I'm sure everyone's heard about what happened, so there's no need to recap. Do you think this was a dumb move for the ****? Would you have liked to hear the candidates' positions? Do you think there is any potential for African-Americans in the Republican Party?
A couple weeks ago, Morgan State University hosted a televised debate for Republican presidential candidates. The top five contenders in the presidential race (Mitt Romney, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Tom Tancredo, and Fred Thompson) chose not to attend, although several less prominent candidates did attend and participate.There's been a lot of discussion on why this happened, and the message it's sending to the Black community.On one hand, it's an understandable political move for the ****. The top candidates are busy running in the primaries, and are focusing on their core supporters. MSU (and Maryland in general) is traditionally a Democratic stronghold and not likely to generate a lot of support. Taking a 2-3 day timeout from their campaigns to prepare and participate in this debate wouldn't be a good short-term investment, especially a televised debate in front of a relatively hostile audience.On the other hand, is it a long-term strategy mistake to give ammunition to **** critics who argue that the party isn't receptive to minorities? Seeing five empty podiums on stage is sending a clear message. There are many African-Americans who would be genuinely interested in hearing what the candidates have to say. The future of the Republican Party will eventually hinge upon crossover support from the Black and Hispanic middle class.Just wanted to toss this out for debate and discussion...
