This is my theory on this whole debacle regarding the Republican Party and Black votes.
Neither party really cares about Black votes, or Blacks. The difference is this. Many Democratic politicians will say whatever they think Blacks want to hear, and take their votes for granted. There are Republican politicians, on the other hand, who will either not reach out to Black voters, or make accusations of Blacks wanting free stuff.
If the Republican Party wants Black votes, stop bringing up the subject of "free stuff". Talk about improving the schools, making the neighborhoods safer, creating businesses and jobs, making the schools better, making sure rights are respected. Approaching Blacks as if they are a burden is no way to get Black votes.
Look at this article on how John Kasich did well among Blacks:
Bloomberg Politics
Now, Kasich just might blow it with this comment:
Kasich to black voters: Don't be a one-party group | The Columbus Dispatch
Talk about what you are going to do, not talk AT people.
Another take is this. There are politicians, and political strategists who talk about "get the White vote". Some people might look at it as "we can win without the Black vote". And it has worked. Former President Bush Jr got elected twice with very few Black votes. And it's worked more times than not, since 1980.
1980: Republican
1984: Republican
1988: Republican
1992: Democrat
1996: Democrat
2000: Republican
2004: Republican
2008: Democrat
2012: Democrat
I would also surmise this. Another theory as to why some Republicans might not reach out to Blacks(without talking down to them or making some other gaffe) is because of certain attitudes. There is probably a segment that looks at Blacks, not as votes, but as a burden. It might be looked at as "Blacks are 12.5% of the population, but half of the violent crime perps in America, lowest test scores, highest rate of imprisonment, highest rate of welfare use, highest out of wedlock birth rates, who needs their vote? Better yet,what good are Blacks as a whole?". If anything, there could be a candidate who could take all of those statistics, and use it to pit everyone against Blacks. I'm not saying
Now, I was only playing devil's advocate, and I was just noting a scenario that could exist. I'm not saying this will happen. It's merely a theory. Do I think this is a right way to look at people? No. If you want votes, you reach out to people, not talk down to them. There are Blacks who have conservative values. A large number of Blacks aren't for same sex marriage.
There is something else of note. The number of Blacks indentifying as Democrat has actually dropped since 2000. So has the number of Blacks identifying as Republican. Black identifying as Independent, however, has increased.
My point is this. The Black voting population is not really cared about by either part, in my opinion. One party ignores Blacks, the other party gives lip service but not enough results.
I also want to point something out. There are far more Blacks in the professional ranks, middle class, with college diplomas, and more Black millionaires and billionaires than in the times before the LBJ administration. Many people will try and point to Johnson as the demise of the Black population. This does not take into account the large numbers of middle class Blacks, professional Blacks, and the college educated Blacks, who do vote Democrat. It does not take into account that the largest segment of the unemployed Blacks are also among the underclass. The middle class has grown alot since the 1960s. Number of Blacks with a college education, with professional jobs, it has grown considerably since the 1960s.
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