RAYNARD JACKSON
TOP BLACK REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT
BLASTS GOP FOR FALSE ERICA SMITH ADS
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
One of the top black Republican political consultants in Washington, D.C. has blasted his party, and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell specifically, for “playing the race card” in sponsoring campaign ads promoting Democratic senatorial candidate Erica Smith in the upcoming March 3rd North Carolina primary.
“Once again Republicans have proven that when the radical liberal Democrats call us a party of racists, there is some merit to the charge,” an outraged Raynard Jackson wrote in his weekly column last week. “…they saw more value and votes with white Southern Democrats, Dixiecrats, than with the Black community.”
Jackson, the president /CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, was blasting recent reports that the Faith and Power PAC [political action committee), a PAC that has been confirmed to be connected to The Senate Leadership Fund, which is a super PAC controlled by Sen. McConnell, reportedly spent $2.4 million to purchase political advertising promoting state Sen. Erica Smith in her primary race against frontrunner Cal Cunningham in next week’s Democratic senatorial primary.
The winner of that primary goes on to face Republican incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis in the Nov. 3rd general election.
The scheme, apparently, wasto either push Smith to win the primary, thus setting up what Republicans perceive to be a week candidate for Tillis to face, or force Cunningham to spend money against Smith, thus depleting his campaign warchest against Tillis.
The ads also sought to label both Smith and Cunningham as early supporters of national front-running Democratic Socialist presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders. Neither has endorsed Sanders.
Raynard Jackson apparently was displeased that McConnell’s super PAC would set up a “throw away “ PAC to spend $2.4 million to set up a “radical liberal” black female Democrat to fail, instead of spend that amount with his company “…to cultivate relationships in the black community.”
“…in their minds, its easier and more cost effective to inject race into an election and further divide a state and country, versus taking their conservative message directly to the Black community and ask them to support their candidate.” Jackson wrote.
“Do you know how much good I could have done with this money to help our Republican candidate in North Carolina?'
“Blacks account for over 21% of the population in North Carolina and the party and Tillis has little to no meaningful relationship with the Black community,” Raynard Jackson continued. “If Tillis loses his race, more than likely, Trump will lose the state also; thus, making it almost impossible for Trump to be reelection as president. So, in many ways, Trump and Tillis are tied at the hip.”
“Blacks account for over 21% of the population in North Carolina and the party and Tillis has little to no meaningful relationship with the Black community,” Raynard Jackson continued. “If Tillis loses his race, more than likely, Trump will lose the state also; thus, making it almost impossible for Trump to be reelection as president. So, in many ways, Trump and Tillis are tied at the hip.”
Jackson then rhetorically asks the central question many democrat and progressive activists asks when it comes to Republican well-documented attempts to undermine the black vote.
“ff they really believe in a conservative message that can cure the ills of liberalism that has been directed towards the Black community, when will they take their message to the marketplace of ideas within the Black community?,” he asked.
Jackson then urges McConnell “… not only apologize for injecting the worse of racial politics into this election; but [he] should make an affirmative commitment to work with Black operatives to engage with the Black community in senate races across the country and cease and desist from the racial politics that should be in our past.”
He goes on two suggest that McConnell’s action may have cost Tillis his senate seat in November, because outraged black voters will be sure to line up against Tillis.
For his part, Tillis’ campaign having anything to do with the McConnell super PAC plot.
Sen. Smith wants her supporters to understand that she is not working with Republicans to win the Democratic primary, and has denounced the Faith and Power PAC campaign ads.
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STATE NEWS BRIEFS
STATE PREPARING FOR CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
[RALEIGH] U.S. public health officials insist it is not a matter of if the deadly coronavirus will hit the United States, but when. Earlier this week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warned Americans to prepare for “a significant disruption” to their daily lives as more and more infections become evident. With cases showing up in Italy, Iran, and South Korea - well outside China, the virus’ place of known origin. Thus there are CDC health screenings at North Carolina major airports, and travelers are being checked for where out of the country they have been to ensure that they are not bring the virus back.
BLUE ENDORSES PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BLOOMBERG
[RALEIGH] A prominent black North Carolina Democrat has come out in support of Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg. State Senate minority Leader Dan Blue, along with state House Minority Leader Rep. Darren Jackson, came out with a joint statement this week, saying that Bloomberg was the best choice for president because , as a former mayor of New York, he’s dealt with difficult issues that are plaguing the nation now, before. The North Carolina primary is next Tuesday, March 3rd.
DURHAM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL PROBE RACISM CHARGE BY BLACK COUNTY MANAGER
[DURHAM] The black Durham County manager alleges that a white Durham County commissioner, has “an inherent bias” towards him and “people of color in general.” Manager Wendell M. Davis made the charge against Commissioner Heidi Carter in a Feb. 11th letter to the commission board. Davis alleges that Carter has used racist language in his presence. Commissioner Carter denied the allegation during a public meeting Monday. The board is now investigating.
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EARLY VOTING STATISTICS AS OF MONDAY
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
With One Stop Early Voting - Same Day Registration in North Carolina ending this Saturday, February 29th, and March 3rd Super Tuesday bring primary day across the state, all eyes are on the black vote, and any indication that it will be a deciding factor for Democrats.
Across the state, 21.50% (1,492, 940) of all registered voters are black; 51.87% (3, 601229) are female.
In North Carolina, 36.37% of registered voters are Democrats, 29.91% are Republican, and 33.06% are unaffiliated, according to NCSBE.
As of Monday, February 24th of this week, only 3.94% (273,393) of North Carolina’s 6,942,736 registered voters cast absentee ballots.
267,113 of those were One Stop Early voting ballots, according to the NC State Board of Elections (NCSBE).
123,678 of all absentee voters in the state (which includes early voters), were Democrat, while just 76,147 were Republican, and 73,139 were Unaffiliated.
Blacks have cast, thus far, 19.99% of the early votes cast; females 52.24%.
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OUR ENDORSEMENTS FOR MARCH 3RD PRIMARY DAY
On Tuesday, March 3rd, North Carolina will be one of fourteen Super Tuesday states holding primaries to determine party nominees for the November 3rd general elections.
Offices on the local, state and federal levels of government, from county commissioner, to governor, to president of the United States, will be on the ballot.
On Tuesday, when the polls open at 6:30 a.m., voters will NOT be required to show photo identification in order to legally cast their ballots.
Only registered voters in North Carolina will be allowed to vote on Tuesday, March 3rd.
ONE STOP - EARLY VOTING/SAME DAY REGISTRATION
For those voters who need to cast their ballots prior to Tuesday, March 3rd, you have until this Saturday, February 29th to early vote.
Today and Friday, polls open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m..
Saturday, polls open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 3 p.m.
Again, no photo ID is required.
OUR ENDORSEMENTS
We hope that all of our readers who are eligible to vote, do so in this crucial primary to chose nominees fo the Nov. 3rd general elections.
Here, for your consideration, are our recommendations for candidates who, upon careful inspection, deserve your support. They are all Democrats.
PRESIDENT - JOE BIDEN
There’s been a lot of drama this primary season, and a lot of it has involved former Vice President Joe Biden. But at the end of the day, Biden has the deep experience and leadership necessary to pull this nation out of the utter doldrums it’s in.
U.S. SENATE - ERICA SMITH
It is a true shame and disgrace that state Sen. Erica Smith’s run for the U.S. Senate to unseat the worthless Republican incumbent Sen. Them Tillis has been mired by GOP dirty tricks with fake advertising. That aside, Sen. Smith has shown during her time in the legislature a commitment and dedication to the people of the state, and the issues that confront them. Sen. Smith deserves your vote.
N.C. GOVERNOR - ROY COOPER
May not always agree with him, but gov. Roy Cooper ha proven to be a steady, thoughtful leader who required, fights for the people of this state. Compared to his weak Republican predecessor, Gov. Cooper is a breath of fresh air.
LT. GOV. - YVONNE LEWIS HOLLEY
Former state employee Yvonne Lewis Holley, isn’t interested in getting a new title. She’s interested in using the new title to doing the important work, like addressing the problem of food deserts in poor communities across the state. Her father was black television pioneer J.D. Lewis, so community service is in her blood. Holley deserves your vote. Honorable mention to Hoke County Commissioner Allen Thomas.
STATE AUDITOR - BETH WOOD
Incumbent State Auditor Beth Wood has been keeping a sharp eye on how efficiently state government is being run, and has saved the state millions. Keeping her on the job would be a wise decision.
NC SUPT. OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION - KEITH SUTTON
Those who know Keith Sutton, a wake County School Board member of many years, know him to be a man who fights hard for ALL children. Finding a better nominee for the state’s top education spot is not possible. Keith Sutton should be your man!
STATE TREASURER - RONNIE CHATTERJI
We’d never heard of Ronnie Chatterji before now, but once we looked into him, quite frankly, we were impressed. He was a senior economic advisor to President Barack Obama. He’s currently an economist an professor of business and public policy at Duke University. He is a member of Gov. Roy Cooper’s Entrepreneurial Council and NC First Commission. The son of two public school teachers, Ronnie was also once a teacher in Durham Public Schools. Oh…and his Twitter handle is #the NerdWeNeed. Ronnie is a breath of fresh air. He deserves your vote.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS -
JONATHAN BARFIELD, JR.
DON BETZ
LESLIE COHEN
If your neck is still loose from all the shaking back and forth you did after learning that our county commission board is seriously considering selling our county hospital, we understand. We couldn’t believe it either. And that’s why we need three public servants to serve who know the people they serve, respect the people, and maintain the respect they’ve earned always doing do. Barfield, Betz and Cohen deserve your support on Election Day!
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