G.O.P., Democrats in Its Sights, Is Grooming Black Candidates
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/01/politics/01repubs.html?ex=1277870400&en=b287e05e20effcc7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLARION, Pa. - Lynn Swann, the Hall of Fame former wide receiver for
the Pittsburgh Steelers, stood before a nearly all-white Republican
crowd at the Holiday Inn here recently and denounced Pennsylvania's
Democratic governor, Edward G. Rendell, for failing to reduce property
taxes. Then, without prompting, Mr. Swann suddenly turned the subject
to race - his own.
"I'm not here to be the poster child for the Republican Party, to say
they're being inclusive by running an African-American," said Mr. Swann,
54. "That's not why I'm here. I'm here to win."
Still, to many prominent Republicans, Mr. Swann, a commentator for
ABC Sports, is much more than a potentially strong contender for
governor in 2006. He is, they hope, part of a new crop of prominent
black candidates who could help the Republicans crack, if not break,
Democratic domination among black voters in several important states.
In Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, black Republicans -
all of whom have been groomed by the national party - are expected
to run for governor or the United States Senate next year. Several
other up-and-coming black Republicans are expected to run for lower
statewide offices in Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Vermont in 2006.
It is not clear that local Republican organizations will embrace all of
those candidates, and several face primaries. But national Republican
leaders have been enthusiastically showcasing those blacks' campaigns,
saying that whether those candidates win or lose, the party can still
gain if blacks believe that Republicans are seriously courting their votes.
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" the party can still gain if blacks believe that Republicans are
seriously courting their votes."
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
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