Romney campaign announces new 'Black Leadership Council' to be co-chaired by Allen West

[highplainsdem]

Source: CNN reporter on Twitter

This is just breaking on Twitter. The tweet below is from CNN's Jim Acosta:

https://twitter.com/jimacostacnn/status/243343890869006337

Jim Acosta
@jimacostacnn

Romney email announces "Black Leadership Council..." co-chaired by GOP Reps. Tim Scott and Allen West.

8:44 AM - 5 Sep 12

I'll add a link to a news story when one shows up.


From TPM:

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/romney-camp-announces-black-leadership-council

Mitt Romney's campaign on Wednesday announced its Black Leadership Council, chaired by Reps. Tim Scott and Allen West. The council will "help facilitate dialogue between Mitt Romney and respected leaders who provide unique expertise, experience and knowledge on a range of issues impacting black American communities," according to the campaign.

No link yet.

[Lucy Goosey]

1. Can you say too little, too late?

How about 'tokenism'? Can you say 'tokenism', Mitt?

Here's another one for you, Mittens: 0%. You're polling at 0% among African Americans.

Where is Crazy Alan Keyes these days? He'd fit right in.

[1GirlieGirl]

32. Oh god please not him

Don't even mention that wack job. He's Uncle Clarence Thomas without the extra help from Affirmative Action.

[goclark]

59. I want to laugh at the names

but it is so insane I can't believe it.

I'm an African American and it is way too little and way too late to get some
Clarence Thomas twins to fake it.

[NorthCarolina]

52. I was going to say the same thing.

Remember their knee-jerk reaction to Obama's election in 08 netted them Michael Steele as head of the RNC. Of course they woke up the next day and said WTF did we do, then worked to get rid of him during his entire tenure. This new black council is already doomed to failure within the ranks of the RNC.

[alp227]

82. HYPOCRISY TOO.

[alp227]

83. oh yeah the Alan Keyes who FAILED EPICALLY running for Senate in 2004 against Obama?

Got only 27% of the vote!!!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Illinois,_2004

also Keyes was INCREDIBLY RUDE to Obama by refusing to make a congratulatory phone call. When has a Democrat done the same thing after losing to a Republican?

[upaloopa]

2. More like an uncle Tom leadership conference

[bitchkitty]

3. LMAO!!!! n/t

[pscot]

30. Hilarity ensues

[fugop]

4. HA!

Is this part of the GOP attempt to steal the news cycle from the Democrats this week? This won't go well for them, methinks. I picture them being mocked mercilessly for this brazen attempt at the 11th hour to pretend they actually care about any demographic outside of rich white people (or rabid religious voters).

Good luck with that, GOP.

[hobbit709]

5. OK Scott and West are the Black part. Now where's the "Leadership" part?

[rocktivity]

17. DUzy candidate!

rocktivity

[lastlib]

6. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Is this from the Onion????

Gawd, this cracks me up--Allen West!! HAHAHA!! (Like putting Heinrich Himmler in charge of Jewish outreach!)

[classof56]

7. Good one!

I share your laughter!

[rocktivity]

18. Another one DUzy Candidate!

rocktivity

[Nancy Waterman]

24. Ditto!

My same reaction!

[sinkingfeeling]

8. I think Mitt has married the Tea Party craziness and can never get a divorce.

[goclark]

9. ditto

[xxqqqzme]

78. His second marriage?

n/t

[Raven]

10. I thought this was a joke. n/t

[magical thyme]

12. it is.

[highplainsdem]

14. It IS a joke, to most people. Just not one Romney realized he was making.

[magical thyme]

11. at long last, transparency from Romney

nice try, Mittens.

[april]

13. F him

[HERVEPA]

15. Allen West??? This can't be real, can it?

[catbyte]

16. LOL. Typical GOP putting a self-loathing person in charge of Black Leadership

And someone, like Cain, who gives absolutely no credit to the Civil Rights movement. They constantly shoot themselves in the foot. I am quite certain this will skyrocket Romney's poll numbers from 0% to .000001%.

[jsr]

19. How pathetic

[sa2968]

20. Romney's so desperate he's now resorting to comedy...

[olegramps]

21. Romney is going to attend the kickoff in Black Face makeup playing a banjo as Ryan signs "Mamie"

[AlbertCat]

61. as Ryan signs "Mamie"

You mean "Mammy"...

And they're singing "Camp Town Races" and tap dancing too.

"Gwine to run all night
Gwine to run all day
Bet my money on the Dressage Horse
Somebody bet on the bay!"

[olegramps]

76. Thanks, I hesitated but should have checked. MAMMY

[nanabugg]

22. Hope they don't forget to include Harold Ford. nt

[tomm2thumbs]

49. bwhahahah - w/theme song 'Who Let the Dogs Out?!!'

because that's how they like it

[mikeytherat]

23. Double Facepalm

mikey_the_rat

[Panasonic]

47. No mikeytherat.. this earns..

[oliverrams1]

25. I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF BUT

As a black person, it does not matter what type of council Romney puts together, his views are on the opposite end of what I am for. I live in Texas and have actually sent money to the challenger of Allen West in Florida because he is so disgusting to me.

[handmade34]

26. thanks for that...

[otohara]

27. Tone Def

WOW what a terrible idea.
Or should I say, another terrible idea from Willard.

[luvspeas]

28. Get back on your boat Mittens...

Just end this now, you are going to lose.

[highplainsdem]

29. AP, 8/29: West attacks media for not "calling out" Dems, "the most racist party" he's ever seen

Somehow this got overlooked on DU last week -- at least I can't find any posts about it.

From the AP via the Miami Herald:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/29/2974683/rep-west-democrats-are-most-racist.html

TAMPA, Fla. -- Congressman Allen West told a group of black Republicans gathered for the party's national convention Wednesday that Democrats are racist and the media doesn't call them on it.

West said Democrats have gotten away with attacking black conservatives. He then turned to the two reporters covering the event and said he had a challenge for them.

""Tell the story. You guys allow the other side to attack black conservatives, and you don't call them out," West said. "That's the most racist party I've ever seen in my life and you don't call them out."

-snip-

[jsr]

34. "The most racist party ever" vs. the GOP ticket of two white guys

LOL.

[AlbertCat]

65. Dems, "the most racist party" he's ever seen

Obviously, he's been blind since the 1860's.

[caveat_imperator]

66. Even West knows the reason the media doesn't call out the Dems is

because disagreeing with West's positions isn't racism no matter how much he want's everyone to see it that way.

I see this type of tactic with creationists on forums where the Theory of Evolution is discussed all the time; they act as if not accepting their "evidence/proof" against the ToE is exactly the same as a personal attack and cry about it while making actual personal attacks against their opponents.

[rocktivity]

68. Disagreeing with West's positions is commonly known as

sanity.


rocktivity

[EC]

31. Like Allen West

is a typical black man and can help Rmoney with knowledge on the issues impacting black American communities.

[SunSeeker]

33. Another Romney fail. nt

[Eugene]

36. Artur Davis named to Mitt Romney's Black Leadership Council

Source: Alabama Live

Artur Davis named to Mitt Romney's Black Leadership Council

Published: Wednesday, September 05, 2012, 8:56 AM Updated: Wednesday, September 05, 2012, 9:37 AM

By Mary Orndorff Troyan -- Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced this morning that former Birmingham congressman Artur Davis would be a member of his new Black Leadership Council.

Davis, who represented Alabama's 7th District for eight years as a Democrat, recently switched parties and endorsed Romney.

The council "will help facilitate dialogue between Mitt Romney and respected leaders who provide unique expertise, experience and knowledge on a range of issues impacting black American communities," according to the campaign announcement.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

The chairs of the national council are U.S. Reps. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Allen West of Florida, and Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://blog.al.com/sweethome/2012/09/artur_davis_named_to_mitt_romn.html

Also: Jennifer Carroll, Allen West lead Romney's "black leadership council" (Orlando Sentinel)

[beac]

37. Aw fer feck's sake, Mittens, just call it what it is:

The "See, see, I have BLACK friends!!" Council

Wonder what kind of "leaders" with "unique expertise" they will meet with? Is that Bell Curve guy still around??

I can't imagine any actual leaders in the AA community being willing participants in this farce.

[BenzoDia]

38. "Guys I don't get it. How do I talk to black people?" nt

[DallasNE]

39. I'm Sure Both Scott And West Represent Districts That Are Mostly White

So how does that give them credibility to speak to "issues impacting black American communities? With West it also gives new meaning to the term "respected leaders". This looks forced and awkward, to say the least.

[dhill926]

40. looking for Onion reference......

looking.....looking......

[russspeakeasy]

71. I did the same thing... alan west ? He's fuckin crazy...

[Javaman]

41. And the panic begins. nt

[elleng]

42. That's just about right for them, crazy Allen West!

I suspect the smart African American republicans (there may be SOME???) recognize what WE do, about that fool. Not quite a leader, a flame-thrower more like KKK than anything else.

[olddad56]

43. I didn't think Romney knew two black men.

[ehrnst]

45. The only ones he knows are self hating racists - who know their 'place." (nt)

[ehrnst]

44. That's up there with putting Palin on the ticket

to show that they aren't sexist.

[ehrnst]

46. They'll stop him from asking Black people he meets to bring him some Postum. (nt)

[tomm2thumbs]

48. coordinated by a former ex-Gay movement director no doubt?

that would be appropriate... I mean until they are sighted in a bar

[Roy Rolling]

50. Got the spam email

The email asks, "do you support Allen West?"

So I clicked "NO".

The next page says, "are you sure? Allen West is pretty rad"

"Rad"? As in radical wingnut?

[formercia]

51. BINOs

and only human in form, not substance.

[Walk away]

53. Headed by Alan West? Is this a council for people who hate themselves?

I never thought of self haters as a voting block but I guess if you throw in the Log Cabins and Republican women you have a stadium full!

[kestrel91316]

54. He just now noticed that 0% of American blacks plan to vote for him?

[bucolic_frolic]

55. Quick, Gotta Grab My WayBack Machine

I'm surprised he didn't call it the Negro Leadership Council

We could all think it was 1955

Or 1925

What is alarming is he actually thinks this is a good idea, one that
will solve his disconnect with the black community

This is like Clarence Thomas appointed to negotiate with Planned
Parenthood

Or maybe it's just for consumption of the white GOP community?

It's Sooooooooo Back There

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

56. Republicans need to find a black gay woman who speaks Spanish

It doesn't matter that she thinks welfare is only for black abusers, doesn't believe in gay marriage, is anti-choice, or wants to deport 10 million people. Yup, every problem is a marketing problem.

[valerief]

57. He'd do better with a tanned Adam West. nt

[Blue Belle]

58. After the announcement the response was....

:crickets:

[zonkers]

60. Ann Romney's reaction: "I love you Blacks!!!!"

[1GirlieGirl]

70. Some of my best servants are black!

[zonkers]

75. Bwahhahahah!!!!! Good one. We should take our act on the road!

[PossumSqueezins]

81. "I love you blacks!!!!....to use the bathroom next to the pantry!!!!"

Gotta love Ann.

[link:|

[SansACause]

62. He and Herman Cain.

Now THAT would be leadership!

[azurnoir]

63. lol

will Mittens and Ann serve fried chicken and watermelon at their luncheons? will La Shawn Barber be the secretary?

[1StrongBlackMan]

64. I read the OP Title ...

and audibly laughed.

As 1StrongBlackMan, I would tell the gop that it won't matter. While the Black community is far from monolithic, west's views shares a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very,very, very, very, very,very, very, very, very intersection of the larger Black community.

[SoapBox]

67. Can you say ...pandering???

Another RRmoney, WTF were you thinking moment.

[magic59]

72. I hope they all have their birth certificates in order.

[DeSwiss]

73. I didn't realize that Allen West.....

...knew any black people.

[flamingdem]

74. This must be a joke

there is NO other explanation !!!

[JI7]

77. he was probably impressed with what West did with the Chick Fila and the CBC

[Tom Ripley]

79. BLC? BFD.

[PossumSqueezins]

80. Needless to say, West was SHOCKED by the appointment

He pulled Mitt aside and asked "Don't you think it would be better if you found someone BLACK for this?"

[link:|

[KamaAina]

84. What? Michael Steele wasn't available?

[alp227]

85. Isn't he too liberal?

Plenty of places calling Steele "RINO", and Steele is pretty much persona non grata in his party once he praised Occupy Wall Street.

And on the Aug. 29 Thom Hartmann program he dissed Karl Rove. Definitely on the blacklist (no pun intended) of the GOP establishment.

[Lucy Goosey]

86. He's shown he is capable of criticizing Republicans

...so that won't happen.

[locks]

87. Romney's answer to Clint

Can't wait till he opens his mouth; poor Romney will wish he had picked a chair like Clint did instead of a chairman.

[Ian David]

88. OMFG: Mitt Romney’s New Black Leadership Council Chair: Allen West

Romney campaign tells Obama to 'rein in his supporters' on Nazi comments
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=219843


OMFG: Mitt Romney’s New Black Leadership Council Chair: Allen West

Just when you think that politics has reached an epic high in absurdity, something happens that makes you realize that there is simply no limit to how monumentally deranged things can get.

Last month an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll was released that showed Mitt Romney receiving 0% of the African-American vote. So what does Romney do to address that historic rejection? He chooses wackadoodle congressman Allen West of Florida to chair his Black Leadership Council. Yes, that’s Allen West who has said…

I believe there’s about 78 to 81 members of the Democrat Party who are members of the Communist Party.

If Joseph Goebbels was around, he’d be very proud of the Democrat Party.

President Obama seems determined to punish and wipe out economic success in this country, leveling tax weapons of mass destruction on all taxpayers.

Barack Obama is undeserving of the title Commander-in-Chief.

{Obama} can take {his message} to Europe, you can take it to the bottom of the sea, you can take it to the North Pole, but get the hell out of the United States of America.

You {Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz} are the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the US House of Representatives.

Mainstream media’s is no longer reporting the news, they are propagandizing [...] Goebbels is doing somersaults and back flips in his grave.

OK, so West is a paranoid, hateful, misogynist who is obsessed with Nazis and communists, but how does that affect his chairmanship of Romney’s Black Leadership Council? Well he is also a bitter opponent of the Congressional Black Caucus who he has disparaged as race-baiters. He diminishes the horrors of slavery by calling himself a runaway slave from the Democratic plantation. He has spoken out virulently against Muslims and immigrants and is hostile to multiculturalism.



More:
http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=7935

[Monk06]

89. I'm not going to put you in my cabinet but here's a nice little council you can play with

so you can pretend you matter to the party.