That’s a shame, writes Williams. “Having someone on the ticket who is not white would be useful because Democrats are sure to hammer Republicans in the upcoming general election for their abysmal record on race relations in the age of Trump.”
Republicans’ “record of hostility to the political interests of Blacks, Latinos and other minorities is hard to deny,” Williams says, “even for people of color who, like Scott and Haley, have outstanding records of personal success.”
But resumes won’t be enough. “They must be prepared for tough questions about their party’s role in perpetuating racial disparities through policies that ignore minority needs. They must also be prepared for their lofty answers to turn off most voters of color.”
Ultimately, to succeed, Scott, Haley and their entire party must become “a home for racial optimism, not racial denial.” But so far, according to Williams, they’re having trouble even acknowledging that racism still exists.
Read the op-ed at TheHill.com.
