Republicans pro-Black, Democrats the Party of Slavery

John Sigler’s Chairman’s Corner
Feb 10th, 2012 by David Anderson

Good Afternoon and Welcome to a “Special Edition” of The Chairman’s Corner.

Throughout this month of February, your Delaware Republican Party enthusiastically joins this nation’s African- American community and all Delawareans in celebrating Black History Month (or National African American History Month).

From Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant to Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gerald R. Ford, Richard M. Nixon and George W. Bush, America’s Republican Party leaders have fought tirelessly against the poison of racism that flows through the veins of far too many people of all political persuasions and affiliations. The Republican quest for smaller, more effective government that eschews the cynicism of crony capitalism, and challenges the “reality” of generational dependency infecting this current administration and far too many in Congress, is an honorable goal that serves all men and women equally well.

It was President Gerald R. Ford who, in 1976, signed the very first presidential proclamation establishing February as “Black History Month,” setting this month aside as a time to honor the many important contributions African-Americans have made toward making America “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” It is because of President Ford’s efforts that all Americans are now better able to appreciate the contributions and sacrifices of America’s African-American visionaries, patriots, scholars and leaders, many of whom were proud and loyal Republicans, just like you and me.

Many of us think of the Republican Party as “The Party of Lincoln.” And so it is.

But ours is also “The Party of Frederick Douglas” and the party of Harriet Tubman, Carter G. Woodson and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Add to this list many other distinguished and accomplished African-American Republicans, such as Mary McLeod Bethune, Don King, Jackie Robinson, Lynn Swann, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Justice Clarence Thomas and Alveda C. King. There are thousands and thousands of others who have given so much of which we are so proud and who have made a tremendously positive difference in each of our lives.

After the Civil War, 23 black men (13 of whom were former slaves), were elected to Congress, all as members of the Republican Party. President Richard Nixon’s Executive Order No. 11625 made certain the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to “implement Federal policy in support of the minority enterprise effort.” President Bush had a much more diverse assembly of Cabinet Secretaries than President Obama, including General Colin Powell, the first ever black Secretary of State, who was then succeeded in the post by another distinguished African-American Republican, Dr. Condoleezza Rice – the first African-American woman to rise to become third in the line of succession to the presidency.

This election year, Democrat opposition to fiscally responsible Republican policies will portray the GOP in many distasteful ways – and yes, the “race card” will be played again and again. This, unfortunately, is to be expected in a hotly contested election year in which the incumbent President has so few positive accomplishments upon which to base his re-election campaign. Black voters are crushed under 13.6% unemployment, approximately twice that of white unemployment (7.4%) yet Democrats push for raising mandatory minimum wage requirements, which ultimately causes even more unemployment for the largest segment of minimum wage earners, black teenagers.

For these reasons and many others, the Republican Party supported 32 African-Americans running for Congress in 2010. This is a contemporary historical truth … and we believe this is still just the beginning. Look for more in 2012. Meanwhile, allies like the National Black Republican Association continue to lead the way and provide information to voters willing to seek the truth.

Here’s another “truth:” ObamaCare is already raising taxes on the middle class and causing more middle class unemployment while this administration rewards wealthy investment bankers for their role in creating this great recession, all of which disproportionally impacts the African-American community. It’s no surprise that millions of Americans are rejecting the opposition’s false advertising claims that Republicans are “for” big business while Democrats are “for” the people. It just goes to prove once again that “… you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”

As more investigations and hearings uncover additional “pay-to-play” scandals and political corruption in the Obama administration, we in Delaware’s Republican Party welcome and embrace politically disillusioned people of all races, all nationalities and from all walks of life. I invite you to attend our meetings, get to know and become involved with the Party, and vote Republican in 2012.

And when you attend one of our meetings, please bring a friend. Everyone is welcome in our Republican Party.

John C. Sigler, Chairman