Friday, December 12, 2008

Way to go Colin Powell!!

If I ever became a Republican, it would be because of people like Colin Powell:

Powell: GOP 'polarization' backfired in election

The Republican party must stop "shouting at the world" and start listening to minority groups if it is to win elections in the 21st century, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday.

In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria for Sunday's "GPS" program, President Bush's former secretary of state said his party's attempt "to use polarization for political advantage" backfired last month.

"I think the party has to take a hard look at itself," Powell said in the interview, which was taped Wednesday. "There is nothing wrong with being conservative. There is nothing wrong with having socially conservative views — I don't object to that. But if the party wants to have a future in this country, it has to face some realities. In another 20 years, the majority in this country will be the minority."


Colin Powell is the only publicly known black Republican worth a damn. The rest aren't worth shit.

I don't say that because of what Powell said but because of the meaning behind his words.

All other African-Americans who publicly align themselves with the Republican Party (and conservatives) have no backbone. From Star Parker to Michael Steele to Alan Keyes to Ken Hutcherson to Harry Jackson to Larry Elder, they seem to be content with toeing some stupid line, taking that right wing think tank money and running interference for those who have real power in the Republican Party.

Attack Jesse Jackson or bring up Louis Farrakhan's name to inflame the white folks?

No problem.

Attack gays for daring to compare the lgbt struggle to the civil rights movement even at the expense of making lgbts of color invisible in the public eye?

No problem.

Exploiting the election of President Obama by allowing yourself to be in-demand criticizers of his policies on right wing sites like Town Hall and One News Now even though you know that your appeal is solely because you and him share the same skin color?

No problem.

Where are the black Republicans who will demand leadership roles in the party rather than wear the token sign with pride?

Former Representative J.C. Watts tried but to paraphrase comedian Paul Mooney, he got his "Negro wake up call" and realized that the Republican Party only wanted him for photo ops or when they needed a black man to criticize Jesse Jackson.

They didn't give him any real leadership.

Powell is not stupid. He maintains his autonomy and integrity.