John Sigler’s Chairman’s Corner
Feb 10th, 2012 by David Anderson
Good Afternoon and Welcome to a “Special Edition” of The Chairman’s Corner.
Throughout this month of February, your Delaware Republican Party enthusiastically joins this nation’s African- American community and all Delawareans in celebrating Black History Month (or National African American History Month).
From Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant to Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gerald R. Ford, Richard M. Nixon and George W. Bush, America’s Republican Party leaders have fought tirelessly against the poison of racism that flows through the veins of far too many people of all political persuasions and affiliations. The Republican quest for smaller, more effective government that eschews the cynicism of crony capitalism, and challenges the “reality” of generational dependency infecting this current administration and far too many in Congress, is an honorable goal that serves all men and women equally well.
It was President Gerald R. Ford who, in 1976, signed the very first presidential proclamation establishing February as “Black History Month,” setting this month aside as a time to honor the many important contributions African-Americans have made toward making America “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” It is because of President Ford’s efforts that all Americans are now better able to appreciate the contributions and sacrifices of America’s African-American visionaries, patriots, scholars and leaders, many of whom were proud and loyal Republicans, just like you and me.
Many of us think of the Republican Party as “The Party of Lincoln.” And so it is.
But ours is also “The Party of Frederick Douglas” and the party of Harriet Tubman, Carter G. Woodson and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Add to this list many other distinguished and accomplished African-American Republicans, such as Mary McLeod Bethune, Don King, Jackie Robinson, Lynn Swann, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Justice Clarence Thomas and Alveda C. King. There are thousands and thousands of others who have given so much of which we are so proud and who have made a tremendously positive difference in each of our lives.
After the Civil War, 23 black men (13 of whom were former slaves), were elected to Congress, all as members of the Republican Party. President Richard Nixon’s Executive Order No. 11625 made certain the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to “implement Federal policy in support of the minority enterprise effort.” President Bush had a much more diverse assembly of Cabinet Secretaries than President Obama, including General Colin Powell, the first ever black Secretary of State, who was then succeeded in the post by another distinguished African-American Republican, Dr. Condoleezza Rice – the first African-American woman to rise to become third in the line of succession to the presidency.
This election year, Democrat opposition to fiscally responsible Republican policies will portray the GOP in many distasteful ways – and yes, the “race card” will be played again and again. This, unfortunately, is to be expected in a hotly contested election year in which the incumbent President has so few positive accomplishments upon which to base his re-election campaign. Black voters are crushed under 13.6% unemployment, approximately twice that of white unemployment (7.4%) yet Democrats push for raising mandatory minimum wage requirements, which ultimately causes even more unemployment for the largest segment of minimum wage earners, black teenagers.
For these reasons and many others, the Republican Party supported 32 African-Americans running for Congress in 2010. This is a contemporary historical truth … and we believe this is still just the beginning. Look for more in 2012. Meanwhile, allies like the National Black Republican Association continue to lead the way and provide information to voters willing to seek the truth.
Here’s another “truth:” ObamaCare is already raising taxes on the middle class and causing more middle class unemployment while this administration rewards wealthy investment bankers for their role in creating this great recession, all of which disproportionally impacts the African-American community. It’s no surprise that millions of Americans are rejecting the opposition’s false advertising claims that Republicans are “for” big business while Democrats are “for” the people. It just goes to prove once again that “… you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”
As more investigations and hearings uncover additional “pay-to-play” scandals and political corruption in the Obama administration, we in Delaware’s Republican Party welcome and embrace politically disillusioned people of all races, all nationalities and from all walks of life. I invite you to attend our meetings, get to know and become involved with the Party, and vote Republican in 2012.
And when you attend one of our meetings, please bring a friend. Everyone is welcome in our Republican Party.
John C. Sigler, Chairman
The Secretary of State is fourth in line, behind the vice president, the speaker of the House and the president pro temples of the Senate – not third.
True, but the chairman wasn’t in today and I didn’t feel free to change it. One error in an otherwise well done piece.
We don’t need the Democrats to accuse us of playing the race card. Our Sussex County GOP chairman, a rich white guy, has decided to primary a young minority candidate.
GO GOP!
“Here’s another “truth:” ObamaCare is already raising taxes on the middle class”
Have my taxes gone up? Maybe I’m not considered middle class. Has anyone else seen an increase in FICA, Federal Taxes, or Medicare? When did this increase go into effect?
“while this administration rewards wealthy investment bankers for their role in creating this great recession”
I’m confused. Obama is or is not a socialist. Could someone enlighten me please?
Dave: To borrow and amend an assertion against me from another thread, Mr. Sigler is a conservative, so his positions don’t have to display internal consistency.
Too bad all of our great GOP leaders are dead.
Geezer, I think the strategy is to throw crap against the wall and see what sticks. If you throw enough of it, something is sure to work.
On this blog and most others, there is very little about Obama’s foreign policy and his actions as Commander In cChief. I am guessing the reason is that he would get good marks for both. Because I recognize that the President has very little authority or responsibility when it comes to domestic and economic policy my vote in the last Presidential election was for the person I thought would execute the CiC and foreign policy role most effectively and it wasn’t Obama. However, he has done a credibile job despite my doubts.
Unfortunately Presidents are also judged by those things over which they have little to no control, while for some reason Congress seems to get a pass. I surmise the reason is that it is harder to pin something on an entire body and much easier to point the finger at an individual.
I spent 35 years in the federal government in various agencies and can’t tell you how many times I had to go to the Hill to negotiate with staffers over budgetary and regulatory issues. Congressional committees are almost entirely responsible for the morass of regulations, crack pot approprations, and idiotic laws that come to the full body. Yet the average voter seems to be ignorant of this. Things like breast cancer research included in Defense appropriations, and so many other horror stories. While people save their ire for the White House, their disdain for Congress is at least equal to their ire, but the only way they can voice their displeasure it seems is in the Presidential elections.
I wish the schools would do a better job of educating citizens and future voters about how government works. If the parties actually had any real patriots and not just costumed performers, they would do the same, but slinging mud is about all I expect from them and they do a grand job of exceeding that expectation.
Two things.
First, we need a great candidate for Mayor of Wilmington or the races in NCC are going to very tough indeed.
Second the slur against Glen as a rich white guy is pretty sad. We should encourage and celebrate personal economic success as it the D’s who seek to label and divide us. ‘Minority’ candidate smacks of the most infantile approach to politics there is. We should not choose a candidate or deny a candidate based on ethnicity so wake up to reality and drop all the hate. The GOP message should be about invitation to all who want a better America not some contrived label.
Mike Protack
There was no value judgement associated with “rich white guy” when I said it. He is all those things. I presented them as facts, and YOU assigned them a negative connotation. White guilt much?
My point was the optics. It doesn’t look good. All of that is never mind that Glen Urquhart is a man who could never be elected in that district. He just can’t. I’ll take wagers. Any amount. I’m serious.
Interesting that no one wants to talk about what Sigler actually said: It is the Democrats who have been the enemies of Black people, while Republicans have been their liberators and friends. It was Republican Eisenhower who sent in the National Guard to enforce segregation. It was Republican votes that passed the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, over Democrat resistance.
I heard Urquhart lit dropped the Special Olympics of Delaware Polar Bear Plunge, this can’t be true?
According to the post Sigler said the following: “Here’s another “truth:” ObamaCare is already raising taxes on the middle class and causing more middle class unemployment while this administration rewards wealthy investment bankers for their role in creating this great recession,…”
I asked if anyone has experienced any tax increases (Federal, FICA, Medicare). I commented that I have not. I aslo asked whether Obama is a socialist given Sigler says he “rewards wealthy investment bankers” (of which Mitt is pretty much a member). My comments were only about what Sigler said. So yeah, I’m talking about what he said.
The Republican party of today in no way resembles the party of Eisenhower, Teddy Roosevelt or Martin Luther King, Jr.
And, Dave, my taxes have not gone up due to the Affordable Care Act or for any other reason. There was a Tax CUT for the middle class.
On this blog and most others, there is very little about Obama’s foreign policy and his actions as Commander In cChief. I am guessing the reason is that he would get good marks for both…
Really?
Egypt- F
Libya- F
Iran- F
China- F
How’s that?