SHOWING UP STILL THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN ABILITY TO WIN THE GAME. After all but John McCain declined invitations to participate in a Spanish-language debate, the GOP front-runners have now decided not to talk to black voters, either. McCain, Giuliani, and Romney had already opted out of the Sept. 27 debate at historically black Morgan State University in Baltimore, and yesterday Fred Thompson decided that he couldn't be bothered to show up, either. All cited other obligations for the evening.
The other five candidates have agreed to take part in the debate, but the fact that four of the Republican candidates don't think black voters are worth reserving a night for doesn't just look bad; it's bad politics for the GOP. And turning down two consecutive forums designed to talk to voters on the brown end of the spectrum is in exceptionally bad taste. Maybe black and Latino voters aren't the biggest contingent Republicans are hoping to pull in this year, but down the line (and not even that far down the line) these votes will be absolutely imperative to winning a presidency.
I can't put it any better than Cornel West did yesterday: "At this moment in American history, it is clear that either the Republican Party wisely embraces people of color, or it chooses to be a losing political party in the future."
--Kate Sheppard