current issue number (4) : February 2003 (give or take a month)

Republican Party champions diversity in campaign photography.

“The Republican Party is proudly leading the nation in ethnically diverse supporters pictured in campaign photography.” announced Republican leader Trent Lott. “The Democrats may still sponsor more legislation in areas like affirmative action, affordable housing, and protection from racial discrimination, but the Republican’s have taken a clear leadership role in campaign photography.”

Senator Lott’s latest race for the US Senate is a prime example of the new Republican initiative. While 98.2 percent of Lott’s own political base in Mississippi is composed of conservative White southerners, this did not stop Lott from including at least two representatives from his twelve Black supporters in each campaign photograph. This aggressive effort to diversity supporters pictured in campaign photography is typical of the leadership position taken by prominent Republicans.

Other Republican diversity initiatives include more interviews with people of color at Republican campaign events. Lott explains, “There is no reason that the Republican party cannot provide a strong public message about our support of the Black community, especially when that message doesn’t interfere with our political platform in any way. Our voting record may say to the Black and Latino community, 'get off your lazy ass welfare mom and put down the crack pipe while your at it'.” This does not mean that we cannot still come together around the ballot box, casting our votes in harmony and unison for diversity in campaign photography.

Rush Limbaugh, an influential talk show host, could not agree more. “While my party wanted to keep African Americans at the back of the bus two decades ago we have seen the error of our ways. When I find a Black or Latino Republican at my show, I place them at the front of the studio audience. I get some great close-ups during commercial breaks and they can really feel like they're part of the something special. I for one am proud that the Republican Party has stopped exploiting minorities and has started to embrace them whenever one or two happen to show up.