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Black voters look to leverage their loyalty

WASHINGTON (AP) — When black voters gave President Barack Obama 93 percent support on Election Day in defiance of predictions that they might sit it out this year, black leaders breathed a collective sigh of relief.

That encouraged those leaders to try to leverage more attention from both Obama and Congress. Although they waver over how much to demand from the president — particularly in light of defeated GOP challenger Mitt Romney's assertion that Obama gave "gifts" to minorities in exchange for their votes — they are delivering postelection wish lists to the president anyway.

"I think the president heard us loud and clear. The collective message was, 'Let's build on where we already are,'" the Rev. Al Sharpton told reporters after a White House meeting last week with a collection of advocates representing largely Democratic constituencies.

Specifically, Sharpton said, that means keeping the brunt of the looming "fiscal cliff" of tax increases and spending cuts off the backs of the middle and working class.

NAACP President Benjamin Jealous aimed that same message at Congress, especially on where tax relief is extended.

"We need Republicans to think hard and to pull back from the cliff 98 percent of our families, who make up the bulk of this nation, from seeing our taxes being raised," Jealous said.

Blacks made up 13 percent of the electorate this year, about the same as 2008, while participation among whites shrank slightly to 72 percent and Hispanics increased to 10 percent, national exit polls showed. Black leaders point to that minority participation as they sharpen their calls for initiatives to address black unemployment, which was 12.7 percent when Obama took office, peaked at 16.5 percent roughly a year later, and stood at 14.3 percent in October. The overall unemployment rate is 7.9 percent.

National Urban League President Marc Morial acknowledged in an interview that "we sweated turnout all the way to the end," because the country's underlying economic conditions made it tougher to mobilize black voters. Within days of the election, Morial sent to Obama, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., an "urgent petition" asking that Obama's second term focus on economic opportunity and income inequality.

A jobs program should emphasize infrastructure and public works, broadband technology and energy "with a special focus on those communities where unemployment is and remains stubbornly and persistently high," Morial's letter said.

"We who represent the nation's urban communities will demand a seat at the table in these discussions," he wrote.

African-American voter samples in national exit polls are not useful for providing turnout measurements. Census surveys and other analyses eventually will provide turnout numbers for specific racial groups. But exit polls can be used to examine different groups as shares of the overall vote. And there, experts say, is where the evidence can be found of how much black voters delivered for Obama.

Nationally, Obama's share of the black vote was down slightly from four years ago. But in some key states, turnout was higher and had an impact, said David Bositis, an expert on black politics and voting at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

Blacks made up 15 percent of the electorate in Ohio, up from 11 percent in 2008. And 97 percent of those votes went for Obama, leading Bositis to say Obama's margin of victory in the state came from black voters.

In Michigan, the black share of the vote grew from 12 percent in 2008 to 16 percent in 2012, according to exit polls.

"Michigan was one of the states the two parties jostled around, and eventually Republicans decided they were not going to win, and one of the reasons was the big increase in the black vote," Bositis said.

In Missouri, a state Obama lost in both elections, the black vote went from 13 percent to 16 percent of all voters.

Bositis said the black share of the vote remained roughly the same at 23 percent in North Carolina, which Obama narrowly won in 2008 but lost in 2012, and 13 percent in Florida, which Obama won both times. In Virginia, which Obama won in both elections, black voters were 20 percent of all voters, he said.

Women and people from ages 18 to 29 had the strongest participation levels in the black community.

In 2008, black women had the highest turnout rate, 69 percent, of all groups. Their 2008 record created a sense of obligation among some black female leaders to take an active role against new state voting laws they said threatened to curb black voter participation. Black women made up 60 percent of the black vote this year and voted 95 percent for Obama.

The enthusiasm of black women was demonstrated in Florida when more than 250 churches marched their congregations to the polls as part of the "Souls To the Polls" early voting campaign, said Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. A large percentage of the marchers were women, Campbell said.

"Countless women stood in line for hours to vote early so they could volunteer to work at the polls to help in the fight against voter suppression," Campbell said.

Black voters ages 18-29 made up 26 percent of the black vote nationally, a turnout close to what it was in 2008, according to the national exit poll. They voted 91 percent for Obama.

Republicans had reached out to black voters in 2004 and saw their share of the black vote increase in that election, Bositis said. But he said that in 2012, the outreach was nonexistent.

Michael Steele, former Republican National Committee chairman, said the GOP had an opportunity this election to connect with black voters on unemployment, health disparities, incarceration and other issues.

"How the heck do you win if you don't engage in the conversation?" Steele said.

Comments

wow 5 months, 4 weeks ago

This article is as insulting as the negative comments leveled by these folks calling Susan Rice uneducated, unqualified and undeserving of a promotion to Secretary of State. This headline "Black voters look to leverage their loyalty" says that people of color...ie Blacks were not smart enouhg to see through the lies Romney and his partner laid out there. Well I'm here to say this.....it wasn't Obama's skin that drove my vote to him. . It was common sense. After seeing the knuckle head that my original choice selected in this last election...I had no choice but to go Obama. Then after listening to "Slick Romney" and "Liein Ryan" spout all there lies and plans that did not include me...again...it was a no brainer. Had the Repucliocans presented a more deserving candidate...not matter what gender or race...he or she may have very well gotten my vote...and I think most blacks feeel the same way.

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Yep just like the Hispanic mercenary voters started clamoring for their pay two days after the election Obama's other minority voting army wants it's pay as well. I would say the women would be next but they have been screaming for more since way before this election. What do you hear from the bigoted racist Obama minority voters? "The Republicans were not offering ME anything". You can see the ME attitude by looking at the first comment on this page.

Not even "Amnesty" Reagan or "Let em all in" McCain got more than 30% or so from Hispanic voters and none more than 8% of the Black vote. Don't let em fool you it is all about skin color and anti-White Male bigotry.

That's fine. Eventually enough White Men are going to figure it out. By looking at the exit polls this last go around most already have. Every day the number grows as the Democrats push more and more White Men out of their party with their bigotry and racist/gender biased attitude. It's only a matter of time.

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Paroquet 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Newsflash, Connor!

Whites make up about 3% of the global population. Blacks and hispanics are still a minority in this country. No amount of percentage of a colored vote could alone have carried Obama to office. Had to be a lot of vanilla for that to happen.

Tell me if I'm wrong; you voted against Obama, not -for- Romney, right? Tell me that thought wasn't right up there in the front of your mind.

McCain had a shot, caved to the RNC platform, and lost. Romney had a chance, caved to the RNC platform, and lost. Note the pattern?

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Whites make up from 15 to 18% of the world population depending on what they classify as White. Which really isn't the issue because Whites do not have and are not allowed to have a Racial unity especially in the Good Ol' USA. That is changing though due to the Democrats racial victim coalition which helped along by their feminist overlords. Feminism split the White vote and then they used Anti-White Male bias to drag along the other minorities. They have just about rode that pony as far as it is going to get them though.

My choice was easy Romney was the best choice although I will freely admit I would have voted for anyone over Obama and his "My People" Administration.

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3633 5 months, 4 weeks ago

If Blacks as noted voted for Obama for what they could get, then what were others voting for. You see all the ones who voted against President Obama wanted something; however what is that something??? Did the vote against President Obama just want him out or did it want to get things the way they wanted it?? So, just live with it, the President won, what is going on in this country; we are over in other countries trying to persuade them to form a Democracy and we don't even honor Democrary ourselves.

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Hispanics voted for amnesty and increased open borders and were happy to do so because Romney was White and Male. Blacks just voted for Obama because of his skin color and now hope he will address their issues more than he has to date. White Women of the feminist bent went for Democrats for free abortion and birth control, greater share of the healthcare pie, Affirmative Action etc etc etc.

White Men and Married White Women went predominately for Romney.

As for Democracy the US was not set up for a pure mob rule Democracy and the current voting trends are showing why. You are too the point now that Liberals feel that their imported numbers allow them to do anything they want. That will not end well.

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bluesfan13 5 months, 4 weeks ago

"Married White Women went predominately for Romney"

At least the knew their place, didn't they?

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JCLifer 5 months, 4 weeks ago

I agree with Paroqet that the RNC platform sank the republican candidates.

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

And the DNC platform sinks the economy and is an outright attack on 40% or more of the rest of the countries' population. Its simple numbers, and survival will dictate the eventual outcome because the numbers are not going to improve for the Conservatives. Even if the GoP tries and changes it's policies to Liberal Lite it won't change anything except force more Conservatives into a third party of which this last election showed a fair increase in regardless.

From a purely Sociological perspective my opinion or bias means nothing and neither does yours or anyone's it is pure group dynamics once the Constitution is ignored or applied as the "Mob" sees fit.

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JCLifer 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Did the DNC even have a platform?

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Ya Booing God, Free abortions and Birth Control Pills, and Amnesty. Oh and more spending.

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Paroquet 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Didn't read the other party's platform, eh Connor? No matter, I'll spin your words for you; Continuation of supporting religious freedom and ensuring none would be judged for their faith (this includes Christians), supporting women's health choices as they concern the individual, providing an avenue for victimless illegals naturally born in the US to attain full citizenship.

Even I, as a Pagan, don't "boo God". I just don't want to be placed in a coercive environment, especially one that takes my tax dollars--you know, court rooms, the Generally Assembly, and the like. I'm sure you'd feel the same if the shoe were on the other foot. As for abortions, frankly, that's none of your business. Seen the latest from McCain? He says basically they (his party) needs to drop it. I'm down with eliminating government coverage for birth control, but not hormone regulation for health reasons, so long as men's health takes an equal blow--no viagra, no testosterone treatments, you know, stuff old white guys need sometimes. Amnesty--your ancestors were immigrants/invaders/aliens/usurpers, some who may have engaged in genocide.

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3633 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Now, no matter what is stated, we have President Obama for 4 more years and he won, so let's move on. Lots of people voted for him for their own reasons and so now it is a fact, so it is what it is.

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

There is no moving on. Some RINOs and other defeatist may cry move on but a very very large percentage are not going to move on due to this latest travesty called an election. The Democrats have been ejecting White Men and ignoring less populated states to better promote their minority allied agenda. That has put them in a bad spot. They may have 52% of the numbers due to new arrivals and voter fraud but the Conservatives backing the Republicans have the larger portion of the State governments.

Nullification is the next move. Nullification of Obama-Care and other entitlement programs. Nullification is not only legal it is Constitutional and has been done before. When they want to the States actually have more power than the Federal government and the Democrats policies are going to force the issue.

It is as you put it... What it is.

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tonto_goldberg 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Nullification has been uniformly rejected by the US Supreme Court. Please do a Google search for the Nullification Crisis of 1837. Then look up the most recent rejection of nullification at the US Supreme Court level in Cooper vs Aaron. That old dead dog won't hunt.

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3633 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Well, thats too bad some feel that why, however do you think if Romney would have won the attitude would not be to go on and work with him and do your job?? All of the elected persons still have a job duty to perform whether they like it or not. You see it's not about all this yeah or nay but to get things rolling again. Agreeing to disagree is ok, it's about the whole country not just some. Do you think those affected by the storm on the East Coast cared who was President, they just needed help to get back on thier feet, didn't matter who helped, but thank God our government did. So, anyway have a good evening hope things work out for everyone!!!!

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Delbert 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Good one 3633. We must get this congress in gear. Get people back to work. That is the only way out!!!

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RobHunterJohnson 5 months, 4 weeks ago

I agree 3633, we need to raise Taxes, even on the price of HAY, and cut spending! Good Jobs will get us out of this mess! This constant nagging from a few is making the rest of the GOP look bad, and John McCain needs a new job, how about CIA director! Rob

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asb 5 months, 4 weeks ago

The FRight Wing keeps hammering on a couple of points that are not supported by fact. Millions of white men voted for Obama. They did so because the GOP has gone so far right, the GOP has adopted economic policies so weighted to the fewest and wealthiest in history, the GOP has actually implemented policy through PR (Norquist and the Teaparty) that works against most people, and the GOP has adopted fundamentalist theology that denies science. Millions of white men realized that Obama, through tax policy proposals, through adherence to reality rather than creationism in science matters, and generally moderate social policy, better represents them. The idea that people are wrong to support a politician who is more likely to make their lives better is weird, it's what politics if for. Calling the Obama administration racist because they appeal to all Americans, directly and by policy, is also a weird tactic. Inventing a mercenary or imported hispanic vote is delusional. Hispanics, in spite of their social conservatism and strong Christian faith, recognize inclusion and diversity in the Democrats, while they read bigotry, mysogeny, and economic fairness in Democratic policy. I'm an old white man, and to me there just wasn't any choice. Choose the party of fundamentalist/money concentration/anti-labor/anti-diversity or the party of labor, diversity, controls on economic activity, and science based physical policy? Why were so many millioins of white men convinced to vote against their future? I use the word FRightWing to answer that question. Fear. Fear of economic competition from every direction. Fear of people unlike ourselves. Fear of mortality. Fear of other religions. Fear of other nationalities. Fear of loss of their stake in how things work. just plain fear. It failed at the national level, but still rings in statehouses. But it only works when things are bad or getting worse. The Teaparty mindset has moderated in the face of an improving economy. The bigotry and mysogeny of the FRightWing is wearing thin. There are major tasks facing America, Our debt, healthcare implementation, tax reform, the measured and pending additional major shifts in our environment, our inability to cut off our need for carbon to the point of endless warefare. If the GOP doesn't get on these trains, they'll be left behind. What if they don't? What if they splinter? What if the Democrats put up an undeniably Christian moderate white male candidate in 2016. A 60% Presidential win with coattails going all the way down to city elections is what. American mainstream politics isn't always defined by our extremes, the left dozed through this last one because the FRightWing was so dominant that the left was self-defining Get your act together, GOP, or become irrelevant. Put away your tinfoil hats and stay useful.

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RobHunterJohnson 5 months, 4 weeks ago

39% White Men Voted for Obama! Rob

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JCLifer 5 months, 4 weeks ago

99.9% of dead voters voted democratic too.

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asb 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Not true Lifer. There wasn't enough fraud to impact any election, and the documented fraud so far has been by both parties.

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spelchek 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Ahhhh, history re-written as through the eyes of asb. I've factual news for you, "mysogeny" (and in some cases woman slaughter) is owned by Democrats. JFK, Bill Clinton, Elliot Spitzer, Anthony Weiner, Franklin Roosevelt (drove his wife to lesbianism), and Ted Kennedy say so. Mary Jo Kopechne could not be reached for comment.

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asb 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Men do these dumb things, but only the GOP writes it up in their platform, says God intended it that way, and act shocked when they see the female vote evaporate.

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spelchek 5 months, 4 weeks ago

The Dems don't need it in their platform, it's a way of life. Speaks volumes about female democrat voters. They need their sugar daddies even if they out playin'....

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JCLifer 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Evangelicals mostly did not vote for Romney either. Evangelicals could not support a Mormon candidate.

Too bad the Republicans did not keep up their support for Herman Cain. He could have walked right through the election just fine if he would have been able to keep his own principles and could have been supported by the RNC.

They won't learn. Republican Party is the party of old white geezer baby boomers and it is dying quickly. We need the younger members to start up a new party- one that appeals to women and minorities.

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asb 5 months, 4 weeks ago

They have to learn, or the polarization will lock up our political process enough to lead to the violence so revered by the FRight. I liked Herman Cain personally, but the poor guy is just not a full house. His charm and (often but not consistantly) common sense were buried by lapses of institutional grade de-focus. I haven't seen the final numbers, but even though many evangelical stayed home, millions voted, and mostly for Romoney.

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Sequoia 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Conservatives can regain the high ground if they start demanding more of their media. Right now, conservative leaders simply play thier audience for suckers. The conservative media is all about hype and product tie-ins. Ever notice how you turn on Glenn Beck, and he's going on about something, then you realize he's trying to sell you a GoldLine ripoff?

The conservative media does not inform its audience. That's why y'all were so shocked by the election results. Your media creates an alternate reality of over-stimulated hype designed to get ratings and sell books. Race war! Voter fraud! Minorities! Free things! Socialism! We're the most advertised-to generation in history... don't y'all realize when you're getting played?

Here's a nice article on this topic. Demand more of your media. Demand accurate information. Reject the sammers and the hype men. Then conservatism will be getting somewhere. Till then, don't forget to tune in! Buy my book where I tell you all THE TRUTH!!!

thebaffler.com/past/the_long_con

Quote:

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Here’s the information in question: “If you have shied away from profiting from the immense promise of stem cells to treat disease because of moral concern over extracting stem cells from fetal tissue, pay close attention. You can now invest with a clear conscience. An Israeli entrepreneur, Zami Aberman, has discovered ‘an oilfield in the placenta.’ His little company, Pluristem Life Systems (OTCBB: PLRS) has made a discovery which is potentially more valuable than Prudhoe Bay.”

Davidson concluded by proposing the lucky investor purchase a position of 83,000 shares of PLRS for the low, low price of twelve cents each. If you act now, Davidson explained, your $10,000 outlay “could bring you a profit of more than a quarter of a million dollars.”

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tonto_goldberg 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Conservatives can regain the high ground only by claiming the high ground, and that will require dropping major portions of their 2012 campaign platform. They have dug themselves in to the most disgusting positions available regarding sex and families. Once they abandon the efforts to put women and ethnic minorities "back in their 1950's place" they can get back to reminding the voters that they USED to stand for a government that kept its nose out of people's business and bedroms and a government that tolerated religious diversity.

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Typical Liberal focused on the Presidency only view. The Republicans have the high ground and something like 60% of the States backing them. Now if the Republicans will actually do something with this high ground or not is the question.

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JCLifer 5 months, 4 weeks ago

The state offices are not well-associated with the RNC platform. Folks at the state level vote more for the candidate and not for the party. However, I still do not understand how Kinder keeps getting re-elected.

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

I would say the exact opposite is true. The Local races taken as a whole confirm the real will of the people. It shows in the Congressional races as well.

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spelchek 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Liberals made the conservative platform and the media lap dog obliged to report it that way. Meanwhile, the dem base re-elects a president with a higher unemployment rate when he took office and a plethora of broken promises. 51% of voters were once again dazzled by Obama's sleight of hand. Now I know I will be rebutted with some high brow argument like "it's Bush's fault" but I've come to expect this from those who have short attention spans. There is no war on women or minorities, just a majority of voters who want someone else to pay for their lifestyles. The voters have spoken and it is clear what they want. A Great Society indeed.

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jcguy25 5 months, 4 weeks ago

I've never had anyone else paying to support my lifestyle but myself. I'm a white male, mid forties, professional job, making well above average salary and I voted for President Obama. Also, most of the people I work with are college educated, white men and women, most of whom voted for President Obama - some having voted for McCain in 2008. The people I hung out with election night watching the results, again, all white, college educated and voted for President Obama. Your excuse that those who voted for President Obama are on the taxpayer's dime is lame bs.

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RobHunterJohnson 5 months, 4 weeks ago

I will second that, White mid 50s, Voted for Obama, my wife and I associate with mostly Democrats, Work, and enjoy life! Rob

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

That wholly depends on what their jobs are and who pays their salary. I listened to an Obama supporter claim the same thing over the weekend. Of course today she got out of bed and went to work at the Human Rights Department where she plans on retiring from at 52 in a few months.

So in fact her lifestyle is completely supported by the taxpayer.

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RobHunterJohnson 5 months, 4 weeks ago

JC list some examples of Dead people voting? I do not know how they handle Dead People and absentee votes, but lets just say since the election was so close that those vote were equal for conversation! Please list ? 39% of white guys is well known throughout the media world. Going to FOX! Cannot find a whole lot at Fox, but WSJ says 39% down from 43% in 2008. Rob

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Certainly a number of White Men voted for Obama. The same goes for White Women even around here. I personally know a couple of the 12000 or so in Cole county who voted for Obama and our current Governor. Funny every last one of them were either school teachers or government employees.

As far as voter fraud goes that falls under the purview of the DoJ and the last voter intimidation incident of any significance was dropped as soon as Obama's "My People" Administration came into office so the lack of investigation currently means zip. According to the agreement from the DNCvRNC case # 09-4615 (It's in the Judicial Review) The RnC is not allowed to pursue any form of ballot security or review on a national basis. So basically the RnC's hands are tied to investigating or even stopping voter fraud. The case settlement is renewed each year by the activist judge who ordered it.

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asb 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Connor if you keep posting these bogus and misstated links, you're through as a valued contributor. Every election precinct has election judges from both parties and any others meeting minimum requirements. Your FAUX News item has no bearing on the GOP's ability to find and define voter fraud. Shame on you. Anybody, not just the DoJ, can find and document voter fraud, and it isn't happening enough to matter, it's just whining from the FRight that somebody's stealing your country. Lies.

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

It has been found and documented. Only the Obummer supporters deny it and claim it hasn't been. and the DoJ refuses to investigate or prosecute it won't even uphold convictions it already had. All ya got is Fox news Fox news to try and cover the trail.

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RobHunterJohnson 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Bob Corker is the latest from the GOP to drop his NORQUIST affiliation, how many more? Rob

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RobHunterJohnson 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Boener,King,Chambliss, McCain, Grahmn, Coburn, Yoho, Rigell, and the latest Corker! Looks like it may get where it needs to be by the end of the year! HOW MANY MORE? Rob

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spelchek 5 months, 4 weeks ago

It is a well known fact that many blacks are extremely homophobic. Obama's "evolution" on gay marriage before election threatened the black vote. Good to see blacks threw their beliefs under the bus in the name of race (the black half).

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MO4LIFE 5 months, 4 weeks ago

That is a stereotype because i know a lot of black people that don't care about straight or gay. You guys and gals are going to have to get with the program because the next generation doesn't give a care about orientation it is about who you are as a person period.

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tonto_goldberg 5 months, 4 weeks ago

spelchek is right. A significant portion of black people are religious conservatives. On the other hand, they look around themselves and see their families disproportionately affected by unemployment, lack of access to health care, crime, and incarceration. It's hard to think about lofty goals when your neighborhood is a war zone, and it's why Micheal Steele's comment about "engaging in the conversation" is so empty.

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3633 5 months, 4 weeks ago

If you are not black how would you know how black people think or what they do, you must be black because that is the only way you would know Spelchek, so get your facts straight.I'm so sick and tired of all this about what other people think and what the survey says. You cannot throw everyone in the same pot of any race, speak only for what you know!!!!

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JCLifer 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Maybe they have a black friend.

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

NO but you sure will blame old White Guys at the drop of a hat.

As usual something is only bad when the Left isn't the ones doing it.

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Sequoia 5 months, 4 weeks ago

There is no such thing as "the black opinion" any more than there is "the white opinion." Each person gets to have their own opinion on anything. That's individualism, and it is something conservatives are supposed to support.

People are not "isms" or "ists." Maybe if conservatives start talking to people as people, instead of as blacks, feminists, socialists, liberals, environmentalists, homosexuals, "real Americans," makers, takers, or whatever term of identity politics they are kicking around, they might make some progress.

Let's let go of the identity politics. Tell me about policy, not identity.

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JCLifer 5 months, 4 weeks ago

I agree with you, but you have to admit that the "identity politics" is also well-played by the liberals too. i am thinking it is our media grasping for ratings and money that has gotten a lot of this stuff stirred up. We would all be wise to kick our media in the rear and tell them to knock it off. Yes, this includes Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, as well as MSNBC, etc.

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Sequoia 5 months, 4 weeks ago

I've said it before, I'll say it again: read your news from a respectable source. Turn off the TV and the talk shows. Whatever your politics, reading serious journalism is good for you.

There is a reason why the NYT accurately predicted the results of this election and Fox did not. That reason is called "quality."

Nothing in the world matters as much as quality. Quality is the only thing that ever matters. Demand quality. Focus on quality in all things you do, great and small. Otherwise you will suffer.

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Sequoia 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Nate Silver... the guy who called it for Obama... wrote for the NYT blog, and the conservative movement went into overdrive to accuse him and the NYT of bias. Then they came out with their own "unskewed" polls. But in the end, they were wrong and Silver was right.

That's why Romney only wrote a victory speech, and that's why you had your boy Karl Rove defecating himself on his own network on election night. They believed their own hype. Believing your own hype is always death. Grace, I think you yourself called the race for Romney waaaaay back, eh?

Focus on quality. Try to get it right, no matter what you're doing. People will call you names, but you'll be right in the end.

If the conservative movement had been listening to me (and others, of course), instead of calling us "liberals" and other names, they might be in better shape.

The last big mistake I remember the NYT making was Judith Miller buying into Dick Cheney (her anonymous "administration official") who said Iraq had WMDs. She was Cheney's mouthpiece, because she wanted access. She wanted Cheney to return her calls. Her mistake played a part in our going to war on false pretenses. Can you explain how that was "liberal propaganda"?

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RobHunterJohnson 5 months, 4 weeks ago

OBAMA WON! To Bad get over it! Rob

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asb 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Good ideals Big Tree, but identity has been the cornerstone of western politics for thousands of years. Coats of Arms aren't random and churches have names to rally armies. Political and economic forces draw like honey, and social issues are legitimate reasons to say "we" and "them" over and over. As long as the identity groups with a stake in our culture have a say, and the system is visible to all, and power and wealth are shared according to ability and effort, then all can be good, if not comfortable and calm. Most of all, we gravitate to our own interests, whether family, religion, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, you name it. Blacks have every reason in all those to see Obama as a better candidate, and so do many whites.

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Yes the Left throws out lofty ideas and phrases at every step but elects and appoints bigots like Eric Holder and Wassermann-Schultz. The Cleftwingers don't even attempt to hide their race/gender/orientation agendas any longer.

This go around their target of choice is the so called "Rich" and those who own property or live stock. Those with family farms they wish to destroy. The Cleftwing idea of rich keeps dropping as well. For all their "utopian speech" their rules, regulations, taxes and legislation seem to only be directed at one particular group over and over again.

Of course their ideas don't work so in the end they only have one group to keep going back to for more.

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connor 5 months, 4 weeks ago

And even more Voter Fraud in Florida. This time reported by several sources and compiled by the Freedom outpost site.

freedomoutpost.com/2012/11/breaking-florida-showing-massive-voter-fraud/

Of course according to the Cleftwingers this isn't a reputable site nor are the links or witnesses and even though Rep Allen West calls for an investigation it is denied.

Ya no Voter Fraud here huh.

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tonto_goldberg 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Even if all of the allegations about fraud were true, they wouldn't change the outcome. The numbers just don't work. That's why West didn't get a recount or an investigation from Florida's GOP election system. The fact that West was an embarrassment to the GOP in Florida and in Congress probably didn't even come into play. The GOP simply can not continue to dwell on their fantasy reasons for losing the last election. They need to adopt a platform and work for policies that will help all the voters so they stand a chance of winning the next one election.

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