SPEAKING OF MINORITIES, THERE IS another story today that would seem to bolster the notion that, more and more, they are taking a close look at the Republican Party. Otto Banks, a Democrat in predominantly Democratic Harrisburg, recently made the switch.
Like everyone else on the all-black city council, Mr. Banks was a Democrat -- that is, until this March when he announced he had become disenchanted and was joining the Republicans.
But there was much more going on here than just another local official making a party switch. Mr. Banks, an articulate Pennsylvania State University graduate, is a political star whose desertion was supported by some other city council Democrats.
Banks' switch has not gone unnoticed by the GOP, who sent Ken Mehlman himself to Harrisburg to help Banks raise money. A dinner for that express purpose, had the distinct look of diversity that Howard Dean would be proud of.
Last Friday's breakfast fund-raiser was not your typical all-white, country club Republican event. The crowd of 60 or so, who contributed $22,000 to Mr. Banks' campaign, included many of Mr. Banks' black supporters, including prominent clergymen and businesspeople.
It has long been a whisper in the wind that the black community was disenchanted with the Democratic Party, especially on issues like gay marriage, school vouchers and the war. Banks, who worked for Kerry during the last campaign, liked what he heard...from the other side.
...after the campaign "(I) took some time off and really started to do some soul-searching. I realized that many of the ownership and economic opportunity issues I stood behind were actually part of the president's program."
He (Banks) is, for example, for school choice programs. He likes the idea of workers investing some payroll contributions and building a nest egg they can own and leave to their families.
This news comes on the heels of another story yesterday about a major shake-up at the AFL-CIO. Apparently members think leadership has gotten too patisan and wants to reduce it's contributions to the Democratic Party. Any guess where that money would be redirected?
The times they are a'changin'...
No comments:
Post a Comment