Dear Fellow Republicans
By rivory | November 14th, 2008 | Category: General | 8 commentsBy Lenny McAllister | TheRoot.com
We may have shared a candidate. But as an American and a black man, I cannot share your hatred.
Nov. 12, 2008
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Tripp N. Hard,
First, let me express my sympathies over the harsh losses that Republicans, myself included, endured last week. I knew the Republican brand would take a beating on Tuesday, but I never expected that so many traditionally red areas would turn blue as America chose its first African-American president.
I understand, fellow Republicans, that you are disappointed. I was depressed Tuesday night, too, watching my favorite local candidates lose to lesser-talented competitors, primarily because those folks rode the coattails of Senator…pardon me, President-elect Barack Obama.
But, Mr. and Mrs. Tripp N. Hard, you’ve let your disappointment get out of hand. In the past week, I have heard of numerous racist and hateful comments about President-elect Obama, from smears of “disgrace to whites,” “kill that nigger” and “shoot Obama” to open letters saying that some anti-Obama folks are now “…voters with guns [that are] keeping an eye on him [Obama]…”
Free expression allows for statements-within reason-to be voiced here in America.
Ethical and moral standards demand a response to such statements.
I respectfully remind you of what the president-elect said last Tuesday night. He said clearly and correctly that we are the United States, and we must be united moving forward. He is our president-elect, too, despite our non-support of him politically. We are a country in need. He will need our help.
We are facing a mountain of social, international and economic challenges. We are not in a position to risk a severe shake-up in American leadership by inappropriately challenging the president-elect. Pushing him politically is one thing. Putting him under abnormal stress (even for a U.S. president) by prompting record levels of threats on his life is not a trend we can afford for four years.
America has buried too many African-American fathers prematurely. At a time when black America desperately needs black male role models, any threat to black fatherhood anywhere affects Americans everywhere. The widow-making hobby of America’s past, highlighted by the untimely deaths of Malcolm X, Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King Jr., cannot be re-initiated-or talked about glibly on radio and Web sites.
As a black father, I stand with the president-elect and say soundly that we will not have a repeat of great black women having to bury great black statesmen due to hatred and ignorance.
So, as a disappointed Republican voter, I hear you. I, too, will keep an eye on the president-elect, making sure that the most liberal senator in the U.S. Senate doesn’t guide our center-right country too far to the left during his presidency.
Yet, as an American and as a black man, I deplore your hatred, and I-as well as many other Americans and citizens of the world-will keep an eye on you, too.
Change is not just coming to the White House. It’s coming to our country, and it’s change for a better, safer and more-inclusive America. You don’t have to be on the outside looking in.
Hopefully, we’ll see you at the table. And if you come, leave your guns and hatred at home.
Lenny McAllister is a political contributor who appears on ”Fox News Rising” every Monday in Charlotte, N.C.
Also on The Root:
Lenny McAllister sees poll-arization, Keith Josef Adkins writes an open letter to the nitwit with the food stamp and John H. Morrow Jr. remembers his uncle in the White House.
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I applaud you for having the morals to stand up to such ignorance. I do have to chuckle every time people ask why do so many blacks vote democratic. All you have to do was listen to talk radio the last two weeks, and you will have your answer.
I myself am a moderate, and there was no way I was going to allow a person as Mc Cain to continue the Bush debacle. Also choosing a moron as a VP did not sway my decision either. Obama will do more good for America than Mc Cain ever could.
I personally did not take any offense to the numerous racial slurs, because that was to be expected. But I was upset at the death treats. That to me seemed juvenile, and barbaric. I do find it funny that the same people that would accuse black of having thuggish behavior, was exhibiting it at the highest level.
I do hope people such as Michael Steele do become front and center in the Grand Ole Party. It needs a shake up in the worst way.
True conservatives deplore that hatred too. I wish only the best for our new president and family. I pray God keeps them safe and helps them.
I do not listen to that racial crap because it is just crap. Plain and simple.
I agree with Lisa. I shall be praying for the United States and the incoming President. I especially do not want him assassinated, as the Martyr Effect will help implement his socialist policies even more. A negative reason, but in my case it reinforces my desire for only peaceful and normal transitions of power in this Republic under our Constitution.
And racist comments and actions, regardless of by whom, sicken me. There is no reason for such hatred–especially in this country where anyone can–and many do–succeed regardless of their backgrounds.
This is my worst fear, as well. I don’t care for President-Elect Obama. I didn’t vote for him and I have grave concerns about what he will do to the country.
That being said, the very, very last thing I want is for him to be assassinated. I’ve been so worried about this exact thing. It would be madness. Besides the fact that it would be murder, it is theft – it steals someone away from the family that loves and needs them.
And then there would be the damage to this country of ours. I’m not sure we’d ever recover from it.
As much as I don’t like his political, social, or economic ideas, I do pray for his safety and well-being.
Hello: Wonderful site- hat tip “Atlas Shrugged”- Just to clarify- there is no hate from talk radio or right wing media- i had to laugh when i read those comments- The vitriol and hate that was daily directed at President Bush and further toward Sarah Palin was inexcusable. People forget so quickly- we are at war with Islam Fascist and the coalition of Russia-China- this is also an economic war- yes we do need to be united- but that will not be the case for the next 4 years. I hope the GOP does elect Micheal Steele as chairman- we need the vision and leadership to express conservative principles at all levels of government from city council to US President. However- one cannot apologize for those convictions. Whatever technology is used to express those convictions and principles is irrelevant- it is the leader and one who lives and has success within those convictions. Being like the liberals will not energize Republicans- it will further divide the country between conservatives and socialist.
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