I thought it would never happen. This man has written something I can endorse. Being the partisans that we both are, it’s not easy.
In his latest column, “GOP’s Rainbow Coalition Is For Real,” Hutchinson writes:
Civil rights leaders and black Democrats mercilessly ridicule the Republicans for their plans to parade black gospel choirs, mariachi strollers and American Indian dance groups across the stage at the Republican National Convention in 2000. They call it a cheap publicity stunt to woo black and Latino voters. They’re wrong.This year the Republican National Committee boasts that minorities will make up a record nearly 20 percent of the delegates at their New York convention. Democrats still insist this is mere GOP flim-flam on diversity….
The Republicans newfound emphasis on diversity, however, is not a political con act. It was forced on them by changing political realities. Blacks, Latinos and Asians now make up nearly one-third of America’s population, and, with increased immigration and their higher birth rates, their population will continue to rise. The current estimate: By 2050, whites will no longer make up the majority of America’s population.
I don’t like the word “diversity” as used in the context of skin color. It leaves a bitter taste. Regardless of the original intent of its usage, it’s now associated with race in my mind, and I find the whole thing odious, no matter how well-intentioned. However…
I applaud the GOP for pursuing minorities (that was hard to say). Love it or hate it, I believe Republicans could attract blacks if they set the right “look.” We’re very visual creatures, and image counts.
I don’t want to shut out Hutchinson’s other views, so in an effort to be more objective or whatever the current fad is, here’s the link to his personal site. Read and judge for yourselves.
