Blacks give a second look at the GOP?

jgapinoy on February 1, 2009 at 10:28 AM

BetseyRoss on February 1, 2009 at 12:34 PM

for the record, the RNC page on Facebook has attracted very many blacks, since Jan 1st. and, not only are they attracted, but they are engaged and very vociferous. And, they are very critical of liberal race-baiting blacks that wander through. I think Michael Steele’s success is a part of a general sense of advancement and involvement by blacks in politics. The conservative blacks may be the silent minority. And, as prop 8 has shown, conservative blacks are not a myth.

It’s not yet clear whether Steele can win black voters to the GOP, although he might by strongly advocating school vouchers, which black voters strongly support. Even if he doesn’t attract black voters, his race IS an asset, because it negates the perception among white “swing voters” that Republicans are “racist” if they oppose Obama. Steele can articulate conservative positions opposed to Obama based on principles, and the “race card” is taken out of the game entirely.

Steele also grew up in a relatively poor area of Baltimore, and can probably attract URBAN voters to the Republican Party. How many Republican candidates have lost statewide elections by winning all the rural and suburban counties in a state, then getting wiped out 80%-20% in a big city? We need to do better in the big cities (even losing 40%-60% would be good enough), and Steele can reach out to those voters as few other Republicans can, except maybe Rudy Giuliani.

Steele will need to concentrate on rebuilding Republican support in “swing” states where Republicans have been losing ground lately–OH, PA, MI, IA, CO, NM, FL, VA, NC. He will need to meet with other Republicans and develop a message that works, then express it over and over on TV talk shows, and also recruit a different kind of Republican challenger to incumbent Democrats–leaning away from the “businessman” candidates whom Democrats paint as “robber barons”, toward candidates that have “gotten things done” on a local or state level (mayors and local leaders for House seats, statewide office-holders for Senate seats).

He will also need to work with local and state Republicans to win as many State legislatures as possible in 2010, who will be responsible for House re-districting after the 2010 Census.

Steele is an excellent choice, and the new face of the Grand “Old” Party. Let’s help him rebuild the Grand New Party.

“I am a Conservative Catholic Pro-Choice” Fox News Yesterday…

sabbott on February 2, 2009 at 6:15 AM

Did he really say that? Because here’s what I found in the transcript from that interview:

“I’m a pro-life Roman Catholic conservative, always have been.”

These quotes don’t make me want to stand up and cheer for Michael Steele. They would appear to be the words of a man trying to be all things to all people. That only works if you have an MSM willing to hide your true identity. Doesn’t really matter that much to me anymore. From now on I only vote for candidates, of any party, who I perceive as conservative. Just being a Republican buys you nothing. Tired of being burned.

“I am for expanding the party with Diversity” in answering Chris Wallace on Fox New yesterday about why he supports Gay Rights.

Nice choice for the liberal Republican Party that I shall continue to have NOTHING to do with!

“I strongly support affirmative action” – Michael Steele (The Washington Post, October 30, 2006)

“You draw the line. I mean, what do you need an assault weapon for?” – Michael Steele (Washington Post, October 14, 2006)

“We have to elect moderates in the party.” – Michael Steele (CBN News, December 8, 2008)

Romeo, about the lightweight take I would expect from a surface ship loser. An underlying philosophy is all well and good, but means nothing without the commitment and means to actually get shit done. Ideologues are really, really good at jerking themselves off. Guys like Steele are really, really good at making things happen. You’re an idiot.

dakine on February 1, 2009 at 8:26 PM

Hmmm… Interesting… seeing as how I spent 4 years at COMSUBPAC, telling bubbleheads where to go… not to mention being flown out to fix their equipment, I’d say our typical Ad Hom attack was a bit misplaced.

Its interesting that you call me an idiot, when I differ from your opinion… for this is the EXACT attitude that is destroying any chance of having a reasonable debate on the issues at hand…

Typical, all verbage… all image… no substance… a microcosm of the current Republican Party.

Blacks give a second look at the GOP?
jgapinoy on February 1, 2009 at 10:28 AM

Unlikely. African Americans are the most economically progressive constituency out there, while simultaneously being one of the more socially conservative.

And an aside: I have no worries about Gov. Palin. I am sure that the MSM is spoiling for an internal fight, and the ‘Cuda won’t fall for the bait. The House GOP members are just starting to get their act together, and maybe there is hope on the horizon.

Time will tell.

1. Stop Franken from being seated in the Senate

2. Face time on the MSM to the point of near overexposure

3. Articulate THE CONSERVATIVE philosophy of the GOP. Teach it to all Republicans until they know it by heart. And then make them repeat it, repeat it, repeat it. (Maybe ex-Reps and independents will come to believe and return to the party.)

4. Identify and support key candidates for state and national election.

5. Make the rising stars of the party household names.

. . . The Republican party just prooved, that they are going to continue down the road of being Dem Light…. not truly a different choice.

Romeo13 on February 1, 2009 at 11:09 AM

Mr. Steele’s ‘big tent’ philosophy is a bit concerning to me as well, but it won’t hurt to have an intelligent, articulate, advocate for Republicans who calls himself a ‘pro-life Catholic conservative’. Mr. Steele will not be a shrinking violet, like other Republican chairmen; he will be out there as a major spokesman for the national party, and as Ed astutely noted, at this point there really is no other.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see him run for President some day, though if the economy improves it will be impossible to beat Obambi in 2012.

If Steele was the most qualified candidate, great, I wish him all the luck in the world. He will need it. However, if Mr. Steele was elected because RNC bigwigs believe Mr. Steele’s race somehow qualifies him to play the foil to President Obama and explain conservative principles to an audience that would not listen to a white male. If this is the case, I say the RNC has itself succumb to identity politics.

If GOP.com wants to have thousands of identical, lame ‘web sites’ to lower its search engine authority, that’s one thing. But if they want to harness the web/blog talent that’s already out there, they will allow Gadget, widgets, Ustream embeds, rss feeds and all of the labor-savings devices that bloggers have evolved to distribute their political thinking.

ThackerAgency on February 1, 2009 at 4:17 PM

The very fist step to fixing a problem, is figuring out what the problem really is…

IMO the GOPs problem is NOT IMAGE… its the fact that they lost their underlieing philosophy.

Many many Conservatives are not part of the Repubs, because they feel betrayed by the past decade. We gave the Repubs power, and they turned into Light Democrats.

They overspent (so much for fiscal cons).

They Grew the Government with DHS (so much for smaller government).

They took the Feds deeper into state controlled things like education (so much for Federalists).

They did not even enforce Border law effectively, and advocated for Amnesty for Illegals (so much for Law and Order types).

So, since they blew the whole philosophy thing, now they are trying to win the Image game… and play into the Group Politics meme…

They are allowing the enemy to control the battle… bad move…

THAT IS THE ENTIRE PROBLEM WITH THE MENTALITY OF THE GOP.

I no more identify with a northern black pro-choice Catholic than I do with the Democrats. In fact, most blacks are Democrats, most northerners are Democrats, most pro-choicers are Democrats, and most Catholics are Democrats.

The selection of Steele (the celebrity) moves me further away from the GOP than toward it. . . and I’m sure I’m not the only one. But you got your media darling token and can call it ‘change’ if you want. But the position itself is irrelevant anyway. . . just like the party.

OT- could you please do more of the Palin posts? AP’s distortions are getting more ridiculous, e.g. the stimulus post.

Sorry to threadjack, I just enjoy your evenhanded approach more than AP’s trolling for comments.

1) School Choice – Until you are truly free to choose the school for you children, you will always be helpless and stuck on the plantation, slaves of the Democrats who gave you policies to destroy your families and make you cattle.

2) Crime – Black neighborhoods in many areas are rampant lawless areas of no hope. Bring their neighborhoods ORDER so they can live with less fear.

3) Abortion – Planned Parenthood functions as a slaughterhouse to kill as many black babies as they can. They use the government to not only get black women pregnant through pushing sexual promiscuity, but then reap the bloodmoney. They sow the womb and kill the child for the money, and grow stronger every day. The birth replenishment level for blacks is so low that PP is slowly killing their race off. Obama is assisting this process. He is a slow but sure Jim Jones to African-Americans as they let PP use black womens’ wombs as bloody killing fields.

Michael Steele will not let the press get a pass. He is much too bold. He is prepared to play a very different game after this election.

Listening to him speak about the need to catch up, keep up and take the field tells me he will go head to head with the left and Obama.

The Uncle Tom thing has played out to the end with the American people. It’s just not effective anymore Steele will not back down.

I have issues with some of his ideas but overall I think he will play offense oppose to defense, which has always been the Reps. biggest problem.

katy on February 1, 2009 at 10:53 AM

Totally on target, katy, especially that we need to be on Offense…. Steele is unflappable and will give it to the MSM and the Obamaphiles with both barrels, all the while smiling. I don’t agree with every one of his positions but I feel he is the right personj for this job at this point in time.