Dueling Conventions Show a Contrast on Diversity
After Mitt Romney's loss in the 2012 presidential election, the Republican Party stressed in its so-called autopsy report that it needed to do a better job appealing to minority voters if it wanted to win national elections in the future. But comparing the diverse first night of the Democratic National Convention to last week's largely white GOP convention shows there is still a gap between the parties.
The contrast in speakers was stark. Of the approximately 50 people who delivered remarks in Philadelphia at the Democratic convention, roughly half were minorities. The lineup included sitting legislators like New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison and Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings. There were athletes, like former pro basketball players Jason and Jarron Collins, DREAMers like 26-year-old Astrid Silva, and Karla and Francisca Ortiz—the mother and daughter who could be separated by deportation. And of course, first lady Michelle Obama.
Meanwhile, the GOP had roughly the same amount of speakers on day one, but just over half a dozen were minorities. There was Jason Beardsley, adviser for Concerned Veterans for America; soap star/actor Antonio Sabato Jr.; and GOP Senate candidate Darryl Glenn.
Noticeably, some of biggest minority stars in the party -- like New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, Rep. Mia Love of Utah, Sen. Tim Scott and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley -- did not take the stage at all during the whole week.
Stuart Stevens, who served as a chief strategist from Romney's presidential campaign, took notice. "It's 8:10 on opening night and more Latinos have spoken at DNC than four nights of RNC," the GOPer tweeted on Monday.
"There were more Trumps who spoke than Hispanics," the Republican told NBC News on Tuesday, in a biting assessment of the RNC. "The odds are that the Trumps are going to vote for him anyways. He needs Hispanics…It's an odd way to win an election. You have to have a broader appeal than people like yourself."
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