The Ford/Corker race brought something into light for me. Listening to talk radio host, Phil Valentine after the race there was another racial debate going on the shoe Let me first say that Ford, agree or disagree with his politics, accomplished an amazing feat for the black politician in Tennessee. He got reportedly 40% of the white vote and 95%b of the black vote. It was said to be the end of the era of the hidden white vote that says they'll vote for a black man but just can't pull themselves that direction in the booth. Back to the point, it opened up a dialogue in which I have never heard. Blacks were said to be more racist or as racist as whites. First, I didn't know so many black people listened to Phil Valentine LOL, but all races were telling the way they really felt. No one there to judge them. I heard whites say that wouldn't vote for Ford because of race and stood by that...... I respected the honesty. I heard whites accused the black community of being uninformed and "blind voters" (95% is a large average but what is the story behind the number? I would say blacks are more conservative and too conservative to be any where involved with democrats. Regardless, this type of forum was helpful, in my opinion, because there are several parts of Tennessee where blacks are scarce to none and hearing a black point of view helps especially a black conservative view. The forum caused anger and laughter at the same time and it almost felt like a moment of healing to a extent. Ford didn't win but he came close. He may have alone set the stage for the first black senator in the south since Senator Blanche K. Bruce (first to finish a term) of Mississippi and Hiram Rhoades Revels from Pre-construction. It will happen and maybe sooner than most think.
Nathaniel Peete Jr.
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Ford's concession speech (if it was to believed) seemed like the highlight of the whole election night. Speaking of healing, he spoke eloquently about nation before party.
I think one major downfall of the GOP is that they continued to use a strategy whereby you should vote for them because the alternative was worse. Not only does that expose a party which no longer represents its constituency but it also puts a colossal multiplier effect on partisan warfare.
I would be shocked if anyone reading this doesn't have brothers, sisters, aunts uncles, boyfriends, babysitters etc who are Democrats. Those are all the people you are supposed to hate if you are a loyal Republican. (Not that the Dems aren't equally guilty of turning us all against each other).
My point is we should win on our principles and when those principles are entrusted to a particular party like the GOP we should hold them to a far higher standard than the Dems.
As Ford was saying, its time to move ahead ..... together.
I'm not in favor of left wing policy or rhetoric but I'm tired of the us against them attitude when us and them are Americans and there are plenty of REAL "thems" encircling our little democratic experiment known as America.
Good Post Mr. Peete.
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