Sept. 25--Taking a page from the wildly successful campaign of President Mitt Romney, struggling GOP candidate Jeb Bush has revealed his plan to win over black voters: Stop giving them "free stuff."
At a Thursday night campaign event in South Carolina, Bush was asked to look around at the mostly white crowd and explain how he is going to get black people to vote for him.
Bush said: "Our message is one of hope and aspiration. It isn't one of division and get in line and we'll take care of you with free stuff. Our message is one that is uplifting -- that says you can achieve earned success."
At a campaign event in 2012, Romney explained how he had been booed earlier in the day while speaking at the NAACP's national convention: "When I mentioned I am going to get rid of Obamacare they weren't happy. ... But I hope people understand this, your friends who like Obamacare, you remind them of this, if they want more stuff from government tell them to go vote for the other guy -- more free stuff."
Spoken like a true white guy who likes to point out that he has friends who are black.
Innocently suggesting that black people vote based on who gives them the most "free stuff" is a political tactic known as SIN. (Stereotype, Insult, Nod cluelessly.)
The free stuff in question is generally assumed to be government assistance. If I'm reading Bush's Thursday night comment correctly, all black people receive government assistance (and possibly untold other free things, who knows?) and are unaware that it's possible to "achieve earned success."
Of course I hope Bush lets white people in on the benefits of no free stuff, considering a majority of the those who participate in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are white. To be exact, 43 percent white, 33 percent black and 19 percent Hispanic, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Seems kind of racist to deny such a large swath of white voters the opportunity to achieve earned success.
Anyway, Bush has already laid out an economic plan that will help low-income people, regardless of race. According to the independent Tax Foundation, Bush's tax plan would boost the after-tax income of the bottom 30 percent of earners by anywhere from 1 percent to 1.8 percent! (The after-tax income of the top 1 percent of earners would jump 11.6 percent, but don't worry, I'm sure they'll use some of that money to give the bottom 30 percent free stuff.)
The big unanswered question here is: Exactly how much free stuff are black people getting?
To find out, I called up my black friend (every white guy gets at least one) Glenn Jeffers, a former colleague who now works in higher education.
Q: First off, we haven't seen each other in a while. Are you still a black man?
A: Yes, I am.
Q: OK. So how much free stuff have you gotten from the government?
A: I can't exactly say I've ever received anything.
Q: No way. There has to be something. Didn't Obama give you a free cellphone?
A: Nope. No. No. There was no cellphone. I wouldn't shy away from a charger, if he was to offer one.
Q: Are you lying to keep me from getting white guy free stuff? Cause that'd be pretty selfish.
A: No. I am not hiding any free stuff from you. I actually believe all white people are deserving of as much free stuff as we get.
Q: How uplifting is it to know there are politicians out there who believe black voters can achieve earned success?
A: It's a little grating, not to mention redundant. Most people earn success anyway. In order to get success, you have to earn it. I think in trying pander to his base and to really try to spark some life into his campaign, Jeb decided to go the easy way and rip the lower class by focusing on welfare and focusing on the fact that there are government programs that do help the downtrodden. The fact that he targeted black people specifically is particularly grating to me. It's a common Republican ploy that has no merit to it.
Ouch. I can say one thing for certain now: If Jeb Bush becomes president, my pal Glenn is DEFINITELY not getting any more free stuff.
rhuppke@tribpub.com
