How Is The Black Outreach Program Going For the Republican Party of Florida?

The Republican Party of Florida outreach to black voters is turning out to be a hysterical disaster. Deon Long is the head of the Florida Federation of Black Republicans. The RPF and FFBR co-sponsored a reception. For reasons not explained, one of Chairman Jim Greer's staffers rushed to the podium to pray the microphone from an "an expletive-shouting Long."

Long has problems with Greer's management style.

But Long said Greer is interfering with the federation's volunteer efforts. "They try to divide and conquer us if one group of Negroes isn't doing what you want them to do,'' he said.

Hang on a second. What black man in the 21 century still refers to his race as "Negroes"? The kind of man that curses into a microphone at the party's state convention.

Greer isn't much of a fan of Long.

"Since he became chairman, there's been a turbulent relationship,'' he said. "We have a right to ensure that groups that we charter are on the same page.''

It gets better. Long and Greer are going to meet to work out their differences. This should be entertaining. Just don't expect Greer to devote much time to making up with Long. Black Democrats outnumber black Republicans 15 to 1. Florida has 16 African-American Republican clubs. Greer told the Orlando Sentinel:

"I'm hoping we can resolve our differences," Greer said. "But the party does have a very specific direction we want to go. I'm sorry Mr. Long doesn't agree with all of what we're doing."

Florida Republicans aren't going to win or considerably shave off the black vote. Greer knows this, but has to deal with Long's attacks because the GOP doesn't want to be viewed as the party that bashes blacks, Hispanics, women, and gays. If they really wanted more minority voters that would stop running variations of the Southern strategy every campaign cycle. Otherwise, this is nothing more than PR marketing.