By Andrew Padula

The Democratic party has been very effective at painting Republicans with the label of “racists”. I can understand why we are an easy target and vulnerable to racial persecution. Much has happened culturally in the past half century. Imagine the reaction that people would have today to the uncut images portrayed in Disney’s “Song of the South” or the language of “Blazing Saddles”. Try to visualize the images of urban ghetto life as portrayed in the police shows of the 70’s or in the work of comedians like Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy. Think about violent rap music and videos which with a click of the television remote blur into the images on the six o’clock news.

Now put yourself in a small Midwestern farming community with a population of less than 300 hundred people. Many of these folks have never met a Black person, and the only Liberals they see are politicians who come around every two years looking for a combine to sit on for a photo op. After feeding the animals in the morning, most will go to work a job in town. They spend any spare time taking care of the family, canning for winter, hunting for food, fixing buildings and equipment,or going to church. Many are just plain folk and speak as such. They do not care to take the time or effort to fully grasp the complex idiosyncrasies of progressive urban cultural etiquette. It has no bearing on their lives.

Many have served in our military and cherish all of the constitutional rights upon which our nation is founded. They would sacrifice their lives to protect any American’s rights, regardless of color. On the other hand, to them charity is to be extended not expected. Most oppose the government taking money out of their pockets to fix the ills of people who to them seem to be the root cause of their own troubles. “

“City folk” cannot relate to their “Redneck” views and yes they do have a more direct vernacular. Rather than trying to understand why they feel the way they do about social issues, Liberals will take the easy road and just dismiss these Conservatives as racists. Am I trying to say that all Conservatives are rural dwellers? Absolutely not, but that is the image of “Gun and Bible clinging” Republican rednecks that has been re enforced by the media and left wing pundits.

For the most part, urban and rural Conservatives do share similar values. The difference between the two is that the urbanites are slightly more culturally sensitive due to a higher frequency of inter-racial interaction. Either way, both Conservative factions have a hard time dealing with the contradictions that are thrust upon them. They love the First Amendment but when they use any of the verbiage commonly used in urban culture, they are branded as racists. They are frustrated by the media double standard they perceive as persecuting their lifestyles and beliefs while leaving them powerless respond.

Am I saying that Republicans are not racists? For the most part, yes. We believe in giving every man an equal chance to succeed or fail. Are there racist Republicans? Of course there are. We do not tolerate them and will correct them when they rear their ugly heads. On the same token, Liberals and Democrats have their racist skeletons too. Can you say Roxbury? How about Straight talkin’ Joe? Professor Gates? And thus the conflict is born…

Contributor Andrew Padula observes racial issues from an unusual perspective. Andrew is a white, politically conservative, socially Libertarian, blues musician who’s been teaching and touring the U.S. and Europe since 1993. He can be seen with blues legend Bobby Parker on B.E.T. Jazz Central as well as on Carlos Santana’s recent DVD release “Montreux Blues Summit”. But lately, Andrew has moved into politics. In 2008, Andrew ran a Congressional campaign for a Republican candidate in Maryland’s 8th district. More recently he ran for office himself. Andrew’s point of view is critical to our mission facilitating intercultural conversation. And as Andrew says: “You gotta turn the topsoil to plant a crop!”