The New York Times is caught by surprise. “Unanticipated,” (by whom? liberal reporters?) the Gray Lady calls the discovery that ”at least 32 African-Americans are running for Congress this year as Republicans, the biggest surge since Reconstruction, according to party officials.” The Times hastens to assure us that this is Obama’s doing — inspiring and trailblazing for Republicans — but hastens to cast gloom and doom on their prospects:
But Democrats and other political experts express skepticism about black Republicans’ chances in November. “In 1994 and 2000, there were 24 black G.O.P. nominees,” said Donna Brazile, a Democratic political strategist who ran Al Gore’s presidential campaign and who is black. “And you didn’t see many of them win their elections.”
Tavis Smiley, a prominent black talk show host who has repeatedly criticized Republicans for not doing more to court black voters, said, “It’s worth remembering that the last time it was declared the ‘Year of the Black Republican,’ it fizzled out.”
Well, far down in the report, the Times lets on that these candidates actually like the Tea Parties and are getting support from supposedly racist, know-nothings (oh, oops, now the media meme tells us they are upscale, over-educated and mainstream Republicans):
The black candidates interviewed overwhelmingly called the racist narrative a news media fiction. “I have been to these rallies, and there are hot dogs and banjos,” said Mr. West, the candidate in Florida, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army. “There is no violence or racism there.”
And what’s more, African Americans, the Times discovers, are attracted to conservative social positions. (“There is also some evidence that black voters rally around specific conservative causes. A case in point was a 2008 ballot initiative in California outlawing same-sex marriage that passed in large part because of support from black voters in Southern California.”)
If a batch of these candidates wins — with support from the Tea Parties, no less — what will the liberal chattering class do then? (Cognitive dissonance alert!) You can anticipate the spin. These are not “authentic” African-American leaders, they will say. Harry Reid may point out that they don’t sound Black. And the Congressional Black Caucus will be properly recast as the Liberal Congressional Black Caucus (unless the newcomers want to join, which will bring howls of protest from the liberals, who wouldn’t want their leftism to be diluted). But the “Republicans don’t like Blacks” meme (propounded by none other than the hapless Michael Steele) will take a bruising. After all, they can’t all be “inauthentic,” can they?
Unless, of course, The One figures Hillary was already vetted enough, and ends up tapping her for VP.
Rubin only needs only 8 sentences to summarize the ’08 election and Obama. Always excellent, precise writing, kudos.
and, alas, I need to watch those typos.
It is not over – she has been vetted by the public and media for over 16 years. I still think its Hillary.
I don’t think Obama can have the spotlight diverted in the slightest way to Hillary. It seems that basic.
I mentioned earlier: O told Pelosi she would like the selection. Does not that rule out Hill?
“I still think its Hillary.”
Hillary Clinton wants nothing to do with a sinking ship. She is looking towards 2012.
“She was never vetted” could, of course, mean “I have absolute confidence in her”. Hey, when you’re starving, you don’t ask what’s on the menu — even if it turns out you’re the main course. (Hillary’s mission: TO SERVE BARRY.)
To David Thomson: Actually, Hillary’s been doing everything she can to sink the ship ever since Super Tuesday.
B.O. NEVER seriously considered Hillary, and for a very simple reason.
She’s not viewed well by good numbers of the Democrat party. Were he to have selected her, ————————— it would be tantamount to taking his holy messianic image and mucking it about in the filth and grime of ordinary political activity.
EVERYBODY knew that.
Except for some politically hopeless cases, such as J. POD. for instance.
Obama was purportedly the breath of fresh air wafting through America’s political corridors. Had he tapped Hillary, that fresh air would have taken on the aroma of your typical sewage plant. Obama couldn’t run the campaign that he desired, and that his staff mapped out, had he tapped Hillary.
Just think how frequently J. POD. has been of late.
Immigration? Dead wrong.
McCain/Lieberman? Not simply wrong, ———— but beyond bizarre and wrong.
McCain’s “pledge” to serve only a single term? Again error, inexplicable and politically clueless error.
Obama/Hillary? ——————- Just more error.
It’s like he went to a local drinking establishment, and ordered straight from the tap a pure draft of ERROR.
Even MEDVED remarked upon as much today.
J. POD. needs to take a break, get beyond the strage realm of Manhattan, get away from NYC, and go breath deeply. Maybe he should head out to the high Canadian Rockies!
Because nothing says Fresh Air than Joe “I’ve been in Washington since 1972, and have already had two failed runs for the presidency” Biden
How can Barry should be given the key to the white house when CAC which he hold with Bill Ayers has been an adject FAILURE? I don’t know how hope and change sloganeering can actually move the country to the right direction? Barry has no qualification and a failed chairman.
THE ONE is only a lackey of Bill Ayers and a die-hard socialist enthusiast.
My prediction yesterday morning concerning Joe Biden was correct. This addition to the ticket will do little to help the Anointed One. Hillary was still his best hope. She probably, however, was not interested in developing a working relationship with Obama. No, she is instead looking forward to 2012—and recapturing the heart and soul of the Democratic Party. Hillary realizes that Obama is going to lose to John McCain. No sense getting on a sinking ship.