Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Black voters don’t have to be bitten again. They may have had lots of hope the first time around for the Obama campaign. But there is a contingent of black voters who aren’t sold on the change President Obama is dishing out. National Black Chamber of Commerce president, Harry Alford is among them.

Health, education and economic parity are the greatest racial dividers that exist in our country. The past four years have only seen these gaps widen. Americans, especially black Americans, counted on President Obama to rescue the economy, tame the deficit and help create jobs, yet black unemployment remains at 13 percent nationally, there have been no new net jobs, black small business growth shrunk for the first time since the Reagan administration and each household’s share of government debt has reached $520,000 under this president.

Despite some media narratives, Alford’s remarks reflect what I’ve heard on more than one occasion from black moderates and Democrats that voted for Obama the first time but vow not to make the same mistake twice. Offering an alternative to failed liberal policies, “Day One, Part Two” is a video that highlights what a President Mitt Romney would do his first day in office. It includes repealing job-killing regulations. Regulations that are destroying small businesses and the American dream.

When the Obama campaign said he won’t take the black vote for granted - too late - he already has. Black businesses have been ignored and maligned by this president. Joblessness among black America is unprecedented. Even more compelling is the president’s ‘audacity’ in the face of a 40 percent unemployment rate in large urban communities. Suffice it to say, this is not the change anyone hoped for. At least one mainstream media outlet catering to an urban audience is beginning to take notice of what conservatives already have.

And that’s my two cents.

Civil Rights for Urban Schools

Choice is the chief issue among a majority of urban, black and Hispanic parents. Most want, in fact, demand options to ensure their kids aren’t trapped in failing schools. School choice is often referred to as ‘today’s civil rights issue’ for a reason - the government should never again stand in the schoolhouse door preventing disadvantaged children from gaining equitable access to an education.

Tuesday, former Education Secretary, Dr. Rod Paige was among those named to an education policy group by GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. As a former education reporter, I’ve met and interviewed Dr. Paige on a few occasions, while covering urban schools and reform efforts. He is a smart guy and solid pick. A distinguished educator, compassionate and committed to preserving what works in the classroom, Paige is already proving to be an asset.

Today, Gov. Romney outlined his reform efforts to leaders of the National Latino Coalition in Washington, D.C., which include:

• Expanding choice for low-income and special-needs students
• Instituting open-enrollment policies 
• Ensuring the money follows the child
• Keeping accountability in tact while reforming elements of No Child Left Behind to give states more flexibility
• Eliminating caps on charter and online schools
• Reinstating the DC Scholarship program - an extremely popular program eliminated by President Obama despite parental objections in the District
• Attracting, recruiting, rewarding talented teachers and doing away with bureaucratic certification requirements

The Daily Disses Black Voters

The “hype is gone” with black voters. The headline drew me in and validated what dispirited blacks, unimpressed with President Obama’s dismal economic record, have conveyed in interviews with me. The video clip above represents some of that sentiment. New numbers out of socially-conservative North Carolina and this article from The Daily further present a case in point. Problem is, the article fully misses the point. Rather than educate readers it fuels misconceptions about black conservatives and black voters in general.

The Daily does point to North Carolina’s abysmal 9.7 percent unemployment rate and that the number is a whopping 17 percent (actually 19 percent in 2011) for blacks who are “less fired up.” But that is where the credit ends and glaring omissions begin.

Let’s set aside for the moment that The Daily could have queried why Southern black Americans tend to be more conservative or examine why liberal policies are failing these communities. That may be expecting too much. Perhaps, at the least, a balanced bipartisan approach to how and why more black Americans have become unemployed and underemployed under this administration seems a likelier path to pursue. Instead, the article pivots from staggering, unprecedented numbers to why black voters need to turn out for President Obama yet again. As if to say, ‘yeah you’ve been beat up pretty badly but should go back for more of the same.’ No questions asked, no accountability. Just because.

It points out that blacks they’ve interviewed have…

“…worries that GOP contender Mitt Romney could defeat the country’s first black president.”

Even more remarkable is that not a single conservative black North Carolinian was interviewed for the story. No one quoted to challenge why black voters should think long and hard before they head back down the same path. Or why black Republicans happen to support Governor Romney.

What the article offers instead are interviews with black Democratic strategists who..

“…worry the [economic] recovery won’t arrive at the doors of black voters in time to get them to the polls.”

As well as…

“…one of those college-age black voters who helped sweep Obama into office.”

Also some Obama campaign organizers who are..

“…again tapping into traditional networks in black communities.”

And a quote by an Obama spokesperson calling presumptive GOP candidate, Mitt Romney’s policies..

“…a scheme.”

The article goes on to detail the Obamas’ visits to the state and describe their soaring, magical commencement speeches. No Romney campaign positions or alternative viewpoints. Not a single black Republican, moderate or conservative quote to counter the claims. Yet - by their own accounts - there are a lot of us in North Carolina.

If the so-called mainstream media doesn’t want to be accused of stumping for the Obama campaign, then stop stumping for the Obama campaign. Or at least recognize that inclusion cuts both ways.

And that’s my two cents.

The Bain assault is “nauseating.” WATCH this T2C clip to hear why Mitt Romney’s position reflects a majority of moderate and conservative Americans and distinguishes him from President Barack Obama when it comes to private equity.