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Arizona apathy? John McCain and African-Americans
Is it McCain's apathy... or Obama-inspired animus?
By Mark Kilmer Posted in 2008 | African-Americans | John McCain — Comments (46) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
John McCain is anti-black? That's not exactly what Politico.com's Jonathan Martin reports, but he makes a bit much of the Senator's imaginary apathy towards his State's African-American population. You see, he hasn't attended their events, and they have taken notes.
"I don’t recall him ever attending any function with the NAACP,” [Phoenix NAACAP boss Oscar] Tillman added. “Each year we send them an invitation [to an annual banquet], and each year they say no.”
Same says Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce President Ron Busby, though Martin does point out that "[i]nterviews with black civic and business leaders in Arizona found no one who suggested that McCain holds racial animus."
Martin suggests that McCain doesn't care:
McCain’s discomfort with this kind of touchstone politics underscores a central part of his political persona: He has great difficulty feigning interest in subjects in which he lacks genuine personal interest.
Why doesn't he care? Martin tells us:
McCain spent most of his formative years removed from the racial conflicts that played such a central role in the lives of many people in his generation.
Prisoner. Of. War.
From 1967 through to 1973.
Raising a family, flying jets, trying to stay alive and then crafting a post-POW naval career with grievous war wounds, he simply was not immersed in the great themes of the civil rights era.
And when John McCain was finally released from the Hanoi Hilton on March 14, 1973, Barack Obama was aged 11 and living in Honolulu with his maternal grandparents.
Please Read On…
Although it runs counter to his thesis, Martin includes the following:
Wes Gullett, a white former McCain staffer in Arizona who is now a top state backer of his old boss, chalked up the animus to mere politics.
“They’re [Arizona's African-American leaders] passionately for Barack Obama, a lot of them, so they don’t want to be talking nice about John because it doesn’t help their cause,” he said.
Gullett said McCain worked hard early in his tenure to reach out to Arizona blacks and especially pastors.
Then again, Gullet maintains that many of these African-American pastors are now either dead or have morphed into Jeremiah Wright:
But many have passed away since then, he noted, and state politics have grown more partisan.
If McCain does have a problem with Arizona's black voters this November, it will be because he is running against Barack Obama, not because he cannot be bothered with them. And perhaps to many of them, this election is not as simple as a choice between an undefined, nebulous "hope" and national and economic strength and security.
Either way, it is all politics. Obama-inspired politics.
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Arizona apathy? John McCain and African-Americans 46 Comments (0 topical, 46 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
I've never had to do it, but I still think that going to these meetings even if you are just careful to agree to disagree and careful not to preach to certain ills would be helpful.
Maybe I'm wrong, but that seems like you would want to do that.
Today, I agree
by Adam C
But that's because there is a growing generation of blacks who are not emotionally invested in the Democrats. Since McCain has been in politics in a very non-black state since the 1980s, I can see why this shift hasn't affected him much. I wasn't paying attention in the 80s but my guess is showing up then wouldn't have helped.
We need to rethink that calculus now.
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I dunno Adam
by horaceox
I really want to agree with you. I really do. The Michael Steele thing really broke my spirit on this. When you run a qualified African American candidate literally from the Baltimore 'hood on an empowerment agenda against a white Democrat who skips the NAACP convention and then actually says that he thinks blacks will turn out for him anyway (ie, explicitly says he's taking their vote for granted), and the R gets 25% -- a good amount but still only 10% more than George Allen got in VA after uttering what many thought was a racial slur, I get disillusioned. When a Presidential candidate runs the most inclusive election effort ever, and still gets ads run against him comparing him to James Byrd's murderers, and gets 8% of the vote, I get disillusioned.
I'm just kind of disillusioned with this outreach effort altogether right now. I want it to work, but I just wonder if the money and energy couldn't be better spent elsewhere.
Steele was the real deal
by Adam C
He had been doing outreach in Prince Georges County for decades. Bush's efforts while good were election-specific and not the kind of thing that will do much in the long run.
First, if Rs could get 25% nation-wide it would change politics everywhere. Think about it this way. Right now in a room of 20 black Americans, 2 are Rs, 12 are Ds, and 6 are Is. If that shifts to 4 Rs, 7 Is and 9 Ds, that is a big shift. It allows debate to exist. It means that you can't assume everyone in the room is in line with you in a partisan sense. It allows for Republicans to come to events and not presume they will be hostile.
Second, Steele received 25% in a state where Rs get 10% normally. That's a huge one-time shift. Importantly, that's with two generations of black who are still emotionally invested in the Democratic Party. I would love to see how Steele did with the under 30 black vote. It would not surprise me to see that be in the 30-35% range.
Third, Steele did even better in PG County where he had spent years making relationships and showing up to these exact events. He was County GOP Chair and then State GOP Chair. That's how he won over Steele Democrats including a lot of elected Ds. In PG, IIRC, Steele won 35% of the vote in a county that is usually 15-20% R.
If Steele had won the same white voters that Erhlich and Bush had won in other years, he would be Senator Steele today. Considering how anti-Republican 2006 was, we can't use 2004 as a great comparison. And he did do better than Bush did in 2004 overall (despite the anti-R climate).
Finally, all of these gains in PG County and the black community where in the aftermath of Katrina, the Iraq War, and a general shift against Republicans. This was almost as bad a year as possible for a Republican to be trying to win over black voters. And yet, Steele made major improvements.
As you can tell, I think Steele is a great example of what Rs should be doing. It wasn't that he was black that won over so many voters. It was that he showed up for years/decades before running for office. He was part of the community. Rs should be recruiting converts in these communities and they should focus on the under 30/35 crowd. I know people in Oklahoma who are perfect for this and I hope other states have young black conservatives who are interested in running.
I recently read that only 10% of blacks called themselves "conservative" in the 1970s but now 30% do.* That coincided with "conservative" shifting from meaning "upper middle class guy" to "religious person." Huckabee, Steele, J.C. Watts, and a slew of others have done well with black voters. But it has to start before campaign season to matter and it has to focus on those born after the Civil Rights Movement.
*Can't find the source on that.
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You should be very hopeful! MD is a very blue state
by gideon1789
Steele was running as a Republican in a very, very blue state, and he still came within several points of winning.
Amazing.
He would have won in any of the more purple states, such as NJ, or IA, or perhaps even WA.
GOP outreach to blacks can be very successful (besides being good for the country and good for blacks).
N AA CP
by ilitigant
This is just the beginning of what is known as foot in mouth disease by the N AACP.. McCain does not need, nor should he need to cowtow to the race baiters of the disgusting and criminal N AA CP. Wait for it! This first shot over the bow is nothing but air.
Proudly Supporting Patriots At http://www.countryaboveself.com
The NAACP speaks for all black Americans as much as
by gideon1789
the Sierra Club speaks for all conservationists.
Why ...
by jcarl4283
Should anyone in the GOP give a dam about blacks in America ?
Every attempt to help blacks by the GOP has been met with vicious lies and insults ... their 90% Dem voting block is an indication of a willfully ignorant community ... (not stupid, ignorant - big difference, look it up)
Why bother to address their needs thru conservative principles when it is clear that is not what they will vote for.
This is a perfect example were they attempt to paint McCain as a racist because he doesn't suck up to them enough ...
If you haven't noticed, some in the GOP are black
by jonlester
themselves and even belong to RedState. The demographic of black Americans is not monolithic.
Really ...
by jcarl4283
There are African Americns in the GOP :0
amazing ... the scales have been lifted from my eyes ... the truth has set me free ...
Spare me you pin head ...
...
by jcarl4283
so racist isn't a name ...
come on, pin head is a term of endearment ...
Ok, maybe not ...
I apologize for the use of the term pin head ...
sorry David ...
by jcarl4283
you are not an idiot ... that was out of line ...
us racists are just way too sensitive ...
This is good, now that I know the rules around here I can toe the line ...
Get called a racist, shut up about it ... take it like a man ...
Will do :)
Why don't you guys bring something bigger than a pen knife to the fight next time ?
Wow, just wow
by David Hinz
I would never label YOU a racist based on this one racist post of yours, but...wow!
Wow, just wow ...
by jcarl4283
I would never label you an idiot based on this one stupid comment, but wow ...
How did you last 2 1/2 weeks,
by jonlester
and why are you here?
I'm sorry ...
by jcarl4283
I didn't realize how smart and PC you needed to be to be here ... My bad :)
Tip, jcarl
by Neil Stevens
The people who whine and accuse us of Marxist PCdom tend not to be very useful around here.
Just let it drop.
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"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
Us ... ?
by jcarl4283
When I accuse any Red Staters of being Marxist PC'ers you'll be the first to hear about it ... (marxist ? I'm not even sure what that really means)
So I'll drop it ... cause apparently its the PC thing to do ...
Yeah right ...
Hey man,
by The Fastest Squirrel
you can dial it back a notch. I, for one, get what you are trying to say. It did seem to come out funny.
Looks like ...
by jcarl4283
I'm here to allow you to show your superior intellect ...
I think we know the WHY
by David Hinz
Why should anyone in the GOP give a dam about blacks in America ?
Of course some dim bulbs MIGHT think this was a racist statement
I think McCain should appear in front of any audience that will respectfully have him and sell the same snake oil to everyone
Obviously a strong supporter of McCain and the "snake oil" he is selling
Let me clarify the "They" so that you dim bulbs don't assume I mean all blacks aka African americans when I use the term "they"
doesn't exactly jive with the above statement, but OK
it seems that we are approaching a point where the term racist is used the same way nazi was and is used to shout down debate..
ah yes, the victim card.
I call bull
###
Actually you are right ...
by jcarl4283
The last thing I want is a victim label ... so I'll embrace the racist label ...
Do I sound like a victim ... ?
No, you sound like a seagull
by E Pluribus Unum
Kill the terrorists
Protect the borders
Punch the hippies -- Frank J
Only a moron as big as you would be dumb enough
by gideon1789
to keep jabbering after making a complete fool of yourself.
Try reading instead of typing for a little bit.
I had to trace the thread up
by David Hinz
I was afraid you were talking to me. You are talking to vapor.
Why
by TomlinsonDouthat
Because the point of being a Republican is not to do right by other Republicans but to do right by all Americans.
Best response yet ...
by jcarl4283
even if it gets you called a racist or bit ? Maybe yes ...
Not sure thats in the GOP plank ...
by jcarl4283
Funny thing is the GOP platform already includes the African American commnuity ... it is color and gender blind unlike the Dems platform ...
In other words no need to pander to special interests, races or genders ...
That's not what you said
by TomlinsonDouthat
You said:
Why [s]hould anyone in the GOP give a dam about blacks in America ?
And:
Why bother to address their needs thru conservative principles when it is clear that is not what they will vote for.
Pandering is one thing, giving a damn and addressing people's needs through conservative principles is quite another.
I also said ...
by jcarl4283
Every attempt to help blacks by the GOP has been met with vicious lies and insults ... their 90% Dem voting block is an indication of a willfully ignorant community ... (not stupid, ignorant - big difference, look it up)
You see thats where I explain why ... nice cherry pick though ...
Let me get this straight
by TomlinsonDouthat
Your argument is that, because attempts to help blacks have not been met with an entirely friendly reception, and because of the willful ignorance (not stupidity) of the black community, which can be seen in blacks' tendency not to vote for Republicans, Republicans should therefore refuse to give a damn about blacks at all, and that we should only endeavor to apply our conservative principles to the benefit of non-blacks. If this is correct, it does not follow, and the conclusions are odious.
Could it also be that Senator McCain ...
by jsteele
... simply doesn't see the world through racial glasses: The NAACP; Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce (as opposed to what, the Greater Phoenix White Chamber of Commerce?); the Congressional Black Caucus (as opposed to say the Congessional White Caucus?). Is it possible that Senator McCain is among the ones who have moved beyond race in America?
John
----------
Why would God invent something like whiskey? To keep the Irish from ruling the world of course
Good point, jsteele. And if anyone can move beyond race,
by gideon1789
it's a Republican.
The Democrats, as they have shown in their nasty primary battle, are still very obsessed with race (and sex, and class, etc.)
Let me clarify the "They"
by jcarl4283
so that you dim bulbs don't assume I mean all blacks aka African americans when I use the term "they" ...
They are:
Phoenix NAACAP boss Oscar Tillman
Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce President Ron Busby
...
by jcarl4283
it seems that we are approaching a point where the term racist is used the same way nazi was and is used to shout down debate ...
How about this ... McCain should tell the anti-war types to go take a flying leap because nothing he does will change their vote ... in other words WHY BOTHER to chase their votes ... see my point ?
Please use the Reply To This link
by Neil Stevens
And for what it's worth I think I agree with you. I think we as a party should reject racists. I'm fine with reaching out to the same people that racists like the NAACP or La Raza reach out to, hoping to sell them on true equality for all. But yeah, the people dead-set against us are a lost cause and should be shunned.
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Sorry for the Coutler like comment ...
by jcarl4283
I can see how my choice of words could be seen in the wrong light ...
I think McCain should appear in front of any audience that will respectfully have him and sell the same snake oil to everyone ... The GOP is its most inclusive when it is color and gender blind in its policy ideas ...
And this reasonable post should end the subthread (nt)
by Neil Stevens
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McCain and Obama General Election time
by Volunteer
Volunteer
If McCain does have a problem with Arizona's black voters this November, it will be because he is running against Barack Obama,
ALL
Not to worry, McCain will be facing Hillary. If anyone really believes the Dems, the DNC and the Smoke Filled Back Rooms will allow Barack to run, regardless of the delegates, voters, etal, they need to remember the roots of the party. It is ok to have an Barack "in the race" but not, definitely not, to actually be " In charge".
Hillary will have old Bill in her corner, the uncommitted Super Delegates, an acceptable foriegn policy set and a track record that will convince them she CAN win.....
Hillary, in one sense deserves the try. I cant believe I said that... McCain will whup on her like Kansas did on Memphis, last PM.
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It only looks bad when compared to his efforts on behalf of hispanics. If Obama does win, this may actually help him with some hispanics. Its a cold reality, but true.
All politicians are pragmatists to some extent. This is one reason we can't look to Southwest politicians for guidance on immigration issues. They bound by their own pragmatic pandering to the minority hispanic vote against the greater good of the nation.