# The GOP and Race **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 29, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522 "2013-08-29T19:06:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/21 "2013-08-30T03:09:15Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Democracts excel on social issues, but are weak on foreign policy; GOP is diametrically opposite - to a tee! Not true at all. And of course the two parties don’t believe that either. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/22 "2013-08-30T03:53:50Z")
The idea that people who wanted to be there couldn’t have made it happen is really goofy. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/23 "2013-08-30T04:20:11Z")
The first comment from the linked article is > [@](#): > > Man! Was Lincoln the ONLY Republican that showed up? Pretty sad! This is remarkably dense of the GOP. Very curious strategy. It is as if they actually have chosen to not care if they look like backward bigots. I wonder how the apologists will spin this. Surely the canard about how the invitations were sent late is absurd on the face of it. It isn’t as if the GOP was unaware of the upcoming anniversary. The leadership of both parties were invited at the same time (as far as I understand), and to a man the GOP leadership turned down the invitation. I try not to attribute to malice that which I can attribute to incompetence. This is a toss-up in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/24 "2013-08-30T04:33:11Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Democracts excel on social issues, but are weak on foreign policy; GOP is diametrically opposite - to a tee! The problem for Republicans is this is no longer true. The Republicans are losing their reputation for being the foreign policy party. That was demonstrated in the last election - it was Romney not Obama that had to prove his foreign policy credentials. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/25 "2013-08-30T04:46:28Z")
> [@NotDeadYet](#): > > No way can it be said that “all republicans are racists” – because it simple isn’t the case. > > But it’s looking more and more like the **Republican Party** is. Of course they are. [They’ve spent decades](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_strategy) catering to and recruiting racists; it may have _started_ mostly as cynical maneuvering for votes, but by now the racists largely are the party. The Republican Party is the White Racist party. > [@Gagundathar](#): > > It is as if they actually have chosen to not care if they look like backward bigots. On the whole, they don’t. They are “backwards bigots”, their base is dominated by bigots. They certainly don’t want to look un-bigoted, they’d alienate their base. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/26 "2013-08-30T04:53:32Z")
Incompetency can be blamed at first; but IMHO, how they are dealing with that snafu fits the now usual Republican maneuver of shooting themselves in the foot. ---
**Author:** ![LMarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@LMarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LMarie)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/27 "2013-08-30T06:21:27Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > To clarify, the headline reads: Bill O’Reilly Falsely Claims Republicans Not Invited To March On Washington Event. > > As the article notes every member of Congress was invited to attend. Speaker of the House Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor were both invited to give a speech. Sorry, was stirring the pot a bit based on what he actually said in the video piece attached to the article. With the truth being reported, we know that he was either lying or grossly misinformed. Just thought it was amusing how, as usual, that side of the aisle chose to twist and reframe the story to fit their agenda. They are masters of the craft. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/28 "2013-08-30T07:14:41Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Incompetency can be blamed at first; but IMHO, how they are dealing with that snafu fits the now usual Republican maneuver of shooting themselves in the foot. True, because the best they could have hoped for from this was that their lack of attendance would be regarded as ignorance. If they push it and make a major issue out of it, it’ll look like they planned all this and it’ll move up from ignorance to an intentional boycott. And if the Republicans think they can spin their way out of that hole, they’ve been sniffing glue. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/29 "2013-08-30T07:55:11Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Fuck Bill O’Reilly. > > But, can I just say (and this is hard!) I really respect how George W. responded? I don’t have any love for the guy, but his excuse seemed valid (heart surgery) and the letter he sent was really nice. Yeah, I felt the same way when I read that, and when I saw the painting he made of his [dog](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/files/2013/02/Barney.jpg). Honestly, now that he’s retired, I can kind of see why people voted him. He really does have good charisma. When he’s not doing something morally reprehensible on the global stage on a nearly daily basis, he’s kind of likable. I keep reading things about him and thinking, “Was he really as bad as I remember?” And then I think, “Oh, right. War crimes.” ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/30 "2013-08-30T11:36:02Z")
It seems that Republicans are incapable of doing the right thing, every action must be weighed by the impact on the next election. Attending would gain them zero votes and incur the wrath of the Tea Klux Klan, therefore it is politically expedient for them to skip the event. It isn’t true by any stretch that all Republicans are racists, but it is true that virtually all racists are Republicans. This is their base, whom they dare not offend. I’m rather surprised that one individual hasn’t popped in to turn this into a debate on whether skipping the event was legal or not. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/31 "2013-08-30T13:12:42Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Honestly, now that he’s retired, I can kind of see why people voted him. He really does have good charisma. When he’s not doing something morally reprehensible on the global stage on a nearly daily basis, he’s kind of likable. It helps that you don’t have to listen to him speak. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/32 "2013-08-30T14:46:17Z")
Honestly, I think that W is, personally, a fundamentally decent person, and not in the least racist. Unfortunately, he’s also an idiot who allowed himself to be manipulated by people who were not in the least fundamentally decent. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/33 "2013-08-30T15:31:42Z")
> [@yorick73](#): > > [GOP Official: March on Washington Organizers Ignored Suggestions](http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/08/gop-official-march-on-washington-organizers-ignored-suggestions/) Democrats appearing to honor MLK and the March included the President and two former Presidents of the United States. Can the King family be blamed for hoping for Republicans of comparable stature? Both ex-President Bushes can be excused, with severe health problems, but there are several Republicans of great stature: Senators, Governors, former Presidential candidates, etc. But the Republicans proposed by GOP leadership to speak featured a _former_ Congressman, and a _state_ legislator. Their special qualifications? The color of their skin – precisely the criterion King came to Washington to oppose. Is it naive for me to imagine residents of D,D.wanting to attend the ceremonies whether invited to speak or not? Evidently: GOP leaders were happy to shun the ceremonies altogether when given speaking invitations with only two weeks’ notice. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/34 "2013-08-30T15:39:04Z")
> [@Chicagojeff](#): > > [Bill O'Reilly Complains About Lack Of Republican Speakers At MLK Anniversary | Crooks and Liars](http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/bill-oreilly-complains-about-lack-republic) > > And doubling down on lying as well… Fine… even Colin Powell has walked away from them… leave Ron christie on his own… looking like the lawn jockey he’s treated like… GOP has decided to go the route of preventing minority voting… rather than enticing minority votes… At about 2:28 of the second video on that page (the one where BO is talking to James Carville), why does BO call JC “Charles”? ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/35 "2013-08-30T15:42:01Z")
In Bill O’Reilly’s defense (I can’t believe I just wrote that) he did [apologize for getting it wrong](http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/08/30/20258714-a-rare-sight-oreilly-admits-error?lite). This doesn’t happen often, and needs to be pointed out and encouraged. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/36 "2013-08-30T15:42:08Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > But the Republicans proposed by GOP leadership to speak featured a _former_ Congressman, and a _state_ legislator. That’s all they had to work with. The only black Republican in Congress is Sen. Tim Scott, and he declined to attend. He says now that if the organizers had re-invited him and offered him a chance to speak, he would have gone. (Fun fact: Scott did serve a term in the House, but he was appointed to the Senate. He also refused to join the Congressional Black Caucus.) There are no black governors from either party. So if Scott couldn’t make it, they didn’t have much to work with. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/37 "2013-08-30T15:42:30Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Democracts excel on social issues, but are weak on foreign policy; GOP is diametrically opposite - to a tee The GOP is strong on foreign policy? Really? The GOP that got us into a totally unnecessary war in Iraq and is DYING to get us into an unnecessary war with Iran? THAT GOP? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/38 "2013-08-30T15:52:37Z")
> [@](#): > > So if Scott couldn’t make it, they didn’t have much to work with. Not much to work with? How is 47 senators, 242 representatives, and 30 governors “not much to work with”? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/39 "2013-08-30T15:57:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Not much to work with? How is 47 senators, 242 representatives, and 30 governors “not much to work with”? Which of them has anything particularly relevant to say on this occasion? I was genuinely surprised they invited McCain. He’s probably the last person in Congress who opposed the law (although he eventually changed his mind). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522/40 "2013-08-30T16:15:15Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Democrats appearing to honor MLK and the March included the President and two former Presidents of the United States. Can the King family be blamed for hoping for Republicans of comparable stature? Both ex-President Bushes can be excused, with severe health problems, but there are several Republicans of great stature: Senators, Governors, former Presidential candidates, etc. And, frankly, when the excuse is “I had a town hall meeting or a speech to some conservative interest group to give that day”, you’ve already blown the optics with your sense of priorities. There’s one 50th anniversary for this event – go rouse up some crowd over defunding Obamacare another day. I remember the day after the 2012 election with conservative commentators saying “We had Rice and Rubio and Martinez on stage at the convention! How could anyone say we don’t respect minorities!” as though they were sincerely befuddled at how marching a couple minorities over a stage (before a sea of white people) doesn’t just make up for decades of dog-whistle racial attacks, legislation aimed against minorities (while swearing it really isn’t) and straight-up dumb decisions like this one. But, hey, you got a few darker skinned people on a stage so that ought to be good for five or six percent at the polls, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-and-race/667522.md?page=3)