ST. PAUL, minn.
Scanning the thousands of delegates and spectators at the Republican National Convention on Monday, the handful of ethnic minorities in Virginia's delegation didn't see many faces that resembled theirs.
But in conversations, those delegates say they feel at home among fellow Republicans, united by principles, beliefs and devotion to country, if not by race.
"I think the Republican Party historically has been diversified," said Chuck Smith, a black delegate from Virginia Beach.
"The trick is trying to convince a lot of our minority brothers and sisters, particularly African Americans, that this is our home party. This is where it all began. This is where African Americans were first elected to the Senate and the House of Representatives," Smith said, referring to blacks elected to Congress during the 19th-century Reconstruction era.
History is one thing; the present is another for Republicans who continue to struggle with bringing minorities into the fold.
At the Xcel Energy Center convention site, there were gender and age differences among delegates, as well as faces of varying beige and brown hues speckled throughout the crowd.
Though at this presidential convention, like many before it, white is the skin color that stands out among the sea of red, white and blue.
And if the convention crowd is a microcosm of the broader GOP coalition, then it largely remains one of Caucasian homogeny despite efforts by party elders to expand its scope to include members of other ethnicities.
"You see very few," said Kamelsh Dave, a first-time delegate from Chester who came to this country from India in 1980, about the lack of minorities at the convention.
Like several minority delegates from Virginia, Dave said the appeal of the GOP is its message of self-reliance leading to success. It is a viewpoint that he believes could have meaning to minority voters if branded properly.
"Just because you have the right cause, the right reason and the right strategy, it may not be sold easily," he said. " The product is great, but the party has not done a great job packaging and marketing."
For all their efforts, the GOP has not perfected its minority pitch.
In 2004, President George W. Bush lost the black vote by a margin of nearly 9 to 1, and the Latino and Asian vote by narrower splits of about 5 to 4.
He still won re-election, securing victory with heavy support among whites, who made up 77 percent of all voters four years ago, according to exit polls. Minorities accounted for 23 percent of voters.
Winning elections with that kind of ratio has been an effective formula for the GOP, though some party leaders quietly worry about the effect that projected population shifts will have on their electoral margins. Recent Census Bureau figures predict America will have a majority minority population within 24 years.
One recent attempt to recruit blacks to run for federal and state offices was spearheaded by former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman around 2006. The effort is generally seen as a failure.
At the insistence of state Party Chairman Jeff Frederick, whose mother is Colombian, a similar push is under way in Virginia.
Though not specifically aimed at attracting minorities to run as Republicans, the campaign seeks to expand outreach by tasking minority party members to focus on recruitment among members of their respective ethnic groups.
Republicans such as Smith insist the party must remain consistent with its recruitment efforts and not just revive them in election years.
Seconding that notion is David Ramadan, who is in St. Paul, Minn., this week but is not a delegate.
"The Republican Party stands for what minorities stand for: the American dream," said Ramadan, an Arab American from Northern Virginia. "It stands for chances to all with no discrimination."
That message has been a hard sell for the GOP, which lags behind in the battle for minority voters.
The Democrats' nomination last week of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama as their presidential candidate - the first black candidate by a major party in the nation's history - sent a strong message of their party's progressiveness.
At their convention last week in Denver, Democrats also touted the diversity of their national and Virginia delegation. Minorities were 44 percent of total delegates, while 38 of Virginia's 101 delegates fit that description.
In contrast, determining the level of GOP diversity at the convention is difficult; national organizers and state officials declined to provide demographic data about delegates.
Still, Republicans are trying.
GOP nominee and U.S. Sen. John McCain's campaign has made welcoming gestures to African Americans and other minority voters, including a subtle one Monday.
The first three people on stage at the convention - to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the national anthem and offer the opening prayer - were minorities.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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Nursing
classes at NSU, were just the opposite. It was doing this time the state delegation of Va. decided, under the guise of non-duplication, to emphasize a four yr nursing degree program at ODU. Norfolk State already had it. At VSU, in the late 60's, early 70's, many of the White male students, from nearby rural areas, majored in agricultural fields. Va. State was closer & less expensive than Va. Tech. Being younger than I, you didn't see the transfer of excellent Black teachers to former all White schools. You didn't see, the rush to suburbs of small & medium sized businesses from the inner cities, or the movement of educated Blacks to the suburbs, leaving voids that still haven't been replaced. Kids in 2day's inner cities, don't have educated, successful Blacks, as neighbors or family, to the degree my generation did.
Twomiler
Not arguing at all-- I said *many* went on to higher ed, not a *few.*
My university, about 20 miles outside of Detroit, had lots of black students in residence but mostly white commuters (the suburbs up there were pretty segregated up until the 80's at least). Some of the classes truly had just one or two blacks in them, because it was still the era of attempting to steer blacks to certain careers and not others. For example, one of our best and hardest curricula was the nursing program. We had several gals in our residence hall who were the only black person in one or more of their nursing classes. I really looked up to those gals. Cheers, MGM
Slamming
education in school systems, in general,(public & private), since integration, not just one person's. Most students today, don't get a full history of this nation until college, if ever. They are taught myths & misinformation. Black troops went up San Juan Hill, not Teddy Roosevelt & his Rough Riders. They went up nearby Kettle Hill. The list goes on & on, with other ethnic groups as well. Again, more than a few Blacks left all Black high schools for Black colleges. Where do you think Black teachers & college professors & dentists & doctors & lawyers, etc., came from? A lot of colleges didn't admit minorities, until the 60's. Some had to be forced, by the federal government.
Twomiler
I am not underestimating your education at all. I know that the segregated schools did some incredible things with black students and that many of them went on to higher education and sometimes were the only black in their classes there, but bravely raised the bar for others coming after the civil rights movement.
I was just suggesting that we hold this discussion as two people with respect for each other's intelligence and education, which you have really changed and done in the past couple of days. I couldn't really communicate with you when it seemed that all you wanted to do was slam my thought processes or my education. Americans do much better with mutual respect. Thanks, MGM, who could go on and on about why the Byzantine period is one of the most important ones in world history, but I will stop for now! (smile)
the exploiting of bristol palin
This young woman is being treated unfaily not only by the McCain camp, but by her own Mother, and now they are throwing in Bristol's boyfriend to fan the flame. Politician's children should be off limits, but McCain is so desperate for press coverage, they will do anything. I think it's shameful!
I know
Byzas, who left Greece, after consulting the Oracle Adelphi, settled an area near present day Turkey. Phillip, the Macedonian & his son Alexander the Great, ruled the area. Constantinople became the seat of the Roman Empire, when Emperor Constantine moved it from Rome. It lasted 'til the 1500's. Arts & sciences flourished, especially during the Islamic period. Every one named in my post were part of basic USA & European history. I learned of them in my all Black elementary school. Don't underestimate the education we received, during legal segregation. What we lacked in materials & facilities, was somewhat dented by excellent teachers, pushing us to excel. They told us, as did our parents, we had to be 10 times better, to get the same jobs.
Fergus,
if you're not intentionally trying to be funny, you really need to research "History", not his story. You really don't believe what you're writing, do you? If you do, Indefinitely wouldn't want my grandchildren to go to what ever school yo attended. Mary, the "Grandfather Clause", was part of the "Black Codes", passed by southern states, following the Emancipation. These laws were very restrictive.
truman
Truman was the definition of true patriot. He saved countless American lives because he had the courage to use the bomb, and he made the military the most diverse segment of American society at the time (and arguably today, outside of public schools with bussing). I believe unequivocally the military is better off as a result, as is the nation.
Fergus, for all your braggadocio,
you turn out to be a poor student of history.
In 1948, after President Harry S. Truman desegregated the U.S. Army and proposed the creation of a permanent Fair Employment Practices Commission, Strom Thurmond became a candidate for President of the United States on the third party ticket of the Dixiecrat Party.
exploit?
Whether Governor Palin should have declined the nomination in order to shelter her daughter is a legitimate debate. I don't think she's exloiting her daughter, though, as she was forced to address the issue when left-wing sites like the Daily Kos speculated that the governor's Downs baby was actually her daughter's child.
This is the compasionate side of Palin
http://actionfund.defenders.org/palinvideo
Consciences . . .
All have their "break even" points. There are some things that are immoral to us all (murder?), but in most cases, we gotta honor our own individual conscience and choose between fallible, sinful people. After all, Jesus Christ isn't on the ballot this time! (smile). Cheers, MGM
voting your conscience
My conscience won't allow me to vote for a political party or Gov. who is exploiting her daughter just to keep their name in the press. Gov. Palin should be ashamed, and McCain is desperate for attention. The whole thing stinks!
same same
Both sides use scare tactics. Obama couldn't sell "change" without scaring people into believing that things are so hopelessly messed up at the moment that only wholesale change can fix them. Take the economy, for example. Quarterly GDP from April to June rose 3.3%. Oil has dropped 26% since since early July (if it's Bush's fault prices rose, it now to his credit that they dropped?). Yes, there are problems in the economy, the consumer price index is up and so on, but Obama is trying to scare people into believeing that the country is about five minutes from economic implosion. There really is no reason to throw the baby out with the bath water.
Alfred Einstein
Yes, some of us think we need minor course adjustments in a bad economy, not complete and utter change in every quarter. We are actually slightly better off than we were four or eight years ago here. Cheers, MGM, who is glad everyone gets to vote their conscience
VP
McCain would win if he picked a crack ho for VP. It is all about party lines. Those that believe the same scare tactics the Republicans used in the past will continue to vote for McCain. Apparently they don't like change and would rather take it easy, just like a 72 yr old pres would.
Twomiller correcting you again,but I don't mind...
Twomiller: Most of your posts are full of misinformation about history and the use of some forms of words in here is appalling.But I have to correct you yet AGAIN on history:
"Strom Thurmond
Submitted by twomiler2 on Tue, 09/02/2008 at 9:21 am.
& others did indeed change from Democrats to Dixiecrats to Republicans, & remained so till their deaths
In 1964,Strom Thurmond ,who left the Democratic party because of their stand AGAINST Civil Rights, had a change of heart and became a Repubican. He became the first southern Senator to hire an African American. And by the way, Dwight Eisenhower (1957) became the first president to make bold civil rights proposals to increase black voting rights.He created the first civil rights commission and was the first president to hire a black to an executive position in the White House. The man's name was Frederick Morrow.
If I was a betting person,I'd bet I k
Twomiler
A lot of those but . . . don't go overboard. I said I took a high school class, not a college major. Do you understand when you get all high-minded and intellectual on people who are trying to say they have some, but not all, possible experience in an area that you risk losing any argument you might pose by the methods you use to pose it?
Turn it around. I told you I read about history constantly. As a naval officer, that is a common trait. Suppose I took an area you don't know well, like, well, how are you on Byzantine history???? Then, if I started trotting out a long reading list to imply that if you didn't know all of the authors on it, you didn't know history and your education was a waste . . . well, you see where I am going with this. Have some mercy on people who read, pay attention, and try to understand. Republicans are people with faces, too. Cheers, MGM
Fergus,
did you actually read my post? You couldn't have, considering your comment about it. Reread it. If you arrive at the same opinion, you may need better comprehension skills.
GOP will get what it deserves
Loss of the White House. Party of Lincoln has become party of fearmongering, warmongering, crooked lobbyists, crooked pols, incompetent presidents and corruption. Take the next 4 years to think about the last 8...
Glad
some took Black lit. & history courses. So, You should know; Charles McCoy, Louis Lattimer, Toussaint L'Ouverture, John Baptiste Du Sable, Evencio, Esteban, Alexander Pushkin, Alexander Dumas, pere et fils, Garrett Morgan, Benjamin Banneker, Mary Bethune, Dr. William Hart, Madame Walker, Nat Turner, Sally Hemmings, "Prince Charles", Salem Poor, Dorie Miller, Benjamin Davis, The Tuskegee Experiment, The Tuskegee Airman, etc,etc,etc.
my mistake
Today's middle income
todays middle class
can be tomorrows homeless. It can happen to you, and you might need some of those assistance programs in the very near future that you want to complain about today. BRW race will have nothing to do with it, but overspending will.
The first post
The first post, by Turncoat, pretty much sums it up. The true conservative Republican party has been hijacked by right-center Rockefeller Republicans; not much difference from today's Democrats. True conservatives (the old Republican party) could care less what your skin color is, what your nationality is, what your religion is, etc. Conservatives promote individualism, self-reliance and strong moral values. On the other hand, today's Democrat party believes low and middle-income citizens are too ignorant to manage their income, their moral/religious beliefs or their individual rights.
You Obviously Don't Know
Lets get real here. Do you really think people that abuse welfare and aren't working are going out and doing their civic duty by voting? Really? They're not. http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/p20-556.pdf
None of Obama's ideas and programs are hand outs. Each one of his incentives require hard work and dedication by the receiver. Get off the Virginian Pilot and actually look at his policies before you make assinine and quite racist comments.
Why negative-sounding headlines about the Republicans
Oh! Pick me! It's because the Virginian Pilot is focused on getting Democrats elected to public office!
blah blah blah.....
That's all I get from this piece of cr(work) article. The VP is still trying to direct the people in the dems direction w/another negative article about the Pubs. Can we not ever move forward from the slave, jim crow days. Why are they still living in the past. This is 2008 people, not 1868. I'm Native American & will never vote dem. Why? Because I don't want anything I didn't earn for myself. No hand outs here. Don't want it, won't take it. Why wouldn't I take it, because I don't want anyone to say I got anything for free. That's not going to look good on my resume & I know my parents won't be proud of my non-accomplishments. Have some pride in yourself & stand up for yourselves. It feels great. You'll never go back to taking handouts once you've decided enough is enough. I'm not saying we all can't extend a helping hand to those that need it, we all have. But it shouldn't be how you live day to day. Take a look a
Mary.............
I guess in your childs eyes Blacks use that "swear" word all the time!
What a shame we live in a nation where certain segments of society are not allowed the same freedom of speech as others!
Twomiler
Not really so about history--I took a black literature/history class in high school and have studied and/or read just about anything on history I could get my hands on since then, although it was not my major in college nor my line of work in the Navy.
I was just asking about your particular family because every family has its particular story--the way the laws in each state interacted with the individuals was sometimes a diverse thing. I didn't know about the grandfather piece--was that a state or federal law?
And, yes, I still think it is His story--being Christ-centered in our view of history doesn't omit the bad things man has done to man. In fact, I am really proud of my son for saying, once when he was young and overheard our neighbor use a particular word beginning with "N," "Mama, he just swore!" Cheers, MGM
Minorities
I believe it was the Republican party that was in charge and essentially freed the slaves. Also, remember Sen. Obama is 50% white. Where is the minority Thank You?