The Democrats' Race Dilemma

As you know, I've been writing about RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman's minority outreach program since last fall. The focus of those articles have been on the GOP's effort to improve their image with the African-American community. Now we're seeing a possibility that Mehlman's efforts might pay off this November. Check out this Washington Times article:
Maryland U.S. Senate candidate Kweisi Mfume said yesterday that Democrats risk losing the senatorial election because "old-line party bosses" are undermining his campaign and alienating black voters. Mr. Mfume also would not say whether he would endorse Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, the front-runner for the Democratic Senate nomination, if he should lose to the lawmaker in the September primary. "I can say that there will be people who will feel disaffected [if I am not the nominee]," Mr. Mfume told editors and reporters at The Washington Times. "I've tried to resist the hypothetical question [about endorsing Mr. Cardin]," he said. "I have to stay in this mode that I'm going to win, but the day after the election, I'm sure I'll have an answer."
The Democratic Party has ignored the black community for a long time. In fact, Bob Ehrlich and Michael Steele owe much of their getting elected to Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend's not picking a black running mate. If the Democrats pick white Ben Cardin over former NAACP chief Kweisi Mfume, the message Maryland's African Americans will get is that Democrats like minority votes but they prefer white candidates. That'll stand as a stark contrast with the GOP wholeheartedly getting behind Michael Steele. For those thinking that the black voting monolith can't be broken, don't kid yourself. That monolith is crumbling. Gore Campaign Manager Donna Brazile has been warning the Democrats about it. There's been other articles written about that subject but the inevitable conclusion is that the monolith is crumbling.
Mr. Cardin, who leads Mr. Mfume by as many as 10 percentage points in some polls, has said he will not criticize Mr. Mfume. He also has said he will not court the black vote or craft a message to appeal to them specifically. "There are a lot of different ethnic communities in Maryland," Mr. Cardin told The Times recently. "We've found the same message is effective with all of them."
That has the ring of tone deafness, doesn't it?


Posted Tuesday, May 16, 2006 5:20 PM

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