As you indicate above, blacks have historically supported democrats, white or black. In the black community Bill Clinton is often jokingly referred to as the "first black president" because of the huge amount of support and admiration he received from blacks. He even moved to Harlem. Contrast this to republicans where only 2% participants in the Republican National Convention were blacks and historically they have catered to and appealed to southern white racists. But, the biggest problem for the republican party is that the GOP is well, "old" and dying out and should be very concerned about their future. Someone described a Palin rally as a rock concert for "old" people and felt like these rallys were giving old people one last hurrah before they die.

Very interesting. I agree totally with your comments. I have a few to add. 1. If Obama were a republican speaking on the same platform that he does, appearing as he does...cool calm collected and ready to lead this country, I'm willing to bet that you would have African Americans willing to vote for him. You would then have the same effect with the consciences of White America as you have now. They would find it hard to vote for the man. Simply because they can't get past the color of his skin. 2. I pose a question... if Barack Obama was in white skin running against a white candidate do you think he would be such a hard choice ? (be he Democrat or Republican) people vote their interest for the most part when its 2 white opponents. 3. Lets do it another way...put them both in Black skin...once again I believe people will vote considering their interests...what choice would they have?. Its good to see a someone running with a fresh outlook on things that will hopefully benefit this great country of ours. I just hope that people, when they go to the polls look at the issues, and the candidate who offers the best answers to making our nation the best it can be. Middle America is close to hitting bottom with the way our economy is going. We truly need for our next President to protect the interests of all Americans.

Quick history questions Mr. Rodricks, who were the Dixiecrats? Name a Republican Senator who was a member of the KKK. Did blacks support FDR? Which party members tried to fillerbuster the Civil Richts Act? I could go on but will ask just one "history" question, which party freed the slaves and which party opposed their freedom?

DR: You're right, of course -- once upon a time the GOP was the party of Lincoln. Once upon 145 years ago. I think the more relevant era, which would explain voting behavior in 2008, would be the last 40 years.

Dan, this is one of the most thoughtful columns I had read recently on this coming election. The south joined up with the Democratic Party after reconstruction because southerners would not be part of the party of Lincoln. The Republican Party was moribund in the South until the GOP southern strategy in the aftermath of the Civil Rights Act. Even before Strom Thurmond became the candidate for the so-called “Dixiecrat” Party, the southern Democrats were called Dixiecrats because they differed so greatly from the Democratic Party – race relationship, labor movement, New Deal liberal agenda, etc. From the end of the Civil War to the time of FDR, African-Americans mostly voted for Republicans when and if they could vote. The African-American migration to the Democratic Party started with FDR and turned into a floodgate in the 1948 election. President Truman integrated the military when Congress would not even touch this issue and was rewarded with a massive turnout of African-American votes that won him the election. The polls of that time only polled white voters and so predicted Dewey to win decisively. The photo of Truman holding the Chicago Tribune with the headline, DEWEY BEATS TRUMAN had become iconic in presidential elections. According to CNN, John Kerry won 88% of the black votes in 2004. The overwhelming majority of African- American voters would vote Democratic no matter who is running for president.

Do you really believe the Democrats changed their behavior on Civil Rights over the last 40 years because they found a conscious. Could the change have come about because of self survival in elections they knew they could not win without the black vote.

No I do not believe that Democrats changed their behavior on Civil Rights because they found a conscious. However, I do believe that when confronted with the horrors and immorality of racism, true American leaders whether Democratic or Republican, stepped up and did the right thing despite going against the prevailing popular and political sentiments. FDR couldn’t integrate the army and the navy because in the middle of the most moral war in history against fascism and genocide, the military generals and admirals would rather resign their commission than put men who are of a different skin color into the ranks of the front line, but he was able to force these military leaders to allow African-Americans to fight in the front lines albeit in separate units, instead of just serving in support battalions, and they made a name for themselves, i.e. the Tuskegee Airmen, the best fighter pilots in the US Army Air Corps. Truman against the advice of virtually everybody, his cabinet, his military generals, and his own party leaders adamantly insisted on integrating the Military and did so by executive order. For this decision, he was supposed to lose the 1948 election. Eisenhower sent in the 82nd Airborne Division to uphold the Supreme Court unanimous ruling to desegregate the schools of Little Rock Arkansas in opposition of the Arkansas Governor who sent the Arkansas National Guards to actively prevent children from attending public schools that their parents paid taxes to support. This decision horrified the leaders of both parties. Kennedy was hesitant to alienate southern votes but when confronted with a state governor and state police who were willing to let a mob lynch a young man because of the color of his skin, from attending the University of Mississippi, made the morally correct but politically wrong decision to send in the Army. He made this decision knowing that he would lose the southern votes for his re-election. Johnson made the decision to ram the Civil Rights Act of 1965 through a reluctant Congress. Again, he knew full well, as a southern Democratic politician, that this law would turn the southern states to the Republican Party in the very near future. When confronted with the ugly face of racism, these men stepped up to the plate and made the right decision for America. None of these decisions aided their own parties or their party’s leaders. Instead, America as a nation and we as American citizens benefited from the decisions of these men made in their duties as Presidents of these United States.

Darnell contradicts the entire article, when he says that if Obama were Republican blacks would vote for him. That is the problem. They are voting specifically on race. Typically 90% of blacks vote democrat. The additional 5% this year that will vote for Obama strictly on race alone may decide the race. Not to mention all those that are going to vote for the first time ever just because Obama is black. By the way he isn't, he is bi-racial. Which means half white. His black father skipped out, typical. And blacks are Dems, because Dems want to give them more handouts and money to be lazy and not work. If Obama was a Republican he would be opposed to this and be labeled an uncle tom and perhaps they wouldnt vote for him. Who knows? One thing is for sure, when he gets elected and screws up everything even more we wont be able to criticize him because that would be racist.

"....true American leaders whether Democratic or Republican, stepped up...." That's my point about your column. When you write about Republicans you paint a picture of all Republicans are anti-black. I know you are going to say you never said that. But if you really read what you write, that is the thought you come away with. I could debate you all day about political decisions and people in the Parties but would be wrong to think one or more people in the Democratic Party, making a bad choice, was how all members thought.

By posting the insane racist rantings of Tom, Dan has proven once and for all that he does not censor opposing viewpoints.

In response to Tom, Obama is bi-racial and a point that should be brought up more often. And I hope that no one votes solely based off of race but by character. However, your racist spirit, which by your comments make it apparent you're Republican, is the exact reason African Americans do vote Democrat. You toss out very slanderous assumptions about a racial group that you have not sought to understand or sympathize with. " His black father skipped out, typical.", How insensitive?! And assuming that, "...blacks are Dems, because Dems want to give them more handouts and money to be lazy and not work." So that statement makes the assertion that all black Dems are on Welfare and even moreso that blacks that are on welfare are lazy- how disrespectful and ignorant! And I'll share a bit of my own personal testimony to help you begin to sympathize and understand... My African American parents were 'Married' (in emphases) for 12 years- they get a divorce (like most of today's american families including whites) and my mother who was dependent on my father to help raise their 4 daughters was left to feed and provide for them on her own. So yes, we were on welfare for approx. 4 years until she got on her feet. During that time, she attained her Bachelors and Masters degree while maintaining a household. All of her children (who were on welfare) are college educated and I, a African American woman, will be voting based on character. I'm sure if you get to know the people you criticize you may find out many similar stories to my own. I pray you do because people don't listen to ignorance very long.

Oh and I really enjoy your Blog site Dan. Keep it up.

All the polls show is that whites are willing to vote for a black, but blacks are not willing to vote for a white candidate if a black one is available. How else do you account for 90+% of blacks apparently going to vote for Obama?