WaPo: "The Year of the Black Republican?"

[Penndems]

GOP Targets Democratic Constituency in 3 High-Profile Races

By Dan Balz and Matthew Mosk
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, May 10, 2006; Page A01

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When J. Kenneth Blackwell took the stage here on May 2 to claim the Republican nomination for governor, he became something more than his party's standard-bearer in a bellwether state.

The Ohio secretary of state -- a crusading conservative with an appetite for political combat -- also assumed a leading role in the his party's latest effort to break the Democrats' decades-long grip on the black vote.

Blackwell, who will face Democratic Rep. Ted Strickland in November, is now the third prominent African American on a statewide Republican ballot this fall. In Maryland, Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, whose candidacy has benefited from his friendship with two Republican National Committee chairmen, is the party's nominee to fill the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes. In Pennsylvania, former Pittsburgh Steelers star Lynn Swann is challenging Democratic Gov. Edward G. Rendell.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal first brought African Americans into the Democratic coalition in the 1930s, and Lyndon B. Johnson's 1960s support for civil rights legislation cemented their allegiance. In the subsequent four decades, Republicans have seen their presidential candidates win a dwindling share of the black vote. It hit bottom in 2000, when George W. Bush managed to garner just 8 percent of the votes of African Americans.

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/09/AR2006050901455.html

[MadMaddie]

1. Black Republican isn't that whats called an Oxymoron....?

Sellouts....

[Jim Sagle]

3. That's the cover story. The real story will be Diebold.

[Penndems]

5. Every time I see the phrase "Black Republican", I think of that scene

in the Spike Lee movie "Get On The Bus". The lone black Republican is a greedy bigot who ends up getting thrown off the bus.

Yes, it is indeed an oxymoron . . .

[KingFlorez]

11. Took the words right out of my mouth

These Black Republicans irritate me, because they seem to want to prove something. I also find it condescending the way the the GOP and freepers hype these people based on race, it's digusting. How any black person could be a Republican baffles me when you look at their horrible record.

[Cha]

2. Anyone who is a republican in

this fucking year is ..yes, a Fucking moron.

[OzarkDem]

4. Giuliani Endorsing Blackwell

Just saw it on the local NBC affiliate news - how Giuliani is supporting Blackwell and how many consider Giuliani to be a strong contender for president in 2008.

Looks like Rove has gotten WaPo and GE (and NBC affiliates) in line.


:eyes:

[DainBramaged]

6. Giuliani is a pile of shit walking

Let's see the thumpers support that bastard. I wonder if he still lives with gay friends or finally got a house with the woman he cheated on his wife for.

Stoopid Puke phony.

[Penndems]

13. Wow - I'm shocked but not surprised about this

Here's Ken Blackwell, another hypocritical right-winger who sets himself up as a paragon of Christianity accepting an endorsement from Rudy Giuliani, who isn't exactly a darling of the Falwell/Robertson crowd (a public official who cheated on his wife, is pro-choice, etc.)

Looks like Blackwell is a Christian when it's convenient. He's no doubt black when it's convenient, too. :eyes:

[existentialist]

7. There is a similar situation here in South Dakota where

Native American Bruce Waylon is the only Republican entered to challenge Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth.

[lastknowngood]

8. Even the Nazis had Jews who supported them

n/t

[buff2]

9. Blackwell is nothing but a greedy power grabbing

lying scumbag crook. If he manages to steal the governor's office in November,I want to move as far away from here as possible. This state will be DOOMED if he is governor. He is another bu$h...corruption follows those idiots like stink on shit. People are having a real tough time here from being under repukeliKKKan rule for so long. I've never in my life seen it this bad. Blackwell and Diebold.....I don't see any hope for a Democratic victory.

[Supersedeas]

19. Greed is color blind

[LittleClarkie]

10. I should think Katrina erased any advantage

they sought with the black community.

[CPMaz]

14. Only in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast states. n/t

[nickshepDEM]

12. Strickland will beat Blackwell in OH. Cardin will defeat Steele in MD.

Im worried about Rendell in PA. Swann seems smooth and doesnt really come off as a complete wingnut like Blackwell and Steele.

[hatrack]

15. I saw last week that Swann is sinking fast against Rendell

Apparently, the man has serious difficulty connecting thought and language, and knows crap-all about pretty much any issue you'd like to name. Accordingly, his ratings against Rendell are tumbling rapidly.

Granted, there is a small percentage of voters who'll slaver over any sports celebrity seeking higher office, but I don't think that means you can get away with nominating out-and-out buffoons for governor, no matter how well they caught footballs 25 years ago.

[Penndems]

16. Exactly - Swann's banking on the "nostalgia" vote

He's waiting for football season to start, and hoping that'll be the impetus for people to vote for him, especially in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Swann's made a living for the past thirty years off of his halcyon days as a professional athlete.

The man doesn't know zip about the issues. He's already made several gaffes, including not collecting Pennsylvania and California state taxes on merchandise he's been hawking on his website. He endorsed Bob Jubilier, the Pennsylvania House Speaker who supported a 50% pay raise for members of the state legislature. What a boneheaded move that was.

Ed Rendell's fundraising is 10-1 over Swann. He's a seasoned campaigner. As the incumbent, he's got a record of accomplishments.

I expect Rendell will demolish Swann.



(edited for additional text.)

[nickshepDEM]

18. Arent people still pissed about the pay-raise bill?

Or did Rendell veto that piece of legislation?

[azurnoir]

17. Not to worry much

these guys are "opportunists" thats the polite way of saying it one look at CNN '04 voter breakdown by demographics is telling across the board 90% of blacks voted for Dem's. The worry is white re pukes who have something to "prove". Or as my ex-husband and still good friend (who is black) told me "the black republican rarer then the white rhinoseros (the animal not the plant)". On that note Condi isn't impressing anyone either.













spellchek error

[Scriptor Ignotus]

20. A Black Republican

Black Republican, He was a Black Republican.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh-alllll night. He was a Black Republican. He wants the Black Republican.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh-alllll night. He was a Black Repubican.

Do you remember, your President Nixon?
Do you remember, the bills you have to pay?
Or even yesterdaaaaaaaaay?

--D. Bowie (kind of)

[JeffR]

21. ..

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: