ABSENT: Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, John McCain, Mitt Romney
PRESENT: Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Ron Paul, Tom Tancredo, Alan Keyes
What were they thinking? They say a picture is worth a thousand words and the four empty chairs on the podium of the Republicans' recent debate on Thursday, September 27th at Morgan State University spoke volumes. Regardless of the spin or the rationale (reported "scheduling conflicts" for each of them), those candidates obviously did not think it was worth their while to show up and there is no way to interpret that except that they didn't think it was important to reach out to these blocs of voters -- which is interesting, since the over 60, white male, southern voter is probably going to vote for one of them anyway and is a shrinking population. I'm not sure a candidate can win the national election anymore with over 60, while male, southern voters.
Mike Huckabee said he was "embarrassed for our party and I'm embarrassed for those who didn't come."
Sam Brownback said, "I think this is a disgrace that they are not here...a disgrace to our country...bad for our party...I don't think it's good for our future."
The general consensus is that after the primary, whoever the Republicans select will start moving towards the center and reaching out to these other voters. Good luck with that strategy. There are a lot of us around who will remind people of who was important, or not, to the candidate in September 2007.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. This is inexcusable. Even J.C. Watts (former Republican Congressman and himself and African-Ameican) blasted the GOP candidates for snubbing the debate. Good for Mike Huckabee and Sam Brownback for calling out the other presidential candidates.
And Republicans have the audacity to refer to themsleves as "the big tent party." Then why don't they look like the big tent party?
David S. at 4:25PM on Oct 1st 2007
2. There are too many debates of all sort and the candidates need to get out to the public and answer everyones question not just a few inside a hall.And what the heck other candidates doing sticking around despite being low in polls can't they see the signs on wall? They need to give up and stop wasting their time and money.This apply to both Parties Democrats and Republican.
KaM at 2:06PM on Oct 3rd 2007
3. They snubbed minorities probably for the same reasons the democrats won't have a debate ran by Fox News.
David McCool at 5:14PM on Oct 2nd 2007
4. First of all, meeting with minority groups is the difference between night and day when meeting with a group of minority voters. Historically, Republican candidates have been gullible enough to meet with minority groups who promptly abused the speaker with snide remarks of one sort or another and worse. After all, minority groups are fanatical Liberal voters.
Second, there are no African-Americans as there are no Latin-Americans nor Asian-Americans or European-Americans but hey, don't take my word for it;
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
Folks, we need to get off this race crap and start working together. Our country doesn't owe you JACK but, we sure owe it...Wake up and get a real thought here!!
Chris at 1:11AM on Oct 25th 2007
5. If you want a hilarious look on the current situation, watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnN8IlMSgyg
J. Fields at 6:37AM on Nov 18th 2007
6. If you want a hilarious look on the current situation, watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnN8IlMSgyg
J. Fields at 6:47AM on Nov 18th 2007