Newspaper Page Text
Republicans continues to
ignore black community
BRepublican National Committee spends
nearly $lO million with Latino media for
election campaign 2000.
By Raoul Dennis
NNPA News Service Managing Editor
WASHINGTON
(NNPA) The Republican Na
tional Committee will spend some
$lO million advertising dollars
with Hispanic media to attract
Hispanic voters in the 2000 presi
dential election campaign, while
its Black media budget is alleg
edly zero, the NNPA has learned.
“Thisisaphenomenal moment,”
said Leslie Sanchez, the RNC’s
deputy press secretary with His
panic media. “There hasn’t been
a financial commitment of this
typesincethe 1984 campaign. And
this is just the beginning.”
A moment not shared by Black
newspaper publishers, who when
interviewed said they were angry
that they — and, by extension,
their constituencies — were being
ignored.
“The Republican Party has ex
cluded the Black Press once again
by not going after our vote in
advertisements for election 2000,”
said Lecia Swain-Ross, publisher
and editor of The Oklahoma Ebony
Tribune.
Meanwhile, she said, “they al
ways take the opportunity to pro
mote Colin Powell and [Oklahoma
congressman] J.C. Watts as rea
sons why the African-American
community should respond to the
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[Republican] party today.
“Black voters should not be
fooled,” Swain-Ross said. “If the
party really wanted AA voters in
the year 2000 they would spend
their resources to attract that
vote.”
Terry Jones, publisher and edi
tor of the Data News Weekly in
New Orleans, said the RNC’slack
ofinterestin attracting Black vot
ers is an insult.
“It’s a blatant disrespect to the
African-American community.
Even though we are not a strong
vote for Republicans, it’s a slap
because we are still a part of this
country,” Jones said.
The issue has not gone unno
ticed by Black Republicans. In an
April 6 letter to RNC chairman
Jim Nicholson, which was for
warded to the NNPA, Republican
political consultant Raynard Jack
son called on Nicholson to explain
the lack of balance in the RNC’s
strategy tolure and groom voters.
“The party has never (in recent
times) aired TV commercials tar
geting the Black community,”
wrote Jackson. “I havelistened to
allthe explanations asto why this
ishappening, butl am truly vexed
at this development ... Am I to
conclude that our party has once
again written off the Black vote?
If not, please help me to explain
what is going on to those who are
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ringing my phone off the hook.”
Denise Rolark-Barnes, editor
publisher of The Washington In
former, questioned the investment
of African-American talent within
the party and its commitment to
diversity.
“The Republican Party has not
extended an invitation to the Af
rican-American community,” she
said. “That casts a shadow over
those African Americans who are
there. It’s an embarrassment.
“It’s unfortunate that the Re
publicans feel that way that they
don’t want to diversify and reach
out to all Americans,” Rolark-
Barnessaid. “The Republicans are
clear that they are not for every
one, that they are exclusive and
for African Americans, we are
definitely not welcome.”
The publishersreaffirmed their
support for Hispanic media, say
ing they would not allow people of
color to be divided by the Repub
lican Party.
“Blacks and Latinos and mi
norities will always have a lot of
issues in common,” said Swain-
Ross. “If they think a few dollars
inthe Latino community will sepa
rate the minority segment from
their base issues, then they are
wasting their time and their
money.”
“I'hope they do get the money,”
she continued. “It’simportant that
all voters hear all sides.”
Said Jones: “We need to get to
gether with the Hispanic commu
nity and demand change across
the board.”
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