Next week this time will be August 3rd. What is significant about that date? Well, the thing that likely comes to mind for millions of Americans is it will be “The Day After;” as in the day after it has been projected to be necessary to reach a deal to raise the Debt Ceiling. In that light, regardless of whether there is a debt deal, there will be a story.
With that in mind, even if the result is a short term deal that provides only another week or two to wrap up a larger deal, that in and of itself would represent both a shift in paradigms, and a story. I am taking the unusual step of committing to make some angle or aspect of the Debt Ceiling discussion next week’s blog topic.
Meanwhile, on tap today is a brief look at what might be considered a snub of a major Latino Conference by key candidates for the GOP Presidential Nomination. What do Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich, and John Huntsman have in common? Most notably, they are all candidates seeking the Republican Nomination for President. However, this week, they are also known, individually and collectively, for opting not to attend the annual conference of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), despite having been extended invitations.
NCLR, or La Raza, is the nation’s largest Latino organization. The group convened in Washington , DC
Politico, an American political journalism organization followed up with spokespersons for all five candidates to inquire why they did not attend the conference. Campaign spokespersons for Mrs. Bachmann, and Messrs. Gingrich and Huntsman did not respond.
A spokesperson for former Governor Romney at first indicated Mr. Romney never received an invitation. When provided with an e-mail declining the invitation, the spokesperson clarified that Mitt Romney had indeed received the invitation, but had a scheduling conflict.
The Pawlenty Campaign acknowledged having received an invitation. In a move more responsive than the Bachmann, Gingrich, and Huntsman camps, and also more savvy, if not more forthright, than that employed by Romney, the Campaign spokesperson went straight to the scheduling conflict default position.
To be quite fair, serious candidates for a major Party’s Presidential nomination are bound to have incredibly busy schedules. But all things fit into a specific context. The placement of this issue at this time cannot be viewed in fullness without considering the fact that Latinos have recently become the nation’s largest minority group.
If as a politician one believes we are a society comprised of diverse, multicultural interests, and that in order to thrive, we must regularly incorporate the full spectrum of our populace into political and policy debates, it follows logically that one would, and should make it a priority to create opportunities to interact with significant voting bloc segments. Further, it therefore stands to reason then, a conference of the nation’s largest Latino group, complete with 25,000 participants, would be a place a prospective candidate for President of the United States might want to spend a least a few minutes.
Even Michael Steele, immediate former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, made the following statement about the lack of the GOP candidates’ presence at the La Raza conference:
- “I find it curious that no one decided to go visit or have a conversation today with 25,000 Hispanic activists and leaders gathered from around the country. We can't afford to miss those opportunities. I get the whole thing with La Raza but people are people and we can find common ground."
Mr. Steele was referencing the perceived connection between La Raza in particular, and Latinos in general, with the Democratic Party. Obviously, given Mr. Steele’s meteoric rise, and subsequent contentious fall, within the Republican Party Power Structure, his comments may serve to motivate Republicans to resist even residual impulses to work toward forging connections with Latino and Hispanic communities.
It’s true that in 2008, President Obama captured a significant majority of the Latino vote. However, his lack of forceful movement, on immigration reform during the first two and a half years of his term in office, has crated what some Republicans and Latinos view as an opening for the GOP.
In that regard, historians may one day look back and view, as a missed opportunity, GOP Presidential candidates' opting, en masse, to skip the 2011 La Raza Conference. It is altogether possible that in the sharpness of 20-20 vision gained only as a result of hindsight, the prevailing conclusion will be that GOP aspirations of making inroads into any perceived Obama advantage were ill-served by the candidates' solidarity-in-absence. Until then, remember, Republicans have been “Really, Really Busy: Pardon the Scheduling Conflict!”
I’m done; holla back!
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