Thunderstorms are immiment, but I’m still headed to the beautiful city of Savannah for the Georgia Republican Convention.
I’ve got my mini digital tape recorder, my note pad and plenty of business cards in an effort to meet and greet each of the Gubernatorial candidates, the Honorable J.C. Watts, Republican National Chairman Michael Steele, and Herman Cain. I’m expecting to hear and see a different tone that exudes diversity and open mindedness with an emphasis on re-energizing their core values. Let’s see what happens. Stay tuned for further updates throughout the weekend.
If you’re my Facebook friend, you can get the information much quicker.
Oh, and I intend to count the number of ‘people of color’ in attendance.
Peace.
Helen
Project Logic Ga 
Alright Helen, if you are counting the people of color, well-tanned White people don’t count. I don’t care what the president said about House Minority Leader John Boehner. Funny story: the first few weeks of my employment in the House, I kept seeing the “Minority Office of Merchant Marines and Fisheries.”
By kountry behind thought that was the office in charge of mullet and catfish until by housemates corrected me and made me promise not to say that dumb mess to anyone else.
I hope the vibe from their convention will reflect their need to engage moderates and centrists. If not, I can truly respect their decision and hope they enjoy the minority status since is that now they are going to be rolling for awhile.
Former Newt staffer Matt Towery (and I think Michael Steele) have the right idea about winning by getting likeable candidates who are still conservatives. ie Isakson. But you don’t need a crystal ball to know that the convention this weekend should have “Won’t Back Down” blasting because that is the attitude.
Check out Towery’s recent column
Some are of the opinion that the party must go back to its hard-core conservative roots. Others argue for a more inclusive party — the old “Big Tent” theory. Surely Republicans have learned from the rise and early days of Barack Obama’s presidency that likeability of an individual is as, if not more, important to the average voter than positions on complicated issues.
http://townhall.com/columnists/MattTowery/2009/05/13/can_charlie_crist_spread_some_sunshine_on_the_national_gop?page=1
Its after midnight. I just spent thirty minutes typing an update from tonights convention activities on my new Blackberry. Guess what I accidently deleted the post. I will issue a new post SarTurday morning. Just so you know I lost count on the number of “people of color” that I saw tonight. More later.
Its ten AM and I am sitting in the Press staged area taking notes and recording speeches of some key bleaders in the Repub lican Party. Coming up are JC Watts, Herman Cain , Michael Steele and others.Steele is coming up next.
The street committee say you could put all of the Blacks from last night in one 1998 Suburban at one night—that’s messed up.
And it is my understanding that most of those Negroes are kind of dry—like macaroni with no cheese. It will be interesting hearing how the speeches go today. Don’t let Bubba and Nem front my brother Michael Steele and push him around. Somebody needs to get Steele’s Blue Dog pin ready because it might be a matter of time. Kidding.
Excuse the typos in previous posts. Still getting used to typing on a Blackberry. An overview of the Convention is coming soon.
Well slyram, I can see you don’t expect more “brotha’s and sista’s” to join the GOP. People like Karen, Ali, Napoleon don’t count? Yes, the “color” of the room is still pretty pale and many of the old guard have to learn times have changed but I can only hope that people of “color” will actually give the GOP a look. There are many issues that people of “color” (as you mention) are closer to the GOP than the other party. The problem is partly the “image” of the GOP and the fact that most people, of EVERY color tend to believe stereotypes.
I have ample proof that there is plenty of room in the GOP for all types of people. Unlike other parties, the GOP does not or has not made an “issue” out of color. Many in the GOP expect people to be treated by their contributions, not their specific situation. A person who is willing to get involved, contribute time and energy, becomes a voice to be heard. You are not measured by your situation whether, veteran, rich, poor, white, yellow, blue, minority, homosexual, or handicapped, members of the party influence the party by their contributions to the group.
Of course in any dynamic there are those, sometimes in power, that do measure people by their situation or station. I’ll admit it happens, but for the most part there are plenty of people in the GOP who are willing, capable, and even strive to look beyond things like “color”. This is the party I see, this is the party that I belong too.
The water is fine, come on in. Your voice will not be heard because you are black, it will be heard because you are willing to speak.
Expect a Post Convention post from me this weekend.. Stay tuned. And thanks Ray for your comments.
It’s my man Ray. I read that first line and had a nice cleansing laugh. I missed those phone conservations we would have when you were walking the congressional district during your campaign. If those welcoming people in your party would have embraced you like they did Palin, you would be calling me from your congressional suite today and solving the nation’s energy issues.
You know Karen and I go back “before 8 track” and Nap is African Methodist Episcopal like me. Nap is a West Point grad standing on the shoulders of Henry O. Flipper from Thomasville, Georgia, who was the first Black graduate of that important institution. But, at the same time Flipper got a little too comfortable…. (I better leave that alone.)
No one spoke to Flipper the entire time he was at West Point. Is that what the GOP State Convention was like for Blacks? Ray, you know I am kidding with you and I heard that everyone had a fine and productive time; good time, good fellowship and good ideas.
Rep. Melvin Everson, GOP candidate for state labor commissioner, is from our Albany State University and you know I consider Ali to be the next Karl Rove. (Is that a good thing?)
Good luck with your political plans for next year. I will always remember the discussion we had in November when I asked if you wanted your team to win elections by being more inclusive or purify the ranks and take your chances. You are a real guy and respect your answer. The centrist crew will gladly take your castoffs.
I bet if you were in congress today you would let the White House and the congressional Democrats know what’s what in conservative and constructive way. You are Ray; you build energy sources rather than putting them out.
A week has passed since last week’s Republican Convention. I was pleasantly surprised about the tone. The consistency of the messages from Steele, Watts, Cain, and even some of the Gubernatorial candidates. The sense of (boy I don’t belong here, a feeling that I’ve felt a time or two when I’ve attended a Republican function) didn’t come across this time. The one scene when Steele, Watts, Everhart and one other man on the stage (sorry I can’t recall his name) with the chant, ‘this is what the new Republican Party looks like’ was something to see.
Only in America, a black president and a black as head of the Republican Party…Isn’t that picture enough for people of all stripes to realize that the old ways of doing things are not as effective anymore. Just think, do you remember CDs? Some of you are saying, what? Years ago, we didn’t have the many forms of tools in order to access information. The electorate is more informed than ever. Almost 30% of Independents are making an impact on the elections all over the country.
If Republicans maintain their values, but exhibit a stronger sense of compassion, be more tolerant of people who are different than themselves, and find a better way of communicating their message, they could be a Party to be reckoned with.
I plan to have each of the Gubernatorial candidates on my radio program over the coming months. My aim is for the public to hear from ALL the candidates. I’m excited about the opportunity to do that.
As Slyram has said many times, the Republicans singing to the choir just will not work anymore. I remember when I ran for office twice, I deliberately met people and went into neighborhoods that I either was not familiar with or didn’t feel comfortable with. Thats’ what the Republicans must do. It’s an exhilirating experience to step out of one’s box.
Well, Helen thanks for the report about your time at the convention. That gathering on the stage must have been an interesting sight but it remains to be seen if the grassroots with that team want to hear that vibe.
I just saw on CNN blog that Steele is saying that Obama was not vetted because he is Black. Whatever.
The GOP would be better off if they listened to you more.