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Published: Mar. 22, 2005

Mehlman Is the Right Man for the Job
By Raynard Jackson, AOL BlackVoices columnist


Former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill once said, "To everyone there comes a time when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unqualified or unprepared for the moment that could be his finest hour."

Churchill's quote sums up the hope for the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, Ken Mehlman. At 38, Mehlman is without question an accomplished political operator with an impressive track record.

Don't be deceived by his youth; Mehlman has always been considered very partisan, but also very likable. He has shown an ability to forge coalitions with people he may not agree with on various issues. He can stay focused on the message and is also results-oriented. As campaign manager for Bush Cheney '04, Mehlman (along with Karl Rove) was instrumental in crafting and implementing Bush's reelection plans. It is this focus that will make him successful as new party chairman.

Mehlman took over as RNC chairman in 2005, and he came to the table with four goals in mind: Enact and articulate our reform agenda, deepen and broaden the GOP so we're growing our party, work to elect the best candidates in 2005, 2006 and 2008, and finally, institutionalize the grassroots focus.

With just a few months in office, the Harvard Law School graduate has made it a point to reach out to the black community.

He has been so aggressive that even Democrats are taking notice. Donna Brazille, former campaign manager for Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign, stated in a recent Roll Call Newspaper op-ed piece (on the Republican's push in the Black community), "[It] should be cause for alarm. It won't take much for the GOP to garner 12 percent to 15 percent of the black vote in future elections, as some blacks are starting to believe the community is not well-served when one party takes their votes for granted and the other party doesn't work to earn them. Once they [black voters] start listening to Republicans, some may even like what they hear… in many key states, including Ohio, Florida and Michigan, the GOP increased its percentage of the black vote by making a modest investment of resources, reaching out consistently to ministers."

While Mehlman's approach has received much media attention, the real test for him will be when the Republican party must weigh in on a racially sensitive issue. How will the RNC respond when there is an issue that is important to most in the black community (regardless of party) and not as important to the "white" community?

Take the issue of the use of sanctions in foreign policy. Republicans are split, while many blacks, Republicans and Democrats alike, support sanctions in the Sudan and want military intervention there. How will the Republican party translate this issue into a winning political issue within the black community?

Another hot button issue for black voters is how Haitian refugees are treated in this country. Blacks of both parties feel that Republicans have one policy for Haitians trying to enter the U.S. and a different policy for Cubans. The perception is that Republicans have no interest in Haiti (and by extension, people of color), but are "obsessed" with Cubans, more specifically, white ones.

The questions for the Republican Party continue: Who will be the entrepreneurs that can give partial credit for their success to their involvement in the Republican party? How will the party create increased opportunities for minority entrepreneurs within the government and private sectors (and not just quote statistics from the Small Business Administration)? Are they willing to break up the "good old boy" network? If the answer is yes, then Mehlman and the Bush administration will permanently realign the face of electoral politics for generations to come. "What a tragedy if this movement finds them unprepared or unqualified for the moment that could be their finest hour."


About the Author

Raynard Jackson is president and CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, Inc., a political consulting/government affairs firm in Washington, D.C. RJA provides strategic advice and counsel to elected officials (White House, Congress), corporations and entrepreneurs.

Published: March 22, 2005