Donald Trump is brave and bold and praiseworthy for daring to go try to talk to the blacks (as he calls them), says his campaign manager Kellyanne Conway:
“This entire conversation had to be had. Republican presidential nominees usually aren’t bold enough to go into communities of color and take the case right to them, and compete for all ears and compete for all votes. They’ve been afraid to do that. So, Mr. Trump deserves credit for at least taking the case directly to the people.”
First off, if Republican candidates did not do outreach to communities of color, we would never have had that Mitt Romney “Who let the dogs out” video. More substantively:
Every Republican presidential nominee since Nixon has made a direct overture to make their case to the community. They weren’t always greeted with enthusiasm, but black leaders and audiences nonetheless heard them out.
At the very least, nominees attended conventions of major gatherings of African American professionals or communities, such as the NAACP, National Urban League and National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). They also have gone to black religious organizations or talked to pastors.
By contrast, Trump has declined the invitation of the NAACP, National Urban League and NABJ to speak at their 2016 conventions.
But now, having declined those invitations, he’s going to speak at a carefully picked black church, so bold! Competing for all votes! Unafraid! Deserves credit!