Senator Boxer tried playing the race card, and got soundly trumped.

Mr. Harry Alford of the National Black Chamber of Commerce was called to testify before a Senate Committee concerning the impact of the Cap and Trade bill. His organization has been studying the effect of such a bill since the mid 1990′s. Before his testimony began, Senator Barbara “Don’t Call Me Ma’am” Boxer of California introduced into the record a statement from the NAACP in support of the bill. Mr. Alford voiced his indignation, stating that the Senator should deal with him as a businessman, not as a black man.

I know what the Senator was thinking. Here is an uppity black, who leads a black organization, who is clearly not in line with the Democrat party line. Let’s deal with this black man by setting another black man against him. Let’s answer his questions at the racial level, that way avoiding having to deal with the facts. The Senator’s inability to answer Mr. Alford’s charge is testimony enough – she got caught.

Minorities and Republicans have two important lessons to learn here:

1. Minorities need to understand that the Democrat party is only interested in their racial vote. The policies and rhetoric of this party is not designed to free blacks to pursue the American dream. It is, instead, designed to keep blacks on the plantation of government dependency. Every now and then the Democrats will throw a bone to this block of voters, apologizing for slavery being the latest. As long as minorities stay blind to the reality that it is government and the Democrat party that is in fact holding them back, they will continue to support this political group that sees them only as chattel.

Condolezza Rice

2. Republicans need to learn that pandering to any racial group will ultimately backfire. The core value of Republicanism – minimal government interference is the key to personal success – must be promoted to all racial groups. Judge Clarence Thomas, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Alberto Gonzales, Judge Sotomayor, Governor Bobby Jindal, and of course Mr. Harry Alford along with others all arrived at their positions of authority and influence through hard work and personal initiative. They succeeded despite the prevailing racial ideas and laws that put barriers to their success. The Republicans should not pander to the blacks, or any other racial group. Instead, they should push for laws and policies that will free all Americans, despite racial identity, to pursue their dreams and be successful.

Well done, Mr. Alford.