Posted on 02/08/2006 8:01:27 PM PST by JulieRNR21
ARLINGTON, Va. --
When the 33rd Annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) gets underway in Washington, D.C., this week, the new National Black Republicans Association (NBRA) will be there in force, marking the first time a black Republican group co-sponsored what is perennially billed as America's premier conservative event.
NewsMax caught up with the energetic chairperson of NBRA, Frances Rice, on the evening of Feb. 6 as she was gearing up for two days of special "grass-roots" training events for her group that precede the formal CPAC kickoff.
Rice, who retired from the Army in 1984 after 20 years of active service as a judge advocate and who served as a member of President Ronald Reagan's Private Sector Initiatives Task Force, is proud of the rapid progress of her organization – noting that President Bush was publishing a special greeting to the group that was to be read Wednesday evening in conjunction with the group's Pioneer Dinner at this year's CPAC venue at the Omni-Shoreham Hotel in Washington. D.C.
Congresswoman Katherine Harris, R-Fla., will read the presidential greeting honoring the NBRA, which was formed just this past August. The NBRA has endorsed Harris in her run for the U.S. Senate, emphasizing, as Rice tells NewsMax, "her consistent support of black Republicans in Florida and black communities in her district."
Rice, who describes her organization as "committed to returning African-Americans to their Republican Party roots," tells NewsMax that the NBRA hopes, among other things, to move Republican political activism away from the use of traditional "paid political operatives" and into the hands of rank-and-file Republicans who are networked and who beat the Republican drum in America's neighborhoods – particularly black neighborhoods:
"There's nothing like having your neighbors come to talk with you," she says.
The message: "To return black Americans to their Republican Party roots by enlightening them about how Republicans fought for their freedom and civil rights, and are now fighting for their educational and economic advancement."
To this end, Rice was instrumental in getting CPAC linked up with Arlington-based The Leadership Institute (TLI), which, since 1979, has been a training ground for tomorrow's conservative leaders.
Participants at CPAC 2006 will have the opportunity to participate in five of their most popular seminars, including a Grass Roots Communications Workshop, an Effective Television Techniques Workshop, a Blogging workshop, a Public Speaking Workshop, and a Campus Action Workshop.
Some 100 NBRA volunteers from around the country will not only be attending the workshops during the formal CPAC sessions, but will be on hand for a special "Grass Roots Activist Campaign School" at TLI's Arlington campus.
"We want blacks to be effective in the political process," Rice says.
Agreed!!! Cheney's not running and I just don't think '08 is the right time for JKB. The BEST '08 candidate resides in the fine Commonwealth of Va., GEORGE ALLEN.
But in '12, you could have JKB run as Pres. and LYNN SWANN as his runningmate!!!!
Want to upset the Rev. Jackson, Sharpton the ACLU, and liberal media at the same time---THERE YOU GO!!!!
Man, oh man!
The Black Left would have a collective cow if they knew some of their heroes were actually Republicans.
This is GREAT!
Wonderful! Thanks for the ping.
Nice pic. Saw her at CPAC Friday.
Thanks for the ping. I remember the open letter Ms. Rice wrote to the Democratic Party. It's nice to be able to associate a face with that letter.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1147682/posts
I assume you have to be black to join but, can one just send them a donation?
Thanks for the ping. Wow! If you scroll up and down slowly and stare at the flag behind her in post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1574862/posts?page=83#83 , it looks like it's waving in 3D! Sort of. Well, to me, anyway.
1856 was the last time there were any Republicans in Massachusetts.
That's nice - 'cause they are losing a lot of us Conservatives of all colors lately.
I cannot see the waving flag....but :m glad you can!
I assume you have to be black to join but, can one just send them a donation?
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