The top four leading candidates in the Republican Party poll for president skipped a minority debate hosted by black and Latino journalists on Thursday, Sept. 27. Syndicated radio host, Tom Joyner teased the four men with an opening statement that led the audience to laugh.
“Let me take a moment right here and now to say hello to those of you viewers from home: Mayor Rudy Giuliani (N.Y.), Senator John McCain (Ariz.), Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.) and Senator Fred Thompson (Tenn.),” he said.
The debate moderator, Tavis Smiley thanked the other six candidates in the Republican Party for participating. They were Senator Sam Brownback (Kan.), former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Rep. Duncan Hunter (Calif.), Rep. Ron Paul (Texas), Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.) and Allen Keyes.
“Fortunately, there are those in the Republican Party who do understand the importance of reaching out to people of color,” Smiley said.
Former Arkansas Gov. Huckabee was embarrassed for his party and for those who did not come. He said his legacy if elected would be to help minorities get more equal treatment in the criminal justice system as well.
Rep. Ron Paul received the loudest cheer when he said that minorities are unfairly punished in the criminal justice system. Paul is also the only Republican candidate for president that opposed the Iraq War.
Senator Sam Brownback said that he would continue to push for the National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington D.C. Allen Keyes said the best thing for minorities would be to bring more religious values into schools. Rep.
Tom Tancredo noted that he was the only Republican candidate who showed up for a summer forum hosted by the NAACP.
This is not the first time that prominent Republicans have skipped a debate for minority voters. Senator John McCain (Ariz.) was the only republican candidate who committed to a forum on Univision. The Democratic candidates for president also turned down a debate on FOX News when online groups called for a boycott.
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