The GOP gives the NAACP a hint about its priorities

The one photo the GOP does not want anyone to see was snapped at yesterday's NAACP GOP Presidential Candidate Forum. The NAACP invited all the Republican candidates to the forum, put out 9 podiums, but only one Republican showed up: Tom Tancredo. All the Democratic Presidential hopefuls showed up for their forum.


The excuses given by the Republican campaigns mostly had to do with scheduling conflicts--just too busy to make it.


The resulting photo of Tancredo--standing on a stage of empty podiums sums up the Republican party's commitment to civil rights in America: the only Republican interested is the guy running to deny immigrant workers their rights.


One has to wonder why this photo was not the lead on every morning show and on the front pages of every morning newspaper in America.


The reason, most likely, is a coordinated effort by Republicans to pressure news agencies to downplay the obvious implications of having all but one of their Presidential candidates as "no shows" for a debate at the NAACP.


What is keeping the picture and story about Republicans and racism out of today's front pages? The arrival of David Beckham and Posh Spice to Hollywood (with lots of pics)

Thursday, July 12, 2007
Tancredo wins applause at NAACP

DETROIT -- As Susan Milligan noted in today's Globe, Republican presidential hopefuls have largely shied away from appearing before organizations and groups deemed to have a liberal slant. But don't tell that to US Representative Tom Tancredo of Colorado, the lone GOP candidate to appear this morning at the NAACP's annual convention in Detroit.

After he came out, Tancredo wandered around the empty stage, not knowing which podium to use. "Oh, right here?" he said when led to the center lectern. "Oh my gosh, this is amazing."

"Do you think we should wait a few minutes to see if these other guys show up?" Tancredo said, drawing a big laugh from the crowd. "Do they know something I don't know, is that it? I think actually I know something that they don't know."

That line drew a loud cheer from the audience, clearly appreciative that Tancredo had bothered to show up. He used his opening remarks to talk about his signature issue, illegal immigration, and how it was hurting American workers, and especially African-American workers. Tancredo said he gets "insulted" every time he hears that illegal immigrants are working jobs American citizens won't take.

NAACP needs
a GOP strategy


Some at the NAACP gathering in Detroit wondered why more Republican presidential candidates didn't show up.

Well, mostly because the NAACP is, for all practical purposes, an arm of the Democratic Party. There's no political advantage for a GOP candidate to get a cold shoulder from a special interest group in a public forum.

NAACP honcho Julian Bond, for example, opened this week's convention by blasting Republicans, putting to rest any notion of non-partisanship.

Ironically, Dem candidates show up at such rallies but take the black vote for granted -- as many black leaders have pointed out.

If the NAACP also accumulated political capital on the GOP side, it would have influence on policy no matter who won.

As a matter of record, recent Republican administrations have appointed minorities to high positions. The first (and second) black Secretaries of State were appointed by a Republican.

The only black now on the Supreme Court was appointed by a Republican.

And the first Hispanic attorney general was in GOP administration.

Here for bad news for Detroit school kids.

And here for NAACP.

It amazes me how "those of you" will say that the NAACP is the lap dog for Democrats but also conveniently ignore the facts that only one Republican even cared to show up to the convention and for years George Bush REFUSED to show up despite numerous invitations.

Historically the Republican party has REFUSED to work with the NAACP on ANY level and you fools want to argue that the NAACP is the lap dog for the Democrats? The Republicans have NEVER made any effort to form an alliance with the NAACP, with the exception of the efforts made by Ken Mehlman...so it's an ignorant assertion to say the organization is politically motivated and swayed by Dems with ONLY the Dems make a concerted effort.

The collective ignorance here is astounding. How about reading actual history instead of the Heritage Foundation talking points. These are objective facts in history. One podium used (Tancredo) 9 empty...that says it all...

The NAACP is little different than any other "union" or special interest group. Candidates will visit the Teamsters, whomever. Stop twisting reality.

www.mokellyreport.blogspot.com

This past Thursday, the NAACP hosted a debate just for the GOP candidates. Below are pictures from the debate. Only Tom Tancredo showed up.

Tell anyone anything?

Some at the NAACP gathering in Detroit wondered why more Republican presidential candidates didn't show up.

Well, mostly because the NAACP is, for all practical purposes, an arm of the Democratic Party. There's no political advantage for a GOP candidate to get a cold shoulder from a special interest group in a public forum.

Sure, the GOP may have good reason to give up on black people, but that doesn't contradict the title of this thread (or the point behind it) -- that black people aren't a priority for the GOP.

That's fine (well, it's not, I think it's stupid and a blot on the Republicans)

but you see people saying here and there that the Republicans ARE trying, that they're making great inroads with the black vote, that it IS a priority...

Ignoring this debate belies that.

Not the only, no. But yeah, it's a major way to reach out to black voters!

Your point about this being the same as if a Dem ignored an Alabama or some other constituency isn't based in reality. The only folks the Dems ignore that I've seen is FOX News. But then, maybe you think that's tit-for-tat, as well.

sozobe wrote:

Not the only, no. But yeah, it's a major way to reach out to black voters!

My key word is "swingable". Given that most Blacks vote Democratic -- 80%? 90%? I'm not sure -- the median Black voter isn't realistically swingable for the GOP. That's why I suspect Republicans may be better advised to work through smaller organizations, more focused to the 10-20% fringe of American Blacks whose vote can actually be changed.

And how do you know that these 10-20% fringe people aren't members of the NAACP, nor pay any attention to the NAACP?

Furthermore, what is usually claimed is that black PEOPLE -- in general -- are in fact a priority for the GOP. See, we put Colin and Condi in top positions, we LIKE black people, really! It's not just stated in terms of trying to get a bit higher percentage of black voters.

As it happens, I think their record fails the test that should matter to the black community