TALLAHASSEE - A black Republican group has put up billboards in Florida and South Carolina saying the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Republican, a claim that black leaders say is ridiculous.
The National Black Republican Association has paid for billboards showing an image of the civil rights leader and the words “Martin Luther King Jr. was REPUBLICAN.” Told about the billboards, the Rev. Joseph Lowery let out a soft chuckle that grew stronger as he began to think more about the idea. “These guys never give up, do they?” said Lowery, who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with King. “Lord have mercy.”
”That was not the Martin I know and I don’t think they can substantiate that by any shape, form or fashion. It’s purely propaganda and poppycock,” Lowery said. “Even if he was, he would have nothing to do with what the Republican Party stands for today. Do they think Martin would support George W. Bush and the war in Iraq?” Read on…
For anyone who thought the Republicans wouldn’t use race as an issue in the ‘08 election, think again. The lowest common denominator is always in play for the party thats hemorrhaging members and on its way out. As I read this 2006 article by Dave Johnson at The Huffington Post I found that the NBRA and other associated groups have quite a history of hackery and controversy. Their chairwoman is a plagiarist, the group lost 7 of its 10 board members after members gave glowing reviews to President Bush for his handling of Hurricane Katrina, and many of their offices are nothing more than P.O. boxes and motel rooms set up for ready made, hit-and-run hideouts. Here’s all you need to know about these GOP front groups:
Here’s how the cynical process works. Your opponent is strong and you are weak in a certain area - in this case it is about strong African-American support for Democrats and a Republican race problem making its way into the news. To fight this you set up a front group that is designed to drive a wedge into the core of their support while providing “cover” to deflect attention from you. And to get this done you say anything - whatever is necessary to trick the voters into thinking their interests are served by your cause. So in this case the front-group Black Republican Freedom Fund is set up to run ads in urban areas that say, “Democrats started the Ku Klux Klan,” “Democrats released those vicious dogs and fire hoses on blacks” and “Democrats blocked the minimum wage passed by Republicans.” Read on…
Ohio is supposed to be one of their target states too. I have not seen their ads yet. But I suspect if they are on the air they are probably in the northern or southern sector of the state.
If you haven't checked out their website do so. It is definitely a piece of work.
What gets me is this: MLK may have voted for Republicans at one time. There seems to be some major questions about that from other articles that I read. But their product in this election is definitely what they are pushing. They are basically trying to stand on the fact that former slaves flocked to the GOP after The Civil War.
Apparently the NBRA must not realize that it has been proven that the Civil War was not fought to free the slaves but to save the Union. It has been a matter of record that it took Lincoln a few years to even consider freeing the slaves.
A lot of black people are already turned off by their attempt. You notice that they are not trying to sell Flipper in this latest campaign.
What sense would it make to jump the aisle if the product is already known to have major flaws?
Posted by: msladydeborah | July 07, 2008 at 09:52 PM