I have been fascinated by today's visit by Donald Trump to Detroit and his address at a black church in that city. There are actually three parts to today's visit: a question and answer session with a black religious leader that will be broadcast on cable TV later this coming week; a short address to the members of the black church where the Q&A session is being filmed; and a visit to some of the worst hit neighborhoods of Detroit together with Dr. Ben Carson who grew up in the city. It's a great thing to see this all happen.
Let's start with Trump's outreach to black voters. Trump's basic pitch is that for the last fifty years, African Americans have voted in overwhelming numbers for Democrats, but that the Democrats have done nothing to help blacks in a meaningful way. Even after president Obama was elected as the first African American president, the Democrats have still basically ignored the black community. Compared to eight years ago, black employment is down, more people are on food stamps and other forms of welfare, median black real household income is lower, and educational achievement by blacks has declined. Trump says that the policies followed by Democrats have failed the African Americans and that it is time for them to change. He even points out that Hillary Clinton has called for resettling Syrian refugees in Detroit and helping those refugees with jobs, something she does not mention when it comes to blacks.
This is not a message and messenger that is going to suddenly sweep black America, but it does not have to. If Trump can get just 20% of the black vote, he will almost surely win the election easily. There are a great many voters who will not bother to listen to Trump, but there are more than enough with an open mind so as to make this effort well worth while.
Just imagine the incredible benefit to the USA if Trump were to be able to invigorate the black community and help its members increase their incomes and well-being. It would not only help African Americans; it would help everyone.
It's also interesting to see Trump in Detroit on Labor Day Weekend. For many decades, the Democrats started their presidential campaigns with big rallies in Detroit on Labor Day Weekend. Hillary, of course, is not coming. She's been hiding and raising cash for many weeks now. She really cannot go out in public much at the moment without being deluged with questions about her email and the Clinton Foundation and her health. On top of that, she clearly takes all minority voters for granted.
It will be interesting to see if this all has any effect on the polls in coming days.
Let's start with Trump's outreach to black voters. Trump's basic pitch is that for the last fifty years, African Americans have voted in overwhelming numbers for Democrats, but that the Democrats have done nothing to help blacks in a meaningful way. Even after president Obama was elected as the first African American president, the Democrats have still basically ignored the black community. Compared to eight years ago, black employment is down, more people are on food stamps and other forms of welfare, median black real household income is lower, and educational achievement by blacks has declined. Trump says that the policies followed by Democrats have failed the African Americans and that it is time for them to change. He even points out that Hillary Clinton has called for resettling Syrian refugees in Detroit and helping those refugees with jobs, something she does not mention when it comes to blacks.
This is not a message and messenger that is going to suddenly sweep black America, but it does not have to. If Trump can get just 20% of the black vote, he will almost surely win the election easily. There are a great many voters who will not bother to listen to Trump, but there are more than enough with an open mind so as to make this effort well worth while.
Just imagine the incredible benefit to the USA if Trump were to be able to invigorate the black community and help its members increase their incomes and well-being. It would not only help African Americans; it would help everyone.
It's also interesting to see Trump in Detroit on Labor Day Weekend. For many decades, the Democrats started their presidential campaigns with big rallies in Detroit on Labor Day Weekend. Hillary, of course, is not coming. She's been hiding and raising cash for many weeks now. She really cannot go out in public much at the moment without being deluged with questions about her email and the Clinton Foundation and her health. On top of that, she clearly takes all minority voters for granted.
It will be interesting to see if this all has any effect on the polls in coming days.
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