Black Conservative Castrati? The “picks” are the problem.

I ran across a new term for my political lexicon today when I read about black conservative castrati in the 2008 election cycle. The author was reflecting on a recent AP report on American black conservatives feeling conflicted over Barack Obama’s candidacy. This resulted in the following screed. (All emphasis is from the author.)

With 90+ percent of black Americans voting Democrat regardless of who the candidate is, it will be bad enough as it is. But I, for one, expect you, black conservative Republican men to have enough balls to stand on principle, not on your emotions. You’ve shown your testicular fortitude by being publicly conservative against a tide of Identity Politics. Don’t start behaving like castrati now.

Stop thinking selfishly. We’re not choosing a President of Black American Dream Fulfillment; we’re choosing a President of the United States.

Our own Dennis Sanders struggled with the very same question this weekend, and it comes on the heels of similar musings from Colin Powell, Armstrong Williams and J.C. Watts, among others. The timing of this was fortuitous for me, as I had just taken the opportunity to talk to an old friend of mine, Carl “T” (last name withheld by request) who has been facing a similar dilemma.

It’s probably worth noting that I’m recounting a conversation which takes place in New York State with a black, conservative Republican. For many analysts, such a meeting is akin to driving your car down the highway and hitting a unicorn. I brought up the subject of the column by Dennis and couldn’t resist asking him if he was thinking of voting for Obama.

“No.” I was informed. “Going with Bob Barr.”

My initial reaction, of course, was to show appreciation for anyone who decides to stand up for the viability of third party candidates against the stanglehold which the two main parties hold over the system. But pressing (very carefully) further, I found that Carl had been given reason to be disillusioned this year by both John McCain and Barack Obama.

First, he felt that McCain was a glaring example of how the Republican Party had drifted too far astray and was no longer a truly conservative group at all. I didn’t push the issue, as I had heard it before from other Republicans of all stripes. Obama, on the other hand, had reminded him of the absolute failure of the GOP to really open up to minorities and he was now thinking about leaving the party entirely. He mentioned Colin Powell, Condi Rice and a few other prominent African American figures in government. The problem, he pointed out, was that these people were all “the picks” rather than the choice of the masses. In his mind, the shortcomings of the GOP were not found in the party leadership, the platform or the message. The failure, he felt, was on the part of the voting base.

National leaders, he pointed out, were more than willing to appoint prominent African Americans to high profile positions of power. He saw nothing inconsistent in the party’s message and platform in terms of providing opportunity for minorities. But, he sadly noted, they simply don’t elect black people to higher office. Carl was not blind to the fact that there is not a single black face in Congress for the GOP at this time, nor to the lineup of candidates who were even considered for the Republican nomination. (White guys one and all.)

“This is New York,” he pointed out. “Up in Utica we had a very solidly Republican district until 2006. You think we could ever put a black guy in Congress from there today? Not gonna happen.”

I suppose I can see his point. You can have the most inclusive platform imaginable and appoint all the minorities you like to high places. But until you can convince your voters to consider electing more minorities to national office, you’ll probably have trouble bridging that gap. Telling conservative, black men to “grow some balls” and to “do what is right” while challenging their manhood if they stray from the (predominantly white) herd probably won’t do much to close that chasm either. And yes… Obama probably does stand as a stark reminder of that divide.