Bigotry: A Principle of the Democrat Party
The party that embraces racism and religious bigotry
While it has been well documented that the old Democrat party was the party of Jim Crow which stood in the way of civil rights, a false narrative has taken root in which the Democrat party has been portrayed as the party of tolerance, moderation and the middle class. Even though the party began to move past its racist past in the 1970's and 1980's by focusing on the working class, unfortunately that was short lived. The party has once again found traction for political viability by simply trading one form of bigotry for another. This effort to redefine itself again began to accelerate in the 1990's with a changing demographic and an understanding that dividing people is an effective strategy.
The two major parties, Democrat and Republican each have constituencies, however their macro approach is quite different. The Democrat party appeals to people as separate groups, each with separate needs versus the Republican party which appeals to all people as one group each with similar needs. Democrats often assert that Republicans use "dog whistles" to appeal to bigotry. The most recent charge was related to the use of the Slogan, "Make America Great Again". Yet the slogan was used before during the presidential campaign by Democrat President Bill Clinton. Their argument asserts that the use of the slogan is a message of racism that only racists will understand and that other groups not so intoned will miss. Critics have called out Democrats on the other hand for blatantly using race and appeals to bigotry quite adroitly which are often ignored by the so call mainstream media.
Political Ads
The party along with their allies have a long history of running political ads which are overtly racially charged. The most infamous ad was the 2000 NAACP James Byrd ad which implied that then Presidential candidate George H Bush condoned lynching by refusing to support hate crimes legislation. The ad was narrated by the daughter of James Byrd, a black man who in 1998 was chained to the back of a pickup in Jasper Texas and was dragged to his death. The ad showed a pickup truck driving with chains attached to its rear and had a voice over saying, "It was like my father was killed all over again." During the 1998 campaign, Democrats ran radio ads in Missouri aimed at black voters which warned "When you don't vote, you let another church explode. When you don't vote, you allow another cross to burn. ... Vote smart. Vote Democratic for Congress and the U.S. Senate."
Obama-Biden
Vice President Joe Biden while speaking before a predominately black audience in 2012 made the claim "They're going to put you all back in chains" when talking about the fiscal policies of GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. President Barack Obama while campaigning for Hillary Clinton in 2016 made the assertion "If you accept the support of a Klan sympathizer, the Klan, and hesitate when asked about that support, then you’ll tolerate that support when you’re in office" alluding to racist David Duke's endorsement of Donald Trump. Obama not only associated with firebrands who spewed racist invective such as his pastor of 20 years, Jeremiah Wright and men like Al Sharpton famous for the Tawana Brawley rape hoax and the Freddie's fire, he also had a relationship with one of the most vile racist & anti-Semites of modern time, Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam. President Obama who was endorsed by Louis Farrakhan when he first ran for President in 2008 waited before condemning Farrakhan's anti-Semitic statements, but never actually condemned Farrakhan himself. So when a photo of a smiling Barack Obama and Louis Farrakhan taken in 2005 at a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) was recently released, many were not surprised. The photographer was Askia Muhammad who stated during a appearance in January 2018 on the Fox Cable show, Tucker Carlson that the CBC did not want the photo to get out as it would impact Obama's future. He also stated that Mr. Obama had the Nation of Islam work on his Senatorial Campaign and actually work at his Chicago Senatorial office. But many forget that Obama also attended one of Farrakhan's Million Man Marches in 1995. It is reasonable to conclude that what is in a man's heart is reflected by who are his friends.
Congressional Black Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has a long history with Louis Farrakhan in which have described their relationship as a covenant. Even though the CBC ran for political cover in 1994 when Nation of Islam (NOI) leader Kalid Abdul Muhammad called Jews "Blood suckers" and called for the genocide of whites, the CBC retained their relationship but more discretely. In 2005, the CBC then led by Kweisi Mfume invited Farrakhan to speak before their caucus. The CBC actually endorsed Farrakhan's NOI 2005 "Millions More Movement" and several members were featured in the NOI's magazine, "The Final Call". Current and long time member of the CBC, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) was quoted as saying, “I’m a strong supporter of this effort,” “Minister Farrakhan made a great presentation to us, and the Caucus is going to be very supportive.” Current Congresswomen Maxine Waters (D-CA) who is a long time supporter of Louis Farrakhan is also in the magazine picture. Several other members of the CBC have maintained a relationship with Louis Farrakhan; Congressman Keith Ellison (D-Minn) who was recently elected Attorney General of Minnesota, Barbara Lee, (D-CA), Danny Davis, (D-Ill), Andre Carson (D-IN), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), and Al Green (D-TX).
Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi) who is now the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee appeared on the New Nation of Islam radio show in 2014. Thompson was a member of the CBC when it invited Farrakhan to speak at its annual legislative conference in 2002 and in 2005. Bernie Thompson and twenty other members of the CBC have refused to denounce Louis Farrakhan.NAACP
The Farrakhan influence runs deep within the Democratic party constituencies. In 1994, then Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Ben Chavis along with their board voted to invite Nation of Islam (NOI) Leader Louis Farrakhan to speak. Mr. Chavis also made Mr. Farrakhan a life time member. Interesting, Mr. Chavis himself went on to convert and become a member of the Nation of Islam. The NAACP continues its association with the Nation of Islam to this day. Their current Philadelphia Chapter President Rodney Muhammad is an active NOI minister.
Many of the apologists for Farrakhan and NOI rest their defense on the claim that the organization performs good works. It is without question that evil people sometimes do good things, however it doesn't justify nor should it be used as a shield to minimize or disregard their core beliefs of hatred in order to continue one's relationship with an unrepentant anti-Semite and racist. It comes down to disagreeing with the type of words used but not the substance of the belief. Even when it is quite obvious that the statements are beyond the pale, they will refuse to condemn Farrakhan and or the Nation of Islam. The truth is simple; they actually agree with the bigoted views. Their verbal Jujitsu is all about supporting the cause by any means necessary including moral dishonesty. This approach continues to be used by many of the Farrakhan acolytes and associates.
Women's March
The now discredited "Women's March" is one of the most glaring examples of openly promoted bigotry by their Democrat masters. The march which up until this month had the backing of the Democratic National Committee and many of their allied leftist organizations has been exposed for who they really are. The last straw was when one of the leaders of the Women's march, Tamika Mallory refused to even condemn Louis Farrakhan remarks when asked by Megan McCain while on the NBC show, "The View". She actually stated, “To be very clear, it’s not my language. It’s not the way that I speak.” Mallory who previously called Farrakhan the "Greatest of all time" has a long association with Farrakhan and has attended many Farrakhan events over a 30 year period. When talking about 2016 Savior's day Convention stated, she was quoted as saying, "I need that hardcore truth a few times a year!" She was even publically praised by Farrakhan this past February. Fellow Board Carmen Perez and Linda Sarsour also have long associations with Farrakhan. Perez posted a since deleted photo of herself holding hands with Farrakhan with a post stating, "And one thing I know whether people agree with his message or not is that the Minister often speaks his truth.” Linda Sarsour who has a long history of bigotry has embraced Louis Farrakhan and the NOI since 2012 saying, "When we write the history of Islam in America, the Nation of #Islam is an integral part of that history.”. She also appeared as a speaker for the 2015 NOI rally. Both Perez & Sarsour have also praised cop killer and fugitive Assata Shakur (aka Joanne Chesimard). In January 2017, Sansour was pictured posing with a former Hamas terrorist Salah Sarsour.
Three out of four march leaders, Tamika Mallory,Linda Sarsour and Carmen Perez all have significant connections to the Democrat party and the former Obama Administration. Tamika Mallory's biography on the Women's March website acknowledges comments made by senior advisor to former President Obama, Valerie B Jarrett referring to Mallory as "a leader of tomorrow". When it came time for Jarrett to call out Mallory this past March for her relationship with Louis Farrakhan, Jarrett compared the Farrakhan association as similar to meeting with Republican donors, the Koch Brothers. Mallory also served on the transition committee of then NYC Mayor Elect Bill De Blasio and as the Executive Director of Al Sharpton's National Action New York.
Linda Sarsour serves as the head of the Arab American Association of New York and was an Obama White House “Champion of Change. Perez's Women's March biography notes that she was invited to testify before the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Even with the controversy, NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio and his wife continue to support the Women's March leaders.
Religious Bigotry
Not only does the Democrat party support racism and anti-Semitism, many of their elected members also engage in anti-Christian bigotry. The most blatant examples can be found during the judicial confirmation process involving judicial nominees. It usually begins with a Senator expressing their concern with a nominees "deeply held views" with the questions becoming even more blatant. Yet these Senate members are quite aware that questions about a nominee’s faith are impermissible as enumerated in the Constitution. Article VI, Clause 3 which states: "The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” The NCCA first called attention to this back in August 2006.
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) has repeatedly questioned the faith of nominees during their confirmation hearings. Some examples; Attorney General Nominee John Ashcroft, "When you have been such a zealous and impassioned advocate for so long, how do you just turn it off? This may be an impossible task." Appellate Court Nominee William Pryor, "His beliefs are so well known, so deeply held that it's very hard to believe, very hard to believe that they're not going to deeply influence the way he comes about saying, 'I will follow the law,' and that would be true of anybody who had very, very deeply held views," Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Senator Diane Feinstein (D-California) went after Appellate Nominee Amy Coney Barrett in 2017, Some of the questions; Durbin, "Do you consider yourself an orthodox Catholic?" Feinstein, "When you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you," "And that's of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for years in this country."
This year in a highly publicized assault on a nominee's faith, Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) questioned District Court Nominee Brian C. Buescher's membership in the Catholic Knights of Columbus (KOC). In particular, Hirono asked Buescher if he would end his membership with KOC to “avoid any appearance of bias” and “recuse [himself] from all cases in which the Knights of Columbus had taken a position.” She also asked him if he would disavow the KOC's support for “California’s Proposition 8 campaign to ban same-sex marriage” which she described as extreme. Harris referred to the KOC as an “all-male society” that “opposed a woman’s right to choose” and “marriage equality,”.
Understanding the faith of our Nation
Taking the time to learn and understand the religious tenants of Christianity and Judaism, one would find that both faiths oppose abortion as the taking of human life. Coupled together with recent scientific findings, it is a rationally based position to oppose abortion. Even more so for the egregious and barbaric use of abortion in the third trimester often referred to late term abortions. As to homosexual marriage, there is no difference. Both faiths believed in an ordered society where God does not subscribe to disorder and who created both men and women. The opposition to homosexuality is not based on an irrational criterion of hate, it is based on the simple issue of sexuality and one sexual conduct. Examples include adultery, sex before marriage and certain forms of sexual activity as defined in the guidebook for Christians, the Bible. When it comes to marriage, the book of Genesis teaches that a man and women when married become one as they cleave together. Other books of the Bible address marriage as the union of one man and one woman for a lifetime separated only by death. Coupled together with the social and public policy ramifications of legalizing homosexual marriage, a well established rational basis exists for opposition to homosexual marriage without regard to hate. Even so, the Supreme Court has concluded that continued religious based opposition to homosexual marriage is rational as a matter of law.
In the case legalizing homosexual marriage, Obergefell v. Hodges 135.S Ct. 2584, Justice Kennedy writing for the Majority held that , "Many who deem same-sex marriage to be wrong reach that conclusion based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical premises, and neither they nor their beliefs are disparaged here... Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered. As part of his Dissent, Chief Justice John Roberts held that, "Today's decision, for example, creates serious questions about religious liberty. Many good and decent people oppose same-sex marriage as a tenet of faith, and their freedom to exercise religion is—unlike the right imagined by the majority—actually spelled out in the Constitution... Respect for sincere religious conviction has led voters and legislators in every State that has adopted same-sex marriage democratically to include accommodations for religious practice. The majority's decision imposing same-sex marriage cannot, of course, create any such accommodations. The majority graciously suggests that religious believers may continue to “advocate” and “teach” their views of marriage. Ante, at 2607. The First Amendment guarantees, however, the freedom to “exercise ” religion. Ominously, that is not a word the majority uses."
One Democrat who has stood tall is Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D- Hawaii) who wrote an excellent op/ed in The Hill this past January in which she rebuked the effort to apply religious tests to nominees. "While I oppose the nomination of Brian Buescher to the U.S. District Court in Nebraska, I stand strongly against those who are fomenting religious bigotry, citing as disqualifiers Buescher’s Catholicism and his affiliation with the Knights of Columbus,” "The party that worked so hard to convince people that Catholics and Knights of Columbus like Al Smith and John F. Kennedy could be both good Catholics and good public servants shows an alarming disregard of its own history in making such attacks today.” In a further rebuke, Senator Ben Sase (R-Nebraska) authored a Senate resolution which passed
Current Trend
Unfortunately, it appears that the Democrat party will continue to turn a blind eye to bigotry in their ranks. With the recent election of several socialist radicals, Congresswoman Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Illhan Omar (D-Minn) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens), it appears that this philosophy will remain alive and well in the Democrat party for years to come. All three have recently been in the news for their controversial remarks and associations. Congresswoman Tlaib now well known for her undignified and course reference to President Trump as a MotherF.......r has a long association with Linda Sansour who referred to Tlaib as "my friend, my mentor and my role model". Tlaib called for cutting all aid to America's ally Israel and has decided to make her first foreign trip to the West Bank. She also supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. Omar made a tweet in 2012 which stated, "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel. #Gaza #Palestine #Israel.” Omar has called for normalizing relations with Iran, a chief sponsor of terrorism and also supports BDS. Cortez is also an associate of Sansour and headlined an event with her at the 16th Annual Muslim Association of New York. She also participated in the Women's March in Washington DC on January 19, 2019 and refused to condemn the bigotry of the march leaders.
Due to brevity, any discussion about the party's association with other well known purveyors of racism, anti-Semitism and anti-Christian bigotry are too long to list which include strong men, dictators, despots, cop-killers, political organizations, movements and other controversial individuals. But it is clear and well established that the party has maintained their relationship not with people who simply have a lapse in judgment or who misspeak but rather who express a blatantly vitriol form of bigotry which is accepted without hesitation in today's Democrat party. While it is fair to say that anyone has the ability to change and that we as a People should allow redemption for anyone who seeks it, we must never allow or accept this type of ideology to become acceptable as a rational belief system. Tyranny is often forged on the lies of evil and deceiving rulers. Our freedom and Liberty require action. "Bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid minds; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant. Education and free discussion are the antidotes of both." Thomas Jefferson. Say a loud No to bigotry.