...From watching people arriving, it was clear than at least half [the 300 people at the "ethnic rally"] were white. Of the rest a couple busloads of people from Asian-American church groups made up the largest contingent. The number of African Americans probably did break into the two digits, but just barely.The George Washington University College Republicans didn't let good 'ol George Allen down though -- a large contingent of 'ringers' from GWU showed up, almost all white, and provided the cheering crowd which gave Allen such a roaring sendoff -- as you can see toward the end of my video on YouTube.
In sum, the Republican idea of an "ethnic" rally is to have a bunch of white people, almost no Hispanics or African Americans, and a "couple busloads of people from Asian-American church groups." Sort of like how at the GOP national convention this year, "Among the party's 2,380 delegates gathered in St. Paul only 36 are African Americans and very few other visible minorities were to be found on the convention floor."
Diversity (not), tolerance (not), and a great vision for America's future (definitely not). What a party!
He needs to move to Mississippi or Alabama. Virginia has evolved past Mr. Allen. Fake "Ethnic Rallies" will not get it done here.
Fake Cowboy - Fake Virginian
"Mr. Allen, real working Virginians don't wear cowboy boots, they don't work for us. We wear brogans!" - AmerIdiot
The last Survey USA poll showed that Republicans were polling something like 13% among people who were not white. This isn't news - it's a dog and pony show for the media and Gardner just lapped it right up and with barely any information of quotes from the other side to demonstrate reality.
I mean she couldn't find one non-white Democrat to say that the Republican Party has nothing to offer to minorities. No one to say that Corey Stewarts attacks on New Americans has alienated every latino in Northern Virginia?
There's only about 10 ethnic Democrat groups - Korean Democrats, Vietnamese Democrats, D-LOV, Palestinian Democrats, Arab Democrats, etc. etc. She couldn't source a single one???
The article is crap and Amy Gardner ought to put some actual time into her reporting next time.
By doing all it can to gin up its base and stoke racial tension, the Republican Party has done everything it can to alienate everyone else.
It's a totally bankrupt strategy and asking Senator Macacca to headline an event simply highlights how shallow their well is over there.
For example, when the Washington Post runs a story about global warming, don't they often get opinions from people who ideologically disagree with global warming? And doesn't it drive us all crazy that there is almost unanimous scientific agreement about global warming, yet they find the need to report on those who disagree?
We can't have it both ways: either we complain when they get both "sides" of the story (and by the way, I don't think there are two sides to the global warming story) or we complain when they don't get both sides of the story. No offense, but whining about crappy reporting just because you don't agree with what's written (especially in this case, when the article seems pretty bland, merely posting actual information about the rally and what organizers say) doesn't get us anywhere.
George Allen at an ethnic rally is like George Bush at a peace rally.