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Black Republicans Are Scarce at the GOP Convention
Published by Pamela Gentry on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 5:12 pm.
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
(ST.PAUL, MINN) Sept. 3, 2008 – Black Republicans are scarce on the opening day of the Republican National Convention, but those high profile members of the GOP are who in attendance are making the rounds and touting the virtues of the GOP for African Americans
Former Pittsburg Steelers wide-out, Lynn Swann, who ran for governor of Pennsylvania in 2006, told me, more Blacks would be Republican if they compared their conservative values to those of the GOP. He believes they haven’t examined what the party stands for and therefore aren’t giving the Grand Ole Party a chance.
“Who are you, what do believe in and how you act on that belief, if more Black Americans would ask those questions, they would find the answers in the Republican Party,” Swann said.
The convention this year has only 36 African American delegates, about two percent according to a study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Research. That’s a mere 1.5 percent of the total 2,380 delegates on the convention floor. Here in St. Paul the party is witnessing a significant drop in Black delegates compared to 2004, when 167 of the delegates were African American.
David Bositis, a senior political analyst who keeps an eye on the political trends of African American voters, noted the minority delegate count for both conventions. In contrast, 24 percent of the delegates at the Democratic National Convention were African American, or 1,087 of the more than 4,500 delegates.
Ken Blackwell, former Secretary of State in Ohio, defends his party and his presidential candidate Sen. John McCain’s outreach efforts to Black voters. “My impression and perception is John McCain has gone where others who have headed up the ticket have not,” he said.
Blackwell cited Sen. McCain’s appearance at the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., anniversary in Memphis and his speeches before the National Urban League and NAACP conventions as proof he was making an effort to reach out to African Americans. But McCain hasn’t been as available to Black media outlets.
BET News has had a request in for the senator since October 2007, for an interview. His press office has said his scheduled has not permitted time to make it happen. The request is re-introduced once every month or so, and the most recent e-mail response from Charles Adams, who is with the campaign, says; “Pamela, We will definitely keep you guys in the mix. Right now we don’t have any availability in the schedule but will certainly let you know if something opens up. Wish I could give you a better response but that’s where we stand. Thanks”
BET is covering the RNC, while other Black media outlets decided not to because access to top party leaders is limited and interest is slight from the Black community.
Very few African-American voters consider themselves Republican. “This low level of black attachment to the Republican Party is now almost five decades old,” Bositis said.
jfffnn
Check out some of these quotes from the black republican party. A party of diversity and equality.
Sen. Barack Obama displayed his disdain for black Americans by choosing Sen. Joe Biden as his Vice Presidential running mate.
Further showing his lack of concern about the well-being of the least among us, Obama is the most radical, pro-abortion candidate in our nation’s history.
Obama opposes school choice scholarships, putting the special interest of the teachers’ unions above the interest of poor black children trapped in failing schools.
Sounds like your boy, Patrick. LOL!!!
Clint
I was wondering why he hasn’t been on the boards,he is at the convention.A month ago he hosted a barbque for republicans in Virginia.by the way he is just a boy but he ain’t my boy, LOL-LOL-LOL !!!
I have so little respect and interest in the republican convention that I had no intention of watching; however, the Palin saga changes everything; I’m going to force myself to watch the slant (lies) that Palin woman has for the country. I hope she comes on early in the program because at least her presence brings some drama onto the scene…sort of like Jerry Springer or reality tv.
Clint, jfffnn
I guess that sums it up. Patrick is a black republican. Imagine that!!!
I agree with you. I have watched every night and fell asleep trying to keep up with all of these
“you know you are lying” people who know better, say how wonderful Sarah is and how much more qualified she is than Sen. Obama. It’s a real joke and I certainly will take several cups of coffee tonight to hear what this highly qualified presumptive nominee for VP has to say; and here I thought that the GOP had lost its sense of humor. I want to see if she can lie like she did about giving a speech as her water broke and then being allowed to board a plane in the middle of labor for and 8 hour flight to Alaska because she didn’t want to give birth in Texas; and then returning to work 3 days later. They should have named her “Davida Crockett”. I have given birth four times and have never been allowed on a flight after my sixth month. Now I know that I am not the Governor of anything but I certainly do not know an airline that will accept the risk of boarding someone in labor on an 8 hour flight. as the line goes in “RAY” “scratch a liar and find a thief”. I think that she is a big liar and my cup overflows with lying, hypocracy and ignorance from Republicans over these last eight years. They offer up a woman who has to be taken to a workshop to be trained on foreign policy and other political subjects and people are standing around talking about how qualified she is to perhaps run this country. Then they charge the Media with sexism because they ask questions about her abilities….PLEASE!
McCain=(Bush, Cheney & Rove)
McCain=(Bush, Cheney & Rove)
exactly barbara…
am sick of the republicans i have fought them on bet for over 4yrs .. and i dont care.. i have been dogged over my anti bush views and threatened more than once on here over the yrs.but the truth will always out.. bush lied, cheney is a con man and rice is a mammy!!
Why are the majority of Blacks devoted to the Democratic Party? What has the Democrats done for Blacks as a race to garner their support?
Why is Palin’s Daughter’s pregnancy an issue? How many of you had pre-marrital sex and got pregnant, or did not step up to the plate when your mate got pregnant? Why does political sex move real issues – such as Gustav and the displaced people of New Orleans – to the back pages of the news? How many anti war Democrats payed attention to the turnover of the Anbar Province in IRAQ this weekend – which means we are closer to bring troops home – vice Palin’s daughter and the boyfriend? This reminds me of the American embassy bombing in Kenya when over 200 people were killed, but the headlines were about Monica Lewinsky’s ?%#$# stained dress. People, DEMS, and REPUBS, pay attention to the real issues and stop trying to make a soap opera out of the executive office.
“Please, Let’s Talk Issues and Stay Focus!” ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Americans focus must be on “SOLUTION” to the problems American Families faces daily. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the next 36 hours, the McCain campaign will be pouring millions of dollars — if not tens of millions — into negative attack ads against Barack Obama. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Before John McCain accepts the Republican nomination on Thursday, his campaign has to spend every last dollar of primary funds they’ve raked in from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just yesterday, they aired a new negative ad in 14 swing states. His campaign manager even admitted that all McCain has to rely on is attacks, saying that for them, “This election is not about issues.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He doesn’t want Americans to notice that the Republican platform is the most extreme we’ve ever seen — opposing stem cell research, denying a woman’s right to choose no matter what the circumstance, and continuing to spend $10 billion a month in Iraq. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With so much at stake, we can’t allow another election to be determined by petty and divisive political tactics ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The McCain campaign is trying to distract voters from the real issues. ~~~~~~~~
They’ve come out against the life-saving possibilities of stem cell research. ~~~~~~~~~~~
They don’t even mention protecting equal pay for equal work. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They support huge tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They’ve almost completely ignored the $10 billion we’re spending every month in Iraq. ~~~~~~~~~~~~
And they make zero exceptions for a woman’s right to choose — even in cases of *?~~, incest, or to protect the life of the mother. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If that all sounds like more of the same, that’s because it is. John McCain is offering a third term of the disastrous Bush agenda, so it’s no wonder his campaign would choose to focus on attacks instead of issues. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obama for President and Biden for Vice President! ~~~ 08
From: Prelshea
Subject: REPUBLICANS-JUST GO AWAY!
Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2008 8:12 PM
?
REPUBLICANS-ARE NOT DOING ANY OF US
FAVORS!
PEOPLE ARE STARVING!
This is a message to all Republicans; and listen very carefully!
What you all don’t realize is that every behavior has a consequence whether you are from the Ghetto or from the Rockefellers…..This mother and Governor of Alaska is telling the nation tonight that she is ready to run our United States of America and she can’t even run her own household….
You wanna know why, I have observed her and her family jus a few minutes on TV and this is what I saw. The pregnant daughter is standing holding the little baby and the father is just standing there looking crazy….Why on earth would you let your daughter hold that heavy baby and take a chance on her losing her baby?
I definitely see a problem with that scene….
Many parents have these children and the plan is the older siblings are responsible for taking care of them…
TELL ..IT.. LIKE.. IT.. IS.. TONIGHT- SARAH PALIN!!!!
Don’t try and manipulate this nation into thinking that you can do it all, cause you can’t….
I am also for women everything; but when you stand up there and tell the world that you are ready to lead this nation and make decision and interfere with our LIVES and our COUNTRY on the basic of what?
I HAVE A PROBLEM!!!!!THE ECONOMY IS A MESS BECAUSE OF THE REPUBLICANS AND YOU WANT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO BELIEVE WHAT?
If you were a Latino or African American, the Republicans would be ready to stone you…..
I am asking you to step down tonight!
Please do this nation a favor tonight and step DOWN!
PEACE!
Terrance its it your bush family that has caused the problems in afganistan, so shut up!!. the original objective was to go and capture osama bin laden what happened to that one?. next, its not a matter of being sheep, the republicans suck big time as for me, wild horses wouldnt make me vote for the labour party in here in the uk after the disaster in iraq..we dont have delusions of granduer the way you do ..and since when did the greedy oil grabbing republican oil executives calling themselves patriots or whatever have the right to corner that market in hyperbole?.YOU OBVIOUSLY MUST BE ONE OF THE FIVE BLACK FACES AT THE GOP… JUST HOLD UP THE FRIED CHICKEN BUCKET SO WE CAN SEE YOU!!LOL!
Olounwa, I see that your replies are downgrading and defensive. You call the Secretary of State a Mammy, and you inply that the only black people who eat fried chicken are Republicans. For your info, I am neither Dem or Rep; I do not buy either parties platform as a whole. I vote for the best candidate available.
As for National Security Objectives, where did you get your info on our military objectives – was it CNN, BBC or BET? If that is your source, then you are the sheep who drank the koolaid!
Based off the past New York Mayor comments, the GOP is a racist event. How dare they constantly insult Senator Obama to gain an applause as if they are at a pep rally. The handful of blacks that are present look like they were paid to be there. It’s ironic that everytime they show a black person, their holding a flag and they are jumping like they agree with the GOP. As a college student, the statements that were made were targeted at all black people if you read between the fine print.I’m glad they are saying negative things about the democrats because it shows their perception of humble people. The GOP IS LEADING THE WORLD inTO DESTRUCTION!
Drevelyn Minor~Dallas,TX:
If you were focused you’d no that we done discussed all those issues already.
So all that long ass posting was unecessary.
Obama/Biden Nov. 4, 08
Unfortunately, I am not at the RNC in St Paul but my heart is there.
I really like Sarah Palin and have warmed up to John McCain. I feel very proud to be a Republican.
To the topic, it does disappoint me that the Dems have such a block on the minds of the black electorate.
However, I am doing my job to explain what a Republican is.
The Republican party stands for low taxes.
The Republican party stands for a strong defense of our country.
The Republican party has a firm commitment to protect the life of the unborn.
Truthfully, the black electorate does not focus on such issues. However, there is a scant few like me that feels that the GOP is our political home.
I am one of those holy-rollers that love the USA and will be voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin.
God Bless America!!!
McCain-Palin 2008!!!
Country First!!!
Mr. Washington did they let you come from the field to watch the RNC tonight,sir. How are you going to explainb to your grandkids that I had a chance to make history. But Master Cain had been to good to me. Please.
Patrick N. Washington,
The dead has arisen! What are you 100 years old, you sound like my grandpa always repeating the same ole bullshyt. Don’t you know we is free now?
Obama/Biden 08
Don’t be droll, Duane and Sheena.
This is a wonderful night. A good Christian woman has been nominated for the vice-presidency of our great country. That is the history that I will like to be a participator.
I understand completely your desire to elect the first black president. I understand racial solidarity.
However, I am going to vote for a candidate that share my political philosophy of limited government, low taxes, and individual liberty.
McCain-Palin 2008!!!
Country First!!!
In addition, I may have missed the 2008 convention in St. Paul but I will be running for delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2012 to reelect McCain and Palin. LOL!!!
God bless the USA!!!
God bless Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
However, I still say McCain-Palin 2008!!!
Country First!!!