Writing In Twilight

Republicans get a great deal of flack for being "sexist" and "racist." In my experience, the percentage of "-ist idiots" is about the same in each party; the difference is that the prejudiced assholes in the Democratic party tend to be rich, upper-class intellectuals who say the right things so they can look good and have lots of practice rationalizing their actions. The prejudiced assholes in the Republican party tend to be redneck SOBs who are at least honest about their prejudices. In practice, what this means is that the Democrats often put people of minority groups in visible positions purely so that they look good (and can then boast about it). Republicans, while not being immune to this phenomenon, are far more likely to look at qualifications and abilities, first, and skin color/gender second. Which is actually better for the advancement of those races than just trying to fill a quota. Note that Powell and Rice, who achieved higher political offices than any American of color before them, did so under a Republican administration. Note that the Democratic Black political candidate's only real qualification for President at this time that we know of is his skin color.

Me, I vote competence over color every time. Whether that color is white, black, or purple.