Blogs For Victory

Perhaps the most forlorn of political efforts, but still well worth the attempt – John McCain at the NAACP:

Perhaps with more charity than was always deserved, it was Dr. King who often reminded us that there was moral badness, and there was moral blindness, and they were not the same. It was this spirit that turned hatred into forgiveness, anger into conviction, and a bitter life into a great one. He loved and honored his country even when the feeling was unreturned, and counseled others to do the same. He gave his countrymen the benefit of the doubt — believing, as he wrote, that “returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”

I remember first learning what had happened in Memphis on the fourth of April, 1968, feeling just as everyone else did back home, only perhaps even more uncertain and alarmed for my country in the darkness that was then enclosed around me and my fellow captives. In our circumstances at the time, good news from America was hard to come by. But the bad news was a different matter, and each new report of violence, rioting, and other tribulations in America was delivered without delay. The enemy had correctly calculated that the news of Dr. King’s death would deeply wound morale, and leave us worried and afraid for our country. Doubtless it boosted our captors’ morale, confirming their belief that America was a lost cause, and that the future belonged to them.

Yet how differently it all turned out. And if they had been the more reflective kind, our enemies would have understood that the cause of Dr. King was bigger than any one man, and could not be stopped by force of violence. Struggle is rewarded in God’s own time. Wrongs are set right and evil is overcome. We know this to be true because it is the story of your cause, and the story of our country.

As much as any other group in America, the NAACP has been at the center of that great and honorable cause. I’m here today as an admirer and a fellow American, an association that means more to me than any other. I am a candidate for president who seeks your vote and hopes to earn it. But whether or not I win your support, I need your goodwill and counsel. And should I succeed, I’ll need it all the more. I have always believed in this country, in a good America, a great America. But I have always known we can build a better America, where no place or person is left without hope or opportunity by the sins of injustice or indifference. It would be among the great privileges of my life to work with you in that cause.

Earlier in the speech, McCain directly challenged Obama on his education and economic policies – pointing out that Obama is wedded to the worn out ideas of the past when the times call for new efforts and new ideas in dealing with our nation’s problems. For the most part, no doubt, this speech fell upon deaf ears – polite ears; ears willing to be respectful of a great American…but ears, none the less, which were not inclined to hear the message. The NAACP does have a long and honorable history but over the past 10-20 years, it has turned itself more and more into a mere adjunct of the Democratic National Committee…devoted to party above country and, indeed, above the real needs of black Americans. If Obama wins in November, this will probably just become more ingrained – but if McCain wins, it will hopefully be a time for black Americans to reconsider their views, and their loyalty to a party which gives much lip-service to the needs of black Americans, but little in the way of actual help.

There is one black lady I know who likens President Bush to the devil – an absurd position to hold, but there was no doubting her sincerity when she was first shocked to discover that I was a Republican and she then blurted out her heartfelt opinion about the man I supported in 2000 and 2004 and still think is one of the best Presidents we’ve ever had. And when I said “shocked”, I meant it – apparently, the concept that a Republican could be on her socio-economic level and, also, clearly non-racist was something outside her common experience. Not that I’m the only middle-aged white guy she knows, but I’m probably one of the few she’s had politics come up with. We’re still friends – and we are, also, brother and sister in Christ…and we share many of the exact same values, especially as regards basic morality. But that this intelligent, kind and knowledgable lady can have such a different view about President Bush – and Republicans – shows the very high mountain we GOPers must climb to gain the trust and support of black Americans.

It is a challenge which John McCain clearly accepts, and one in which I wish him the best of luck – even getting the normal GOP 10% or so of the black vote will count as some sort of triumph in 2008, and I think he might very well be able to do that. The certain thing about this is that for the sake of the United States, black Americans and our Republican party, we’d better do whatever we can to bring black Americans back to their original political home.