Joyner calls out missing GOP candidates at debate.
Joyner calls out missing GOP candidates at debate.
At the beginning of last night’s PBS Republican presidential forum, radio host Tom Joyner introduced the event by poking fun at the four frontrunners who had decided to skip the event, saying “hello to those of you viewing from home.” The audience erupted into cheers at the jab. Watch it:
Yesterday on CNN, PBS’s Tavis Smiley sharply criticized the snub by the four candidates — Giuliani, McCain, Romney, and Thompson — stating that they were “trying to go through this entire primary process and never have to address voters of color and never queried journalists of color.” Last night was the third minority-focused debate in which the Republican front runners refused to participate. They also skipped a debate on gay issues and a Spanish-language debate.
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How many dwarves does it take to fill a g.o.p. event?
September 28th, 2007 at 3:55 pmIf the frontrunners would have attended, they would have found out that black journalists are just like white journalists. I mean, no one was asking questions like: “Hey MF, what do you think of O’reily?”
September 28th, 2007 at 3:58 pmHowever, rush thinks black journalists are “phonies”, unlike their white counterparts.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:59 pmHey now! Giuliani, McCain, Romney, and Thompson all made it to the NRA debate. Gun-toting rednecks are an important minority group, aren’t they?
September 28th, 2007 at 4:02 pm#3 Incorrect… not a miscalculation at all
September 28th, 2007 at 4:05 pmthey’re willingness to NOT participate in the event speaks volumes to their base
I dont think their absense was racially motivated just political miscalculation.
Comment by Vendetta — September 28, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
I think they just don’t give a phuck. Their priorities are elsewhere.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:11 pmFrankly, I am not surprised that the front runners dissed…as they clearly don’t care about minorities’ issues…
All of ‘em are clowns…maybe with the exception of Ron Paul…
I had enough of Huckabee for the million years he was RevBroGuv here…
September 28th, 2007 at 4:11 pmdumbazzes should have been there.
Comment by Vendetta
I agree. Why do you, Vendatta, think they did not appear?
September 28th, 2007 at 4:13 pmI dont think their absense was racially motivated just political miscalculation.
Comment by Vendetta — September 28, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
I believe you are correct. I imagine that presidential candidates are invited to many forums, debates, town hall meetings, and other opportunities to speak — and it would be physically impossible to show up for all of them. Therefore, they must pick and choose.
So why would NRA members be a more popular audience for Republicans than black voters and journalists? The average Republican no doubt reasons that most NRA members will vote Republican and most black voters will not. Furthermore (and this is where the “miscalculation” comes in), Republicans perceive that a “black” event garners very little publicity, so their absence wouldn’t be missed.
On the other hand, the journalists hosting this forum made a brilliant move. They DID manage to garner a fair amount of publicity for this event BECAUSE the top tier Republicans didn’t show up — pointing out for the entire world to see that the Republicans do not place any importance on black Americans. They win — the Repubs lose.
The Democrats would be wise to pay attention if they get invited to a forum by the NRA — they could easily employ the same strategy.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:14 pmjust political miscalculation. -Vendetta
I can see one or two missing it sue to political miscalculation, but all four? These same four also missed the value voter debate in Florida.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:15 pmand it would be physically impossible to show up for all of them. Therefore, they must pick and choose. -Missmolly
It seems to me they dont want to debate one another, even in voter value forums.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:18 pmAnd they left an empty podium up for every no-show. Bravo!
September 28th, 2007 at 4:23 pmthey’re willingness to NOT participate in the event speaks volumes to their base
Comment by hil_1
The repub-lick party structure looks more and more like an upside down pyramid, the small part being the base.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:23 pm#15…
September 28th, 2007 at 4:40 pmhow long can such a structure stand? with any luck the entire damn thing will come crashing down in ‘08!
Why is there abosolutely no TV coverage of Alan Keyes? It’s kind of freaking me out.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:49 pmI look forward to the chosen Republican candidate who ask minorities for votes. It’s nothing like better treated like nothing then have a GOP show up and say the famous words I can’t remember that I’ll get back to you. Now we still have voting rights and that might prove to be a problem for the GOP. Yes this group have alot of followers in main stream America but to be President it calls for the person to represent every American. So let’s see how the rest of America votes in the election. Karl Rove would need more than fixing voting machines and denying minorities the right to vote. Where is Karl when you need him.
I hope Rudy did good at his fund raiser since that’s why he couldn’t attend. But he made it to the Iowa debate without any problems. Mitt doesn’t think minorities are Americans and right now he’s laying low as his fellow Mormon was found guilty for ordering minors to marry their cousin and have under age sex.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:52 pmFred could care less he’s in it for the money and he would shake a black person’s hand. McCain is so low in the polls and no one wants to give him money minorities are last on his list to think about.
I did notice the no shows had time to talk about the Jewish set up done to the Iran President.
Why is there abosolutely no TV coverage of Alan Keyes? It’s kind of freaking me out.
Comment by gulfwargrunt — September 28, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
Because Alan Keyes is a joke. People of both parties know this.
September 28th, 2007 at 5:00 pm#16
September 28th, 2007 at 5:02 pmAs my old Granny used to say, “From your mouth to God’s ear.”
Comment by Jackie — September 28, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
A couple things come to my mind and I know the first one has been written on other threads and that is they didn’t want to have to confront and defend the Katrina situation or other race-related issues that might have come up.
But the one I think may have also played into this was the idea they wouldn’t get many Black votes anyway AND historically, the Black turnout is smaller than the rest of the voter population. I, personally think that will change in ‘08 and will love it when the Black vote sticks it to the Repugs, deep, hard and twists it a few times.
September 28th, 2007 at 5:07 pmComment by upside99 — September 28, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
Americans of all race have untied and the GOP will find out that for the past 6 years while they were doing their criminal acts alot of things have changed.
There are more Americans that believe in equal rights then those who don’t.
These guys forgot when the attack on 9/11 happen it was done to all Americans not a party and our troops that are serving the US Military are of all colors.
I like that stick it to the GOP when Americans pull together we can lose and that’s a fact.
September 28th, 2007 at 5:35 pmNixon’s “southern strategy” has worked for the republicans for 40 years now. But, now, as people of color become more and more powerful as a voting block, the repubs have painted themselves into a corner. They’ve ignored African Americans and this year, they’ve alienated Latinos and Asians. It’s pretty much over folks. The modern republicans party and the modern conservative movement has run its course. All that’s left are crazy authoritarian personalities crouching in dark corners.
September 28th, 2007 at 5:39 pmComment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — September 28, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
All you say is true, and the fact there is no real “Semographic Center” of any Ethnic group anymore, they will play a part in all 50 states, both in the Primaries, and in the electoral votes in each state.
It will, indeed be a fun night to watch the returns, and I bet more than a few troll heads will be exploding the next morning!
September 28th, 2007 at 5:44 pmI meant “Demographic”, not “Semographic” in #25 above. My Bad.
September 28th, 2007 at 5:50 pmMake your voice count, shame on them. Always ask yourself who owns the Lobby system, and where more emphasis needs to be put going forward to get your rights.
Who do you think won the All American Presidential forum debate at Baltimore’s Morgan State University? —-> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=604
September 28th, 2007 at 6:34 pmTHe leading GOP contenders will not appear at minority forums for one simple reason… they know that the questioning will force them to either A) say something thats the polite equivalent of a “maccaca/knappy headed ho” moment or B)say something that will alienate their white trash/klansmen base that is vital for GOP’s continued existence as a viable political party. We know the GOP is anti gay, so their non-appearance at a gay forum is a no-brainer. Their non-appearance at minority forums is obviously motivated by similar reasoning..
September 29th, 2007 at 8:18 am