Is red the new black?

That's my man Charles Lollar in the pic. Charles is running as a republican to go to Congress from Maryland's 5th District. I don't know much about Charles, he seems like a nice enough guy. (Thank you for your service!) Although I wasn't pleased to read this:

"Chances of winning: Lollar, who recently solicited money from donors at a Maryland bar decorated with a Confederate flag, is fighting an uphill battle against House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer."

Not cool Charles, not cool.

Still, maybe I spoke too soon about that republican tent being too small. Seems that there is a profusion of black folks running as republicans this coming political season. -The most since reconstruction-And I, for one, am happy about it. I don't think that they are "delusional" as some would suggest. We need fresh ideas and a diversity of views to bring to the political table. Seems that there is no shortage of black folks willing to climb up on the back of the elephant. (Including some dude named Issac Hayes, a 26 year old who used to work for Newt, some candidates with tea party backing, my girl Angela and some cat named Vaughn Corrogan:

"After losing his middle-management job at US Airways following 9/11, Vaughn started a limousine company and a female clothing line, Vaughn Wear. He's also a deacon at his church."

Vaughn, you might have needed to sit this one out.

Anyway, of the 35 candidates named by the New York Times, I am guessing that maybe four or five of them have a legitimate shot at winning their primary. I think they will find that getting republicans in certain states to fork over money to the Negro candidate will be much easier to do in theory than in the real world. But we will see. And then, of course, there is the fact that many of them are political neophytes, so they were going to be behind the eight ball with the party machine in their various states to begin with.

What this all proves, of course, is that the political landscape is changing. Whether this "Motley Crew" represents a good change is left to be seen. Contrary to popular belief, black folks have shown that they will be willing to vote for the person who they perceive to have their best interest at heart. If that means voting for the white guy over the candidate who looks like they do, well then, so be it. Just ask Artur Davis in Alabama. He thought that being black and being a democrat was enough. It wasn't.

So if folks are picking up what these republican candidates are putting down it will be all good for them. But if they are not...well, see Artur Davis.

The other problem, of course, is that many of these candidates are running in republican primaries, so they have to speak to the interest of their constituents. And the last time I checked ...well let's just say that you aren't going to get any future first round NBA draft picks out of any of these districts. Tacking to the right and then tacking to the center is always tricky for politricksters. And for the black republican politrickster, it is even more so.

"President Barack Obama and San Francisco liberal Nancy Pelosi are implementing policies that are destroying our conservative Mississippi values. ... No one will defend and promote our conservative Mississippi values more vigorously."

I hear you Angela, but here is the paradox:

"Chances of winning: Though media savvy, McGlowan will have a tough time running against state Sen. Allan Nunnelee in the primary."

Nunnelee is a part of that conservative Mississippi machine with the old school values you so fervently embrace. The problem is, Angela, they don't embrace you.