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The official finish of Hershel Walker’s Senate candidacy earlier this month brings to an in depth one other failed saga within the Republican Occasion spin machine’s makes an attempt to deploy tokenism to cloak a platform of blatant racism and open flirtation with white Christian nationalism within the disguise of a range pitch.
Many noticed Walker’s nomination for a Senate seat in Georgia for what it was: a poorly deliberate political try to create a brand new narrative about race whereas courting potential crossover voters in predominantly Black areas of the state. It’s no secret that the GOP did every little thing it may to attempt to wrestle again management of the Senate. And Walker’s nomination was completely a tactic designed to confuse Black voters.
Let’s be clear: The GOP has totally embraced racism, and utilizing Walker as a token Black buddy is a distinguished instance of that.
I’m glad that Black voters in Georgia noticed proper by means of the spin and voted for a candidate who truly lives in Georgia and is keen about combating for his constituents and their shared values. Black voters overwhelmingly — 90% % — voted for Rev. Warnock, refusing to fall for the chimera candidate within the GOP’s Black man versus Black man lure.
Walker wasn’t chosen for his skill to do the job or his political expertise. As a substitute, Walker received the nod due to his loyalty to former President Donald Trump, his willingness to parrot occasion strains on cue and, most significantly, as a result of he’s Black (sufficient).
Certainly one of Walker’s prime cheerleaders on the marketing campaign path was Sen. Lindsey Graham, who spent numerous his time campaigning by doubling down on the subject of race, suggesting {that a} Walker win would acquit the GOP of racism.
Throughout an appearance on Sean Hannity’s present on Fox Information in October of this yr, Graham mentioned, “Walker modifications your entire narrative of the left.”
“What occurs when the Republican Occasion elects and nominates Herschel Walker, an African-American, Black, Heisman Trophy winner?”
As cringeworthy as Graham’s feedback are, it reveals that Graham and fellow conservatives are utilizing Walker’s pores and skin colour for their very own political acquire, which is ironic contemplating how loud conservatives like Graham get each time there’s any dialogue of race being weaponized in politics.
Graham additionally claimed that, “they’re scared to dying of Herschel Walker as a result of if Herschel Walker turns into a Republican, possibly each different younger little one in America of colour would possibly wish to be a Republican.”
Judging by his insulting and ignorant feedback, what Graham and his colleagues fail to appreciate is that Black folks on this nation have been avoiding racial Trojan Horses on the poll like Walker because the traditional Civil Rights Motion.
Selecting Walker, in truth, reveals how ignorant and bigoted the GOP is on the subject of Black voters and the way out of contact they’re with the altering political panorama.
Black voters are usually not a monolith and being “melanated sufficient” isn’t going to routinely get you a vote. And assuming that “being Black” is a enough political platform is insulting to the intelligence of Black voters.
Latest historical past and voting traits present that Black voters are inclined to vote for candidates that battle for democracy, even when our group is being ignored.
The GOP’s techniques throughout this race produced nothing wanting a meritless, unresearched circus act. If the GOP had carried out the naked minimal, they’d have realized that Walker is so out of contact with the Black group and last-ditch efforts to push him on voters in predominantly Black and Democratic areas was a waste of everybody’s time.
Ultimately, the racial polarization in Georgia was crystal clear in exit polls exhibiting Warnock profitable 90 % of Black voters and the hardly sentient Walker profitable 70 % of white voters.
Story courtesy of the Washington Blade by way of the Nationwide LGBTQ Media Affiliation. The Nationwide LGBTQ Media Affiliation represents 13 legacy publications in main markets throughout the nation with a collective readership of greater than 400K in print and greater than 1 million + on-line. Be taught extra right here: https://nationallgbtmediaassociation.com/
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