GOP Makes 'Top Priority' Of Converting Black Voters

The Washington Post ^ | December 25, 2003 | Darryl Fears

[Carthago delenda est]

It was a historic moment for the Grand Old Party: At the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, black conservatives took center stage, delivered speeches in prime time, raised their voices in a gospel choir and locked hands with the white men who, by an overwhelming majority, run the party.

By the end of the convention, the future national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, and secretary of state, Colin L. Powell, had emerged as black conservative stars, and a concerted effort by Republicans "to invent new black leaders" -- as former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) once put it -- was well underway.

Now, as the 2004 presidential election unfolds, Republicans want to convert that focus on black appointees into black votes. Their goal, they say, is to win 25 percent of the black vote, which the party has not come close to doing in nearly 30 years.

"If we get African American votes, [the Democrats] are in deep trouble," Gingrich said in a recent interview. In presidential elections, roughly nine of every 10 black votes are cast for Democrats.

To win hearts and minds, the GOP is planning a campaign featuring television and radio ads touting President Bush's reaching out to the African American community and elements of the Republican message that appeal to a wide swath of black voters, such as support for school vouchers.

[RatSlayer]

Unfortunately, if I spoke my mind on this issue, I would probably be banned. So I guess I'm going to have to keep my mouth shut.

[A.J.Armitage]

Would I be right in taking it you don't approve of blacks voting Republican?

[Malcolm]

The GOP should not pander. Blacks will vote Republican when they get good and ready. Efforts to speed this process up will backfire. All we can do is keep the GOP as conservative as we possibly can, (an ongoing job, I will admit), and wait for blacks to finally see the Dems for what they are: divide and conquer users. Activities to accelerate this process will be counter-productive. Just be patient. Americans want an instant cure for everything; somethings just take time, and this really will take some time. School vouchers will help blacks more than any other group. Talk it up, but not just to grab black votes, please.....

[lainde]

bttt

[truth_seeker]

"If they ran ads supporting a change in sentencing guidelines for non-violent drug offenses in black districts I think it would draw a lot of support."

Nothing new with this. Calif. passed Prop. 36 giving treatment as a sentence option, for 1st (and possibly 2nd) time drug offenders.

It is still pretty early to draw conclusions, on this. Blacks argue that harsh sentencing for crack, compared to more lenient terms for powder coke is racism.

It does seem inconsistent.

States have the legal right to set their own penalties for drugs. The feds seem to override this, for marijuana legalization for medical purposes (Calif. again).

Bush has probably got more to lose, by any relaxation of drug penalties, than he has to gain from blacks.

Treatment option to jail time seems popular, and many think it is better, too.

[jagrmeister]

Pandering implies compromising political integrity to win votes. We don't need to do that. But we ought to reach out to the black community and highlight our common ground. Some of that involves listening. Blacks are impacted by crime more so than others- is there a way are tough-on-crime policies could benefit them? Young black adults have experienced the plight of public schooling and favor school vouchers- you're right that we need to emphasize the GOP position on it.

[jmaroneps37]

I'm for opening every front against the evil donkey that we can but; we're got to keep in mind that doing so is just for fun. The Blacks are way to rat blooded to change at any time soon.

[Malcolm]

Thx for you comments, but the jail thing is mostly due to actions on the part of blacks, not anyone else. And a good 2-parent family is of more use to the black community than an "easy on crime" policy would be. I know they suffer more but they also contribute more to that end. You reap what you sow. On the religious side of things, there is a lot of progress. Blacks are listening less and less to the likes of Jesse Jackson, and more and more to authentic spiritual leaders, who have the info, tools, and legitimacy, (that a white Republican never will have), to convince blacks that a new path is needed, a Christian one with common sense taught to study in school, abstain from activities that will make you a poor mother at 15 years old, or tempt you to visit the local abortion clinic, etc. No, the problems you outline would be better dealt with on a spiritual level, not in weakening the penal code.

Pandering just dilutes our values and credibility. Let the Dems pander. Their pandering is so obvious that I am not certain why anyone who is educated past the 6th grade would vote for them, but nonetheless, it still happens, and because the people with the most credibility in the black community say "vote Democrat," and the majority of blacks follow that advice. But sooner or later, the facts will become obvious to them, as it did to us 20-30 years ago. And it took the white community years before it dumped the Dems in 1994. Whites cannot persuade blacks to vote GOP. You'll just have to wait for they themselves to conclude that the Republicans are the best way to go. Any effort to speed that up will fail. At this point, the best thing a person like you or I can do is to pray for them, and meanwhile keep the GOP as conservative as we can. Seriously, outside of that, you will only delay that desired outcome by your efforts. I hate it too, but sometimes waiting patiently is the best, and non counter-productive thing, that can be done.....

[jagrmeister]

You misread my post. I never proposed weakening the penal code. Rather, strengthening it may save innocent lives in black communities. Also, I'd like to see the Christian Coalition make a stronger effort to influence black churches. Outreach is not pandering.

[Malcolm]

Again, thx for your reply. And I agree, outreach is not pandering, it is the opposite of it. Outreach, esp in spiritual, non-political ways, will bear the most fruit, but unfortunately take longer to happen. It makes no difference, as white bread types like us cannot sell the GOP to blacks anyway. I hear many voices in the black church who are saying the right thing spiritually, but I believe they are afraid to persuade their followers that Christian action at the voting booth is also required, and to vote for the best party is included in that duty.

If anyone has any plans, other than the one this post is based on, to reach out to blacks and convince them that the GOP is the best choice, I'm all ears, but the ones I heard over my 20+ years of political study have not born fruit.....

[RatSlayer]

No. And you shouldn't go around trying to put words in other peoples mouths.

[A.J.Armitage]

Touchy, touchy. I asked a question. I didn't put anything anywhere.

I've got some guesses about you, but like you, I'll just say I'm not going to say it.

[RatSlayer]

And your last sentence proves my point that were trying to put words in my mouth.

And your guesses only prove the limitations of your own narrow little mind.

[kingu]

This election cycle would be the best time to outreach into the black community, but if it is done in a pandering manner, it is absolutely doomed to failure.

No one seems to want to pay attention to what the people say. For example, the Hispanic community is overwhelmingly anti-illegal immigrant. But, wow, the GOP is afraid to enforce the immigration laws lest they offend the Hispanics. The black community is overwhelmingly in support of strict enforcement of the laws, yet, gee, the GOP doesn't want to spread the message of being tough on crime to the black community lest they offend.

If the GOP truly wants to outreach to the minority communities, their message should be of equality. 'We're not going to treat you like victims anymore. We're not going to say to you that you have to have special treatment because you're less than us. We're not going to appoint your leaders to our governing boards just because they happen to have the right skin color. If you're looking for that stuff, go play with the Democrats who will pat you on the head, say how horrible you've been treated, and ignore you until the next election cycle.'

And the honest truth is that this administration has plenty to crow about to the black community because of Rice and Powell. While the Democrats claim to want to support minorities, Republicans actually appoint those of color to high level positions not because of their color, but based on their abilities.

School choice, tough on crime, religious expression - wonderful themes that will ring well in the black community.

Though, a word of caution.. Don't send Clarence Thomas or any other black man who has married a white woman to do your speaking. Nor should you send anyone who isn't in a strong family relationship.

[petercooper]

I thought Mike Tyson was the most powerful black man in the country?

[A.J.Armitage]

You don't even know what my guesses are. Here you are putting thoughts in my mind, hypocrite.