Posted on 07/01/2005 2:29:28 PM PDT by oblomov
CLARION, Pa. - Lynn Swann, the Hall of Fame former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, stood before a nearly all-white Republican crowd at the Holiday Inn here recently and denounced Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, Edward G. Rendell, for failing to reduce property taxes. Then, without prompting, Mr. Swann suddenly turned the subject to race - his own.
"I'm not here to be the poster child for the Republican Party, to say they're being inclusive by running an African-American," said Mr. Swann, 54. "That's not why I'm here. I'm here to win."
Still, to many prominent Republicans, Mr. Swann, a commentator for ABC Sports, is much more than a potentially strong contender for governor in 2006. He is, they hope, part of a new crop of prominent black candidates who could help the Republicans crack, if not break, Democratic domination among black voters in several important states.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
ping
Good thinking GOP. Article is surprisingly well written.
I think this is great. If the Republican party can finally break through and get its share of what are conservative black voters who typically vote for white liberals then the Democratic party and its leftist core will be dead in the water.
Pander to the "hispanic vote"??
Pander to the "black vote"???
the gop will do anything to stay in power and keep taking our money..................
I've spoken to Swann a few times, the last being in NY at the RNC convention. Aside from the star power, the guy is actually looking at issues. You should wait to hear whether you like him or not before you just write him off and cast doom on the party for allowing him into the tent.
What did he say?
Actually, it's amazing how few blacks are in positions of power among the Democrats. They only allow blacks to be elected to office when they have absolutely no choice. As I recall, they could have had a pretty good black candidate as their minority leader, but instead they chose the brilliant Nancy Pelosi.
I never spoke to Lynn Swann personally, but I know he's pro-life, pro-gun, pro-family, pro-business, in favor of property tax relief, and property rights. As a Pa. voter, that's enough for me.
"Aside from the star power, the guy is actually looking at issues."
And the dude made some outstanding catches!
Seriously, I have heard many times how pro athletes become conservative after rising to upper tax brackets. Charles Barkley comes to mind also.
Swann should do well(and just might win)in PA given his name recognition alone.
FMCDH(BITS)
No time like the present -- recall the section from Thomas's dissent on eminent domain: blacks have so often got the short end of that stick! Can't the GOP find a way to make hay with that?
Sadly most blacks with any political power in the Democratic party are bottom feeders and race baiters.
I agree. If we can increase black support for the GOP even by 10% (to 21%), that'd be a major coup. And it shouldn't be too hard to do so over the next few years. Look at how well the Democrats treat their minorities. And look at the prominent black Americans who've done so well under the GOP. Hispanics and Jews are coming over to the GOP in increasingly greater numbers, and there's signs that many blacks are ready to look for a party that will help people help themselves, instead of just giving handouts. Look at Cosby, for example. Swann takes a very reasonable stance on the issues, seems like a decent guy from the little I've seen and I hope he will do well by us, so that more converts will come over from the Dems.
That's great. But it's just too bad regular folks, that don't have $millions are basically locked out. I tire of celebrities, lawyers and sports figures running on the name recognition and the big bucks. I know, it's not going to change.
I agree. I think that Republicans should spend more effort letting everyday black folk know what the Republican party is really about and highlighting what the Democratic party is about. I find typically that blacks are very conservative , I would imagine they are more conservative than their white counterparts on issues that don't concern race. We need to break through the barriers. Eventually it will reach a snowball effect. One thing that I hear that tends to allow black conservatives to continue to vote for white liberals is that the parties are no different. Republicans can not win their vote by becoming less conservative, they can only be swayed by a clear unwavering message. I'd continue to try to put the Dems in the spotlight arguing against God, talking negative about our troops, etc. Democrats keep such a sway over black votes because they pull know how to play both sides of issues. When Republicans are able to mobilize blacks on social issues the way Dems do with class and race they will ride to power with no end in sight.
The writer suggested that Republicans try to advertise in the same markets, and I hear they have started to at least.
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