YES: Michael Steele: "It Needs To Make More Strides"
Asserts the moderate-conservative former chairman of the Republican National Committee. From WFSU: "And, former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, the first black chair for the committee, says he feels the Republican Party needs to make more strides in attracting minority voters before it’s too late. 'It’s something they have to work on because if we don’t, by the time we get to the next presidential [election], it’s all over,' said Steele."
NO: Jennifer Carroll: "The Ball Is In Minority Voters' Court"
The Florida lieutenant governor and conservative Republican argues that minority voters need to have a more open mind to the GOP's message. From WFSU: "For many, many years we’ve been having minority outreach and having organizations established to share to minorities exactly what the party stands for, what are the policies we put in place, how it has benefited them, but it has to receptive,' Carroll said. 'If we’re sharing this information, and it’s not being absorbed and processed, and giving us an opportunity to come in and be accepted, then that’s a problem.'"
Booker Rising response: I'm with Michael Steele on this one. The Republican Party has a "product" (in this case, its policies) that it wishes to sell to minority voters. While "consumers" (in this case, minority voters) should shop around and become knowledgeable about the various products so that they make an informed choice, it is not incumbent upon consumers to to promote the product. Let's face it, the GOP's minority outreach has been horrible and half-assed at best. The Democratic Party has virtual free reign on black talk radio. Have you ever had a Republican canvasser come to your home to discuss why you should vote for X candidate? Yeah, I thought not. Have you ever had a Republican telemarketer dial you up and discuss why you should vote for X candidate? Yeah, I thought not. The GOP doesn't even do a decent job with Get-Out-The-Vote efforts of registered black Republicans on the party rolls, whose votes could tip the scales in a close election.
Bookerista Debate: Should The Republican Party Do More To Attract Minority Voters?
