questions:  We cannot.

Distance from Dividers:  I expect this one will get me some heat, but,  I think it is so important that I don’t think we can avoid it:  we can no longer let anger drive the conservative movement.   There’s no question that the Obama Administration isn’t what they told us they were.  There’s no question that there is legislation, like Cap and Trade, pending that can potentially do more harm than good.  But the way out to prevent it is by encouraging our leaders to legislate, not to encourage them to act like petulant children and obstruct.  Rush , Glenn, Hannity, Palin, Armey et al are more concerned with getting you hepped up and out on in the street for their own personal power than they are about helping America achieve its promise.   That’s why their shows and their speeches are more focused on criticizing the other party and “RINOs”, than providing positive examples we, as individuals, or our government can follow.  They’re appealing to the negative emotions you justly feel about a country that seems to be out of control.  They’re appealing to your anger, your outrage, and your fear.  They get you so angry, you go out in the streets and shout about stopping spending and immigration and “Socialism,” but forget to talk about what we’re going to replace those things with.

This isn’t a lecture or condemnation of conservatism, but a way forward.  We need to have our eyes on a positive future, not on an angry present, or a mythical past.  It seem to me the only way we can actually win, and just not lose in 2010 and beyond.

What do you think?

Travis Johson  is the Founder of Republicans United a group seeking to bring the “Big Tent” back to the Republican Party.

By Dr Ada Fisher

Love him or not, I have to give it to Mr. Obama who has artfully shifted the Health Care debate to insurability from access and affordability which his legislation on health care is also not about. Risk assessment and coverage are a major concern in providing insurance coverage to everyone or in mitigating against financial losses in most situations. With health care eliminating increased costs based on risk, controlling access and costs are much trickier than is appreciated by John Q public or legislators.

If people continue to engage in slovenly behavior such as smoking, failing to exercise, excessive eating and other engagements which are within their control, why should policyholders (taxpayers) pay extra for their risks?

If people are born with expensive genetic impairments or injured in accidents which require medical coverage who should pick up the tab? What of those with terminal illnesses or those engaged in using experimental therapies?

If people have children with transmittable costly genetic conditions and continue to have additional children subject to the same findings, is this fair and should society have to willingly assume these costs? Or what about those who continue to have babies with no means to care for them? Is this also society’s cost to bear?

If people have dementia such as Alzheimer’s or become disabled to the point that they can’t take care of themselves but can live forever in nursing facilities, will we pay for this when they are no longer able to? Will all mental illnesses and infirmities now be covered?

Welcome to the Obama Health Emporium world proposal of eliminating risk based considerations in health care which is going to force the government to pay for everything for everyone. It is unlikely that health insurance companies are going to do this and without jobs and more of their own money to take home, citizens will find themselves increasingly unable to provide this for themselves, i.e. broke.

If Congress signs on to the Health Reform Act legislation through its votes, Universal Care is a done deal. If you believe there are enough tax payers earning over $200,000 to cover these costs you are crazy. If you believe that health care is not going to cost you more and raise your taxes or that limitations are not going to be put on care received, you are out of your mind especially given our $12 trillion dollar national debt. I strongly ask that we insist on Congress being subjected to the same rules it is proposing for citizens.

When Katrina wiped out Louisiana’s 9th Ward why were we willing to allow government funding to rebuild there in flood plains likely to experience the same again? Or why are insurance companies selling coverage for coastal properties hit more than twice by on-coming waves? Why are people allowed to drive with inadequate insurance coverage for personal injury which requires taxpayers to absorb associated health cost? Why are people allowed to sue with recovery for Act’s of G-d when insurance companies fail to pay appreciating that they sold policies which they couldn’t cover and stay solvent? And why are health insurance companies making millions in profits while individual premium costs continue to rise?

The government now owns housing thanks to the mortgage crisis, helped put Chrysler and GM out of business becoming an auto industry investor and now is going to own your health care. Welcome to the American version of socialism without direct input from the American people other than their tax dollars.

If this is what a constitutional lawyer comes up with now, stay tuned for the advancing wave to truly make America lose any chance for control of its borders with immigration reform, a.k.a. everyone come on in for the doors are open. Will our national sovereignty be next as we come under the control of international courts so that we may be put on a level playing field with others of lesser means and resources in a universal attempt to next redistribute our national wealth?

Wake Up America! There is still time to save democracy, freedom and adhere to the US Constitution while working to solve the problems within our borders.

Dr. Ada M. Fisher is A Physician, licensed secondary education teacher in math and science, former county school board member and NC Republican national Committee Woman. Contact her at P. O. Box 777; Salisbury, NC 28145; telephone (704) 223-2321. DrFisher@DrAdaMFisher.com .

Why I’m Running

By Rupert Parchment

We are in a historic time period in our great Nation. We are still in the middle of a devastating recession that initially was caused by a number of contributing factors including, but not limited to, the break-down of our banking industry, excessive consumer debt, poor government regulation & high taxation.

This lingering recession has now been extended in part by record-breaking government spending and an apparent ongoing competition between political administrations to see who can spend more of our tax-dollars while expanding the role and size of the government. To make matters even more frustrating & painful, our elected officials are not listening to us. Instead, regardless of public desire & outrage, our elected officials, the protectors sworn to serve us & care for us, have instead moved forward on their own wealth crippling personal agendas.

I care about our debt that is quickly growing beyond our ability to control or repay. I care about the poor socio-economic conditions that some of our children, seniors and veterans experience. Like you, I want to be a good steward of what generations of American’s built & died for on our behalf. I seek to serve you as your next Congressman and ensure that the Restoration of Prosperity is a reality for every American.

A little about Rupert…

Rupert Parchment was born in New Haven, Connecticut to immigrant parents from Jamaica, West Indies. After attending local elementary & junior high school, he earned a scholarship to The Kent School in Kent, Connecticut. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tufts University in Medford, MA.

After graduating from Tufts, he went on to be an Assistant Director at the YMCA where he started the Training Opportunity Program (T.O.P.) to assist inner city young adults in resume writing workshops, interview skills training and career search assistance. There were a few initial problems that hampered the start of the program. There were no computers to type or edit resumes so, of course, printing the finished product was also an issue. Rupert Parchment solved the problem by writing grants and within a few weeks, there was a computer lab with new computers & printers.

Rupert Parchment grew up in small business with the experiences learned from his mother & father’s small business ventures. While working as a Database Engineer in Atlanta, he earned a Masters in Information Technology at AIU. Rupert met his wife Sondae, a high-end residential Interior Designer, and soon began developing a plan for a new business venture. In September 2006, he started Décor Moving Services , a high-end moving company located in Atlanta, GA that provides moving & storage services to Interior Designers, Furniture Stores and home owners. Décor is a family business that is run by his wife, Sondae & mother, Vernice and provides employment to 5 wonderful employees. The Parchment family attends World Changers Church, Intl. in College Park, GA.

http://www.parchmentforcongress.com/

Cleveland’s public schools are failing to prepare students for their futures and as a result, all parents who can afford to have been fleeing to the suburbs for decades. Yet some urban schools, like Think College Now in Oakland, California are finding out that a combination of administrative autonomy and accountability can lead to amazing results. Within Cleveland’s own boundaries, charter schools are booming and delivering quality education at a fraction of the cost of traditional public schools. Does Cleveland have what it takes to fundamentally reform its K-12 education system and become a leader in 21st-century education?

Reason Saves Cleveland with Drew Carey is written and produced by Paul Feine; camera and editing by Roger Richards and Alex Manning; narrated by Nick Gillespie; music by the Cleveland band Cats on Holiday. This is the second of six episodes that will air March 15-19, 2010.

Approximately 10 minutes long. Scroll down for iPod, HD, and audio versions of this video.

Neoafricain continues his commentary about Iraq’s elections: “Without Bush, these elections would’ve never happened. Without his perseverance and his deep conviction that the desire for freedom is a universal value deeply rooted in every man, regardless of race, culture or religion. The arguments used by anti-Bush people is always the same: “One doesn’t impose democracy with bombs,” “how do we talk about democracy when there were hundreds of thousands of civilians killed,” “it’s wrong to think the Arabs want democracy “, etc. And for 7 years, they always sayd that. Alas, it has often happened that democracy “Western” democracy is imposed by bombs. Generally, the tyrants and totalitarian regimes do not easily leave the place. Without an atomic bomb, Hirohito would still be there. Without a fierce and ruthless war, the Nazis would still be there too. The U.S. military certainly didn’y deliberately target civilians in these strikes. On the contrary, it would’ve had fewer deaths in its ranks if it behaved like most armies in the region. As for the third point, this form of racism shocks me. Of course, people worldwide want to live in freedom and be able to elect their representatives.”

More: “Of course, these elections are certainly not perfect, because learning democratic culture takes time and voting itself isn’t democracy. I don’t forget that Hitler was elected Chancellor and the ayatollahs of Iran also hold ‘elections’ …A democratic regime also has the separation of powers, the separation between religion and state, and an independent media…The elections are only the first step towards this ideal. But without this step, nothing is possible.”

(The following opinion editorial is an exclusive for Hip Hop Republican Sunday.) 

  By Lenny McAllister:

Many of you may not have heard of Mecklenburg County (NC) Commissioner Bill James. Some of you may have, however, depending on whether you followed the “moral sewer” story of a few years ago (his reference to today’s Black America) in the national media or the “homo” comments he made just a couple of months ago (his reference to the late son of a colleague of his on the Board of Commissioners.)  

All of us have heard of him, though – even if not by his name - by way of the lingering spirit that has had such an unfortunate impact on America throughout our history. It is the same spirit that attacked non-violent American protesters with police dogs and called it “…maintaining the peace…” It is the same spirit that sat around and said, “…change will come, but I don’t see why they are so impatient and uppity with it.” It is the same spirit that believes that America is more united when sections of America are hatefully separated through rhetoric, racism, or socioeconomic realities, leaving America weaker as a result.  

For those that believe the notion that we have moved past destructive racism in America due to having a Black president in America, a Black mayor (again) in Charlotte, or Black congressmen and governors throughout the nation, I say to you humbly but directly: you’re wrong. People like Bill James show the reason why. 

For those such as Glenn Beck, Lloyd Marcus, and Kevin Jackson that believe America is past the point of needing “hyphenated-Americans” in our nation – believing that we no longer should use such terminology to enrich (not separate) our collective culture because the nation and its leaders are completely past this line of thinking, I say to you sadly but firmly: you’re wrong. People like Bill James show the reason why. 

And to those such as Bill James and other public figures that feel that they are now capable or authorized to privately or publicly state twisted lines of logic to promote their vile justifications for toxic beliefs because Black America is in crisis and President Obama is becoming more unpopular, I say to you passionately and confidently: you’re wrong. America shows the reason why. 

In a land where the United States is led by an African-American president, protests about Obama’s agenda have prompted both fair criticism and racially-based commentary. Black people nationally share in the extreme heights and depths of the nation, thus leaving them – as well as the rest of America - critically vulnerable to a resurgence of “justified” racism that can retard the growth of the country over the past 50 years. Just as many Americans are willing to defend our growth and promote further prosperity and advancement, there are others that are willing to take a foolish and self-serving risk.  

The crux of this latest stunt from Mecklenburg County’s right-of-Rush commissioner is this: through a blog released by James, he promotes his beliefs – again – about the moral improprieties of Black America with an underlying notion that African-Americans are unabashedly and uncontrollably immoral as a race. In summary, James uses the CDC report (controversial and questionable in its own right) as an opportunity and weapon to publicly decry his decades-long view of Black people in America as merely a collective lot of whores, gigolos, and bastards that will drain the system through welfare, crime, and other social issues of blight.   

And to top it off – in a way only bigots and fools would contrive – he comments publicly about how, after doing ancestral  research, he has discovered that he is 1/64 Black and, therefore, only having “bro to bro” (his words, not mine) talks when he discusses the crisis within Black America. 

Ah, just like love does, bigotry makes idiots of us all. 

James’ reasoning would be akin to justifying Black-on-Black crime because the perpetrators are Black so it is merely a “family dispute” or justifying domestic violence and marital rape because, after all, “that’s between a man and his wife.”  

Those are all within the same family of reasoning, a dangerous clan with dangerous connotations. Any way you cut it, it is something that should be addressed, corrected, and overcome for America to thrive as a nation of communities. 

James is proud to promote any sliver of documentation that supports his old-school line of racism wrapped with 21^st century tactics. Recently, it was with statistics about Black children in schools and at home, using the data to determine that Black people live within a “moral sewer,” a noteworthy categorization of millions of people with a sweeping two-word falsehood. In the latest chapter, James uses the CDC report to further support his beliefs. In both instances, I am fairly certain that James holds that documented facts support his views on millions of African-Americans, but history also shows that documentation (including the sermons of some malcontent Christian preachers of the Bible) showing that Black people were sub-human and scientific “fact” proving that Black people had “smaller brains” and, thus, were intellectually inferior also existed due to racially-based motivation and have since been proven overwhelmingly false. 

The danger in this continued cancer in America takes root on different levels. In the case of James, he is a sitting commissioner, an incumbent legislator in a gerrymandered district that will keep him safe as a Republican for years on end; (take note, Democrats, of situations such as these when you promote the need for continued “minority-majority” districts that are cut primarily to ensure Democratic wins.) James’ status as a public official is one reason that he offers in support of purporting racist tenets under the notion of “speaking on behalf of the people as a sitting commissioner”; (an implied, not direct, quote from James.) If such a person can publicly profess these continued views about roughly 30% of the people he serves while on the Board of Commissioners in the largest county in North Carolina, is he also capable of acting against the best interests of these constituents with racially-motivated moves in votes, influence, and debate? And if this is so, is it not the obligation of those within power as his peers and party members to address James directly in a stand against this continued behavior, a countermove in the interest of ensuring that votes are done with honor in mind, not archaic thoughts of hate that find new methods to permeate the direction of government?  

This leads to a question – and the potential for long-term danger - for the Republican Party. 

At a time when the Republican Party can make major gains in county, state, and national elections due to the continued unemployment levels and health care debates hampering America, will the Party have the insight and courage to take on a rooted elected official with a years-long reputation for racism and inappropriate intolerance that stretches from the local media to Fox News and beyond? With the demographics rapidly changing in America, without a public position that counters this continued image of racism and ignorance at the local and state levels of government (where, after all, the vast majority of activists and officials make up the Republican brand), what does such public silence or condoning the behavior through inactivity say about the Party’s willingness or ability to adapt to the current demographic times while keeping its conservative message intact? At some point – particularly at this crucial electoral crossroads for American communities – the Republican Party will either effectively address or purge this legacy of racism (symbolized by “Southern Strategy”) in time to connect with more of America and its need for leadership in 2010 and beyond or risk being blown up as a viable electoral option as a party instead. Those may point to Chairman Michael Steele and attempt to lay the blame at his feet, but they would be wrong to do so. Mr. Steele, despite working to change the image and culture of the RNC as an exclusive group that alienates minorities and young people, has been a victim of the same legacy of backstabbing, racial innuendos, and barrier-building that those such as James represents – regardless of any ill-advised statements Steele may have been connected with since January 2009. The truth is this: conservative does not equal racism, and as long as standing officials and prominent people within the Republican Party continue to offer these toxins as sound politics and policies without sweeping and long-term repudiation from within, America loses in the end.  

That is the main point with James – the overall danger that America takes on if this mindset continues to rule in our nation in its 21^st century comeback.  

In his bigoted and dichotomous way, James’ attempt to bring light to conservatism as a solution to address ills of the underclass (and the “moral sewer” that is Black America, according to James) does the exact opposite. I stand with him in this regard: the continued dependence on government programs for resolving social problems and the failure to address rudimentary issues through non-government channels will continue to aid in the lack of education, failure of families, and destruction of urban residents within America, many of whom are African-American. However, Bill James’ bigoted legacy does not convince anyone caught in the hold of liberalism to take a competitive glance at alternatives given by conservative legislators and policy-drivers. Instead, this resurgence of racism (i.e., what some are calling a “black-lash” occurring across the nation) only serves to push away the independent voters, moderate Democrats, and frustrated minorities that would seriously consider Republican ideas and leadership if not for the continued image of hypocrisy crystallized in acts of disrespectful and ignorant intolerance. In essence, this Don Quixote has his lance pointed in the wrong direction, even in chasing his windmills.  

Again, I say: bigotry makes idiots of us all. 
 

A true “brother” of mine may not agree with the notion of legalized gay marriage or he may stand for the need of less bureaucracy and more charter schools within the education system of our communities, but he would take such positions on their merits and not use thinly-veiled repugnance to promote his positions. Just the same, a true “brother” of mine – in Christianity, in Republicanism/conservatism, or in Americanism – would find it within his realm of responsibility to rebuke any behavior that contravenes the advancement of America through advancing the worst of our painful past. They would quickly and actively label such behavior as irresponsible, unwelcome, outcast, and intolerable, particularly from a person in position to make laws that impact lives. Also, a true “brother” of mine would not rest until the repudiation and dissatisfaction of legacy racism and other forms of public bigotry took root. Once enacted with a return to truth and moral substance, “my brothers” would prompt public officials using such rhetoric as a tool for governing and pursuing people to either modify their behavior to the best traditions of our nation immediately. If this did not occur, “my brothers” would be prompted to atrophy their leadership among us immediately as did the antiquated racial mindsets before them.  

For such small-minded ideas, controversies prompted by James’ and others’ repeated comments still have too big of an impact in today’s America, especially when they are in tangible seats of power. The true question now is whether or not we – as community members, Republicans, and Americans – are big enough to take this on before it repeats its cycle of cancer within America. In essence, we get to see outside of genetics just how many “brothers” are really out there. 

Lenny McAllister is the author of a new book, “Diary of a Mad Black PYC (Proud Young Conservative),” available online at www.tinyurl.com/lennysdiary  and www.amazon.com. The political commentator was featured in the panel discussion “Young & Black in America: Empowering the Next Generation of African American Leaders” in 2009. He is featured regularly on outlets including CNN, Fox News, and XM Radio. Follow Lenny on The Root, at www.twitter.com/lennyhhr , on Facebook at www.tinyurl.com/lennyfacebook , and daily at http://pycmusings.blogspot.com . ]]> http://hiphoprepublican.com/opinion/2010/03/14/lenny-mcallister-op-ed-why-this-%e2%80%9cbro%e2%80%9d-may-never-become-my-brother/feed/ http://hiphoprepublican.com/general/2010/03/14/hhr-blog-endorses-shermichael-singleton-for-vice-chairman-of-the-georgia-association-of-college-republicans/ http://hiphoprepublican.com/general/2010/03/14/hhr-blog-endorses-shermichael-singleton-for-vice-chairman-of-the-georgia-association-of-college-republicans/#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:09:12 +0000 HHR http://hiphoprepublican.com/?p=11364

HHR Blog is endorsing Shermichael Singleton in his run to be Vice Chairman of the Georgia Association of College Republicans. His urban plaform is one the main reasons for our endorsement.

Shermichael: I’m running folks

About the Candidate: Shermichael Singleton is the founder of the College Republican Chapter at Morehouse College, which is the Alma mater of Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Through his title as founder of the chapter Shermichael has become the face of the chapter and the ‘go to guy’ by many leaders, on a local, state and national level.

Shermichael has directed many events for the CR’s at Morehouse College, which include seminars on politics, race and religion, he also organized leadership training by ISI and the Leadership Institute. Members have also had the opportunity to meet Sen. John McCain, Lindsey Graham and other national leaders.

Guest of the CR’s at Morehouse College have included, Catherine Davis J.D., Shawn Hanley, Melvin Everson, Cory Ruth, Dr. Deborah Honeycutt, Joel Aaron, Rupert Parchment, Liz Carter, Andrew Long and more. The Cr’s at Morehouse have been publicly recognized at many events through out the state as one of Georgia’s best CR Chapters. The goal of the CR’s at Morehouse College is not only to be involved in politics but to foster intellectual political discussion.

Shermichael has crafted a group of young men who are some of the brightest and he continues stress the significance of Political Science. Shermichael plans to bring this expectation to his position, not only does he want to grow chapters and start new ones. He want’s to make sure that each and every member can intellectual discuss this art and science of political science and the ideals of Conservatism both modern and post modern.

Experience and Proven Leadership:

Shermichael has an array of political experience which he plans to bring with him if elected. He has worked for U.S. Senator’s, Congressman and governors, he has built a political network through his hard work in politics that can be utilize to bring resources and recognition to GACR on a national level. He’s worked with the likes of, ‘04 Bush/Cheney camp on a grass roots level, TX. Political Strategist & Consultant Ken Green, Ga. State Sen. Melvin Everson, Gov. Bob McDonnel, Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Kay Baily Gov. Bob McDonnel, Ga. GOP Chair. Sue Everhart, Fulton County GOP Chair.

Shawn Hanley, Chairman of Georgia Black Republican Council Michael McNeely, Chairman of Georgia Young Republicans Cameron Fash, Corporate CEO’s, small business owners and many more. Shermichael has also gotten recognition from members of Heritage Foundation Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) and is even known by the RNC. Shermichael is also is an OP:ED writer for many nationally known Conservative blogs and is known for being critical of both parties and holding them accountable.

Shermichael has proven himself not only as a leader but as a policy maker. His political acumen which is said to be far beyond his years makes him a great candidate for Vice Chair of GACR.

The Vice Chair does more then paperwork, shaking hands and assisting the chair. It requires an in depth understanding of Political Culture, Ideology and strategy. Shermichael has all of these skills which can make GACR one of the best organizations in the state. Shermichael doesn’t care about the name, he want’s the position because he has a passion for politics and feel that he’s the best person for the position.

Currently:

Currently Shermichael has 6 offers from candidates throughout Georgia to work on their campaigns, over the summer and this fall. He’s been offered many different positions, some include, fundraiser, strategist, and field rep. Currently Shermichael is in Dallas, Texas interning as a Political Strategist for Sheldon Goldstein a Congressional Candidate in Dallas 30th District.

Shermichael is one of 4 strategist and the youngest, he’s working with Political Strategist/Consultant’s who’ve worked with J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, Congressman Pete Session Chair of the NRCC and many more. This experience as a strategist is giving Shermichael the opportunity to test his abilities not only as a leader but as a Political Scientist. Experience that surely can help GACR as it moves forward. He will be present at the GACR Convention April17th and will be back in Georgia towards the end of May to take some summer courses before the fall semester and intern on a few campaigns in Georgia.

Platform:

1.) Constitutional Duties:

Shermichael is prepared to fill the role of the Chair in his or her absence as mandated by the GACR Constitution. He also plans to aid the Chairman and the GACR General Assembly and the oversight of the Regional Political Directors.

2.) Fundraising:

Shermichael plans to work with the chair to organize fundraising events to increase GACR’s monetary abilities to better help existing chapter and form new ones. He also plans on doing this by working with Georgia GOP Chairs and the state chairs to help assist GACR in Fundraising. Shermichael would like to start a massive fundraising effort for GACR, which will involve all chapters. **Stay tuned for more details.**

3.) Urban Initiative:

Shermichael would like to institute an urban initiative that would ask all GACR Chapters in Georgia to play a role in outreach to the outlying urban communities in their perspective areas. **Stay tuned to for more details.**

4.) Youth Outreach:

Shermichael would like to build a partnership with the Georgia Teen Republicans (GTR). Through this partnership GACR would help GTR get guest speakers to local high schools through it’s chapters, the partnership would also connect local GTR chapters with local or near GACR chapters. Shermichael believes we must begin to train the next generation of leaders.

5.) Internships:

Shermichael plans to work with local and state leaders to provide internships for CR’s. He will make sure all internships openings are posted on GACR’s website, they will also be posted on Shermichael website.

6.) Staying Connected:

Shermichael plans to stay connected with chapter chairs and members through his website, www.singletonpost.com. Shermichael will use his site as an avenue to update CR’s on upcoming events throughout the state. Not only will members and chapter chairs be able to go to the GACR website but they will have a 24/7 connection with the Vice Chair.

7.) Constitutional Amendment:

Shermichael would like to make an amendment to the GACR Constitution. Article Two, Section Three gives the duties of the ‘Financial Secretary.’ Shermichael feels with the large membership of GACR the position require two much for one person to be able to adequately handle. Furthermore he feels in order for the position to be best utilized it should be separated into two positions, Treasurer and Secretary which is what is done in most institutions and businesses.

He truly understands government and how it works in addition to the politics necessary to be successful at keeping America and the Republican Party at the forefront. Please give your support and vote to Shermichael Singleton for Vice Chair of the Georgia Association of College Republicans.

By Chris Ladd

With a Black Democrat in the White House we are experiencing an unusual upsurge in concern about “government takeovers, “creeping socialism,” and other claims that can only fairly be described “in quotation marks.”  The Republican Party has a very important role to play as the country adjusts to the demands of 21st century global capitalism, but so far we have our guns trained on ghosts.  This hysteria seems to be blooming densely in the South, where it is part of a wider suspicion of any sort of government intrusion into personal life, regardless of the legitimacy, purpose, or merit.

Perhaps a metaphor would be useful.  In the fall of 2004 I moved my family from Houston to the Chicago-area.  Never mind for a moment what this says about my sanity or morals.  It happened.  Let’s all learn from it.  One of my earliest introductions to Yankee life came in the form of a charming orange flier delivered to our door by the town council.  It was printed front and back in small type with a laundry list of laws governing the disposal of our leaves.

This is a topic I had never given much thought.  Growing up in Beaumont we just burned them in the backyard.  The greasy odor of oak and pine smoke clinging to the ground under the cool, humid air is what fall always smelled like.

Living in Houston we piled them into the garden where they seemed to break down into mulch before we could finish raking them up.  If there were any formal ordinances about what we could do with our leaves, or with just about anything else from discarded car batteries to old jugs of Roundup, I never knew what they were.  Viva Houston, viva Libertad

The town’s little orange flier seemed uptight and faintly oppressive.  Until the leaves came down.

I had a great time with the kids making piles under the big maple.  Then we raked them into the beds around the bushes.  Done.  Take that, rule-obsessed Yankees.  When the frost hit them they dried up like parchment.  They seemed to rise and hover in the crisp air like paper embers.  With few fences in any of the yards, we found ourselves a couple of days later apologizing to our new neighbor three doors down, Mrs. Chicago-alski, while we corralled our leaves from her yard and hauled them back.

The town really won’t pick them up in plastic bags.  They were actually serious about that.  Apparently hefty bags don’t mulch well.  They want you to buy these big paper bags which are relatively costly, don’t seem to hold much, are hard to stand up, but are environmentally friendly.  And it turns out that, like the flier warned, if you just dump the leaves in your garbage cans for pickup they are in fact likely to freeze into a wad at the bottom and remain with you after the taillights of the garbage truck have disappeared around the corner.

In my first Yankee year this was just one of a thousand little brushes with what my Southern mind saw as a police state, but now seem like the necessary compromises required to maintain civility in urban life.  My little town consists of 43,000 people crammed into a space considerably smaller than Bush Airport.  In this dense warren its not safe for me to burn my leaves in the backyard and the cloying smoke would not be appreciated by my neighbors with their windows open to capture the cool night air.

But without the rules, I might have done it anyway.

I was raised on the ethic of a Southern man virtually sovereign under God on his own patch of soil.  That model makes perfect sense in Thomas Jefferson’s rural vision of the republic.  It makes no sense under Alexander Hamilton’s vision of an urban, capitalist nation.  To live in an urban environment we have to learn to live together with some rules.

These days Republicans are throwing around words like “collectivist” and “communist” to describe our concerns with Obama, but they sound silly even on our own tongues.  Obama is not a communist and my little orange flier was not oppression.  Southerners are not struggling against socialism.  They are struggling to come to terms with the demands of modern, global capitalism.

Like a lost memory we are feeling the same impulse that animated our Confederate ancestors who mistakenly railed against “wage slavery” and “Yankee Industrialists.”  They feared that capitalism would destroy their values and undermine their rural way of life.  They failed to recognize the tremendous potential of capitalism to not only make us more prosperous, but to open our world to more personal liberty.  They were wrong then with gruesome consequences.  We are wrong now and marching in their footsteps.

There are bright days ahead when we as Republicans put down our pitchforks and give up the search for the village monster.  There are bright days ahead learn to adapt Republican ideas to traditionally Democratic domains, when we learn to apply conservative solutions to problems of environmental protection, urban schools, healthcare, and developing new sources of energy.

And by the way, I found a way to get rid of my leaves without breaking the rules and without buying all those ridiculous bags, but that’s another story.  Junior was right, a country boy can survive, even in the big city.

~ Chris Ladd is a moderate Republican who writes for the online publication Republicans United

By Nadra Enzi:

A favorite dead horse is deglamorizing thug behavior. It’s tiresome seeing folks shovel themselves into the criminal justice system and afterward cry foul. Never saw the benefit of badly playing hands dealt from  marked decks. Giving ourselves felony records and vacuuming money into correctional coffers is too costly. Instant access via crime information databases tells the tale too quickly. Simply, most low income people can’t afford to be thugs. Memo to thugs: step your game up to Wall Street status and ride from there.

Moral arguments to the side ( risky proposition ), the economic burden of criminal conduct should be stressed more. Especially in a down economy   where jobs are few and far between. Self-employed folks should be acutely sensitive to how much crime costs. Ethical considerations are still paramount but many seriously heed the siren call of dollars and cents.

One misdeed allows police agencies; detention centers; judges; prosecutors; judges; defense attorneys; probation; parole; counselors, etc. to reach into your pockets- over and over again. Years worth create crime-induced poverty in turn producing vicious circles of continual offense. More offenses breed more financial penalties.

Sympathy wanes against such self-destructiveness as community stakeholders cluck ” You should’ve known better. ” The more Old School dismiss them with a hissed ” Negro please! ” One segment of Black America stares in shock at crime dramas that is life for inner city residents. A noteworthy cliche’ is we’re not a monolith. Black folks who don’t live urban thug culture are as confused by it as White peers across the railroad tracks. Practitioners of Black Dignity are frightened by this berserker mindset.

The more activist become mentor and promote social programs. The rest hope and pray the ‘Hood won’t make their families headline news. As a group we’re at the unenviable juncture where urban thugs scare us just like they terrify White folks. This sad state of affairs costs us immeasurably.

Being scared of ourselves proves being a thug is simply too expensive. Economically and culturally.

By Dennis Sanders:

If you haven’t noticed, there is a new magazine out there called “Alternative Right.” The name makes it sound like its made up of conservatives who don’t fit the mainstream and are interested in moving the conservative movement forward.

Nope.

As Tim Mak, Alex Knepper and E.D. Kain have noted, this magazine is basically a gathering place for racists using intellectualism to make themselves look respectable.

As I heard all this criticism from other bloggers, I had to see for myself what all the hubbub was about. Is Alternative Right really that bad?

Short answer: yes. It is bad. Very bad. Take what they have to say about the coming demographic shift in America, as we become a “majority-minority” nation:

Look, group differences are a scientific fact. For a website that denounces those who don’t believe in evolution, it’s logically inconsistent but depressingly predictable that those at Frum Forum would deny the natural differences between whites and blacks or men and women…

Anybody who wants to take the time to learn about the “pseudo-intellectual” studies that have been done on group differences and how we know they have a biological basis can read J. Phillipe Rushton, Richard Lynn, Michael Levin, Arthur Jensen, Charles Murray and Richard Hernstein on race and Steve Rhoads, Steven Pinker, Geoffrey Miller and Judith Rich Harris on gender. Or they can open up their eyes and look at the disparities in crime, socio-economic status and standardized test scores found always and everywhere.

We would have the luxury of ignoring all this if it wasn’t for our current demographic shift, massive anti-white discrimination in the form of affirmative action or Stalinism at our universities in the name of fighting “hate.”

White Americans have gone from 90 percent of the US population to 70 percent in the last forty-five years. They’re scheduled to become a minority by 2042. We can anticipate that there won’t be a single part of our society or culture unchanged by these population trends. It is those advocating we move ahead with this unprecedented demographic shift who should have the burden of proof on them to show that we’ll be better off.  Anyone who tries to will find calling people names to be much easier.

It’s hard not to look at all this and see a bit of white nationalism hiding behind all the nice sounding words. There is sense that people who are not white are inferior and will mess up America come 2042. Will American culture be changed by this demographic shift? Yes, of course. But the way it is worded in this blog post, you’d think we were talking of some coming apocalypse that will destroy our nation.

It’s gets better. Here is what they have to say about the head of Detroit schools and about all African Americans.

Notice that even the black woman who is supposedly in Mensa (I wonder if they race norm, or she isn’t just lying) thinks that not being able to write makes the school board chief a great representative of his community. Now I don’t blame this man for being unable to tell the difference between making it in the private sector and making it as a government bureaucrat in an affirmative action system. If he had the brainpower for that, he would’ve graduated from college within his first ten years or so. But all whites with hopes of ever seriously engaging the black community in America need to know the intellectual and personal qualities that they’re likely to come across among the African-American leadership.(emphasis mine)

Huh? This is the story of one African American and its taken as some kind of indicator that African Americans are dumb illiterates. Affirmative Action puts stupid blacks into the workforce.

Good heavens.

I doesn’t go without saying that as an African American, I am offended by all of this. But what really bugs me is that sites like Alternative Right will just feed into the belief that all conservatives are racists and that black conservatives and Republicans are “Uncle Toms,” ashamed of the African American heritage. It makes people think that conservatism is a racist ideology, something that it is not.

I have long advocated a Big Tent Republican Party. In the past, that has meant accepting moderates within the party. But it also means accepting people from every race and creed to represent what America is: e pluribus unum- out of many, one.

For those of us who see ourselves as Republicans and conservatives, we have to be willing to speak out against people like those associated with Alternative Right. This is my America too.

Dennis Sanders is a pastor living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has worked on centrist Republican issues for years, including stints as President of the Minnesota chapter of Log Cabin Republicans (a gay/lesbian advocacy group) and Republicans for Environmental Protection. Dennis blogs at NeoMugwump and happily lives with his partner Daniel and serves two cats, Morris and Felix.

 (www.hiphoprepublican.tv ) HHR Talk Show Series - Hosted by Shirley Husar: Lenny McAllister of (www.hiphoprepublican.com ) makes his first special guest appearance on HipHop Republican Tv. Topics are include why some choose the Republican Party and whether this movement is good for all Americans.