As the 2014 midterms approach, a new conservative political action committee (PAC) has just formed with an eye toward electing more black conservative candidates to public office.
Noting, “the lock that liberals have held on the black vote is slowly but surely breaking,” the PAC’s homepage states,
The Black Conservative Fund is committed to helping fund and elect black conservatives who are dedicated to spreading the message of true limited government and traditional values across our great land.
The PAC, which declares itself as, “first and foremost a CONSERVATIVE political action committee” [Emphasis Original], will be spending time during the lead-up to the 2014 midterms and beyond helping to “elect black conservatives at every level of government.”
First, from a conceptual standpoint, I feel the formation of the PAC is one that is absolutely necessary if the conservative movement is to expand into areas where it has traditionally had far too little political presence. If you are one who thinks the conservative movement is doing fine among black voters, consider that Barack Obama was elected in 2008 receiving 96% of the black vote, and was then promptly reelected in 2012 with 94% of the black vote.
The results conservatives have achieved over the years in black communities at the national level are nowhere near where they ought to be, and Black Conservatives Fund (BCF) aims to chip away at the problem.
Apart from the conceptual allure of BCF, recent events garnering attention in the national media illustrate the need for a conservative PAC with just this type of mission.
Yesterday, CNN host Don Lemon appeared on Laura Ingraham’s radio show to discuss race relations and political alignment among African-Americans.
“Many people think that African-Americans are monolithic and they speak with one voice and that there is one leader,” Lemon said after Ingraham cited black listeners who said they were tired of [Al] Sharpton’s words being treated as gospel. “Yeah, there are a lot of people who follow Al Sharpton, I have nothing against Al Sharpton, I have no beef with him, but I don’t agree with everything that comes out of Al Sharpton’s mouth and Al Sharpton is not my leader.”
Lemon continued,
I have a number of different leaders, some people I agree with who happen to be African-American, some people I agree with who happen to be white. And some people I agree with happen to be Democrat, some people I agree with happen to be Republican.
While the black community did vote uniformly in the last two presidential elections, I don’t think Lemon’s views are entirely unique, and they represent an opportunity for conservatives who are willing to seize it. The emergence of Black Conservatives Fund shows there are those among us who are prepared to do just that.
If you want to learn more about the PAC, the “About” section of their website is here.
You will probably quickly note that one of BCF’s early endorsements includes Mia B. Love, the Utah Congressional candidate we were firmly behind here at Legal Insurrection during the 2012 cycle, and one who we look forward to supporting this year as well.
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