Excerpt:
Republican presidential candidates — the presumed front-runners at least — are making themselves scarce for a Sept. 27 debate, said to be “African-American oriented” and organized by talk show host Travis Smiley. It’s scheduled for Baltimore’s historically black Morgan State University and will be aired by PBS.
As of now, only U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, and U.S. Reps. Duncan Hunter of California, Tom Tancredo of Colorado and Ron Paul of Texas will participate. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee are sending regrets — much to the ire of Smiley and his fans.
“No one should be elected president of this country in 2008 if they ignore people of color,” said Smiley. “”If they want to be president of all America they need to speak to all Americans.”
(snip)
“No one should be elected president of this country in 2008 if they ignore people of color,” said Smiley. “”If they want to be president of all America they need to speak to all Americans.”
It would only be pandering if the debate was held in Ebonics. I am thinking of the spanish only debate when I write this. If folks are truly assimilated into our society, they don’t need other languages!
I don’t believe it’s a smart move for the so-called front-runners to blow this one off. The black community has a long memory and they are quite unforgiving when they feel ignored or slighted.
(ducking the flames)
“GOP front-runners ‘ignoring’ blacks?”
Why not, blacks by and large ignore the GOP.