Seeking a higher profile
African-American candidates want their due from GOP
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- In 2004, then-Lt. Gov. Michael Steele was the black prince of the Republican convention.
Although his prime time speech was overshadowed by Barack Obama's debut at the Democratic convention, Steele was a highly visible standard-bearer in a party that is often accused of doing too little to highlight black Republicans.
(AP)
But a lot has changed since 2004. Steele, now chairman of GOPAC, a political action group, was shuffled to a speaking slot at the convention in a yet undetermined time slot today.
Black Republicans who have always been as scarce as hen's teeth in the Republican Party are nearly invisible this time around.
There were only 36 black delegates at the convention this time around, which represents less than 2 percent of the total, according to a study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.
"The straight-up answer is the efforts [to reach out to African Americans] have been weak at best," Steele said during an interview after he spoke to members of the Illinois delegation on Tuesday.
"I think that is reflected in the percentage drop-off in those participating," he continued.
"Our challenge has to be to change that. We have to develop and recruit activist African American and minority representatives all across the country. We have to do better," he said.
That was an understatement.
Four of the five black Republicans who are seeking House seats this election cycle were forced to scramble for face time.
For that, they had to go to the Minneapolis Television Network, a not-for-profit public access station.
"These candidates have more press now than they have gotten in each of their respective districts," said Don Allen, general manager of the Independent Business News Network, and a declared conservative.
"The GOP does not support African-American candidates on any level," he said.
Antoine Members, a 29-year-old Cook County corrections officer who is running against Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), was among four candidates who were hoping they could have used the Republican convention to boost their profiles.
The other black Republican hopefuls were Dr. Deborah Honeycutt of Georgia, Eddie Adams Jr. of Florida and Barb Davis White of Minnesota.
"There's not been a lot of outreach by the Republicans," Members said. "I think they have been discouraged by the liberal media."
Members will face off against a civil rights icon and the only person who has beaten Obama in a political contest. He acknowledges that he hasn't gotten any tangible help from either state or national Republicans.
"They help me in the form of moral support," Members said.
Obviously, the Republican Party has been an even tougher sell to African Americans this campaign season, given Obama's historic performance. That doesn't mean Steele is ready to give it up.
"I am not going to sugarcoat this. This is a hard lesson that we need to get through our heads. This is not a start-and-stop process."