The truth about racism, redistricting and gerrymandering
Is racism a factor in legislative redistricting by the states? While Democrats and the media point an accusatory finger at the Republican Party, is that legitimate?
Having been involved in the issues of redistricting at every level – including court cases – I suggest that race is not a primary consideration for GOP redistricting – even gerrymandering. Actually, not a consideration at all. In my periodic involvement in redistricting, I have never … as in never … heard a Republican discuss redistricting in racist term. It is not a consideration. The appearance of racial segregation in redistricting is coincidental at best.
(I probably should pause as the Democrats and their media allies extinguish the fire consuming their hair.)
To understand why I reject racism as a primary – or even a secondary – consideration in redistricting, you need to know the primary purpose of realigning the legislative districts. Basically, it is to give the party controlling redistricting more elected offices in the next election – regardless of the ethnicity of the voters. We do this every ten years as the census reveals population shifts.
Certainly, people criticize the partisan nature of redistricting, but it is what it is – and always will be. The party in power draws maps that benefit … the party in power. Duh! The cross criticism between the parties – depending on which has the power at the time — is mostly political hypocrisy.
One way to gain more legislative seats is to jam the other party’s voters into single districts – minimizing the other party’s voters in other districts. Or to spread the other party’s voters into multiple districts in which they are only a minority. Not a racial minority, but just a voter minority.
Because blacks have voted overwhelmingly for Democrats, they are the victims of redistricting by Republicans. Not because they are black, but because they are Democrat voters. If blacks voted Republican in greater number, it would completely change the GOP’s redistricting strategy. It is all about votes – not racism.
What about Democrat redistricting? That is where an analysis gets interesting.
Is it possible that Democrats – not Republicans – are more likely to base their redistricting strategies on race and racism?
(There goes another outbreak of progressive hair fires.)
Consider this. Democrats have had a looong history of redistricting in states where they hold power – and have a large segregated black vote. Yet, they have used redistricting to confine both the black and Hispanic vote into the fewest districts possible. That has nothing to do with arranging the vote – and everything to do with limiting black and Hispanic empowerment – to retain the power for the white Democrat establishment.
Democrats in places like New York and Chicago, could easily have created concise (one border/no “islands”) and compact (no meandering all over the place) integrated districts and still prevailed on election day. So, why put all the blacks and Hispanics in one district – essentially diminishing the number of black public officials.
Look at the old 7th Congressional District in Chicago. It was designed by Democrats to concentrate the bulk of the black community into a single district … a virtually all black district. They did the same with the 4th Congressional district – a virtually all Hispanic district.
Since these districts were not necessitated based on VOTER demographics, it leaves only the racial demographics as the primary purpose. That is racism.
Whenever the ten-year census requires redrawing of political districts, there is going to be a huge battle between those with the power and those without. The arguments are always the same – and racism is one of the evergreen accusations. The same old arguments will hypocritically flip back and forth as the power side flips back and forth between parties. Those with the power will do – and those without will complain and lament. In the end, those in control will gain and those on the sideline will lose.
The complaints may seem a bit one-sided against Republicans, but that is largely due to the media bias that focuses on GOP redistricting and ignores the same activities in Democrat States. In fact, Democrats have done well in using redistricting to gain more seats in state legislatures and in Congress for the 2022 election in the states where they control the redistricting. And yes … they created districts that are not compact. They gerrymandered.
Redistricting, however, is one of many issues in which Democrats play their worn and weathered race card. That is a diversion more than a reality.
Expect Republican states to pick up seats. Not so much from redistricting, however. It is because folks are exiting Democrat states to live in more conservative Republican states. Hence, more congressional districts shift to red states.
Yes, despite all the accusations and complaining, redistricting – based on population re-distribution – 2022 is shaping up as a very good year for the GOP. Very good, indeed.
So, there ‘tis.
There’s no way that democrats won’t cheat at every opportunity. They are power hungry communists
And can you explain how the Florida redistricting seems fair and not an example of systemic racism especially since one of the few black representatives in Florida got x’d out by it.
That dog doesn’t hunt. Only democrats play the race card. And stupid ass people like you
I am not a stupid ass. I’ve been tested.
I just asked the question, and trust me, your answer does not suffice.
I mean DeSantis redistricted only one guy out of office, a black guy, I think it’s a fair question. As to the rest of your statement, kind of a red herring to the question. Who cares if the Democrats are racist, the question still stands.
Good riddance
Then stop acting like one.
OMG!!!!!! Shame on desantis !!!!!! He’s definitely got my vote if he runs for president. Make America white again
Like I said, all Republicans are not overt racists, but all overt racists vote republican. Especially Trumpublicans..
Little ben ….. you are making absurd statements again.
I enjoy reading your posts, even if I don’t agree with you. Do you think it could be just a coincidence thAT THE REP WAS BLACK? Or are you convinced that all of us Republicans hate blacks? One of my brothers is married to a very fine black American woman. We all love her. And one of my nephews has an adorable, kind, intelligent wife from Ghana.
Thanks for your kind words.
Being frank, and I’m not, I was merely asking the question. I mean when something looks a bit odd, is it not fair to ask a question.
Of course it could be coincidence.
And as far as you know in a black and therefore it’s OK, I think we all agree that anecdotal data is not statistical data. 02 have similar situation to my family, as too many Americans in our modern world. But the kind of service, including you, support systemic racism. Hopefully unintended consequences, hopefully not overt, but that’s just the way it is and something we should address. Does being woke mean we’re going overboard. Absolutely. Anytime you try to right or wrong, fix a problem, whatever, the chance of going overboard exist, the chance of having extremist or those that are more passionate exist, of course. That’s called life.
Again, I don’t know that there’s any issue at all in Florida, it just seems fair to ask the question.
Will. No I do not think it is a coincidence. It is because Republicans as a whole are NOT racists. You will filnd that Black GOP office holders arise from majority white Districts. It is not as common for a Black Dem to be elected for a majority white district. So, what that that tell us. I have a Black daughter. My brother has Black and Hispanic grandchildren. And we are rock solid conservative Republicans. Virtually every integrated family i know are Republicans. I love seeing integrated family. That means assimilation is taking place. While we believe in the melting pot, Democrats tend to see America as a bucket of rocks …black, brown, yellow, red and white … and use identity politics to maintain the separation, That is why you see such severe segregation in Dem cities. That is why you will see minorities in mostly white suburbs, but rarely see a white resident in the inner cities. Even the churches are mostly segregated in the black communities. Guys like Frank look at the clock on the wall and still cannot tell what time it is.
It’s all pink inside
Frank Stetson … you need to up your reading comprehension skill. I explained it in the commentary. That is what the commentary was about. It is about the votes … not race. It is the votes that are redistricted by the majority to gain more seats. And if it is all about race, why is there a black Republican member of Congress from Florida? Maybe it would help if you took notes.
Gee Larry, you’re pretty hard on a guy just for asking a question. First you blame him for not reading, then you call him a few names, and of course, you never answer the question.
I guess when in doubt, doubt the questioner and call him names. Make it personal. Guess that works for you.
Fact is, the FL redistricting negates the seat in Congress currently held by a black Democrat. I just asked the question Does that seem fair and not an example of systemic racism
The question still stands. It’s just a question. Feel free to discuss
Frank… no matter now many times you like to say i do not answer the question …. I DID give you the answer in the commentary and in my response. You just cannot seem to comprehend.
Frank Stetson … you have made it your hobby to attack me and my writing. So your whining it laughable. You seem to see it as a game that you must win — at least in your mind. It is frustration to see your answer that are too often irrelevant, uninformed and ill-logical. You still cannot grasp that Dem control the segregated cities where minorities are impoverished, uneducated, unemployed, unsafe and ill-housed. You change the subject to states — which is totally irrelevant. You cannot comprehend that much, you are simply unwilling to discuss reality.
It was just a question Larry, it was specific to one congressional seat in Florida, it was specific to one existing congressman. He was the black one Larry, shouldn’t be too hard to find in Florida…
But if that’s your answer, thank you. Not sufficient, but thank you anyway.
As to attacking you, it was a question Larry.
Prove it That might be good for a bumper sticker slogan but it the democrats that keep the blacks more separated in our larger cities and many small towns. The biggest mistake that blacks made several years ago was listening to you lefties. And the democrats were dragged kicking and screaming into passing the civil rights act. The republicans are trying to produce good jobs and education for minorities but you brain washed liberal idiots get indoctrination from Marxist rag talking points and commie publications. But look out. More of the minorities are getting “woke”. So your hidden Jim Crow agenda is going to hell in a hand basket
I don’t understand why people worry about who’s racist and who isn’t. I really don’t give a shit. It’s all hypocritical. People bitch about proud boys and kkk but don’t say anything about the many militant black boy clubs. And the Nation of Islam is the worst. So I don’t care what people think as long as they leave me alone.
Republicans fight tooth and nail to have the most unbalanced districts.
Republican Senators Haven’t Represented a Majority of Voters Since 1996
Republicans haven’t won the popular vote but once in 30+ years.
Instead of proposing more popular ideology, republicans continue to fight tooth and nail to keep the maps that keep them in power.
The democrats voter fraud really works. That’s why most redistction maps by democrats are tossed. The old Tammany hall shit isn’t working as well as it once did.
Miles,
The data isn’t old. The fact is, Republican ideologies just aren’t that popular. The general public doesn’t want laws that dictate what we can put in our bodies, who we can sleep with, what a woman does with her body or discrimination against our neighbors.
“Be Best”
People are waking up. Baby murder probably doesn’t play a great part. It’s a lot to do with your commie party cheerleading for lawlessness and tying the hands of the polish. And groups in school boards trying to groom our kids. I knew that the democrats would overplay their hands and fuck up. Good for them. Maybe there’s hope for America after all And watch Disney World go down
B4ACE …Rather then quibble over your contentions about what the public once, let’s hold off until the November election when the public and tell us what they want.
B4ACE …. You need to examine the districts and not just listen to media narrative. The most outrageous districts in America were crafted by Democrats. That canard about majority vote only applies to presidential. The GOP has enjoyed majorities in other elections.. And since Democrat account for about one-third and GOP the same. it is the independent vote the will give one party or the other a victory on a national level. And for good reasons, all our elections are not national. A healthy system needs to have a viable loyal opposition and our Founder ingeniously crafted that. The idea that if there is one more Dem than Rep in America, Dems should hold all offices is nonsense. I lived in Illinois where Democrat regularly used redistricting to disenfranchise Republicans. Both party use redistricting to enhance their power. It is the nature of the beast … and to complain about one party is just hypocritical.