GOP makes push to court African Americans

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by southernelle25
Because African Americans are rather conservative, the GOP wouldn't necessarily have to fight an uphill battle for our votes. The problem, IMO, is their perceived stance against civil rights and affirmative action measures.

I also believe that African Americans need to shake things up a bit. What's the worse that could happen? As a minority among minorities, we are frightfully close to becoming irrelevant in big-time politics.

That pretty much has happened in California, even though the state leans Democrat now.

Cali's total AfAm population is only 7% and has become spread out because many of us are at least middle-middle-class and can move out of historically black areas (such as what happened in Los Angeles post-Rodney King). There are virtually no blacks in the state Senate or Assembly now.

Also the Latino population is growing and the dominant minority in all aspects of life -- not just politics -- in San Diego, my city, the putative R&B/hip-hop stations play reggaeton. That wouldn't happen in Atlanta, but I digress.

[TonyB06]

Bringing back party of Lincoln
By Clarence Page
Originally published June 20, 2006
WASHINGTON // An intriguing debate has broken out among Republican elites over how to treat black folks.

On one side, you have those such as Jack Kemp, the former New York congressman and 1996 Republican vice presidential candidate, who would like to break the Democratic Party's 9-1 lock on black voters by reaching out with positive and meaningful gestures. Mr. Kemp wrote a commentary published in late May in Human Events and newspapers that called on the GOP to "get on the right side of history" on racial matters.

He suggested two ways to do this: by extending all of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, parts of which are set to expire next year, and "by extending the voting franchise to the residents of District of Columbia," which is predominantly black and lacks voting representation in Congress.

"Slander," responded conservative essayist Steven M. Warshawsky. "Mr. Kemp's article is an outrage." His article appeared under the headline "Jack Kemp's White Guilt" in The American Spectator. Mr. Warshawsky does not necessarily disagree with Mr. Kemp's suggestion, but with the justification: "His premise - that the Republican Party is on the 'wrong' side of history on racial matters - is deeply flawed, both as a matter of historical fact and political philosophy."

Mr. Warshawsky cites historical examples of the GOP's "strong support for black Americans" dating to its origins before the Civil War, often with Democrats on the other side, defending slavery and segregation.

Who's right? As with many other questions about race and rights, that depends on what part of history you're talking about.

read the rest:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opi...0,941830.story

[AKA_Monet]

Right now, I find great irony in these matters of state...

All this for jockeying votes? And some Negroes will do that you know... GOP is beginning to fracture upon itself. Plenty of folks are beginning to see the true nature of this beast.

And why do you think "they" (the powers that be) let Karl Rove (of the 3rd Reich) go essentially, "Scot Free"? Shall we say, let the "spin doctors" on the "F" channel in???

All to save seats in the 2006 November election--owned and operated by Diebold cash machines...

And folks are posting up crazy stuff as propositions and ballots in every state in the Union that has nothing to do with poor people and improving the Untied States...

What will it take for the US to be United? Another 9-11 attack? But this time, from Kim Jung-Il and his nuclear missile launches...

In the immortal words of Prince from his 1999 song: I don't wanna die, I'd rather dance my life away...

[n4sir5]

I was on the Juneteenth Celebration Conference Call with Mehlman, Alphonso Jackson et al to discuss minority homeownership and business development. Looks like if you aren't directly affected by Katrina... your pickin's may be slim and non. It is best to try to get our own ON our own.... The Only Thing the collective Donkey's and Pachiderm's have at the top of their agenda is....getting re-elected.

WAR: Tip O'Neil...All politics are local

[Rain Man]

Just to clarify:

The GOP didn't historically represent the wealthy and conservative (nor the Dems the working/underpriviledged and liberals until the 1960s). It disturbs me to see Blacks talk about the GOP like they were Satan's son, even though historically that was not the case. Case in point, FDR was a GOP.

But it is indeed interesting to see more Blacks joining the GOP in recent years (and in the '04 presidential election, special interest groups such as America's PAC was pushing hard for Blacks to go GOP).

Myself? I find neither of the major parties appealing to me, and once it is recognized on Ohio's ballots, I am going the Libertarian route.

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Case in point, FDR was a GOP.

If by "FDR" you're referencing Franklin D. Roosevelt, your statement is incorrect. FDR was first elected to the NY State Senate in 1910, Governor of NY in 1928 and President of the United States in 1932 (all as a Democrat.)

You may be referencing Theodore Roosevelt, who was a Republican.

[Rain Man]

You're right; I keep getting the two confused.