I don’t think the Republican Party is getting good advice. I know it doesn’t have good leadership.
Although nonwhite voters will exceed white voters by the end of this decade, the Republican front runner is Donald Trump. They should’ve dumped him two weeks ago.
Trump is a human Confederate battle flag. His “brand” now embodies every ugly impulse bigots have had for the last 50 years. It’s not casual, it’s not even rational he continues to espouse his ridiculous birther slander against the president. He rails about Mexican rapists even though net Mexican migration is roughly zero and has been for the past five years. It continues in the face of losing almost all of his business partners. He has done more to unite Black and Latino interests than anyone in American history.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party struggles with how to edge away from a stinking disaster while simultaneously hugging it. The party leadership and most of the presidential frontrunners quiver in waffling indecision.
The difference between 2012 and 2016 is that cumulative insults and injuries Trayvon, Ferguson, Eric Garner, West Baltimore, Walter Scott and the massacre in South Carolina, aided by the self-destruction of white run “mainstream” media, have created an epic change in the expression of public opinion. What’s going viral right now A video of a Latino guy tearing down Confederate flags from the back of a pickup truck who was displaying them in an “in your face” manner.
I don’t know if the police chief who fired the cop wearing Confederate flag underpants on Facebook personally finds the Confederate battle flag offensive he sure did understand that it isoffensive. Tolerating people around you who are obstinately obtuse destroys your moral authority and in this case, endangers all of the other police officersunder the chief’s command.
Even NASCAR understands that not selling Confederate flag memorabilia isn’t enough, and they are now trying to stop fans fromdisplaying it. I don’t understand how the Republicans fail to see how #blacklivesmatter is directly connected to calling Mexican immigrants rapists. We’re all hearing about Trump going up in the polls, and right-wing articles wring their hands in worrying about “the core.” If the Republicans really think that’s their core, then they deserve to go down with that concept just like they went down in the last presidential election against a man running the worst economy since 1934. By not disavowing Trump immediately, without equivocation they are in the same pattern of behavior that will cause them to defeat themselves again.
Self-defeat, because I don’t think the Democrats have the depth of support they think they do. Nobody I know is all that excited about an “heir apparent” Bush-Clinton campaign.
The Republican Party should be taking notes from the business community Amazon, eBay, Walmart and others pulled Confederate flag merchandise from being sold almost immediately. Lilly, Cummins and Anthem vigorously objected to Indiana Governor Pence’s FRRA knowing that it would reduce their talent pool.They are much closer to understanding the repercussions of feckless leadership from their customers. Even the governor of South Carolina understood it. The days of accepting pseudo sub rosa racism are over, because the demographic tide has turned and it is unacceptable in the new reality of social media leading what’s being reported on “mainstream” media. The business community is also much closer to the reality of the “war for talent” talent votes with their feet quickly in these days of full employment, where the new entrants to the workforce are much different than the pre-recession workforce in demographics and attitudes.
Our country needs a two party system we need loyal opposition. As our country slowly strangles from an inadequate labor pool, we need a strong Republican Party to advance ideas and leaders from both sides who will negotiate solutions to fit our diverse America and get the 47 percent back to work. The path back to becoming relevant to the here-and-now mainstream begins with telling Trump that he has no place in the Republican Party.
About the Author
Luke Visconti is the CEO and founder of Fair360, formerly DiversityInc, the leading publication for diversity, and is the creator of the Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50, the foremost corporate diversity list.
A recognized leader in the diversity space, Luke writes extensively, is a frequent speaker at colleges and corporate engagements, and serves as a counselor to corporate CEOs on matters of diversity and inclusion.
A Rutgers University graduate, Luke is a former Naval Aviator and as a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel has briefed three Chiefs of Naval Operations on issues of diversity and inclusion. He also created the Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Foundation and has served on various boards, including The PhD Project and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.
