Re: They Should Know Better than to Lt Paul Ryan do a Photo Op
I generally try to ignore a person's race. There was this fellow who once said we should be "a nation where [people] will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
I believe interns are all volunteers, so unless Democrats want Republicans to go out and draft minority interns, I guess they are stuck with those that apply. Applicants are a self-selecting group. If you don't apply to be an intern with a Republican congressman, you can't be selected. (Carlos Vera points out that internships are mostly unpaid and minorities can't afford to take a summer off of working and afford to live in DC. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute pays for Hispanic interns, which are available to "promising Latino undergraduate students." So who is excluding whom on the basis of race?
Or maybe the unstated allegation is that Republicans are behind the scenes only selecting white interns out of race prejudice. If so, I'd have to see the files of applicants to compare the white selectees and the black non-selectees. And of course, I'd bet Republicans would prefer an African-American over a white one, ceteris paribus, if for no other reason than to avoid this awkward situation.
The state of Alabama is 72% white and 26% black. The Crimson Tide football team is as close to a meritocracy as one will find in the state. Would anybody like to see the team be more representative of the demographics of the state, rather than selecting, and starting, the best available athlete, regardless of skin color? (For the record, I'd prefer Coach Saban do what he is doing, recruiting and playing the players that give the team the best chance to win, regardless of skin color).
I generally try to ignore a person's race. There was this fellow who once said we should be "a nation where [people] will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
I believe interns are all volunteers, so unless Democrats want Republicans to go out and draft minority interns, I guess they are stuck with those that apply. Applicants are a self-selecting group. If you don't apply to be an intern with a Republican congressman, you can't be selected. (Carlos Vera points out that internships are mostly unpaid and minorities can't afford to take a summer off of working and afford to live in DC. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute pays for Hispanic interns, which are available to "promising Latino undergraduate students." So who is excluding whom on the basis of race?
Or maybe the unstated allegation is that Republicans are behind the scenes only selecting white interns out of race prejudice. If so, I'd have to see the files of applicants to compare the white selectees and the black non-selectees. And of course, I'd bet Republicans would prefer an African-American over a white one, ceteris paribus, if for no other reason than to avoid this awkward situation.
The state of Alabama is 72% white and 26% black. The Crimson Tide football team is as close to a meritocracy as one will find in the state. Would anybody like to see the team be more representative of the demographics of the state, rather than selecting, and starting, the best available athlete, regardless of skin color? (For the record, I'd prefer Coach Saban do what he is doing, recruiting and playing the players that give the team the best chance to win, regardless of skin color).
Last edited: