The History of African Americans and the GOP

[Strikerino]

1863 The Republican Party’s first president, Abraham Lincoln, issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1.

After the Civil War Republican-controlled Congress passed the 13th,14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, guaranteeing equal protection and due process, and addressing the African American's right to vote.

1866 Republican senators (94%) and Republican House members (96%) approved the 14th Amendment, Every congressional Democrat voted: "No."

1868 Opelousas, Louisiana: Democrats killed nearly 300 African Americans for trying to stop an assault on a Republican newspaper editor.

Late 19th century Democrat governors and Democrat-controlled state legislatures in the South passed Jim Crow laws. Compassionate Democrats lynched hundreds of African Americans each year under these laws while the liberal press acted as cheerleaders.

1868 Republicans spoke against the Democrats' national slogan: "This is a white man's country: Let white men rule."

Democrats created a nearly century-long, legal racial caste system that relegated African Americans to the lowest educational, political, economic and social strata.

Democrats throughout the United States organized and ran America's premier terrorist organization – the Ku Klux Klan.

1871 The Republican Congress passed the KKK Act, banning the pro-Democrat terrorist group.

1871 The Republican Congress passed the Enforcement Act, giving black voters federal protection.

1872 Republican Pinckney Benton Stewart "P.B.S." Pinchback became America's first African American governor.

1874 White Democrat racists stormed Louisiana's statehouse, killing 27 of Republican Governor William Kellogg's racially integrated administration.

1878 Republican and former U.S. Representative, James Rapier became America's first African American Collector of IRS.

1894 Democrat President Grover Cleveland and a Democratic Congress repealed the Republican’s Enforcement Act, the Republican act had given African American voters federal protection, but the Democrats removed that protection.

1901 Republican President Theodore Roosevelt invited Republican educator Booker T. Washington, America’s first African American dinner guest, to the White House. The Richmond Times newspaper gave this warning: "White women may receive attentions from Negro men."

1904 Democrats used a campaign button with the Democrat nominee beside a white couple and Roosevelt beside a white bride and black groom and the words: "The Choice Is Yours."

1913 Democrat President Wilson introduced segregation into the federal government.

1915 The NAACP was appalled when Democrat President Woodrow Wilson expressed his approval of the film, "Birth of a Nation." The NAACP launched a nationwide protest against the film and a public protest against Democrat President Wilson.

1920 Republican Warren G. Harding was elected President on the Republican platform that called for federal anti-lynching legislation. Republican Warren G. Harding scrapped Wilson’s segregation policy.

1922 Republican Harding delivered the most forceful speech ever calling for black equality in Democrat stronghold, Birmingham, Ala.

1922 Republican Leonidas Dyer's bill making lynching a federal crime passed the House of Representatives, but Senate Democrats killed the measure.

1922 Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood published her book "Pivot of Civilization" in which she called for the extirpation of "weeds ... overrunning the human garden;" for the segregation of "morons, misfits, and the maladjusted;" and for the sterilization of "genetically inferior races." Since that time, Planned Parenthood has had a symbiotic relationship with the Democrat Party, in which Planned Parenthood helps elect Democrats and Democrats appropriate Federal Funds to Planned Parenthood.

1935 Until 1935, every African American federal legislator was Republican.

1937 Democratic President FDR nominated Democrat Senator Hugo Black, a former KKK member, to the Supreme Court. Republicans opposed the nomination.

1946 Democrat, Robert Byrd wrote to the KKK's Imperial Wizard: "The Klan is needed today as never before and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia."

1950s Democrat governors and Democrat-controlled state legislatures in the South placed the Confederate battle flag on their state capitol flags.

1954 Under Republican chief justice Earl Warren the U.S. Supreme Court ruled for desegregation of government schools in the Brown v. Board of Education decision. In these hearings, Republican President Eisenhower's Justice Dept. argued integration of African American school children, and Democrat John W. Davis fought for a ruling of "separate but equal" classrooms.

1957 Democrat Governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, called out his state's National Guard to prevent the integration of Central High School in Little Rock. In response, Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent U.S. troops to the city to escort nine frightened African American teens into the school past riotous mobs inflamed by Faubus' defiance of a federal court order.

1959 Democrat, Robert Byrd, former KKK Grand Kleagle, was elected West Virginia senator.

1960 Sen. John F. Kennedy voted against the Civil Rights Act, but the Civil Rights Act passed over Kennedy’s vote, getting the civil rights movement started. Republican President Eisenhower signed the GOP's 1960 Civil Rights Act after it survived a 5 day, 5 hour filibuster by 18 Senate Democrats.

1963 Democrat Gov. of Alabama, George Wallace blocked integration of the University of Alabama. Democrat President John F. Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard and ordered its units to the university to force its doors open to African American students.

1964 Democrat, Robert Kennedy assisted the FBI's efforts to destroy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by approving the wiretapping of the Dr. King.

1964 The 1964 Civil Rights Act became law with overwhelming Republican support triumphing over extreme Democrat opposition.

1965 The 1965 Voting Rights Act became law with overwhelming GOP support triumphing over extreme Democrat opposition. Former Klansman Robert Byrd staged a 14-hour filibuster. Twenty-three Senate Democrats (including Tennessee's Al Gore, Sr.) tried to scuttle the measure. Republican Everett Dirksen rallied 26 GOP senators and 44 Democrats to kill the filibuster. Though 66% Democrats did vote to allow the passage, 82% of GOP voted for the measure. GOP Senator Barry Goldwater opposed this bill, but this was because he feared the Act would limit freedom of association in the private sector, and he didn’t oppose it for racial reasons. Goldwater long supported Civil Rights, the 1957 Act, the 1960 Act, the integration of Arizona's National Guard, etc.

Late 1960s Republican President Richard Nixon implemented the Nation’s first affirmative action program with the Philadelphia Plan.

1975 Republican President Gerald Ford promoted Daniel James to be the Air Force's first African American 4 general.

1982 Republican President Reagan promoted Roscoe Robinson to become the Army's first African American 4 star general.

1982 Republican President Ronald Reagan signed a 25-year extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

1983 Republican President Reagan became the first president to so honor an African American when he declared Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday.

1991 Republicans scorned former KKK member, David Duke, when he ran for Louisiana governor as a Republican.

2000 Republican President George W. Bush appointed African Americans to the highest positions in government ever occupied by blacks in America, most notably National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell. Note the absence of black appointees in the Democrat Clinton administration (but he can meaninglessly feel your pain). Also, in the War with Iraq (a battle in the War on Terror) the Vice Chief of Operations at Central Command was Army Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks, who is black.

2005 Democrat Sen. Robert Byrd, former KKK Grand Kleagle, stalled Condoleezza Rice’s appointment to Secretary of State for one week.

Present In public opinion polls on school choice, African Americans want the freedom to move their children from failed public schools to schools where their children can succeed. Republicans are in favor of school choice. Democrats oppose black freedom of choice.

Present African Americans are among the most devout and evangelical Christians in this Christian Nation. They are the most likely, of all race groups in the Church, to believe that the Bible is the Word of God without error. Democrats increasingly find themselves opposing Bible-based morality, and supporting causes that are anti-Bible and anti-Christian. Republicans end up defending Bible-based morality and supporting causes that are pro-Bible and pro-Christian. The list includes abortion, evolutionism vs creation science, drugs, homosexuality, fornication, the Christian work ethic, and defense of marriage. On all these issues, Democrats have not supported the values of the African American community--which are the values of the Christian community.

Present The mainstream media is controlled by Democrats, mainly white, who paint a picture that is out of sync with reality. An overwhelming majority of the members of the press are white Democrats.

Present Republicans support a color-neutral government. Democrats and the mainstream media want to either own blacks through debilitating social programs or to limit them through the methods shown in all the history here listed. The black vote seems to be important to the Democrats, but not the blacks themselves.

Present The press continues to accuse the Republicans of racism, and the Republicans don’t have the backbone to answer. Why do most black people think that liberal Democrats are their friends? The press is very powerful in forming opinions, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time. Republicans need to find their voices.

This history is gleaned from a May 2003 article by Perry Drake, and a 2005 article by Deroy Murdock.

"Alas, even as Republicans promote work over welfare, educational choice, and personal retirement accounts, all of which would empower blacks, some 90 percent of blacks vote Democrat as reflexively as knees kick when tapped with rubber mallets." Deroy Murdock>

[sharkman]

Yes, this has long confused me. I didn't know of the long history of Republican support for Blacks going back to the civil war, but I knew the dems weren't doing much for them and still they vote for them again and again. It is remarkable that they would vote as a block with such a high percentage as well.

One other thing, my history is a little shaky, but I believe Clarence Thomas was appointed to the Supreme court by Reagan, another Republican. The witch hunt that ensued was orchestrated by Dems. And yet time and time again, Blacks ignore this history.

OJ murders his wife, and the black lawyer that tries him is automatically an Uncle Tom. Meanwhile, the black lawyer that defends him is a hero. It didn't seem to matter that he murdered his wife or that his wife was white (something I've been told black women REALLY hate) he was one of them being persecuted by the man.

[Rue]

Yes, this has long confused me. I didn't know of the long history of Republican support for Blacks going back to the civil war, but I knew the dems weren't doing much for them and still they vote for them again and again. It is remarkable that they would vote as a block with such a high percentage as well.

One other thing, my history is a little shaky, but I believe Clarence Thomas was appointed to the Supreme court by Reagan, another Republican. The witch hunt that ensued was orchestrated by Dems. And yet time and time again, Blacks ignore this history.

OJ murders his wife, and the black lawyer that tries him is automatically an Uncle Tom. Meanwhile, the black lawyer that defends him is a hero. It didn't seem to matter that he murdered his wife or that his wife was white (something I've been told black women REALLY hate) he was one of them being persecuted by the man.

Yegads Sharkman you waded into OJ with this topic? You tread in volatile waters. I think your comments as to OJ generalize a tad bit. Not all black people felt OJ was innocent or a victim of society nor did all black people feel Christoper D. the D.A. that was up against him was an Uncle Tom. I think you generalize and understimate Black America.

What should not suprise you though is that in L.A., with rampant racism manifested by the police against black citizens, it wouldn't take a genius to understand, blacks have a problem trusting the L.A. police.

If you were black living in L.A. you would probably have a different perspective as to the justice system then if you were white. It stands to reason.

The OJ trial was a classic case of idiocy in the sense that the jury picked had no university education, were

lower class, black, female, all categories most likely to see OJ as a son of theirs.

More important the dna evidence presented to them could not be understood. It went over their head.

So a bit of it was of course the dna evidence not being understood, another part was the profile of the jurt picked, and the most important part was the DA's office did not screen their star witness and once dirt came out on him being a racist the trial was over.

Race relations is a powder keg in the US inner cities and do say you don't understand why blacks don't like or trust police or the justice system is kind of well how shall we say this, take it from another caucasian-very albino like of you.

That said today's Republican Party has always attracted more rural,white voters then the democrats simply because the democratic party has traditionally been the party of the trade unions and more blacks in the US are in trade unions or blue collar jobs then in the elite upper classes or financial classes or farming operations where a lot of the Republican vote comes from.

Traditionally only Cubans have been the strong minority supporters of the Republicans.

Doesn't take a genius to figure out Condaleeza Rice is probably one of the first blacks Bush has ever

invited to dinner and heaveb forbid as the press has suggested might have even had an affair with her.

[sharkman]

True enough, perhaps I meandered a little bit, but I was speaking in terms of a block mentality only, and the majority of Blacks in the U.S.(not just LA) thought OJ was innocent. And I never said anything about blacks and police, I inferred they don't like the Republican party in spite of all of the pro Black efforts the party has spear-headed, like those listed by the first poster. First you bring up the police then accuse me of not understanding Blacks' mistrust of them, then call me albino. Grow up.

What's the deal with your slam of Bush? How do you know if she's the first black he's ever had to dinner? An affair? I guess you don't like him, but completely unsubstantiated accusations like that are just silly. I'm sure he 's had dinner with Colin Powell a time or two. I'm surprised the media never made them out to be a couple as well. Just as silly.

[Liam]

Sigh... this issue rearing its ill-informed head again...

Yes, Republicans (i.e., Licoln) freed the slaves but that was 150 years ago when the GOP was the northern, progressive party. Yes, many Democrats supported segregation and voted against the Voting Rights Act, but most Democrats voted for it. And the myth that it was Republicans who delivered the Voting Rights Act for Johnson (a Democrat), is a stretch:

Senate and House votes on the compromise bill (Voting Rights Act of 1964):

Senate Democrats: 49 Y, 17 N*

Senate Republicans: 30 Y. 1 N

House Democrats: 217 Y, 54 N*

House Republicans: 111 Y, 20 N

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_Rights_Act

*Those Southern Democrats who voted against civil equality soon migrated away from the Democrats and became Republicans. Hence the split between Blue (northern, progressive, liberal) states and Red (conservative, former members of the Confederacy, southern) states. In 2006, the Voting Rights Act was up for renewal. Who opposed its renewal? Southern Republicans. Eventually, the smear of racism and the smell of fear of the 2006 mid-term elections cowed the GOP into supporting its renewal which Bush signed in 2006.

As for Clarence Thomas, Reagan did not nominate Clarence Thomas, Bush I did. Democrats mostly opposed him for two reasons: 1. he was a conservative nominated to take the seat of a solid liberal (Thurgood Marshall); 2. there were rumors that while he worked for the EEOC he routinely harassed one of his aides, Anita Hill. What Reagan did do, however, was announce his candidacy for the presidency in Philadelphia, Mississippi, in a speech chock full of code words to his white audience (state's rights, etc.) recalling the Confederate States' rallying cry. Philadelphia, MS is more famously, or more infamously, known for being the location where members of the Klan, including the local police, killed some civil rights workers who came down to help poor, rural blacks to register to vote. Their story was portrayed in the film "Mississippi Burning".

Yeah, I wonder why the GOP doesn't attract more African-American votes.

[Shady]

Yeah, I wonder why the GOP doesn't attract more African-American votes

Easy, because Democrats = quotas and big money for big government programs "designed" to help the poor and disadvantaged. If you're against quotas and big money for big government programs, you're deemed racist.

[sharkman]

So you really think that a party that wants to get elected would repeatedly alienate a large voting block that they gave the right to vote to? I don't believe the Dems have earned their support to the tune of over 90%, but what do I know.

The witch hunt that was the Clarence Thomas hearing was embarrassing. Yes, I remember Anita hill's attempt at character assassination, but the Dems were hypocrites in that case. If Thomas had been a liberal, there would have been no Anita Hill or questions about pubic hair comments. The Republicans had the right to put whoever suited them on the bench since the public had elected a Republican president 3 terms in a row, and the fact that he was black didn't matter to the Dems as long as he was a conservative.