Republicans Pin Hopes on Black Candidates

[Jon8503]

By KRISTEN WYATT, Associated Press Writer


BOWIE, Md. - Hope springs eternal when black Republicans seek higher office, yet often the first question that hits them is what are they doing in the GOP. This election year, a man named Steele in Maryland and a former football star named Swann in Pennsylvania are among a small but determined number of black candidates trying to win one for the Republicans despite the Democratic Party's near lock on the black vote.

Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a former seminarian with a law degree from Georgetown University, is seeking the open Senate seat in November. He is looking to translate one accomplishment — the first black elected to statewide office in Maryland — into another, as the only black Republican in the Senate.

Lynn Swann, a Hall of Famer with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s, is running for governor in Pennsylvania.

Black Republicans also are seeking the governorship in Ohio, the Senate in Michigan and seats in Congress and state legislatures from the Midwest to the Deep South.

It's never easy.

"Sometimes you feel kind of out there on an island by yourself," said Eric Wallace, 47, an associate minister of a large black congregation in Chicago who is running for the state Senate in Illinois.

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*******They are appealing to the blacks on religion and abortion, talking to their churchs. Republicans always go with religion and abortion.*******


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[w13rd0]

1. Republicans...

...trying to win votes based on control of women and hatred of homosexuals. This surprises you? They are the party of hate, that is what they appeal to. Never mind that they appeal to rural whites with hatred of minorities, that's a different message for a different democgraphic... It's all about image projection with today's GOP.

[greekspeak]

2. The Repuke Party: Hypocricy is Murkin, and we love Murkin

Maybe the Repukes would do better among minorities if they didn't just exploit them for their votes. They bring out the worst in everyone.

[Grebrook]

3. Black Republicans crack me up

The funniest thing about when Black Republicans run for office is the fact that they do exactly what Republicans scream about, play the "race card". Has anyone seen Michael Steele campaign in Maryland? All he can do is talk about the fact that he's black, Catholic and Republican. He absolutely won't shut up about it. He apparently thinks he's really special and that that alone should get him elected. That and comparing stem cell research to The Holocaust. Which is why he's losing. It's why Blackwell's losing in Ohio. It's why Swann is losing in Pennsylvania.

[Jon8503]

4. Glad to hear Swan is losing - the black candidates crack me up too

as well as the other black & judicial cabinet members. Honestly, these members really are betraying their own race it appears when they support the agenda they do. However, the dems are guilty of taking them for granted as some have brought up.

However, there is hope with those such as Harold Ford & Obama along with a few other black leaders. Swan has taken advantage of his wealth he earned in pro sports and then goes to a party that does not have any values or programs to benefit blacks. "Show me the money".

[newyawker99]

6. Hi Grebrook!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Jade Fox]

7. But, but, but, it's OKAY when Republicans.......

do it!:sarcasm:

The current GOP has the most remarkable double standard about things like playing the race card. They appear to believe that it's okay when the GOP does things they criticize the Dems for because Conservatives have purer motives. Yeah, right! :eyes:

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. blacks, I think, are smarter than this

they don't vote on one issue-from experience, they know it is important not to know just how someone stands on choice, but also whether they back Pell Grants, Head Start, Medicaid, and other social programs. Being in the minority and having, within living memory, to have fought to get these things and more, they are less likely to give them up for some flighty "no abortion amendment" that may or may not ever be written.