- Originally published in Roll Call March 1, 2005
Copyright 2005 Roll Call, Inc.
By Donna L. Brazile
This
weekend, I found myself sharing the stage in Atlanta with many of the
icons of the modern civil rights movement as commentator Tavis Smiley
convened a forum to discuss the "State of the Black Union 2005." This
year, in addition to debating the predictable myriad of national
issues, we found ourselves discussing new players in the dialogue -
blacks who lean Republican.
While
Democrats continue to rebuild after their setbacks in the 2004
elections, GOP leaders are quietly being escorted and introduced in the
black community by leading ministers. Among those was our host,
politically independent Bishop Eddie Long, the electrifying black
pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. And while Long and
like-minded blacks may have found themselves in the minority on stage
this weekend, their voice in the debate was not to be missed.
Long,
who with other leading pastors has met with President Bush, was quick
to point out he enjoyed the new relationship and dialogue. Like many
other prominent leaders, Long is one of those Republican National
Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman hopes will undertake a new mission
within the GOP.
Part of this mission, as
Mehlman framed it before a predominantly black audience last week in
New Jersey, is "to make the party of Abraham Lincoln whole again." Just
what does Mehlman mean by that phrase, and how will this impact a group
that has been the most loyal supporters of the Democratic Party?
Like
Long, the GOP is preaching a new gospel to black voters yearning for
answers to problems such as a lack of jobs, access to quality health
care, prevention and treatment of the spread of HIV/AIDS, decent and
affordable housing and the disproportionate number of blacks in prison.
There's
little doubt that Long will assist the GOP in getting its message to
black voters willing to step into a shorter line. Once they start
listening to Republicans, some may even like what they hear. And until
more African Americans come "home"to the party of
Lincoln, Mehlman promises the GOP will not cease its outreach efforts.
"Give us a chance, and we'll give you a choice. A choice in education -
where you can attend college. A choice where you live, a choice to own
a business, a choice to own a home," according to Mehlman. Put simply,
Democrats must respond to the message coming out of the RNC.
Black
voters deserve -and the preservation of the party rests on - a strong
response from Democrats, who have been the proud beneficiaries of the
black vote. The party's presidential nominee, Sen. John Kerry
(D-Mass.), received 89 percent of the black vote in 2004. More than
36.7 percent of his total vote came from people of color. But in many
key states including Ohio, Florida and Michigan, the GOP increased its
percentage of the black vote by making a modest investment of
resources, reaching out consistently to ministers and polarizing the
black community with divisive wedge issues such as same-sex marriage.
While
the GOP's investment did not result in a majority of votes, it provided
Republicans with an opportunity to join the dialogue. It won't take
much for the GOP to garner 12 percent to 15 percent of the black vote
in future elections, as some blacks are starting to believe the
community is not well-served when one party takes their votes for
granted and the other party doesn't work to earn them. Where is their
leverage?
But the GOP will face many
challenges in the debate. First, it will be challenged to do more than
invite a handful of ministers to the White House. Secondly, it will be
asked to explain its new budget and the devastating impact it will have
on black families and children. Lastly, black voters will likely demand
a discussion of their biggest concern: the lack of jobs.
Traditionally, black leaders
have been successful in getting Democrats to deliver on job creation,
public education, boosting Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, providing small-business loans and grants to help sustain
the community and the expansion of civil and voting rights for all. Can
the GOP match or exceed what Democrats have been able to bring home?
When
it comes to presidential contenders in 2008, black Democrats can boldly
and proudly stand behind the Democratic label if Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton (N.Y.)decides to run. Blacks love the Clintons. But, what about
potential GOP contenders like Sens. John McCain (Ariz.) and Bill Frist
(Tenn.)and governors like Mississippi's Haley Barbour and
Massachusetts' Mitt Romney? What are their track records? Or, to
paraphrase Janet Jackson in her hit song, "What have you done for us
lately?"
If Republicans are truly
desperate to try to bring black voters back to the GOP (or at least
remain in the debate), they must be willing to put forth candidates who
can walk the walk, as well as talk the talk. And for Democrats, it's
time to reach out and empower local black officials to deliver our
message to their communities early and often.
Among
Democrats, Mehlman's efforts should be cause for alarm. Clearly, this
is going to be one heck of a political season if Mehlman continues to
take his case to black audiences around the country and does more than
pay lip service to his audience's needs. But it could also be a boon to
Democrats, who now may finally get serious about trying to figure out
the best ways to keep their loyal base intact.
Donna
L. Brazile, the campaign manager for Democratic presidential nominee Al
Gore in 2000, runs her own grassroots political consulting firm.