Originally, the GOP really was "The party of Lincoln" and supported civil rights. Of course, the Southerners, being racists, voted Democratic. This lasted for about 100 years...
Beginning with Democrat President Truman integrating the military in the late 1940s, by the 1960s, the Democratic party was active in creating legislation and constitutional amendments to support civil rights.
In fairness, the GOP helped too because many Dems were still from the racist South and would not support it simply because it'd be political suicide. The GOP was absolutely essential to the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act during the first term of the administration of Democratic President Lyndon B Johnson (LBJ) who was serving the rest of Kennedy's term.
The racist Southerners, who normally had voted Democratic, felt betrayed and began to vote for the GOP candidates. President LBJ, a Texan Democrat, predicted it: "We have lost the South for a generation." He was right, but more like 3 or 4 generations at least.
Meanwhile, the GOP noticed it was not progressing with minority voters because of the work of the Democrats who put their money where their mouth was, so to speak. So, the GOP decided to appeal to Southern white voters and racists everywhere. This was called "The Southern Strategy" and was first employed in Nixon's 1968 campaign and, more or less, has been used continually since then. (* See below.)
This 2014 article in The Nation explains the history of what happened and should answer your question.
www.thenation.com/.../
PERSPECTIVES
When the Republicans Really Were the Party of Lincoln
July 2, 2014
by John Nichols
=================================================
(*) In 2005, Republican National Committee Chair Ken Mehlman made a speech to the annual NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples) Convention in which he apologized for the GOP's use of the Southern Strategy.
This is an excerpt of that speech which Ken Mehlman has at his website:
kenmehlman.com/ken-mehlman-remarks-at-naacp/
- - - - - - - - - - -
"The history of the other party is a different one. Democrats were the party of Jim Crow and Democratic filibusters blocked progress for decades.
Despite this history, the Democratic Party by the 1960s had something real and tangible to overcome this legacy. Lyndon Johnson, a Democratic President, signed what in my opinion were the most important laws of the 20th century: the civil rights act, voting rights act, open housing law.
By the 70s and into the 80s and 90s, the Democratic Party solidified its gains in the African American community, and we Republicans did not effectively reach out.
Some Republicans gave up on winning the African American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here today as the Republican Chairman to tell you we were wrong."
- - - - - - - - - - -
Black columnist Bob Hebert was not so won over by Mehlman's apology because the GOP was still doing it in 2005.
www.nytimes.com/.../an-empty-apology.html
It is worse than ever now as evidenced by Trump and this very question of yours.
It's unfortunate, but this adage is true - at least currently...
"If you are a Republican, it doesn't make you racist, but if you're a racist, then you're a Republican.
=========
I just wanted to finally add that the current situation with the GOP and racists won't last forever. As generations pass, racial issues will gradually become irrelevant. Especially given that the Whites will not be the majority race in the USA soon. This will mean that, to survive, the GOP will eventually have to appeal to persons of color. It already does to a degree with Hispanic voters.
So, keep that this in mind: History shows that the political party of the racists is not etched in stone and that the parties often take policy positions to get local votes.
Hello chef,
I have three things to say:
1) Idgaf about this topic and politics in general, so don't think I'm saying everything after this because of a stupid political bias or shit like that.
2) Get off Twitter and start actually researching your information without joining a sick-narrow-minded generalizing hate mob, whether it's the right or left. This is a self-improvement tip for you to save your mental health from declining.
3) Your discussion and arguing skills currently pretty much revolve around the word "retarded", trash-talking, name-calling, and useless filler sentences that don't make any sense and don't prove your point any better, even when you're arguing with civilized users here who manage to keep calm and carry a civilized discussion that follows basic discussion rules, which should be a no-brainer for you, especially after your long time on this website.
I hope you can open up your mind to me saying this, otherwise you can keep it closed and stay stuck in this tunnel vision you're in and never improve in any way.
Thank you for reading!
Opinion
14Opinion
Honestly both sides are equally racist, just in different aspects. The right can at times be a little more blunt about it, this much is true. However the left is more likely to create policies and programs that deliberately hold down minorities in various aspects of life. A lot of "woke" liberals are some of the most blatantly racist individuals I've ever met.
Honestly it's the individuals that tend to be in the middle that are the least racist. Both parties are racist in their own ways, they just go about it differently.
I think you will find that most people that scream racism are getting paid for it in some way. It could be donations, salary, or votes. When you consider this, their credibility takes a nose dive.
Opting NOT to buy into the hype that most "activist" spew is not racism, its just a different opinion. However, the "activist" have to demonize those that have the nerve to question their narrative.
The left is equally as racist, they just put a different spin on it. Don't believe me? Affirmative action, the believe blacks and hispanics are inferior to Whites and Asians and therefore need to given a handicap like children. Sleepy Uncle Pedo Joe here used to be pro-segregation and thinks blacks can't use computers, y'all still put that man in office. So both sides have racists, just different rhetoric
You are showing anger at all people you deem to be more conservative than you. Change “right” to skin color and you will find yourself in a very racist situation.
Fascism is a socialist ideology. Even if we use Italy as an example where trade unions became the state, it's still the state that has complete control over everything.
Since we are making generalizations, why is the left full of commies?
Right wingers stopped frontal cortex development in puberty.
Blm is 100% centralized. But people like you float around the outside because you think its all about supporting black people. Its not. Your playing checkers George soros is playing chess
the republican party became a home for ex-democrats.
Find a girlfriend for the first time in your life and I'll tell you.
It's actually the opposite. The most hateful race-bating racism comes from the left. Ask black people. Get your brain checked
Bull. No true. All democrats are communists.
Something about being anti-progress, I guess…
You never give up on trolling lol
you're wrong, and this post is racist.
Be the first girl to share an opinion
and earn 3 more Xper points!
You can also add your opinion below!
