The Mississippi Republican was about to lose his seat to a Teapot favorite, so he did the unthinkable and pandered to the black community, normally a strong Democratic voting block, and got them to write his name down on the ballot. Now that he’s won, these Democrats are wondering what exactly will Thad Cochran do for the black community in Mississippi.
Various members of the Congressional Black Caucus that represents a large section of this voting block are already speaking up.
“Absolutely we have expectations,’’ Rep Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), said in an interview.
“My hat is off to Sen. Cochran for being as desperate as he was, to actually go out and up front got out and ask for those votes,” said Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.). ” Those votes were delivered and I’m hopeful he will be responsible and responsive to the voters that pushed him over the top.”
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) agreed that Cochran has an opportunity to support the black community.
“What I hope happens is that he comes to the realization that African Americans are the reason I have this final six years and therefore I’m going to try and be more responsible than I have been,” Cleaver said.
Their sentiment was echoed around the capitol and in Mississippi following Cochran’s win over tea party favorite Chris McDaniel, fueled by surge in black voters in the Mississippi Delta. Turnout increased overall in Mississippi for the runoff, but counties that are majority black like Jefferson County saw voters came to the polls in record numbers.
But how realistic is it, to expect a Republican to do the right thing? Should these Democrats think that in today’s partisan atmosphere, a Republican would even consider policies that benefit the voters who put him in office? Especially when those voters are Democrats… and black?
These Democrats may be in for a rude awakening. They should have found out what Cochran and his party stood for and the polices he’ll more likely support, before casting their vote.
But then again, the alternative was a Teapot.
