Former House Speaker and presidential wannabe Newt Gingrich has built a lucrative empire based on his lofty ideas. During a Thursday address that he delivered at the Maryland GOP’s annual Red, White & Blue banquet, Gingrich opined on why and how his party can alienate African-Americans’ affection for President Obama and win their votes in 2012. He seems to think that younger Black voters are particularly ripe targets.

The key is jobs, Gingrich said, adding that he knows how to create them, TPM reports.

“No administration in modern times has failed younger Blacks more than the Obama administration,” Gingrich said, citing the 41 percent unemployment rate for African-American teens in May. “Think of the social catastrophe of 41 percent of a community not being able to find a job.”

His solution?

“We have to find the courage to walk into that neighborhood, to talk to that preacher, to visit that small business, to talk to that mother. And we have to have a convincing case that we actually know how to create jobs,” Gingrich advised. “The morning they believe that, you’re going to see margins in percents you’ve never dreamed of decide there’s a better future. It takes courage, it takes hard work, it takes discipline and it’s doable.”

Last week, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota) also said that Obama has failed minority communities in the area of jobs and said that the situation would improve if she were elected president.

It’s admirable of Bachmann and Gingrich to say they want to help improve the employment prospects of minorities. Their arguments might be more convincing if their party didn't appear to favor corporations and rich people over poorer, hard- or nonworking people of any race in this country.

(Photo: Brian Frank/Landov)