[Previous entry: "IRANIAN REGIME WORRIED BY PEOPLE’S PRO-AMERICANISM"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "wmd ruse"]

04/27/2003 Archived Entry: ""

BLACK AND REPUBLICAN: George Will has a terrific column on the rising number of leaders who happen to be black Republicans. From Colin Powell and Condolezza Rice to Michael Steele and Ken Blackwell, a new generation of black officials is not beholden to the Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton Democrats. This is good for African-Americans, who have not been well-served by the Democratic stranglehold on their voters, and the GOP, which would benefit immensely from even a relatively modest increase their share of the black vote.

It might be premature to predict major inroads among black voters - after all, Ed Brooke's service in the Senate and Gary Franks and J.C. Watts' service in the House did not lead to any lasting increase in the black Republican vote - but this statewide corps of black elected officials does look promising. If Blackwell, a solid conservative, won 50 percent of the black vote running for reelection as Ohio's secretary of state in 2002, think of the potential for 2006 - when he would make an excellent candidate for governor.