GOP drops the ball on blacks, both delegates & voters - as usual
ST. PAUL, Minn. —
This year's Republican National Convention is undoubtedly the most unpredictable in decades.
It has also been the whitest.
Four years after Republicans seated a record number of black delegates, this week's convention has had the lowest black representation in over 40 years, according to a study by the Joint Center for Politican and Economic Studies in Washington, D.C., which tracks racial diversity at political conventions.
Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (a somewhat unlikable person as far as I'm concerned), one of the few blacks attending this convention, said the party has been ineffective in motivating black Republicans to become activists.
"We dropped the ball," he said. "It's that simple."
Shaker Heights City Councilman James Brady, 39, a black delegate, agreed. "It's part of the Obama effect" Brady said, "he has huge appeal to the African-American community," Brady said.
"But I don't think we've done that good of a job reaching out to the African-American community.
We've ceded that vote
and said,
look we're not going to get these votes so we're not going to go after them.
I think it's a huge mistake."
This year, 36 delegates are black, according to the Center's study.
That's down 78.4 percent from 2004,
when 167 of the Republican delegates were black.
The 36 delegates this year represent the lowest number of black Republican delegates in 40 years, according to the report.
In comparison, the Democratic National Convention in Denver this year drew
1,087 black delegates
out of 4,440 total delegates.
That's up from the 886 black delegates in 2004.
"Personally, I don't see what the big deal is with all the race thing," said Ebony Grantonz of Cleveland, one of just a handful of blacks in the Ohio delegate.
"For some reason the media is interested in race and Sarah Palin being a grandmother. I'm here as a Republican," Grantonz said.
This year's Republican National Convention is undoubtedly the most unpredictable in decades.
It has also been the whitest.
Four years after Republicans seated a record number of black delegates, this week's convention has had the lowest black representation in over 40 years, according to a study by the Joint Center for Politican and Economic Studies in Washington, D.C., which tracks racial diversity at political conventions.
Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (a somewhat unlikable person as far as I'm concerned), one of the few blacks attending this convention, said the party has been ineffective in motivating black Republicans to become activists.
"We dropped the ball," he said. "It's that simple."
Shaker Heights City Councilman James Brady, 39, a black delegate, agreed. "It's part of the Obama effect" Brady said, "he has huge appeal to the African-American community," Brady said.
"But I don't think we've done that good of a job reaching out to the African-American community.
We've ceded that vote
and said,
look we're not going to get these votes so we're not going to go after them.
I think it's a huge mistake."
This year, 36 delegates are black, according to the Center's study.
That's down 78.4 percent from 2004,
when 167 of the Republican delegates were black.
The 36 delegates this year represent the lowest number of black Republican delegates in 40 years, according to the report.
In comparison, the Democratic National Convention in Denver this year drew
1,087 black delegates
out of 4,440 total delegates.
That's up from the 886 black delegates in 2004.
"Personally, I don't see what the big deal is with all the race thing," said Ebony Grantonz of Cleveland, one of just a handful of blacks in the Ohio delegate.
"For some reason the media is interested in race and Sarah Palin being a grandmother. I'm here as a Republican," Grantonz said.
McCain/Palin: As Right Winged Republican as you can get
The term "green" candidate is no longer the operative word for the GOP ticket. Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor, has advocated for drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and maintains a disbelief that mankind has played any roll in climate change. A policy for which McCain once opposed, but has now done a complete about face.
Palin says, "The jury is still out on global warming" and she's the one hanging the jury. She scoffs the science that has proven it is fact mankind is playing a significant roll.
And that John McCain deliberately avoided voting on all eight attempts to pass a bill extending the vital tax credits and production subsidies to expand our wind and solar industries, and given his support for lowering the gasoline tax in a reckless giveaway that would only promote more gasoline production and our addiction to oil, making the push for more oil drilling, not innovation around renewable energy, the centerpiece of his energy policy - in an effort to mislead voters that drilling today would lead to lower prices at the pump today - McCain has forfeited any claim to be called the green candidate.
So when ever you see campaign fliers and posters with windmills and solar panels understand he did not support the bills that would fund them.
In June the wizened old maverick, described as "one of the unbranded cattle" in a Republican Party round up has finally been roped in.
He has further solidified a major flip-flop away from opposition to drilling in ANWR through is vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin, who has opposed holding big oil accountable and been dismissive of alternative energy while focusing on drilling on the wildlife refuge and off of our coasts.
Indeed, Palin's much ballyhooed confrontations with the big oil industry have been about nothing more than who should get more of the windfall profits, not how to end our addiction.
And while Obama has conceded for drilling off shore, his call is for a much more limited expansion. He has also refrained from misleading voters into thinking this is in any way a solution to our energy problems.
Obama understands that Energy Technology will be the next great global industry, rivaling and perhaps surpassing Information Technology, and that the country at the helm will enjoy more economic power, strategic advantage and higher standards of living. Big oil and OPEC, and a McCain/Palin ticket are poised to keep this from happening.
Palin says, "The jury is still out on global warming" and she's the one hanging the jury. She scoffs the science that has proven it is fact mankind is playing a significant roll.
And that John McCain deliberately avoided voting on all eight attempts to pass a bill extending the vital tax credits and production subsidies to expand our wind and solar industries, and given his support for lowering the gasoline tax in a reckless giveaway that would only promote more gasoline production and our addiction to oil, making the push for more oil drilling, not innovation around renewable energy, the centerpiece of his energy policy - in an effort to mislead voters that drilling today would lead to lower prices at the pump today - McCain has forfeited any claim to be called the green candidate.
So when ever you see campaign fliers and posters with windmills and solar panels understand he did not support the bills that would fund them.
In June the wizened old maverick, described as "one of the unbranded cattle" in a Republican Party round up has finally been roped in.
He has further solidified a major flip-flop away from opposition to drilling in ANWR through is vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin, who has opposed holding big oil accountable and been dismissive of alternative energy while focusing on drilling on the wildlife refuge and off of our coasts.
Indeed, Palin's much ballyhooed confrontations with the big oil industry have been about nothing more than who should get more of the windfall profits, not how to end our addiction.
And while Obama has conceded for drilling off shore, his call is for a much more limited expansion. He has also refrained from misleading voters into thinking this is in any way a solution to our energy problems.
Obama understands that Energy Technology will be the next great global industry, rivaling and perhaps surpassing Information Technology, and that the country at the helm will enjoy more economic power, strategic advantage and higher standards of living. Big oil and OPEC, and a McCain/Palin ticket are poised to keep this from happening.
Make no mistake: I'm an Democrat who supports Obama/Biden
McCain hit me emotionally with his Palin pick I must admit. Before then as a woman I was excited about the well qualified Senator Clinton although Senator Obama already secured my support. And now with Palin, as a woman I'm touched by it's historical implications. What woman isn't?
With Palin though, that point is as far as it goes. I personally am not apposed to the snipets of her "regular" life. She is a woman and did things women do earlier in her life as Sarah Larson.
I was a pageant contestant and could have gone on to be a Miss America or the like. But I never took stock in my physical beauty at the expense of someone's perception of my intelligence (or assumed lack thereof).
So intellectually and reasonably Palin and I are as far apart on the issues as a Democrat and Republican can be.
I don't care how qualified she is. Which, for the record, I don't think is enough to be VP and further believe what she does have is embellished by the Right to the point of insulting our intelligence. Obama may lack an almost entire 2 years of executive experience, but he is vetted, has legislative experience in both a State and United States Senates and has been in Washington long enough for me.
Right wing pundits and McCainiacs are robotic in their pat talking points which angers me to no end. It smack of a Stepford Wives-type.
I don't even know why they're interviewed. You can repeat what they all are going to say before they say it verbatim.
The apparent homogeny of the McCain crowds is troubling. It demonstrates a philosophical exclusion of segments of America louder than anything anyone can explain.
And Palin does not have my best interests at heart as far as the policies and issues I believe in. Obama is not perfect. No one is, but neither is the presidency a solo act. I'm confident Hillary Clinton and all my other Democratic public servants will be right there in the White House and on the Hill supporting a Democratic agenda, even if it means history favors both an African-American president and first lady, instead of an Irish-American (as Chris Matthews puts it, "Yawn!") and a Danish, German(?)-American woman VP.
With Palin though, that point is as far as it goes. I personally am not apposed to the snipets of her "regular" life. She is a woman and did things women do earlier in her life as Sarah Larson.
I was a pageant contestant and could have gone on to be a Miss America or the like. But I never took stock in my physical beauty at the expense of someone's perception of my intelligence (or assumed lack thereof).
So intellectually and reasonably Palin and I are as far apart on the issues as a Democrat and Republican can be.
I don't care how qualified she is. Which, for the record, I don't think is enough to be VP and further believe what she does have is embellished by the Right to the point of insulting our intelligence. Obama may lack an almost entire 2 years of executive experience, but he is vetted, has legislative experience in both a State and United States Senates and has been in Washington long enough for me.
Right wing pundits and McCainiacs are robotic in their pat talking points which angers me to no end. It smack of a Stepford Wives-type.
I don't even know why they're interviewed. You can repeat what they all are going to say before they say it verbatim.
The apparent homogeny of the McCain crowds is troubling. It demonstrates a philosophical exclusion of segments of America louder than anything anyone can explain.
And Palin does not have my best interests at heart as far as the policies and issues I believe in. Obama is not perfect. No one is, but neither is the presidency a solo act. I'm confident Hillary Clinton and all my other Democratic public servants will be right there in the White House and on the Hill supporting a Democratic agenda, even if it means history favors both an African-American president and first lady, instead of an Irish-American (as Chris Matthews puts it, "Yawn!") and a Danish, German(?)-American woman VP.
The beloved patriot, Senator John McCain, didn't give any indication of anything new that he was fighting for. Yes, his bio was candid and emotional. The only thing that changed was that he gave an address with a lot of change in it - that is, he used the word "change" with almost hypnotic regularity. The issues he did get specific with, better schools and earmarks and terrorism were frankly nothing-new yawn material, despite the uninspired, not spontaneous, (McCain plant directed), cadence of cheers that signaled the conservative, decidedly more homogeneous crowd to follow suit after every sentence or short paragraph.
Polls: Post Palin - Obama Breaks 50% Minn, Leap in Iowa!
While The Republican National Convention winds down in anticipation of McCain's acceptance speech tonight on an up note with Palin fever energizing the party base and social conservatives the polls are aren't as all over the map as they were just a few days ago. Even as polls are not the last word they do reflect the pulse of the American conscience in microcosm. And they are important enough for the candidates to take note.
Time/CNN Poll
Obama 55% McCain 40%
Gallup Daily Tracking Poll
Obama 50%, McCain 43%
On the National Stage
Rasmussen
Obama 50%, McCain 45%
USAT/Gallup Tracking
Obama 50%, McCain 43%
Time/CNN Poll
Obama 55% McCain 40%
Gallup Daily Tracking Poll
Obama 50%, McCain 43%
On the National Stage
Rasmussen
Obama 50%, McCain 45%
USAT/Gallup Tracking
Obama 50%, McCain 43%
Being mother of five, though great, is not presidential criteria
I think we need to get off the family thing as a legitimate qualification for office. Many a president was a family man, did PTA meetings and juggled the hats of Commander in Chief, husband and dad, while, through primaries to presidential campaigns to election day acceptance speeches made little to no issue concerning these facts - most did.
As a woman I laud Governor Palin for her principles and admire her large family and personal values. But quite frankly, being a hunter, having a downs syndrome baby and helping a teenage daughter through her decision to take on unwed motherhood (if she decides NOT to marry the father), while great PR for the NRA and Right To Lifers, are not presidential criteria.
While mothers and women of America gush over her and favor McCain's selection of her for the VP slot out of that sheer feminine sentimentalism, keep in mind (if you possible can) that being vice president will not only take her out of Alaska, but even with family in tow, away from her them (and her disabled infant son) for great stretches of time. Few presidents or vices had more than 2 or 3 children in recent times. This certainly was a benefit as our world and the times becomes more and more unpredictable. Her need to have to do overseas jaunts and weeks long meetings with international heads of state will not be compatible with having an infant son on her arms.
And if you want to get real with the traditional values: An infant son needs his mother.
She won't have the luxury of a first lady to give that time to him, unless she neglects her office duties to do so.
Remember too that Alaska, population 663,661, is not nearly as large as most metropolitan cities in the lower 48, of which she has governed less than 2 years. Now she is being appointed the responsibility to lead a nation of 300,000,000, protect our shores, and defend the Nation against terrorist cells worldwide?
She's capable of being vice president...one day. There is no doubt. But not today. Governor is grueling enough for the mother of 5.
Palin In The Polls/ Obama up farther than Bill Clinton was
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Two new polls of note out today… CBS/New York Times has Obama with a slight bounce, up 48%-40%. An earlier poll, showed Obama up 45%-42%. CNN/Opinion Research, however, has Obama up just one point, 49%-48%
Both surveys were conducted Aug. 29-31. Obama's convention speech was made on Thursday, Aug. 28th; Palin was picked the next morning, Friday, Aug. 29th.
The five-point post-convention jump is the biggest for a Democrat in the CBS poll since 1996 when Bill Clinton also saw a 5-point increase. It shows a big swing in independents. McCain had led with the group in the last poll by 12 percentage points, but now Obama leads with them by 7.
It also finds Obama beats McCain, 63%-41%, on who most “understands the needs and problems of people like you.” And Obama got a boost on toughness after the convention. On, “Is he tough enough?” just 48% said he was in early August, but now 58% say so. Though Obama saw an increase in the commander-in-chief question, McCain still beats him by plenty -- 45%-29% say McCain is very likely to be an effective commander in chief. 19% say McCain's not likely to be effective; 34% say the same of Obama.
Men seemed most affected by McCain's selection of Palin as VP -- 17% of men said they'd be more likely to vote for McCain now versus just 10% of women. Michelle Obama apparently helped herself last week. In this poll, her favorables went from 28% fav/18% unfav/53% undecided in early August to 41% fav/21% unfav/38% undecided.
The CNN poll, with one of the lowest undecided numbers of any poll out there, showed the candidates tied a week earlier, 47%-47%.
With regard to McCain's pick of Palin, men viewed her more favorably than women did -- 41% of men had a favorable opinion; just 36% of women felt the same. Just 45% thought she was ready to president; 52% said she wasn't. Those are the lowest confidence numbers for a VP since Dan Quayle.
And, interestingly, “Three quarters of all voters think McCain chose a female running mate specifically because he thought adding a woman to the Republican ticket would help him win in November.”
Two new polls of note out today… CBS/New York Times has Obama with a slight bounce, up 48%-40%. An earlier poll, showed Obama up 45%-42%. CNN/Opinion Research, however, has Obama up just one point, 49%-48%
Both surveys were conducted Aug. 29-31. Obama's convention speech was made on Thursday, Aug. 28th; Palin was picked the next morning, Friday, Aug. 29th.
The five-point post-convention jump is the biggest for a Democrat in the CBS poll since 1996 when Bill Clinton also saw a 5-point increase. It shows a big swing in independents. McCain had led with the group in the last poll by 12 percentage points, but now Obama leads with them by 7.
It also finds Obama beats McCain, 63%-41%, on who most “understands the needs and problems of people like you.” And Obama got a boost on toughness after the convention. On, “Is he tough enough?” just 48% said he was in early August, but now 58% say so. Though Obama saw an increase in the commander-in-chief question, McCain still beats him by plenty -- 45%-29% say McCain is very likely to be an effective commander in chief. 19% say McCain's not likely to be effective; 34% say the same of Obama.
Men seemed most affected by McCain's selection of Palin as VP -- 17% of men said they'd be more likely to vote for McCain now versus just 10% of women. Michelle Obama apparently helped herself last week. In this poll, her favorables went from 28% fav/18% unfav/53% undecided in early August to 41% fav/21% unfav/38% undecided.
The CNN poll, with one of the lowest undecided numbers of any poll out there, showed the candidates tied a week earlier, 47%-47%.
With regard to McCain's pick of Palin, men viewed her more favorably than women did -- 41% of men had a favorable opinion; just 36% of women felt the same. Just 45% thought she was ready to president; 52% said she wasn't. Those are the lowest confidence numbers for a VP since Dan Quayle.
And, interestingly, “Three quarters of all voters think McCain chose a female running mate specifically because he thought adding a woman to the Republican ticket would help him win in November.”
Not Vetted
With the investigation of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin heating up, Palin herself hires attorneys to defend her against allegations of abuse of power. This development comes on the heals of her five-months pregnant teenage daughter Bristol, who is just now being strongly encouraged to marry the father (Levi) of her unborn child.
These are the stories headlining the Republican National Convention. Palin, who opposes gun control and favors the death penalty, was announced on Friday as McCain's vice-presidential choice.
McCain knew about the allegations of the governor and the pregnancy of her daughter before choosing her for the VP slot, taking most other Republican's by surprise as the announcement was made just 3 hours before the Convention kick off.
Meanwhile 8000 war protesters converged on the convention hall clashed with police in full riot gear. There were some beatings and protesters sprayed with fire hoses.
The Convention's original line up has been scrubbed by Hurricane Gustav striking the Gulf Coast, with the first night, abbreviated to 90 minutes, fashioned into a public relations campaign to raise funds for the Greater Cause relief effort. Democrats and the Obama Campaign have also began a fund raising campaign for the relief effort.
Hurricane Hanna sets it's sights on the Georgia coast, scheduled to reach landfall on the final night of the Republican Convention, with yet another 2 storms close in it's wake, one of which is said to pose a significant threat.
These are the stories headlining the Republican National Convention. Palin, who opposes gun control and favors the death penalty, was announced on Friday as McCain's vice-presidential choice.
McCain knew about the allegations of the governor and the pregnancy of her daughter before choosing her for the VP slot, taking most other Republican's by surprise as the announcement was made just 3 hours before the Convention kick off.
Meanwhile 8000 war protesters converged on the convention hall clashed with police in full riot gear. There were some beatings and protesters sprayed with fire hoses.
The Convention's original line up has been scrubbed by Hurricane Gustav striking the Gulf Coast, with the first night, abbreviated to 90 minutes, fashioned into a public relations campaign to raise funds for the Greater Cause relief effort. Democrats and the Obama Campaign have also began a fund raising campaign for the relief effort.
Hurricane Hanna sets it's sights on the Georgia coast, scheduled to reach landfall on the final night of the Republican Convention, with yet another 2 storms close in it's wake, one of which is said to pose a significant threat.
TheExploitation of Women - McCain/Palin: The Trojan Horse Ticket
I think Governor Sarah Palin may have meant well, but as the the proverbial saying goes, "Hell is paved with good intentions."
And the motives are clearly a subversive and demeaning attempt to undermine the Obama campaign not with a superior candidate and policies, but by shamelessly rallying any residual female Clinton supporters who refuse to release their bitterness towards the Democratic Party, and exploit it
AND EXPLOIT THEM
to get McCain into the Oval Office. Albeit I'm not referring to the professed women Democrats who, for whatever they may say is the reason, would have NEVER voted for Obama and who would choose anyone, fit for office or not instead of him.
The knee jerk reaction in which she was accepted will be the great lesson for us all. We elect President's not Vice President's. Senator Obama's story has been repeated in the media countless times, despite what they keep saying about him being an unknown. He went through 18 mouths of grueling debates with Washington insiders and scrutiny on the NATIONAL STAGE, coming out of a flawless primary campaign on top as the Democratic Presidential Nominee whether you agree with it or not.
We know McCain and Biden. Palin is an unknown. EVEN TO McCAIN!!!!!! And instead of her womanhood being the crown of a candidate ready to serve, if need be, as President of the United States it is the VERY motive USED by the McCain Campaign to win the Presidency.
I think her acceptance to join the McCain ticket may well be her political Waterloo as well as McCain's swan song.
And the motives are clearly a subversive and demeaning attempt to undermine the Obama campaign not with a superior candidate and policies, but by shamelessly rallying any residual female Clinton supporters who refuse to release their bitterness towards the Democratic Party, and exploit it
AND EXPLOIT THEM
to get McCain into the Oval Office. Albeit I'm not referring to the professed women Democrats who, for whatever they may say is the reason, would have NEVER voted for Obama and who would choose anyone, fit for office or not instead of him.
The knee jerk reaction in which she was accepted will be the great lesson for us all. We elect President's not Vice President's. Senator Obama's story has been repeated in the media countless times, despite what they keep saying about him being an unknown. He went through 18 mouths of grueling debates with Washington insiders and scrutiny on the NATIONAL STAGE, coming out of a flawless primary campaign on top as the Democratic Presidential Nominee whether you agree with it or not.
We know McCain and Biden. Palin is an unknown. EVEN TO McCAIN!!!!!! And instead of her womanhood being the crown of a candidate ready to serve, if need be, as President of the United States it is the VERY motive USED by the McCain Campaign to win the Presidency.
I think her acceptance to join the McCain ticket may well be her political Waterloo as well as McCain's swan song.
Suddenly inexperience is ok - as long as you're GOP
Not to mention blatant pandering of the woman vote.
44 year old mother of 5 and first term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the epitome of ultra-conservative values (seeks the over turning of Roe V Wade), is the McCain pick for VP.
She is the antithesis of the Obama Campaign.
Is this baiting disenfranchised Hillary supporters to vote for McCain for this woman's sake at a time when Senator Clinton herself questioned the motives of her staunch supporters?
Will she be given gender advantage in the VP debates? Will Joe Biden be painted as a bully if he gets too tough with this woman, young enough to be his daughter?
Senator Clinton had the experience, 22 years of it, which is what her women supporters were comfortable with in addition to the historical nature of gender.
But in a scenario where a President McCain has to leave office is the oval office ready for Palin with zero foreign policy experience?
It is the argument the McCain campaign hurled at Obama - is he ready? This selection neutralizes that argument at it's core.
44 year old mother of 5 and first term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the epitome of ultra-conservative values (seeks the over turning of Roe V Wade), is the McCain pick for VP.
She is the antithesis of the Obama Campaign.
Is this baiting disenfranchised Hillary supporters to vote for McCain for this woman's sake at a time when Senator Clinton herself questioned the motives of her staunch supporters?
Will she be given gender advantage in the VP debates? Will Joe Biden be painted as a bully if he gets too tough with this woman, young enough to be his daughter?
Senator Clinton had the experience, 22 years of it, which is what her women supporters were comfortable with in addition to the historical nature of gender.
But in a scenario where a President McCain has to leave office is the oval office ready for Palin with zero foreign policy experience?
It is the argument the McCain campaign hurled at Obama - is he ready? This selection neutralizes that argument at it's core.
