Republicans Double Number of African American Convention Delegates

[realFedUp]

(buying some delegates....)

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=35218

Republicans Double Number of African American Convention Delegates

8/26/2004 10:47:00 AM

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The number of African Americans attending next week's Republican National Convention will be almost double the number in 2000, according to Blacks and the 2004 Republican National Convention, a new report by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. The 167 black delegates represent a 96.5 percent increase, and also set a new record for the largest percentage of black delegates (6.7 percent) at a Republican national convention. The previous record of 6 percent was set at the GOP's convention in 1912. In comparison, African Americans comprised 20.1 percent of the delegates at this year's Democratic convention in Boston.

"This dramatic increase in African American delegate participation is a remarkable showing for the Republican convention, and it will be interesting to see whether it filters into the voting booths come November," said Joint Center president Eddie N. Williams. "Our polling since the 2000 election has indicated some increasing support for Republicans among younger African Americans, although as shown in the 2002 midterms, this generally has not translated into more votes for the GOP."

Fewer African Americans will be holding key positions at the Republican convention than at the Democratic event last month. Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele is a Deputy Permanent Chairman of the convention, and Florida state representative Jennifer Carroll is chairing the Committee on Permanent Organization. Steele, as well as Education Secretary Rod Paige will be featured speakers.

The quadrennial guide by David A. Bositis, senior research associate at the Joint Center, also highlights African American participation within the Republican state parties and the importance of African American voters in key battleground states and in congressional and local races. Noting the Bush administration's attempt to appeal to black voters, Bositis states: "The prospects for increasing the black Republican vote in 2004 are not encouraging, and unless there are some unexpected developments President Bush will get the 10 percent of the black vote that Republicans typically draw."

continued

[LostInAnomie]

1. What is the total now up to 4?

eom

[LynnTheDem]

2. Wow

DOUBLE the number??? Where did they find that second African-American, I wonder.

[freetobegay]

3. So it went from 2 to 4?

[realFedUp]

4. hehehe

my second thought too....

[realFedUp]

5. They had to have some in the delegation this time,

not just in the bands...

[BurtWorm]

6. Now let's give them a nice big hand...

[comsymp]

7. Interesting story- would like to read the rest.

Add link?

[realFedUp]

9. sorry, here's the link

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=35218

[comsymp]

12. TY

[Zynx]

8. Nah. Alan Keyes was mistakenly double counted as from both MD and IL.

They still only have him.

[realFedUp]

14. LOL

sorry, I didn't catch how funny that was the first time
around. :-)

[iwantmycountryback]

10. All the way up to 6?

I wonder how many black, hispanic, gay, jew, muslim, native american, and indian delegates the Dems had compared to the Repukes. That'd be an interesting number.

[AspenRose]

11. "Chickens for Colonel Sanders' Delegates-for-Hire Program"

That's all that is....pure and simple

[Francine Frensky]

13. And to tv watchers, it will appear as though 100% of the GOP is black

Seriously, watch how the networks show crowd faces at the conventions. They are under instruction to show only minorities and women.

[renotyme]

15. better add another wing to uncle tom's cabin

Treachery, though at first very cautious, in the end betrays itself.
- Livy

[arwalden]

16. That's Really Nothing For Them To Be Bragging About

Most. Pathetic. Party. Ever.

[librechik]

17. The Colonel supersized his chicken order?

are they regular or extra crispy?

[Bluebear]

18. The networks will cover it like a revival of "Raisin in the Sun"

Watch and see.