Job Is Temporary
Demonstrating exactly how committed it is to diversity and outreach to the African American community, the RNC is hiring a deputy director of national engagement. The job is temporary.
Ayshia Connors “is expected to take a leave of absence from Georgia Rep. Rob Woodall’s office and begin at the RNC next Tuesday,” Darren Sands of BuzzFeed News reports Thursday. Connors will report to Ashley Bell, who appears to be the RNC’s Senior Strategist & National Director of African American Engagement.
“Under Chairman Priebus’ leadership, the RNC remains committed to engaging the African American community,” Telly Lovelace, RNC national director for urban media and Black field engagement told Buzzfeed. Lovelace was hired in April, “in the middle of a mass exodus of black staffers“ from the RNC, The Huffington Post had reported. “We are adding additional support staff in our final push to Election Day,” Lovelace noted.
But apparently not after Election Day, as Connors is only taking a leave of absence from her job in Congress.
Sands reports that while “many black Republicans see the hires of young up-and-coming conservatives like Connors as a positive step, many are frustrated that they remain mostly in the dark about about the strategic plans the staffers have worked over the course of the election that’s polarized black Republican leaders.”
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has alienated Black voters. At the end of August a PPP poll found Trump’s popularity with the African American community literally stood at 0%. His unfavorability ranked at 97%, and 3% were undecided.