ALBANY, N.Y. – They've been called Oreos, traitors and Uncle Toms, and are used to having to defend their values. Now black conservatives are really taking heat for their involvement in the mostly white tea party movement — and for having the audacity to oppose the policies of the nation's first black president. "I've been told I hate myself. I've been called an Uncle Tom. I've been told I'm a spook at the door," said Timothy F. Johnson, chairman of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, a group of black conservatives who support free market principles and limited government. "Black Republicans find themselves always having to prove who they are. Because the assumption is the Republican Party is for whites and the Democratic Party is for blacks," he said. Johnson and other black conservatives say they were drawn to the tea party movement because of what they consider its commonsense fiscal values of controlled spending, less taxes and smaller government. The fact that they're black — or that most tea partyers are white — should have nothing to do with it, they say. "You have to be honest and true to yourself. What am I supposed to do, vote Democratic just to be popular? Just to fit in?" asked Clifton Bazar, a 45-year-old New Jersey freelance photographer and conservative blogger. Opponents have branded the tea party as a group of racists hiding behind economic concerns — and reports that some tea partyers were lobbing racist slurs at black congressmen during last month's heated health care vote give them ammunition. But these black conservatives don't consider racism representative of the movement as a whole — or race a reason to support it. Angela McGlowan, a black congressional candidate from Mississippi, said her tea party involvement is "not about a black or white issue." "It's not even about Republican or Democrat, from my standpoint," she told The Associated Press. "All of us are taxed too much." Still, she's in the minority. As a nascent grassroots movement with no registration or formal structure, there are no racial demographics available for the tea party movement; it's believed to include only a small number of blacks and Hispanics. Some black conservatives credit President Barack Obama's election — and their distaste for his policies — with inspiring them and motivating dozens of black Republicans to plan political runs in November. For black candidates like McGlowan, tea party events are a way to reach out to voters of all races with her conservative message. "I'm so proud to be a part of this movement! I want to tell you that a lot of people underestimate you guys," the former national political commentator for Fox News told the cheering crowd at a tea party rally in Nashville, Tenn., in February. Tea party voters represent a new model for these black conservatives — away from the black, liberal Democratic base located primarily in cities, and toward a black and white conservative base that extends into the suburbs. Black voters have overwhelmingly backed Democratic candidates, support that has only grown in recent years. In 2004, presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry won 88 percent of the black vote; four years later, 95 percent of black voters cast ballots for Obama. Black conservatives don't want to have to apologize for their divergent views. "I've gotten the statement, 'How can you not support the brother?'" said David Webb, an organizer of New York City's Tea Party 365, Inc. movement and a conservative radio personality. Since Obama's election, Webb said some black conservatives have even resorted to hiding their political views. "I know of people who would play the (liberal) role publicly, but have their private opinions," he said. "They don't agree with the policy but they have to work, live and exist in the community ... Why can't we speak openly and honestly if we disagree?" Among the 37 black Republicans running for U.S. House and Senate seats in November is Charles Lollar of Maryland's 5th District. A tea party supporter running against House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., Lollar says he's finding support in unexpected places. The 38-year-old U.S. Marine Corps reservist recently walked into a bar in southern Maryland decorated with a Confederate flag. It gave his wife Rosha pause. "I said, 'You know what, honey? Many, many of our Southern citizens came together under that flag for the purpose of keeping their family and their state together,'" Lollar recalled. "The flag is not what you're to fear. It's the stupidity behind the flag that is a problem. I don't think we'll find that in here. Let's go ahead in." Once inside, they were treated to a pig roast, a motorcycle rally — and presented with $5,000 in contributions for his campaign. McGlowan, one of three GOP candidates in north Mississippi's 1st District primary, seeks a seat held since 2008 by Democrat Travis Childers. The National Republican Congressional Committee has supported Alan Nunnelee, chairman of the state Senate Appropriations Committee, who is also pursuing tea party voters. McGlowan believes the tea party movement has been unfairly portrayed as monolithically white, male and middle-aged, though she acknowledged blacks and Hispanics are a minority at most events. Racist protest signs at some tea party rallies and recent reports by U.S. Reps. John Lewis, D-Ga., and Barney Frank, D-Mass., that tea partyers shouted racial and anti-gay slurs at them have raised allegations of racism in the tea party movement. Black members of the movement say it is not inherently racist, and some question the reported slurs. "You would think — something that offensive — you would think someone got video of it," Bazar, the conservative blogger, said. "Just because you have one nut case, it doesn't automatically equate that you've got an organization that espouses (racism) as a sane belief," Johnson said. Hilary Shelton, director of the Washington bureau of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, suggested a bit of caution. "I'm sure the reason that (black conservatives) are involved is that from an ideological perspective, they agree," said Shelton. "But when those kinds of things happen, it is very important to be careful of the company that you keep."
curious... as the Tea Party folk began becoming more prominent, I had to wonder, statistically, are there any black & brown folks who show up to these things? at all? Then last week I came across this on another message board.. Lo and behold.. ***********cd3769]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzAA5L1axdY[/COLOR] ***********cd3769]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9ThQezJH6E&feature=channel[/COLOR] ***********cd3769]http://www.youtube.com/user/machosauceproduction[/COLOR] ...and apparently, he is a musician (heck, maybe he's on here...??), so, um.. at least he likes music..</DIV>
where were the tea party when the previous administration destroyed this country. I dont mind opposing views but when they state racist attacks then hide behind the word patriotism they use G-d to say things like capitolism is G-d ordained and spreading the wealth is anti-god. well what they dont know G-d talks about spreading the wealth and it was a commandment. socialism is communism meeting capitolism in the middle. white racists christians and sellouts dont to hear that. again i dont mind a bm being a conservative. I have conservative views. black by culture are very conservative but to hang out with people that spew racist rhetoric is no onw i would side with regardless of our political agreement. F---that. Im black first then Im party affiliated. people mite say isnt that wrong. NO. When Im pro-black Im proeveryone. being pro-black brought about the civil rights for a lot of people. like the ww, the other minorities such as the jews. if it wasnt for the pro-black movement then a wm could not have been a stewartess. PRO-BLACK BITCH
You can't be pro everyone if you are pro black. It was not being pro black that brought these things. It was being pro doing the right thing.
LoL. I think he was taking a nap during his English class OR they were just teaching Swahili in his College.
I get being conservative but damn being around people who openly dislike black people is fucking crazy.
Welcome to Afro-American life, there is significant Self hate in black community. Being uncle tom, tap dancer, Uncle Jeffrey aint nutin new to blks life.
This is a bit silly. Most black people are conservatives. It is in the population of the highly educated that black people turn close to liberal. I remember John stewart asked one of Obama's law professors about obama. He said I thought Obama was so conservative that he was a republican. The right has turned the term liberal to a bad name. Just like communism is a bad name in the usa. These people should feel free to be with the tea party and not be belittle and vice vesa. What I am concerned about is that they should be aware bad people in the tea party. John Lewis said he was called slurs. People in the tea party are not going to record another member doing bad and the congress members probably are not allowed recording devices in the chambers. That maybe why they were not caught. We all have concerns about the price tag. The problem is if this bill had not passed how long would it have been before another attempt at health care. We gave the republican party more than 8 years and nothing was addressed. You can't get mad when another party does attempt to do it. The polarization of these parties is going to tear this country apart. The tea parties are not helping because they are part of the republican party. They only elect republicans. You will not see them go to a republican congress member and say vote this democrat in. This causes me to say they only still care the same way that the republicans do.
Problem is those terms need to be used to when they actually count. There have been plenty of people who were called that in the past and are recoignzed as people who have helped afro americans.
Black conservative tea party goers are no different than the blacks who stayed behind on the plantation "by choice" well after the emancipation proclamation by then President Lincoln.
I don’t really have a issue with these Black Conservatives, if they believe in controlled government spending, lower taxes and smaller government then that’s what they believe in they have right to their view, I have some concerns about those things also. I don’t think they are uncle toms and being called names is not going to make them change their views on how the government should be run. I think diversity among African Americans is good, if all whites were conservatives and there were no progressives, liberals, democrats or Independents then someone else would mostly likely be president. That being said, I don’t understand how they can be involved with the Tea Party crowd.
I don't think what he sad was bad at all. He doesn't agree with policies put forth by this administration and he's using his constitutional right to assemble and protest that he doesn't like it. All he said was the president's heart was black.
