Michael Steele, former Lt. Governor of the People's Republic of Maryland, Republican with the best-run Senate campaign, best TV ads, and least deserving to lose in 2006, and now Chairman of GOPAC, expressed extreme frustration with the GOP "front-runners" for backing out of the Morgan State University debates coming up this Thursday.
"I spent months working to set this up, and the candidates have known about it since March," he said, in response to a question about how to attract more minority voters to the Republican party at a small fundraising reception in Northern Virginia this evening. "People ask me to connect them with minority voters, and I set them up, but it doesn't work if every time they turn around, the candidate's not there."
"This is a shame, because the Republicans have much to be proud of. This week is the 50 year anniversary of the integration of Central High School in Arkansas, under a Republican President, Dwight Eisenhower. And the Republican Party is the original party of African Americans."
"Republicans can't afford to ignore minorities. George Bush wouldn't be President if it weren't for getting 16% of the black vote in Ohio in 2004. That was up from just 6% or something like that in the previous election. It really makes a difference, and we can't afford to write off the minority voters."
Attendees at the fundraiser were shocked and dismayed to learn about the "front-runners" skipping this debate. They asked who was participating. When Huckabee's name came up, Steele noted, "he won 45% of the black vote in his last election as Governor." A Virginia legislator interjected "he's a good man."
Okay then, people, if you're willing to pony up $250 or more in support of local elections to see Michael Steele, and you're disgusted by the behavior of the current GOP Presidential "front-runners," let's put the same kind of money up for the one man who can score a landslide against Hillary Clinton by capturing nearly half the minority vote, in addition to earning the support of solid conservatives and middle class workers of all races!
(Jim Geraghty over at NRO's Campaign Spot keeps positing excuses for this self-destructive behavior. I think the real reason the "front-runners" have skipped the last two debates is because every time they show up for a debate, Huckabee wipes the floor with them. If they don't show, most people don't watch, so Huckabee gets noticed less, and they get shown up less. If they keep debating Huckabee, he has everything to gain and they have everything to lose, so they simply duck and focus on their precious fundraisers.)
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Michael Steele Lambasts "Front-Runners" for Ducking Thursday's Debate
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8 comments:
Good point, my friend. I didn't think about that aspect..
Great article, I agree that conservatives need to be able to reach out to minorities and articulate that we are concerned about issues that are important to them. It’s also important so show how the conservative message of self reliance and individual responsibility is actually about empowering people.
I'd watch it on TV, but I'm actually going to be busy at this presidential debate at Morgan State the same night. :)
I got a great seat!
Thanks for the article K Street!
hey kevin ... that is so not fair! Well, behave yourself and cheer on Huckabee.
Great post. You are doing a great job!
I have issued a fundraising challenge for this weekend. Would you please help spread the word around? Thanks!
http://ohbabythatswhatilike.blogspot.com/2007/09/challenge-to-all-you-huckabee-sports.html
-Brian
Given the fact that Huck is so strong with African-American voters in Arkansas, I think you might be onto something. The fact that he's such a strong debater and has a good rapport with many African-Americans may have scared off the so called front runners.
I'm also very encouraged to read that J.C. Watts has criticized those that are not participating. I think that a Huck and J.C. ticket would not only win but revolutionize the American political landscape.
This debate, and all future debates, will feature two good men, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul, with the other candidates mostly watching.
Mike and Ron have distinguished themselves as classy conservatives. Though they disagree on Iraq, they have MUCH MORE in common than not, and THAT is your winning ticket for 2008!!!
My take on how the debate went:
- Huckabee kinda pandered on the first real question about black unemployment rates, using strong rhetoric about racism while the others addressed systemic causes such as illegal immigration depressing job opportunities or breakdown of the family. But he was his steller self the rest of the debate, and really stood far ahead of the pack on the question of improving criminal justice by putting drug users in rehab, not prison.
- In general, this was a lot more interesting than the last debate. The questions resulted in much more diverse answers, and touched on issues that are much more relevant to people's daily lives.
- I was actually impressed with the performances of Tancredo and Keyes tonight. I don't see them getting anywhere, but they did a good job with these questions.
- Ron Paul was his usual crochety self, and brought his usual entourage of loud cheerers.
- Brownback pandered something terrible. How to address the employment gap -- build a black heritage museum?!? And he's so stiff. Please, please, just drop out already.
- Instant email reaction from a black Republican pundit who was in the audience there, sent to yours truly: "It was AMAZING! The candidates who were not here REALLY messed up!"
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