Thursday, November 11, 2004
There's a lesson here
For decades now black voters have been co-opted by the Democrat Party. In any given election, the Democrat candidate can count on receiving 90% of the votes of blacks who go to the polls. In fact, the black vote is so homogeneous that it has been heralded as a major achievement that Bush raised his percentage of the black vote from 9% in 2000 to an estimated 11% this year.
The result of this fealty is not surprising. Republicans, knowing they can't win over black voters, have no reason to reach out to blacks (witness Bush's decision not to attend the NAACP convention). Likewise, Democrats have no motivation to push a black agenda beyond insuring the free access of blacks to the polls. Simply put, by voting solely for Democrats, blacks have removed themselves from play, and have thus made their interests irrelevant.
It appears that Hispanics have learned this lesson well. One of the quieter post-election stories has been how Bush increased his percentage of the Hispanic vote from 35% in 2000 to 44% this year. To quote the New Democrat Network, "Hispanics are a swing vote. They are no longer a base vote of [the Democrat] Party."
By refusing to follow the example of blacks and give their blind allegiance to one party, the Hispanic population will now reap the benefit of having two very rich and very amorous suitors. It is no coincidence that Bush's first post-election appointment is Hispanic and his first post-election legislative push is for immigration reform -- and you can expect the Democrats to begin promising them even more. In politics, as in life, sometimes it pays to be coy.
The result of this fealty is not surprising. Republicans, knowing they can't win over black voters, have no reason to reach out to blacks (witness Bush's decision not to attend the NAACP convention). Likewise, Democrats have no motivation to push a black agenda beyond insuring the free access of blacks to the polls. Simply put, by voting solely for Democrats, blacks have removed themselves from play, and have thus made their interests irrelevant.
It appears that Hispanics have learned this lesson well. One of the quieter post-election stories has been how Bush increased his percentage of the Hispanic vote from 35% in 2000 to 44% this year. To quote the New Democrat Network, "Hispanics are a swing vote. They are no longer a base vote of [the Democrat] Party."
By refusing to follow the example of blacks and give their blind allegiance to one party, the Hispanic population will now reap the benefit of having two very rich and very amorous suitors. It is no coincidence that Bush's first post-election appointment is Hispanic and his first post-election legislative push is for immigration reform -- and you can expect the Democrats to begin promising them even more. In politics, as in life, sometimes it pays to be coy.
Centinel 12:47 PM #