Much hay is being made about Biden's January visit with a Black single dad and his two sons in North Carolina. Biden stopped at Cook Out, a Southeast fast food joint that sells a variety of burgers and 40 milkshakes. Those mocking are incorrectly saying he bought fried chicken — they were chicken strips (or tenders) and Biden had himself a burger — or at least pretended to.

The mockery is legit, as it really is an awkward video that strives for authenticity and fails miserably. Eric Fitts and his sons Christian and Carter are perfectly stage-managed: Fitts is an award-winning educator, and both his sons are focused on their education and active in sports. This is not your typical Black family: Black male patriarch with two sons, allowing Biden to mirror experiences as a father of two sons. In fact, in the family's last interaction with Biden, Fitts asks Biden what advice he could give him on being a father. Epic cringe. With a son like Hunter, Biden's strategists should have thought better on that one.

But optics matter, so, no "Joe the Plumber" moments at all in this video. In fact, Biden used the family as a soft push on his governing agenda, especially student loan forgiveness. Fitts said he had substantial student loans that were "forgiven" by the Biden administration. This despite the Supreme Court ruling saying this was not in the president's purview.

Yesterday in North Carolina, I stopped by Eric’s house to have lunch with him and his two sons. I brought some Cook Out. They were an impressive family—Eric’s an award-winning educator and his sons are both athletic and academic all stars. We talked about the importance of… pic.twitter.com/UX9JMpWD4z

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 20, 2024

Eric had a lot of student debt forgiven, and he told me what a big deal it was for him and his boys. I go to work for families like Eric’s every day—hardworking folks who want to leave something behind for their kids. I loved the time I spent with them. Thanks Eric, for hosting me. Come by our place next time.

I doubt Fitts or his boys will take Biden up on the offer. 

But here's the problem with the mockery. This type of pandering works, especially since the Republican Party has failed miserably at Black outreach. With Bidenomics, the Border Crisis, and the illegal alien influx threatening urban neighborhoods, this election cycle, Black voters —especially Black men — are low-hanging fruit. Biden and his team are paying attention to the polls, and the coverage that the 98 percent Black vote Democrats usually enjoy may not be guaranteed. Republicans see the same polls and should be in the game but have done little to take the field. 

WATCH:

Note that the MSNBC crazies like "Morning Joe" aren't going to acknowledge that if Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. decides to exit the ballot (possible), former President Donald Trump could potentially get those votes. Of course, in the midst of all the downplaying is the Democrat strategy to ramp up the pandermonium because Black men in particular are eyeing Trump and eschewing Biden. Some, like Atlanta rapper and activist Killer Mike, haven't necessarily co-signed Trump but have refused to endorse Biden.

WATCH: 

Rapper Killer Mike refuses to be whipped into line by Bill Maher who thinks black people owe Biden an endorsement.
Just listen to his tone “But you can’t get yourself to say vote for Biden over Trump??” Democrats think they own black people. It’s sick pic.twitter.com/eDN2ohQUGT

— Melissa Tate (@TheRightMelissa) February 6, 2024

Other Black men are making their allegiance known, and it's to their pocketbook. Democrat Strategist James Carville famously coined, "It's the economy, stupid," in 1992, and it seems to be the mantra that fits 2024. Economically, Blacks did better under Trump than they are currently doing under Biden, so that is giving them pause about the person they will choose to vote for this cycle.

WATCH: 

BLACKS:
'With Trump, We Had Money’: What These Black Voters Told MSNBC Could Spell Bad News For Biden pic.twitter.com/wbjtPlLaUs

— The Dibster (@richarddibX) February 4, 2024

Along with the economy is the blatant disregard for minorities as their neighborhoods are being overtaken by illegal immigrants, and Democrats are making it known that these potential voters are the priority.

Democrat Senator Chris Murphy said the quiet part out loud on MSNBC on Wednesday night. Murphy told Chris Hayes the “strategy” on immigration “has failed to deliver for the people we care about most, the undocumented Americans that are in this country.”

There you have it. pic.twitter.com/okmZ07iyuS

— Jeffrey mehaffey (@JeffreyMeh96482) February 8, 2024

This is a golden opportunity that Republicans have not seen for decades. So, what are they doing to take advantage of it? Are they making plans to build community outreach and open community centers in urban neighborhoods?

According to the grassroots, not really.

DEAR Republicans & Conservatives, Blacks saying they're voting for Trump in 2024 does not mean they're voting Republican. You must get out & do outreach + engagement as much as possible in Black communities & urban centers. Strictly promoting Conservative/Republican values Don't…

— Marcus4Rochester (@Marcus4Roc) January 18, 2024

DEAR Republicans & Conservatives, Blacks saying they're voting for Trump in 2024 does not mean they're voting Republican. You must get out & do outreach + engagement as much as possible in Black communities & urban centers. Strictly promoting Conservative/Republican values Don't get creative, don't change messaging.

Sadly, this is the state of things, and with the shakeup occurring in the RNC leadership, it's hard to say whether there are plans to change this stance. The Republican National Convention is being held in Milwaukee, so they at least have a minority outreach center in the heart of this city.  

How much on Black Outreach. The GOP doesn’t spend money on Black Voter Outreach because they think it’s an exercise in futility, then complain when the Black vote decides elections in Democrats favor.

— Dr.Darrell Scott (@PastorDScott) February 4, 2024

Should Trump indeed be the Republican presidential nominee, it would be wise to revive his 2020 Platinum Plan, which gained widespread interest from Black voters, and even had critics like rapper and actor Ice Cube interested in having a seat at the table with the then-Trump administration. The difficult part? Removing the influencers who claim to be conservative and appear to want to push away a solid and potentially loyal voter group with foolish arguments over anthems, conflating DEI with any person or situation that involves Blacks, and supporting nonsense about dismantling the Civil Rights Act. 

Never in a million years have I saw people sell something so horribly.

The Republican Party is set up to win in November and the right thinks this is a smart time to alienate Black, female and youth voters.

I have never seen so many silly people who don't want to win.

— Mrs.Pinky 🇺🇸 Iconic Marriage Coach (@MRSpinkston85) February 13, 2024

Polling and man-on-the-street interviews indicate that Black men are a bloc the Democrats cannot afford to lose, and the Republicans need to show interest and effort in order to win. As we move closer to November, we will see which party grows a brain and actually produces verifiable policy and actionable engagement.