Michael Steele at the NAACP Convention:
NEW YORK — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says the GOP and the NAACP have missed opportunities to engage with each other.
Steele addressed the NAACP convention on Tuesday. The organization is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week in New York City.
Steele is the first African-American head of the RNC. He says he’s committed to building a relationship between the two groups.
Steele may be committed to building a relationship, but it takes two to tango. and the NAACP has not shown itself interested in this dance, though the GOP keeps trying. I’ve been following politics for 17 years and whenver the GOP wants to start an outreach in the Black Community, they go to liberals at the NAACP to start it. It’s a colossal waste of time. Those who run the NAACP are not going to do the GOP any favors.
The GOP has got to start at the grassroots and go around the existing leadership, not try and get people who are vested in the Democratic Party to help them and form a relationship and dialogue. These are the people you want to see displaced and challenged by new voices, not the ones you court in some vain hope of getting something from.
July 16th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
HA! Screw the NAACP.
July 16th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
If they want “engagement” then it has to be earned. If instead of propping up and supporting everything liberal, Democrat and insane, the NAACP actually tried to uplift blacks – then it would be a different story.
July 16th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
African Americans are not conservatives or libertarians…let’s get the Tea Party crowd voting GOP again.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Yes, any appeals to African Americans should ignore the NAACP and go directly to those African Americans who may find elements of personal freedom and responsibility appealing.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Potential 2012 Candidate Mitch Daniels’s Harley Ride
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/washington-whispers/2009/07/16/potential-2012-candidate-mitch-danielss-harley-ride.html
July 16th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
NY governor’s race poll:
Giuliani (R) – 55
Paterson (D) – 33
Paterson (D) – 48
Giuliani (R) – 41
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/new_york/election_2010_new_york_governor_election
July 16th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Palin: Voters may not care she quit
“It looks like ordinary voters may not care as much about Sarah Palin’s resignation as pundits do.”
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/07/16/palin-voters-may-not-care-she-quit/
July 16th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Voters SHOULD care that she quit.
I mean, come on!
July 16th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Adam, check #6 again.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
I want this kid blogging for us!
“To this young conservative, such a convenient attitude is the reason we lost in 2008. Here’s a newsflash: Theoretical ethics mean zilch in contemporary presidential elections!”
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090716/OPINION02/907160318
July 16th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Kris,
It looks right to me….
July 16th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Wake Up, GOP! Liberals Fear Sarah Palin Because the Voters Love Her
From Rush:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_071609/content/01125107.guest.html
July 16th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
#11:
Adam, Rasmussen has Rudy beating Paterson by 22, but losing to Cuomo by 7.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Adam,
I completely agree with your analysis, but I would add that going to the NAACP and getting jilted sends an importnat message to the “next generation.” I would hope Steele realizes he’ll get nowhere with the old guard and this is simply an “appearances” maneuver. At the end of the day, you’re right, it’s only the grassroots effort that can matter.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Oops.
My mistake.
Should be Cuomo 48 and Giuliani 41.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Cuomo will run, and the numbers are still strong for him. Will Rudy run? Without him, its not even a contest.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
List of African American Republicans
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African_American_Republicans
July 16th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
National Black Republican Association
http://www.nbra.info/
July 16th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
I think if Steele hadn’t gone, it would have hurt the GOP’s image even worse.
July 16th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Granted I am a partisan Republican, but when I see the GOP basically give a big “Eff You” to the likes of NAACP, it just makes me want to support my party even more.
July 16th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I think the key #20, is that we can’t with conservatives/Republicans alone. We need to broaden the base here.
I don’t like the NAACP’s leftism, but Steele’s efforts make clear we’re trying to reach out. He won’t change the minds of the left, but maybe some people in the middle.
July 17th, 2009 at 12:53 am
#16, JayPe, Cuomo is being pressured by the likes of Rev Al Sharpton and Rev Jesse Jackson and their followersto not run against fellow democrat David Patterson but instead, show his support behind him. Apparently, Sharpton and Jackson don’t want the only Black Governor to be beaten in the primaries by a fellow democrat. If Cuomo doesn’t run, expect Guliani to run against Patterson.
Here’s an interesting note. If Guiliani runs against Patterson and wins, he would have beaten the only African-American to be Mayor of NYC in Denkins and would now have beaten the only African-American to be Governor of NY. I wonder if from such momentum, Rudy wouldn’t try to go 3 for 3, and try to go after the only African-American to be President. Although it seem unlikely that will happen, just some food for thought. If Guiliani runs and beats Patterson, he might actually be political krytonite for first time blacks in powerful executive postions.
July 17th, 2009 at 8:07 am
Chairman Steele has show tremendous leadership in his tenure and is expanding the GOP base through outreach and infrastructure building.
July 17th, 2009 at 8:08 am
#23 – should read “shown.”
July 17th, 2009 at 8:15 am
22 Only problem is that Obama was beating Giuliani by 16 points when he dropped out!