September 19th, 2007
The top four Republican presidential candidates are in hot water with black and Hispanic voters (well, at least with the people who claim to speak for all of them; myself included):
The decision by four top Republican presidential candidates to skip a long-planned forum next week on African-American issues has renewed a debate over whether some GOP contenders are writing off many black voters, with some analysts suggesting the move could hurt the party’s chances in the 2008 general election.
The four candidates leading in most national polls – Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson – have said they have fund-raising or other scheduling conflicts and will not attend the nationally televised forum in Baltimore on Sept. 27. But even some leading Republicans questioned whether the candidates are interested in addressing issues of special concern to African-Americans.
I’m sure they are, but not on the terms defined by Tavis Smiley — where all the debate panelists are on the left, and most of the questioning will be based on “The Covenant With Black America”, a statement defined by its backers to be “a national plan of action to address the primary concerns of African Americans today — from health to housing, from crime to criminal justice, from education to economic parity.”
I’ve read the CWBA when it was announced last year, and most of it consists of proposals and goals based on leftist, collectivist thought. Most of the answers that would be forthcoming from GOP candidates (attendees and no-shows alike) would run counter to what CWBA is demanding, as conservative solutions are mostly rooted in individualism, and not collectivism.
However, I agree with Newt Gingrich, Michael Steele, and others who expressed grave disappointment at the top tier candidates declining to attend. Whether they had legitimate scheduling conflicts or just simply felt that participating in a heavily biased, agenda-driven forum would be a waste of their time is already being discussed, debated, or maligned by pundits everywhere.
Just as I took black Republican no-shows to the 2006 State of the Black Union (another CWBA themed event) to task, I’m doing the same for the Top 4 — especially Fred Thompson, whom I support for the presidential nomination: Show up anyway.
Yes, you’re damned if you do (and of course damned if you don’t), but you’ll earn a lot more respect from those who may not necessarily agree with you. Some may even open their minds and consider your plans and proposals for the future. And just maybe some of those who consider your arguments may come over to your side, lend you their support, and even cast a vote for you.
Well, at least such sincere efforts convinced me a few years ago.
I exhort the Top 4 (especially Thompson) with the following from last year: Hold your head high, present your case, and take the high road. If you’re drowned out by ad hominem attacks and epithets masquerading as “civil dialogue�, then shame on Tavis (and double-shame on the “open-minded�, “tolerant�, and “peace-loving� left-wing intellectuals). Don’t back down — and don’t get intimidated by the haters.
For the sake of political diversity among blacks, browns, and for all Americans who make up our republic, step up and represent.
Update: There’s a lively debate going on regarding the issue over at Booker Rising. Welcome Bookeristas!
Update #2: Cobb posts an open letter to FDT.
Update #3: The conversation continues at RedState.
Filed under Headlines, Politics | Comments (3)
Oops! DC, I sent you an email about this, but I had the wrong date. 9/27, instead of 9/21. Here’s the link….
D.C.
There is nothing to be gained by attending a debate at a HBC. Frankly speaking I would just as soon write off the Black vote and go for asians and Hispanics. And I think you are wrong when it come to earning respect. I don;t even think respect is the issue. The issue is votes and Republicans are not going to get them from the Black Community.
First I have to say how tired I am of hearing this discrimination card pulled at every corner. If I am not mistaken, did I not recently here that with the increase in Hispanic and African/American population, that actually Caucasian are not becoming the minority? If so, I would like to start now by noting that I do not see the white portion of the population demanding equal time, equal this, equal that……..we don’t give a flying blank what color we or you are. This is 2007………..let’s get on with it please. Maybe we should just line the entire world up against a wall and spray paint everybody GREEN!! Then what would you have to complain about?