My Fear of African-American in Political Office

We're seeing a phenomenon in American politics with the candidacy of Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama for the office of President. As individuals, I don't fear either. However, I've long thought that African-Americans (A-As)are black first and American second.

There's a joke about having Irish Alzhemers - one forgets everything except the grudge. The fact that Senator Barama does not wear the American flag in his lapel signals to me that me has a grudge - he's a member of an African-American nation and is not one of us.

Speaking of the Irish, we are proud of our Irish roots. However, I don't know any who are Irish first, American second. The majority of us came to America better equipped - we had a shirt on our back, our strong faith, and we spoke English. That's about it.

The ancestors of most Americans did not arrive on these shores as slaveholders or with gold in their pocketbook. Neither did they have the economic value that slaves had. Southeners will tell you that, in the case of the Irish, they were given the jobs that blacks wouldn't be given. Why? Slaves had value and Irish laborers did not. I've also read accounts about Civil War era slaves who were obviously better fed than the soldiers in both camps.

What could we expect from an A-A President? Let me leave that to your imagination. However, the American Left has rarely taken issues head-on. They can't win them with a direct approach. But, when they've been able to open the door to a political issue just a crack, it has then been kicked open. What would happen with an A-A President? The first thing that comes to my mind is the issue of reparations.

I'm not writing this because I'm anti-black - I'm pro-American. The big issue in the upcoming Presidential race should be about investment in America. Our national economic policies continue to force capital to flee our country as fast as water over Niagara Falls. What is now disappearing is the industrial backbone of this nation - the American working class. No, not unions, Democrats or Republicans - American jobs. And our bankrupt American government, which would have been called "Red" in the old days, is the cause.

If you believe the Democratic candidates for President, Republicans are the problem. I you believe Republicans, Democrats are the problem. Both say their style of Government is the answer. However, Americans who incorrectly perceive this are the problem - they elect people who would like us to believe that Government is the answer. It is not. Americans are the problem.

Quit treading on me.