JFK Moment Needed for the GOP

Democrats are still resting on laurels they created almost 50 years ago when Richard Nixon, leading John F. Kennedy in the polls, was upset in his bid for president of the United States.

At the time Kennedy was the relatively undistinguished junior senator from Massachusetts. What essentially catapulted him into the White House and blacks as a voting bloc away from the Republican Party was Bobby Kennedy's clever political advice to his brother that he should call the wife of Martin Luther King, Jr. offering to help gain his release from jail after an arrest during a recent civil rights march. That fatuous message spread through the black community like wild fire.

It wasn't that JFK and Bobby were such great civil rights advocates or very concerned with the lives of Negroes. What especially Bobby Kennedy saw in 1959 and few Republican Party leaders today seem to comprehend is the increased importance of the black vote. Such understanding is required now more than ever with this country's rapidly changing demographics causing great electoral unknowns.

What a hoax that was perpetrated on blacks during the late '50s. In the South what kind of command could Northern liberals -- at the time almost as reviled as Negroes -- demand over local authorities? But, the ploy worked, and the rest is history.

If past voting patterns hold true today the Republican Party faces a grim future. To survive with some degree of relevancy the GOP must think strategically and aggressively promote itself to ethnic groups rapidly becoming the nation's majority. As successful businesses do, the GOP must locate new markets or face the prospect of declining market share.

Regrettably, if the decisions made by leading '08 GOP presidential candidates to pass up invitations to speak before minority audiences signal a lack of interest in these critical voting blocks, it may be valid to mark next year as the period market share for the Republican Party began what has the potential to become a multi-generation decline.

Participating in town hall meetings and forums such as the upcoming PBS-sponsored and recently postponed Univision-sponsored debates focused on issues concerning Americans of color, and appearing at activities supported by Republican activists with deep community ties is a good place to start. Just a one or two percentage point gain could very well determine the next oval office occupant. Must we recall Florida, 2000?

With great promise less than two years ago the clarion call from the national GOP towards blacks was, "Give us a chance and we'll give you a choice." Perhaps the Republican Party can have its JFK moment today, heeding the current human cry from the black community to, "Give us some respect and we'll give you our vote."

Donald E. Scoggins is president of Republicans for Black Empowerment, a national group of black GOP activists.

Comments

[daniel155]

The author is rewriting history somewhat because JFK was kind of cool towards the civil rights movement at first because he was looking at the 1964 campaign and was afraid that it would threaten his chances to win states in the South.

Eventually, he came around though.

In retrospect, the major GOP candidates should have participated in these debates but no one was sure who was going to show up. There was the risk that a top tier candidate would commit to the debate and be left in a situation where he was the lone major candidate debating the second tier candidates. That would be a no win situation.

Sometimes political strategy can get in the way of doing the right thing.

[Qbear]

" heeding the current human cry from the black community "

I saw Katrina up close and personal, we housed 8 friends several who lost EVERYTHING in both MS and New Orleans. The friends were Black and White, Men and Women, Gay and Straight. We see the hideous CAMPS of FEMA trailors, no jobs, no training, no freedom, no respect.

that human cry landed on DEAF ears, and they are still DEAF.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

Black republicons. Something akin to log cabin gay republicons.

People continue to vote against their best interests. Truly amazing. I've always said there are two kinds of republicans: the republicons and the republiconned.

I'm afraid the grand old prevaricators are going to need a bit more than just a "moment" of JFK.

[mommadona]

Black Empowerment, a national group of black GOP activists.

I cannot BELIEVE you actually felt comfortable naming your group this....

And, what, pray tell, are you "activating" as a GOP activist that couldn't possibly not act against the collective interest of your race?

Wow. I don't know if I'm more shock and awed by the ignorance or the hubris.

[PADDYWHACK]

I am an Independent who mostly voted GOP for fiscal reasons,but they have behaved like drunk[insert favorite reveler here]in a whorehouse,started an immoral invasion,and follow a demented cabal in the White House.They all,or mostly behave as if we have a president when all we have is an idiot.They have betrayed the USA.Darwin:sans raison d'etre=extinction.

[Ben Dixon]

Between turning down both the Hispanic and black debates, I'm afraid that about the only way for my GOP to turn off minority voters even more would be for them to all wear KKK outfits at the next debate.

[djthedj]

Actually, that would endear them to most republicans. News flash....republicans are hateful biggots.

[Alice A.N.]

Great point made but you ignore the heart of the matter.

The GOP, as a political party has a platform that should appeal on some level to many left leaning democrats and Independents. Fiscal responsibility, private enterprise and free-markets are not ideas that Americans abhor.

Black voters turn to the Democrats because one party cannot have both the racist vote and the Black vote. The Republicans welcomed the dixiecrats with open arms and the Democratic party thus made a place for the black vote in their party. Granted this racist demographic has been shrinking over the last 4-5 decades but it's presence in the Rebulican party alienates minority groups; even those that otherwise share a similar agenda with respect to 'Gays', 'Guns' and 'God'.

Republicans thinking only of immediate electoral results have dragged into political debate issues that belong in public discuss but not politics. They sought translate emotional visceral opposition to the changing times into votes and hence embraced everyone seeking to enact laws that drive us back to 1950. What they forget in the process is that many people did not fare very well in the 1950; like the Blacks, Minorities, Women and Gays.

The GOP never imagined that a less than 10% minority population would grow to include millions of Hispanics, Asians and naturalized immigrants. They never counted on women wanting a choice that is at odds with their religion and their God given plce in the kitchen. And they never thought gays would have the audacity to demand equal citizenship. As such Democrats have positioned themselves as the party of progress, and Republicans as that of the dark ages.

I do not know about you, but as a black women the last thing I would do is vote for a return to the 1950's. I have nothing to gain and everything to lose.

[djthedj]

"Granted this racist demographic has been shrinking over the last 4-5 decades"

Where did you get this idea? It's just as strong as ever, they just aren't as out in the open about it.

[hopeless277]

Who knew there were black Republicans? I wonder if THEY get to vote?

[RealBlackGirl]

I am so proud of Black Republicans for speaking out clearly, directly and consistently to their party. As long as we have a two party system and African Americans keep pushing both parties to do the right thing our children will have a chance. When we look back on this moment we are going to recognize that as a community we took a giant step forward to put our needs first and allegiance to the establishment second.

[seawolf77]

AHHH this is true genius. Cudos my freind and hopefully the Dense Democrats will respond with a special debate on race and equality in Jena, Louisiana.