Posted on 12/17/2004 6:37:54 PM PST by CHARLITE
For decades, the Republican Party has been stigmatized by the Left as being a group of racists and homophobes who have no concept of diversity. Democrats have continually preached this sermon of GOP bigotry from the ghettos of the inner cities to the ivory palaces of academia. Their message has resonated among minorities and women for years. However, when we compare the levels of diversity between the GOP leadership and that that of the Democratic Party, quite a different image appears.
If you’re a young African-American man or woman, or a young Hispanic man or woman and you want to rise to the upper echelon of politics/government, your chances of accomplishing your goal are far greater in the GOP than within the Democratic Party. Sound ludicrous? Consider the facts:
▪ As of this writing, President Bush has made 24 appointments to his Cabinet. He has named three Hispanics and two Asian-Americans to various posts. Included in his appointments are five women and four African-Americans.
▪ Bill Clinton had one less Asian-American in his Cabinet and three more African-Americans after making 29 appointments during his two-term Presidency.
▪ If President Bush makes five more appointments to the Cabinet and only two of them are “minorities”, his Cabinet will be as diverse as that of Bill Clinton.
▪ Among the four most revered Cabinet spots, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of the Treasury, Bush will have a Hispanic (Alberto Gonzales) as Attorney General and an African-American woman (Condoleezza Rice) as Secretary of State. These high level appointments are without precedent.
Contrast the diversity of the Bush Cabinet with that of the Democratic Party’s leadership. With the Democratic Party as the minority Party, its power lies chiefly at the Democratic National Committee. The DNC’s current Chairman, Terry McAuliffe, is stepping down and a new chairperson will be selected in February. Since the Democratic Party is the self-proclaimed “Party of Diversity”, one would assume that a large number of the candidates for its chairmanship are minorities. Such would be an incorrect assumption, as the number of minority candidates is a mere two.
Two out of eight candidates who are minorities is nothing short of pathetic for an organization that boasts of diversity. Consider that the exit polling data showed African-Americans backing John Kerry in last month’s presidential election by 9-1; Jews by about 5-1; and Arab-Americans by 2-1. These were groups solidly in the corner of the Democratic Party in 2004. With the exception of the token two African-American candidates, neither of whom are expected to win, where is the representation of minorities?
Furthermore, 80% of gays voted for Kerry. Why isn’t Representative Barney Frank or another democrat with like inclinations a top contender?
Then there are the atheists and agnostics who accounted for 15 million votes this year. They voted 68-30 for John Kerry. If I’m an atheist, I have to wonder why those of like belief are not being courted for the DNC job.
Where are the women? None of the top eight candidates are women. Yet Kerry won the women vote by 55-48. Why isn’t Kim Gandy, President of the National Organization of Women, demanding that some women be considered for the post? Maybe Patricia Ireland or Barbara Streisand would be interested. Apparently, the women candidates are in the same place as the female contenders for the CBS evening anchor position. That is, non-existent.
Why isn’t the “Party of Minorities” actively pursuing minorities to Chair the DNC? It’s simple. The DNC doesn’t want a minority in the position. This can be the only rational reason. The lack of a qualified minority candidate cannot be used as an excuse, as democrats are for “equal opportunity” for all and “helping” those of minority status who may lack the “credentials” for certain jobs.
The Democratic Party talks a good game, but as we say in the Midwest and South, “the proof is in the pudding”. One Party celebrates its love of minorities, while the other Party gets results. The glass ceiling remains low at the DNC.
Chad Allen is a Christian Conservative living in America's Heartland where he writes political and social commentary. Mr. Allen has been published in Insight Magazine, consulted in various political races, and has written speeches for top GOP officials.
Comments:chadaallen@msn.com
They are all for diversity as long as it does not diverge from their line.
It's more than that. Deep in their heart of hearts they do not believe "minorities" are smart enough for the top jobs. After all, "minorities" require quotas and preferential treatment. The dems will toss a few bones but will never let a "minority" get close to the throne. "The soft bigotry of low expectations" eh?
All they offer, and I do mean 'All', is a simple thread of the lowest common denominator to create a permanent underclass that they can milk, time and time again, for votes.
I am, among other things, a gun owner, a Christian, a Linux user, and a (small l) libertarian. Any one of them would be beyond the pale in their little world.
The truly "racist" party...Wander off the plantation and retribution is swift and deadly!
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