Racist rants to behold

Kathy Miller did David Duke proud with her verbal lashings of blacks in America. Who is Duke? Only the most famous white supremacist in the country.

And while the comments cost Miller a prominent position in Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign in the Mahoning Valley, they undoubtedly endeared her to the legions of racists, homophobes, chauvinists and assorted anti’s who are supporting the misogynist billionaire from New York City.

Here’s what Miller, a former Boardman Township trustee, long-time Realtor and self-styled No. 1 supporter of Trump in this region, said that triggered a political tsumani Thursday:

“If you’re black and you haven’t been successful in the last 50 years, it’s your own fault. You’ve had every opportunity, it was given to you. You’ve had the same schools everybody else went to. You had benefits to go to college that white kids didn’t have. You had all the advantages and didn’t take advantage of it. It’s not our fault, certainly.”

Duke, the former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and an ardent Trump supporter, couldn’t have said it better.

But Miller had much more venom to spew when she was interviewed by reporters Paul Lewis and Tom Silverstone from The Guardian newspaper of Britain. In fact, the interview was videotaped and linked online to the story that was published Thursday.

Black voter turnout

In talking about black voter turnout, the since-resigned chairwoman of Trump’s campaign in Mahoning County suggested that the numbers are low because of culture.

“I don’t think that’s part of the way they’re raised,” she said. “For us, I mean that was something we all did in our families: we all voted.”

Oh, and there was the complimentary blistering critique of the first black president in the history of the United States, Barack Obama.

“I don’t think there was any racism until Obama got elected,” said the face of the Mahoning Valley that’s being beamed around the world. “We never had problems like this … Now, with the people with the guns, and shooting up neighborhoods, and not being responsible citizens, that’s a big change, and I think that’s the philosophy that Obama has perpetuated on America.”

Yup, in Miller’s world, the man occupying the White House doesn’t even deserve to be called by his rightful title “President.”

The way she sees it, President Obama is to blame for all the nation’s ills because of his “philosophy.”

The Guardian story under the headline “Ohio Trump campaign chair Kathy Miller says there was ‘no racism’ before Obama” would make for an ideal comedic skit on “Saturday Night Live” if it weren’t so disturbing – and sad.

It’s not hard to imagine readers of the online edition of the newspaper around the world judging the our region by the racist rants of this white female.

It doesn’t matter that she resigned as chairwoman of the Trump campaign in Mahoning County and as an elector for the presidential nominee. It also doesn’t matter that she has been replaced by a black woman, Tracey Winbush, radio talk show host and a member of the county board of elections – a paid position with benefits.

Incidentally, The Guardian reporters published a follow-up story that discussed Miller’s resignation and Winbush’s appointment. The story offers details of Winbush’s criticism of Trump during the primary election and how his racist outbursts affected her as a black woman.

Now, however, she’s not only a Trump disciple, but has forgiven his trespasses. In politics, expediency trumps principle.

So, what’s to be done? That’s up to the Democratic Party.

Mahoning County Chairman David Betras and other party operatives have been handed a political gift that will keep on giving if it’s handled properly.

Democrats should use Miller’s rants to force Republicans – from politicians to business leaders to the region’s movers and shakers – to take a stand.

For example, they should insist that Winbush, the new chairwoman of Trump’s campaign in Mahoning County, answer this question: Do you agree with Kathy Miller, a prominent Trump backer, who suggests that black Americans who haven’t been successful in the last 50 years are indolent and lack ambition?

It’s no secret Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is having a difficult time connecting with the black voters who were crucial to President Obama’s election in 2008 and re-election in 2012. The president and first lady Michelle Obama are campaigning for Clinton and are reaching out to their supporters.

But more is needed, and Kathy Miller, the Valley’s face of the Trump campaign, has provided the spark that could ignite the passions of black voters.

However, Democratic Party leaders like Betras in Mahoning County and Dan Polivka in Trumbull County must find a way of using the spark to Clinton’s benefit.