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One of the benefits of a large 2020 Dem field is what can be learned about voters’ preferences. For example, black conservatism – widely misunderstood – is presently on display & most of the nation is missing it. Let’s consider Booker & HBCUs. 
In this CNN town hall video, Booker responds to a question about HBCU funding & touts Opportunity Zones (OZs). The OZ legislation was the pet project of GOP Sen. Tim Scott, who was able to get it into Trump’s tax cut bill in 2017.
OZs are decidedly conservative policy. They give capital gains tax breaks to private investors who put the $$ into a fund that invests in low-income areas.
HALF of the nation’s HBCUs are in such areas, thus, Booker argues, OZs would be a boon for them aei.org/publication/ed…
HALF of the nation’s HBCUs are in such areas, thus, Booker argues, OZs would be a boon for them aei.org/publication/ed…
No matter what one thinks of OZs, Booker – who’s at the field’s liberal end – is pushing a conservative policy passed in the Trump tax cut; that’s notable & a lesson in black conservatism.
As noted here, the liberal-conservative spectrum operates differently in black America
As noted here, the liberal-conservative spectrum operates differently in black America
Typically, conservative is seen as synonymous w/ Republican. But that has never been the case in black America – ideology & party don’t correlate there as they do w/ other voters. Over 90% may vote Dem but 30% of them identify as conservative.
What do pro-lifers, fiscal conservatives, state’s rights folk, & defense hawks have in common? Nothing.. EXCEPT the GOP (& increasingly race).
Black conservatism rejects the GOP platform in a way that white conservatism does not. Why? Easy – the issue of civil rights.
Black conservatism rejects the GOP platform in a way that white conservatism does not. Why? Easy – the issue of civil rights.
So black conservatism is not black Republicanism. The Booker example holds. He is for OZs & has supported school choice (conservative prefs) but also marijuana decrim & Medicare-for-all (progressive prefs). This is not atypical! It’s why we say black voters aren’t monolithic!
This isn’t a slam on Booker – it simply shows how representative his mix of policies are of the political diversity w/in black America. And it explains why Dem policy appeals aren’t the way to win the black vote. Show you can win & can be trusted. fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-d…
Harris knows this, too. Her busing attack on Biden wasn’t about policy – hell, over 1 in 5 black folks today OPPOSE busing (a black conservatism stance). That confrontation was about demonstrating strength & willingness to fight on race issues.
As the Dem debate next week approaches – & the one in Sept will be @ an HBCU – we'll see elements of black conservatism in both Harris & Booker’s responses, mixed seamlessly w/ moderate & liberal positions.
That's bc black political behavior hit different (& that's not a typo)/
That's bc black political behavior hit different (& that's not a typo)/
