<a href='http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/columnists/orl-maxwell1705nov17,0,2971218.column?coll=orl-news-col' target='_blank'>NAACP chief makes switch to GOP</a>

Quote:NAACP chief makes switch to GOP
Published November 17, 2005


For decades, Republicans have struggled to reach out to black Americans. But now in Orange County, the GOP has to reach no further than the NAACP.

As of this week, Derrick Wallace, head of Orange County's NAACP, has switched parties -- to become a Republican.

"I've thought about this for two years," Wallace said Tuesday afternoon, just a few hours after returning from the elections office. "This is not a decision I made yesterday."

It is, however, a decision that rang out like a shot among political circles.

Republican Party leader Lew Oliver described himself as "extraordinarily pleased," while Democratic leader Tim Shea said he was disappointed.

Wallace, a construction-company exec, was candid about the fact that his business life was a big part of his decision to change.

"It's purely a business decision. Ninety percent of those I do business with are Republicans," he said. "Opportunities that have come to my firm have been brought by Republicans."

To that, Shea responded: "I'm a little confused. Are we talking about the National Association for the Advancement of Construction Professionals -- or Colored People?"

Wallace elaborated that his "business" line of thought also referred to the NAACP. Behind many of the power desks in this town sit Republicans. And he said he wants his organization to be part of that structure. Just as importantly, he said, he didn't want people to immediately brand -- or dismiss -- NAACP concerns as synonymous with those of liberal Democrats. "I want this branch to be respected," he said.

Oliver said they already are, noting that all of the members of the GOP executive board joined the NAACP a few years back to show that they were serious about outreach. "We have taken pains to do our very best to reach out," he said.

But Shea and other Democrats have long maintained that Republican talk about inclusion is little more than that: talk. They cite GOP policy after policy -- on everything from voting rights to health care -- that disproportionately negatively affects blacks.

Wallace's party switch may not be a complete surprise. After his own long-shot bid for mayor of Orlando fell short in 2003, he twice supported Republican candidates for the post.

Still, Wallace's new GOP standing is historic for the NAACP -- an organization that is vastly Democratic.

"I don't think my doing this hurts anything. In fact, I think it helps," Wallace said. "But we'll hear what others have to say. I'm sure I will."

This can't sit well with the democratic leaders.

Quote:"It's purely a business decision. Ninety percent of those I do business with are Republicans," he said. "Opportunities that have come to my firm have been brought by Republicans."

Personally, I think that is the wrong reason to switch parties. There are many reason for blacks to switch parties other than this. I have often found that the Republicans are more in line with my Religious beliefs and I applaud their attempts at welfare reform.

I may have read it wrong but I read it as that opportunities for him to advance (no pun intended) in his business have come from Republicans. In between the lines being "Democrats talk about opportunities for minorities but the Republicans actually come through."

I could be wrong though.

That may be. But I am more of a literal type person. I take that he does a lot of business with Republicans and he feels that by becoming Republican he can get more business oppurtunities. There is nothing wrong with switching parties, I would like to hope that I could site more than just my wallet as one of the main reasons.

uhmump95 Wrote:That may be. But I am more of a literal type person. I take that he does a lot of business with Republicans and he feels that by becoming Republican he can get more business oppurtunities. There is nothing wrong with switching parties, I would like to hope that I could site more than just my wallet as one of the main reasons.

Could be, though I don't know why you'd admit that so freely.

But hey, the dollar is as good a reason as any I guess.

BTW, I just now noticed your avatar and tag line. That's terrific. :laugh:

Ninerfan1 Wrote:BTW, I just now noticed your avatar and tag line. That's terrific. :laugh:

I knew you would like it. I believe you were the one who gave me the moniker!!

uhmump95 Wrote:I knew you would like it. I believe you were the one who gave me the moniker!!

Yup.

uhmump95 Wrote:

Quote:"It's purely a business decision. Ninety percent of those I do business with are Republicans," he said. "Opportunities that have come to my firm have been brought by Republicans."

Personally, I think that is the wrong reason to switch parties. There are many reason for blacks to switch parties other than this. I have often found that the Republicans are more in line with my Religious beliefs and I applaud their attempts at welfare reform.

I agree with you as well on that mump. It struck me as odd, and I began to wonder was he switching just so he could say he was a republican (as the article implied), or was he switching because he realized he was a republican? It could just be misleading journalism.

Something that will be interesting to watch will be how the national NAACP reacts to this. Will they stand by their chapter leader, or will they stand by a political party, or will they just go on and ignore this (as they should)?


Just to be fair on the wellfare reform note that you brought up...the best wellfare reform that I have seen was done in NC by a democrat Governor. It was a very aggressive program, but I think it has since fallen by the wayside.

Most of the Republicans in the south used to be Democrats. They always voted Democrat. The were referred to politically as "The Solid South". They were a bunch racists who turn Republican when the northern democrats started enforcing the Civil Rights Act.

bronco67 Wrote:Most of the Republicans in the south used to be Democrats. They always voted Democrat. The were referred to politically as "The Solid South". They were a bunch racists who turn Republican when&nbsp; the northern democrats started enforcing the Civil Rights Act.

Is that was your 6th grade teacher told you? Somehow, the memo to Robert Byrd must have been misplaced. :rolleyes:

bronco67 Wrote:Most of the Republicans in the south used to be Democrats. They always voted Democrat. The were referred to politically as "The Solid South". They were a bunch racists who turn Republican when the northern democrats started enforcing the Civil Rights Act.

You need to check who voted for the civil rights acts....Let me give you a hint...Starts with an "R" and it ends with "epublicans". It was the dems that were voting against it.