Posted on 07/22/2003 10:46:34 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
Edited on 07/12/2004 4:05:35 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
President Bush's upcoming meeting with the Urban League, coupled with his snubbing of more-militant black groups, mirrors his outreach to moderate Palestinians while ignoring Yasser Arafat.
In both cases, Mr. Bush hopes to turn nearly hopeless relationships into constructive dialogues with groups not known for their fondness of conservatives.
(Excerpt) Read more at dynamic.washtimes.com ...
I'll agree that we shouldn't be pandering (nor pandered to), but the message has to be delivered to the black community.
I've said this before -- as long as we allow Jesse Jackson, the NAACP, Al Sharpton, et.al.-ad nauseum to spew their venom in the black community unchecked, we are allowing them to deliver our message (albeit filtered through their "capable" hands and voices) for us.
Our biggest challenge in terms of outreach is to put our unfiltered message directly in the black community. And until most people in the GOP can see that, we won't be able to even get started at making any serious inroads. Jackson, et.al. have appointed themselves de-facto gatekeepers to black America.
The only way we can get our message into black America in it's true form (i.e., not distorted by the lies and hatred of the likes of Julian Bond and others) is to go around those gatekeepers. That job is not an easy one. But it is one that is well worth taking on. The President has the right idea, by going to the Urban League and blowing off the NAACP. It is a solid start. It is not, however, pandering to the audience.
To those that see it as pandering, would you equally dissuade the President from speaking to the Religious Right?
I'm sure that thought would never enter your head. But if you substitute Christian Conservatives for black Americans, then you can see where I'm coming from.
We have to crawl before we walk.
Nearly everything I write for Project 21 ends up appearing in most black newspapers across the nation (including the Nation of Islam's Final Call). I've had more than one piece to appear in regional black magazines as well.
Many of those editors are beginning to see the value of providing an alternative view.
I'll admit that it is done to try to bolster their own views in many cases, but in others, it is a legitimate effort to provide a well thought-out alternative to what is percieved as "mainstream" black thought.
The other posters here are correct. Exposure in black media is crucial. Black radio (at least Urban Contemporary) is among the most lucrative formats in American radio (third only to News/Talk and Country). Tom Joyner reaches more affluent black households than Rush Limbaugh ever could at the present.
And while the George Curry's (former editor of the now-defunct Emerge, known for referring to Clarence Thomas as a "handkerchief-headed Negro" in that magazine) of the world are still out there, they are no-longer legion.
The wheels of change roll inexorbly slow, but they do roll.
That's key. Look at where black dollars are being spent. Most people ignore the fact that were the "black economy" of the US consolidated as a separate state, only California would outspend it?
That belies considerable size and strength -- were you able to harness that strength.
But it takes work. And that is work that many are not willing to do, because the benefit will not come immediately. That benefit will take literally years to come to fruit.
And let's not forget that while we work, so will our adversaries. This will make that work that much more difficult. But not insurmountable.
Not true. That actually plays into the poverty pimps' hands. Look at the carping about Florida, when there was no active campaign to dissuade voters.
You never want to dissuade anyone from voting.
On the contrary, you want to get them so mad at your opposition that they do come out...and vote for you.
By doing this, the President would gain some respect in the black community plus he might even change some minds. I am not a rich man but I wish there were such a person who could spend about $30 Million in the inner city to convince the minority community of what they are missing by not voting Republican. By doing this, we might actually get the black vote up to around 20-25% within ten years. If such a high percentage of blacks were to vote Republican, the Democrats would never win another major election in this country. That would be good for everyone!
You always prefer a low turnout for the opposition.
I am in agreement. The black families I know work hard, they strive for the American dream just like I do, they want their children to have it beter just like I do, they are involved in Scouting and attend church, and are good friends and neighbors and members of the community. In short, they are Republicans, they just don't know it yet.
Yes, I am aware that their are elements within the black community that use drugs, engage in irresponsible sex, sponge off the taxpayer, and so forth. But, you know what, there are people like that of every color. In my youth, we used the term "White Trash" to describe this type of caucasion. I don't even know if that's a racially charged term or not now, but it was very descriptive.
Blacks need to learn the hard way that the Rats are playing them for fools.
Hogwash. We're one Nation. When one suffers we all do. Consider this. GWB almost lost the Presidency because of the Florida mess. If we had gotten just 1% more of the minority vote in Florida, Florida wouldn't have been an issue (well, except for the "I voted for Buchanan by mistake" crowd).
How come it's not "pandering" when the President speaks to the Chamber of Commerce, or to the VFW, or to most groups, but it is pandering for him to speak to the Urban League?
They're the same thing. The President is building bridges and delivering his message and gathering support for his plans for our Nation. I don't want to exclude anyone.
As MHK said in a subsequent post to yours, a Republican message is ALREADY being delivered to the minority community. Problem is, we're not the one delivering it.
I could never encourage someone not to exercise their right to vote. Too many people have fought and died to ensure that we have and keep that right. It is irresponsible to suggest otherwise.
$15 billion to Africa (couresty of the hard-working American taxpayer) isn't going to do it. Speaking before the Urban League isn't going to do it. NOTHING will do it, short of giving at least $10,000 - again, courtesy of hard-working taxpayers - to every black in this country ....as a "reparation".
It isn't pandering for President Bush to speak to the urban league but it would be pandering if he went there and started talking about government giveaways and quotas (aka, affirmative action). The President needs to take the conservative message to these groups. Conseravitism is an even more sensible policy for blacks than it is for whites. The President needs to stress this!
OH please.
Are you counting the black men in prison or the black men that have kids but no wives? The black family is the prime example of what conservative family values is not about. What has happened to the black family and how does this reflect an intrinsic conservative nature?
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