Opinion

Republicans driving in the wrong direction

I am constantly amazed by the lack of any meaningful, insightful post-election analysis on the various media outlets (radio, TV, newspapers). You would think that everyone is hanging out at the same places because all the analysis seems to be the same: "Republicans have to find a way to garner more of the Hispanic vote."

So, if I am to believe these so-called analysts, the black vote is irrelevant and non-existent. The black vote is rarely mentioned as being important to either party. Democratic analysts treat the black vote as just a given – blacks will vote Democratic. Therefore, there is no need to discuss them. In other words, they are taken for granted. On the Republican side, the black vote is simply ignored and considered a waste of time as I was told in no uncertain terms by some in the Mitt Romney camp.

This is what the so-called experts are missing: According to the Census Bureau, there are about 50 million Hispanics in the U.S. Approximately 12 million are believed to be in the country illegally. So, that leaves 38 million Hispanics who are Americans. Of the 38 million, approximately 40 percent are voting age population (VAP). Therefore there are about 15 million Hispanics that are eligible to vote.

Hispanics are approximately 16 percent of the nation's population, but only 10 percent of eligible voters. Even worse, only 7 percent vote. The Hispanic population of eligible voter is smaller than any other group (VAP). The VAP for Whites is more than 77 percent, for blacks 67 percent, and for Asians 52 percent.

Approximately 69 percent of black VAP and 58 percent of Hispanic VAP are registered to vote; there are more than 7 million people in each group of VAP who are not registered to vote. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, more than 25 million blacks were eligible to vote in November. For Whites, the figure was 152 million. Each group alone was larger than the Hispanic electorate.

As you know, Hispanics are an ethnic group, not a race. And they can self-identify as either black or white. Even in reaching out to Hispanics, some GOP handlers are ignoring the fact that there are black Hispanics

So, all the hype about the power of the Hispanic vote is just that – hype. But, the bigger message to the Republican Party is: Stop picking various demographic groups to be your flavor of the month. Go after all the votes in earnest. And while they are at it, pay more attention to the black vote. It's simple arithmetic.

When you understand the story of the Cadillac car, you will then understand the opportunity the Republican Party is in danger of blowing. If Republicans continue to have leadership that views the black vote as a waste of time, then the party will go down the path the Cadillac was on. What saved Cadillac was new leadership that busted down the door to the corporate suite and basically demanded a change in policy toward the black community. That change of policy saved Cadillac from extinction just as a change of policy can save for the Republican Party from walking down a similar path.

But who is that leader? Who is willing to kick the door down and demand a change in policy? Is it current party chairman, Reince Preibus? Is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie? Is it Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal? Or is it us? Is it that man in the mirror?

What are we black Republicans willing to do to force change upon our party? I have tried but I can't do it alone. Who is prepared to join me? Who is willing to stop looking for validation from whites within the party? Who is willing to forego being invited to "the Christmas party" just for the photo-op?

These questions will be answered by early next year. Time is not on the side of the Republican Party. The car is in the mechanic's shop; but what Republican mechanic (i.e. leader, consultant, or operative) can take a 20th century car and convert it into a 21st century Cadillac?

(Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a Washington, D.C.-based public relations/government affairs firm. He can be reached through via www.raynardjackson.com.)