GOP Fails To Recruit Minority Candidates

Politico: The Republican Party Is Fielding Only A Handful Of Minority Candidates For House, Senate And Gubernatorial Races

(The Politico)  This story was written by Jim VandeHei and Josh Kraushaar.

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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.

Republicans will have only one minority governor, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, an Indian-American, when the dust settles on the ’08 elections. Democrats have three minority governors and 43 African-American members of Congress, including one - Illinois Sen. Barack Obama - who is their likely presidential nominee. Democrats also have several challengers in winnable House races who are either black or Hispanic.

Despite having a Spanish-speaking “compassionate conservative” in the White House, Republicans’ diversity deficit seems to have only widened.

“In 1994, when I first ran, we had 14 African-American Republicans running for Congress. ... I was the only one that won that year, but we had 14, and we had some good candidates,” said former Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts, one of the party’s most recognized African-American voices. “I am grateful for what Ken Mehlman did when he was RNC chairman, but I knew that wouldn’t last - that was one person. I’ve never gotten the impression that it was institutionalized.”

So who’s to blame for this diversity deficit?

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.”

A former black GOP candidate who declined to be identified by name offered a slightly more charitable explanation. He said the party is so broke and distracted that wooing strong minority candidates is a luxury it simply cannot afford right now.

Congressional staffers contacted for reaction on this issue did not want to comment but were clearly uneasy with the party’s all-white slate of viable candidates.

In all fairness, Republicans have never been very good at attracting strong minority candidates, especially African-Americans. Only four black Republicans - Watts, former Massachusetts Sen. Edward Brooke, former Connecticut Rep. Gary Franks and the late Illinois Rep. Oscar Stanton De Priest - have been elected to Congress since Reconstruction.

The party has done slightly better with Cuban-Americans and Hispanics in recent years - Cuban-American Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida recently served as RNC chairman. But the GOP remains a white-dominated party elected overwhelmingly by white voters.

Another mitigating factor for the party is that this has been a terrible year overall for GOP recruitment, as exemplified in the 0-for-3 Republican streak in special elections in recent weeks. The dilemma is simple: Who wants to run when the Republican brand is so unpopular and money is so scarce?

Still, the recruitment failure is striking when you consider the recent history of the GOP on this issue. It was not long ago - 2005, to be precise - that Mehlman, then the RNC chairman, grabbed headlines with a major speech on diversity before the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

“Republicans are committed to inclusion,” he told the group’s national convention. “I’m here four years before the next presidential election asking for your help. Inclusion means you work together to recruit candidates, not surrogates to speak on their behalf.”

Mehlman was far from alone. President Bush dedicated significant time in the early years of his presidency to reaching out to African-Americans with countless speeches on education and faith-based initiatives directed at minority communities. He aggressively appointed prominent blacks to his Cabinet, including two secretaries of state: Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.

Bush sometimes broke into Spanish as he called for immigration laws providing illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship, a hot topic in Hispanic communities.

The efforts, of course, were designed to attract voters - not just candidates - into the GOP fold. And the moral of the story is that the party clearly failed.

Some party insiders point to 2006 as the specific proof that diversity efforts may sound great but are still impractical and electorally unrewarding for the GOP.

During that cycle, Mehlman and GOP leaders talked a number of attractive black candidates into running for important seats: Michael Steele of Maryland, for the Senate; and Lynn Swann of Pennsylvania and Ken Blackwell of Ohio, for governor.

Scores of stories were written about the Republicans’ new plan to win tough seats with well-funded minority candidates.

Then they all lost badly. The election results in their respective states showed that they hardly made any inroads - even in the heavily African-American parts of the states they were running in. Swann was later asked to run for the House, and he declined.

Suddenly, the argument for minority outreach seemed to lack the underpinning of any successful political strategy: the ability to produce more votes.

The exit polling data for House races in 2006 showed the depth of the GOP’s outreach crisis. Republican candidates won 11 percent of the black vote and 30 percent of the Hispanic vote.

However, Watts, for one, 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.”

[skyk-2009]

As someone who has supported Republican Canidates, being a Democrat, I have a suggestion to my republican friends. There is NO WAY this party attrack''s Minority People allied with Pat Robertson. You see THEY know what it''s like when these creatures become the Power behind the thrown. They may NOW wear a shirt and tie but rest assured they are still the same Hood and Sheet Crowd they''ve always been. I know! I was born and raised amoung them. NO MINORITY is going to go along with a Party that produces creatures like Larry Craig!! You give someone like James Dobson control over a low life like Craig and the damage they can and will do to our Constitution is beyond belief! When THIS nation watched the conduct of the Republican Party when Dobson wanted to be the spouse of the lady in Florida.... That is NOT what this nation is about!!

[b-easy63]

Get a clue. Blacks are not stupid. When a party has as part of their winning strategy (think Willie Horton or the recent election debacle in 2006 in Tenn) using the scare of blacks in office as a means to keep people from electing them--there is this strong sense that the party in question or at least a large part of the party''s base is racist. Given that, why would blacks or any other minority want to join forces with anyone who wants to use them for foot soldiers but who regard them as not good enough to run for office or be more than dutiful voters?

This is the reason that HRC is going to have fallout from her type of campaigning. What is ugly when the
GOP does it is still ugly when done by Democrats--and some of the racially divisive antics of Hillary will take a long time to heal the wounds and allay the suspicion of minorities. Using them as a political football, or pitting one race against another, is a good way to destroy their allegiance to the Dem Party. From what I have heard, many blacks are now disillusioned with the Dems due to Hillary''s antics and the response she has elicited from her supporters. (including racist remarks and an "us against them" mentality.

[briannorwood]

GOP = Grand Old Apartheid

[b-easy63]

As someone who has supported Republican Canidates, being a Democrat, I have a suggestion to my republican friends. There is NO WAY this party attrack''''s Minority People allied with Pat Robertson.
Posted by skyk at 10:50 AM : May 20, 2008

Pat Robertson has an amazing staff. Here in Kansas, if you need or want anything done that involves federal issues, his staff will assume the role of facilitator and get things done. THIS is one of the main reasons he is such a strong candidate here. And when Pat acts for his constituents, his staff do not ask what color that voter is, they just act to resolve issues that often ignore the little guy--in that way, Pat Robertson ROCKS. And so does his staff--normally I don''t support Republicans in higher office--but I would vote to keep him and his staff for KS in a heart beat. I''ll just have to keep pounding on him for those issues he supports that I am against.

[bluestardad]

STICK A FORK IN THE REPIGS

THEY ARE DONE!

TOP IT OFF WITH WAR CRIMES TRIALS AND SEE HOW IT SHAKES OUT!

AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!

[parrot123-2009]

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.

The article could have simply ended here too. Cheers!

[parrot123-2009]

Wow .......

[brittanicus-2009]

It really is sad that none of the presidential candidates, is truly working for the American people. Even Obama is going to sign into law, a giant Amnesty for the 12 to 30 million illegal immigrants squatting in America. Just a few adverse impacts of keep on bringing in cheap labor, whereas Arizona and other states that are combating the invasion, are seeing a economic comeback.
Illegal immigrants fleeing Arizona has brought economic prosperity!

A MUST READ...?

All law abiding citizens should read this, but not parasite employers
Read about the successful expedited economic impact of Illegal aliens fleeing Arizona

Overpopulation, congestion, urban sprawl, pollution, environmental damage, crime, diminishing resources, Diseases, lack of affordable housing, depressed wages, underground economic, fraudulent documents, identity theft, tax evasion, soaring crime rate, increased tax burdens, overcrowded schools, uneducated children, overcrowded prisons, inadequate health care, the balkanization of our communities and a large and growing population with loyalty to other Nations. Just read this disturbing revelation of costs, that our government skims from our paycheck to pay an illegal Paul. (www.eagleforum.org/sources)

http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/05/15/striking-changes-in-arizona-as-illegal-immigrants-flee-the-state/#comment-62672

( 202-224-3121 )Call your lawmaker.

[tonyd_31]

C''''mon GOP - this is your America. Surely you can find a bigotted, brain-dead, shelfish, greedy, war-mongering, oil company loving, environment-hating, don''''t care how many people get killed in Iraq millionaire black guy out there ssomeplace.


Posted by nokoolaid

Well said my friend. Good-bye and good riddance to these crazy, bigoted, selfish neocons. They might want to start buying those tickets to Canada now while we still have a week or two left in the low season. :)

[docadams3]

I like the idea of painting Karl Rove black. It would help show the Republican''s true colors. Look, they sold out for the Southern strategy. Now they have to live with it. They deserve what they wrought.

[undermyboot]

"The Rich, White, War-Profiteer Party". LMFAO

[wdrussell1]

That was a joke wasn''t it Brittanicus ?
mensnewsdaily, a site run by a bunch of wimpy little white boys.

[sgtrds-e4]

The republican politicians and their followers do everything in their power while in office to attack and marginalize minorities in this country to keep their southern base of bigots happy and then they wonder why none of them will vote for them? That''s like asking a black man to attend a Klan meeting AND leave a contribution! Why would he?

[obama8years]

Maybe instead of focusing on skin color, we should all focus on the individual, the character and morals.
Focusing on skin color only divides us more.

[david1737]

The GOP has shown a blatant disregard for working people in general. No I take that back. GOP Policy has displayed an overt hostility toward working people.

Whatever became of "trickle down?"

While in the past 30 years our economy has expanded the average working wage hasn''t, meanwhile the cost of living has gone through the roof.

Neocons typical response?

"The Democrat just wants something for nothing."

Reality check.

All working and recently laid off people have been feeling this crunch. I''m talking about Republicans, Democrats, independents. In other words this a problem which transcends political parties.

We can''t afford to continue with another four years of this, or even another year etc...

This must change!

[Syndicate]

It is interesting that this article focuses on Blacks. I think I saw Hispanic mentioned once and I never saw anything on Asians. Judging by McCains speech to the Cuban community in south Florida this morning I don''t think the Republicans have a minority problem. Given that McCain tried to pass a fair immigration bill that was opposed by Obama. I think the Hispanic vote will go to McCain. Probably why this article doesn''t include them.

[david1737]

Remember the American worker works harder, longer, and are among the most productive of all the industrialized nations, it''s only fair that we be compensated for it!

[david1737]

In the 1970''s the average CEO in the U.S. made 40 time the average working man/woman.

Now the average CEO is paid 400 times the same working man/woman.

We work very hard, the economy has expanded, we deserve to be compensated for our hard work.

It''s the American way!

[jack3213]

I agree CBScrash- theis paper is so biased you can puke. I only blog on it for entertainment.

[david1737]

I think the Hispanic vote will go to McCain. Probably why this article doesn''''t include them.

Posted by cbscrash07

You maybe right as McCain is know to be soft on immigration.

[jjp735i]

The bigger question is "Who is suprised"? Your not reporting anything people already did not know.

[libh8er]

The Bush administration has more minorities in it than Clinton''s had. The LAMEstream media would never run a story about that.....only that the GOP has trouble recruiting ''minority'' candidates (code for blacks.)

So what? Blacks make up about 16% of the US population. If they want to keep on voting for dems who keep throwing them under the bus, that''s their problem. They would just dumb down the GOP to dem levels....not that they need any help doing so.

[afmca]

I could never understand how any minority in America could vote Republican. Their base is openly hostile to anyone who is not white and hypocritically evangelical. McCain is sucking up to the few Miami Cubans that want to return to their sugar plantations and oppress the citizens for their own greed. Actually Repub policy over the last 8 years has strengthened Castro as all the other countries in the world ignore our boycott - America''s policy is meaningless. The rest of the Hispanic population has seen the hatred in the Republican border control slogans. Blacks see Republican tokenism for what it is - shallow. Now middle class whites are seeing the hostility that Republicans have for their economic plight - they have been fooled by meaningless social issues in the past, but this year if they concentrate on the economy and this country''s future, the will have to migrate to the Democratic candidates. The immorality and corruptness of Bush, Cheney, Rove etal is too much for even most of the Repub white base to ignore.

[davide73-2009]

Republicans and Democrats should be recruiting leaders for public office with good ideas and good communication skills, without reference to race, religion, or ethnic group. We need a color-bliind society, not one that celebrates diversity in the public square. As someone once said, the motto of America is e pluribus unum, but there is too much pluribus, and not enough unum!

[mcvet]

This is the stupidity which we have married ourselves to: Being a minority is more important than being good at the job one is hired to do.


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Posted by sincityq at 02:35 PM : May 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Yeah sure. Kinda skipped a few history classes didn''t you Sparky! The truth is that the base of the Republican Party is as racist as any group on the planet. Their Party heads in several states are or have been Klan. I mean come on!!

[mcvet]

So what? Blacks make up about 16% of the US population. If they want to keep on voting for dems who keep throwing them under the bus, that''''s their problem. They would just dumb down the GOP to dem levels....not that they need any help doing so.


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Posted by LibH8er at 02:33 PM : May 20, 2008
+ report abuse

Now you have to explain this Bigotry to me... I mean I have never read a more bigoted statement in MY life!! This Creature of the Swastika comes on here and says that blacks aren''t smart enough to stop voting for a Party that "Throw''s them under the Bus"? Just how stupid does a human have to be to continue to vote for that... he''s saying they just can''t learn and the FACT that the Democrat Party is the one the FIRST Black President is going to come form mean''s??? Where does this Nazi Slime come from?? UUUGGGHHHH Just makes you want to take a shower just reading his post!! Sieg Heil Bush

[tonyd_31]

No minority in his or her right mind would be attracted to a party whose base is the most racist in the civilized world. No suprise there at all. I am always baffled when I do see minorities that are in the GOP. I don''t even think women are really welcome in that Grand Old Party.

[mcvet]

I agree CBScrash- theis paper is so biased you can puke. I only blog on it for entertainment.


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Posted by jack3213 at 01:53 PM : May 20, 2008
+ report abuse

I gather you don''t like the free press? So tell us who should decide what is or isn''t printed? Should we have a Propaganda Ministry like the third Reich... oh maybe we could do it like the Klan... visit the "Offending" Publication after Dark with a burning cross? Right now YOU can read it or you don''t have too... If we allow people like this to have their way THEY will decided what you read and hear. A BIG SIEG HEIL to you Ditto Head!!

[tonyd_31]

Talk about throwing someone under the bus, you know what amazes me? The rednecks keep supporting the GOP through thick and thin but they don''t do anything to help them out of their circumstances. They are so backwards and hateful, they rather keep supporting the GOP instead of the DEMS because they rather suffer and keep living in their own miserable situations then to see some unfortunate soul get some much needed help.

[tonyd_31]

The GOP has shown a blatant disregard for working people in general. No I take that back. GOP Policy has displayed an overt hostility toward working people.

Posted by david1737

Very intelligent, true, and well put. Unless one is really wealthy and does not care about the plight of other people, the GOP is the party for them. That is why I can''t understand how trailer trash like Libh8ter and some of these other mountain (mud$hit) people who staunchly support them. The only thing I can come up with is that they are blinded by hate.

[irliberal]

What self-respecting minority would WANT to be in the caucasian men''s party? (oh, and their subservient wives)

[vmcneal2]

This is the stupidity which we have married ourselves to: Being a minority is more important than being good at the job one is hired to do.




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Posted by sincityq at 02:35 PM : May 20, 2008


In the case of Bush/Cheney being White was more important than being good at the job they were hired to do.

[leftyintexas]

The Repugnants are now resorting to trying to find ''token'' minorities to ''front'' for them. Sad, but very funny. I wonder what Tom Delay is doing now-a- days....working for Orkin?

[stn_sage]

Let''s be blunt. The Republican party is the party of WHITES! Understand? Their wealthiest supporters don''t want minorities in the party. Period.

The Rep political leaders---every now and then---when they get enough criticism for not having any minorities in their party---they bring a couple into the party to quiet the criticism. But, they''re TOKENS!

Being a Black in the Republican party is something akin to being a Jew in the Nazi party! Not a particularly philosophical match. And not anything a sane person would willingly enter into!

But, they have bigger problems than worrying about getting minority candidates for 2008 elections! They should be concerned about how they''re going to convince the public to vote for them after 8-14 years of the most irresponsible, corrupt, perverted, and evil GOP rule in American political history!?

How are they going to avoid ''wipe-out'' losses in November''s election?

[neoconslayer]

MCVet: LibH8er isn''t worth your time, and jack3213 is his official scrotum polisher.

RICH WHITE MALES ARE, TECHNICALLY, A MINORITY...

[homespunlady]

Concerning your question about the GOP:

How are they going to avoid ''''wipe-out'''' losses in November''''s election?
Posted by stn_sage at 04:14 PM : May 20, 2008

The answer to that is "the usual"...Mudsling, LIE, RIG the voting procedures and if all else FAILS....
PURCHASE the Supreme Court!

[quetzalcrist]

I think if the GOP quit holding minority recruitment drives during cross burnings, it would certainly help.
im speaking symbolically of course,
when you show Bigotry, it shows throughout the party.

[homespunlady]

Under the Why category today is the following:

DOW DOWN 237 points for all those "PRO-PRIVATIZATION" advocates of Social Security.

The OIL BUBBLE is REALLY taking off with PROFITEERS pushing it to NEW HIGHS close to 130 per barrel and EVERY indicator that it WILL go MUCH HIGHER.

Bush''s "Mideast trip" where his PRIORITY was CAMPAIGNING and RENEWING OLD TIES to the HOMELAND of OSAMA BIN LADEN.

HALIBURTON/BLACKWATER - Nuf said.

and oh by the way, the GOP has MORE than the "minority vote" to worry about

- THEY started and now have about COMPLETELY LOST even the "redneck" vote around here.

AT OVER 4 dollars a gallon for the gas and DIESEL they need for their WORK MACHINERY and NOT EATING so well because of FOOD PRICES - BLIND LOYALTY only goes SO FAR!

DEPRESSION here we come!

[homespunlady]

Under the Golly Gee Sparky category:

AFTER we have SHIPPED overseas our INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY which will take DECADES to rebuild here if needed - the country we shipped it to MOST is having it''s OWN PROBLEMS.

Most of what I was reading on that earthquake kept MENTIONING FACTORIES that have COLLAPSED.

Then there is the REBUILDING there that will JUSTIFIABLY take PRIORITY over shipping things to the US at a "cheaper price".

Expect a "readjustment" of currencies and a WHOLE LOT LESS of cheap "imports".

All of which portends "unhappy" voters.

[david1737]

RICH WHITE MALES ARE, TECHNICALLY, A MINORITY...

Posted by neoconslayer

True.

The Republicans have and will continue to take care of "minorities." I''m talking about the haves and have mores.

[david1737]

In the case of Bush/Cheney being White was more important than being good at the job they were hired to do.


Posted by vmcneal2

Yes.

And Loyal over qualification.

Bush:

"Brownies doin'' a heck of a job."

[david1737]

n the case of Bush/Cheney being White was more important than being good at the job they were hired to do.


Posted by vmcneal2

Yes.

And Loyalty over qualification.

Bush:

"Brownies doin'' a heck of a job."

[likeitis5050]

GOP is SOL this election. Too little too late. McCain is just barely republican anyway..not enough to even waste the effort to go after...he acts like he can''t remember what a republican is half the time. Hillary needs the nod but Obama has already whined and dined his way into the nomination. So what if we don''t really know him. So what if he hasn''t proven any of the strengths he claims to have (plenty of weaknesses he hates to own, but hey...first black man...get out of the way)...no one is going to really care until it''s too late anyway. And the GOP can hang their heads in shame and maybe work on getting their acts together for 2012...fade to black on the GOP.

[likeitis5050]

GOP is SOL this election. Too little too late. McCain is just barely republican anyway..not enough to even waste the effort to go after...he acts like he can''t remember what a republican is half the time. Hillary needs the nod but Obama has already whined and dined his way into the nomination. So what if we don''t really know him. So what if he hasn''t proven any of the strengths he claims to have (plenty of weaknesses he hates to own, but hey...first black man...get out of the way)...no one is going to really care until it''s too late anyway. And the GOP can hang their heads in shame and maybe work on getting their acts together for 2012...fade to black on the GOP.

[stn_sage]

How are they going to avoid ''''''''wipe-out'''''''' losses in November''''''''s election?
Posted by stn_sage at 04:14 PM : May 20, 2008

The answer to that is "the usual"...Mudsling, LIE, RIG the voting procedures and if all else FAILS....
PURCHASE the Supreme Court!

Posted by homespunlady at 05:07 PM : May 20, 2008
---------------
My response: I''m afraid you''re probably correct about that! That would be my guess, too! Afterall, there''s 9 billion dollars from Iraq that''s missing---so there''s plenty of money to ''spread around''!

[jack3213]

Obama''s efforts to have the media and his political opposition turn away from his wife''s remarks certainly finds greater motivation in his need for people not to realize that she is an arrogant, anti-American racist than it does in chivalry.

The more we listen to her, the more we think of Jeremy Wright and wonder how Obama could have spent 20 years with the man, called him his intellectual mentor and yet not have picked up on, let alone agreed with, some of the most vile hatred masquerading as theology that you are likely to find in America today.

Michelle Obama is a window to all of that, so "chivalry" requires that we ignore her (except of course if you are a mesmerized Obamiac, in which case listen and send in more donations).

[antoniof123]

It is funny in 1994 we remoeved the Democrats for not listening but Bill Clinton listened and the US was never more prosprous in its history.

Now just a few short years later we said change and yet the neo cons told use they were the deciders. Now what would make these morons think that they were more important then their masters.

Neo cons in congress you are public servants the servants is tied to master / slave relationship. You do understand what happens to a bad slave don''t you!

[blkpresident]

Not sure if he would be interested but the GOP could consider reaching out to Dr. Bill Cosby, who seems to be a closet Republican anyway. Republicans couldn''t carry Obama''s briefcase.

The GOP's idea of "inclusion" is allowing a Mexican to cut their grass and manicure their lawns! Bunch of racist inbred knuckle-draggers who will never change (cause its in their DNA and their the "massa" race), even when faced with their own peril.

The more we listen to her, the more we think of Jeremy Wright and wonder how Obama could have spent 20 years with the man, called him his intellectual mentor and yet not have picked up on, let alone agreed with, some of the most vile hatred masquerading as theology that you are likely to find in America today.

Michelle Obama is a window to all of that, so "chivalry" requires that we ignore her (except of course if you are a mesmerized Obamiac, in which case listen and send in more donations).
Posted by jack3213 at 8:56 AM : May 21, 2008


...and therefore blacks and other minorities should listen to who, Fox News, Hannity, or your hero Rush??? Jeremy speaks something folks like you will never understand, the truth.

You probably still drive a Chevy, tell your kids that Christopher Columbus discovered America, believe that the Japanese attacked Peral Harobor for now apparent reason, Iraqies were behind 9/11, and send your kids to a college that only teaches them how to steal better by using new accounting methods.

The "massa" race has failed...you morons have ruined this country both here and abroad. You idiots are, and will be, irrelevant for quite some time so get over it and go spew your irrelevant views on a Nazi channel somewhere cause this ain't it!