A Black Day for the GOP

It should have surprised nobody that the four leading Republican contenders for their party's Presidential nomination found themselves unable to attend a debate dedicated to minority issues. It is perhaps more surprising that several candidates actually did show up, as I had heard rumors of a complete boycott. Ultimately, the opportunity to get some news time to denounce the front-runners proved an irresistible temptation, so Brownback, Huckabee, Hunter, Paul, Tancredo and new candidate Alan Keyes participated in the event. The sad aspect of the story is that most reports seem to focus on the participants' diatribes against the non-participants, rather than on their answers to questions on minority issues. That only furthers the impression that Republicans have nothing to say to blacks and other minorities. It's more true to say, with no offense intended, that blacks have nothing to say to Republicans. The GOP, after all, does have something to say, but it's the standard conservative message, which most blacks long ago determined was of little use or meaning to them. Still, the fault lies with the front runners -- Giuliani, McCain, Romney and Fred Thompson -- for not even making an effort.

The preferred excuse seems to be that they had "scheduling conflicts," i.e. more important things to do, e.g. fundraising. If so, that's a sad commentary on Republican priorities. Worse would be if the front runners have caught the Bush disease, the most obvious symptom of which is an aversion to any situation in which someone might heckle you. Republicans have trained themselves to believe that demonstrations of merited public disapproval are nothing more than proofs of irrational hatred. Conservatives have long had a hard time distinguishing disapproval from hatred. Believing themselves to be embodiments of lawful freedom, they must interpret any criticism as envious slander. Communists? Motivated by hate. Islamists? Motivated by hate. Liberal Democrats? Motivated by hate. Once you convince yourself that any disagreement with your views is based only on character flaws, you probably see very little reason to expose yourself to the enemies' howls of hatred, and you begin convincing yourself that they can never be converted to your views, and that they can only be made to acquiesce by any means necessary. A Republican reader might say that I exaggerate the situation. I allow the possibility, but the best way to prove me wrong would have been for the front runners to go to yesterday's debate and take their medicine.