There was some talk, early on in Bush’s first term, that the Republican Party really, truly intended to take minority outreach seriously. The chairman of the RNC appeared at an NAACP conference to apologize for the party’s past, and White House officials thought they could make a second term more likely if they could boost Republican numbers in the African-American community, even just a little.
But this talk hasn’t necessarily produced results.
Just a few years after the Republican Party launched a highly publicized diversity effort, the GOP is heading into the 2008 election without a single minority candidate with a plausible chance of winning a campaign for the House, the Senate or governor.
At a time when Democrats are poised to knock down a historic racial barrier with their presidential nominee, the GOP is fielding only a handful of minority candidates for Congress or statehouses — none of whom seem to have a prayer of victory.
At the start of the Bush years, the Republican National Committee — in tandem with the White House — vowed to usher in a new era of GOP minority outreach. As George W. Bush winds down his presidency, Republicans are now on the verge of going six — and probably more — years without an African-American governor, senator or House member.
That’s the longest such streak since the 1980s…. Despite having a Spanish-speaking “compassionate conservative” in the White House, Republicans’ diversity deficit seems to have only widened.
I’m not at all prepared to call Bush a “Spanish-speaking” president, but the broader point is still interesting. Despite some talk to the contrary, the overwhelmingly white party is staying that way.
Oliver Willis noted the circumstances that have contributed to these results: “Wanted: Racial minorities to stab your own people in the back, provide cover to destructive policies. Perks include a life long association with the party of Strom Thurmond, Trent Lott, and The Southern Strategy. Inquire Within.”
Now, in fairness, I should note that when I saw this article earlier, my first instinct was, “Of course there are no minority candidates running as Republicans. No one wants to run as a Republican right now, regardless of race.” There’s probably something to this, right? If the GOP is having trouble recruiting candidates, it stands to reason that it’s going to have even more trouble recruiting minority candidates, given the Republicans’ history.
That said, the lack of effort is pretty obvious.
Jack Kemp, the former Republican congressman and vice presidential nominee, says the culprit is clear: a “pitiful” recruitment effort by his party. “I don’t see much of an outreach,” he said. “I don’t see much of a reason to run.” […]
[Former Rep. J.C. Watts, an Oklahoma Republican] rejects the argument that Republicans can’t compete for minority votes or successfully recruit minority candidates. He argues that the party simply hasn’t tried hard enough.
“Unless you have an infrastructure to build off of, it’s all throwing mud at the wall and hoping that some of it sticks,” said Watts. “There’s an entire infrastructure that needs to be thought through, and it seems to me no one is interested in building that.”
Sticking up for the party, I noticed one conservative blogger (via memeorandum) who argued, among other things, that the Politico article “fails to mention the 1994 banner year for blacks running for office on for [sic] the GOP.”
That’s true, I suppose, but 1994 was 14 years ago. The fact that the GOP went from having a “banner year” for minority candidates when the party was strong to having an abysmal year now that the party is weak doesn’t exactly help make the Republicans look better.
No Trackbacks To “Republicans again produce a very white slate“
I posted this over at HuffPo, and since I wrote it, I thought it beared repeating. :-)
This post is a rather unfair generalization of the GOP. To be honest, the party base contains many minorities. Why, the Republicans have welcomed Norwegians, Swiss and yes, even the Finnish into their “big tent.” You may even find Austrians, and the rare Bavarian or like-minded Swede enjoying the welcome embrace of the diversity focused GOP next to their minority brethren of both Anglos and Saxons, holding hands in a rainbow of colors like Ivory, Bone, Pearl and Eggshell.
I’m not at all prepared to call Bush an “English-speaking” president, either.
The GOP hasn’t been a good party for minorities since the 1960s. And historically, power in the US from the 1780s onward has been concentrated in a white male elite. That, unfortunately, hasn’t changed enough yet.
Republicans think that minorities don’t vote for Republican candidates because minorities are too stupid. Honestly - that’s what their arguments always boil down to.
the republican party panders to only one minority. that would be the old, mega-rich, white guy club.
JayDog @ 1:
What, no Ecru?
I’m not at all prepared to call Bush an “English-speaking” president, either.
Darnit Slaw, you beat me to it!
Republicans’ idea of a minority is someone their second cousin marries that makes less than $100,000 a year.
Spanish speaking? Good God. Bush knows several phrases in Spanish. Here they are:
1. Where can I get a hooker and some blow (learned while serving in Tijuana in the air national guard).
2. Please, Jose, can you clean out the gutters after you mow the lawn.
3. Please don’t hurt me, I’m the president of the United States (just in case he’s in the wrong neighborhood).
4. Donde esta la casa de “budweiser”? (see Tijuana)
5. Trust me, my name is Arbusto.
6. Viva Bush!
That’s it. Seriously. I would translate them into Spanish but, like the president, I DON’T SPEAK SPANISH.
Slaw @ 2:
LOL! There’s our winner, folks. The post of the day!!!
In the art world, white is the absence of color…
If their demise continues at its current pace, the GOP wont consist of ANY people, black, white, or anything else in the very near future.
Ever since the neo-cons slipped Colin Powell the poison pill (in the shape of his UN WMD briefing) and negated his political asperations for at least a decade the only one they’ve got left is Condi - and seriously, she has absolutely *NOTHING* she can claim as an accomplishment from her 8 years at the public trough. Well, Keyes, I guess too if you really want to count him.
In terms of Hispanics I guess there’s good ol’ Alberto G, seems like with his troubles finding a real job he just might have to resort to running for public office.
Asians? Sorry, can’t think of a single one.
Oh right, there is that south asian governator from LA. Guess he’d qualify. Good thing they trotted him out a while back.
jollytyrant @ 9:
“Arbusto” ??
That sounds like an energy company a certain future US president would startup with a certain member of the Bin Laden Family.
I would guess.
http://www.informationclearing.....le3332.htm
I can’t wrap my head around minorities, homosexuals, or even women who proudly proclaim themselves republicans. Kind of reminds me of that scene in Blazing Saddles where the sheriff is dressed up in a KKK outfit to get into the rally then someone takes his hood off and he shouts ‘Where all the white women at?!?!?’
McCain yesterday and bush today, are courting Florida Cuban community.
Chico Hussein @ 15:
Arbusto is Spanish for bush. Or shrub. I prefer shrub.
Tekras @ 16:
Dave Chappelle’s ‘Black, blind KKK guy’ Funniest skit in TV history.
pissed off patricia @ 17:
What’s their message….We want to throw all illegal immigrants out of the country, not even consider amnesty…but this doesn’t apply to you or your relatives?
Funny how the southern Democrats used to be the party of racism. Once the southern democrats dropped their racism, the racists went nationwide by joining the Republicans. If Abraham Lincoln were alive, what party would he be in? Socialists? Green? Democrats???
Bush’s minoriy appointments during his presidency have been high-water marks of blatant hypocricy. Just like his “Texas roots” and his relationship with Jesus… it’s all for SHOW.
They pay illegal aliens little or nothing to do jobs that the average American won’t do. Then they berate that same group for being illegal aliens. They can’t have a real incentive or reason for bringing in minorities because their ideology won’t allow it. Any minority that is in the republican party has little or no power. This group of people believe that this country belongs to them and that they can do whatever they want.
emphasa @ 20:
Lincoln would have been in the Republican Party owing to its racist bent. Even the most moderate 19th Century white on blacks and Indian rights would make today’s far right look positively liberal. An equivalent figure to Ol’ Abe, OTOH, would definitely be Dem.
I don’t even think the New “Super Class” cares if the GOP wins. If it’s McCain we have a horrific mess and if it’s Obama trying to coordinate a soft landing for the diminution of US global power, or the catastrophic continuation of the current attempt to hang onto that power.
The Super Class won’t even care.
Fanon @ 6:
too dark. makes them nervous about their wallets. they are, however, more than welcome to park their cars.
hope to see a lot of you in the twin cities this fall. bars will be open to 4 a.m. in honor of family values, of course.
When Jeb Bush has a tan, he sort of looks Hispanic. Isn’t that good enough?
Dr. (Bitter Hussein) Matt @ 26:
His Customs-dodging wife Columba is Hispanic. Maybe that counts.
Can you even see white chalk on white slate?
emphasa @ 20:
Lincoln was an ardent racists (as were most white people at that time in American history). He though slavery was immoral and bad for the souls of whites, but he also though blacks were inherently inferior. So I don’t think Lincoln’s views would be too out of touch with today’s republican party … except the corporate wing which thinks slavery is A-OK.
Bud @ 11:
In the political world, the Republicans are absent of colored people.
Jon Stewart got it right
http://www.crooksandliars.com/.....n-stewart/
Republicans - Doughy, White, Happy
Rusty Shackleford @ 27:
Jeb has 2 children with Columba who are not only officially ‘Hispanic’, they also , gasp .. LOOK Hispanic !!!!!
In fact Poppy Bush (HW) once referred to them as ‘brownies’ when he was pointing them out to Ronald Reagan at an airport. His OWN grandchildren !!!!
Mpls_Dem @ 25:
And the hookers will be complaining about Repubs being poor tippers.
kep306 @ 31:
Ever see Stephen Colbert when he was running for the nomination of BOTH parties but in SC only ?
He was filling out the GOP application and he broke out a huge, fat , white pen. For the Democratic application, he used a skinny, pink pen with a feather boa on it.
the guy’s a genius.
Chico Hussein @ 18:
And most poignant….
Chico Hussein @ 32:
In all fairness to George, Sr., he referred at least one time to his grandchildren as “the little brown ones”. Now, he said that with tongue firmly implanted in cheek. The media made a fuss over it for a day or so, and George Sr. had a press conference about it and basically told the press to back off. I believe the quote was, “I don’t want to see these children hurt”, and he was absolutely right.
Liberal AND Proud @ 33:
L&P….that’s only if David Vitter doesn’t make the trip….and leaves the Pampers fetish back in Louisiana…
If this was an African country and the right wing were all black conservatives it would suck for white conservatives. Being liberal or Democrat is the only party for people who believe in universal truths such as equality. The whole world would be better off without “conservatives” who wish to maintain the power and advantages of a particular ethnic group over others, thus the word implying “to conserve”. In the future when human beings are more enlightened by truth and science, there will be no “right” or “conserve” of politics any more.
Liberal AND Proud @ 35:
Perhaps, but the video seems to indicate that Sr. was not aware that he was being taped.
paddy boy @ 7:
Am bheil thu Eirenn?
Liberals back in hippy days, “Oh wow, look at the colors, the colors!
Republicans today, “Oh no, look out for the coloreds, the coloreds!
Tekras @ 16:
Tekras….that’s easy…they’re called self-haters…the GOP wouldn’t have a party without them….
The entire ‘movement’ of con-servatism was based on one thing and one thing only….’STOP’….at a time when change happens….its the one thing they are scared to death of….