G.O.P.'s Bid for Blacks Falters

[Omaha Steve]

Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/washington/18race.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

July 18, 2006
Political Memo
G.O.P.'s Bid for Blacks Falters
By ADAM NAGOURNEY

WASHINGTON, July 17 — Even for some Republicans, the notion was hard to take at face value: the Republican Party would make an explicit play for black votes, a strike at the Democratic base and a part of a larger White House plan to achieve long-term Republican dominance.

Starting after President Bush’s re-election in 2004, the party chairman, Ken Mehlman, filled his schedule with appearances before black audiences. He apologized for what he described as the racially polarized politics of some Republicans over the past 25 years. And the White House, in pressing issues like same-sex marriage to appeal to social conservatives, was also hoping to gain support among churchgoing African-Americans.

There has been no end to speculation about what the party was up to. Was it simply a ploy to improve the party’s image with moderate white voters? Did the White House see an opportunity to make small though significant changes in the American political system by pulling even a relative few black voters into its corner in important states like Ohio? (Yes, and yes.)

But as Mr. Bush is tentatively scheduled to speak at the N.A.A.C.P. convention in Washington this week — after five years of declining to appear before an organization with which he has had tense relations — it seems fair to say that whatever the motivation, the effort has faltered.

[xultar]

1. Balance is fuckin restored to the universe. THANK YOU!!!

[TygrBright]

2. AGAIN disproving the myth...

...of white superiority. Them black folks ain't THAT stupid.

::glares over at all the white trash still sporting "Bush/Cheney" bumperstickers::

observantly,
Bright