Allen West Snubbed by #RNCinCLE
Last night I learned that Conservative firebrand and icon, Allen West, has not been invited to speak at #RNCinCLE. This information comes directly from LTC West himself. He further stated that not only was he not approached about speaking at the 2016 RNC Convention next week in Cleveland, he was not invited to speak in 2012, when 1) he was an elected official, and 2) where the convention was being held in his (then) home state of FL.
Beyond that, LTC West attests that he and his wife, Dr. Angela Graham-West, were not even offered tickets to the Presidential debate in 2012, when held at Lynn University, which is in the District he represented.
This is the Party of Lincoln, who freed the slaves. The Party of Frederick Douglass who stated, “I am a Republican, a black, dyed in the wool Republican, and I never intend to belong to any other party than the party of freedom and progress;" and, “I recognize the Republican party as the sheet anchor of the colored man's political hopes and the ark of his safety.” This is the Party that had Black Republicans in Congress right after slavery ended, whereas the Democrats did not until 70 years later. This is the Party that toiled to get Civil Rights legislation passed despite Democrat opposition – and yes, I’m aware a Democrat President signed it . . . a Democrat who said, “I’ll have those n*****rs voting Democrat for the next 200 years," by the way. This is a Party whose values align with the Black community and oppose the genocide of our children, and the extermination of Black lives in the womb. This is the Party that wants to provide more school choice and educational opportunities, when our own president, a Black man, pulled the plug on the successful DC voucher program. Yet, despite the rise of Tim Scott, Mia Love, Allen West, Will Hurd and others . . . it comes to this.
Black staffers are leaving the RNC en masse. There are no solo Black hosts on FOX. And, now, look at the list of speakers at the RNC Convention in Cleveland.
A few years ago, Pat Buchanan told me on the AACONS radio show that RNC money “goes where the votes are,” and that’s not to Black communities. I pointed out how myopic this view is, in not better communicating ideals to a community whose values are so aligned, yet, time has borne out the truth of Mr. Buchanan’s statement.
When you are a political party that many believe to be racist and have two Caucasian men at the top of a ticket, and a speakers list that looks like a snowstorm in New York in January, despite a plethora of qualified Conservatives of color . . . yes, there is a problem.
I do not say this for “quota’s sake.” I say this because until the Party outwardly looks like the people it claims to serve, nothing will change. The first time I saw an interracial ad on TV, I did a double take, because it was so rare to see. Now I don’t bat an eye, because it’s commonplace. The same needs to happen with the GOP. We are diverse, and America needs to see this. Especially now, given the racial tensions in our country. With the behavior America sees playing out on TV screens everywhere – rioting, looting, and the like – the country needs to see that not every Black man is a “thug,” or every Black woman is a “ghetto fabulous welfare queen.”
Black Conservatives have a hard lot. We are seen as “tokens” by the Left, “house Negroes” by the largely Democrat Black community, and the White Right tends to just trot us out to discuss racial issues, despite the fact that we have so many in our ranks who can address school choice, military affairs, fiscal issues and the like.
The fact that a highly decorated man, who has dedicated most of his life in service to his country would not be invited to speak at his Party's convention is beyond insulting. Allen West goes viral just about every time he opens his mouth, and not only is he a skilled and sought after speaker . . . he is more than that. This is a man that is qualified to lead our country . . . a man who could (and should) be on the top of a ticket. And, he’s not even asked to speak?
Even though I am an Independent, and not a Republican, I often vote Republican because of the values so closely aligning to my beliefs as a Christian. But, this is my breakup letter. I am done. A group of high level Black Conservatives has put forth a proposal to shake things up and I am all in.
I am boycotting the Convention. I will not watch any of it on television. I am putting my energies into letting them know they blew it (again), and directing my energies into affecting change where it is welcomed, appreciated, and necessary.
Many Blacks have been wary of the Republican Party and are #NeverGOP, but I’m saddened to see the GOP is increasingly #NeverBrown
-- Marie