I went to a John McCain rally and all I saw was old white people, except for the few black students that were bussed in for the event.

Why did President Bush let the people of New Orleans drown, literally?  Why didn't the National Guard get to the Superdome with food and water and sanitary facilities until days after Katrina hit?

Why have the Republicans abandoned the cities of America?  

In order to reach out to the African American community you first have to actually care about the poor black Americans, not just the ones that have managed to climb the social ladder on the broken rungs the Republican party has provided to the middle class in this country.

Until Republicans are willing to look in the mirror and realize they are the problem, African Americans, Latinos, gay people, will vote for Democrats.  

And let's not forget.  Diversity includes everyone.  Men, women, blacks AND whites and everyone.  You went to a McCain rally for what reason, exactly?  There were more than just "old white people" there.  Your anecdotes doesn't hold water.

None of America has been "forsaken" by Republicans.  It's a misnomer.  Look at the cities you claim Republicans have avoided, like Detroit, which have been ran by Democrats for longer than most of its residents have been alive.  Republicans didn't cause the school board to fail or the city to go in debt or the population to decrease by half.  And when experience and help is offered it's turned down.

The people voted for Kilpatrick over Hendrix.  Keith Butler was hounded off the City Council.  

We'll go where we're wanted, where we're invited, and where we have ideas and solutions.  And when Republicans are politely or impolitely told to leave, we'll move on to the next idea and solution.

I'm not African American, although I think I have some understanding why the Republican party has very little appeal to African Americans.  

If you think Lincoln has anything to do with the modern day Republican party, then you haven't been paying attention for the last 30 years.

Where I live is irrelevant.  I assume as the owner of the site, you know exactly who I am, and since I've said nothing I'm ashamed of here, I don't really care.

If you don't understand why African Americans, Latinos and gay people vote in such small numbers for Republicans, then I suspect you are of the ilk of Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity.  Lower taxes are not the answer to every social and governmental ill.

Other issues that the likes of Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity support are shown in survey after survey to be issues that are important to blacks: school choice, immigration, abortion, the radical gay agenda, etc. In virtually every case, blacks are shown to be more conservative than most Republicans. While the GOP gives lip service to stopping abortion, blacks actually recognize that Planned Parenthood founder, Margaret Sanger was an eugenist, who believed that she could eradicate blacks through abortion. She, and her ilk, have done a remarkable job at just such a thing.

In other areas, there is much disinformation by the media that keeps most blacks from voting GOP - the perception that Democrats are for "the working class," "against corporate welfare," "free from corruption," etc. While any thinking American knows better; those conditioned by the likes of CNN and MSNBC actually believe this crap. In spite of decades of criminal behaviors by various Democrat politicians, the die-hard Dems (we call them trolls here, yes indeedy-do) endlessly chant the mantra: "the Republicans do the same thing, the Republicans do the same thing, the Republicans do the same thing," ad infinitum ad nauseum.

The main problem here is EDUCATION. Over 90% of children being taught in the schools are not taught the right information. Civic/Government classes are reduced to a 1/2 semester per academic year.

The Republican Party should no longer make any excuses on why we cannot come into the inner cities. It is ridiculous for Democrats to come into traditionally rural-Republican areas and win seats while they have a lock on the inner cities.

As far as getting African Americans to vote GOP that is not hard if you talk our language. Yes, most African Americans are conservative when it comes to gay marriage but at the same time NO ONE is really talking about HOLDING on or strengthening traditional heterosexual marraiges in OUR community. Mental health is a severe crisis and with the lack of health care it compounds the problem. These are issues that affect our community daily.

HIV/AIDS is a worldwide pandemic but is highlighted in poor urban areas due to the lack of proper access to health care and EDUCATION.

Blacks support vouchers but if we cannot amend the State Constitution to have voucers or tax credits then we need to look at alternatives. Charter schools is an alternative but the way we discuss it in our communities is a disaster.

Democrats on the other hand are ONLY in control due to the unions ON THIS SIDE of I-69. Under liberal control we are living in a third world country. And what most liberals will not tell you is that Blacks are READY for the GOP to come into Detroit. The problem is this. We have to change our image, our message must be precise and we must be consistent with our outreach efforts to humanize our issues with those who need help.

This includes visiting with churches in the community you have targeted, going to Belle Isle, knocking on doors in OFF-ELECTION seasons, focus groups, civic education, financial literacy issues and relationship building.

Blacks support vouchers but if we cannot amend the State Constitution to have voucers or tax credits then we need to look at alternatives. Charter schools is an alternative but the way we discuss it in our communities is a disaster.

What's the right way to approach Charter schools?  I'm not even familiar with what's being presented poorly.

Democrats on the other hand are ONLY in control due to the unions ON THIS SIDE of I-69. Under liberal control we are living in a third world country. And what most liberals will not tell you is that Blacks are READY for the GOP to come into Detroit. The problem is this. We have to change our image, our message must be precise and we must be consistent with our outreach efforts to humanize our issues with those who need help.

And unions give money to the Democrats.  When Republicans struggle to find "stuffed shirts" to get on the ballot.  And in years like 2008 where money is hard to come by for any Republican, it's going to go to the 50/50 battleground districts.

The underlying problem is that Republicans in these areas are, in-fact, just recruited to fill a blank spot on a ballot.  I'll address the solution below.

This includes visiting with churches in the community you have targeted, going to Belle Isle, knocking on doors in OFF-ELECTION seasons, focus groups, civic education, financial literacy issues and relationship building.

This is why Michigan has "Precinct Delegates".  The most localized form of elected official.  The ultimate in grassroots support.  We have them in Detroit and plenty of other Dem-controlled districts.

The problem is that they are recruited and told they don't have to do anything.  Nobody has been providing training to these folks.  Who would know to call up a church?  What would you say to the church to come speak?  Heck, 85% of Michigan's Precinct Delegates do not have voter lists.  The other 15% only have the lists because they're also active candidates for higher office.

This means that your Vice-Chair position has to work closely - and perhaps kick - the others.  This means Grassroots, Coalitions, Youth, and Outreach and Ethnic vice chairs need to work together.  I can't say I'm familiar with any of them coming to Macomb or Oakland county in the past 2 years.

Yes, I think that regardless of how successful the Democrat Party is at swaying and sweeping voting blocs that can be separated along ethnic and skin-color distinctions it is not something that should be imitated. I just said that we should not imitate success.

I do not believe the Republican Party should be a Party for the Black People, or one especially serving the needs "of the African-Americans".

What we strongly lack is outreach to Urban areas, urban citizens, and the Republicans are so poor at reaching out to Urban Conservatives, most urban conservative voters vote for the Democrat candidate. There is a temptation to merely use "urban" as a password for "Black" which is fine if that is what someone wants to do. I won't do it. Yet going to Detroit in an attempt to reach out to people of one skin color is a transparent thrust at pandering and the larger problem is that for a number of reasons you will still see large chunks of white funk population, swept into that same culture, voting against their own interests and morals as they mark down straight ticket Democrat on the ballot.

We lack Urban outreach. Look at Lansing. Lansing votes overwhelmingly Democrat every time they have a chance. The two front-runners in every election for mayor are Democrats. I do not recall a Republican even making the attempt, let alone a Republican having the assets to make a serious attempt. Does Lansing have a population of Black and White folk? It obviously does and there obviously is a majority of one and a minority of the other. The voting constituency of Detroit is not reversed, with a dark-skinned majority and pale-skinned minority, it votes overwhelming Democrat as far back as I bother to remember! What the Republicans need to do is show up! The Republicans need to not merely place a token candidate (although if a viable candidate is not available, a token is necessary) but to wage a war to meet these people, and to make it clear that we are reaching out to all folk. When a member of the ethnic majority (or whatever term I should use) sees us reaching out to a member of the smaller group it has an impact and it communicates that they would matter to us if he was suddenly on the other end.

Voter Outreach should be a net, not a fishing line. Do not bait the hook for a certain type of catch! Sweep the seas.

Mind you, while I want the vote of everyone, the worst thing to do is to tailor our platform to please everyone! That is a different issue entirely. Absolute inclusion is a violation of definitive morality, a doctrinal stance, or even having a philosophy.