All of the leading Republican presidential candidates decided to skip the debate scheduled for tonight at Baltimore’s own Morgan State University, a historically black college. I’m sure all of their excuses are valid – they all had scheduling conflicts. Just like they happened to have scheduling conflicts recently for the Hispanic issue debate as well.

You know they’re wrong when members of their own party like Newt Gingrich chastise them. Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who is African-American and a Republican, told the New York Times that he was disappointed and that this is a bad reflection on the GOP. Even Steele’s ex-boss, former Gov. Bob Ehrlich, posted in the unfriendly confines for a debate against Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

Sadly, this is the direction our national political climate is moving. The man who pioneered this behavior is none other than President George W. Bush. Rather than talking directly with Americans who may disagree with him, he cherry-picks pro-Bush audiences who cheer him. His famous “Mission Accomplished” photo ops keep him in the dark and avoid any tough questions.

In recent years, more Jews have found a home in the Republican Party, which had been known as a primarily white Christian organization. Avoiding issues important to the black community and the growing Hispanic community reflects their poor leadership capabilities, a la President Bush.

The African-American and Hispanic communities – and the Jewish community—deserve better.

Anything that drives yet another nail into the Republican coffin brings a smile to this Jew’s punim.

Maybe they don’t want to be pelted with cookies (Oreos), pies, and assorted snack foods like the last time there was a candidate “debate” at Morgan.

As far as this Jew goes, I feel more comfortable among the “white Christians” in the GOP then the stalinist anti-semites that seem to dominate the Democrat party. Guess the Democrats also having all the KKK guys might have something to do with it too….