Politix

Prev Next
Featured Quizzes
Politix Daily Headlines
Featured Debates
Issues

See all 17 issues

People
White House

See all people

CAIN COMPLAIN

Herman Cain Calls NYT Piece on Black Republicans 'Racist'

The source of his ire refers to black members of the GOP as 'tokens'

Next>

by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t

Image: Gawker

Former GOP presidential contender Herman Cain is lashing out at the New York Times for running an op-ed saying black Republicans are "cynical tokens" for a party antithetical to black interests.

The piece in question, written by political science professor Adolph L. Reed Jr., sidesteps the issue of sincerely held conservative beliefs on the part of some black Americans. Instead, it examines the role this "puzzling" group allegedly plays in advancing the GOP agenda while helping shield the party from accusations of racism.

"The trope of the black conservative has retained a man-bites-dog newsworthiness that is long past its shelf life," writes Reed. "Republicans will not gain significant black support unless they take policy positions that advance black interests."

It's an argument that's earned the NYT the "racist" tag from Cain.

"Any newspaper that would publish a piece denigrating blacks as needing big government is obviously racist," claimed Cain. "To hear Professor Reed tell it, blacks are a monolithic group of people whose best interests are served when they can be recipients of redistributionist policies."

Via the Daily Caller and the New York Times.
Like this article? B Vote Up
?

Are black Republicans merely 'cynical tokens' for the party at large?

View results

Comments (view in Forum)

  • jessejaymes
    !
    There is no denial that the GOP does not serve the best interest of the black community. They don't serve the interest of anyone other than the ultra rich today but for a black person to serve the GOP is ludicrous. Unless they are ultra rich of course.
  • UnCommonBoston
    !
    The GOP also has members that are homosexual. Why these people join a group that clearly does not have their interests at heart, is beyond me.
  • Heavy-Fed
    !
    Awww Jesse! You were SOOOO right on target with your last post... but have completely missed the barn on this one!!!

    Do you know what I think is the most funny about you defenders of the Democrats?

    The fact that you fight with all of your might for the Democratic party... the same party that fought to keep Black people slaves.

    More Democrats voted against the Equal Rights Amendment than did Republicans.

    Think about these things as you support that half Black President of non-slave linage.

    His family SOLD their people to slave traders... and his party fought to keep them slaves... almost 200 years later... you're fighting to keep him AND his party in power.

    You've been taught to believe the very people who keep you free... are your enemy.

    I'm not making these things up... just sharing facts anyone with Google search can confirm.

    Topix will probably delete this post anyway. Google Heavy Fed too while you are at it!!!
  • jessejaymes
    !
    @Heavy-Fed Really? I was a Republican for more than 40 years and have never been a registered Democrat. Both GOP and Dems are corrupt to the core.
  • mudzangandoro
    !
    jessejaymes; "There is no denial that the GOP does not serve the best interest of the black community" Couldn't have said it much better!!!
  • View all 55 replies >
  • o
    Sonny
    !
    @marine1 Republicans claim they believe in "independence"---Yet they bail-out their rich sponsors, put government in our bedrooms, try to tell people who they can and can not marry, invent ways to suppress the democratic vote, and pass laws to bust up unions---Some advocates of "independence" they are..
  • View all 14 replies >
  • UnCommonBoston
    !
    No, as a Liberal, I firmly believe you should align yourself with whatever party best represents your views in your opinion. It is entirely your choice. However, I don't understand how people choose to groups that clearly do not support their needs. Republican homosexuals confuse me too, but, hey, if it works for them, whatever. (I do think the Republican party does not represent the needs of women, children
  • u
    TeresaJ
    !
    @UnCommonBoston With all due respect, I do not aline myself with a party based solely on my needs. I vote both on conscience, and what I believe is truly in the best interest of the country as a whole. Votng for yourself and self only, is not responsible, and really, if you'll forgive me, selfish.

    "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
    -JFK
  • marine1
    !
    There are black people that understand accountibility and responsibility and that fact of life scares the crap out of the democrat party. They are after all mushroom farmers.
  • o
    Sonny
    !
    Not really Jeff...No seriously not many people (that you call "liberal") really care about a few black guys who call them selves "black republicans". And that really ticks off those black guys, more than anything else. In Maryland, for example, black republicans run for office all the time---They just never usually win. Most of the voters here are staunchly Democrat---and a republican (ANY Republican) just has about as much of chance of winning here as a snowball in hell...Its not a matter of the republicans race---its just that republican politics and policies just don't sell in Maryland.(And many other places either)
  • View all 16 replies >
  • Denizen_Kate
    !
    African Americans in the Republican party are such a small minority. I don't understand their thinking, but I have to applaud their courage in joining, and defending the ideals of, a political party that does, indeed, treat them as tokens.
  • Rocker
    !
    Some years ago I was referred to the 'token white boy' on a basketball team of my friends. We all just thought it was funny.
  • Denizen_Kate
    !
    @Rocker - Nice. Some years ago my son (a blue-eyed freckle-faced redhead) went to a hip-hop festival with a group of friends and coworkers, all of whom were black. He was carrying a picnic blanket over one arm and a cooler in the other, so his buddy handed the ticket-taker both of their passes. When my son started to proceed through the gate, the ticket taker stopped him, my son said "I'm with him, he gave you my ticket" and when the ticket taker asked his friend "is this dude with you?" his friend said "yeah ... he's my brother ... can't you tell?" I think it's a matter of upbringing more than anything else. You weren't afraid, neither was my son.
  • Rocker
    !
    @Denizen_Kate - You didn't even have to bother identifying who your son's friends are. I understand. I have friends. I don't bother with color, gender, or nationality. That's unimportant. The 'friend' part is. And I always find the following phrase funny.... "I have friends who just happen to be.......... wealthy".
  • martydotcom
    !
    I think you can name all the AA GOP party members from memory.. Cain, Condi, Mia, ex GOP Colin. & the newly appointed senator from SC. I think that's all who were at their convention - didn't see any AA delegates on TV
    What ever happened to Log Cabin Repub's??
  • martydotcom
    !
    @Rocker Grandson plays on an state semi finalist AAA class basketball team he's the only white kid on the team. Kids/teammates totally color blind
  • View all 13 replies >
  • Souljah
    !
    My next question: "What ethnicity is the Author?" if he's not AA, most Blaxks will say he's racist, He is categorizing 1 ethnicity, saying if they're not Democratic they are Selling out.. thats just an ignorant claim..
    @JessieJames..yes your right most Black Republicans are well to do..
  • jessejaymes
    !
    I expect you've probably read enough of my posts Souljah to know that I think both major parties are corrupt to the core. I don't mean to suggest that black people "should" belong to the Democratic Party. I myself vote any party other than GOP or Dems. If I think A Libertarian is better than the two I vote them. If I think a Green candidate is better than the two I vote them. But there is just no reason other than wealth for a black person to vote for the GOP.
  • Souljah
    !
    @jessejaymes no worries I know your agenda, I caught what you were saying I agree.. and I think most voters making under 250K should NOT be supporting Republicans.. but to each their own..
  • Dan_Tien
    !
    "Republicans will not gain significant black support unless they take policy positions that advance black interests." I would have to say that the comment is, in fact, racist. There may well be issues that are specifically important to African Americans, but to say that those issues are of necessity more important to them than the issues that ALL Americans think are important, continues to separate the group out from the entirety of the American public. One step forward is counteracted by two steps back. Regardless of Howard Cain's politics, I believe that his anger is justified in being dismissed as a token.
  • jessejaymes
    !
    Your statement is interesting. I've read it several times now. From a certain angle I agree that blacks care about what everyone cares about, i.e. jobs & opportunity. From personal experience owning retail stores in black communities I think they do care more about "black causes" in the rank and file of black voters than whites care about white causes but less so than Mexicans care about their causes. I understand you think this is separating people into groups but I feel that people separate themselves into groups regardless of how I state it. As a long time Republican turned non Republican, with Libertarian views on some issues and Liberal views on other issues, and today, no GOP views on any issues, I fail to see how one could view Herman Cain as anything more than a token. The GOP at state and local levels throughout the Bible Belt is the most racist party in the country. Cain bought his way into prominence in the GOP. He is embraced because he is black and that is to the GOP's advantage to embrace him so they can claim "see we're not racist" but the telling point is how few blacks of everyday life vote GOP. Very few. Herman Cain would not find this same acceptance as Herman the plumber. His money got him propped up with the GOP to showcase their black guy. Condaleeza Rice has a track record of being wrong at every job she had in federal Govt. She was the only adviser who said the USSR would not break up and she's been wrong ever since. Colin Powell, whom I admire greatly, rose to the rank of General on his merits. But when he tried to become a Republican of note, the GOP used him and abused him for the purpose of lying about Iraq and he knew it and left. And has distanced himself from the GOP since.

    I think you may be right from a theoretical viewpoint but wrong in the reality.
  • Dan_Tien
    !
    @jessejaymes I can view Herman Cain as something more than a token if HE views himself as something more than a token. The above article rightly stated that the piece he objected to "sidesteps the issue of sincerely held conservative beliefs on the part of some black Americans." I have no doubt that some people see Cain exactly as you say, but if he gains real power it would not be the first time that someone has capitalized on an opportunity provided by condescending "superiors" who end up serving the object of their contempt.
  • DARSB
    !
    The modern Republican party excels at tokenism. Former NRC chair Michael Steele comes to mind in the current context, naturally, but Ken Mehlman was forced to advocate against the gay marriage Newt Gingrich now finds acceptable and the single female Congressional committee chair is in charge of the House cafeteria.
  • Post Removed by Moderators
  •
    DARSB
    !
    @Christiney Perhaps in the future you might consider replying to what was actually posted. In this case, I cited three factual instances of tokenism by the GOP based on race, sexual orientation, and gender. Your reply did not address those facts and instead seems to be a response to what, maybe, you wish had been said.
  • Post Removed by Moderators
  •
    DARSB
    !
    @Christiney Why would I respond to your comments that had nothing to do with my original post? Should you wish to discuss my interpretation of the there facts I cited we might have a conversation.
  • View all 14 replies >
  • mudpike
    !
    What else from the whiny left ? If we dis-agree with the useless obuma - we're racists & bigots for just our opinions. No freedom of speech concerns from moonbats. It's a shame when a true Black man has to be attacked from the left for voicing an opinion. Meanwhile , they crawl thru the gutter, hanging on every word the 1/2 white , 1/4 Arab , 1/4 African Bi-Racial faker utters. What do the leftie-socialists hate real Black people so much ?? Read the words of Thomas Sowell or Walter Williams to see the difference between leftist race oriented lunacy & the honest truth .
  • ConserveUSA
    !
    This is so correct! If you disagree with Obama, a person is called a racist. Matter of fact, I am a 1/2 Cherokee Native American who is Republican.
  • u
    tomincali
    !
    seems some see all things have to do with race and nothing else. things like that is what tries to drive a wedge between others. we are all Americans if something is wrong when anyone that wants others to be a certain way do to race. all these caucuses and other race crap need to be put to and end.
  • u
    Grubby
    !
    Herman Cain is right. The Democrats are the real racists. They only accuse the republicans of racism to cover their own racist and class warfare agendas. Conservative ideals, Christian values, the American dream that anyone can make good, limited government, these are all things that Black Americans can embrace. The fact that many of them do not does indeed reinforce the stereotype that they only want dependence and a government bent on redistribution of wealth. But there are actually plenty of Black Americans who can embrace traditional American values - the values of the Republican Party.
  • Bobolinsky
    !
    Juan Williams had something to say about just this topic.

    Robert Griffin III, Rob Parker and the sad truth about our racial politics

    "But despite his tardy apology, Parker’s original remarks make a good point that is worth discussing.... In this perverse racial order, you simply cannot be authentically black if you are conservative – politically or culturally."
    Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/12/20/rob...

    The NAACP explains why...

    NAACP welcomes Scott to Senate, expects no help from ‘small government’ lawmaker

    Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/12/17/naacp-welco...
  • PNWest
    !
    The polling numbers speak for themselves. Usually upwards of 90% of the black vote goes to the democrats. Obviously the vast majority of black voters think that the democrats better represent their interests. Incredibly the GOP often claims that blacks are too stupid to know that the democrats are exploiting them. How racist is that?
  • Tralee
    !
    LOL PNWest, right, I'm sure they aren't just voting for the "Black" man. Now, as I have said, the dem. party likes to say they are for the Black Community, pray tell, what have they done for them lately? Are inner cities, all run by Dems. better?(Chicago, Detroit and LA come to mind) Do they have access to school choice? How have they advanced in the past 40 or so years to total Dem. dominance and total Dem. rhetoric that only Dems. care about Blacks? The Blacks that I know in DE are mostly Repbs., of course they are the well educated, the ones who got out of the ghettos of the Dem. controlled cities and got to the better schools of either private or charter. So, tell me, what have they done for the Black community since Obama was elected? Well, other than vote OUT the wonderful school choice program in DC? You know, the one that helped the poor black kids get to a better school, that led to them getting into a better high school and lead to them getting into a good college or university. See the difference, as I have said, is the Dems. want to give them something to eat tonight, the Repbs. want to TEACH them how to provide for dinner 365 days a year.
  • PNWest
    !
    @Tralee I don't presume to speak for the black community. I will speak to the numbers. Blacks have voted by large margins for democrats for over a generation. This happens consistently. Why is that? I can come up with only 2 possible reasons. Either they believe that the democrats better represent their interests or that the democrats have somehow fooled them into believing this. I think that the first reason is right. To believe the second reason is to believe that black people are too stupid to see that they are being exploited. I have a big problem with this logic. Am I missing something?
  • CATTLEPROD
    !
    If someone said that, it was a rough way of saying that the public school system has done such a good job of dumbing EVERYONE down, that thier party of handouts looks better than a party of do it yourselfers. You cant get a good job if you cant read. Cant read if you went to public schools. The democrats have enslaved the african americans to the goverment . Condeming them to permanant dependancy.
  • PNWest
    !
    @CATTLEPROD Certainly black Americans like any other Americans can exercise their right to vote. They tend to vote overwhelmingly democratic. So are you saying that they are too stupid to vote for the republicans or too lazy? By the way did you attend public school? I did and I can certainly read.
  • CATTLEPROD
    !
    @PNWest There is also a cultural stigma deeply ingrained in black culture, you are better off to be known as gay, than to be a republican. There are many layers of "why you better never vote republican" that black americans live under, never being told it was the republicans that first gave them thier freedom. The south was the DEMOCRATIC south for a long time.
  • View all 8 replies >
  • Post Removed by Moderators
  • Post Removed by Moderators
  • Post Removed by Moderators
  •
    Thegrif
    !
    Racist, not racist.
    Why don't we get jobs for people, and stop spending crazy ass money.
    As I look around I see alot more reverse racism than racism, if you get what I am saying.
    It's a anti- emplyment, anti-straight, anti-gun, anti-rich, anti-success, and anti-independent, world we live in today.
    Obama thinks he is Robin Hood, take from the rich and give to the poor.
    Give a man a fish- he eats today. Teach a man to fish-he eats everyday.
    As long as he gets off his ars and goes fishin, but if he don't then that is on him, not the rest of us.
  • bsking
    !
    it's absolutely the other way around it's the Democrat Party that takes blacks for granted , treat them as though there still slaves , deliberately broke up the black family answer their abortion policies is actually exterminating a good percentage of them before they're even born....

    .... and yet the New York Times get to wear with riding garbage like that in their useless rag and no 1 is offended because the Republican blacks.... well 1 thing is for sure Herman Cain is all black, not half white like our president . Herman Cain actually has slave blood in his ancestry while Obama's sycophants had to make up a story about is ancestry. so I guess that would make Obama more of a token then Herman Cain or Tim Scott
  • Keyjo
    !
    I don't know about "racist," but it is certainly insulting to Black Republicans.
    It's like saying, "You're too stupid to think for yourself."
    Likewise with Gays. I don't understand why a Gay brother or sister would support a party which has been so anti-Gay, historically.(Actually, the G.O.P. is full of Gays, but most of them are in the closet.)
    But people affiliate themselves with political parties for various reasons. It's a personal decision each person makes for whatever reason.
    We don't have to understand the reasons to respect the person and his logic.
  • Tralee
    !
    Of course it's insulting, it's meant to be. It's said to insult any Black person who dares to leave the plantation of the Democrat party. If Republicans do NOT elect or appoint Blacks, they are racist, If Republicans DO appoint or elect Black people they are racists or the Blacks are tokens. Simply shows the hypocrisy of the Democrat Party. See, they OWN the Black population, they bought and paid for them and they better mind their P's and Q's or else, and any Black who dares to defy their total ownership of their votes is fair game. I guess I have to say, just who is the racist here? Certainly not the Republicans, they vote for and appoint the BEST PERSON for the job, no gender or color goes into the decision, Progressives, on the other hand, have a tally to fill, so many Blacks, men and women, so many Asians, men and women and so on. Doesn't matter if they are qualified, this slot needs a (fill in the blank) and a (fill in the blank) is appointed or elected.
  • DARSB
    !
    I remind you of George Allen's "macacca moment", Rick Santorum's "blaahh people" comment, Paul Ryan blaming his VP defeat on the "urban vote", and, of course, Mitt Romney's immortal "47%" self disclosure.
  • Tralee
    !
    @DARSB Jeeze, give me a break, the "Macacca Moment" was a totally manufactured event put on by the MSM. "Macacca" actually relates to the "Paki" statements that one hears in Canada. Otherwise, the rest of your post is a big reach, but not uncommon among the far left. Totally expected. Sigh, I feel like I am back in the 60's with most of your posts, all hippy dippy reactionary remarks, intended to, supposedly, spark a grand debate. Sorry, DARSB, did that in the late 60's (Do Cat's have Souls? as we discussed the sound track of "Jesus Christ Super Star" with a beer or two) and grew out of it in the reality of the 80's.
  • DARSB
    !
    @Tralee To paraphrase an old teacher, "It's very easy to get information out of the bubble. It's very difficult to get information into the bubble."
  • R Load more comments...