Speaking for myself I don't like being part of the amen choir. If all I have to say is "LOL" or "you too funny" or "well said" I usually don't say anything. But, if I think I have something to contribute to the conversation, then I'll speak up.

Suzanne,

It's not going to take another 20 years before we see any changes. Changes are here now, and you can help speed up the change. Talk about Allen West , Tim Scott , and Jennifer Carroll (FL Lt. Governor) who won. Mention Ryan Frazier who came reasonably close. Don't forget that in 2012 we'll have another election. More black men and women will run as Republicans and more will win.

And don't forget to mention Nikki Haley (SC-Gov), Susana Martinez (NM-Gov), Marco Rubio (FL-Senate), and Brian Sandoval (NV-Gov)

I think a question that needs to be asked is: why does the Congressional Black Caucus go along with this. They have enough of a power base to reject this. How does one member getting a few extra perks help them? Why would Rangel (assuming he keeps his office), John Lewis, Jessie Jackson Jr., Sheila Jackson Lee want Jim Clayburn to get this made up position?

What's in it for them?

Exactly, now you're ready to be a political consultant. :-)
My recent post Social Security is a Ponzi Scheme

There's an awful lot of physical characteristics that people think influence the electorate (aside from race and gender). Some feel that taller candidates do better, those with a full head of hair, mustaches and beards are a no-no and of course weight. Just a few short years ago Al Gore had an "alpha male" consultant (of course no alpha male would want or need one) and going back a few more years some people blame the loss of Dukakis on his "tank commander" photos.

Consultants, and other sophisticates, place a lot of emphasis on how a candidate looks and talks. How else can we explain the losses of Adlai Stevenson to Dwight Eisenhower, or Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern to Nixon, or Jimmy Carter and Mondale to Ronald Reagan, or Al Gore and Kerry to George Bush?

I saw that, and if I remember correctly, he was backtracking from the "tingle" statement.

I suppose the question for Tim Scott and Allen West is: Do they want to join the CBC? Do they want to be gadflys there or do they consider it to be a waste of time?

If there are "secret" negotiations going on there, neither Scott nor West would be included.

Kevin, I'm having trouble posting again. I hope the site isn't reinfected.

But back to the comment -- there will come a point when there are enough black and latino advocates of the free market and small government that the existing narrative will collapse onto itself. (I love saying that as it annoys my inbred, progressive friends to no end.)

Don't worry Rick. If Allen West is who we think he is he will bring in many more candidates in 2012. How many Black and Latino representatives do we need to bring this BS to a close? I don't know. My guess is more than 2 and less than 20.

The Democratic Party will fight this to no end because if the Democratic Party cannot count on 90+% of the black vote they will become a permanent minority party.

Rick,

There is a critical mass (or tipping point) when new ideas take traction. This narrative that free markets and small government is racist has been going on for a long, long time. The same people that brought the racist unions brought you the concept that freedom is racist. I suppose that's because racism=inequality and social ism=equality therefore that which isn't social ist is racist.