Four Empty Lecterns
There is great symbolism in the four empty lecterns that “graced” last evening’s GOP “All American Forum” at Morgan State University. The debate, which was hosted by Tavis Smiley and broadcast by PBS, was announced last February. While the lower tier candidates found time to be there, those empty lecterns represented the four leading candidates for the GOP crown – Rudy Guilialini, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, and John McCain – and from the looks of things, its they who count. The absent candidates pleaded busy schedules, but it’s not as if they didn’t know about ahead of time. The debate was announced long before anyone started their campaigns, and besides, schedules can be amended.
So, what does it say to the nation when you must go fundraising (McCain was apparently delivering a foreign policy address) rather than face questions from a non-White panel and audience about issues that face the African American community? And this isn’t the first request that they’ve turned aside. Is this, then, not a policy of “divide and conquer”?
It really doesn’t matter whether the GOP nomination will be decided by its White base. It really doesn’t matter if the eventual winner heads off to minority communities once the nomination is secured. The symbolism remains in front of us and speaks volumes about the state of our nation and the role of race and gender in American politics. Leading figures within the Republican Party have dismissed people of color. They have even chosen to rebuff their fellow Black and Hispanic Republicans.
The question is: Will they be held accountable? Will the Republican Party, which adopted a “Southern Strategy” in late 1960s, be sent home in 2008? Will such a message be sent in such a way that never again will either party take people of color for granted? Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, one of the six who did show up, got it right.
So, what does it say to the nation when you must go fundraising (McCain was apparently delivering a foreign policy address) rather than face questions from a non-White panel and audience about issues that face the African American community? And this isn’t the first request that they’ve turned aside. Is this, then, not a policy of “divide and conquer”?
It really doesn’t matter whether the GOP nomination will be decided by its White base. It really doesn’t matter if the eventual winner heads off to minority communities once the nomination is secured. The symbolism remains in front of us and speaks volumes about the state of our nation and the role of race and gender in American politics. Leading figures within the Republican Party have dismissed people of color. They have even chosen to rebuff their fellow Black and Hispanic Republicans.
The question is: Will they be held accountable? Will the Republican Party, which adopted a “Southern Strategy” in late 1960s, be sent home in 2008? Will such a message be sent in such a way that never again will either party take people of color for granted? Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, one of the six who did show up, got it right.
“Frankly I’m embarrassed. I’m embarrassed for our party, and I’m embarrassed for those who did not come, because there’s long been a divide in this country, and it doesn’t get better when we don’t show up.”
So I ask the question again: Will the Republican Party be held accountable? If any of these four candidates who chose not to come becomes President it will send one message – only white people count. If that comes to pass, it will be a sad commentary on the state of our nation.
Cross published at Faithfully Liberal
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