October 11, 2006

A New Black Politics

The disservice one-party politics inflicts on African Americans can be measured directly by the harm it inflicts, and indirectly by the advantages it prevents.

The direct harm is obvious. When our votes can be delivered in lots, like slaves at auction, then our politicians needn’t concern themselves with what we want. 

African Americans need serious education reform. But since many vote Democratic without it, our politicians sell out our children’s interests to the teachers’ unions. African Americans need strong, two-parent families. But since many will vote Democratic regardless, our politicians oppose a marriage amendment. 

African Americans need economic opportunity. But instead of allowing us to accumulate savings with part of our Social Security taxes, Democrats pile new taxes and regulations on black working families.

In lieu of accomplishment, African Americans are fed a steady diet of fantasy. We are told that Republicans are responsible for Hurricane Katrina, that Republicans burn black churches and that Republicans prevent us from voting.  This unsupportable mythology of victimhood, continuously repeated, prevents our young from recognizing the opportunities spread out before them in this, the freest nation in the world.

The fact that most blacks vote Democratic doesn’t imply that most blacks are liberals. In truth, there are few issues on which black opinion varies significantly from that of other Americans. Millions of religious African Americans are appalled at abortion on demand, which claims 400,000 babies a year in our community. A majority of blacks want lower taxes, and more choice in education, health care and retirement.

There are three million African-American armed-service veterans in the United States. These men and women don’t necessarily subscribe to a philosophy of “cut and run.”

It is too easy to blame Democrats for the political isolation of blacks. The monopoly liberals have enjoyed over African-American politics is as much the responsibility of the party that ceded that monopoly – namely, the Republicans. If black conservatives fail to identify with Republicans, if black working people believe absurd accusations regarding Republicans, it is largely because the GOP has allowed it. Political advertising on the signature media of African Americans – urban contemporary radio, black gospel, BET – is monopolized by Democrats, not because of any restriction on Republicans, but because GOP operatives and conservative issue groups have failed to exercise their options in a free market.

America’s PAC, which I serve as spokesman, has organized mass-media campaigns directed to African-American voters in 2004 and again this year.  We want black voters to know that Republicans favor school reform and school choice. We want them to know that the GOP will help workers accumulate financial assets with their own Social Security taxes.

America’s PAC is spreading the Republican message of hope to the growing ranks of black entrepreneurs, who need a tax environment that encourages growth, and the accumulation of capital.

Our ads honor the efforts of black veterans – indeed, all veterans – to keep this country safe from terrorist threats.  And we publicly air the position of the parties on social issues that have affected our communities so deeply – abortion, drug abuse and the status of marriage.

Now, for some in my community, such a campaign is strong medicine. For decades, black Democratic leaders have substituted smear tactics, racial slurs and paranoid fantasies for substantive policy.  Opening a genuine debate on school choice, taxation, the right to life and the war on terror threatens some such leaders, and frightens many.  But political competition can do nothing but benefit the black community – even those who do not agree with the Republican point of view. 

At a minimum, it will force the Democrats to listen once again even as they continue to take the black vote for granted.