I was thoroughly entertained as I watched this year's Republican candidates verbally spar with each other Sunday morning on MSNBC. It was their second debate in 2 days and, while I watched for purely entertainment purposes, I wondered: Why do all of these candidates seem so ridiculous to me?
I know what you're thinking... "You're black. You're going to vote for President Obama regardless." And well, you're probably right. But it's not because of the similarities in our complexions. Herman Cain looks just like my great uncle George and there still wasn't a chance in hell I was going to vote for him.
But why is that? Why don't 'we' -- 20-something Black Americans -- care about this year's GOP candidates? With full knowledge that this could lead to a whole slew of answers, I've decided to give the 3 (probable) reasons why WE don't care about the GOP Presidential Candidates:
These candidates seem out of touch. They're arguing about who's running negative ads and who has remained most loyal to their party when really all I care about is who is going to put policies in place that will help me find a job and pay off my student loans. I want to know that these candidates care about ME (or US) and they haven't proven that in any way yet. They seem like they're more interested in the power associated with the presidency than the progress of the American people.
They bicker like school children. My favorite line from yesterday's debate was when Newt Gingrich turned red and called Governor Romney's assertion that he wasn't a career politician "pious bologna." Adults arguing over who said what about whom are the reason why I love watching Vh1 reality shows, but it's not behavior becoming of a president... not my president. We watch reality shows to make fun of the characters. The GOP candidates are no different.
There's no representation of 'us.' Not on the debate stage. Not in their agendas. Not in their audience. This has less to do with my age and skin color than it does about the candidates' platform/target audience. They stand there debate after debate and it's as though they've already assumed they're not talking to me. Both Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have come under fire for racially insensitive remarks. And, while those may have been mistakes (*raises eyebrow*), the fact remains that they are reflective of a bigger picture: GOP candidates are not targeting Black Americans. And if we're not being represented in your campaign, then why should we care?
That said, I'll be casting my vote for the candidate who proposes to most adequately represent ME for the next four years. And, as far as the GOP candidates go... I can't say I see one who does that. Not yet at least.
