More Debate Scheduling Conflicts: Are Republican Candidates Afraid of American Minorities?

Posted by Myrna the Minx on October 30, 2007 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

It sure looks like it. Remember all the hullabaloo about the Democratic boycott of the Fox News debates sponsored by the Nevada State Democratic Party and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute earlier this year? Well, it appears that Fox News can’t even get Republican presidential candidates to show up for a debate when the sponsor is the Congressional Black Caucus Institute. They are all citing the tired “scheduling conflicts” excuse. From the Carpetbagger Report:

Last month, PBS hosted a Republican presidential candidates’ debate at historically black college in Baltimore — and all of the top four GOP candidates decided to skip it. This followed close on the heels of a Univision-hosted Republican debate in Miami on Latino issues — which was cancelled when all but one candidate declined invitations. The National Council of La Raza asked Republican candidates to address its annual conference in July, but none showed up. The National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials extended similar invitations to the entire GOP field, but only Duncan Hunter agreed to attend.

Minority communities are beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, Republican presidential hopefuls aren’t exactly attentive to their concerns.

Given all the attention this has received, the field would be crazy to skip the Congressional Black Caucus Institute’s debate, right? Well, as Michael Roston explained, the incessant “scheduling difficulties” have reappeared.

Amazing. And cowardly. If Republican candidates are too afraid to participate in a debate sponsored by American citizens, how on earth can they claim to represent all Americans, let alone claim the courage to confront America’s enemies.