Why do most blacks vote Democrat while in fact a lot of them share the same conservative values as Republicans

Question

A lot of the blacks I know are anti-gay, anti-abortion, big church people and apparently are vehemently against illegal immigration as well. So how come, they are willing to forgo all of that just to vote against Republicans?
I'm liberal as they come so the Republican party does nothing for me but I'm pretty sure that if it did its homework, it'd be able to attract a lot of the minority vote ( I believe a lot of Hispanics are conservatives too).
So what's the problem? They just don't need the vote?

Mike B,
I did not offend you or anybody else for that matter. Now why wouldn't you extend me ( as a black female) the same courtesy? If you really had nothing nice to say, you could have just as easily skipped my question.
Good day.

Answer 1

The day the republicans start supporting policies that benefit working class americans they will get the balck vote, the union vote, and alot of other votes they will never get as long as they continue to only represent the few people who can afford to help them buy elections. I've seen plenty of politicians who changed parties because it was there only way to get elected. Having a (D) or an (R) by your name still makes the decision for most americans.

Look at the evangelical church. They vote and promote the republican party based on the promise that republicans will put an end to abortion by appointing judges to overturn Roe v. Wade. The repubicans have had the majority of judges on the supreme court for at least 20 years and Roe v. Wade still stands and will continue to stand. Church leaders make excuses for the republicans to keep the church voting for them despite the lack of results.

They blame the judges and say that they turned liberal after they were appointed and people just believe it the way they believe any other false teaching. Just a little research will show that right to lifers protested at least one Reagan supreme court appointee, and , even though that one judge was all they needed to ban abortion and reagan apppointed a pro-choice judge instead of a pro-life judge he is still the hero of the republican party and the evangelical church. Some of them would rather meet Ronnie Reagan than Jesus Himsef.

Kansas republicans are changing parties right now just to get elected. I've seen it happen in Texas when Texas shifted to a Republican state. We need a third party in this country. We also need the majority, which are definitely all working class americans, to come together and vote for the candidate who will represent us and our interests regardless of our race or the candidate's race.

In the meantime, I think black's recognize that the republicans aren't as conservative as they claim to be and it becomes a choice based on who will represent them on the other issues. That has been the democrats in the past. However, it seems lately that the blue dog democrats have been to the vet and had their balls snipped off.

Answer 2

Get over it people--- There is not that much difference between a Moderate Republican and a conservative Democrat.There is nothing more Republican then a Southern Democrat as far as being Conservative and wanting to be self-reliant The big difference between the parties is that the Republicans look for a strong Federal government, and the Democrats want a strong State Government. We are not talking about conservative and liberal here. What would be the point of changing political parties--if a name is only a name. People whom vote, most likely vote for the Person over the Party. Better to stick with the devil you know--rather the devil you don't--My father was a Democrat, and so was his father--and that is good enough for me. "It's Just a NAME".
This is not a Black or White Issue. People are not looking for hand-outs --they are just looking for a helping hand. But, the same programs that help one, draw down on the income of the ones just above needing help.
The unions have lost all their power. In the last 60 years we went from being the "Great Producer "--- to "The Great Server Industries--You want Fries?". No longer are there all these factory Jobs paying great money and having all these benifits. Now you have a choice of changing oil---or flipping burgers. If you went to college--you just manage them.
Harvard is not about a bunch of rich White Kids. If you have ever gone or had your child go threw the process of being accepted--- money will not get you accepted; neigther will good grades, If that is all you have. They look for a well rounded person with drive, determination, a greater purpose, and one that will be a credit to the school once they graduate--- more rich whites get turned down than anyone else...... but then again, There are more Whites that apply. Look around you--Is the person or family member next to you helping you achive---or wanting you to stay on the same level as them.
Minorities moved to the rust belt for the jobs of industy---- The jobs are not there. It's hard to move away from friends and family to a new area that also holds little promiss." So they system Failed--ME"
The Whites are told that they are the system ( so they can't blame themselves)" So, They blame the minorities for working for less".
The problem is not a Color--- It's that we have gone from making Cars, computers, Iron, Tv's, clothing, toasters, and buggy whips--- to flipping burgers and working 3 part time jobs and I still don't have medical insurance. We all look to blame--because we want a simple answer that we can understand--- that is political parties are there for-------they did this to me!!!!!!!!, Because the person on the Soap Box Told Me --He's going to help me!!!!!. Guess what--the government does not fix problems no matter if it's the States or Federal government--- they just make your problem someone elses.
As for Natural Disasters----there is a certain amount of blame that goes along with living in a flood plain, tornado alley, and earthquake fault. To expect the government to fix the whole country and enslave the working class by heavy taxing to rebuild areas that we know should not have a large population center--is just crazy. Choose you politics like your best friend--- and give it what ever name you wish.

Answer 3

Issues facing parties and the United States after World War II included the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. Republicans attracted conservatives and white Southerners from the Democratic coalition with their resistance to New Deal and Great Society liberalism and the Republicans' use of the Southern strategy. African Americans, who traditionally supported the Republican Party, began supporting Democrats following the ascent of the Franklin Roosevelt administration, the New Deal, The GOP's southern strategy, and the Civil Rights movement. The Democratic Party's main base of support shifted to the Northeast, marking a dramatic reversal of history. This is why Storm Thurmond switched parties to the Republicans and never denounced his past. While Byrd remained a democrat and denounced his past. Essentially, the racism demonstrated by the GOP and it's southern strategy was/is enough to lose the black vote as blatant racism trumps some of those values.

Answer 4

I don't think that they don't need the vote, no.

This "Southern Strategy" thing that happened over 30 years ago is to blame...Nixon was trying to win over the racist white "Dixiecrat" south, and as a result alienated black people. It was not the intent to lose the black vote. Dem's, being kind of sore losers, stated that this was a racist maneuver on the part of Republicans--it was not.

Unfortunately, politics are so much more heard than true reality, so many black people hear the liberal media and entertainment industries stating that Republican=Bad for Black People while being the little pet dog of the Dem party. Not like the Democrats really help them at all...it is kind of sad, really.

Meanwhile, Republicans actually hire Black people in high ranking offices...amazing.

Answer 5

Actually the Black vote is very volatile. And there is a strong contingent of older Black voters who vote Republican for the very reasons you said.

Unfortunately, the down side is the overall black vote is historically hard to TURN OUT, particularly with the younger voters--who are more likely to vote Democratic. So while there may be a belief about the tendancies of Black voters, they have to actually show up at the polls for their leanings to count.

Hence the volatility. Its dangerous to stereotype the black vote and just assume anything.

Answer 6

The Democrats always pander to people's innate laziness and greed. When Bush and Kerry were at the Presidential debates, they had startlingly different responses to the question about how they would work to reduce unemployment.

Kerry put on his best sad, old hound dog face, and shamelessly mugged for the cameras. He talked in cloyingly paternalistic terms about how unemployment was no one's fault, and how the government needed to create some huge new bureaucracy to combat it.

Bush said, unless people continue their education, and acquire skills that are sought by employers, they will always be at risk of losing their job, no matter what the government does. He then reminded people that you get a tax credit for education, and that the U.S. has the unique feature of community colleges all around the nation.

As you see, Kerry just pandered for votes. Bush told people to get off their lazy a@@ and actually make themselves attractive to employers. I'm sure his response did not go over well with most people.

I hate to say it, but I think a lot of blacks vote completely out of self-interest. They still have this antiquated mindset that the Democrats look out for the little guy, while Republicans are just pro Big Business. I've worked with many blacks, and when election time came up, they were always talking about how the Democrats were going to help the poor, the unemployed, the single mothers, etc.

Decade after decade after decade, the Democrats play this same trick. They promise the sun and moon, and usually deliver on nothing. Sometimes, they create some new department which is completely a sham and a waste of money. I remember one which was tasked with counseling unemployed people to help them find employment, and it turned out that it cost over $40,000 for every person they counseled.

I think the core issue is this: the Republicans simply refuse to pander to get votes. They tell you why their approach is best for the nation, and if you don't want to accept their point of view, you can vote for the party that will promise you the sun and moon.

Answer 7

I think it started with FDR. Before then, many blacks (most) voted Republican because of the Civil War and Abe Lincoln.

Answer 8

A long time ago, the Republican party was guaranteed the black vote. THis was due to the Republicans freeing the slaves. A while back the Republicans realize this and figured if they can get the White racist vote as well, they would win every election. Finally the African AMericans got offended and the Republicans lost the black vote.

Answer 9

Dahlia O...you brought out the spectrum of belief on this one. my perspective tells me the majority of blacks who vote are middle aged or older. they tend to be socially and economically conservative. religious, but in a manner less intense and more personal than their white counterparts.

in many respects i find (as a group) they are sophisticated in being able to sort out what a political party claims as to what it delivers. republicans are quick to point out the republican party freed the slaves. this is literally true; however, anyone who would claim the republican party of today has any similarity to the party of Lincoln is flat out wrong. just as the republican party of reagan or goldwater has very little in common with the party of bush.

Answer 10

Too many White Folk in Politics, there are more "minorities" in the amoral Socialistic Demoncratic Party.