Are the political parties planning ahead?
by Paul Cuadros We witnessed two visions for a Republican Party at last summer’s national convention in San Diego. One, a born-again party of multiracial and multicultural inclusiveness, controlled the stage most notably in the powerful figures of former Gen. Colin Powell and Congressman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma. The other, visible when the cameras panned the delegates, was overwhelmingly white, a party that has managed to attract few blacks and few Hispanics to its ranks. Indeed, the dilemma for Republicans is whether their party can begin moving beyond imagery to the serious work of appealing to minorities. But they aren’t alone. While the Democrats were able to present a more diverse delegation at their national convention in Chicago, some strains were clearly visible. The Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr. took pains during his high- profile speech to reassure disaffected minorities and progressives in his party’s ranks following President Bill Clinton’s decision to back away from 50 years of De
