Dean's comments: the stats

First, let me say that as a white Christian (male) I was not impressed not surprised strongly disappointed by Gov. Dean's comments about the Republican Party as a "white Christian party."

Several key Democrats have responded appropriately (in my opinion), as I mentioned in this post.

While Gov. Dean's comments were certainly unnecessary, misdirected, and perhaps even "over the top", they were not untrue.

In speaking this week with other people, many believe that the Republican Party is the "big tent" that we see on stage at the national convention.

(Via MyDD) William Rivers Pitt at Truthout has the, well...truth:

"Of 3,643 Republicans serving in state legislatures across the country, only 44 of them are minorities, amounting to 1.2%. Texas, with a minority population of 47%, has 106 Republicans in the state legislature. There are exactly zero African Americans and exactly zero Hispanics serving in that body as Republicans. In Washington, 274 of the 535 elected Senators and Representatives are Republican. Exactly five are minorities.

Of course, there are ethnic and religious minorities within the rank and file of the GOP, but every demographic analysis of the party's makeup clearly shows the vast majority of Republicans fit exactly into the description offered by Mr. Dean. His point, by the way, was not that white Christians are bad people. His point was that, in this pluralist society made up of so much diversity, the Republican Party does not represent the true face of this country."

Ed.: The problem with Gov. Dean's comments and even Mr. Pitt's defense is that it misses the point. Democrats, their spokespeople, and their defenders should be broadcasting the positive aspects of their own party rather than divisively attacking the GOP.

Even if Gov. Dean's intent was something other than disparaging persons of faith (or even the GOP as a whole), his modus operandi of focusing his own and now his party's energy on the differences within our society is a perfect imitation of precisely what many Americans (should) detest about the Republican Party.

If the Democratic chairman wants to distinguish his party from the GOP that is the distinction he/she should paint -- not imitate.
- posted by C @ 8:29:00 PM