GOP Chairman Ed Gillespie, in his "infinite wisdom" (he said while rolling his eyes), is sending out three "leading" black Republicans to talk to business leaders around the nation.
This four-city trip is billed as an economic development tour, and is apparently geared toward minorities.
The problem -- and it's a big freakin' problem as I see it -- is that of the three blacks chosen, only one (Texas Insurance Commissioner Michael Williams) has any sort of credibility, and is the only one of the three that has the kind of political, business and social experience that the general public might even listen to.
The other two? Glad you asked.
The 2003 Miss America (that's right, a former beauty queen) Erika Harold and Don King.
You can close your mouth now.
Don King. As in "Only in America!"
As in the stick-your-finger-in-a-light-socket hairdo. And as in boxing promoter and heir to P.T. Barnum's salesmanship himself.
Gillespie is pushing this with a straight face.
With bullshit like this, is there any wonder that the GOP continues to play out of a hole when it comes to black America? Likewise, is there any wonder why many others (both black and white) find it hard to take black conservatives seriously?
You mean to tell me that the only viable black Republican voices that Ed Gillespie could find to talk to businessmen and women around the nation are Don King and the former Miss America?
This, truly is an insult to my intelligence, and to yours.
I just got another letter in the mail from the GOP begging for money. With crap like this, they'll be begging a long damn time before I throw good money away on 'em.
UPDATE (5/27, 9:30A): After sleeping on it, and talking to my wife (She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed), I've calmed down a little.
While I still think that this is a bad move, perhaps I should sit back and watch what happens. After all, the people who attend are at least going to listen to the trio's message. And quiet as it's kept, there are a lot of folks who would listen to a Don King sooner than a Michael King. They certainly wouldn't call Don King an "oreo," though they'd be quick to call me one.
We'll have to see.
Posted by mhking at May 27, 2004 12:08 AMOh dear.
But y'know, I was skeptical of Gillespie's pushing Herman Cain to run for the Senate -- until I started hearing what Cain had to say.
This, too, could surprise me.
Posted by: McGehee at May 27, 2004 08:06 AMWhile Don King is one that is hard to take seriously, the former Miss America is not. If I remeber correctly, she is going to Harvard Law School.
Posted by: CoachVelt at May 27, 2004 10:10 AMThanks, Mrs. Queen Boss Lady Numero Uno. Mike's lucky, 'cause I was fixin to show my feminine side. Yup.
With English Professor Dr. Huxtable correcting grammar at one end, along with Mega Street Cred Don King hittin' 'em from the other end, and King, Cobb, Barber & Co. - plus all of us in between, the blogheads - there might be some hope to reverse this disgusting trend.
Remember, and even I had forgotten the deeper meaning, that Daniel Patrick Moynihan pointed out this moral decay in the black family WAAAAY back in 1965!! And, needless to say, how we would pay dearly in years to come.
Now you know that if it was problematic then - to those that cared to SEE it - and growing, we have got to be close to going over the cliff now........no pun intended, Dr. Coz.
Drastic problems may, in this case, require a drastic solution. Sure, Don's a little sheisty, but he's very pro-America, and that could never hurt in Black America. He did the crime, did the time, and now look a Don.
Dare I say the black "Donald"? Never mind......I think I just went off the deep end with that dumbass remark.
Later!
Posted by: Beau at May 27, 2004 10:10 AMI feel you about Don King. However, you're wrong about Erika Harold. An airhead, she ain't. Erika has done extensive work around abstinence with the Illinois Family Institute, and has spoken at quite a few conservative venues (Eagle Forum, American Conservative Union) across the nation. She is a GOP convention delegate. Hell, she's been so vigilant that People for the American Way even has her on its "Right Wing Watch" list!
Given that it's blacks under 45 who are the ones increasingly likely to identify themselves as Republican or independent, putting her on the tour makes sense to me. I'd encourage you to please re-evaluate the snappy Harvard Law School lady.
Posted by: molotov at May 27, 2004 11:32 AMI'm hoping to hear Michael Williams speak at the Texas GOP Convention. I think he has much to say worth hearing.
Posted by: King of at May 27, 2004 11:40 AMDon King's probably the biggest name, and the other two do NOT sound like airheads, either. It might be a sad reflection on Americans, but they pay more attention to celebrities (Bennifer, anyone?) than they do do politicians.
Face it, maybe 1 out of 20 people in the country could identify J.C. Watts. 19 out of 20 could probably ID Don King.
Posted by: hchutch at May 27, 2004 11:56 AMSticks and stones can . . .
Why do you care what a bunch of welfare pimps say. If they agree with you, then worry.
Posted by: erp at May 27, 2004 03:38 PMWhat, black businessmen are all of a sudden "welfare pimps"?
How much starch DO you use on your sheets?
Posted by: mhking at May 27, 2004 04:15 PMDon King . . . yuuuuuccckkkk!!!!
Posted by: Lola Lee at May 29, 2004 10:52 AMDon King has a lot to say about business and is a very strong supporter of GW.
I don't see the problem.
Happy Halloween - love Trev.
Posted by: trev at November 1, 2004 11:50 AM