That's Otto standing, back row, left.
Posted on 05/16/2005 1:49:35 AM PDT by kingattax
City Councilman Otto Banks, the biggest vote-getter in Harrisburg, Pa., held a campaign fundraiser in the Pennsylvania state capital Friday with the help of Republican National Chairman Ken Mehlman that sent new fears rippling through Democratic ranks.
Mr. Banks, 33, a political newcomer, stunned Harrisburg's black community when he left the Democratic Party in March to become a Republican, starting what Mr. Mehlman and other Republican officials say they hope will become a realignment trend that will consign the Democrats to permanent minority status.
Mr. Mehlman said Friday that he met with Mr. Banks before the party switch and promised that if he joined the Republicans, ?I would go up to Harrisburg and help him raise money for his campaign. This is a priority of mine, to bring more African-Americans into the party of Lincoln. I'm committed to doing it in many ways.
The crowd of 60 or so who attended the buffet breakfast, which featured Mr. Mehlman and raised $22,000, included many of Mr. Banks' black supporters, among them clergymen. It was a very racially diverse group of people, about half white and half African-American, said Josh Wilson, the state Republican Party's communications director.
Mr. Banks was little-known outside Harrisburg before he joined the Republican Party. But that switch, and Mr. Mehlman's high-profile role in his re-election campaign, have deepened concerns among Democratic leaders such as campaign strategist Donna Brazile, who worry that they are losing their base.
I thought that by now Ken would run out of gas [with his black outreach efforts], but it's clear to me that he is serious. He is reaching out to elected officials, trying to convert some elected officials, Miss Brazile said. This is another sign that Republicans this time around will not ignore the African-American community.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
bttt
Ken Mehlman is the democrat's worse nightmare. Way to go Ken!
Bravo! to Mr. Banks and to Mr. Mehlman.
That's Otto standing, back row, left.
ping for a later read.
You have to really contrast the heads of the RNC and DNC.
Dean is out there telling DeLay to go back to Houston to serve jail time for a crime he hasn't been accused of, tried for or convited of while Ken Melman is stealing fast rising African American politicos out from under the Dim's noses in a blue state.
Do you think this will be an alarm bell?
Oh hell no.
That why they call them DEMWATTS = Not very bright.
PLEASE Mr. Melman come to Memphis, Tennessee.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know Republicans/conservatives don't wish to take any credit for the loss of the black community's vote, but this illustrates a good reason why the vote never shifted. Republicans gave up. Approached them half heartedly during an election year, then left afterwards.
Under Bush that has changed. One of his first acts after winning re-election was to reach out to the black community when he had no reason any longer to do so. It just so happens this outreach seamlessly comes out of a period of time when they are no longer the number one minority, the Dems feel they can take them for granted, and the Republicans have shown they do not NEED their vote to win. All of these factors will change the nature of the voting block.
Swann running in Penn, Blackwell in Ohio and Steele in Maryland couple with advancement of Janice Rogers Brown, Clarence Thomas on the Court and Condi Rice at State are setting the stage for re-alignment. The GOP, imo, is going to use the efforts they tested in swing states that rsulted in doubling the black vote and go nationally with the program.
Ownership Society, school vouchers and values/Faith really do match the black community more than what the Democrats are offering.
For the demonRATS, rome is burning and dean is fiddling. dirty harry is name calling, nancy peeloser is having her face re-done, and the pubbies are recruiting the RATS base.
The new underground rail road leads to freedom as the old one did, but that freedom is now the GOP.
"City Councilman Otto Banks"
OH NO! Not another RINO!!
Liberal pundits lecture the Red States that they are voting against their own economic interestsby embracing President Bush. I say minorities are voting against their interests by supporting the RATS.
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