The L.A. Times’ Mitchell Landsberg has a good article about the demographically challenged Republican party, and how their monochrome-itude was painfully obvious at their convention. The country as a whole is changing, and nonwhites will soon be a majority, and whites will be a minority, which clearly drives some people totally crazy.
Back in 2010, Rachel Maddow covered the fears and feelings of being threatened by that shift beautifully here: “Be afraid, white people! The black people are coming for you!”
Meantime, back in Tampa, an African American delegate from North Carolina named Phillip had this to say:
The day he arrived, Phillip said, “I walked out there, I looked around, and I couldn’t count any black folks.” [...]
According to unofficial figures compiled by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, blacks accounted for slightly more than 2% of the delegates at the convention. [...]
By contrast, the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., next week is expected to feature delegates who hew much closer to the demographics of the nation at large. [...]
Prime-time television audiences saw speeches by, among others, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is black, and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, the nation’s first Latina governor. But as the camera panned over the crowd, black and Latino faces were rare.
Yes, the GOP is great at creating illusions, on stage and off, but the “big tent” facade is as empty as so many of their slogans and promises.
Speaking of pandering:
Romney has spoken to minority groups, including the NAACP, and is about to announce formation of an African American support group. Until that happens, black visitors to his campaign website will find links for coalitions of Latino, Asian American and Polish American supporters, among others, but none for African Americans.
Just another empty chair.
Via Mother Jones
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