Denounced by liberal icon Jesse Jackson as the "suburban wing of the Democratic Party, " the Democratic Leadership Council ( DLC ) was created in 1985 to ( shhh! ) woo White voters away from Republicans.
Its enviable zenith was electing Bill Clinton twice to the White House, by offering Whites moderate policies while drawing majority shares of a stalemated liberal Black base.
The rise of president Obama seems to have ended its relevance. It officially closed its doors in 2011 and offers a GOP scrambling for diversity a valuable case study.
Republican reformers claim the party needs more non-Whites in order to be competitive. The DLC won on the opposite premise.
Their centrist appeal aimed at White independents and conservative Reagan Democrats who were painting states red alongside straight ticket Republican voters.
I'm curious to see how far Republicans will go to make their brand of conservatism appealing to hard core liberal constituencies like American Blacks and, as of the last election, Latinos.
Appealing to the super-energized Ron Paul Republican libertarian youth movement seems a better bet. While cosmetics are nice, at day's end White Republicans and liberal American Blacks have found few reasons to unite.
American Blacks are individually choosing to be Republicans based upon shared values. This centrist and conservative demographic stands in stark contrast to Democrat peers who want more government in our lives.
That's not a dynamic that even the much vaunted Heritage Foundation nor the RNC can alter. American Blacks must weigh liberal policy and conclude ourselves that it's worthless.
I could be wrong and a hitherto unseen army of new Jack Kemps could cheerfully march across America re-connecting the moribund GOP/Black alliance.
That would be a very welcome development- but unlikely. Latinos will likely be the outreach target give their more recent record of voting Republican for George W. Bush.
While not holding my breath for that day nor large numbers of American Blacks kissing liberalism goodbye, I do suggest GOP planners study the demise of the centrist Democrat Leadership Council closely.
There are game changing lessons waiting to be learned.
Cap Black, The Hood Conservative
504 214-3082
Donate/Stop Socialist Hate!
http://www.gofundme.com/197xk8
" Be your OWN Superhero!"
Comment
Comment by Billy Bowlegs on January 14, 2013 at 1:16pm Now we have to woo white voters away from both the Democrats and Republicans!
Let the fight and woo begin.
Comment by Cracker on January 14, 2013 at 10:42am gop is dead, it makes no difference what they do! 37% a party is not!
Comment by Roc29 on January 14, 2013 at 9:29am The Democrats get their power by never saying no. If the Republicans think that they can get power by occasionally saying yes They're having pipe dreams.
Every time their is a misfortune, of any kind, people always demand that somebody do something. It doesn't matter whether there is anything that can be done, the Democrats will step up with another piece of legislation. It doesn't matter that the legislation might do more harm than good, somebody did something. And that something always expands power.
That is what is meant by "never let a crisis go to waste."
Comment by Vern Shotwell on January 14, 2013 at 8:45am A difficult decision, Cap!
I certainly hope that Republicans will not, as you say, "make their brand of conservatism appealing to hard core liberal constituencies..." Better would be what you have dubbed an "unseen army of new Jack Kemps", quite vocal, to spread the Conservative word across America!
Blacks and Latinos must be convinced to swing our way. All is lost, should we move ever further to the left.
Comment by Debrajoe Smith-Beatty on January 14, 2013 at 7:27am The GOP lack leadership and direction. They are floating on the sea of life like a cork.
© 2013 Created by Judson Phillips.
You need to be a member of Tea Party Nation to add comments!
Join Tea Party Nation