Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I highlight Republican respect for civil liberties. February 19th 1976, President Gerald Ford signed Proclamation 4177, formally rescinding a Democrat outrage. Franklin Roosevelt's notorious Executive Order 9066 had authorized the internment of one hundred twenty thousand Japanese-Americans during WWII. "In this Bicentennial Year, we are commemorating the anniversary dates of many great events in American history. An honest reckoning, however, must include a recognition of our national mistakes as well as our national achievements. Learning from our mistakes is not pleasant, but as a great philosopher once admonished, we must do so if we want to avoid repeating them." "I call upon the American people to affirm with me this American Promise — that we have learned from the tragedy of that long-ago experience forever to treasure liberty and justice for each in...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Ferdinand Barnett, born in Nashville, February 18th 1852. After purchasing the child's freedom, his parents moved the family to Canada. Returning after the Civil War, he attended Northwestern Law School and became the third African-American to pass the Illinois bar. In 1878, Barnett started publishing  The Chicago Conservator . This newspaper was later sold to his wife Ida Wells, the famed Republican journalist. He worked for the RNC during two presidential campaigns. In 1896, a Republican Governor appointed him assistant district attorney. Democrat Vote Fraud blocked his elections for judge and city councilman. Back to Basics for the Republican Party  is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I denounce the Democratic Party for glamorizing the Ku Klux Klan. Back to Basics for the Republican Party  describes on page seven an especially outrageous Democrat outrage. February 18th 1915, President Woodrow Wilson premiered  Birth of a Nation  at the White House. That racist movie was based on  The Clansmen  and  The Leopard's Spots , novels espousing hatred for African-Americans. They had been written by one of Wilson's college pals. While vilifying the Republican Party of the post-Civil War era,  Birth of a Nation  tried to justify Democrat terrorists and Democrat violence against African-Americans. President Wilson called the movie "terribly true... like history written with lightning". Birth of a Nation  spawned the 20th century version of the Ku Klux Klan, which adopted the white sheet uniforms, cross-burning and other rit...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute John Willis Menard, born a Free Black in Illinois, February 17th 1838. He attended an Ohio college open to African-American students. During the Civil War, he worked at a military hospital. Peace restored, Menard was customs inspector at New Orleans and editor of a newspaper, the  Radical Standard . November 1868, the young Republican won election to a U.S. House of Representatives vacancy, but his opponent contested it based on Democrat Vote Fraud. With only a few days remaining in the term, Congress declined to seat either man. Later years, Menard resided in Florida. He edited newspapers, and during the Benjamin Harrison administration worked for the census bureau. Back to Basics for the Republican Party  is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry abo...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I spotlight a musical milestone. February 17th 1882, a group of African-American vocalists entertained Chester Arthur and guests at the White House. Known as the Jubilee Singers, they performed a sophisticated medley of spirituals including  Swing Low, Sweet Chariot  and  Safe in the Arms of Jesus .  Said the choirmaster: "I never saw a man so deeply moved, and I shall always believe President Arthur to be a truly good man." It was reported that he was moved to tears. Ten years earlier, Jubilee Singers had performed for President Ulysses Grant and Vice President Henry Wilson. Back to Basics for the Republican Party  is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I applaud Salvatore Bono, born in Detroit, February 16th 1935. Knowm as Sonny, he rose to fame as songwriter, singer and actor. Political activism began with opposing burdensome regulation and taxation of his restaurant in Palm Springs. Determined to do something about it, Sonny ran for mayor and won. In 1994, Bono won election to the U.S. House of Representatives. This conservative Republican observed about illegal immigration: "What’s to talk about? It’s illegal." His charisma made him a popular speaker. He died in a skiing accident during a second term. Back to Basics for the Republican Party  is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see  www.grandoldpartisan.com .  Here is a  YouTube Video  a...