In Anne Keegan`s recent article on black Republicans, Jay Walker is quoted as saying, ”We`ve given the Great Society 30 years, and it isn`t working.”
The fact is, however, that the Great Society ran for four years more than 24 years ago. Since then, the Republicans have controlled the White House for 20 of the last 24 years, and not only have they effectively killed the Great Society, but they have also failed to introduce a program of their own to help the poor-many of whom are black.
Maybe when the Republicans stop attacking President Johnson`s proposal to help the poor and start offering programs of their own they will seriously contend for black support. But, then again, who needs black support when you can win white votes by attacking blacks via an attack on the Great Society?