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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.
Thanks Cherie, It’s nice to see someone who thinks as an individual.
Working class, huh? Aren;t all of us that work for a living “working class”? Blue collar/white collar really doesn’t matter. I keep seeing comments about the GOP being hard on working Americans and the Dems are much friendlier; well, what, exactly, is a “working American”?
And another thing, why isn’t BET airing the RNC as it did with the DNC? All of this bias is turing me away fast. We have a bunch of lemmings here.
I honestly think that this is the hardest year to vote ..I am an African American Catholic..and I am torn between Obama and McCain…There are so many black people that are so for Obama and they don’t even know what he stands for…I hate that I have to choose between who cares for the poor and who’s religious beliefs I can agree with…My religious beliefs are more on the McCain side..but being a person of color that came from a low income yet working family might have to go with Barack…Its like what do you choose..something you believe in or who really cares about you…I really like Barack Obama..but I’m not one of those people that are like “Obama or Die” just to follow everybody else…If people would find out what both candidates are about that would be good…
I think that most of us were told from the start that all black people are Democrats..and many generations of people vote Democrat without knowing what Democrats are about…It just hit me at 28 years old that I need to research my Democratic party…I honestly see no one I can relate to in this race 100 percent
Candice,
At 28 years old what makes you think that you know what most black people were told about anything..or that you are the only black person intelligent enough to research and get politically informed?
I am a registered Democrat. Unlike some democrats I don’t feel obligated to vote democrat at every election. I weigh the candidates stance on the issues and I decide who speaks to my concerns. This election I will be voting for Obama and nothing the republican party has said has changed that yet. Sarah Palin has made me more certain of my choice. McCain’s political views and judgement make me sad for America and where he would lead us.
After seeing the GOP convention I am convinced that Obama will now win the election. The opponents have NO PLAN, NO PROGRAM, and no more tricks up their sleeves.
Barack Obama is projected to already have in the bag 153 Electoral votes of the 270 he needs to be elected President. The way it looks McShame McCain and Pitiful Palin are toast. We just need to make sure that in the states like NH, PA, FL Obama gets those electoral votes. The pressure is on. Ideally I do not think Obama is strong in certain areas. He just needs to surround himself with right team. A change we do need. I am telling you the Old Boys network is fuming. I cannot wait to flaunt in their faces. Yep, um hmmm…………Now you said African Americans could not do what…?
BORING McCAIN!
?
NO WAY. NO HOW. NO McCAIN. NO PALIN.
Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our President.
Tonight we need to remember what a Presidential election is really about. When the polls have closed, and the ads are finally off the air, it comes down to you..the American people, your lives, and your children futures…..These are the words from Hillary’s speech….
What I heard tonight from John McCain is that he threw President Busch under the bus……OMG…..
The story about his days in Vietnam were very sincere and chilling……He is a HERO……
HE’S STILL NOT READY TO LEAD THIS NATION…
NO WAY. NO HOW. NO McCAIN.
NO PALIN…..
Peace!
McCAIN = GEORGE BUSH = RONALD RAEGAN = DISASTER!!!
VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN 2008!!!
What a boring ass convention, Cindy McCain is about as equally boring as Laura Bush,
Cindy nor john McCain, can read into a teleprompter, so sad!!!! Watching them on last night was like watching paint dry, I was about to shoot myself!!!!
You have got to be an idiot, to vote for a McCain-Palin, with no morals ticket!!!!!
Not quite a crowd of 85,000 huh????? lol!!!!
Obama-Biden 08
Olounwa
No I’m not a sellout,the fact you ask that question is ridiculous.You may not understand the concept of the term sellout,however many people are quite familiar whith the definition.
I just couldn’t force myself to listen to that bullshyting McCain. And I have no words for that Palin female. I don’t believe that either of them appreciate the seriousness of this election. Anyway, we all need to be concerned about something more important then those two liars.
WHY ARE THERE STILL 8 MILLION BLACK VOTERS NOT REGISTERED YET???
Republican’s are a bunch of Bullsh**, I hate yall
Look at first i didnt consider myself a demo or repub but i did take the time to research i am not a repub repub are selfish rich white people yes I am a BLACK single mother college grad hard workin american who pay taxes. Its evident what america would be like the next 4years with mccain because we lived it the last 8years i fear for my children future if america dont vote for change. Yes i took the time to research ms Candance. someone made a comment the demo are mean well at my job we had a essence mag the OBAMas grace the cover in the employees restroom one of the nice repub co workers of mine Draw a nazi symbol on obamas head and draw his wife a set of grills in her mouth and Darken out the two little girls face how mean ,hateful and racist is that.so ITS Time for a change if u dont care for your future at least think about the kids!OBAMA 08
First, I’d like everyone to re-read their comments before posting. A little spell & grammar check wouldn’t hurt a thing.
For those who bash black Republicans, what makes you better than Palin or whoever else bashes Obama? For those who bash black Democrats as sheep, what makes you better? Isn’t it racist to make a statement commenting that the black Republicans are at the RNC eating fried chicken, or to question whether or not “massa” let someone in from the field to watch the RNC. Not all blacks are Democrats. I, for one, am not. I’ll never agree with pro-choice because of how it’s been abused. I can’t say that given an extreme circumstance (rape that results in pregnancy) that I wouldn’t consider it, but I know I wouldn’t follow through. Pro-choice has become the convenient solution to poor choice. If people aren’t ready to become parents, either asbtain from sex or be responsible. In my opinion, life begins at conception. I also believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. Now, because we can’t do anything about the choices people make, I don’t think gays and lesbians should be denied the right to make choices for their partners should they fall ill. I also don’t think we should do away with welfare, because there really are people who are trying to find jobs and can’t or have jobs that can’t meet their financial needs. I just think it needs to be regulated better so it’s not so easily abused.
People are questioning Palin’s ability to run the country based on what? On the fact that her daughter is unmarried and pregnant? On the fact that she was the mayor of a small town before becoming governor? If the truth be told, Obama has never governed anything. That doesn’t make him disqualified to run the country. If the truth be told, the black Democrat hero Jesse Jackson had a child out of wedlock. Did that disqualify him in the eyes of so many to be the standard bearer of the black community? Bill Clinton had numerous affairs, as did JFK, yet no one deemed them unqualified to run the country. How many pastors and other politicians have children who have done things that went against what they believe and preach? Are they not qualified to do what they do? And the Great Black Hope Kwame Kilpatrick just plead no contest to corruption and has been sentenced to 4 months, but no one’s jumping ship, right?
If we’re going to debate the merits of either party, let’s do so intelligently and respectfully.
Well said dclark!
Thats right, all you republican sell out sharecroppers need to smile at the GOP convention so the massa can get a nice picture! And if you can just hold that slice of watermelon by your face for the camera (snap shot), thanks! There were house niggers during slavery and there still is to this day! Some niggers just want to be white! They think that money and a white wife will get them into the inner circles of the wealthiest devils! But what they dont know is , behind thier back they get called the same thing as thier less fortunate brothers and sisters, a *@%%~~! So to all you shoe shine uncle toms at the GOP convention, when the convention is over , make sure you take your ass straight to the kitchen and clean up the mess for dem white folks! Go on boy, thats a good *~%%! Go on and vote for the devil that is helping to destroy our people and the middle class. Now sit *@%%~~, roll over, now play dead! Thats a good monkey lol! You make the massa proud! Black Power!
Who would you choose to be in the white house?
Take away the names. Take away the racial identity. Take away the party affiliation.
Presidential Candidate 1
Ivy league educated. Community Organizer. Congressman for seven years. Well spoken. Excellent leader. Pro-choice. For renewable energy. For building diplomatic relations with other nations.
First lady: Ivy league educated. Excellent speaker.
Vice-Presidential Candidate 1
Congressman for decades. Champion for women’s issues. Chair of two important congressional committees: judiciary and foreign affairs.
Presidential Candidate 2
Graduated at the bottom of his class but got a premo assignment because of his family’s Naval history. Crashed five million dollar aircraft. POW during Vietnam. Most POWs back Candidate 1. Pro-life. Cheated on his former disabled wife. Married his mistress. Runs his campaign by attacking Candidate 1. Selects a VP candidate with no experience in economics or foreign affairs.
Vice-Presidential Candidate 2
Pro-life even in cases of ~*@* or incest. Under investigation for abuse of power. Daughter is pregnant (What did she teach her about abstinence?). Heavily in the spotlight as the youngest governor of the largest state (geographically), yet there is NOT ONE picture of her in which she is obviously pregnant (go ahead and search…you will not find one single picture of this highly photographed woman obviously pregant). She got on a plane in premature labor with her fifth baby,knowing she was a high risk pregnancy and the child would have special needs, for an 8 hour flight.
fardxx.lol. you are such a racist idiot. words can’t describe what an ignorant ass you are. Sounds like you’re even racist toward black people. sigh.. such a sad case.