Story from the leftist New York Times. (H/T ECM)

Excerpt:

Among the many reverberations of President Obama’s election, here is one he probably never anticipated: at least 32 African-Americans are running for Congress this year as Republicans, the biggest surge since Reconstruction, according to party officials.

[…]Party officials and the candidates themselves acknowledge that they still have uphill fights in both the primaries and the general elections, but they say that black Republicans are running with a confidence they have never had before. They credit the marriage of two factors: dissatisfaction with the Obama administration, and the proof, as provided by Mr. Obama, that blacks can get elected.

[…]Princella Smith, who is running for an open seat in Arkansas, said she viewed the president’s victory through both the lens of history and partisan politics. “Aside from the fact that I disagree fundamentally with all his views, I am proud of my nation for proving that we have the ability to do something like that,” Ms. Smith said.

State and national party officials say that this year’s cast of black Republicans is far more experienced than the more fringy players of yore, and include elected officials, former military personnel and candidates who have run before.

Princella Smith is the daughter of a minister.

Check this out:

Born the daughter of a minister and an educator, I was taught early to respect myself, my community and my family.  Lessons learned at an early age from the classroom, the kitchen table and the pulpit have helped shape who I am and the values my parents instilled in me have grown stronger through the years.

For far too long, conservatives have sat idly by while others set policies inconsistent with our values.  We need a Representative willing to stand up for what is right – not just what is popular.

As your Representative, you can count on my unwavering support of the sanctity of life and the protection of the unborn.  I believe that human life is sacred, begins at conception and you have my word that I will stand firm in my opposition to any and all efforts to use public funds for abortion.  I enthusiastically support a life amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Traditional marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman and is the foundation of family in our great nation.  I support the Defense of Marriage Act and will be a relentless advocate of Federal and State legislation that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

You can count on me to oppose any and all efforts to mandate gun control on any law abiding citizen of the United States.  I firmly and unequivocally support gun ownership and am committed to our constitutional right to own and bear arms.  I support repealing the gun restrictions in Washington, DC that violate our Constitution and will stand up every day to preserve our right to protect our property, ourselves and our families.

Throughout history, great societies are only as good as the values they hold dear and pass along through generations.  I am a Christian, an American and an Arkansan and I am proud to share these principles every single day.  Arkansas can count on Princella Smith to stand up and lead the fight to protect the families, communities and values of our great State.

Speaking as a visible minority male, let me just say: Faster, please.

Don’t forget that Star Parker is running for Congress in California. I endorse her, by the way.