Blacks must not cede vital role in elections
Lewis DiuguidAfrican Americans should never doubt their voting strength or why racist efforts since the beginning of this nation have never tired of trying to keep them from the polls.
Those were the findings of a National Urban League report released last week. The analysis of the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections leaves no doubt that black voters played a key role in sending Barack Obama to the White House as the country’s first African American president.
The report cites “the long journey in the expansion of the right and the ability to vote in the United States” from the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution after the Civil War to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. But African Americans’ ballot box power troubles some.
“Efforts by several states to introduce voter identification requirements and limitations on early and postal voting are casting doubts on whether the diverse electorate of 2008 will be maintained, let alone expanded,” the report said. “The stability and legitimacy of the republican form of government depends more on achieving that expansion of the electoral franchise than anything else.
“This makes 2012 a crucial election.”
The pivotal black vote has to happen again.
“The genuine efforts by the campaigns of President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney to reach out to African Americans and speak to their concerns is proof that those seeking office are aware of this potential,” the Urban League report said.
It wasn’t a fluke that Romney addressed the NAACP convention this month in Houston. Sure he was booed, saying he’d spike the Affordable Care Act.
But Romney gained respect by speaking to the oldest and largest civil rights group, unlike George W. Bush, who declined invitations during most of his presidency, and Ross Perot, who in 1992 referred to blacks at the NAACP as “you people.”
Without a doubt Republicans are tracking blacks’ growing electorial strength. They know that 90 percent of blacks voted for Obama in 2008. But the Urban League report shows he will need every one of those ballots and more to win in November.
The report said that if the African American registration rate rises 8 percentage points from 2008 to 78.3 percent and the turnout is equal to four years ago, then an additional 3 million African Americans will cast ballots in the presidential election. The black registration rate in 2008 was almost 4 points below the white rate and 1 point below the white turnout rate.
However, “when African Americans were registered they were the most likely to vote in 2008 — 92.8 percent of registered African Americans, 90 percent of registered whites and 84 percent of registered Hispanics voted in 2008,” the report said. There was an “extraordinary growth” in black voters. The number grew by 16 percent from 2004 to 2008, adding 2.4 million more black voters. That was 2 times the rate of growth in the black population over age 18.
“The African American voter turnout rate in 2008 was 64.7 percent — the highest African American voter turnout rate for any national election and the narrowest gap with whites at -1.4 points,” the report said. For people who think apathy kept young African Americans from voting, think again.
Blacks ages 18 to 44 had a higher voter turnout than their white counterparts. “This was the first time any race/ethnic group had surpassed white turnout,” the report noted.
Expect that to happen more.
But the report also said if black voter turnout only reached the 2004 level of 60 percent then Obama will lose North Carolina and have difficulty moving Ohio and Virginia into his “win” column. That could send Romney to the White House.
It’s also why swing states are bombarded with political ads. Missouri and Kansas won’t get them because they’re viewed as Romney’s.
Romney and Obama will campaign where the growth in minority voters made a difference in 2008. Meanwhile, some will do their best to scapegoat minorities and keep them from the polls.
Race has always mattered in America. The numbers now show it will determine who the next president will be.
To reach Lewis W. Diuguid, call 816-234-4723 or send email to Ldiuguid@kcstar.com.
Kent Mueller
11 months agoIs it not as racist to vote for someone because of his race as it is to vote against someone because of his race? This column’s topic was about electing a president. Nowhere in the column was anything but the color of skin.
Why should the color of a candidate’s skin have anything to do with the results of the election? We should be working to get beyond racism.
Brandon Lewis
11 months agoThis reminds me of all the changes being implemented across this country as a result of the 2008 elections: With voter ID being the most talked about form of voter suppression, let’s not forget efforts to eliminate early voting and postal voting.
Did I read that new laws in Texas allows the use of concealed handgun license as a valid photo ID for voting, but not the student body cards issued by any of the college and universities in Texas? I sure the student’s ID has been verified equally if not more so than CC.
Mark Hastert
11 months ago‘Is it not as racist to vote for someone because of his race as it is to vote against someone because of his race?”
Read more here: http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/blacks-must-not-cede-vital-role-elections/#storylink=cpy
A valid point that we all should be mindful of. In one form or another it’s still common. The big distinction I’d make is when it results in lifting people up or keeping them down.
Jon Whitten
11 months agoThere is very little chance of a Romney victory in November. Our country has reached a point that a majority of people are more interested in what they will get from the government than how they can contribute to society…accordingly, they will vote Democratic. It is their right but it will end our country as we know it.
Matt McKinley
11 months ago“I sure the student’s ID has been verified equally if not more so than CC. ”
Was the student ID application sent to the FBI along with their fingerprints? Highly unlikely.
I believe several of the 9/11 terrorist has school ID’s.
Kent Mueller
11 months agoMark, I don’t think that makes any sense whatsoever. How can “lifting people up” or “keeping them down” be because of their race? It can be because of their policies and beliefs, but it cannot be because of their race. Right?
Kent Mueller
11 months agoBrandon, would you care to check things out before you write? First of all, as Matt pointed out, the concealed carry permits come with much greater scrutiny than a school ID, despite, what you said you were sure of. No FBI background check needed to go to the local community college, Brandon.
The fact is, Brandon, is that there is no photo ID requirement to vote in Texas. None. The state passed that legislation, but due to requirements of the Voters Rights Act, Texas much get clearance from the Federal government for any voting law changes. And Texas isn’t going to be getting that clearance any time soon. The law Texas passed, but is being prevented from implementing by Washington, required a photo ID issued from an arm of the government. That is why concealed carry permits would work. Public schools are public, but they are not part of the government, therefore, student ID’s would not qualify.
Anything else you would like to know, Brandon?
JR Beillenhouser
11 months agoVoter ID laws have been upheld by the Supreme court. 6-3 on Indiana law. It is not expecting too much to require photo id if the state provides it for poor.
Democrats are known for cheating. If the shoe was on the other foot, dems would want the same thing.
Mark Hastert
11 months agoThey say that California is an incubator and sets precedents for the entire nation. If so it doesn’t bode well for the Republican party. Only 30% of the state are registered Republican, they hold no statewide offices, and their own members fear they have become too doctrinaire. With a changing electoral demographic is there and doubt that they are a party on a steep decline? Minorities like the Black and Latino voter are gaining in political power while the white southern male voter is declining in numbers and strength. Lewis’ concerns are unfounded,Republicans are ceding elections all by themselves.
Kent Mueller
11 months agoMark, about three years ago, Lewis stated the Republican Party wouldn’t be around in ten years. Are you with him that the party will cease to exist?
Mark Hastert
10 months, 4 weeks ago“Are you with him that the party will cease to exist?”
No Kent, of course not but, if they remain on the same trajectory, they will decline in strength. It’s simple demographics. Hispanics, by and large, see the Republicans as hostile just have most African Americans. Young people have an unfavorable view of the party. The base of the party is aging and dying off. If they don’t begin to court a broader constituency they’ll be a party of grumpy old malcontents as features on these pages. True with enough billionaires they can limp along for awhile but in another decade many of the grumpy old billionaires will be gone too. The numbers simply are not in their favor. Not only will it be bad for the conservative movement it will be bad for the country. Every Yin needs a Yang.
George Hunsucker
Northland
10 months, 4 weeks agoYEP, CA with its 16 BILLION deficit is certainly a shining example of smart donkeys running something.
Their pensions and public worker unions will drive the state to bankruptcy. Then, when they come crying to the Federal Government, I hope conservatives have the Presidency and Congress and CA can be told, “you created the problem, you fix the problem”. All of America should not bail-out the most out-of-control state in America.
Kent Mueller
10 months, 4 weeks agoActually, Mark, you could have copy and pasted that from remarks made in each of the last, oh about five decades or so.
Things for which you didn’t account. The current black vote is at an all time Democrat vote. Why? Duh.
Hispanic voters are much more conservative than people think.
For generations the younger generation has been more liberal than the older generation. For your statement to be correct, then people won’t grow more conservative as they age for the first time in history. That is quite a call.
Mark Hastert
10 months, 4 weeks agoKent, facts are that the GOP is just turning people away/off. Traditional Republicans and conservatives don’t have a home there anymore. The Tea Party has control and aren’t interested in anyone else. Other conservative minded people will have to look to the ranks of the Dems which has shifted to the right/center in the past decade.
JR Beillenhouser
10 months, 4 weeks agoWhen California goes bankrupt, it will be only because of the Democrats. How will they sell that one? It is events like that that will fuel the republican party.
JR Beillenhouser
10 months, 4 weeks ago“ranks of the Dems which has shifted to the right/center in the past decade”
That is laughable.
Kent Mueller
10 months, 4 weeks agoMark, were you serious about the Democrats moving to the right? Obama is further left than any Democratic president before him. Same is true with Reid and Pelosi. And those behind them. You really think Obama is to the right of Clinton? Kennedy? You have to be kidding, right?
Phil Cardarella
10 months, 4 weeks agoJR: There is a difference between “providing” IDs for the poor and actually giving them one. The State does not go out to your house & deliver it. They make you provide a birth certificate — which many do NOT have handy, since folke move from state to state. That not only costs money, but takes time — and it is tough to get a birth certificate if you do not have other ID! Catch 22, anyone?
And then you must go to a state office. A pain in the but in KC — but try doing that when you are old and cannot drive and the only office is 20 miles away —as is not unusual in some states.
And for what? More GOP CEO’ were struck by lightening on the golf course last election cycle than folks who voted under a different person’s name.
If you actually believe that this is about voter fraud not disenfranchising Democrats? Don’t open any e-mails from Nigerian Princes.
Kent Mueller
10 months, 4 weeks agoHey, back to Lewis’ blog!!!
I’m asking the simple question again.
It is as racist to vote for someone because of the color of his skin than it is to vote against someone because of the the color of his skin?
I’m just talking about the skin color, not ideology or policy. What does everyone think?
Lewis, what do you think?
Phil Cardarella
10 months, 4 weeks agoKent: It is one thing to vote for a person because you identify with him — for any of a variety of reasons. Perhaps you and Mitt have a a common background of religion or secretive tax returns and hidden overseas accounts. Lots of Catholics voted for JFK because of a shared religion. Others because they were just tired of being told that no Catholic could serve.
But, yes, it is different to vote against someone for those same reasons — just as it is OK to love a person for a variety of reasons, but wrong to hate them for any reason.
Hope that clears it up for you.
FYI: African-American voters tend to vote Democratic for a variety of very good reasons — even when the candidate is a good ol’ boy redneck from Arkansas.
Old, angry white men tend to vote GOP — some for good reasons, some for bad.
Kent Mueller
10 months, 4 weeks agoPhil…You didn’t pay attention to what I asked. I asked the question based purely on color of skin, and just like Mark above, you change the question. Stop that!!!, lol. The question has nothing to do with stupid comments of yours involving tax returns or hidden overseas accounts. The question involved color. You, Mark and other liberals cloud the issue by bringing in other factors to justify that some people vote based on the color of the candidate’s skin. I know that makes you very uncomfortable, but obviously, it is true.
So, next time when you go to answer a question, how about leaving the question the same and not changing it to something other than was asked?
And your constant name calling is more than old, but of course, is of no consequence.
But I have a question. You mentioned “hidden overseas accounts”. Hidden? What do you mean by hidden? I have no idea where your accounts are, are you hiding them? I don’t even know where Obama’s accounts are. Damn, he is hiding them, Phil!!!!! You are on to something, there are hidden accounts all around us, we just can’t find them. Phil, your hyperbole is as old as it is incessant.