Va. delegate says D.C. no help (Minority Republicans getting help to mount campaigns?)

Hillnews.com ^ | 11/25/2003 | Lizzie Andrews

[Abram]

http://www.hillnews.com/campaign/112503_delegate.aspx

[Abram]

Are Republican minorities getting the help they need to mount serious campaigns? If not, what can we do to elect more people of color to Congress? Having elected officials of color will help dispell the myth that the Ds spread that the Republican Party is the party of the white, rich, males...

[Lunatic Fringe]

You can't win this... any black candicate would be cynically called a "token" black candidate, or they would be criticized by blacks as being an Uncle Tom.

We must first win over the voters, and the candidates will follow.

[JohnnyZ]

The RNC and the NRCC say she hasn't contacted them. Had they ever thought about contacting HER, considering she's been rumored to be thinking about running for the last 6 months??????

[JohnnyZ]

You can't win this... any black candicate would be cynically called a "token" black candidate, or they would be criticized by blacks as being an Uncle Tom.

We must first win over the voters, and the candidates will follow.

Winsome Sears already won election in a majority black state house district. This article is about her trying to pull off another upset for Congress.

By your logic, Sears has never been elected. But in the real world, she has. Did you read the article?

[Corin Stormhands]

Reality check here:

1) Booby Scott is vitually impossible to beat. Under the Voting Rights Act, Virginia MUST have one minority district. That's Scott's district. He is very popular there.

2) Winsome Sears was elected in 2001 against a scandal tainted (and maybe even indicted) incumbent in a traditionally Democratic/Minority district.

3) Winsome Sears served ONE term and declined to run for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates. IIRC part of her reasoning was because she wasn't "included" in the Black Caucus.

4) Because Sears dropped out, the GOP had no credible candidate to run in her district and the RAT ran unchallenged and the GOP lost that seat.

If I were running the RNC, I'd be saying to Sears "What have you done for me lately?"

[Charlotte Corday]

No money for a conservative black candidate - the Arlen Specters' and Liddy Doles' of this world need the funding.

[GraniteStateConservative]

You and me share a brain, I guess. I was just about to ping you and include that quote in the ping. Should we be worried that it appears you and I and other people at FR who follow these threads know more about national congressional politics than the NRCC and the RNC? Sears isn't some bumpkin off the street that decided to run for Congress-- as both you and I know. Why the hell is she treated as such by the RNC and NRCC?

[GraniteStateConservative]

I think Sears said God didn't want her to run for re-election.

[Corin Stormhands]

Has God told her to run for Congress?

[GraniteStateConservative]

She said she won't unless He directs her to do so.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I'd add that I'm not saying the NRCC should pour money into her coffers just because she's running or thinking about doing so. They should give her a call or two to touch base with her, though. "Hey, how's it going? What do you think you'll be up to next? We have all sorts of seminars and such for minority GOP candidates for local, state, and federal office. Let us know if you need anything."

[Corin Stormhands]

I am not one to scoff at God's leading. But if she believes she must wait for God's call, it's a little early to be whining about the RNC.

I can't fault the RNC for accepting the fact that this seat isn't winnable for a Republican.

[Corin Stormhands]

Maybe God is speaking thru the RNC and NRCC to tell her not to run...

[GraniteStateConservative]

LOL.

[JohnnyZ]

They should give her a call or two to touch base with her, though. "Hey, how's it going? What do you think you'll be up to next?"

I know, right. What, did her file get lost in that massive "elected black Republicans" archive? Or was it like, "Oh, we didn't think you were going to run against Corinne Brown again. Oh right, that was Jennifer Carroll, wasn't it? Sorry, you know how it is, all elected black Republican women look alike!"

[JohnnyZ]

You and me share a brain, I guess.

One brain between the two of us? Explains a lot . . . ;)

[Corin Stormhands]

What part of "she walked away and gave the RATS back a seat in the General Assembly" is it that you guys don't understand?

[JohnnyZ]

What part of "she walked away and gave the RATS back a seat in the General Assembly" is it that you guys don't understand?

What part of "God told her to" don't you understand?

God got her into the seat in the first place. If He wants to get her out, well, in the end He and Winsome have gotten us 1 term more than the 0 we would have had otherwise. It's not like we need Assembly seats, anyway ...

[Corin Stormhands]

What part of "God told her to" don't you understand?

You're missing my point. I said above that I don't scoff at the leading of God. If she believes He told her not to run fine. But, regardless of her reasons, she still walked out on the party she now wants to throw money at her feet.

It would take an act of God to defeat Bobby Scott. The RNC and NRCC know there are other races where they actually have a chance to win. This ain't one of 'em.

It's not like we need Assembly seats, anyway ...

Now yer just bein' ignorant. You obviously haven't seen the Governor's tax plan.

[sultan88]

The Article

"Many Republicans insist they are reaching out to minority voters and candidates across the country. Virginia Delegate Winsome Sears doesn’t agree.

The 39-year-old black Republican from Norfolk is eyeing the 3rd District, held by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.). So far, she’s not getting much help from Washington, she said.

“I tell you, there’s no interest,” Sears said, adding that she had spoken with Republicans inside the Beltway and received a tepid response. “I’m sure when I win they’ll say, ‘We knew you could do it.’”

Sears — who said she’s looking into running but has not made a final decision — said that Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) had pledged his support and that Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) said he might help. An evangelical Christian and a former Marine, Sears would be the only black Republican in Congress if elected."

I would like to see her run; just to give my friends in the 3rd District a choice. But any chance of unseating Bobby Scott, who could likely hold that seat for life, is slim and none.