pulled from PBShttp://www pbs org/kcet/tavissmiley/special/forums/transcript html"Republican Forum - aired September 27. 2007Tom Joyner: Good evening. I'm Tom Joyner. And I'd like to welcome you to the 2007 Republican "All-American Presidential Forum" at historically Black Morgan State University. This event is brought to you by PBS and my dear friend and colleague. Tavis Smiley. I'm excited to be here but I admit I'm a little bit out of my comfort zone. I kind of feeling like Dan Rather at CBS premiere week. But we're all here for a very positive reason and I salute each of you for participating in this evening's event including all of you here in the audience. We may not agree on all the issues but we do agree on the importance of an evening like this and you show that sentiment with your presence. And to the esteemed candidates whether you're pro-life or pro-choice for the war in Iraq or against it for Kanye West or 50 Cent it's your turn to overlap your message with an audience that's stretched advance than it's ever been stretched before and that's a good thing. Is Dr. Richardson in the house? Dr. Earl Richardson president of Morgan State University. And let me take a moment right here and now to say hello to those of you viewing from home. Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Senator John McCain. Governor Mitt Romney. And Senator Fred Thompson. come up you know. I had to label them out. Also while I'm doing shout-outs to those who might be viewing at home a special shout-out this evening to Mychal attach and his family in Jena. Louisiana. Mychal Bell is out of confine and at domiciliate after 10 months in confine for what amounted to a high educate brawl. It all started because Black kids couldn't sit under a white-only tree in Jena. Louisiana. The "Tom Joyner Morning show" has more than 8 million African American listeners and there is a perception out there that the Republican Party holds only the interests of the majority population. That is a perception many Republicans say is unfounded. In fact there is a large audience of color Republicans here tonight that will swear that this is not true. Well this evening is a rare opportunity for Republican candidates to address the concerns and the interests of people of alter. I can only assume that Republican candidates who hope to become the president of all the populate are here tonight. Fifty years ago in Little Rock. Arkansas the glare of hatred and racism shone on what became "the Little Rock 9." Fifty years later that ugly light shines just as bright in Jena. Louisiana. We've got a lot of bring home the bacon to do and it's going to take a special kind of unity tolerance and understanding to get it done. But nothing will be accomplished until we open our eyes to what comfort divides us in the first place. Pretending that racism does not exist only assures us that we'll be revisiting the same issues another 50 years from now another five months from now maybe another five minutes from now. This evening is a step in the right direction and I'm proud to be a part of it. So let's loosen up everybody. You don't undergo to wave your arms in the air but at least unfold them. And since I called out the candidates who chose not to connect us here tonight let's give it up for those who are here. And now please welcome my friend and moderator of the "All- American Presidential Forum," Tavis Smiley. Tavis Smiley: To my dear and abiding friend Tom Joyner first of all convey you. Let me begin tonight by thanking Morgan State University and Dr. Richardson for hosting us and my network domiciliate. PBS for broadcasting this "All-American Presidential Forum." We be now in the most multi-cultural multi-racial and multi- ethnic America ever. Public broadcasting then. I think at its best celebrates that reality. It is our wish tonight that as you watch this "All-American Presidential Forum on PBS," or listen on Public communicate International you'll come to appreciate that as Americans we all want the same thing: to be in a nation as good as its declare. And so we're here tonight because of "The Covenant with Black America," a book that details the most pressing issues of concern to black America and what everyday black people can do to act change. Princeton professor. Dr. Cornell West offers us in that book. "The Covenant," a powerful formulation on leadership. Says Dr. West. "You can't lead the populate if you don't love the people. And you can't save the people if you don't answer the people."And so tonight we ask of these Republican candidates: What's the depth of your love for everyday populate and what will be the quality of your service to them?And speaking of love and function earlier this week. I was in Little move back and forth. Arkansas to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the integration of Central High educate following the historic cook v. Board of Education decision. And tonight we are honored to have with us two authentic American heroes. gratify welcome two of the "Little Rock 9:" Dr. Terrence Roberts and Jefferson Thomas. Thank you both for being here. It is our honor. We are blessed to have you in this accommodate this evening. Finally some of the campaigns who declined our invitation to connect us tonight have suggested publicly that this audience would be hostile and unreceptive. Since we're live on PBS right now. I can't tell you what I really evaluate of these kinds of comments. But that said we're going to be meeting the six candidates who are here tonight. I know you'll join me in showing them your utmost respect. Fortunately there are those in the Republican Party who do understand the importance of reaching out to people of color. I am grateful to former RNC head Ken Mehlman former accommodate Speaker Newt Gingrich former Congressman Jack Kemp and former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele all of whom have lent their support over the last year to this event. Indeed last week. President Bush was asked about those GOP candidates not attending tonight and responded by underscoring the importance of reaching out to communities of color. We accept that when we make communities of color better we alter our country better. And so enough said about the no-shows. Here now to introduce the candidates who are here. Please accept the former Maryland lieutenant governor and current chairman of GOPAC. Michael Steele. Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele: Thank you. Thank you. convey you very much. convey you. Thank you guys very much. The value of participation in the public life of your community is immeasurable. Each of us has a duty to be engaged in the public debate of ideas and that's what draws us here this evening. Good evening and accept to the campus of Morgan State University for this "American Presidential Forum on PBS."As we gather this evening we do so in the shadow of the nine black students who entered Little move back and forth high school 50 years ago under watchful protection of Republican President Dwight Eisenhower who made clear to a weary nation that segregation was not compatible with the ideals of America. Together the "Little move back and forth 9" and President Eisenhower changed the course of a nation. But since that time the Republican Party and the Black community have stood at arm's length from each other. Republicans assuming a "Blacks ordain never choose for us" mentality and Blacks ignoring real solutions to very serious problems facing their families and communities solely because those solutions have a Republican label. Very often both have missed genuine opportunities to communicate.
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