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.
The gentleman speaketh the truth that bears repeating - a lot. Thank you.