Allen West Slams Mitt Romney, Republican Approach to Minority Voters

[DonViejo]

by John Avlon Mar 15, 2013 4:45 AM EDT

The GOP nominee put the fiery congressman on his Black Leadership Council—and then never called. Outreach ‘doesn’t mean anything unless you actually show up,’ he says.

West was controversial in Congress, with a propensity toward accusing Democrats of being communists. But he saved his friendly fire this CPAC for Republicans’ failure to reach out to minorities, with special blame set aside for Mitt Romney.

“Governor Romney missed that opportunity [to reach out]. I was on his African-American leadership council and never got a phone call from him,” West told me, walking down the hallway at Maryland’s Gaylord hotel. “Never got a phone call.”

Romney’s campaign announced his Black Leadership Council to some fanfare during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. West served as co-chairman along with Tim Scott and Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, who resigned her position abruptly this week amid an investigation into a $300 million charity fraud.

At the time, Romney announced his Black Leadership Council in a statement—rather than in person—saying, “I am proud to have the endorsements of so many leaders in the black community. They know all too well that the economic downturn that has continued to hammer our country has been even more devastating for black Americans. Together, we will work to end that downturn, and we will not rest until all Americans have the jobs they need, the quality education they are owed, and the opportunities they deserve.”

-snip-

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/15/allen-west-slams-mitt-romney-republican-approach-to-minority-voters.html

[Enrique]

1. even if he did meet with Col. West

that still would not be "reaching out to the black community".

[John2]

2. I don't think

many people in the Black community coronated those people as leaders. There are opportunists in the Black community like any other community. What they care about is improving their own status and money. Take Mia Love for example. I don't see her as a leader in the African American community just because of her skin color. And the worse thing you can do is get someone talking down to you as if they are better. The best thing to do is go into those communities yourself and talk to people face to face. The Democrats are very good at that. They don't use tokens.

[abbeyco]

3. I have two thoughts on this:

1. r-money invited west and the rest to create a show and simulate 'outreach' knowing that not, for one hot minute, he'd ever effectively include that group in any of his presidential run.

2. Once r-money brought west on board saw how batshit crazy he is and wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with him and saw him more as a liability than any kind of asset.

Discuss amongst yourselves.....