Tacoma's Mayor Marilyn Strickland recently told students at Pacific Lutheran University that the reasons Republicans were unsuccessful in recruiting minorities was because "they are racist." When her comments leaked to the media, she said she intended to say that they were "perceived as racist."

I don't buy the idea that she "intended" to say something different. But I can accept that in hindsight she wishes she had. And that's a start. At least she acknowledges that Republicans are trying to include minorities, which is more than some Democrats have been willing to say of late. And it's good that she feels enough shame in her remarks that she wishes to modify them. As someone who speaks in public for a living, I know it's easy to say something stupid you wish you could take back.

But I wish Mayor Strickland, and other Democrats who can so easily smear 33 percent of the American population (roughly), would pause to consider that perhaps the perception they refer to is of their own making. A party that polled a majority-desire for an African American candidate (Colin Powell) long before Obama; a party that features Indian-American governor's; a party that celebrated the victory of Tim Scott over the son of Strom Thurman; a party in which an African American candidate polled in first place among GOP Presidential primary contenders-is not a party of "racists." It does not think of race in the same way as Democrats. Democrats seek to group people by their gender, race or other identity. Republicans seek to measure people as individuals.

This does not mean there is no racism--but what racism that has yet to be extinguished is the racism of individuals (in both parties of all races).

Here is Mayor Stickland's response to a listener of mine who shared his experience with the mayor's office (name withheld by request):

I wrote a very respectful e-mail to Mayor Strickland of Tacoma last night. She called me personally this morning to speak to me about it. She told me more than once that she was impressed by the respectful tone of my commentary.

She wanted to make the point that not only were her words poorly chosen, but did not convey the meaning of what she was trying to say. Her point was to say that African Americans (she actually used the term 'blacks') agree, socially, with Republicans on most issues such as abortion, the importance of family, faith, etc.... are in line with conservative voters. But that the Republican Party itself has trouble with the problem that it is sometimes "perceived" as racist.

She told me that the idea that all Republicans are racist is ridiculous and she knows that for a fact.

She truly came across to me as very sincere and apologetic for her misstatement.

I've personally chosen to trust Mayor Strickland's word and let bygones be bygones.

If you decide to mention any of this on the air, I have to ask that you omit my name. Blacklisting conservatives is VERY real, even in communities like the Pacific Northwest.

Please feel free to use any of the information provided if you would like.

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