Asks Javier David, a conservative writer in New York City: "It is a truism that the relationship between African-Americans and the modern-day Republican Party has been marked by hostility and contentiousness. This reality is often difficult to reconcile with the GOP's historical opposition to slavery and the Democrats' often whitewashed track record on race relations. Despite an impressive roster of prominent African-American Republicans, blacks and Republicans sometimes seem as compatible as oil and water. But nearly two years removed from the election of President Barack Obama, a subtle but remarkable political revolution has been set in motion. A cadre of black political candidates is angling to assume its place in Washington - as registered Republicans. With some convincing, they may yet help re-orient the historically troubled dynamic between black voters and the Republican Party."
He continues his commentary about black Republican candidates for Congress: "In fact, no fewer than 20 minority candidates have declared their intention to run for Congress in 2010, a surprising number given that many are running in urban areas with sizeable black populations. Many have benefited from the GOP's renewed emphasis to gain traction with minority voters, a priority voiced by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele - the first African-American to hold that position. And the candidates certainly have their work cut out for them. Not only do black voters voter [sic] near-monolithically Democratic, but blacks who self-identify as Republicans or conservatives often come in for what author Shelby Steele once termed 'a stunning amount of animus, demonization...and flat-out, undifferentiated contempt' from within the rest of the community. And in the past, black Republicans have won in conservative-leaning (and in most cases, predominantly white) suburbs, thus eluding the skeptical undercurrent that often confronts black GOP candidates from urban voters."
More: "Conditions may be ripening for a critical mass of black Republicans in the political establishment - Congress hasn't seen an African-American Republican since the departures of Oklahoma's J.C. Watts and Connecticut's Gary Franks, and voters nationwide are eager for new faces and bold ideas. While some are admitted long-shots, some stand a good chance of capitalizing on the brewing anti-incumbent zeitgeist and GOP efforts aimed at making inroads with black voters. Tough sledding? Definitely. But if the stars align properly, 2010 might well go down in political history as the year of the black Republican."
Booker Rising response: Although I have heard this line every election cycle since J.C. Watts retired from Congress after the 2002 election, 2010 will not be the Year Of The Black Republican. The only black Republican running for Congress who has a strong shot of winning is Allen West in swing-vote Florida's 22nd Congressional District (Cook Partisan Index: D+1). And Mr. West will only win if Base Connect, the shady GOP fundraising firm, doesn't drain his coffers first. Ryan Frazier, the libertarian-conservative Republican in Colorado's 7th Congressional District (CPI: D+4), has a decent shot. However, he needs even more funding to oust the incumbent. Mr. Frazier is advancing on the RNC's "Young Guns" list, which should help him in the near future. Everybody else is a long shot.
It is shaping up to be the Year Of The Black Conservative....in Britain. In the upcoming election (expected on May 6), the Conservative Party will add anywhere from three to six black conservatives to Parliament. Barring a massive catastrophe, it will be at least three candidates because three individuals are running in very pro-Tory districts. Three more candidates are running in swing districts, with two of these individuals in the lead in polls. This is in addition to the two black conservative MPs already in Parliament, one of whom will become the Tories' first black cabinet minister if the Conservative Party maintains its poll lead. The Tories could wind up having more black MPs than does the Labour Party.
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Could 2010 Be The Year Of The Black Republican?
