Why Republicans should give up on Black voters.
By kyle8 Posted in Elections — Comments (30) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I am currently in the process of adoption and there was something which I have noticed about child protective services which I have also noticed at the DMV and the post office.
Nearly every single person which works there is a black female. The only exceptions is the occasional Hispanic female, or black male. The same is true to a lesser extent in the school system.
Now that tells me something. It tells me that you are not going to be able to sell a group of people on the benefits of smaller, more efficient government and less bureaucracy when a very large portion of the groups employment and benefits comes from this big government.
Now there is always going to be a smaller group of Black people who are small business owners who you might be able to reach, but I do not recommend going out of our way to pander to black Americans.
Specifically I LOATH attempts by Republican candidates who go to meetings of organizations like NAACP just to be hammered by them. Or any attempts to pander. Let's get real. The only chance to gain future black votes might be in the future when the Democrats abandon the Black vote in order to pander to the fast growing hispanic vote, taking the hispanic cause where they are in conflict with Urban Blacks.
you see the outreach effort going?....limited?...making ground?..what is the biggest obsticle you see ahead?...
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
I think overall progress is slow. Specifically, although Mehlman tried to reach out on a national level, that is not the most effective means.
It really takes local County GOP chairs and local candidates reaching out, speaking to the community, and trying to win over people to change the dynamic. Often, the CBC congressional districts are abandoned by Rs. No money, no real effort. The same thing happens in state and local elections. Thus, a groupthink can occur because no viable alternative is being presented.
I am most hopeful about the under-30 crowd. Most of these young black voters do not have an identity connection to the Democratic Party. They are usually more open to considering voting R or listening to R's pitch. I see this anecdotally among my own friends and more generally through reading about other places.
For instance, the re-founding of Howard's College Republican chapter is of more consequence to this outreach than anything the national RNC can do. Creating a presence on HBCU campuses would be a great step forward so that many college-educated blacks would have heard the Republican message. That's the first step.
Then it takes mayoral, city council, state rep, etc candidates going door-to-door and asking for the vote. Unfortunately, when time is limited this is often not the most efficient way to win an additional vote. However, over the long term, it will take candidates doing this repeatedly to convince people that there is a true outreach going on. If this effort is focused mainly on middle class young blacks, it could probably avoid some of the futility of targeting older, more partisan black voters.
That's my 2 cents. I also think a successful Michael Steele could create many "Steele Republicans" in places like Prince Georges County in MD. It would really help to have a few national figures who are there through merit and not because a district was drawn to ensure there is a black representative. I think JC Watts was a great example, but there are none at this point (at least on the R side of the aisle).
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Social Security Choice - Club For Growth
Couldn't agree more. Black voters between 18-35 are really the key to breaking Democratic dominance of the black vote. They are somewhat weary of the party already. Getting a Michael Steele or someone similar elected would be a good first step. It's hard to make the case when there are no elected black Republicans to point to, and that really comes down to broader recruiting efforts. I'm not for racial litmus tests on candidates, but I think we need to cast the net wider so we can attract high quality candidates that will reach different communities.
There is nothing lonelier than being a black Republican in Boston, Massachusetts
head of RNC? I was hoping for that when Mel the Feckless was anointed...
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Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
Likewise, though I'm still ticked at Maryland for passing up the opportunity to send him to the Senate
There is nothing lonelier than being a black Republican in Boston, Massachusetts
I think the problem is that the democrat party has successfully stigmatized the other party in the minds of their voters in order to cement power. its not that some people vote for the democrat party because they are great, they vote against the republican party for a slew of reasons. Republicans are just rich guys, or racist, they are christian nutjobs that want to make being gay illegal or abortion have to be preformed in back alleys with clothes hangers. The hate republican politics can be seen any time you see a democrat speak, they will slam the other party for 50 things while advancing no concrete plans other than platitudes such as, we should all have healthcare. Until someone finds a way to make these tactics less successful, there will be significant obstacles to republican outreach in any minority community. To prove my point just look at how black republicans are treated. If you cant say they are looked at like circus freaks then your living on another planet.
We're all Americans.
As the black middle class grows, more and more are going to realize that their "leaders" have led them down a path to nowhere. They deserve an alternative.
Conservative Republicans should be about promoting education, reducing the illegitimate birth rate, and controlling crime. Conservative economic policies and market-based solutions will do what Big Government has tried but failed to do since the 1930's: increase the general level of prosperity in society by lowering taxes and promoting ownership, both of private homes and equity ownership of employers.
These things are about morality and faith in the marketplace. This should appeal to the ever-increasing numbers of middle-class black voters. The Republican Party needs to be able to make them feel at home when they decide to make the switch. Part of this effort should include the development of credible black Republican leaders.
Instead of abandoning the black voter, the Party should be more introspective: specifically, the loss of J.C. Watts as a strong conservative voice in Congress and in the Party was a big loss; why did it happen? How can we keep and promote similar voices in the future?
I agree with you on this point: pandering is weak and counter-productive. R's should not volunteer to be public whipping boys at staged media events. It earns no respect.
I've been reading this blog for awhile but just registered today because I had to comment on this thread. I'm a 23 year old black professional who's about to enter business school here in Boston. I can tell you that there is a market for the core Republican message of individual freedom, personal responsibility, and limited government among black voters like myself. However, it takes hard work to reach communities that have typically ignored or felt ignored by a political party. That's just reality. Demographic reality also means that the Republican party needs to attract more persons of color for long-term political viability. Expressing Republican values in a medium that reaches these voters is not pandering. It's called marketing, and we need more of it. Writing off whole segments of voters is what Democrats have tried to do, and look what it's done for them in the South and among white evangelicals.
There is nothing lonelier than being a black Republican in Boston, Massachusetts
>>>>There is nothing lonelier than being a black Republican in Boston, Massachusetts
Being ANY type of Republican in MASS seems like a fool's errand. Yet, one of the GOP contendors for the nomination for President used to govern Massachussettes. I wouldn't just give up black voters, or any other type of voter because of past difficulties.
Kyoto Now! (Because only pollution from the US hurts the planet)
The way I see it is that the R's have been sitting on the sideline, and watching.
We watch the Cosby types thunder through their community and try to inspire others.
We watch individual AA's strive to get better education, better way of life.
We watch and at times marvel at individual AA's that reach points like Powell, Watts...ect.
I don't see a plan, or marketing to really go after the votes. I don't see anything right now that can compete with the Jeese Jrs. that are already, actively, grabbing the votes.
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
Great comment.
Seems to this old, white guy that blacks have a much more conservative outlook, generally, than their voting record would indicate. Republicans are finally starting to see some black candidates who are really quality politicos rise to be competitive in statewide elections. They're not winning a lot, yet, but that has as much to do with POTUS as with them.
It looks to me like Republicans, and specifically conservatism, is starting to see some real fruit in the black community and now is the time to really step up our efforts.
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Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
I look forward to your perspective on both MA outreach and black voter outreach. Two places that could use a lot of smart ideas.
Your comments echo my experiences.
As to other readers, I feel I should point out that people like Ted Hayes do more for the outreach than anything the RNC can do.
Not surprisingly, plenty of people wish pesky black Republicans like Mr. Hayes would just slink away. He has skewered L.A.'s entrenched black leaders as "Negro officials," and he has the street cred to get away with it. As L.A. endured another crisis between black leaders and cops recently, he refused to denounce police for shooting dead a 13-year-old, Devin Brown, after a car chase. Instead, Mr. Hayes's press release faulted black church leaders who, despite their great power, rarely point to the lack of parental responsibility.
A totemic figure in L.A., Mr. Hayes has long emphasized problem-solving and individual responsibility. If you want to stop kids from shooting people, Mr. Hayes has told appalled black preachers and activists, stop blaming cops and "white folks" for urban tragedy and start blaming the lackadaisical inner-city family culture you support.
Mr. Hayes spent last fall tooling around the fortified neighborhoods of South Los Angeles, knocking on security screens and urging stunned residents to vote Bush. He explained that the Democratic Party was the Klan's party in the 20th century, and the party of the slave trade before that. A lot of people he met didn't know their pre-1960s history. He's ever unflappable. In early December, he appeared on Fox News to vociferously defend the right of Condi Rice to be Republican. His segment was introduced by a bemused Brit Hume, who hardly knew what to make of the Rasta Republican.
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Social Security Choice - Club For Growth
Welcome to Red State "blackrepublican". It is a pleasure to have you here.
I cringed when I read this post title. My father taught me to never give up on anybody. He would have clobbered me if it ever was racially motivated.
I do understand the frustration of conservatives reaching the African American community. However, with guys like J.C. Watts and Micheal Steele with "R" 's by their names, it only demonstrates how valuable the AA community is, and what it has to offer. These guys are going to be a future leaders (a very near future I hope), and I for one am excited about it.
Just because of past mistakes in reaching AA community, we should not give up. In fact, we all need to do a better job of listening to guys like "blackrepublican". I am glad he joined us!
Wubbies World - The odds of hitting your target go up dramatically when you actually aim for it!
Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. The Steeles, Watts, and Cains of the world give me hope. I expect to see more like them soon.
There is nothing lonelier than being a black Republican in Boston, Massachusetts
What you've given us is hardly sufficient to make an argument.
"During my lifetime, all our problems have come from mainland Europe, and all the solutions from the English-speaking nations across the world." - Thatcher
...it has to do with blacks being disproportionately poor. As people move up economically, the Republican party has a better chance of claiming them.
"I should be allowed to think" -- John Linnell
Before the civil rights era the vast majority of blacks voted Republican.
We need to once more brand ourselves "The Party of Lincoln."
Kyoto Now! (Because only pollution from the US hurts the planet)
I think John Hope Bryant articulates an emerging theme within the black community best. "And as civil rights played out in the streets, silver rights will play out in the suites - if we are lucky, that mean the classrooms where our children learn about capitalism and free enterprise, and how to make it work for them. If we are unlucky, it will mean in the corporate suites, where decisions will be made about us, with or without us. Civil rights was about rights, civil liberties and justice. Silver rights will be about choices. Mostly our own." I believe former Lt. Gov Steele hit on the same themes in his campaign - owning the lunch diner - attracting greater support among blacks than other black Republicans in an extremely blue state.
I think a key differentiator between the Republican party and the Democratic party is that it supports aspirational policies whereas Democrats do not provide in their rhetoric or their policies any pathway for upward mobility. This particularly resonates with African-Americans if framed properly. School choice, small business tax cuts, homeownership initiatives are all issues that have some level of support within the black community already and can help Republicans win the winnables.
There is nothing lonelier than being a black Republican in Boston, Massachusetts
Republicans should defininately continue to seek the support of Black Americans.
I just think that instead of focusing on attracting Black voters, Republicans should focus on attracting Voters who are black. Particularly parents and small businessmen.
Forget about the blacks. Republicans need to do a better job gaining support of CONSERVATIVES. Unless things change soon, the republican party could be looking at a 40 seat senate and Hillary in the White House come 2009.
just fyi...
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Social Security Choice - Club For Growth
In the near future the Republican party will be rendered irrelevant unless we can at least maintain 40% of the Hispanic vote. With the projected growth rates not even counting the 13-30 million undocumented workers the numbers alone prove that we better start working really hard sooner rather than later to attract the hispanic american voters.
http://www.transpanish.biz/spanish_stats.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic_and_Latino_politics_in_the_United_...
In past elections, republicans did well among LEGAL Hispanic voters. But now with the "open borders" crowd in Washington DC aligning themselves with the democrats, there is little hope for republicans in the future.
In theory it sounds nice to say republicans should "attract" Hispanic voters, but how do you propose we do that ? The immigration policies that GW Bush is trying to get passed into law will only HURT the republican party in future years.
Open immigration has turned California from a republican state into a socialist democrat state. Open and unrestricted immigration will hurt the republicans all across the southwestern US. Afterall, do you really believe poor immigrants from Mexico will be attracted to a party that supports limited government ? Or will the poor immigrants be attracted to the party that promises them free health care, free schooling, and all the other benefits the US government can provide ?
unless we can improve our performance with pet owners. We should be getting at least 60% of those votes - 75% of dog owners and 45% of cat owners. Dog owner numbers are higher because dog owners are simply smarter than cat people.
We have the opportunity in front of us with the scandal over poisoned pet food. It is obviously a plot by Democrats to reduce pets because petless people are selfish people and selfish people vote Democrat.
Where is the outrage? Where is the investigation?
Barring this, it would be a good idea to actually stand for something. Maybe in the form of The Contract for America. Then maybe we'd have something better than "Hey, we're not them! You know."
Whatever.
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Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
when fighting against Democrats over the Black vote.
We need to show AAs our positive message but, we need to up the ante.
We must show Black voters that abortionists discriminate against blacks. Why are 30% of abortion of black babies when they make up just 12% of the population? Why are their more black babies dead than Hitler killed people in concentration camps?
Why do Democrats claim to be for Civil Rights for Blacks when it was Democrats whom fought to enslave, segregate, lynch,disenfranchise(of voting), abort, cage(in ghettos),and kill(by gangs, crimes, and poverty) them?
Why are poorest counties in the nation all black and Democrat-controlled?
The sad fact is that the Deomcrats have done more to harm the Black communities since the 1960s. Than it did during the period between 1865-1965.
I meant to stir things up a little, and I see I did. As a general response: I believe I am right the Republican party should give up on trying to reach the "Black" vote as such, instead it should tailor its message to be including of all people. Let those in any minority group who value greater individual rights and restrained government join us.
But to go out of your way, to try to water down your beliefs as with "compassionate conservatism", to try to make nice with the hoary old civil rights crowd, these things are counter productive.
Let the Democrats continue to play racial politics while we try truly to be the color blind party.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
you are correct. We need to move beyond racial politics. The best thing we can do is get blacks out of the ghettos by enacting general policies that help all Americans especially African Americans.
1) There is a disproportion number of blacks working in the public sector.
2) Who are you speaking about that recommended going to the NAACP (in its current form) or recommended pandering?
3) Those of us, myself included, who are big advocates of black voter outreach understand that there are many liberal blacks who are not going to vote Republican regularly. However, Rs win about 10% of the black vote, while more like 25-30% are conservative. By pointing out the other 70% and saying "we shouldn't even try," you're missing out on possible Republican votes.
In Oklahoma, President Bush won 28% of the black vote. J.C. Watts represented OK as a black Republican, the state has many black veterans, and the state has a large black evangelical population. Rs would be dumb to ignore the opportunities to win over voters who may be sympathetic to their cause.
Furthermore, Rs have a better chance with black voter today than they have had in a long time. School choice, a renewed emphasis on personal responsibility (The Cosby Doctrine), prominent black Republicans in the administration, and a general sense that being monolithically Democratic has not helped black America are all factors that have recently come into play.
So please don't stereotype all black voters as public sector union members. Many are entrepreneurs, businessmen, lawyer, and soldiers. And don't attack a strawman of "pandering" when those of us who are serious about outreach want to win over voters with our ideas and an effort to point out areas of agreement. That's outreach, not pandering.
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Social Security Choice - Club For Growth