Posted on 02/08/2006 4:34:56 PM PST by new yorker 77
Black Republicans are making a run for a number of big elections this year. In Maryland, Michael Steele wants retiring Democrat Paul Sarbanes' Senate seat. Keith Butler is also running for Senate, from Michigan. Lynn Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steelers star, wants to be governor of the Keystone State. Randy Daniels would like to be governor of New York. And gunning for governor in a key presidential electoral state there is the great black hope for the Republican Party, Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.
The "great black hope" is probably the last phrase Blackwell would use to describe himself (I, myself, cringed while writing it). A phrase that cheapens, not to mention ghettoizes; in truth, Ken Blackwell is a great hope for us all.
In a profile piece in the winter issue of "City Journal," contributing editor Steven Malanga calls Blackwell "Ronald Reagan's Unlikely Heir." Malanga writes, "Ken Blackwell has so many people worried because he represents a new political calculus with the power to shake up American politics."
Who can have a power like that, you ask? "For Blackwell is a fiscal and cultural conservative ... who happens to be black with the proven power to attract votes from across a startlingly wide spectrum of the electorate." Malanga continues, "Born in the projects of Cincinnati to a meat-packer who preached the work ethic and a nurse who read to him from the bible every evening, Blackwell has rejected the victimology of many black activists and opted for a different path, championing school choice, opposing abortion and advocating low taxes as a road to prosperity. The 57-year-old is equally comfortable preaching that platform to the black urban voters of Cincinnati as to the white German-Americans in Ohio's rural counties or to the state's business community."
....
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...
Whites have no problem voting for conservative blacks. They just need to be conservative.
We have several black Republicans in statewide office in Texas. I don't know if the Democrats ever elected one when they were running Texas.
You mean, if they were screaming "black injustice and entitlement" from a pulpit, I should vote for them. NO THANKS!
I really want Michael Steele to win as well as Lynn Swan.
Steele has really been put through the ringer from what I have read. He deserves a good sound victory to show the rats they really are not plantation owners.
Both will win.
Clueless liberals have set themself up for a huge fall in November.
If anyone is inclined, I'm sure he could use your support. I couldn't be more disappointed in the Republican Party here in Michigan...they have not shown me any evidence that they are serious about unseating Stabenow. They should have cleared the field by now, as I think the RNC tried to do, instead they are bumping along under the radar.
"Black Republicans are making a run for a number of big elections this year."
Black Republicans? You mean "sell-outs," "Oreos," and "Uncle Toms?"
Hopefully, with these candidates we can make some inroads with the black community in 2006, considering the level of competition. I particularly like Ken Blackwell.
First, here in Ohio, we've got to get Jim Petro off the GOP ticket before Blackwell can run unopposed in the primary---a goal sought by Ohio GOP chairman, Bob Bennett. As of a few minutes ago, Petro refused an offer to be Blackwell's running mate, an offer I don't think Blackwell himself made. And, likewise, Blackwell refuses to join Petro as his running mate. IMHO, Blackwell has a far greater chance of winning the election than does Petro.
The MIGOP was going crazy for Butler until Bouchard got into the race-at the urging of the RNC/the Washington crowd. Now, people are backtracking in their endorsements for Butler. Makes the party look really disorganized.
I think that the DC crowd should have just kept out of it and let us go for Butler. At least the field would be clear and we'd know where to give our money to get rid of Stabenow.
Is that what happened? I was told just the opposite by someone I consider an insider...the DC crowd wanted Butler and the MIGOP balked. I tend to believe them because the DC crowd has a far better record when it comes to selecting and clearing the field for an electable candidate than the MIGOP, but I don't know for absolute certain. Oh well...I can't stand the Republican Party here.
Robert Novak reported in a column about a month ago that the DC Republicans were backing Bouchard. Darn shame. I'd like to see Butler win. Of course, mostly, I just want to win.
I don't know anyone who would be considered an insider, so it's possible that you have better information than I do. But that is the impression I've gotten from listening to the local media and reading the papers.
It's hard for me to buy that some of these politicians would come out and endorse someone who MIGOP didn't support. Especially when you see them coming one after another.
I'm just worried that whoever is nominated is going to end up with the same campaign people who blew it for Spence in 2000 and Dick in 2002.
I am referring to Butler as the pick among the RNC types (not elected politicians) but you're right, they are not going to get in a spitting match with the MIGOP. The 2 never seem to be on the same page which is our loss, I think.
It's definitely a loss for Michigan. I'm really not thrilled that Debbie has a ton of cash to sit on while we have a primary to get through.
And then depending on who gets the nomination...what a mess. They really should have just let Butler make his run for it. He was raising a ton of money and getting support from all over. Now, who knows what's going to happen? Given the recent history of the MIGOP......I think my hopes of winning are going to be dashed again.
Don't forget Ken Blackwell in OH!!!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.