Hmmmmm. isn't broward and miami florida mostly black?
Not a chance. South Florida is mostly Hispanic and Anglo.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
Posted on 10/09/2002 1:57:31 AM PDT by kattracks
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Democrats long used to getting heavy support from New Jersey's black voters are shutting blacks out from top political decisions and ignoring their concerns, activists charged.
Black church and community leaders said Democrats should not expect blacks to vote lockstep with party leaders, especially after the shake-up in the Senate race.
They said community leaders felt shut out of the party decision to replace Sen. Robert Torricelli, who resigned as a candidate after months of talk about his personal ethics.
Leaders also said they were troubled by McGreevey's demand that Amiri Baraka, who is black, resign as state poet laureate after some claimed a Sept. 11 memorial poem was offensive and anti-Semetic.
McGreevey and legislators have promised swift action on bills that would allow the governor to fire Baraka and cut him from his two-year, $10,000 appointment.
Sen. Ronald L. Rice, D-Essex, was one of several legislators who said he was disappointed that more black party leaders were not consulted about the legislation, or about the selection of a new U.S. Senate candidate last week.
"We don't want to be a bunch of placeholders," Rice said. "I'm a good Democrat but I also believe I've earned the right to disagree."
The Rev. Reginald Jackson, executive director of the Black Ministers Council, said party leaders want blacks to vote, but offer them no reasons to support them after the election ends.
"It's insulting, it's demeaning and believe it or not younger African Americans are not toeing that line," he said. "And I think those who are going to expect us to be there in the future are in for a rude awakening."
Gov. James E. McGreevey, a Democrat, refused to discuss issues involving the senate selection process and concerns raised by black voters on Tuesday.
Walter Fields, a Democratic political consultant, said blacks are being shut out because Democrats have determined they risk losing no political support in the black community if they exclude blacks from decisions.
Blacks now have no leverage as a voting group because they consistently support Democrats and give no sign of changing, Fields said.
That allows mostly white power brokers to assume support from black voters without offering anything, or helping blacks into positions where they can become statewide candidates, he said.
"You not only don't have a guy on the short list, you're not even in the room when the decision is going to be made," Fields said. "Then you're told to vote for this person just because you're a Democrat."
Dissent between black voters and Democrats in New Jersey mirrors similar disputes in other states that have been going on for decades, political scientists and analysts said.
"Is one of those underlying issues that often affect race relations in general," said David Bositis, a senior analyst at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington. "There are people and issues and decisions that involve African Americans and their leaders and there's often a white political leadership that doesn't take into consideration and consult with and listen to African Americans."
Roger Wilkins, a professor at George Mason University, said blacks who weren't consulted have a major complaint if the party is depending on black voters to save the Senate seat.
But black voters must realize what party leaders faced trying to replace Torricelli, who quit with five weeks to go, Wilkins said.
"They didn't want it to be ragged, they wanted to get Torricelli behind them and they wanted a name and a face that was credible," he said.
Not all black leaders are worried.
"I think it's at least a non-issue. It's an issue to divide the Democratic party and to bring some doubt among our black leadership," said the Rev. Stanley Justice, another member of the Black Ministers Council.
Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Maybe so.
Some, however, have left the Dims and are becoming Republicans. Here in the 2nd District of Mississippi, our (Republican) candidate is a black man. This past weekend, I spent the day at the fall flea market in Vicksburg campaigning for him. You should see the faces of the black populace when they figure out a white guy is trying to get a black guy elected as a Republican.
Any other Freepers in the 2nd District? Vote for Clinton Le Suer on Nov. 5. (In fairness, the Democrat candidate is Bennie Thompson.)
Tell ya what. I'd rather talk like I have one of those rather than be one.
You're right. You couldn't have the slightest idea what I'm saying because you're nothing more than a dried up old prune of an excuse for a man. Mama always said respect my elders, but sorry, mom, this one doesn't rise to that level.
Hmmmmm. isn't broward and miami florida mostly black?
Not a chance. South Florida is mostly Hispanic and Anglo.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
That's the problem. Coming up, I always saw every 2 to 4 years Dims campaigning in the 'hood. I mean without fail. How many Pubs came to East Cleveland? ZERO. The squishy George Voinovich (now the Pub Senator from Ohio) was the mayor for nearly all my childhood, yet he never showed up either.
You still have to make and take your case to the people. If you don't show, it is assumed that you don't care. And this makes the RATS job so much easier. TV and radio doesn't cut it. They have to be there. That goes from coast-to-coast, inner-city, rural areas, and/or suburbs.
I swear, I've been thinking on these lines for about two months now. All I will say for the moment about this is that you are on to more than you realize. You truly are.
All I can now ask is, "Why not?" I'm talking about regular conservatives here. Fringe Right? Fuhgedaboudit. But why won't the GOP move on this?
A partial answer here, maybe. In 1992, Bush was invited to the NAACP convention and declined. He got (faulty memory here) about 12-15% of the black vote. In 1996, Dole was invited to the NAACP convention and declined. He got about the same 12-15% of the black vote. In 2000, W was invited to the NAACP convention, went, gave a fairly good speech and was not well received. As a result, the NAACP ran that vicious attack ad and he got 8% of the black vote.
The bottom line is that the Republicans have been burned whenever they try to go after the black vote - possibly because the liberal black leadership goes bonkers if they see any inroads made on their plantation. As a result, the GOP tends to back off and cede the Demoncrats 80-90% of the black vote - because it is easier, not from evil intent.
That said, you are absolutely right - the GOP needs to begin actively seeking black votes. Not by pandering to the blacks (like the Demoncrats), but by including them in all their normal vote gettting activities. This type of approach will not help much in 2004, but might in 2014. The GOP needs to look beyond the next election. But they need to start NOW.
By the way, they need to do this with ALL minority groups - preach the gospel of conservatism and eventually many of the thinking members of these minorities will realize that the message is what is needed for this country.
Speaking as a FReeper not a functionary,
Patience, patience...... many concluded exactly as you that 10-20 % split off from the block would make a difference.
We have an opportunity here on Free Republic to listen to your thoughts and to lend support to your efforts.
Your message must be filtered out, amplified and transmitted. I think that the message will be delivered and appreciated.
Well, there's really nothing you can say (or anyone else for that matter) that would make me "happy." My lovely wife of nearly 6 years does a wonderful job of that.
But "[w]hat is it that [I] want?" The same thing you want:
R E S P E C T
Period. End of story.
Friend, I watched the debate between Townsend and Ehrlich. I was disgusted with the way the NAACP crowd acted toward Ehrlich and his family. How can these people be taken seriously when they act like this? Hope to hear from you soon.
The goal is not to sway these folks, the goal is to put out a message that will be heard by 10%+ of these folks. Adjust your attention to the 10%+ and disregard the background noise.
By concentrating on the background noise you aren't hearing the plea which although faint is there if you will listen.
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.