If one more conservative Georgian asks me how do they make inroads into the Black community, I am going to freaking scream because any adult who doesn’t realize that much of the Black community is conservative or moderate already is not fit to be in the discussion or public policy arena.
Watch the Blue Dog Democrat congressional field staffers because they go everywhere since everything is governmentally related these days. Republican field staff go to meetings directly related to the federal government or meetings involving industries and enterprises that generally support their bosses. That is like preaching to the choir. An old friend and former GOP Black staffer almost ran for congress from Savannah last year and she was about to shake up the world and create the formula for improving their party’s posture in our community.
The formula is simple: show the flag everywhere. Democrat and Republican congressmen and women should have a Black staffer or two who rocks business attire well and who, like Hemingway and Brad Pitt, goes everywhere to listen, learn and inform the people. The information from a moderate or conservative standpoint centers on the message that we are responsible for ourselves, you can’t expect the government to ensure your quality of life, and we are duty-bound to be deliberate in our actions because those who went before us fought for us to have the opportunities that we are squandering. We should feel guilty-ridden on some level.
These actions, speeches and talks are grassroots fiscal conservatism. Real talk: the taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be wasted to address folks messing up in school, fooling with drugs/crime or slacking on their parental duties—if you don’t want to be a parent and work 40 hours a week, it is apparent that you should not be a parent.
My friends and I call it the policy formula of C and D after A and B. Liberals wanted to address C and D problems with programs and funding without reading the riot act about how the problems were created to ensure that the crisis conditions end. Conservatives simply say stop doing what you are doing or let them suffer. Moderates take a more non-linear and comprehensive approach by saying temporarily the response is C and D with the understanding that A and B created this situation and it stops now. This formula also works when understanding that pass government actions or systematic oppression drove A and B while leading to C and D. But some of those victim arguments when out of the door when Obama walked into the White House; if a Black guy with a funny name can be president, you can get yourself together. While racism and discrimination will continue for the decades to come, many community problems are FUBU.
President Obama is surrounded by liberals but he is about to show his moderate if not conservative Kansas roots. His vision for improving America includes a national discussion that is basically taking some folks to the proverbial woodshed. Waterboarding can’t compare to what Mr. Niceguy is about to do and for all the ultra-liberals he would lose, Obama will get four moderates to replace them. It will be a thing of beauty that actually changes to the mindsets of millions. I strongly suggest the Right beat him to the punch (which is what conservatives were supposed to be doing instead of kissing up to corporate America only.)
Project Logic Ga 
Who’s goiing to inform the African-Americans that you speak about that they are more ‘conservative’ than they have been led to believe? If they come to that realization and the Republicans do too, then we might be onto something….
How we are as a community and if we can be inside a bitter camp are two different things. The Blue Dog Democrats are making a subsection of the DNC for “somewhat” conservatives. If that becomes a grassroot movement on the local level, bad could get worst for the RNC. They better target those Blue Dogs.
I would offer this: Symbolism matters. For example: blacks folks know that if there is any controversy involving the Confederacy (eg, in the design of the state flag, in the holding of Confed. Memorial Day), Republicans will probably be “pro-Confederacy” while Democrats will be split (depending on how many black voters the Democrat has in his/her district).
Now of course, substance is more important than symbolism.
But in discussions of symbols, black folks get the feeling that the GOP never shows any empathy to the concerns of AAs.
And wait! I’m not saying to end Confed. Memorial Day. (Although if you asked me my advice, I’d recommend establishing a Slavery Memorial Day to reflect on how slavery affected blacks and whites in the antebellum era.)
I’m just saying: if all the symbols the GOP supports are ones that AAs find problematic… then obviously that can’t help their cause.
Lunch: you makes some interesting points.
“President Obama is surrounded by liberals but he is about to show his moderate if not conservative Kansas roots. His vision for improving America includes a national discussion that is basically taking some folks to the proverbial woodshed. Waterboarding can’t compare to what Mr. Niceguy is about to do and for all the ultra-liberals he would lose…”I would love for this to be true, I’m more than ready to see some evidence that this is true. If so he will not follow through with the national healthcare plan that he is advocating. I’m a mother and a grandmother, of course I CARE if sick people can get health care. I also care that I want it to be quality health care that doesn’t raise our level of taxes so that we can’t afford to provide for our families. We do not need to further make us a ‘nanny state.’
Donna: of course, we are concern with the national debt and I am someone who thinks people who are uninsured should take their lumps. But, the current system of people using the ER as a doctor’s office must change.
One thing is clear: people of means will always be able to secure the best care–as well they should.
I absolutely agree that the ER should not be an option for treating the uninsured. It also should not be the option for illegals to receive healthcare of the American taxpayers dime.
Donna,
You comment raises a lot of issues.
Nobody wants “illegals to receive healthcare of the American taxpayers dime.”
But:
(a) You have many illegal immigrants who work and pay taxes.
(b) You have many Americans who for one reason or another (like being poor) pay no taxes.
In the case of (a) and (b), to whom is it “fair” to withhold hospital care that has been payed for by the taxpayers’ dime?
I still like this formula…okay, I wrote it.