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A Few Thoughts for Minority Voters ...

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Disclaimer: Bob Pritts is responsible for this content, which is not edited by the Wilson County News or wilsoncountynews.com. |
July 13, 2012 | 1046 views | 31 comments
Historical truths that just may help you re-think the way you vote in 2012
On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln, Republican President of the United States, presented The Emancipation Proclamation to the Congress of the United States. The Congress was comprised of mostly Democrats. Within days, the Southern Democrats were so furious about the notion of unconditional freedom being extended to the black population that they left Congress and returned to their homes in the deep South, refusing to even consider recognizing such a document. The remaining Congress was mostly all male white Republicans and agreed to the Proclamation by a large margin. The Democrats abandoned the freed slaves at the very time in our country’s history when needed most. They knew they could not vote “for” the Proclamation and go home and face their constituents. Their political careers would have definitely ended.
In 1909, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded. It was formed as an organization for mainly our black population but with no racial, gender or color provisions for membership. Anyone, of any color or ethnicity was encouraged to join in the cause of lending a hand up to those less fortunate in our society. Its founder was a young lady by the name of Mary Orington ... a white, female member of the Unitarian Church.
In 1956, a Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate by the name of Lyndon Baynes Johnson (D) of Texas, campaigned vigilantly to urge fellow Democrats to kill the first civil rights act in Congress. He succeeded! Once again, at that period in history, Democrats could not vote for the act without losing their next election at home. Our government, at that time, was lead by a Republican president by the name of Dwight Eisenhower. The Congress was overwhelmingly Democratically controlled. Ironically, in 1964, when this same man, Lyndon Johnson, was President of the United States, he pushed the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act through Congress, as a tribute to his former boss John F. Kennedy ... again with a Democratic controlled Congress. This should have been a slam dunk. However, six (6) Republicans and 21 Democrats in the Senate voted ‘no’ to passage. It would have once again failed had it not been for the efforts of Senator Everett Dirksen (R) of Illinois, who strongly encouraged 22 of his fellow Republican Senators to vote yes. The act passed by a small majority. The Republicans actually assured the passage of the bill that is today’s guideline for civil and equal rights for all.
All the above are true, historical facts. Now we can sit and debate or twist those facts all we want, but that will not change them. But first, between 1860 and 1912, Republicans held the White House for forty-four of the fifty-two years. Grover Cleveland (D) was the only exception during that period. The majority of black minority citizens voted Republican. Then came the industrial revolution and a ‘progressive’ movement for change was called for. For whatever reason(s), the majority of Americans, including the majority of minority voters, decided that the Democratic Party had a better lock on the times than the Republicans. The beginning of entitlement programs most likely played a significant role in the switch to Democrats. Since that time, the majority of our nation’s minority population have voted overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates in most elections. And, the rest is history (yet to be made).
For the record, this was not written to state that republicans are kind and loving people and democrats are sneaky, evil folks. It's meant to straighten out many misconceptions that our minority folks have been sold, by less than reputable minority leaders, to assure their voting block vote. By the way, might I remind you that you are not a 'block' voter ... you are an individual, free thinking citizen of the United States of America just like every other citizen of this Republic. We have exactly the same dilemma sitting in our Senate this very day. The majority of Americans want Obamacare repealed. Many of the democratic senators who voted yes on Obamacare, strictly on party lines and not on true conscience, got quite an earful back home during their recent break. Harry Reid will simply not bring up the house repeal bill onto the Senate floor for a vote because he knows many of those same 'yes' voters on its passage will be forced to vote 'yes' to its repeal in an attempt to save their precious jobs. It's that simple! This is a part of history yet to be made. |
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Publius Valerius Publicola
Rome, Tx. July 19, 2012 10:46am |
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Constituent
Floresville July 17, 2012 12:47pm |
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4 th Generation Texan
Sutherland Springs July 16, 2012 5:26pm |
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Be Careful
Floresville, TX July 16, 2012 1:21pm |
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Aleta Worden
La Vernia, TX July 16, 2012 8:08am |
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GRAND PRAIRIE TX July 16, 2012 6:10am |
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PRAIRIE GROUCH
GRAND PRAIRIE TX July 16, 2012 3:47am |
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matilde serna
floresville July 15, 2012 6:45pm |
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PRAIRIE GROUCH
GRAND PRAIRIE TX July 15, 2012 4:44pm |
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matilde serna
floresville July 15, 2012 3:01pm |
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