The political race…and race at the conventions

nobody@vox.com(KCRW Engineers) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:58:02 -0700

Recently an LA radio trade publication published an objection by a reader that another station’s reporter commented there weren’t many persons of color at the Republican National Convention. The reader felt it was a cheap shot and everything shouldn’t be turned into a racial issue.

I agree that everything definitely should NOT come down to a question of race. Yet this is an election of contrasts.

Contrast an older white war veteran running against a younger African American who was raised in Hawaii no less.   Contrast a white Washington insider VP running mate vs. a relatively unknown governor who is young, attractive woman running mate who has had family issues which many average Americans can identify with.

Contrasts.

I’m writing this from St. Paul as I wait for my flight back to LA.   I’m not a political wonk or claim to have any expertise on who has done what for whom. I however have been at both conventions for the last two weeks and I have eyes.   I watched the speeches with groups of locals in both cities at public spaces. I’ve spoken with and listened to delegates, cab drivers, bus riders, cops and other behind the scenes worker bees. I’ve heard from those who hold a viewpoint on the left, middle, right, right to life proponents and others somewhere in between. I’ve been impressed at the conviction which people hold their views and beliefs, whether I agree with them or not. I’ve not expressed a viewpoint when listening so much as I’ve engaged and listened. Last night I walked around the arena at the seating area as the RNC program was underway, prior to McCain appearing. Here’s what I’ve noticed.

In Denver the make of the attendee’s “looked” a lot like the population of Los Angeles. There were people of all colors and creeds.   There was electricity in the air as most had the feeling they were there to witness a piece of history, the nomination of African American as the democratic candidate for President of the United States.

In St. Paul the overwhelming majority of the attendees were white.   You can’t hide that.   Were there other colors and creeds? Yes.   Was there large number of women there? Yes.   But without fail, the majority of those in attendance where white.   On several occasions I took the bus back to the hotel from downtown St. Paul just a few blocks from the convention site.    Greater than half of those on public transit in the evening were non-white, much like LA. Looking about the streets, bars and hotels, the population here is largely white, but not to the degree seen at the RNC. Any number I’d attach would be a guess but based on my observations, there is a far higher ratio of non-white faces here in the host city than those who attended the RNC.

The air at the RNC was energized by the selection of Sarah Palin, but the tenor was not that of making history, but rather to prevent Obama from winning this race.   We heard from the Republican Party ideals many of use would like to see: smaller government that stays out of our business, fiscally restrained and pro-American.   There’s nothing wrong with that. Having been at the last two presidential conventions, these sound like the same points which were made in those cycles.

So what? Why do I make these observations and dare write them down, being a white guy from the Westside of LA?    Because if these parties and their delegates represent America, it’s pretty telling which part of America they are representing.

It’s not about race, but you can’t deny race is a driving factor this election.

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The political race…and race at the conventions