GOP Chief Brings New Message to Black Audience

[Maddy McCall]

WASHINGTON - (KRT) - The national chairman of the Republican Party had come to preach a new sermon: "Give us a chance, and we'll give you a choice."

And in a small, no-frills conference room off the Upper Quad of Howard University, several dozen GOP faithful had gathered to hear Ken Mehlman in a forum few would have expected at this historically black university.

"We can win the White House all we want," said Mehlman, who managed President Bush's re-election campaign, but "if the party of Lincoln does not have more African-Americans come back home, then we can't call ourselves a real majority."

Much like the Social Security forums the White House has been orchestrating around the country for Bush, this "conversation with the community," as Mehlman calls it, was carefully scripted - and staged.

College Republicans were the hosts. The small crowd was sprinkled with a handful of veteran black GOP activists, including Winston Wilkinson, the Republican national committeeman from Utah. And questions for Mehlman's Q&A after his speech were submitted in writing, in advance. One protester, carrying a small bullhorn, heckled the chairman, demanding that he "tell the truth," and was hustled out by campus police. Outside, on the Quad, a handful of other demonstrators carried signs declaring: "Not on our campus. We know our history." And to press their case, they handed out footnoted fliers citing more than 30 cases over the last two dozen years where critics charge Republicans have tried to intimidate black voters, long stalwarts in the Democratic coalition.

More: http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/politics/11355620.htm

[saigon68]

1. RePuke message to dark skinned people

Get on your Knees Jemima and Scrub the Floor.

Hey Tyrone, "How do you like that Prison Cell" ?



</MAJOR SARCASM>

On Edit: Oh I forgot those right wing fundie Nut-Jobs really detest rap and hip hop as the DEVIL'S MUSIC.

[Erika]

3. Another total GOP disconnect

When are they going to get the message? The GOP message of money to the rich at the cost of the safety net to the poor is just not resonating.

[saigon68]

6. Its only meant to pander to the Colons and the Kindasleezys

The 1/10th of 1% of the Uncle Tom's in the Party.

Kinda a feel good gesture on the part of the bush criminals who have mined the extent of the Black Quislings in amerika.

And set them up in the role of "Black Puppets" mouthing the Neocon line, whose strings are pulled by Puppeteers Cheney and Pearle.

[Lost Texan in NC]

11. Well at least

:smoke:

Colon got his fill, and got out while he still had some shred of dignity left, not much, but some.

[bluestateguy]

2. They've been saying these same things for 20 years

and yet they never actually change any of their policies. They may dress it all up a little differently for the cameras, but I've always thought that was more directed at moderate white voters, who don't want to feel like they are associated with a racist party.
Yet the votes of black Americans do not change year after year.

[Syrinx]

5. yeah but the Republicans put a lot of black celebs on at the convention!

That ought to count for something. </sar... well you know>

[Jade Fox]

15. Excellent point....

"directed at moderate white voters, who don't want to feel like they are
associated with a racist party."

I've never thought of it that way, and I suspect you are right.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

4. Hmmm...

I don't think African-Americans are going to fall for the GOP's sudden faux interest in them.

[truthisfreedom]

7. let them keep at this as long as they want. all it does is stir up more

unrest. and they hate unrest.

[rodeodance]

12. a larger percentage is going GOP with each election. It is serious

[FLPolitico]

8. The Rethugs are peddling their devisive wares to blacks.............

just as they do to the rest of the American population. Now the boogie man is gay marriage and being African American I know how homophobic the AA community is. It really disturbed me when I saw the man + woman = marriage sticker on a vehicle being driven by this black couple.
Of course all Bush's faith based inititives are just payoffs to black preachers so they can talk about abortion ( which is not a big issue in the AA community) and gay marriage (not that many gays are out of the closet much less marching in the streets for the right to marry)from their pulpits and manipulate just a few of their members to vote against their own economic interest.

Of course this is a long term strategy and the Democrats better get a grip on the situation or we are so fucked in the long run!!!!

[dbt]

13. Hello, FLPolitico, and WELCOME to DU!

:hi:

[applegrove]

9. What? Did they tell people it didn't matter who they voted for because

all males would be dead by 21 anyway?

Did they mention anywhere that the grand plan does not have AA fighting perpetual neocon wars.. but has them 'administering' the American Empire abroad and then putting down roots 'abroad'. Read Nials Ferguson. Because there will be no middle class? And somehow this means that there will be labor migration around the planet. And somehow the AA got picked for it?

Did they mention that with the coming labor shortages that the American workers would for a time be in a huge employees market..if only the 'guest worker program' does not go through?

Did they mention that in order for labor migration of blacks out of the US to take place while there are labor shortages at home requires that the guest worker legislation passes so latinos can take their places?

Did they mention all that?

[oasis]

10. A GOP dog and pony show designed for consumption by white moderates.

The ongoing message of compassionate conservatism has to get some media play.

The Rethug corporate machine could care less about minorities.

[saltpoint]

14. As for that one heckler who challenged Mehlman to --

-- tell the truth, well, I'd like to buy that guy a beer.

The GOP's track record on minority rights is abominable.

It kind of made me appreciate all over again Al Sharpton's address to our convention last summer.

Good post, Maddy.