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We Down with GOP - Why Hip-Hop Republican is not an oxymoron

August 20, 2008 · Print This Article

Lenny McAllister, TheRoot.com

- As Rick Warren’s Saddleback presidential faith forum approached last Saturday, I ran to the store before it closed to pick up a few items. At the register, the conversation quickly turned from my purchases to politics. The problem with politics, the white male cashier said with more than a hint of cynical frustration, was politicians, especially Republican politicians. Republicans, he continued, could not relate to everyday people—folks who struggled with everyday issues like child care, crime and education. Republicans, he concluded, didn’t have much contact with real people.

I smiled politely. As a survivor of a violent crime and a former single father who graduated from college at 30 while caring for two young children, I related more than he may have imagined. I told him I was a card-carrying Republican. I ended the conversation respectfully, letting him know that I had to attend a meeting for volunteers of the Domestic Violence Speakers’ Bureau.

A lot of labels, theories and bits of conventional wisdom have been tossed around by pundits and experts lately, as they try to figure out how citizens will vote in November. We are conservative and liberal. We are boomers, Gen Yers, the hip-hop generation. We are blue-collar voters, working-class voters and black voters. There are energized Democrats, disaffected Republicans and unaffiliated voters.

There is one demographic category, however, that regularly gets overlooked. It is a group that most people simply laugh off, are puzzled by or outright dismiss. Meet the “Hip-Hop Republicans” of 2008.

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    I am amazed that their are Black Republicans. I tink of th whtite ones as being racist (Buchanan, Hannity, O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Coutler, Corsi, etc) to just don rigt ignorant rich people who have not a clue. Unless you are making more than $5 million! Nothing has changed. I am following this race closely, and nothing has happened. I see the GOP using white women in adds to stil racial tensions!
    I also see Black Republicans who have forgotten they are black! I sit back and watc the likes of Joe Watkins and scratch my head. Juan Elders too. I gave up on Thomas a long time ago. He long ago forgot his race. Keyes is a nut.
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    Denise you are obviously and ignorant coon. you need to get a history lesson because you sound really stupid. The democrats started the Ku Klux Klan. They were officially recognized as the terrorist wing of the party. The Dems authorized thousands of lynchings in the south. Democrats like Bull Connor, Lester Maddox, and (sitting senator) Byrd are directly responsible for thousands of black death. If you say that Limbaughs first amendment right to oppose affirmative action is worse than the lynchings of thousands of your ancestors than you must ideed be living on the democrat plantation and they own your mind like they own your vote. Needless to say, i guess you also agree with liberal legislation like welfare that took a proud people and made them a government dependent permanent underclass. I guess thats alright with you. Brainwashed black folks like you make me sick. You dont have a clue where you came from. Just because a black person is a republican doenst mean they are a sellout or rich. it means that they are confident that with the right effort they can EARN they life they want not depend on some opportunist politcian to give them scraps like waht you accept.
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    D. Walker, you are right that there have been certain individuals in the democratic party who have undermined race relations (ie. Byrd and others). However, if you are such an expert on race relations in America than you might acknowledge that during the civil rights movement LBJ forced civil rights legislation through congress dispite the blatant disapproval of Republican members of congress. In fact most of the states in the south at the time were actually 'blue' states and LBJ turned them 'red' by simply extending equal rights to African Americans and other minorities. In the eighties the Regan administration did little in the way of addressing African American issues. Even Dick Cheney has taken overtly questionable stances towards African American issues. In fact, Vice President Cheney argued that Matin Luther King Jr. should not be given a national holiday because in the words of Mr. Cheney; "There are other more deserving Americans". I would doubt that even you would have to agree that MLK is well deserving of his place on the national events calendar. In fact Mr. Cheney went further to suggest that Nelson Mandela is a terrorist. The thing to Remeber is that there certainly are racists in the Democratic party. However, there are far more in the Republican party. And time and time again individuals like Trent Lott and strom thurmond continue to undermine that achievements that the civil rights movement accomplish. Frankly, to watch Rebuplicans talk about minority issues is a joke because there track record is this respect is miniscule in relation to democrats. You are right that just because a black person is a republican does not mean they are a sellout or rich. It simply means that they are confused and unaware of the actual attitude of their party.
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    A. (Which is short for A--hole i am sure) You sound like a typical black democrat. you are just a piece of property. For your information, i dont claim any party. I take Malcolm X's approach to politics. Both parties use blacks as a political football but it is the sly liberal that lies in their face and control them. Reading your post and your undying loyalty proves to me that your mind is under full control. i dont speak for republicans. but your are like any slave who loves his master more than he loves himself. you defend their history of racism, murder, lynchings, welfare. you are a joke. i feel sorry for niggas like you. free your mind and get off the plantation. the fact that you are talking about republicans and "minority issues" proves to me that you find comfort in knowing that the same people that raped your grandmother is now protecting you. its like wolves protecting sheep. why dont you grow some balls and stop letting the dems f--k you in the a--. stop looking at the world in black and white, dem and gop. learn your history and stop letting the political parties use your mind (your a-- in your case) as a football.
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    D. Walker, first of all I know my history. I'm ACTUALLY an African American. I was born in Bostwana too two South African parents. I have an African name and I know who my ancestors are and what my culture is. So don't try talking to me about learning my history, because I'm more black than you are. I agree with you that both parties use African Americans like tools. However, it comes down to the lessor of two evils. This is definetly a white mans world. And you have to accept that the only way African Americans are going to get anywhere is with white democrats as opposed to white republicans. Obama is a step in the right direction for this country. If you don't mind me asking are you planing on voting for McCain? Or are you one of those people that believes in not voting and then complains about bad policies later on.
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    "A" is wrong with his LBJ comments. While under LBJ it was the republicans who were for civil rights legislation and dems who were against it. By the way R. president Eisenhower sent 101 Airborne to Arkansas to help the "Little Rock Nine" integrate into Central High school.
    Dont forget about the emancipation act and civil war for freedoms of Black Americans brought to you by the Republican party.
    Demarcates like for us to be "down" With hand outs and social programs they use us to keep their seat in office. When we make it on our own we have no use for them so they call us "sell outs"
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    I think race isn't the issue here so much as affluence. The Hip Hop Republicans represent the upwardly mobile who are typically conservative. Being a reactionary liberal is fine if you're middle class or struggling, but those with a bit of surplus cash are easily swayed over to the dark side. While you're nitpicking over which side had the better civil rights record, the minority Republicans are voting with their wallets. They want McCain and 4-8 years more of the same kind of economic policy that lined the pockets of the corporations and the rich. They haven't sold out.. They've bought in.

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