Republicans Reach for Black Voters

[candy331]

Will Dems start to realize that they will have to stop taking the black votes for granted?/or what?

Today's News: Republicans Reach for Black Voters
12/01/2003 06:50 PM EDT


By PHIL W. PETRIE

BlackAmericaWeb.com

Officials for the National Republican Committee said the Republican Party intends to lure black voters by trumpeting what it considers major “accomplishments” beneficial to blacks during the current Bush administration.

Aware of the overwhelming number of blacks who voted for Democrats during the 2000 presidential elections, Pamela Mantis, deputy press secretary for the Republican National Committee, told

BlackAmericaWeb.com that during next year’s political races, black voters will be reminded of several education, housing and faith-based initiatives undertaken during the Bush administration. Programs that groom potential black leaders will also play a role in attracting black voters, she said.

Mantis pointed to the “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,” a policy issue in which the Republican Party believes it can win because it affects large numbers of black and Hispanic students. With passage of the Act two years ago, Congress reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the principal federal law affecting education from kindergarten through high school. The new law is an overhaul of federal efforts to support elementary and secondary education in the United States. It preaches accountability for results; an emphasis on doing what works based on scientific research; expanded parental options; and expanded local control and flexibility.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[phillybri]

1. Black people I know don't buy this shit...

They wouldn't vote R for anything. They know better...

[JAbuchan08]

16. I just wandered on to FNC.com and saw mention of

another black football player being groomed for the GOP, then I saw this discussion and I thought "gee is there some kind of theme with the GOP and black football players?" oh I've seen reverends and a few business leaders as well, but it seems to me that while those reverands (sp?) and business leaders are all well and fine for the GOP, it is only the football players who inspire REAL devotion in the GOP base. JC Watts was THE most celebrated black Republican for a long time, and now a current Washington Redskin player is being groomed for the GOP (and BTW - he looked pretty uncomfortable, maybe he realized he was being used).
No offense to football players - I'm sure they're more qualified for leadership positions than a lot of people (being slightly sarcastic). White or black, they take orders well and they're willing to get down and dirty. Maybe its just that NFL'ers tend to be republican, but it still seems a little strange that the only black Republican in a leadership position for years was Watts. If I were to guess at a reason I would suggest that its because Republicans like their politicians to preform for them, and the best place to find a person willing to "preform" is in athletics. So it makes sense that, in trying to court a traditionally democratic demographic, they should start with the most easily coached segment of that demographic and try to work their way up from there.
You guys should check out the picture on FNC - I forgot who it was, but his expression is priceless, kinda like "okay, I'm in your party, I'm wearing this stupid suit for this stupid photo - now when do I get what's coming to me?"

Not that this has anything to do directly with the article cited, except for the fact that Republicans continue to court only the most privileged and easily controlled minorities in order to put on an inclusive face. But it works, because you don't have to be white to put your own needs ahead of society's.

[Silverhair]

23. It all works on a percentage.

Black people are individuals, they are not a single like minded block that always does what you want. There will be a percentage that response to the Reps overture. Already 9% of blacks vote Rep. If only 1 in 50 responds to the Reps wooing, most here would consider that a trivial amount. But can we afford to lose any of such an important part of our base? Even a lose of 2% of blacks hurts us.

[AP]

2. Thanks to Bush economic policies, some cities have 25-50% unemployment

for black men.

[BurtWorm]

3. I don't think Dems have to worry about African-Americans defecting

to the GOP. Not with a pathetic outreach like the one this article describes. But Dems do have to act like they care if black people vote for Democrats or don't vote at all.

[arewethereyet]

27. Rev Al doesn't seem to agree

and the facts would seem to suggest that he's right to some extent or other. Just peeling off 5% could be devestating.

[Township75]

4. I am relieved to see that with the huge advantage Repubs have over us...

in terms of money, that they are wasting it on thinking Blacks will vote for them.

[ecstatic]

19. Blacks may not vote GOP but they may opt out of the Dem party as well

and become Independent, Libertarian, or Green.

[Catherine Vincent]

5. They can reach all they want.

This is one black voter that will not vote for republicans again, if I can help it.

[beanball]

17. Those color blind republicans

well let me see if I can find one,Trent Lott,Rush Limbaugh,Tom DeLay,Mitch McConnell,Jesse Helms,and the rest of the former KKK members that found found a home under the big republican tent,as a registered republican I will once again cast my vote for the democrat for president who ever he or she may be.

[ecstatic]

20. What if Powell repented, cut his ties to the Bush admin and ran as an

Independent or Republican?

[Bombtrack]

6. Taking it for granted?

I hear this alot from certain liberals(white and black) and I don't exactly know what they always mean. It really can seem like whining. I don't like the idea of any special interest holding a party hostage. It's not right. The NAACP guy who basically called Lieberman a racist for HAVING to miss a forum, was a jerk for doing so, even if you don't like Lieberman.

The dem party already fully supports affirmative action and it is the only party that will prevent the 1 supreme court nomination needed to end it.

I don't see how being the sole protector of a law that favors you and not the majority like that is taking them for granted.(I myself appose affirmative action).

[BurtWorm]

Here's a way the party takes African-Americans for granted: Election 2000

Tens of thousands of African-American voters in Florida are illegally purged from the voter rolls or have their votes thrown out, leading to Bush's SC selection. To protest, the Congressional black caucus gets ready to throw a fight over Bush's electoral "victory," but not one Senator stands with them, even though just one Senator is needed to contest the election. That's betrayal. That says loud and clear, Thanks for the votes, now don't ask us to do anything for you.

[AP]

8. That was Gore's chocie. A lot of good democrats wanted to make an issue

of that. Gore told Jesse Jackson to go home.

[Bombtrack]

13. I agree with you about that

but people have been saying that dems take them for granted long before that occured.

unfortunatly party politics has done this to america, it's a system of open bribery on both sides. The dems are the much, much, better crappy party

[ecstatic]

22. Yes, the black vote is taken for granted

Thats evident simply from reading these boards. I doubt there will be a mass transfer of blacks into the Republican party, but I do foresee an exit from the Democratic party if things continue the way they are now.

Where was the outrage from the Dems when thousands of blacks were purged from the voting lists after taking time out to vote (some waited as long as 4 hours just to hear that mess!).

I don't see how being the sole protector of a law that favors you and not the majority like that is taking them for granted.(I myself appose affirmative action).


I really do hope you were kidding. White women have benefitted the most from Affirmative Action, not blacks. Don't believe me? Look it up or just stop by your nearest law, medical, or engineering firms. Before it was 95% white male. Now theres a lot more white women.

You have got to be kidding if you think I or anyone else should be grateful for a band-aid solution that not only benefits the white community more, but does nothing to address the issues that make such policies necessary, like poverty, racism, and failing schools.

[BurtWorm]

24. Good points, Truth Hurts a Lot!

Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[BigMcLargehuge]

7. Please remember and respect DU's copyright rules

please post only 4 or less paragraphs from a non-DU source and include a link back to the original article.

Thanks

Big McLargehuge
DU Moderator

[sangh0]

9. Republicans reach for a lot of things

but they're not going to get the black vote.

[AndyTiedye]

10. Gore Didn't Fight It Because He would have Been JFK'ed if He Took Office

to make way for Lieberman, who is easily hawkish enough for PNAC.

[Ksec]

11. Thats like really funny

If a Black votes Repub he is self loathing. Its the same with the poor or middle classes. They do not represent these folks. When they do get their votes its one of two reasons. Ignorant or just stupid.

[Ksec]

12. BTW do I get a prize when I hit 1000 posts? nt

[oasis]

14. How many African Americans benefited from Bush's tax cut for the top 1 % ?

[donotpassgo]

15. Republicans reaching out to blacks by telling them

"slavery is over. Racism doesn't exist. Get off your lazy asses and quit being so upitty. See how nice it is to be lilly white and middle class. Don't you want to be like us? Vote Republican"

[ecstatic]

18. One thing about the Republicans is that they've appointed more blacks

to the highest positions in the country. True, they are right wing, but they have been given the opportunity to serve in high office and to show that America just might be moving towards a "colorblind" society. Am I expected to believe that there are no liberal blacks out there who are qualified to serve in the Cabinet? Hmm... just a thought.

[drscm]

26. I believe that Black appointments by Repugs

are nothing more than cynical ploys, much like all the blacks on stage at the last Repug Convention - playing for an all white audience.

When daddy Bush said that Thomas was the most qualified person in the nation for the Supreme Court, you knew he had little regard for blacks or for any of the citizens of this nation.

[CO Liberal]

21. Remember The Words of JC Watts' Father

"A black man voting for a Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders."

[drscm]

25. Republicans Reach for Black Voters

back pocket to steal their wallets - including their money and their identification.

[PVnRT]

28. With what, a noose?

Yes, the Democrats need to stop taking the black vote for granted, but I think we're underestimating the intelligence of the blacks in this country by saying that they won't see right through this.