Party of Minority Success

For John, BLUF:  Those GOPers, they just don't get identity politics.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Over at Politico we have an article on the GOP 2016 Field and the "minority" members in that field.  The Authors are Katie Glueck and Tarini Parti and the story can be found here.  The headline is "Race and the race:  The GOP’s 2016 slate may be its most diverse ever, but don’t expect the candidates to talk much about it." Here is how it starts:

Bobby Jindal is Indian-American, but you’ll never hear him describe himself that way. Marco Rubio insists he’s an “American of Hispanic descent.”  And Ted Cruz “certainly” identifies as Hispanic, but he didn’t run for office as “the Hispanic guy.”

These Republican lawmakers, along with African-American conservative favorite Ben Carson, look poised to make the 2016 GOP presidential field the party’s most diverse ever.  They are all mulling over White House runs as the GOP continues to struggle with minority voters and as racial tensions over police conduct have captivated the nation.

But none is planning to play up his race or ethnicity in a presidential campaign, or even to stress the potentially historic nature of his candidacy.  Instead, according to interviews with donors, strategists, aides and several of the possible candidates themselves, each is more likely to hit broader themes such as the American dream and the importance of hard work, which, for Jindal, Cruz and Rubio, would include nods to their parents’ immigrant experience.

Such messages would, in theory, have more universal appeal by stressing the commonalities of the American experience instead of its divisions — while also avoiding the identity politics that are toxic among GOP primary voters.  It’s a tactic that may be welcomed as an expression of unity by some minorities, but it is already seen by others, especially advocates for immigrants, as dismissive of unique hardships facing their communities.

The article then goes on to disparage not acknowledging and capitalizing on one's ethnic background, the accidents of one's birth.  The ending is about how Mr Sanjay Puri, chairman of the U.S.-India Political Action Committee, "a bipartisan group", thinks that Gov Jindal is not interested in the issues of his PAC.

What is funny, to me, is the bio for Writer Tarini Parti, which includes this comment:

She refuses to be acknowledged as a Southerner, despite having mastered the Eastern North Carolina twang.

If Writer Tarini Parti can't acknowledge who she is, why would she expect Gov Bobby Jindal to acknowledge who he is?

Hat tip to Memeorandum.

Regards  —  Cliff