Can GOP 'unplay' the race card?

[Eugene]

Can GOP 'unplay' the race card?

By Joan Vennochi, Globe Columnist | July 19, 2005

<snip>

In a speech this month before the NAACP, Ken Mehlman, the current
RNC chairman, said, "Some Republicans gave up on winning the
African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit
politically from racial polarization. I am here today as the
Republican chairman to tell you we were wrong."

<snip>

Now comes Mehlman's apology. Can it help the cause?

Deval Patrick, a Democrat who served as assistant attorney general
during the Clinton administration and is now running for governor in
Massachusetts, said, "The Republicans have a lot to answer for . . .
An apology is never too late, but it's not enough if it's just words."
Added Patrick, who is African-American: "In some ways, the Southern
Strategy of yesterday is the suburban strategy of today, to follow
that old temptation, what divides us, instead of what unites us."

In other words, racial division may no longer be key to electoral
success. But that is not the end of the GOP's divide and conquer
strategy. In last year's presidential campaign, the party used
issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, and patriotism to divide
voters.

That makes the new politics a lot like the old: Do what it takes to
win.

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/07/19/can_gop_unplay_the_race_card/

[cornermouse]

1. Mehlman did not completely unplay the GOP race card.

If you've been listening to the news, you should have heard that he went to another meeting afterwards at which he partially replayed that same race card.

[cap]

2. but there is no formal repudiation and expulsion of today's racists

so people know this is nonsense.