Guest Post on Race and the Conservative Movement (Jake Cox)

I think that one of the most interesting issues plaguing the Republican Party, or even the conservative movement for that matter, is that of minority related issues. Now, most Americans have come to understand that the typical minority or ethnic voter tends to side, more often than not, with the Democratic ticket. But the understanding as to why that is, is much more complicated and convoluted than the actual discussion that I have an issue with today. My issue lies with the public, more-so liberal, disbelief and utter dismantling of ethnic or minority conservatives. I recently read an article posted by the conservative Michelle Malkin, a conservative woman of Asian descent in which she excoriated Virginia Congressman Jim Moran who made many controversial comments concerning the aptness and ability of minority conservatives to be what their ideology dictates.

“Lt. Col. West ‘just seems clueless now that he has climbed aboard ship,’ Moran fumed. ‘’ He’s climbed this ladder of opportunity that was constructed by so many of his ancestors’ sweat, sacrifice, blood, you know, they did everything they could for his generation to be successful. But now that he’s climbed on board ship, instead of reaching down and steadying the ladder, he wants to push it off.”

As a minority American, I take absolute offense to statements like these. Aside from my being a conservative and finding myself ideologically in line with Col. West, what makes it inherent in my past or ancestry that I should automatically vote democratic? If Moran really wants to get technical, the Black Community voted for the Republicans back in the early 20th century because the Democrats were responsible for the political divisiveness that led to the KKK and other anti-race laws such as Jim Crow Laws and the Black Code. But, even more so than that, am I not a free American? Am I not allowed to have an open and free mind, free to choose my ideology based off my personal experience in life?

The conservative movement for far too long has been associated as racist and redneck , when in all reality they have been at the forefront of almost every Civil Rights movement. From Abe Lincoln “freeing” the slaves, to the Civil Rights Act which was passed in an entirely republican legislature under President Johnson, who might I add didn’t support the bill until he was in the White House. We are no longer the party of “old white men”. We now have proud members of the minority community serving our country as conservatives such as Bobby Jindal of Indian descent, Nikki Haley of Native American Descent, Col. West of African Descent, and the many Hispanic leaders who have become too numerous to name. In short, we have earned our right to call ourselves diverse and open. Especially considering that the oppositions only retort to that is that they are unusual circumstances and don’t understand why they are doing what they are doing.

By saying basically that Col. West had abandoned his ancestors and all they fought for, to lead an ideology that wasn’t necessarily of their own, Moran opened the door to misunderstanding. His ancestors didn’t fight for Col. West to be a liberal or a conservative. They fought for him to be free. His distinguishing record with the conservative movement is not one to be ashamed of, but one to be lauded for because it is service to his country.

The conservative movement may be plagued by a racist assumption, but when you take a deeper look, you’ll notice as much diversity as any liberal movement. And any argument suggesting otherwise shows fear and cowardice, and holds no truth. What the American public must not consider is not race when voting, but ideological concerns. Now the real question lies, are you a ideologically driven because of your race, or because of your personal values?