Political Analyst Demands Commission on Presidential Debates Question Bush and Kerry About Racial Issues in Final Debate

(PRWEB) October 11, 2004

Iraq, the war on terrorism, Afghanistan,jobs and the economy,tax cuts,and health care have dominated the first two presidential debates. But what about racial issues? They have been missing in action from the debates. Millions of Americans have intently watched the debates. They are a major vehicle in which they learn about issues, where the candidates stand on them, and how they will be dealt with once one or the other is elected or reelected. Political Analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson formally requested that the Commission on Presidential Debates submit questions to President Bush and John Kerry on racial issues and problems. Hutchinson says that Bush and Kerry have a duty and obligation to address them directly in their last debate. "Racial issues are also vital public policy issues and worthy of debate and discussion," says Hutchinson,"There are millions of American, minorities and whites, that are affected by them and Bush and Kerry and the debate commission do a grave disservice by ignoring them."

Those compelling racial issues include: the continuing debate over affirmative action, voting rights, hate crimes,police abuse, racial profiling, housing and employment discrimination, failing inner city public schools, the HIV/AIDS pandemic,and the gaping racial disparities in the criminal justice system. "For the past two decades, presidents and their challengers," says Hutchinson "have shoved these vital public issues to the backburner of national policy. When they have burst forth as national problems, presidents have been ill-prepared to deal with them." The debates are tailor made opportunities for them to educate Americans on their importance, says Hutchinson. He will tell why they are important subjects for debate and the continuing impact race has on American society. Hutchinson has also challenged the presidential debate commission to require Bush and Kerry to answer questions on how their administration would handle troubling racial problems.

# # #