Needless Political Lies and Deception - Commentary by J.A. Davis

Jeff Davis

Georgia Heritage Council
Phone: 770-297-4788 email: chairman@GeorgiaHeritageCouncil.org
Web: www.georgiaheritagecouncil.org

Needless Political Lies and Deception, by J. A. Davis

It took me a couple of days to cool down and regain some proper perspective following the shameful carnival of lies at the NAACP convention. And I'm not talking about Julian Bond.

The news reports disturbed me more than a little when I read excerpts from the remarks of Ken Mehlman, leader of the national Republican party (Republican National Committee or RNC).

It's understandable that any political party would be fishing for more votes than they've had in the past. In the case of the NAACP and their influence on the black vote, almost anything toward the Republicans would be an improvement as the current day GOP black vote has languished around 10 to 12 percent. In some areas there are signs of slightly better numbers as black voters become more aware of the need to get away from being taken for granted by consistent loyalty to the Democrats and getting little for it. As black voters become more independent in their thinking, this percentage will increase.

We don't fault Mehlman for reaching out for that certain increase. It's the way he went about it.

Summarizing his quotes, Mr. Mehlman did in fact apologize for the "Southern Strategy" of the Nixon era, and essentially called it wrong and racist. That's when I got my dander up. I was part of the Southern Strategy.

In fact, it was from a Republican event in Georgia, which I led, that started the Southern Strategy. That event was when then Vice-President Nixon made a visit to Atlanta in 1960 and the largest crowd in (then) recorded political history, more than 300,000 people turned out to welcome him in a state that had never given the Republicans more than 28% of the vote.

Mr. Mehlman needs a history lesson about his own party. Let's look at some facts. Americans and particularly Southern Americans were getting fed up with the left wing drift of the Democratic party. Folks who had never voted Republican in their life volunteered to serve with our 1960 effort. This included a number of black leaders from throughout Georgia.

Fact two: Mehlman should take some time to read the 1960, 1964 and 1968 platforms of the Republican party. He will find some obvious rebuttals to his remarks about being "wrong and racist." There is not one word or inference in any of those documents to support his lie. As one who had some input, I can emphatically say the emphasis was on bringing about racial equality through Constitutional means including better opportunities in schools and the workplace and emphasizing state and local programs as opposed to the Socialistic expanded national government programs proposed by the Democrats.

Fact three: Richard Nixon has been called many things, but no one can support calling him a racist. The same holds true for Barry Goldwater, the candidate in 1964. Mehlman distorts the truth. No, he LIES and for no good reason....assuming he is one who feels he needs a reason to lie.

Fact four: The Republican candidates for President during the time of the 'Southern Strategy' got more Southern black votes than the Republican party under Mehlman and his recent predecessors ever hoped to get. In fact, Mehlman's goal of 25% which fell far short (about half) in the most recent election is pale in comparison to the 33% black vote for Nixon in Georgia in 1960.

Fact five: The 'Southern Strategy' put the Republican party where it is today. Prior to the Southern Strategy the Democrats held a strong control of most statehouses and the Congressional reps from the South. During an eight to twelve year period of development the entire political make up of the nation changed as more and more "yellow dog" Democrats somehow managed to allow themselves to make the change.

Fact six: Just take another look at the map of red and blue states. The Republican party would be somewhere in Valhalla without the South and the Southern Strategy.

There are many more facts and incidents to relate that space won't permit. Perhaps it's time for me to speculate or prognosticate.

Having people like Mehlman running around apologizing for something that never happened is going to upset a lot of red state voters----many more than he can ever hope to attract by pandering to an overtly black militant and Democrat organization like the NAACP. I have no reservations about that statement. Ask the Internal Revenue Service. Have a look at Julian Bond's recent remarks as spun by the Nation of Islam's propaganda arm, FinalCall.com.

Conversely, there are good solid black people who are attracted to the real opportunity of America. These folks serve their communities and their families with dignity. They are not interested in shaking down corporations for so-called reparations. They are not interested in expanding governmental welfare programs. They want to do something about the social problems in their own communities rather than attack symbols that nets nothing in improving their way of life.

Mehlman is a lighting rod for third parties, or a consolidation of third parties. Many will say third parties just can't win. My advice is to give it a try. You can't do a lot worse and, with some real professional political thinking, you might just strike a blow for the liberty we have lost. If nothing else, maybe both the Republicans and the Democrats would have to face the truth which has been something both have been denying in recent years.

Finally, a word to the wise. I have seen some good people involved in third party efforts. Almost invariably the good well-intentioned efforts have been shot in the foot by a few that have very narrow special interests and who often attach a radical message to an otherwise marketable and winnable candidacy.

And to Mr. Mehlman, this final word. You couldn't have carried the briefcase of any of your predecessors who built the party that you're busy tearing down. Many who've gone before you would join me in apologizing to fair-minded Americans for your shameless and counter-productive pandering.

Jeff Davis is a retired radio-TV journalist living in Gainesville, GA. Active in civic and political affairs, he is past president of the Georgia Jaycees, former vice president of the US and the world Jaycees, former campaign chairman of the Georgia Republican party. He voluntarily serves as chairman of the Georgia Heritage Council. He is a collateral descendant of President Jefferson Davis.

Contact: Telephone 770 297-4788 P-6, 2363 North Cliff Colony Drive Gainesvlle, GA 30501