Racial Wake Up Call for the GOP
The Washington Independent has a fantasticarticle today about the race for Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), specifically Michael Steele's consistent assertion that the Republican Party does not take Blacks seriously enough.
For much of his career, Steele argued the opposite, that Democrats took Black voters for granted, promising ambitious policies to extend government programs further into urban neighborhoods, but delivering on very few of these promises. In essence, he argued, "Don't give your vote over to the Al Sharptons and the Reverend Jacksons and all the other folks who are advocating on behalf of Kerry just because."
Well, it's not just because. It's true that Democrats have a troubling tendency to ignore African American voters and inner-city programs simply because blacks vote overwhelmingly for Democrats. But the fact is that even if Democrats deliver 25% of what is promised, progressive policies (even those not directly aimed at minorities) are far superior for minority populations than the conservative agenda.
Healthcare reform is a prime example that will disproportionately benefit minorities. According to a 2004 study, although Hispanics comprise 14% of the population, 30% of the uninsured are Hispanic. Although African Americans make up 12% of the population, 15% of the uninsured are Black. Conversely, although 67% of the population is White, only 48% of the uninsured are White.
So with African American support firmly behind the Democrats, and the election of the first Black President on the Democratic ticket, Steele is correct to change his tone. The Republican Party cannot, as Tim Pawlenty warned, thrive as the party for rich white people.
But to do this, the GOP needs to embrace policies that help people who aren't rich and white. It is not sufficient to elevate token minorities to prominent positions within the Republican bureaucracy.
The Republican Party will not bounce back with small, aesthetic changes. It needs to drastically change its agenda to try and become the party for rich and poor Americans, young and old Americans, and Americans of all colors.
But I won't hold my breath.
My understanding is this: rich people, really rich people, (and more particularly, corporate America) own the Republican Party. Of course, there are nods in the direction of the religious right (one needs some sort of popular base) and the fortuitous move by Nixon and the right thereafter to supplant the Dixiecrats in the South nicely fit together with its move into religion (the South being a center for evangelicals in the current revival period). This of course provides the demographics for what is now a three decade flirtation with explicit racism and the transformation of the party of Lincoln to the party of American Racism. Of course, it is not explicit as this would be a disaster among independents and even some of the rich and religious who seriously do not buy into anti-black anti minority bigotry. So it is alway a flirtation at the same time as the Republican policies fall heaviest on the poor and minorities (Katrina, voting exclusion, shredding of the safety net, etc). As long as this is the Republican Party both its racism and its rejection by its targets will probably continue.
January 15, 2009 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
VLaszlo, this is an excellent analysis! In a few words you hit on all the important problems facing the GOP. Special thanks for underlining the contemptible racist pitch they're been using for decades.
January 15, 2009 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is difficult to discuss the failures of the Republican Party and offer suggestions. I do not want them to change. I like them just they way they are right now, an idealistic gathering of nodding heads on the fringe. The recent collapse of their party is based on their adoption of Christianity in a form that is not nearly as widespread as they wish it to be. They have challenged peoples faith to coax them to their party, yet they have not delivered. Sarah Palin holds an extreme point of view in this regard and there are zealots who will make a lot of noise, but it did not make a lot of votes. In fact, it's relied so strongly on faith and not reality it lost the intellectual base, i.e. George Will, that son of a Buckley and others. Good news for the left. I hpe they never change.
January 15, 2009 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republican Party cannot, as Tim Pawlenty warned, thrive as the party for rich white people.
I think that, as long as the Democratic party exists in its present form,the Republican party will be forced to exist as it does now. Steele is trying to sell a product that already exists: the Democratic ethos. Why would people be willing to switch parties if they're content--for the most part, at least--with what their present party has to offer? Further, why would anyone believe the Republican claim that their product was better?
Sorry, OOP, you're trying to make the proverbial silk purse out of a sow's ear.
January 15, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink