Posted on 07/09/2004 10:17:41 AM PDT by BushisTheMan
The long-standing alliance between Ohio's black community and the Democratic party is falling apart in this key battleground state.
More black voters are allying themselves with the Republican party, polls are showing. Clergymen at prominent black churches in Cleveland told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that they are determined that Democrats no longer take their support for granted. "We can't be bound to any party," Rev. C. Jay Matthews of Mount Sinai Baptist Church, president of United Pastors in Mission told the Plain Dealer. GOP national chairman Ed Gillespie told a luncheon at the Cleveland's Urban League that there are signs that more black Americans are open to the GOP, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Gillespie cited studies that have shown that 35 percent of blacks ages 18 to 25 identify themselves as independent, and that from 2000 to 2002, the percentage of blacks describing themselves as Democrats dropped 11 percent, while the GOP gained 6 percent. Moreover, the paper reported that their statewide poll in May found 15 percent of blacks supported Bush, 73 percent support Kerry and 3 percent support Ralph Nader. Nine percent of black voters surveyed said they were undecided.
Exit polls showed Bush received 9 percent of the black vote in Ohio in 2000. Several clergymen told the newspaper that issues such as Bush's support of faith-based initiatives that give religious groups money to provide social services and his opposition to same-sex marriages are attracting black voters. The Rev. Darrell Scott of New Spirit Revival Center in Cleveland Heights told the Plain Dealer that a younger generation of blacks who do not have the same emotional ties with the Kennedy-Johnson era of progress on civil rights no longer will automatically vote Democratic. "We're able to make our own decision," he said. "We'll go either way." Scott told the newspaper that he admires the President for standing firm on abortion and same-sex marriages, even if it costs him votes. But the pastor emphasized that he is just as wary of Republican political promises as those of Democrats. "During the last election, a lot of black clergy became persuaded by the Republican Party because there was a great deal of talk about faith-based initiatives. In the four years since, I haven't seen a great deal of faith-based activity. . . . Who in Cleveland has received some?" Scott asked. "Election-speak is one thing. Reality is another," Scott said. "It's election time again." Noting Gillespie's visit to a black Baptist church in Cleveland's Mount Pleasant neighborhood on Thursday the Rev. Marvin McMickle told the Plain Dealer "I'm paying attention to the folks who are paying attention to me. It is going to be much more of a two-party environment as long as the Republican Party gives us some issues we can consider in good conscience." Boxing promoter Don King, whose hometown is Cleveland, accompanied Gillespie on his visit.
The Plain Dealer reported that King said that while Republicans in the past have alienated the black community with apathy and prejudice, Bush is different.
It is particularly significant that the president has placed highly qualified black men and women in positions of power, such as secretary of state and national security adviser. If the poll showing 15 percent of Ohio's black voters support Bush is on target, that could tip the scales come November.
Experts told the Plain Dealer that even a small increase over the 8 or 9 percent who voted for Bush in 2000 could be critical in battleground states such as Ohio.
You have to give credit to Jim Trakas, RNC chair.
He's self-deprecating sense of humor over the power grip the Democrats have on Cuyahoga County and his recent Regional Government proposal is making people take another look at Republicans. Even the alternative rags are taking another look at it/him.
Jane Campbell was the best thing to happen to Republicans in Cuyahoga County. She's a mess, and during the black out, she was on a trip to Texas that she never made public and refused to explain.
I always suspected she was there on dirty 527 tricks since that's where so many started up.
The Passion.
I think it's ludicrous that any one would suggest helping a candidate win is = to pandering.
Sen Watts said he became a Republican because Democrats asked him to support their candidates, but the Republicans asked him to become one.
It's called bringing someone to the table.
Gays have more money.
Look who was at Kerry's little fundie last night?
Then they will call the black community and have them do the grunt work like registering voters and driving people to the polls. The expensive trips and dinners are for the folks with cash.
You are right - my bad.
I called J.C. Watts Senator.
Wishful thinking on my part.
I'm going to miss Sen. Nickels.
I love him to death.
You forgot Alphonso Jackson.
Youngest of 13 children.
His mother had an 8th grade education.
His father has a 5th grade education.
They made sure all of their children were educated.
He spoke at my college graduation (Liberal Arts) and he got a standing ovation.
Great news and long past time for intelligent blacks to take off their chains of bondage to the Dems.Most blacks are really Conservatives,but have been frightened by the Dems for far too long to see what is in their best interests.Though there really ARE quite a number of black Conservatives/GOPers;however,they get ignored by the MSM and have been for a long,long time.
The Congressional Black Caucus is uniformly Democrat. It is true that there are more black Democrat office-holders than black Republican office-holders.
The important difference is that virtually every, if not all, black Democrats are elected from majority black districts.
Meanwhile, virtually every (all?) black or Hispanic Republican office-holders are elected from a majority white district (a la J.C. Watts, Henry Bonilla, et al).
Blacks look to the military as a major venue to advancement. They're on the front lines in Iraq and I'd imagine they're as upset as white folks when they hear the Democratic anti-war ranting, Democrats smearing our soldiers over there.
I've come to see the political divide in our country as being a struggle for power between the vested interests of two American economies.
The first economy is the commercial market economy of production and trade of goods and services between mutually satisfied parties. That's the American economy that rewards excellence, innovation, value, hard work, education, investment and risk, utility and profit and societal benefit. The best institutions and moral pillars of America are used and bolstered through economic vitality and innovation. Individuals pursuing their interests in a free and productive way. The people who understand and appreciate this American economy are Republicans. We want to be protected by government from force and fraud, we task the state to operate some mutually accepted services - but we don't prosper from the size and operation of Government, and we want it out of the way.
The second economy, $trillions of dollars, consists of those who produce goods and services funded with the seized proceeds of those who operate in the first economy. This economy creates no value, rewards no innovation, is challenged by no competition and is devoid of all risk/return limiters on investment. Millions of Americans are employed by, or are paid to provide goods and services, to the only player in this economy. Economic benefit is gained through control and access to political influence and power. The people who prosper from THIS economy vote Democrat. They are voting to derive direct economic benefit. That group, that mindset, needs to be politically obliterated. The Democrats understand their last vestage of economic State power .... their stacked Judiciary ... can't survive another Bush term and the legacy he'll leave on the courts. They'll be on a relentless Bonzai charge from now until November. Their party and any prospect for power for the next 20 years is in the balance. The Bush/Cheney team ... the Senate Republicans and John Ashcrofts DOJ better be prepared to lay down any sledgehammer they have to in this election. There's no loyal opposition in this election.
Meanwhile, virtually every (all?) black or Hispanic Republican office-holders are elected from a majority white district (a la J.C. Watts, Henry Bonilla, et al).
That's what I was thinking of. Brain fart! My point was that white conservatives will elect a black Republican more often than White Liberals will elect a black Democrat.
I hope this is true and that the support holds. I've heard that Cleveland is a city that has had a good experience with vouchers, so maybe there's something to it.
But this line in the story bothers me: "Clergymen at prominent black churches in Cleveland told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that they are determined that Democrats no longer take their support for granted."
That's the line of someone who's trying to send a message to Democrats; it's not the line of someone who thinks that the kind of conservatism Republicans have to offer is what they want. The squeeky wheel gets the grease. If you're starting to feel politically marginalized, the best way to get your seat back at the table is by threatening to throw your support elsewhere.
IIRC the guy was named something like "Ed Markey" as was from Mass.
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