In all elections, candidates try to address the needs of the voters. In all elections, particularly close elections, the ability to draw the votes from special interest groups have provided the winning candidate with the slight edge. In 1992, the angry white male voting block deserted the GOP party after blaming them on the recession and lost jobs. In 1996, suburban soccer moms and working women gave Bill Clinton the edge. In 2000, Bush emphasized his religious values to win the southern evangelical vote. In 2004, Kerry attempted to win sway the veteran vote, but failed to do so.

Since the end of segregation, Black Americans have sought for and won the chance to vote. Despite violence, threats, and death, many Blacks particularly in the South chose to express their hard fought American citizenship in the ballot booth. But since the 1960’s has any president been able to significantly help the Black community.

Blacks have traditionally sided with Democrats based on the loyalty of ending Jim Crow segregation. Since then, we have had 4 of the last 6 presidents as Republicans. If Republicans want to win Black voters, they need to point to how Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Bush have helped their lives and their communities. In politics, old loyalties based on past performance are the norm.

To capture the votes of any large group, there needs to be a significant discussion of what can be gained or lost if that group does not vote. Maybe there never will be a perfect Black candidate. There are very few Black governors. Blacks very rarely are able to win in state-wide elections. Outside of sports and music, upward social mobility is rare.

That’s why the candidacy of Barack Obama is so unique. The media had been declaring Hillary the winner before January. Then a Black man actually won Iowa and a neglected group saw a dream of societal influence and status potentially fulfilled. The election of Obama for president will not just be about today or tomorrow, it will be about the legacy and hardship of the men who stood up to Jim Crow laws and the men who toiled in slavery and the men who built this nation with the work of their bare hands.

The black vote will rarely matter (this year is an exception) and the reason is because blacks are comfortable on the democrat plantation. That reminds me of when the union troops in the civil war swept through southern towns and told all the blacks they were free to leave, lots of them never did.

The democrats know that blacks think they can't go anywhere else, so they are taken for granted.

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Blade: "more educated and literate people than Justabubba"

Justabubba: "that would include everyone"

http://politicalforum.com/showthread.php?t=27847

black votes will never truely matter in this country... sure, the democrats toy with black folks and use them strategically, but they are relatively insignificant. They are too ignorant to realize they are being pimped out by the democratic party..... sad

Those are strong assumptions. I don't really think they are accurate.

I don't think there is much affection in the Black community for Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Bush. Those republican presidents needed to prove to the Black community that their lives can be better under Republican administrations.

In addition, many local politicians are in the Democrat party. There's a saying that all politics is local - its true for both parties.

There have been many successful Black leaders who have achieved wealth but it is troubling that Black Americans live in poor communities. Maybe we need to improve our school systems or blame the media influence. There just are too few industries that Black Americans feel they can be successful in.

Are you an expert on race relations and the Black community? What is your solution to the problems that face the Black community?

Many local black politicians are Democrats and many black voters vote out of loyalty.

If Black voters want to switch to the GOP, then George W Bush must have convinced them. A true citizen doesn't vote by party, but votes for the man (or woman) who they believe will help them and share their goals and values.

Those are harsh words to call an racial group ignorant. I wouldn't want to call evangelicals or vets ignorant for supporting Bush on the Iraq disaster.

And I can stop you right here. No one should be voting to have their needs met. Politicians shouldn't be "meeting any needs." Politicians should be upholding the original intent of the Constitution and protecting the unalienable rights of each individual citizen under Natural Law. They should be protecting the right of every adult individual to engage in any peaceful, honest, voluntary activity. Government should only step in if one individual or group initiates force, fraud or coercion.

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

That reminds me of another old political slogan: reward your friends and punish your enemies. One thing republicans repeatedly find from blacks is doing things for blacks get them nowhere. Did Nixon get votes from blacks for starting the first modern era federal "affirmative action" plan? No. Did Bush get votes from blacks for setting up "affirmative action" in Texas, or renewing the Voting Rights Act? No. Will the republicans get any geezer votes for passing the $1 trillion medicare part D? No. Republicans just never learn.

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Blade: "more educated and literate people than Justabubba"

Justabubba: "that would include everyone"

http://politicalforum.com/showthread.php?t=27847

Maintaining law and order, protecting our land against attacks, building interstate highways, rebuilding communities wrecked by a disaster, etc.

Those are all "needs". So what do you mean by "Politicians shouldn't be 'meeting any needs.'"?

I'm voting for Obama to reduce the burden of federal government by simplifying the tax code, enforcing laws that protect consumers, and bringing to light the part of the constitution that says (to paraphrase) that we're all supposed to be treated equal (or something like that). Obama, in my estimation, has the best chance to do what's right to make our economy more bullet proof (its not bad already, but Obama has good ideas to improve it) in both ups and downs. Our last President has failed greatly to create an economic system that is free from avoidable disturbances like the loan crisis. Obama has the leadership to institute measures that will reduce the burden of taxes and avoidable interferences.

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YES WE CAN BABY! (THIS VIDEO GETS BETTER WITH EACH VIEWING)

Loan crises are what happen when you spend money recklessly, kind of like what the US is doing in Iraq.

Yea, it's sad to see true conservatism die out to be replaced with neocons
bloating government budgets and power.