Well folks, it was bound to happen at some point in my campaign for the U.S. Congressional District 23 (CD 23) seat in Florida.  It seems I have been labeled a ("dreaded") Black Republican.  The "R" word was recently tossed my way in an effort to close the minds and pocketbooks of my future constituents in CD 23.  The Westside Gazette (Broward County, Florida) ran an April 2nd Op-Ed article that decried the fact that I am an African-American Republican.  In so many words, the author questioned how I could support the very same Republican Party that formed in the 19th Century as a means of abolishing slavery, the very same Republican Party that provided funding in the 20th Century to such noted Historically Black Colleges and Universities as Morehouse, Spelman, and Bethune Cookman (all of which are founded by, and named in honor of, Republicans), the very same Republican Party that named a Black man and a Black woman as U.S. Secretaries of State in the 21st Century.

Reverend Mack King Carter delivered a sermon this past Sunday at New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale whereby he described the fact that many people approach life from the perspective of a Missourian.  In other words, there is a pervasive "Show Me" mentality that permeates our modern culture.  With this finding in mind, I present the Westside Gazette article along with my factual reference links in red.  For those of you who wish to read the article in its published format, it is located at the following address: 
http://www.thewestsidegazette.com/News/article/article.asp?NewsID=87368&sID=16&ItemSource=L

As you decipher fact from fiction in the Op-Ed article, I ask that you keep in mind the fact that your financial contribution will make it possible for me to win this race.  With your help, I promise to create "A New Day, A New Way!" for all. 

Westside Gazette Op-Ed (and Commentary) begins here:

Congressman Alcee Hastings has an opponent. Not just any opponent but a Black Republican opponent (GOP and Black Colleges, Noted African-Americans).  It looks like the Republicans have found an opponent to keep Hastings busy and in his own State for the next few months. Hastings is an effective speaker and they DO NOT want him out campaigning for Democrats all around the country. His opponent is Dr. Marion D. Thorpe, Jr. Thorpe is running to replace Hastings in Florida’s 23rd Congressional District. I looked at Thorpe’s website and it is hard to know what he has done (Dr. Thorpe Named Florida Chief Medical Officer, Thorpe Bio).  His website praises every-body’s accomplishments but his own. I read everything but didn’t see that Thorpe has a platform (Thorpe '08 P.E.A.C.E. Platform, Thorpe Platform).  The Republicans will have to come with more than that to take Alcee “Teflon Man” Hastings down (Hastings under fire for Clinton support). Hastings will have to raise money and WE will need to help him to keep this district. I would like to offer two bits of advice for Congressman Hastings, “WE WANT TO SEE YOU MORE!” We would like to watch C-Span and see you showing off your orator skills from time to time. You are the best speaker that this area has to offer and you can hold your own against the best of them; we know it and we want the nation to know it.  Tip 2, switch on over to Obama as a Super Voter. This may be our only chance in life to have a real Black man run the White House. I will call the race now — Alcee will win big in November (Hastings Holding Firm with Clinton).

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Take care, my friends.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marion D. Thorpe, Jr.
U.S. Congressional Candidate
District 23 - Florida