USC Cancels Gubernatorial Debate Over 'Lack of Diversity' Among Candidates
The University of Southern California made a sudden decision to cancel a scheduled gubernatorial debate just 24 hours before it was set to begin. The cancellation came after it was revealed that all six candidates who had qualified under polling and fundraising metrics were white, leading to accusations from Democratic candidates of colour that the event excluded minority voices.
Race as a Non-Factor in Contemporary America
According to columnist Larry Elder, the Democrats' focus on race ignores substantial evidence suggesting that race is no longer a significant factor in modern American society. He cites a recent report from the left-leaning Brookings Institution titled "Interracial Cooperation in the United States," which found that 90% of respondents considered race irrelevant in their business decisions, and 83% felt the same when choosing friends.
Elder argues that the platforms of these candidates on key issues such as housing, crime, homelessness, and taxes are virtually indistinguishable, regardless of race. He questions whether there is any real difference between a white candidate and a Black, Hispanic, or Asian American candidate who shares the same policy positions, such as raising taxes on the wealthy or criticizing former President Donald Trump.
Controversial Remarks and Political Backlash
The article highlights several instances where minority politicians have faced backlash for deviating from left-wing orthodoxy. For example, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass) stated in 2019, "We don't need any more Black faces that don't want to be a Black voice. We don't need any more brown faces that don't want to be a brown voice." This contrasts with former President Barack Obama's 2016 Howard University speech, where he emphasized that "there's no one way to be Black."
Elder shares his own experience during California's 2021 gubernatorial recall election, when Los Angeles Times columnist Erika D. Smith, a Black woman, labeled him "the Black face of white supremacy" for his views on racism, taxes, and personal responsibility. He notes that she declined to explain her comments on his radio show.
Broader Social Issues and Political Priorities
Elder criticizes Democrats for focusing on racial grievances while neglecting what he describes as America's most consequential domestic issue: the epidemic of children born to unmarried mothers. Citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he points out that approximately 70% of Black children are born to unmarried mothers, compared to 54% for Hispanics, 27% for non-Hispanic whites, and 12% for Asians. Overall, 40% of U.S. births in 2023 occurred outside of marriage.
Children raised without a married father in the home are far more likely to live in poverty, drop out of high school, and engage in criminal activity. Elder argues that father absence is a stronger predictor of these outcomes than race or income alone. Despite this, Democrats, who control most urban policies, rarely address broken family structures.
Educational Challenges and Policy Failures
Democrats have long governed major urban school districts, yet Black eighth-graders consistently score in the low teens for proficiency in math and reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Elder notes that the Democratic Party often opposes school choice while many politicians enroll their own children in private schools.
Instead of tackling these pressing issues, Elder contends that Democrats expend energy on matters like debates lacking minority candidates, even when those candidates hold similar views to their white counterparts. He concludes that children caught in the "diversity" crossfire deserve better attention and solutions from political leaders.
