[Carthago delenda est]

Yes!!! I've been saying for years that the GOP oughta run ads in black districts pointing out, say, how the Democrats continually obstruct measures to provide minority kids with school vouchers. Make it plenty accusatory - they deserve no better - and ask pointed questions like: "Why are the Democrats so opposed to letting minority families choose the best schooling for their children?"

The dry runs so far have been promising. When Republicans run real ads in black districts - not the spineless kind that say "We're not so bad," but the ones that actually ask for votes - polls indicate that the GOP vote goes up by about three percent. That may not sound like much, but there's also an additional effect: lots of Democratic black voters stay home. That's because they haven't been pilloried with "Republicans are Ku Klux Klansmen"-type attacks; every minute that a Democrat is forced to respond to actual issues is one less minute he can spend calling Republicans jackbooted thugs who want to kick in the teeth of poor black children and haul their parents off to jail.

The bottom line is that Democrats win minority votes through fear - it's all they have. Take that away, and they have to respond to actual arguments. All of a sudden, their usual hypocritical malarkey doesn't work anymore. It's time the Pubbies start acting like the majority they are.

[stevem]

...the future national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, and secretary of state, Colin L. Powell, had emerged as black conservative stars...

Colin Powell isn't conservative.

I'd truly enjoy it if blacks were encouraged and join based on conservative principles. Regardless, I'll believe it when I see it.

[Britton J Wingfield]

bump.

[Always Right]

GOP Makes 'Top Priority' Of Converting Black Voters

Converting? What does that mean, change them to white voters?

[Cicero]

Again and again, the Republican party have tried to lure blacks away from the Democrats by pandering to them and offering "more of the same."

If they are finally serious about offering a genuine alternative to blacks, more power to them.

Colin Powell is not a conservative, but he is certainly conservative in comparison to folks like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and the black Democrat point men whom Mayor Koch once referred to as poverty pimps.

[MoJoWork_n]

Hmmmm...

Fear, on the one hand, and logic, on the other.

Personally, I think it'd be more accurate to say that black folks, in general (and those that actually vote, in particular) tend to be quite conservative on the social and ethical/religious yardsticks (check poll numbers on gay rights, for instance, or the correlation of church membership to voter registration) but if you're going to talk about anything that involves economics, "affirmative action", "driving while black", or any of the other hot buttons perceived to be "race card" triggers by most Republican conservatives, there's still a pretty big gulf between what's 'inbounds', and what remains 'out of bounds'...

Plus, there are the real estate considerations, with demographics still being mostly "urban", on the one hand, and "suburban/rural", on the other. With all of the territorial conflicts and just plain mutual ignorance that all of that suggests.

[hosepipe]

[ GOP Makes 'Top Priority' Of Converting Black Voters ]

Oh! I see, even farther left.. more socialist platform.... even more federal giveaways... CHECK!...

[Kay Soze]

Next the GOP needs to try and regain the conservatives.

[freedom44]

ping

[Captainpaintball]

GOP Makes 'Top Priority' Of Converting Black Voters

In today's world all this means is that they are going to act even MORE like democrats.

[moodyskeptic]

While I don't relish the idea of pandering for votes, it sure would be fun to pile onto Democrat party woes with a big spike in black GOP votes. It'll drive 'em crazy.

My message to RNC: do not hire white geeks to create black ads. Find smart black advertising people, there are PLENTY of 'em out there. Allow them to create ads that make sense to blacks, do this and you'll see serious gains in black GOP registrations. And don't be cheap.

[RandDisciple]

I have always thought that the GOP could make a breakthrough with blacks if they adopted a more libertarian viewpoint on the war on drugs. If they ran ads supporting a change in sentencing guidelines for non-violent drug offenses in black districts I think it would draw a lot of support. Dems cannot do this as they would appear soft on crime. This is a huge issue in the black community. Softening these strict sentences (and pushing school choice)for non-violent users could change quite a few black voters voting patterns. Unfortunately, Ashcroft is threatening judges with sanctions if they don't follow draconian sentencing guidelines, regardless of extenuating circumstances.

[RatSlayer]

Unfortunately, if I spoke my mind on this issue, I would probably be banned. So I guess I'm going to have to keep my mouth shut.

[lainde]

bttt

[kingu]

This election cycle would be the best time to outreach into the black community, but if it is done in a pandering manner, it is absolutely doomed to failure.

No one seems to want to pay attention to what the people say. For example, the Hispanic community is overwhelmingly anti-illegal immigrant. But, wow, the GOP is afraid to enforce the immigration laws lest they offend the Hispanics. The black community is overwhelmingly in support of strict enforcement of the laws, yet, gee, the GOP doesn't want to spread the message of being tough on crime to the black community lest they offend.

If the GOP truly wants to outreach to the minority communities, their message should be of equality. 'We're not going to treat you like victims anymore. We're not going to say to you that you have to have special treatment because you're less than us. We're not going to appoint your leaders to our governing boards just because they happen to have the right skin color. If you're looking for that stuff, go play with the Democrats who will pat you on the head, say how horrible you've been treated, and ignore you until the next election cycle.'

And the honest truth is that this administration has plenty to crow about to the black community because of Rice and Powell. While the Democrats claim to want to support minorities, Republicans actually appoint those of color to high level positions not because of their color, but based on their abilities.

School choice, tough on crime, religious expression - wonderful themes that will ring well in the black community.

Though, a word of caution.. Don't send Clarence Thomas or any other black man who has married a white woman to do your speaking. Nor should you send anyone who isn't in a strong family relationship.