Kaufmann: Thanks for that question. I am a history professor... so I appreciate the lead up to that question...and I know the crux of what you want to know (about) what we are doing now in the presidential election...but just to comment on what you said...out here in Iowa... we are very proud of Governor Kirkwood. He had actually served two terms...nonconsecutive...and he is generally regarded...if not our greatest Governor... he is definitely in the top five by far, so we’re very proud of that fact. The other thing that I would throw in there too, Gary...is another fact that we are proud of...that as a percent of our population...more young Iowans died during the Civil War fighting for the Union cause than any other state. This is...and not necessarily a Republican Party of Iowa platform... but it is Jeff Kaufmann’s strong, strong belief, and it’s one of the reasons why...quite frankly...I am so opposed to any association with the Confederate flag by the Republican Party of Iowa. I have spoken very, very loudly and forcefully (about that). Part of that is because of our abolitionist background, and for those young Iowans that are buried throughout this state and who were fighting for freedom...for the journey that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (fought)...and we are still fighting. In terms of sending a message... there are several things. First of all, I really believe...I would answer this threefold. First of all...and probably the most basic...and that is... study the message of what Donald Trump has done for the African American community. (But let me first share that) in terms of our candidates...we are very proud (of our candidates) in our legislative races. It could be a real battleground in the Iowa House (of Representatives) this year. In the Iowa Senate, Republicans are going to maintain a very strong majority... probably, we will even grow that. It could be a battleground in the Iowa House. We have some excellent candidates. I believe...and I don’t know this for sure...but I believe for the first time in my tenure here...and possibly ever...we have three ‘viable’ African American candidates. When I say viable, I don’t necessarily mean the nonviable candidates aren’t worthwhile, but they are in districts that would be almost impossible to win. We have an African American male running in Des Moines, two African American women running in Clinton and Dubuque. I would like to say they have been hot on the trail... they have been speaking in a wide variety of places outside of their district. I would also add that even though this question is pertaining to the African American outreach, we also will potentially have: 1) the first Latino Iowan that will serve as a Republican in the legislature; and 2)...and I believe that he doesn’t have an opponent... so I think I can say we will have the first Asian American legislator. So, the first point that I would make (regarding) African Americans is that we are running viable African American leaders for positions of power in our legislature. So, I want to make sure that I bring that up. Second of all, we have a committee... we split it up last year...we actually had the (Republican National Committee) out here on two or three different occasions...we have what was called a Minority Outreach Committee. Now...it isn’t just outreach to our African American community...it’s also for outreach in all of the minority communities... including Pacific Islanders, Latino Iowans, and Asian Iowans. It has been a committee where we have had multiple (interactions). Actually, one of the leaders in that group is one of our State Central Committee members, which is our governing board, and that is my boss, and he is actually a former State Senate Candidate. Another point that I would make is that we had a really unique situation...I’m sorry for the circumstances that led to it...because there was chaos after the shooting... but there is always some good that can come out of these tragedies...and I’ll tell you that to see our Governor working across the aisle with State Representative Ako Abdul- Samad (D), who is one of the leaders of the Democratic Legislative Black Caucus... and the two of them sat down on the last day of session, and they worked out a compromised Bill...and get this, Gary...it passed unanimously through all of the debates that were occurring. That will certainly be something that we will remind Iowans...that Republicans were a key part of. I personally did...last year...sit down with Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad on a college campus...no rules... opened up the door...no preordained questions...nothing...it’s just Ako and I. We used to serve together, and we are good friends. Politically we may disagree, but we held an hour and a half meeting on stability...on a college campus with no rules except for ‘come in and ask us whatever you want’. So that part of our outreach...I think I would say...is leading by example...and actually putting our money where our mouth is. On the other side of things...in terms of what Donald Trump has done...we need to get the message out over and over again. Some of it is repetition...in terms of the record low employment among the African American community. That’s something that not only unites African Americans, and all minority outreach, including Caucasian Iowans, but I think it also unites even branches...or commissions... within the Republican Party... between our Libertarians and our more established Republicans; and shortening mandatory minimum sentences for the nonviolent drug crimes...and 90% of those who’ve their sentences reduced...90% were Black Americans. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 37
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