The Washington Post ran a story over the weekend (that was subsequently reprinted by Mississippi news outlets) entitled “Republicans face unexpected challenges in coastal South amid shrinking white vote.”
Before clicking on the link to read the story, I knew two things would be written of Mississippi: 1) the election night incident at Ole Miss would be referenced and 2) a correlation would be made where whites vote Republican and blacks vote Democrat.
Sure enough, I was spot on.
As suspected, the writer led with the “small melee” that “erupted at the University of Mississippi.”
And a few lines down he wrote, “Nearly nine of 10 of white voters in Mississippi, for instance, went for Republican nominee Mitt Romney this year, according to exit polls. About 96 percent of black voters in the state supported Obama.”
That was just too easy.
The politics of race continues to enamor liberals in America, using the division for their gain, even if their policies are the very root of the problem for many minorities.
Color often blinds better judgment.
I’ll admit, the GOP does have to hone their message in such a way that those focused on government support begin to understand that without more private sector jobs and more taxpayers the assistance will dry up. It is only through more people paying in that entitlements can continue, the national debt is decreased, and America is self sustaining once again.
This is not to say that we should continue the enormous assortment of free candy; there are indeed too many jars and too many hands out. Such a notion is merely a revelation that must be conveyed in a more relational way.
As the article notes, many black voters are concerned about the liberal stance on abortion and gay marriage, but ultimately it’s healthcare and student loans and entitlement talk that won the day.
This points to what I said just last week here on YP – social issues will not win the day for the GOP.
There’s an old saying that many of us learned in Sunday School that goes something like this – “They won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
This should be the essence of the GOP message here in Mississippi and across America. Make issues relevant. Get to know your neighbors – how they think, their concerns, their dreams and fears. Don’t shy away from the differences; embrace them.
Alan pointed to such here on YP dealing with the charter school push in Mississippi.
Until many can get past the spin and see how political decisions are truly affecting their lives on a personal level, the trend of voters – black and white – who blindly follow out of selfish motives will only continue to increase.
Magnolia Tribune
