April 29, 2004
ALL OF THE GOOD ONES ARE TAKEN:
Kerry campaign lacks diversity at top: Mostly white inner circle worries some observers (The Associated Press, April 29, 2004)
A lack of minority representation at the upper levels of John Kerry’s presidential campaign threatens to weaken enthusiasm among black and Hispanic voters, two core constituencies, some Democrats and advocacy groups say.Kerry’s inner circle — the dozen or so advisers who participate in the campaign’s most important decisions — is mostly white. [...]
Census Bureau estimates show that in 2002, 81 percent of Massachusetts residents were white, 7 percent were Hispanic and 5 percent were black. Nationally, the population is about 68 percent white, 14 percent Hispanic and 12 percent black.
The problem isn't that they're too white; it's that they're too liberal. But anticipate a quota hire by next week. "Donna Brazile, please report to the office, Donna Brazile..." Posted by Orrin Judd at April 29, 2004 5:19 PM
The same statements have been made about most of the recent Democratic campaign efforts - remember the SAWBs? I believe they were Mondale's (or maybe Dukakis's).
Posted by: jim hamlen at April 29, 2004 7:43 PMI haven't lived there in a number of years
but I'd still venture a guess that Mass elected officials are probably well over 98% white, so it's never been an issue for Kerry in a statewide election and the race issue only ever comes
up in some Boston neighborhood politics and whenever the dismal MCAS results of minorties
comes up.