I spent years in the black community and the social conformity pressure exceeds anything I have seen in any other community. If you point to a person as having misbehaved, eg., J Jackson, it won’t matter. If you portray a person or some action as betraying all blacks—it just might get their attention. If there is a perceived threat to the group—that might get their attention.
I just had a conversation with a state-level Repub political appointee. She reiterated a popular myth that Hispanics are a naturally better fit for Republican conservative leadership. That is a myth for the reasons discussed in this thread. G Bush was modestly successful getting votes from Hispanics—that is because he spoke Spanish and was perceived as one of the group. Nothing more complicated than that. It wasn’t due to conservative or liberal issues.
It might be unwise to interpret the previous election as being about the large percentage of American voters who get gov’t handouts, either, although there is a strong argument for that. Consider that. Demographics play a role if there are group loyalties. Consider that. Just my 2.0000 cents.
“Demographics play a role if there are group loyalties. Consider that. Just my 2.0000 cents”
True, but only because Republican Leaders aren’t that smart. I still think religious and hardworking Blacks and Hispanics could be won, maybe easily, but it requires approaching them as honest equals looking for an ally, and not manipulative r-losers with cups in our hands.
Romney did well among young Blacks, considering he did practically nothing to overtly appeal to them, and seemed even to many on our side, wholly untrustworthy.
The problem is the K’s in these groups which we need to appeal to have a specific psychology. And part of that psychology has an instinctual distrust of r’s. Yet most of our political leaders are r’s.
When we send some sleazy politician to ask for their support, I don’t blame them for saying no. And when we finally have a K like Allen West, the r’s in the party see him as a threat, and do everything in their power to kick him out, without actually facing him down.
Our biggest problem is our leadership, which appeals to no-one, IMHO. Until we produce an honest leader, things will stay as they are, and each side will remain static, which is why I think we are destined for a collapse.