Malcolm X: "The Ballot or the Bullet" - The Growing Debt that Democrats Owe to Non-White Voters - without us they are nothing

Three Democrats have become president since Lyndon Johnson — Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Obama — but none of them has won a majority of white votes. [MORE] How did they become president? By picking up enough white votes along with enough "minority" votes to build a winning coalition.

In 2008 Obama got 43 percent of the white vote, 95 percent of the black vote, 67 percent of the Latino vote and 62 percent of the Asian vote.  In 2008 when Obama captured 43% of the white vote - it was the highest percentage of white votes garnered by a Democratic presidential candidate since Lyndon Johnson (President Clinton also received 43% of the white vote in his 1996 re-election campaign). [MORE]. 

In other words, without the non-white voter, Democrats would be nothing. In his speech, "The Ballot or the Bullet?"[HERE] and [HERE], Malcolm X, who was neither Democrat or Republican asked "what do you get out of supporting Democrats?" What is the product of their politics? 'If you put them first and they put you last - then you are a political chump.' He implored us to demand justice in return for our vote - over 40 years ago.

A major difference today is that the white population is shrinking while the non-white population is surging. Whites are projected to be the minority of the US population by 2042. [MORE] What does that mean for black politics? If people of color stop settling for less we can begin to make decisions about our future - instead of merely selecting choices provided to us as part of an illusion of particpation. 

The White Party

In contrast to the dems, as explained by Republican Pat Buchanan, "Republicans now depend on white voters for fully 90 percent of their votes in presidential elections, while the Democratic Party wins 60 to 70 percent of the Asian and Hispanic vote and 90 to 95 percent of the black vote.The Democratic base is growing inexorably, while the Republican base is shriveling. "Shriveling" because the white population is in decline - they are the vanishing white  majority. 

Already, California, Illinois and New York are lost. The GOP has not carried any of the three in five presidential elections. When Texas – where whites are a minority and a declining share of the population – tips, how does the GOP put together an electoral majority?" [MORE] 

Race, age and ethnicity are at the heart of the problem. Again, almost 90 percent of all Republican voters in presidential elections are white. But whites fell to 74 percent of the electorate in 2008 and were only 64 percent of the population. The falloff continues and is greatest among the young.

Latinos were 15 percent of the U.S. population in 2008 and 7.4 percent of the electorate. Both percentages will inexorably rise. Yet in their best years, like 2004, Republicans lose the Hispanic vote 3-to-2. In bad years, like 2008, they lose it 2-to-1.

Whites are already a minority in California, and Hispanics will eventually become the majority. Say goodbye to the Golden Land. Asian-Americans voted 3-to-2 for Obama, black Americans 24-to-1. The Asian population in California and the nation is growing rapidly. The black population, 13 percent of the nation, is growing steadily. Whites, already a minority in our two most populous states, will be less than half the U.S. population by 2041 and a minority in 10 states by 2020.

Consider now the Electoral College picture. Of the seven mega-states, California, New York and Illinois appear lost to the GOP. Pennsylvania has not gone Republican since 1988. Ohio and Florida, both crucial, are now swing states. Whites have become a minority in Texas. When Texas goes, America goes. This year could be the last hurrah for the White Party. [MORE]   So, regardless of what happens in this election the future looks bright for the Democractic Party - thanks to people of color.