Bush Failures & GOP Record Alive and Well and Avoiding Morgan State

Four “Leading” GOP Candidates Turn Their Backs on

Baltimore Debate, Minority Communities

Steele’s “Put up or Shut up” Challenge Means Only One Thing

For years the Republican Party feigned concerns and lied about their desire to represent all that is America. Now, the party’s four “leading” presidential candidates have signaled they’re giving up the ruse. Republican Candidates Giuliani, Romney, McCain and Thompson say they have better things to do than participate in a GOP presidential debate about diversity and inclusion at one of Baltimore’s Historic Black Colleges and Universities, Morgan State University. The debate is scheduled for Thursday, September 27^th. 

“While ignoring the concerns of millions of Americans is shocking, these are the same old Republicans being shamefully consistent. Avoiding a dialogue with African-Americans mirrors their record of avoiding issues important to minority communities,” says Quincey Gamble, Executive Director of the Maryland Democratic Party. “After decades of indifference to minorities, these Republicans aren’t faking it anymore. At least they’re being honest about it.”

“Republicans seem intent on continuing the shameful record of George Bush. You can add this latest disgraceful episode to the legacy of Bush’s Republican Party - from Katrina to voter suppression to vetoing legislation that would improve the health care of millions of poor children. We see more of the same as leading Republicans are refusing to address issues important to African-Americans, Latinos and other minority communities during their presidential debates,” says Gamble.

Even some Republicans know the truth. Last week, GOPAC Chair and defeated Senate candidate Michael Steele declared the Morgan State debate was a “chance” for leading Republicans to “put up or shut up” when it comes to minority communities. Steele says he’s been working with fellow Maryland Republican and former Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman to organize the debate, pleading with GOP hopefuls to participate. Yet, only second-tier candidates have accepted the invitation.

Also last week, a Republican presidential debate in Coral Gables, Fla. - slated to be broadcast by the Spanish language channel Univision - was cancelled because of what was termed a “lack of interest” by the GOP candidates. Both debates had been planned for months.

“This represents a fundamental difference between the parties. Republicans turn their backs on many Americans, Democrats continue to work for all that is America,” says Gamble. “If showing up to address African-Americans isn’t what Republican leaders are going to do - as Michael Steele says - they might as well shut up, too.”

Steele was set to be the keynote speaker at a Maryland Republican Party breakfast fundraiser on the day of the debate. The invitation stated all GOP presidential candidates were invited to attend. Reportedly, the fundraiser was cancelled for much the same reason Republican candidates are avoiding the HBCU hosted debate – lack of interest.