You know what? I like this move by Republicans.
Looking to further expand their party's political advantage, Republican officials will announce today a committee of African American leaders and experts on minority voting to develop a strategy to attract more blacks to the GOP. ..."This is a very serious priority for this party today," said Kenneth Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee.
In recent days, Mehlman attended a series of town hall meetings in black communities and appeared on a television show hosted by black commentator Tavis Smiley. ...
President Bush won 11% of the black vote in the 2004 presidential election. ... [H]e got 16% of the black vote in Ohio, which helped secure his victory in that state.
Bush had drawn 9% of the African American vote ... in 2000. ...
The new GOP board includes former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie; Bishop Keith Butler, pastor of the World of Faith International Christian Center in Detroit and a likely U.S. Senate candidate; Alphonso Jackson, secretary of Housing and Urban Development; National Black Chamber of Commerce President Harry Alford; and Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele.
You know why I like it? Because of Power Politics.
I keep writing that if the Black Democrats in congress and in the DNC knew anything about using the political power that they have, by sheer numbers, they would be running the Democratic party. Instead, the Democratic party pimp smacks Black politicians and Black voters at every step. At least that's my opinion on the matter.
After J.C. Watts announced he was leaving congress, he and Charlie Rangel appeared on Meet the Press. Rangel said that he wished there were more J.C. Watts' in congress so that he could get more concessions "from my party."
Think about that one.
The man is a ranking Democrat and he has to "get concessions" from the Democrat party?
At this point, some Blacks who are thinking about jumping into the political game as Democrats, should jump in as Republicans and game the system. Some Democrat politicians should be working the Democratic party to get some things to "help fight off the Republicans."
Of course, if the Republicans in congress fight the Dems, the Dems have something to bash Republicans with. If the Republicans help, the Dems can take credit. Republicans won't even try to say they helped out. Look at the poor media job they have done with the support of HBCUs.
This seems like a win-win to me. Those who believe that the Black Dem politicians have the plan, can follow that path. Those who believe that giving money to "conservative" Black churches is the plan, can follow that path.
Win-Win.
But the Black Dem politicians are clueless. They are afraid of facing off the Dem power structure. Or they are just inept in confronting it.
Hat tip: LaShawn
Hat tip: cnulan
Update:
Posted by at March 10, 2005 09:17 PM | TrackBack