October 30, 2007

GOP candidates blow off another minority forum

Last month, PBS hosted a Republican presidential candidates’ debate at historically black college in Baltimore — and all of the top four GOP candidates decided to skip it. This followed close on the heels of a Univision-hosted Republican debate in Miami on Latino issues — which was canceled when all but one candidate declined invitations. The National Council of La Raza asked Republican candidates to address its annual conference in July, but none showed up. The National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials extended similar invitations to the entire GOP field, but only Duncan Hunter agreed to attend.

Minority communities are beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, Republican presidential hopefuls aren’t exactly attentive to their concerns.

Given all the attention this has received, the field would be crazy to skip the Congressional Black Caucus Institute’s debate, right? Well, as Michael Roston explained, the incessant “scheduling difficulties” have reappeared.

In recent weeks, Republican presidential candidates have found time in their busy schedules to speak or debate before the Republican Jewish Coalition, “Value Voters,” conservative Floridians, even Wyoming Republicans, who hold virtually no sway in the primary race. They’ve also agreed to appear at the CNN/YouTube debate they at one point shunned.

But it appears that some GOP frontrunners are once again letting an opportunity to appear before African-American voters lapse…. The Congressional Black Caucus Institute announced in September that it had scheduled a debate for November 4 on Fox News for Republican presidential candidates. But a spokeswoman for the group confirmed to the Huffington Post that it has now been postponed, with no new date set. […]

Republican candidates have cited scheduling conflicts in resisting new proposed dates, [CBC Institute spokesperson Georgella Muirhead] said.

The Huffington Post contacted GOP campaigns, and Mitt Romney was the only top-tier Republican candidate who was even considering the CBC Institute’s event.

I’m reminded of a good quote from a month ago that continues to ring true.

“We sound like we don’t want immigration; we sound like we don’t want black people to vote for us,” said former congressman Jack Kemp (N.Y.), who was the GOP vice presidential nominee in 1996. “What are we going to do — meet in a country club in the suburbs one day?”

As for the stated excuses, even Newt Gingrich isn’t buying it: “It’s just fundamentally wrong. Any of them who give you that scheduling-conflict answer are disingenuous. That’s baloney.”

Keep in mind, Dems also skipped the debate co-sponsored by Fox News and the CBC Institute, but they had a fairly compelling reason — they didn’t want to legitimize a partisan outlet that exists to help the Republican Party. They didn’t need phony “scheduling problem” excuses; they were candid about their motivations.

People can debate whether the Dems’ strategy of avoiding the GOP’s network was wise — I believe it was — but multiple media figures lambasted the Democratic candidates for having the gall to boycott an event sponsored by partisans from the other side.

I long ago lost count of how many times major media personalities blasted the Dems over this, but Tim Russert’s slam on Fox News stands out.

Colmes said … he thinks Democrats have made a mistake not participating in a FOX News debate.

Russert then falsely suggested that Democrats were scared to participate, as opposed to refusing on principle. “It’s a TV show. If you can’t handle TV questions, how you gonna stand up to Iran and North Korea and the rest of the world?”

Jay Leno asked how Democrats could “stand up to terrorists when you’re afraid of Fox News?” Similar observers said the same thing over and over again for months.

It’d sure be nice if some of these same critics asked the questions now. To borrow the right’s parlance, if Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, and John McCain can’t withstand questions from the Congressional Black Caucus, how can they be trusted to stand up to terrorists?

 
Discussion

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21 Comments
1.
On October 30th, 2007 at 4:34 pm, Joe Klein's conscience said:

The Democrats need to consistently hammer the Rethugs on this.

2.
On October 30th, 2007 at 4:41 pm, JRS Jr said:

“They’ve also agreed to appear at the CNN/YouTube debate they at one point shunned”.

Perhaps they will also eventually appear at a minority sponsored debate that they as you say “have once shunned”.

3.
On October 30th, 2007 at 5:16 pm, ROTF said:

All that really matters to these guys right now is securing the base.
That’s what will win the nomination.

How do you secure the base?

Banging the Bible.
Slandering Hillbilly.
Rattling sabers.
Getting fervid about torturing terrorists.
Promising tax cuts to grow the economy.

And….
And….
And….

Appealing to the angry white males who make up much of the base by “dissing” minority sponsored events.

Showing up at one of these events is akin to putting a loaded gun in your mouth.
The base will gleefully pull the trigger.

So it really is a matter of form:
First secure the base.

Surely Newt knows this…

4.
On October 30th, 2007 at 5:29 pm, Swan said:

What I don’t understand is why a few minority individuals still think the right is ‘for’ them. Listen, there are some people in the world who are just not nice, and just because the Republican you know talks to you and gets along with you doesn’t mean anything– these people go around putting their ‘I am not a dick’ act on, and thinking that everyone they meet is a big sucker. It’s no wonder the racists always say that minorities are dumb, because the racists actually mean it- they are out there trying to pull stuff over on you.

5.
On October 30th, 2007 at 5:31 pm, Peter Venkman said:

One of my colleagues believes there could be a paranormal explanation behind the disappearances.

6.
On October 30th, 2007 at 5:40 pm, Peter Venkman said:

Specifically, we’ve had reports of candidates seen in the presence of a phantasm looking like this immediately before the blown-off forums were about to begin. Anyone who has an explanation, please shoot an e-mail my way.

7.
On October 30th, 2007 at 5:51 pm, Steve said:

***To borrow the right’s parlance, if Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, and John McCain can’t withstand questions from the Congressional Black Caucus, how can they be trusted to stand up to terrorists?***

I’ll be blunt.

Because—to Rudy, Mitt, Fred, and John—minorities ARE the terrorists.

Period.

8.
On October 30th, 2007 at 6:03 pm, Ku Klux Klan member said:

Well, I don’t see what in hell you’re all complaining about!!!

9.
On October 30th, 2007 at 6:37 pm, Swan said:

For the record, #8 was me, and I was just trying to make the point that Ku Klux Klan members would be happy about what the Republicans are doing here.

10.
On October 31st, 2007 at 8:44 am, JKap said:

Ron Paul is Highest-Polling Republican Among Black Voters

October 24, 2007

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA–Public opinion service Rasmussen Reports recently released data indicating that Texas congressman Ron Paul is the top Republican presidential candidate among African-American voters.

1200 individuals were polled and asked if they preferred Ron Paul to Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. 33 percent of Black voters chose Congressman Paul over Senator Clinton and 31 percent over Senator Obama. Rasmussen Reports polled voters on their preference for the other GOP contenders over Clinton and Obama, and all polled lower than Congressman Paul. John McCain was preferred over Clinton and Obama by 24 and 16 percent, and Mitt Romney by 20 and 27 percent, respectively. Rudy Giuliani was only preferred to Clinton by 15 percent, and to Obama by 17 percent.

Congressman Paul’s support among African-Americans is much higher than what Republicans have received in recent presidential elections. CNN’s 2004 presidential election exit polls show that Democrat John Kerry was preferred over George Bush by 88 percent.

[…]

I guess the racism card isn’t sticking to Ron Paul.

11.
On October 31st, 2007 at 12:06 pm, brian said:

CB

When posting about Republicans, you may want to watch using the terms like “Blow Off another Minority group.”

You may confuse people.

12.
On October 31st, 2007 at 2:24 pm, bohemian_grover said:

They’re all going to vote for Obama and they don’t have any money to contribute.

Politicians may be evil, but they’re not stupid.