Republican frontrunners duck debate at Morgan state college

[AlCzervik]

By Jill Lawrence, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Three of the four leading Republican presidential candidates turned down invitations to a PBS debate this month at a historically black college in Baltimore, leading moderator Tavis Smiley on Thursday to accuse them of ignoring minority voters.
Smiley told USA TODAY the rejections are part of a pattern, noting most GOP candidates declined invitations to address several black and Hispanic groups, including a Univision debate for a Latino audience.

"No one should be elected president of this country in 2008 if they think that along the way they can ignore people of color," said Smiley, host of radio and TV talk shows. "If you want to be president of all America, you need to speak to all Americans."

Arizona Sen. John McCain, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney have declined to participate in the Sept. 27 debate at Morgan State University. "I feel good," Smiley said, about the odds of getting former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson. Five candidates trailing in national and state polls will be there.

more at link
http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Smiley%3A+GOP+candidates+ignore+minorities+-+USATODAY.com&expire=&urlID=23922603&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felection2008%2F2007-09-13-tavis_N.htm%3Floc%3Dinterstitialskip&partnerID=1660

[AspenRose]

1. Did Tancredo say he'd show up?

He showed up for the NAACP I think....the only republican who did (!)

[AlCzervik]

2. the non front runners will be there including Tancredo.

[AspenRose]

3. Isn't that amazing

Irony alert!

Well, since the frontrunners want to be the second incarnation of B*sh, they're only doing what he would do....ignore minority organizations...