Posted on 03/16/2012 6:19:52 AM PDT by YourAdHere
As the Republican presidential campaign trail ensues, there is something obviously missing from GOP campaign activities and primaries—Black people.
A look at last month’s GOP presidential primaries reveals that older Whites dominated the electorate.
According to an analysis by the National Journal, 89 percent of voters in Arizona were White, while Blacks represented just 1 percent. Meanwhile, Hispanics made up about 8 percent of the vote.
The findings are a stark increase compared to the numbers found in the same state during the 2008 general election. That year, 75 percent of voters were White, while 4 percent were Black and 16 percent were Hispanic.
A similar increase was shown in this year’s Ohio primary. In the Buckeye state, a whopping 96 percent of voters were White, compared to 83 percent in the general election four years ago.
Aside from the primary elections, it is also apparent that Blacks are considerably absent from many GOP campaign activities.
While it is no secret that African Americans have long voted Democrat, the question at hand is whether the GOP is concerned with the obvious racial disconnect.
Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee said in a recent interview with writer Kam Williams that there are a couple of things that the party can do to attract more African Americans.
“One is to own up to our own failures as a party, when it comes to making investments in the Black community when it counted, like the Civil Rights Movement,” Steele said during the interview.
He explained that while Republicans had been the architects of landmark civil rights legislation during the Reconstruction Era, the party hesitated when it really mattered in the 1950s and ‘60s, resulting in a longstanding riff between the GOP and Blacks.
Steele added that Republicans should also, “Show up in the community prepared to have meaningful discussions about issues that actually matter to [Blacks] like job creation, in way that makes sense.”
“That’s why my very first official act as Chairman was to host a town hall meeting in Harlem. To me, that was a very important step to take,” he said.
The National Black Republican Association (NBRA) has also continuously worked to close the gap. Their organization aims to return Blacks to their Republican roots and enlighten them on GOP ideals and values.
In the meantime, the AFRO wants to know if you spot more than one Black person at a GOP event. Email your submissions to Blackfolkspotted@afro.com.
Please. Sign up.
Whose fault is this?
Try the blacks who march lockstep with the Democrat agenda.
The blacks who vote against their moral value system for power.
The blacks who do not look beyond the headlines.
Of course this can all be said about leftist whites too.
I have seen herman cain, allen west, j.c. watts at campaign events, are you blind?
That is one thing Republicans need to do, if they want the black vote.
I think Republicans, if they were willing to engage in meaningful discussions, showing how low taxes and freedom are key to economic growth, I think many blacks would come over to the Right side.
They are obviously amongst the 4 percent.
I think Republicans can do better than that.
The black community has free will and has made its choice.
I dont see why the GOP should get all twisted in knots about it.
Blackfolkspotted@afro.com
Republicans have allowed themselves to be defined by Democrats and black activists as anti-black.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been a priority of the Republican party to change this, as evidenced by the lack of communication by Republicans to the black community.
Black community? What about colorblind, diversity?
How about blacks ‘reach out’ to whites? Oh that’s right it is one way street.
I think you mean the 96% blacks that vote commie democrat can do better to join republicans.
Be who you are. Represent your core values. Let the voter judge and vote accordingly.
The above will NEVER be done by leftists. Their core values are repugnant to the majority of decent folks.
Pffft. Blacks don't show up at GOP events for a reason. One need only look at the treatment dished out to distinguished black men and women who dare call themselves Republicans or conservatives. Clarence Thomas, J.C. Watts, Michael Steele, Condoleezza Rice, Ward Connerly, Ken Hamblin and countless other courageous black leaders are vilified by Democrats and their friends in the media for refusing to accept their insulting labels. Every one of the aforementioned leaders is pilloried as an Uncle Tom. Somehow by achieving greatness they are traitors to their race. Have you ever stopped to wonder why a woman like Condoleezza Rice who speaks five languages and represents our country to foreign leaders is not really black while the drug dealer on the street who destroys black children is truly black? Can this type of treatment be construed as anything but a continuation of the Democrat war against the black psyche?
It would appear that the goals of conservatives and the goals of most blacks are not the same. C’est la vie.
They do it because blacks think Republicans don’t like them. Considering the response, “if they can’t figure it out, that’s their problem”, that is the opinion of some posters here, I can’t really blame blacks for not taking the time to, “figure it out”.
I just think that Republicans can do better than nothing to communicate these values, is all.
“...Have you ever stopped to wonder why a woman like Condoleezza Rice who speaks five languages and represents our country to foreign leaders is not really black while the drug dealer on the street who destroys black children is truly black? Can this type of treatment be construed as anything but a continuation of the Democrat war against the black psyche?...”
Why is this so hard for people to see????
I commend you on one of the most insightful statements I’ve read in a while....
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