# Hope for the Republican Party of the future? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 11, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423 "2014-03-11T13:28:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/321 "2014-03-25T18:26:46Z")
And BTW, I’d love to know where Obama got the cred. It certainly wasn’t from his white middle class upbringing. ---
**Author:** ![Honesty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f04885/32.png) [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/322 "2014-03-25T18:33:40Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Well, DC could be all male rednecks and they’d vote Democrat, because the Democrats are all about taking the rest of the country’s wealth and transferring it to DC. Not true. DC is straight democrat because its constituents aren’t stupid to vote against their interest, it has nothing to do with transferring wealth to the area. The area may be populated by anti-government cockroaches but the voting majority is mostly African-American. If DC were used as a bellwether, Nixon, Reagan, nor the Bushes would’ve been elected. - Honesty ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/323 "2014-03-25T18:35:41Z")
That is their interest, bringing more money into DC. The gentrification of DC caused by all these riches is certainly not in African-American voters’ interest. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/324 "2014-03-25T18:39:02Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > And BTW, I’d love to know where Obama got the cred. It certainly wasn’t from his white middle class upbringing. Perhaps by growing up knowing that every time he stepped into a store, he was being watched as if he intended to shoplift. Or maybe he saw people lock their car doors while driving past him. The people who looked at him with suspicion were unaware that he was being raised by a white mother. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/325 "2014-03-25T18:39:17Z")
See, DC is no longer majority black, yet still intensely Democrat. That’s because if you’re wealthy enough to live there, the Democrats are certainly your friends: > **[Truthout | Fearless Independent News & Analysis](https://truthout.org/articles/poorest-residents-fight-displacement-by-gentrification/)** > > Don’t let the truth be erased. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/326 "2014-03-25T18:39:54Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That is their interest, bringing more money into DC. The gentrification of DC caused by all these riches is certainly not in African-American voters’ interest. Who are you to say its not in their interest? They know their interests better than you do. Many blacks welcome economic development and are getting a peice of it - they don’t all want to stay poor so nothing will change. And by pointing out that gentrification is occurring and yet blacks in DC haven’t abandoned the Democrats for it, you weaken your own point. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/327 "2014-03-25T18:40:17Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Perhaps by growing up knowing that every time he stepped into a store, he was being watched as if he intended to shoplift. Or maybe he saw people lock their car doors while driving past him. The people who looked at him with suspicion were unaware that he was being raised by a white mother. That gives him no clue regarding the problems of inner city black males, unless we assume their problems are caused entirely by being watched too closely in convenience stores or having ladies be afraid of them. And Jesse Jackson too, of course. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/328 "2014-03-25T18:41:27Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Who are you to say its not in their interest? They know their interests better than you do. Many blacks welcome economic development and are getting a peice of it - they don’t all want to stay poor so nothing will change. > > And by pointing out that gentrification is occurring and yet blacks in DC haven’t abandoned the Democrats for it, you weaken your own point. I did make a lousy argument there. What I should have said is that a lot of African-American activists are unhappy about the gentrification, but that won’t stop them from voting Democrat, even though Democratic policies are causing the gentrification. Not that the African-American vote will matter in DC for much longer. In 20 years, DC is going to look a lot like Idaho. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/329 "2014-03-25T18:50:12Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > I didn’t say it that way. I said “WHEN” liberals yell racism. I wasn’t saying they all do it all the time. But there are incidents when people yell racism when its not appropriate. > > Here, this is what I’m talking about - right-wingers dismissing the credibility of liberal cries about racism by pointing to examples of false accusations, including some examples. > > [7 Of The Most Ridiculous Cries Of Racism Ever Made | John Hawkins' Right Wing News](http://www.rightwingnews.com/john-hawkins/7-of-the-most-ridiculous-cries-of-racism-ever-made/) Whether ridiculous or not (and its, of course, cherry-picked), this is right-wing whining. Getting accused of racism is not that big a deal. Being a victim of racism is. Accusations of racism, especially when brought up by a member of a historically oppressed group, must be taken seriously. The right wing (in general) uses the occasional specious accusations to weasel out of taking responsibility for absolutely any racist speech at all. > [@](#): > > I don’t. If that’s it, it was incredibly poor wording. How can it be “white privilege” to assume innocence? How can one not assume innocence, for everyone? That was a really loony and disturbing statement. You’re not getting it. It’s “white privilege” to assume that an accusation of racism against a white person is false until proven otherwise. That doesn’t mean we should assume it’s true – but we should take it seriously, and not make presumptions without evidence. In the case of Ryan’s statement, there is plenty of evidence. I don’t know what’s in his heart, but what he said can be reasonably interpreted as “black people are lazy”, which is a racist statement. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/330 "2014-03-25T18:50:39Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I did make a lousy argument there. What I should have said is that a lot of African-American activists are unhappy about the gentrification, but that won’t stop them from voting Democrat, even though Democratic policies are causing the gentrification. > > Not that the African-American vote will matter in DC for much longer. In 20 years, DC is going to look a lot like Idaho. Is there a potato crop coming in? Are you seriously suggesting DC will turn red? This might be your greatest hit ever, do tell! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/331 "2014-03-25T18:52:01Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Really? A statement about presumption of innocence has nothing to do with presumption of innocence? The Salon article has nothing to do with presuming guilt with no evidence. It’s (partially) about how white privilege means that accusations of racism against white people are often not taken seriously, and/or are assumed to be false, and they should be taken seriously (and not assumed to be false). > [@](#): > > Okay, glad we agree. Still don’t see how Salon can say that white privilege = presumption of innocence, with the implication that presumption of innocence is wrong. It _is_ wrong to presume that an accusation of racism is false. That doesn’t mean it’s right to presume it is true. > [@](#): > > Cool! So we agree on that too. Now, back up from “whiteness” to “white privilege.” You see how that term can also unfairly define a white person or enforce cultural roles or make assumptions? Certainly it can be, but it’s not here. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/332 "2014-03-25T18:55:45Z")
> [@Honesty](#): > > The longer answer is that white people’s concern over black people or their culture is entirely irrelevant and misplaced. It’s perfectly appropriate for any individual to be concerned about any other individual or group of individuals. It’s the assumptions and actions that are often wrong… but concern (and compassion) are good things. > [@](#): > > Mind your business. White people have their own innumerable issues of self-love and self-acceptance to work on, more importantly, you guys can’t even run a functioning government without having a temper tantrum every two years and shutting it down. You guys - which unsurprisingly includes Ryan - can’t even adequately fund your roads, your education system, or agree on something as humane as health insurance for infants and children, so, please, STFU. There’s lots of white people that can help make things better, so I hope these particular white people stay involved. Lots of black people too. And others. As far as the people you’re describing (undoubtedly a significant number of Americans, though far from a majority, in my opinion), I think they are shrinking in number and will continue to shrink. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/333 "2014-03-25T19:00:38Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Is there a potato crop coming in? Are you seriously suggesting DC will turn red? This might be your greatest hit ever, do tell! It will never turn red, but it’s well on it’s way to turning white. DC cant turn red because bringing money to DC will always be the primary interest of DC regardless of its racial makeup. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/334 "2014-03-25T19:04:34Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Whether ridiculous or not (and its, of course, cherry-picked), Of course it is, because nobody is trying to say it’s an everyday thing. > [@](#): > > this is right-wing whining. Getting accused of racism is not that big a deal. Being a victim of racism is. That’s fucking absurd! You’re saying you wouldn’t care if you were falsely accused of racism? If you think racism is evil, how can you not care about being accused of evil? I don’t buy this, and nobody else should either. Would you say that, for instance, false accusation of rape is no big deal too, simply because being raped is worse? And do you not see how false accusations of racism, like rape, only hurt real victims? Do you think being fired for using a word that has nothing to do with race is okay? > [@](#): > > Accusations of racism, especially when brought up by a member of a historically oppressed group, must be taken seriously. The right wing (in general) uses the occasional specious accusations to weasel out of taking responsibility for absolutely any racist speech at all. Exactly my point. Except it’s not more than “occasional.” > [@](#): > > You’re not getting it. It’s “white privilege” to assume that an accusation of racism against a white person is false until proven otherwise. Sigh. No, that’s a presumption of innocence that ALL people should have (though you threw in “false” there - more like “unproven.”) > [@](#): > > That doesn’t mean we should assume it’s true – but we should take it seriously, and not make presumptions without evidence. Nobody is saying otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/335 "2014-03-25T19:06:04Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It will never turn red, but it’s well on it’s way to turning white. DC cant turn red because bringing money to DC will always be the primary interest of DC regardless of its racial makeup. Come on, adaher. They’re voting for city council. They have no voting representation in Congress, so they can’t vote for anyone who can bring money back to DC. You’re stretching this one alot. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/336 "2014-03-25T19:10:30Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The Salon article has nothing to do with presuming guilt with no evidence. It pretty much said exactly that. > [@](#): > > It’s (partially) about how white privilege means that accusations of racism against white people are often not taken seriously, and/or are assumed to be false, and they should be taken seriously (and not assumed to be false). But are they? I don’t think so. I think more often they are assumed to be guilty. > [@](#): > > It _is_ wrong to presume that an accusation of racism is false. That doesn’t mean it’s right to presume it is true. I didn’t use “false.” Nor did Salon. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/337 "2014-03-25T19:12:03Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It will never turn red, but it’s well on it’s way to turning white. DC cant turn red because bringing money to DC will always be the primary interest of DC regardless of its racial makeup. ‘It’s not what he doesn’t know that bothers me, it’s what he knows for sure just ain’t so.“ - Mark Twain (attrib.) ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/338 "2014-03-25T19:12:39Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I did make a lousy argument there. What I should have said is that a lot of African-American activists are unhappy about the gentrification, but that won’t stop them from voting Democrat, even though Democratic policies are causing the gentrification. Sure, because they will vote for a Democrat who opposes those policies in the Democratic primary, rather than for a Republican. > [@](#): > > Not that the African-American vote will matter in DC for much longer. In 20 years, DC is going to look a lot like Idaho. Where will the black people go? Idaho? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/339 "2014-03-25T19:17:41Z")
Where have they gone so far? I can’t say I know where they went, but they are definitely shrinking in DC. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/340 "2014-03-25T19:21:44Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Of course it is, because nobody is trying to say it’s an everyday thing. > [@](#): > > That’s fucking absurd! > > You’re saying you wouldn’t care if you were falsely accused of racism? If you think racism is evil, how can you not care about being accused of evil? I don’t buy this, and nobody else should either. Sure, it would suck, if it was public and broadcast (assuming I’m a public figure). Still not that big a deal, because if it’s a false accusation I’d get past it. Getting accused of racism on the internet? Barely registers. > [@](#): > > Would you say that, for instance, false accusation of rape is no big deal too, simply because being raped is worse? Compared to rape, false accusations of rape are no big deal. Sure, it would suck big time to get falsely accused of rape – but if I didn’t do it, then it’s extremely likely that I’d clear my name (hell, with the bias against rape accusers in today’s justice system, even if I did it I’d have a decent chance of clearing my name). > [@](#): > > And do you not see how false accusations of racism, like rape, only hurt real victims? Sure, they hurt, but not nearly as much (tiny, tiny fraction!) as real racism and rape. I’m actually glad you brought up the comparison to rape – I was thinking about how they really have a lot in common. > [@](#): > > Do you think being fired for using a word that has nothing to do with race is okay? No, that would suck, but it’s a lot less common then getting fired for racist reasons. My concern over this problem is teeny-tiny compared to my concern for the problem of racism, because the damage to people and to society is teeny-tiny in comparison. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423.md?page=18)