VOTING RECORDS: Show ‘Condi 2008’ is a No-Go!

Tom Ball

19 years ago

In the wake of the 2000 and 2004 election seasons, charges of voter suppression by the GOP flew without mitigation. In response, Republican’s couldn’t scoff loudly enough, “How dare the Democrats make such baseless accusations. We are a party of compassion and high morals. We are the party of inclusion and tolerance. Just ask Condi and Colin…and also ask that gay fellow who heads up the AIDS office.” — or something like that.

As usual, the Republicans’ talk is the virtual antithesis of the Republicans’ walk.

Enter Condoleezza Rice…

Their latest PR push for ‘inclusion and tolerance’ is perhaps their boldest yet — promoting the idea of a Republican, African-American woman as president in 2008 — knowing full well there is not one chance in Hell that Condoleezza Rice would win the GOP primary, but understanding that the value of such a move would prove incalculable toward clouding the canyon divide that separates the pro-civil rights, and relatively tolerant, diverse political left with the anti-civil rights, intolerant, homogenous political right.

It seems, however, that their strategy might just blow up in their face, but not because Condi will actually win the primary — or the presidency. Rather, because their activities inadvertently serve someone else who might actually have a shot at the presidency — someone with whom most Republicans hold considerable fear and loathing.

Enter Hillary Clinton…
A recent nationwide poll found 79 percent of participants were willing to vote for a woman as president and 64 percent said the nation is “ready” for one. The poll specifically addressed the presidential potential of possible 2008 candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Condoleezza Rice.

The Hearst Poll found Hillary’s ‘should run’ numbers slipping from 53% in a similar poll last year to 51% this year while Condi’s ‘should run’ numbers rose to 48% from 42% one year ago.

But this post isn’t really about Hillary vs. Condi, It’s about the prospect of Republicans electing an African-American woman as their president in 2008.

ZERO Probability

In short, although anything is possible, the probability of this event so closely approaches zero that for all practical reasons, a zero probability designation is appropriate.

So why would the Republican leadership push the idea of Condi for President?

Perhaps it’s because it gives the party a façade of tolerance and diversity when in fact the exact opposite is true. In the end, the GOPowers that be know she would never make it through the primary.

In the end, talk of a Hillary/Condi match-up only helps Hillary since the open discussion of a female U.S. president desensitizes the nation’s tradition of presidential electoral Gynophobia.

Unfortunately, Condoleezza has additional burdens to overcome — namely the brazen racism displayed by her own party — the proud flyers of the Confederate flag who reminisce about the good ‘ol days of segregation.

And Condi’s ideology, which is more reflective of fat, old, southern, white men than the African-American demographic, is fodder for a separate article but is notably responsible for allowing her to rise to the highest appointed position of any African-American Woman in the history of the United States.

Unfortunately again for Condi is the fact that we’re talking about an elected position that would require Republican votes.

Disagree?

Okay. For a more robust analysis, consider this:

To find some precedent for my assertions — ones that are likely to raise some ire amongst the members of the party of Strom Thurmond — let’s peer into the GOP electoral past.

For starters…

The number of Republicans voted into the US Senate or House of Representatives since 1900 that were/are:

Black? — 6 (Edward Brooke :: 1967-1979, Oscar DePriest :: 1929-1935, Melvin Evans :: 1979-1981, Gary Franks :: 1991-1997, J.C. Watts :: 1995-2003, George White :: 1897-1901

Black Women? — ZERO

The number of Republicans currently in the US Senate or House of Representatives that are:

Black? — ZERO

Black Women? — ZERO

(Do you see it now?)

Other tidbits regarding the arduous climb of African-Americans — and particularly African-American women — to elected federal level positions:

There hasn’t been a black GOP senator since 1979 (Edward Brooke, MA)

There has only been one black Republican US Senator since 1900.

Republicans have never voted a black woman into the House or the Senate. NEVER.

There have been 117 black Members of Congress: 112 elected to the House and five to the Senate. The majority of the black Members (90 ~ 77%) have been Democrats; the rest (27 ~ 23%) have been Republicans. It should be STRONGLY noted that 21 of those 27 black Republicans (78%) were in office prior to 1900 — long before the ‘party of Lincoln’ was replaced with the ‘Southern Strategy’ spawned Republican party of today.

The first black Member of Congress was Hiram Rhodes Revels (R-MS), who served in the Senate in the 41st Congress (1870).

The first black Member of the House was Joseph H. Rainey (R-SC).

Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), elected to the 91st through 97th Congresses (1969-1983), was the first black woman in Congress.

Since that time, 23 other black women have been elected (All Democrats), including Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL, 1993-1999), who was the first black woman, as well as the first black Democrat, elected to the Senate.

Needles to say, we all have a lot of work to do before the King vision of equality comes to fruition. Moreover, that path will NOT be pioneered by the present-day Republican party.

Civil Rights Voting Records

In addition, since the plight of African-Americans in America is understandably intertwined with the struggle for civil rights, it makes sense to study the current fight for civil rights by our elected officials. Let’s look specifically at the Senate and its legislation during the 108th congress. After all, activism is the civilian’s badge of honor, but legislation is where the world is changed. Indeed, the civil rights records of our elected officials are excellent indicators of the stealth racism and general bigotry in our government. Think, what could possibly be the thought process of a person with a ZERO score on civil rights voting records.

According to the civil rights scorecard composed by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the proponents and opponents of civil rights has changed little since the 60’s. Indeed, the party of Trent Lott, Strom Thurmond, and Jesse Helms looms large in contemporary conservatism.

The LCCR based their scores on an analysis of each senator’s voting record on 13 major issues. Of all Senators in the 108th congress, 48 Democrats, 51 Republicans and 1 Independent:

27 scored a perfect 100%… ALL DEMOCRATS!

Akaka – D – 100%

Baucus, M. – D – 100%

Boxer – D – 100%

Cantwell – D – 100%

Clinton – D – 100%

Corzine – D – 100%

Daschle – D – 100%

Dayton – D – 100%

Dodd – D – 100%

Edwards, J. – D – 100%

Graham, B. – D – 100%

Harkin – D – 100%

Hollings – D – 100%

Inouye – D – 100%

Johnson, Tim – D – 100%

Kennedy, E. – D – 100%

Kerry, J. – D – 100%

Lautenberg – D – 100%

Leahy – D – 100%

Levin, C. – D – 100%

Mikulski – D – 100%

Murray – D – 100%

Reed, J. – D – 100%

Reid, H. – D – 100%

Sarbanes – D – 100%

Stabenow – D – 100%

Wyden – D – 100%

Byrd – D – 96%

Dorgan – D – 96%

Durbin – D – 96%

Feingold – D – 96%

Nelson, Bill – D – 96%

Rockefeller – D – 96%

Schumer – D – 96%

Lieberman – D – 95%

Biden – D – 93%

Bingaman – D – 93%

Carper – D – 93%

Kohl – D – 93%

Landrieu – D – 93%

Pryor – D – 93%

Bayh – D – 89%

Conrad – D – 89%

Feinstein – D – 89%

Lincoln – D – 89%

Breaux – D – 82%

Nelson, Ben – D – 56%

Miller, Z. – D – 9%

13 Senators scored ZERO… ALL REPUBLICANS!

Brownback – R – 0% 0%

Chambliss R – R – 0%

Cochran – R – 0%

Craig R – R – 0%

Crapo R – R – 0%

Fitzgerald R – R – 0%

Frist – R – 0%

Inhofe – R – 0%

Kyl – R – 0%

Nickles – R – 0%

Santorum – R – 0%

Sessions, – R – 0%

Thomas, C. – R – 0%

Allard – R – 4%

Bond – R – 4%

Bunning – R – 4%

Burns, C. – R – 4%

Cornyn – R – 4%

Domenici – R – 4%

Ensign – R – 4%

Enzi – R – 4%

Graham, L. – R – 4%

Grassley R – R – 4%

Gregg – R – 4%

Hagel – R – 4%

Hatch – R – 4%

Lott – R – 4%

McConnell – R – 4%

Sununu – R – 4%

Talent – R – 4%

Alexander, L. – R – 7%

Allen, G. – R – 7%

Bennett – R – 7%

DeWine – R – 7%

Dole – R – 7%

Lugar R – R – 7%

Shelby – R – 7%

Stevens – R – 7%

Voinovich – R – 7%

Roberts – R – 11%

Warner – R – 11%

Smith, G. – R – 12%

Coleman – R – 14%

Hutchison, K. – R – 14%

McCain – R – 14%

Specter – R – 19%

Murkowski, L. – R – 20%

Campbell – R – 21%

Collins, S. – R – 32%

Snowe – R – 36%

Chafee – R – 43%

Overall, Democrats’ average score was a very respectable 94% — and that includes the disgraceful 9% from pseudo-Demo-Republican lapdog, Zell Miller. Replace Miller’ score with left-leaning Independent Jim Jefford’s 92% and the left of the aisle’s average score jumps to 96%. In contrast, Republicans slimed away with a despicable 7%. Their star civil rights leader was Lincoln Chafee with a miserable 43%.

In an attempt to be fair, I decided I should check the voting records of more than a single congress. Thus, here are the results from an analysis of the 107th congress.

Again, the LCCR based their scores on an analysis of each senator’s voting record on 13 major issues. Of all Senators in the 107th congress, 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans and 1 Independent:

20 scored a perfect 100%… ALL DEMOCRATS!

Boxer – California – Dem – 100%

Lieberman – Connecticut – Dem – 100%

Akaka – Hawaii – Dem – 100%

Inouye – Hawaii – Dem – 100%

Durbin – Illinois – Dem – 100%

Mikulski – Maryland – Dem – 100%

Sarbanes – Maryland – Dem – 100%

Kennedy, E. – Massachusetts – Dem – 100%

Kerry, J. – Massachusetts – Dem – 100%

Levin, C. – Michigan – Dem – 100%

Dayton – Minnesota – Dem – 100%

Wellstone – Minnesota – Dem – 100%

Reid, H. – Nevada – Dem – 100%

Corzine – New Jersey – Dem – 100%

Bingaman – New Mexico – Dem – 100%

Clinton – New York – Dem – 100%

Reed, J. – Rhode Island – Dem – 100%

Leahy – Vermont – Dem – 100%

An unbelievable 31 scored ZERO%… ALL REPUBLICANS!

Sessions, J. – Alabama – Rep – 0%

Shelby – Alabama – Rep – 0%

Murkowski – Alaska – Rep – 0%

Stevens – Alaska – Rep – 0%

Kyl – Arizona – Rep – 0%

Allard – Colorado – Rep – 0%

Craig – Idaho – Rep – 0%

Crapo – Idaho – Rep – 0%

Lugar – Indiana – Rep – 0%

Grassley – Iowa – Rep – 0%

Brownback – Kansas – Rep – 0%

Roberts – Kansas – Rep – 0%

Bunning – Kentucky – Rep – 0%

McConnell – Kentucky – Rep – 0%

Cochran – Mississippi – Rep – 0%

Bond – Missouri – Rep – 0%

Burns – Montana – Rep – 0%

Ensign – Nevada – Rep – 0%

Gregg – New Hampshire – Rep – 0%

Smith, R. C. – New Hampshire – Rep – 0%

Helms – North Carolina – Rep – 0%

Inhofe – Oklahoma – Rep – 0%

Nickles – Oklahoma – Rep – 0%

Thurmond, S. – South Carolina – Rep – 0%

Frist – Tennessee – Rep – 0%

Thompson, F. – Tennessee – Rep – 0%

Gramm, P. – Texas – Rep – 0%

Bennett – Utah – Rep – 0%

Hatch – Utah – Rep – 0%

Enzi – Wyoming – Rep – 0%

Thomas, C. – Wyoming – Rep – 0%

Overall, Democrats’ average score was a very respectable 91%. In contrast, Republicans slimed away with a despicable 6% (you know, as in 6…6…6%).

Of course, it all fits into the Conservatives’ grand vision. By voting against every attempt to bring equality, freedom and justice to the average citizen, Republicans are forcing us to “pull ourselves up by the bootstraps” and make our own way toward the American dream. Once we’ve achieved that dream, then and only then can we take advantage of legacy appointments and admissions. Only then can we benefit from our parents’ contacts. Only then can we allow our parents’ friends to make us rich while bailing us out of failed business ventures. Only then can we rely on our father’s status in congress to get into Yale and Andover, and only then can we avoid the draft with an undeserved National Guard slot and then go AWOL without consequence. So you see, It’s all for our own good.

Seriously, Very few measures will lend insight into the racism, elitism, misogyny and homophobia of our legislators as a simple tally of civil rights voting records. Indeed, though their forked tongues might preach tolerance, their hands write the legislation that stifles true freedom and acceptance.

Is this the party that will ultimately elect a Black Woman president in 2008?

In the end, every moment spent desensitizing the American electorate to the idea of a woman president favors Hillary Rodham Clinton — an undoubtedly unintended side-effect of the GOP tactics.

Rest assured that if Condi is somehow able to squeak out a win in the GOP presidential primaries — perhaps due to a divisive primary, the Republicans that we know and loathe — the gun-totin’, bible-thumpin’, tax-loophole-pumpin’, poor-screwin’, minority-ignorin’, war-mongerin’, gay-hatin’ troglodytes — would conveniently find something else to do other than head to the polls come election day.

In other words, Condi would be unable to ‘bring out the Republican party base’ causing a brutal electoral deficit that would NOT be filled by any party or independent crossovers (i.e. those willing to overlook her policies and ideology in favor of her gender or race) — not that there would be any of those in a Republican primary.

Bottom line:

ZERO% chance that Condi pulls out the presidency in 2008.

75% chance Hillary benefits from this discussion — as will society in general.

100% chance the GOP benefits from this illusory Condi push toward the presidency.

Table 1. Black Members of Congress — Senate
Name :: Congress(es) :: Years :: State :: Party

Brooke, Edward W. :: 90th-95th :: 1967-1979 :: MA :: R
Bruce, Blanche K. :: 44th-46th :: 1875-1881 :: MS :: R
Revels, Hiram R. :: 41st :: 1870-1871 :: MS :: R

Table 2. Black Members of Congress – House of Representatives
Name :: Congress(es) :: Years :: State :: Party

Cain, Richard Harvey :: 43rd 45th :: 1873-1875, 1877-1879 :: SC :: R
Cheatham, Henry P. :: 51st-52nd :: 1889-1893 :: NC :: R
DeLarge, Robert C. :: 42nd :: 1871-1873 :: SC :: R
DePriest, Oscar S. :: 71st-73rd :: 1929-1935 :: IL :: R
Elliott, Robert B. :: 42nd-43rd :: 1871-1874 :: SC :: R
Evans, Melvin H. :: 96th :: 1979-1981 :: VI :: R
Franks, Gary A. :: 102nd-104th :: 1991-1997 :: CT :: R
Haralson, Jeremiah :: 44th :: 1875-1877 :: AL :: R
Hyman, John Adams :: 44th :: 1875-1877 :: NC :: R
Langston, John M. ::51st :: 1890-1891 :: VA :: R
Long, Jefferson F. :: 41st :: 1870-1871 :: GA :: R
Lynch, John R. :: 43rd-44th, 47th :: 1873-1877, 1882-1883 :: MS :: R
Miller, Thomas E. :: 51st :: 1890-1891 :: SC :: R
Murray, George W. :: 53rd-54th :: 1893-1895, 1896-1897 :: SC :: R
Nash, Charles E. :: 44th :: 1875-1877 :: LA :: R
O’Hara, James E. :: 48th-49th :: 1883-1887 :: NC
Rainey, Joseph H. :: 41st-45th :: 1870-1879 :: SC
Ransier, Alonzo J. :: 43rd :: 1873-1875 :: SC
Rapier, James T. :: 43rd :: 1873-1875 :: AL
Smalls, Robertai :: 44th-45th, 47th, 48th-49th :: 1875-1879, 1882-1883, 1884-1887 :: SC
Turner, Benjamin S. :: 42nd :: 1871-1873 :: AL
Walls, Josiah T. :: 42nd-44th :: 1871-1876 :: FL
Watts, J.C., Jr. :: 104th-107th :: 1995-2003 :: OK
White, George H. :: 55th-58th :: 1897-1901 :: NC

0 0 votes

Article Rating