Alicia Colon Says First Black President Will Be Republican
She makes a compelling argument:
Is America ready for a black president? Absolutely; it has been for some time. We probably would have had one by now if the black community had ever supported a conservative the way they are now supporting one of the most liberal. More than likely the first black president will be a Republican.
On August 5, the New York Young Republican Club had a fund-raiser in Manhattan for Colonel Allen West, who is running for Congress. The irony is that Colonel West is running for Congress in Florida and therefore has a chance. The black community in New York only supports Democrats.
I followed the link to his campaign site, allenwestforcongress.com, and read his superb bio. Colonel West has a B.S. and M.S. in political science; spent 22 years in the military and won a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals (one with Valor), and, yes, he’s black. The best recommendation for his candidacy may be that Keith Olbermann put him on his Worst Person in the World list. [...]
New York is not the only state that dooms black conservatives. In 2006, Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland and a man many Republicans would support for president, ran for the U.S. Senate and almost won. He managed to win the support of prominent blacks such as Russell Simmons and Michael Mfume. He even had a group called Democrats for Steele organize large turnouts at events. Mr. Steele almost won against Benjamin Cardin until Parkinson’s sufferer Michael J. Fox came to town and played the sympathy card, falsely alleging that Mr. Steele was against stem cell research. To this day many voters still do not understand the difference between embryonic and adult stem cell research. Had Mr. Steele had the full support of his community this tactic would not have succeeded, but as usual, many blacks still vote straight down the Democratic ticket.
One would think that a Hall of Fame football star such as Lynn Swann would have aced his run for Pennsylvania governor, but once again, he lost because he ran as a Republican.
The blacks who have attained the strongest national leadership roles have been Republicans: the first black secretary of state, Colin Powell, and the first black female secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice.
Republicans have been ready for a black president since Lincoln.
Read the middle. It’s informative and makes a good case. Not much I can add to the article except to note the irony. In her mention of Steele, she left out the Oreo cookies incident. It’s very ironic that some of the best black leaders come out of the Republican party, the so-called party of racists, while the Democratic Party has to use the race card to get a foot in the door.
I hope she’s right. I’d vote for a good conservative candidate regardless of race. Here’s wishing we had a good conservative candidate, regardless of race.
August 10th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Allen West would have a hard time running for pres:
“West was processed through an Article 32 hearing in November 2003, but was never Court-martialed. Instead in a deal with the prosecution, he admitted wrongdoing, was fined $5,000 over two months for misconduct and assault. He then submitted his resignation, and was allowed to retire with full benefits in the summer of 2004.”
August 10th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
That had to do with discharging his weapon at an Iraqi policeman in cahoots with insurgents to make him talk. The info he got from him thwarted an ambush that saved his men. He should never had been fined.
August 10th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
“Some may argue that we would be more effective if we sanctioned torture or other expedient methods to obtain information from the enemy. They would be wrong. Beyond the basic fact that such actions are illegal, history shows that they also are frequently neither useful nor necessary. Certainly, extreme physical action can make someone “talk”; however, what the individual says may be of questionable value.” General David H. Petreus
August 10th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I don’t beleive Ms. Colon meant Allen West specifically. Even if all the “scandal” can be explained away, the Democrats would make mincemeat out of him over, but the overall likelihood.
Obama is flagging badly right now due mainly to his own attitude and arrogance. People are finally seeing that he really isn’t “one of them” and I don’t mean that as a racial thing.
He believes the hype of the personnae that his handlers created for him when really all he is, is a junior Senator who hasn’t done much of anything in his career that’s noticeable… except for the hype and being a master campaigner. Once the campaign is over, however, there’s not much substance to him and it shows.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:56 am
I agree with “..a junior Senator who hasn’t done much of anything in his career that’s noticeable…” But would note another Illinois politician: lost his run for state legislature first time, got in on his second try.
Was elected to US house of representatives, but came out against ‘pre-emptive war’ with Mexico. Lost a race for the senate. Elected president in 1860…
Abraham Lincoln
August 11th, 2008 at 10:38 am
That was before “Chicago Politics” took over, BB.
August 11th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Yup, that was long ago. I doubt a 6′4″ politician would be caught wearing an 8″ tophat these days.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Ms. Colon did not mention Condoleeza Rice nor Colin Powell. They seem accomplished. To moderate>
August 18th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I would have but, Ms. Colon may have thought that discretion, in that instance, was the better part of valor considering the smear jobs that have been done to both of those two you just named.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Is America ready for a black president? Absolutely; it has been for some time. We probably would have had one by now if the black community had ever supported a conservative the way they are now supporting one of the most liberal. More than likely the first black president will be a Republican.
Really? More than likely? As in more than 50% + 1?
That claim seems really dubious. First, it makes the assumption that Barack will lose. That’s not obvious to me. Next, it makes the assumption the Republicans will ever nominate an african-american for president. Considering the lineup of the last nomination, that also seems far away…
It might be true that the first african-american president will be a Republican, but at this point I have a real problem with ‘more than likely’.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:05 am
AC, yes, it does make an assumption but it’s based on current evens. The shine is already wearing off Obama. People are finally starting to learn what Obama doesn’t want known… and no I’m not talking about all the spurious accusations such as his birth certificate or being Muslim and other such things for which there is no proof offered that cannot be debunked. I’m talking about his record, which is on the light side anyway, and his values not syncing with the majority of Americans, whether they’re calling themselves Democrats, Independents, or Republicans. His record as a reformer is nonexistent. Saying he is and being one are two different things.
In addition, if you look at the records, Republicans have appointed more black people to positions of authority than have the Democrats. There’s a huge difference between appointed officials and elected officials.
In addition, there’s Clarence Thomas, the one Obama tried to trash:
Now, admittedly, T. Marshall was nominated and appointed via a Democratic president, but at the same time, you need to remember that this was in the aftermath of the civil rights movements… which the Democratic majority in the country opposed.
So, when you take a little bit of history into account and apply it to predictions such as Ms. Colon’s, well, it just makes a bit of sense.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
While I naturally oppose the political philosophy of
former congressman JC Watts, I always thought of him a fair and reasonable. He was even mentioned as a possible VP candidate for McCain. On the other hand, like McCain, he has an independent streak:
“Republicans want to say we reach out. But what we do instead is 60 days before an election, we’ll spend some money on black radio and TV or buy an ad in Ebony and Jet, and that’s our outreach. People read through that..” JC Watts
August 19th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
McCain can do a lot worse than JC Watts and quite probably will. Everybody is scrambling to figure out who he has chosen. Myself, I’m almost afraid to think about it.
Actually, that statement of his is pretty accurate. Republicans aren’t very good at countering the accusations leveled against in the best of times, let alone the worst, believing that actions speak louder than words when it comes to countering such. However, the same thing applies when it comes to outreach. Actions do speak louder than words and their actions are practically nonexistent in that area.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
At this point in time, I would find it very surprising for Republicans to select and for us to elect the first black president. I am not convinced Obama will lose, and I just don’t see a black nomination getting through. I could be wrong of course, and things could change in 10, 20 or 50 years, just like they have changed for the last 50.
As for the appointment vs. nomination part, that is precisely why I think it’s unlikely to happen. An appointment is easier to do since one person picks a person. Nominations (like the presidential one) require you to get votes, which is harder to do.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:52 am
Well, considering the nominations have already been proffered for this election, of course one isn’t going to go through.
I’m not totally sure Obama will lose either but am reasonably sure. I still have faith in the common sense of most Americans. The far left, however, is a different story and it’s going to be a close race. No matter how assinine the man becomes in public they still continue to look at him as some sort of messiah.
Appointments are what give politicians the backgrounds that have been deemed necessary for effective government, AC, not elections, with the exception of a lot of our presidents have been governors prior to their presidencies.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:37 am
As for this “point in time”, I meant in the near future (i.e. the next few elections). I would be amazed in Republicans pick a black candidate in the next 3 cycles (excluding this one). That includes potential picks like Rice or even Jidal. I don’t see how a minority would make it through the nomination process.
Anyways, I guess the best is to wait, and HOPE to see some CHANGE.
.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:08 am
AC, can I ask a question? Who do you think were good presidents in the past?
I know you hate Bush but so does “everybody”else in spite of the fact that he really hasn’t been all that bad when you look at just the facts, rather than particular interpretations, right wing or left wing. However, that doesn’t tell me who you think has been a good president.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:37 am
I am relatively young, so I cannot really judge in a very deep way. Plus, I am not a historian…
Having said that, the only two I can really compare are Clinton and Bush. And by far I preferred Clinton. Not just because times were better under Clinton, which would be unfair to use as a sole criteria, but also because the Clinton administration seemed way ’smarter’.
I never had the feeling in the Clinton administration that everything was being so politicized (DOJ style). I think Clinton was a hard worker (compare to Bush’s schedule). Etc.
For me a good President would be someone who works hard, who makes good decision, who doesn’t use the office for cronyism (contra Mark Rich or Michael Brown), who listens to advice, who doesn’t lie to me, and who is somewhat humble. I would like a President who will be President for all Americans (including the millions of uninsured) and a President that makes sure America stays on top of the world. Also one that helps keep our deficit/national debt in check.
As a bonus, if he can speak well and represent us well abroad, it would be nice.
I definitely don’t want someone ‘I can drink a beer with’.
November 6th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Fortunately, Alicia Colon was wrong!
I wonder who she thinks will elect the first woman president?
November 28th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Well, I guess you were wrong on this one eh?
November 29th, 2008 at 5:33 am
Yep but that’s okay. I can handle being wrong on this. For all our sakes, I hope I’m wrong about a lot of things to do with Obama.
If I’m not…. We be screwed.