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Thanks for the ping. While I often disagree with Earl Ofari Hutchison, he's always been civil.

GOP gains among black voters are no accident and are not due to happenstance. In August 2000, embattled GOP strategist Karl Rove told Washington Post national political writer Tom Edsall that the Republicans must reject "the use of such issues as affirmative action, and 'welfare queens' that past GOP candidates had employed in a calculated bid to polarize the electorate and put together a predominantly white majority." Mehlman repeated a variation on the line at the NAACP convention when he tendered his and the GOP's mea culpa for snubbing blacks in past years.

I'm not certain these two "ideas" belong next to each other, politically, as they are out of context, lacking pertinent, relevant, salient details. Nonetheless.

Bush and Mehlman aim to bury the sorry episode in Republican history when it blatantly pandered to racists and states righters, ultra conservative kooks and loonies, and hopelessly alienated black voters.

Some Earl hyperbole, IMHO. Left-wing Dem Black churches (in addition to the usual racialist-based political groups) did plenty of damage themselves -- in politicizing many issues that conservatives black are comfortable with and supportive of. I know in the SF Bay Area/Oakland, Black pastors TOLD their parishioners they would banish any parishioner who DIDN'T fight Prop 209 (and/or welfare reform). And given the way radical blacks have held others hostage (in the "community", so to speak) there's a reality vector, not to mention also a security issue involved in some of these issues. Ward Connerly's office was damaged and arsoned. By whom? and that sure sends a loud message to conservative black voters. It's a threat to them, as well.

So, while EOH is writing cleanly, he is NOT laying out the facts of this "disenfranchisement by GOP of "minorities"" very fairly. He's laying it all out in terms of "voting lines" but only voting lines sans all other very pertinent data. It's his choice, as author, certainly to do so.

Their strategy is to resurrect the part of its past in which Republicans championed black rights. The difference this time is that Republicans have radically redefined the fight for black rights. It's not for affirmative action, and more entitlement and welfare programs. It's pro-business, and homeownership, pro-Social Security privatization, and pro traditional family values. That appeals to young, upwardly mobile blacks.

Gotcha, Earl: This also appeals to blacks of all ages. Especially those who for whatever reason would like to see not only themselves, but their CHILDREN, AND GRANDCHILDREN owning homes and doing well.

Bush and Mehlman may be on to something.

EOH is right -- Bush and Mehlman are on to something.

Speaking of Bruce Gordon as we have in past, Southack, thought you find the following article interesting: Questions for the NAACP by Margaret Kimberley