Bigger GOP Paid Media Push Urged Toward Blacks

If Republicans are serious about winning more support from black voters, a strong ad presence on major market black "urban contemporary" radio stations is crucial, writes Jason Riley in Opinion Journal today. Following the 2002 midterm elections, Richard Nadler, a Republican consultant, headed an exhaustive study of what's behind the black voter's fierce fealty to Democrats. "The Democrats coordinate a brilliant, intensive media campaign, particularly on black radio," says Mr. Nadler. "The frequency of ads [leading up to an election] is somewhere in the vicinity of four an hour during drive time. This is on urban contemporary radio stations, primarily. If you're white, you just have no idea how potent a medium this is" add Nadler.

I think it is defeatest to write off that bid a chunk of the population.

I absolutely agree. But I disagree that the way to appeal to the black voter is through cultivating the presence of dissolute celebrities.

Black voters will, hopefully, vote Republican for the same reasons that I do: because the Republican Party respects American Christians, upholds the rights of private property, believes that people should take personal responsibility for their actions, and encourages people to make the best use of their talents.

I don't think we can appeal to or inspire the black voter who thinks: "P Diddy is tha pimp, yo!"

We can appeal to the millions of churchgoing black voters who hold solid, unglamorous jobs in the private sector, pay mortgages and who are putting their kids through college.

Their values are American values. Russell Simmons' are not.

I opened up a newspaper and there was a Kerry for President ad, a big full page ad with a black woman talking about 'giving the vote back to you'. I found that humorous since it was in a caribbean oriented newspaper and most of the readership can't even vote. Anyway, in the back was an ad for a canvasser for the republican party which I promptly answered *LOL* A lot of West Indians, esp. the black ones, are very religious and conservative in a lot of their beliefs. If the Kerry campaign can waste money printing ads in a foreigner newspaper why not Dubya? All it is getting future voters.

Also, I have to hand it to whoever said let's let Barack talk because it sure did work. That convention was very depressing, esp. Barack Obama's speech. It may seem condescending to say but the republican party won't get much of a black vote without more black people being so outspoken. For some reason a lot of my black friends can't bear to attend things unless they know black folks are going to be there. That's why the democrat convention will be always more appealing because to them ONE is a lonely number. Also, having a discussion about politics and race is next to impossible with the sort of people that I work and live around, the middle-lower class who are used to blaming whitey for their problems and joining 'whitey's party' is unthinkable.

I don't think George Bush should waste his time with the lower middle class Al Sharpton demographic. Reaching out to the churches is a MUST. I listen to christian radio and when black callers call to give their opinion, they say the following 'I'm a christian and I'm black and voting for George Bush because I don't believe in abortion and gay marriage' and more and more 'I'm a registered DEMOCRAT but I'm voting REPUBLICAN this election'. As much as I'd like to see one America where race doesn't matter to a lot it does and I can't change that only God can and IMHO outreach to the black churches who will talk to other black people is the best way.

At the very least, the concept that republicans aren't racist hatemongers is worth every penny it costs to spread that message.

But they've tried that already. I mean, this isn't news, Republicans have been able to talk about how they freed the slaves from the Dems, gave them the right to vote over the Dems dead bodies, and gave them welfare and yet they still choose to vote 95% for Dems. You have to believe there is some responsibility on the part of the black voters after all these decades don't you?

You have to be taught to hate republicans. You have to be carefully taught.

I agree, have you ever tried to un-teach that to a black Dem? Its like trying to reason with a Green. They are full of conspiracies and emotion. Its usually completely futile. By your reasoning of taking away demographics voting Dem, if we simply focused on the reaching out to the Nader vote we could swing all these elections, but do you honestly think advertising would be a worthy investment to that crowd?

Its a question of resources, is it reasonable to suggest that there is potential in reaching liberal, partisan Dem blacks? The answer is a resounding No. You need to be smarter than that, the ones in play are conservative, not-so-partisan Dem white southerners. If you want to influence national elections that is where the smart money is spent.

is it reasonable to suggest that there is potential in reaching liberal, partisan Dem blacks? The answer is a resounding No.

I totally agree. I have several Black friends (upper middle class) that I can talk about anything with except politics. As far as I can tell, they think they would be doing a disservice to their "brothers" in the inner cities if they voted GOP.
Never mind that they have more in common with me than they do with their inner city "brothers", and never mind that I've spent more time in the inner city than they have.

It's a perceived clan. They won't break the bonds. And it's a huge waste of time to worry about it. There are other Demographic groups that might make more of a difference - like Catholics. Why do they vote Dem?

I have several Black friends (upper middle class) that I can talk about anything with except politics. As far as I can tell, they think they would be doing a disservice to their "brothers" in the inner cities if they voted GOP. Never mind that they have more in common with me than they do with their inner city "brothers", and never mind that I've spent more time in the inner city than they have.

Yes, the CEO of my company is a black woman who loves to take cheap shots at how stupid Dubya is for one, I'm certain it is nothing more than the reasons you gave, compounded by her "liberal black guilt" if I can coin a new phrase, for driving a BMW. The best the GOP could ever hope for is a lack of motivation of the black vote and it stayed home. As a poster brilliant pointed out early, this kind of advertising suggested by many well meaning but woefully ignorant of political history posters on this thread could backfire big time. ... But they'd also stoke interest in the race, which thus far doesn't seem to be firing up the black community. So, do we want Kerry to get 92% of 12 million black votes, or 90% of 14 million black votes? Do the math. Worth repeating.

They won't break the bonds. And it's a huge waste of time to worry about it. There are other Demographic groups that might make more of a difference - like Catholics. Why do they vote Dem?

Well that is just Post-Of-The-Day greatness right there. I happen to be a Catholic and I attended a couple hundred person lecture by a (liberal) Priest last night. The entire Priesthood is elitist, fashionably leftwing Democrats. He took a pot-shot at Foxnews that really pissed me off, (I had intended to have a talk with him about how blatent liberalism within the Priesthood has left me and other conservatives feeling not welcome --in order to use the best weapon against his kind; a guilt trip, but there was a line to talk to him so I left)

In any event, this same liberal, when asked directly about Ron Reagan's (idiotic) speech at the DNC about Stem Cell research, he totally disregarded its merits politically in helping the Dems because embroynic stem cell research not only is not scientifically practical, it is the termination of a human life and he made no equivications about being against the policy.

My long explaination is to say; spot on, the Catholics have been selling their souls to the DNC for decades, but the party of JFK is a rotting corpse and everyone outside the clergy knows it. There is a tremendous untapped Dem base right there that has no loyalty to "the hood" that would prevent them from "selling out" and if anything voting for a proabortion, progay marriage, social liberal is the kind of demographic that advertising $s could make enormous inroads this particular election. You're right, Catholic advertising or southern Dems should have threads devoted to "suggesting the GOP spend money", not this historical disaster.

Ten more years and I think there is a very good chance that Republican candidates can get 30-40% of the black vote.
Dubya's already been there; done that. He received over 30% of the black vote in his reelection to Governor of Texas in '98.

I hate to break up this echo chamber, but I can't stand seeing well intentioned people make such fools of themselves.

As you can see, the black community isn't simply not embracing the new Grand Old Party message which as far as I can tell consists of p%ssing in the wind trying to explain economic oppotunities and social conservatism mixed with "we're really really REALLY not racist these days", no the black vote is actually getting more lockstep.

If you guys want to focus like a laser beam on black churches for social issues-fine, but this euphoria for swaying the black vote like its the first vote in American history is painful to watch. I used to be just like you getting excited about being accepted by blacks for once, til I heard about the 95% voting Dem thing and I got a bit offended. Why should we be reaching out to them? At over 90 percent, they've overplayed their hand-talk about a lack of diverstity, it is the black community that needs to show how they have any way of delivering for the GOP. Otherwise they can go fly a kite. The best thing we can ever do for them is win without them and they'll eventually get tired of not being represented. This isn't Afganistan where they haven't voted before, voting patterns are established in America, you just have to have the courage to open your eyes and see that you aren't liked.

Otherwise they can go fly a kite

Is the GOP supposed to just spot the Dems a 12-percent head start from now until kingdom come.

I believe the GOP can chip away at the Democrat-black monolith if they have the right person, most likely an African American, to market the message to the black community.

In other words, since African Americans really have no logical reason to cling to the Democrats, other than a false belief they are getting something for their vote, I believe they could be convinced to join real freedom, both financial and emotional, if they could just get over that emotional hangup in which they think that all-Republicans-are-fat-cat-rich-racists-who-would- reinstall-slavery-if-they-could-only-find-a-way.

It will not happen over night, but the party might as well start looking around.

I suppose many blacks (and whites) like having someone they can use as the boogy-man to blame for all their problems. Smart people should be able to find a way around that misconception

Is the GOP supposed to just spot the Dems a 12-percent head start from now until kingdom come.

You act like you have something to say about it. Wake up. Incedentally that 12 of the population, not the voting population.

I believe the GOP can chip away at the Democrat-black monolith if they have the right person, most likely an African American, to market the message to the black community.

You mean how Condi Rice is so celebrated in the black community. Or how about, the awards and praise that self made a moderate Colin Powel, the highest ranking black in US history gets from the black community. Not only is this total wishful thinking that it will help, it will actually hurt because the Dems have special zeal in destroying those "Uncle Toms"

Blah blah, its all been done before, the proof is in the pudding. Notice how well Ronaldus Magnus did with them, he was already one of the most popular presidents in the middle of the largest landslide in US history in 84. Couldn't even get 10 percent from what has become a very extremely partisan subgroup. You might as well focus your attention on the Howard Dean voters disaffected with Kerry's war stance because you would get equal success and feel good about yourself for trying.

It will not happen over night, but the party might as well start looking around.

My thoughts exactly, maybe I should email that graphic to the RNC.

I suppose many blacks (and whites) like having someone they can use as the boogy-man to blame for all their problems. Smart people should be able to find a way around that misconception

Same thing goes for the paranoia so a part of the Middle East blaming the Jooz, however blaming someone else for everything wrong in your life is a disease. Its better to let those realize it doesn't bother you and live your life than feed into the cycle.

the Catholics have been selling their souls to the DNC for decades, but the party of JFK is a rotting corpse and everyone outside the clergy knows it.

How right you are. I'm a Catholic, too. I know the Catholics (and Blacks as well) listen to the words of the Dem party. Those words claim that the party is the one who will "take care of the needy". Of course, Catholics, Blacks, and almost everyone else really does want to take care of the needy. Is there any Catholic who doesn't worship what Mother Teresa did?

But a lot of us know that just passing out money doesn't do it - how did we forget the story about giving a man a fish or teaching him to fish?

I'm so far right that I think the idea of making each person "the best he can be" is more important than providing minimal sustenance.

4. Historical reverance. The Republican Party is the party of historical reverance in this country. The Democratic Party has been taken over by people who despise the historical nation of America. The heroes that most Republicans revere, like Washington or Jefferson, either don't register with blacks or are despised by blacks. Naturally, the attitudes toward historical reverance are similar between blacks and Democrats.

Never even thought of that before, that is profound. Worth repeating! That should be said to all these nerdy posters here desperate for validation from the black community; they really have a very different appreciation for America that doesn't appear it will ever change.

For instance, most Republicans despise the angry, gang-banging attitude of a basketball player like the churlish Allen Iverson. Most blacks dig his brash, in-your-face, take-me-as-I-am attitude

Add to that "take no personal responsibilty" attitude as well, something Republicans take pride in.

At the risk of being flamed, blacks may go to Church at high rates in urban centers or in the rural South, but when rapture is over, they return to a lifestyle that is anti-family and squalid.

I don't think you are going to be flamed about that, I don't understand where the discipline within the Christian black community is that illegitmacy is above 60%. The only reasonable conclusion is that they have more in common with relativist, liberal anti-Passion Of The Christ Christian liberals than most people understand. Good points all around. Feel free to ping me whenever you see this mass hysteria pop up on a thread again. As you can see the cold hard facts sends the emotionally needy running.

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