Racial Politics and Republicans

Schneider’s column was the blind man feeling the elephant’s leg. The race theme is only one aspect of Republican strength in past presidential elections, only one area which the Democrats might attack in 1992, and likely not one of the more rewarding areas at that.

The selling of a candidate is just that--a marketing job. Find a need and fill it, and start by taking inventory of the electorate’s needs. In other words, where are the swing voters happy with the Bush presidency and where are they unhappy?

I submit that the very high Bush approval rating stems almost exclusively from his foreign policy. Since any attack on this policy is thus bound to be counterproductive, Democrats in their own interest should consider nominating only someone who supported the military option in the Persian Gulf.

But the Administration leaves a great many swing voters--call them liberal Republicans or call them centrist Democrats--unhappy with its domestic policies. The economy is far from healthy and, whatever Bush’s influence on it might be, jobs are disappearing on his watch. Abortion (barely mentioned by Schneider) is a key issue in California, New York and other large states. The overwhelming conservative emphasis on the Supreme Court leaves many people uncomfortable.

The elephant has a trunk, a tail, tusks and floppy ears as well. Democrats need to feel the whole animal.

EVERETT DANIELS

Los Angeles