By Raynard Jackson
BlakPAC Blogger
Those who have followed my writings know that I have been and will
continue to be very critical of my Republican Party over the lack of
real engagement with the Black community. Quit the GOP, and join BlakPAC.
I am now beginning to question whether there is room for Blacks in
this Republican Party. The recently ended Republican primary tells me
the answer is “no,” but when party leaders are questioned about it, the
answer is always “yes.”
Between the Republican National Committee (RNC), the National
Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the National Republican Campaign
Committee (NCCC), all the state parties, all the 527 political action
committees, the Republican Governor’s Association, etc., there are about
fifty Black staffers that I am aware of and probably upwards of 90
percent of those work for a member of congress, thus most Republican
entities have no Black staffers, advisors, or consultants. BlakPAC just placed Derek Hankerson in the Wisconsin Congressional campaign of Paul Nehlen as Director of GOTV.
Republicans will counter that Blacks are an insignificant part of
primary voters (about 2 percent), which is not true in the Southeastern United state where Blacks make up from 13 to 22 percent of the vote.
Implicit in this bogus argument is that Blacks should only be hired
to engage with the Black community. I totally reject this approach. As a
matter of fact, if a campaign has a limited budget, they are better
served by hiring a Black staffer over a White staffer.
Blacks, out of necessity, are forced to live in two worlds
simultaneously. We have to be able to live and function within the Black
community (where most of us live); but we must also be able to navigate
the white community (where most of us work).
Most whites could not navigate the Black community effectively since
most have absolutely no relationship within the community. So, by hiring
a Black staffer, you get a two-fer. I find this an extremely compelling
reason to hire a Black staffer.
To my utter and total dismay, every Republican presidential campaign
other than one gets a failing grade on the issue of Black staffers.Other than BlakPAC, you never hear the few Black Republicans who have a media platform
talk about the lack of Black staffers within every level of the
Republican Party. They are too caught up waiting for the proverbial pat
on the head from their overseers.
You rarely, if ever, see them take a principled stand against the party when it comes to the invisible Black man.You see them on CNN mouthing all the words they are told to speak and not bringing light to a party that is lurking in the dark.
According to the Gallop,
“almost two-thirds of blacks identify as Democrats, with most of the
rest identifying as independents. Only 5 percent of Blacks nationwide
identify as Republicans.” This means about 29 percent of Blacks label
themselves as “Independent.” In business, this 29 percent is called a
“target market.”
Did we really need an autopsy report after the 2012 election to tell
us what needed to be done to diversity our party? This was a cheap
political stunt to give the party cover, because they didn’t really want
to address the reality starring them in the face.
In typical Reince Priebus and Republican fashion, they appointed two token minorities, one
Black and one Hispanic, as co-chairs (the other three being Whites) of
the committee. Then they had a White as the national face of the report
who did most of the media interviews after the report was released.This little fact is exhibit “A” in how Republicans just don’t get it.
Why would they not have the Black and Hispanic as the face of the
report to engage with the media? Duh!
The one person who understands these issues is the one person the
Republican establishment tried to defeat, Donald J. Trump. He constantly
talks about engaging with the Black community, he constantly talks
about how illegal immigration has devastated the Black community, he
constantly talks about how the Obama administration has been disastrous for Blacks and he has hired “real” Blacks and put them in positions of power.
Trump has substantively talked about the Black community more than
the sum total of the 16 candidates he defeated. Yes, you heard me
correctly. Trump’s national spokesperson, Katrina Pierson, is all over TV
speaking on behalf of the campaign. The visual of a Black female being
the face of a presidential campaign is unprecedented and very powerful.
Neurosurgeon and former presidential candidate, Dr. Ben Carson, is
leading Trump’s vice presidential search; I can’t recall a Black ever
serving in this position for any other Republican nominee .BlakPAC Chair George Farrell helped form Trump's National Diversity Coalition
The Republican Party and Reince Prierbus have no Blacks that ever speak for the various
entities listed above, so please don’t get mad when the Democrats label the GOP as racist; visually and optically, we are; on policy, not so
much. BlakPAC is the only organization that is making Black Candidates and voter relevant in a big way.
Democrats and Republicans are trying to brand Trump as racist,
sexist, and a xenophobe. If these claims are true, I hope he continues
to live up to those characterizations; because if he does, he will be
sworn in as the 45th president of these United States.
If you don’t believe what I am saying, maybe you will believe one of Trump’s long-time employees, Lynne Patton. This video says it all. Quit the GOP, join BlakPAC
www.blakPAC.gop
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