Posted on 06/30/2005 9:35:37 PM PDT by neverdem
CLARION, Pa. - Lynn Swann, the Hall of Fame former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, stood before a nearly all-white Republican crowd at the Holiday Inn here recently and denounced Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, Edward G. Rendell, for failing to reduce property taxes. Then, without prompting, Mr. Swann suddenly turned the subject to race - his own.
"I'm not here to be the poster child for the Republican Party, to say they're being inclusive by running an African-American," said Mr. Swann, 54. "That's not why I'm here. I'm here to win."
Still, to many prominent Republicans, Mr. Swann, a commentator for ABC Sports, is much more than a potentially strong contender for governor in 2006. He is, they hope, part of a new crop of prominent black candidates who could help the Republicans crack, if not break, Democratic domination among black voters in several important states.
In Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, black Republicans - all of whom have been groomed by the national party - are expected to run for governor or the United States Senate next year. Several other up-and-coming black Republicans are expected to run for lower statewide offices in Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Vermont in 2006.
It is not clear that local Republican organizations will embrace all of those candidates, and several face primaries. But national Republican leaders have been enthusiastically showcasing those blacks' campaigns, saying that whether those candidates win or lose, the party can still gain if blacks believe that Republicans are seriously courting their votes.
"You've got a Democratic Party which I think has repeatedly demonstrated that it assumes it will win the African-American vote, but doesn't work for that vote," Ken Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said. "It takes African-Americans for granted. And I think folks in the African-American community..."
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Like I said before, the conservative train is leaving the station and if the blacks are smart, they will get on board.
From what I know, the Republicans who are running for these offices are intelligent, well-informed people. That they happen to be black is not their biggest asset!
After all, he helped Republicans to reclaim the Governor's Mansion for the first time in 30 years.
This is what Ken Mehlman has been doing undercover. Lots of Blacks support us and can run. Lots of other ethnic people support us and can run. The NYT blew our cover by doing this for a reason. The GOP WON the presidential election by walking away from the liberal media and talking to people where they are. We don't need the media to tell us who we are anymore, wherever our origins are. Surprise them with a big "screwing". Again. The game has changed.
88-Great receiver. Wish him well.
The inference in this article is that if you are black and Republican, you are a toy, a token, a mindless robot being manipulated by the white man.
When will the blacks of America see these elitist, snobbish, white libs for what they are: Serious racists!!
As for Keith Butler, I'm probably going to vote for him. Not because he's black, but because he's pro-life, speaks his mind, is a good family man, pro-2nd amendment, and is not afraid to talk about border security. He's also the only Republican to be elected to the Detroit City Council in the last 40 years, if not 50 years. He's not a good "black candidate", but a good CANDIDATE who happens to be black.
But they love DIVERSITY....until they start moving to their neighborhoods.
I rarely say something nice about the NY Times, but I have to be fair: This article doesn't trash black Republicans in any way that I can see. I think the writer did a good job.
Although the headline is snotty.
Good luck with Swann! I would love to see Rendell have just one term.
I believe they are. While the DNC chairman makes spectacular news, the RNC chairman has been welcoming everyone into the GOP that share basic human values. Notice the RNC chairman has been out of the news while meeting with all these people? It's called stepping aside of the media storm RATs create. WE don't need the regular media anymore. That's over and has been over for a long time.
I'd vote for a conservative martian if he espoused true conservatism and not just lip service.
"That they happen to be black is not their biggest asset!"
Certainly not.
But Lynn Swann would probably not have a great shot at the Governor's mansion if he weren't black. It is definitely AN asset to be black or female if you're conservative. Which is a shame, because your sex or skin should have nothing to do with your ability to get ahead in society.
And as long as I'm fantasizing, I'd like a 65' Spray with a schooner rig.
That's what they pay the headline writers for, I guess. I had a similar reaction. As if they just want to lure black voters, but they don't care if the black GOP nominee wins. I could care less if they were black, yellow or magenta, just me someone with convictions who's not a dem.
The Republicans will never get the welfare blacks, but they have a chance with younger working blacks. Seems like many of the "civil rights" generation made up their minds a long time ago and vote D without thinking. I think the younger generations can see how that's been a bad idea, and will consider other options.
Also, the Dems have made a BIG mistake by becoming so clearly tied to the increasingly obnoxious gay agenda. Many blacks don't like to be lumped in with those screwballs any more than traditional conservatives do.
Really. Name recognition alone for Lynn Swann has to give the dems heartburn.
Debate moderator; Here at the gubernatorial debate we have Lynn Swan, Hall of famer, Superbowl hero, Pitsburg Steelers legend, and some jacka$$ that is going to dare say something bad about him. Welcome gentlemen........
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