GOP hopefuls assailed for debate absence

[babylonsister]

GOP hopefuls assailed for debate absence

By BRIAN WITTE, Associated Press Writer Fri Sep 28, 4:16 AM ET

BALTIMORE - Republican presidential candidates discussed the importance of reaching out to people of color during a minority issues debate Thursday night and criticized the leading four GOP contenders for skipping it.

"I think this is a disgrace that they are not here," said Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. "I think it's a disgrace to our country. I think it's bad for our party, and I don't think it's good for our future."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said he was "embarrassed for our party, and I'm embarrassed for those who didn't come."

The four no-shows — former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Sen. Fred Thompson, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — cited scheduling conflicts in saying they could not attend the debate at historically black Morgan State University.

"Fortunately, there are those in the Republican Party who do understand the importance of reaching out to people of color," said talk show host Tavis Smiley, the debate moderator, thanking the six other candidates for participating.

Besides Brownback and Huckabee, the other candidates who participated in the debate were: Reps. Duncan Hunter of California, Ron Paul of Texas and Tom Tancredo of Colorado, and conservative activist Alan L. Keyes.

The forum, which had black and Hispanic journalists questioning the candidates, was broadcast live on PBS.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070928/ap_on_el_pr/gop_minorities_debate

[flashl]

1. Because the GOP already have districts gerrymandered I guess they say why bother.

:www.fairvote.org/articles/bbcnews100804.htm|Gerrymandering:]

Gerrymandering is quietly, but dramatically, changing the face of American democracy.

Today, only a handful of Congressional seats are truly competitive.

It isn't a popularity contest

It takes 270 Electoral Votes to win the Presidential Election. The above link is an interactive Electoral College map for 2008 and a history of Presidential elections in the United States. Since electoral votes are generally allocated on an "all or none" basis by state, the election of a U.S President is about winning the popular vote in enough states to achieve 270 electoral votes, a majority of the 538 that are available. It is not about getting the most overall popular votes, as we saw in the 2000 election, when the electoral vote winner (Bush) and the popular vote winner (Gore) were different.

[babylonsister]

2. But their absence looks SO BAD. I can't believe they just

blew this off.

[flashl]

3. Yes, it is a turn around from actively recruiting and seeking black candidates

and likes in 2006. Then, at least they kept up "appearances" that they were interested in the black vote.

The DOJ caging scandal before the judiciary committee reveals how the GOP deals with black voters and their methods of voter suppression.

Black communities should be on alert.