"Race" For The Future?

It beggars belief that, during the Administration of America's first African-American President, someone can publicly advocate a race-conscious strategy for the future of a major political party.  Then again, since the race we're talking about is white, and the party we're talking about is Republican--the party of the "Southern Strategy"--perhaps it's not so surprising.

Seeing this particular article made me think of something Grover Norquist said back in the heyday of the W administration.  He described "the Democratic base" as consisting mostly of Social Security and Medicare recipients, leading him to describe it as "dying."  Putting Norquist's trademark lack of charity and tact aside, I was reminded of this because, in fact, it is his party's base that is shrinking, as the 2008 election returns showed.  Seniors voted overwhelmingly for John McCain; they were, in fact, the only age group to do so.

In fact, it is the Republican base that is in mortal jeopardy, precisely because its defining demographic is, and has been for decades, race.  And that worked, sadly, because, for decades, American was mostly a nation of white people.  That is no longer the case in America, and it isn't just because of the influx of Hispanics.  Like it or not, and I take a back seat to no one in liking it, the future of this country is a multicultural, multiethnic society.  In other words, "E Pluribus Unum"--whether or not we trust God (and I hope we do).

The real irony is that Republican policies have damaged the social "safety net," including programs for senior citizens.  It isn't our basis that's dying off; it's them systematically killing their own base.

If the GOP wants to survive into the next decade, it's going to have to radically transform itself.  And that starts by thinking about not just what they're selling, but who they're selling it to.  Mainly, it will require it to think--which may be a new experience for all of us.