Why is Race Still a Component in the GOP Agenda?
Posted by Russ Communications on January 26, 2012
As we move closer towards the next presidential election on November 6th, four Republican hopefuls fight to win the top spot as their party’s presidential nominee. Hot topics that have drawn the most attention have been on issues of taxes, job creation, and our floundering economy. Newt Gingrich however, seems to have another item on his agenda. He feels that we must put an end to hard working white Americans paying for lazy black people. No, this might not have been the exact rhetoric that Gingrich used, but like others in is party before him, it is a message that the GOP still seems to be holding on to.
Newt Gingrich has made a claim that poor kids lack work ethic, and further more that black people in general should be demanding jobs and not food stamps. This idea that a person is content to do nothing for society and go through life poor and living off food stamps is of course true in some cases (but just as true for any race). What is appalling is that he assumes it is ok to make this general assumption and just limit it to certain minority groups. The statement would still be tremendously offensive even if his words were geared towards a more general crowd. This off hand attack on minorities and poverty is nothing new for the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIyewCdXMzk Party. By calling President Obama the “Food Stamp President,” Gingrich falls in line with Ronald Regan’s criticism of “welfare queens” and Jesse Helms racially driven ad campaign titled “White Hands.”
It is high time the Republican party wake up and realize that this country is no longer a rich white man club and that the racist ideas they are trying to hide in their political language is not fooling anyone. Sure, a lot of people are poor because of a lack of work ethic, but many more are merely suffering from issues and restrictions placed upon them by situations they have no control over. I find it truly comical (and disgusting) that those who have been given all the luxuries of growing up rich and white think they are some how the leading authority on the work ethic and opportunities of poor minorities.
By: Embra King (A well off white male)
