Despite years of protests from black and Latino members, analysis indicates House Democrats remain woefully behind the times when it comes to hiring diversity across their well-paid consultant class.
Now, some are blaming it for Democrats’ recent significant losses.
“I think the lack of diversity in the contracting is quite clear. They can do better. Historically, the black caucus has been [taking] point on trying to highlight that issue,” said Mississippi Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, a senior Congressional Black Caucus member. “Minorities, both black and brown, are the most loyal people to the party, and I think a recognition of that loyalty can come through the contracting.”
A study by Democrat-aligned PowerPac+ pointed out less than 2 percent of dollars spent during the 2010 and 2012 elections was spent with minority-owned firms. That amounts to only $8.7 million of a total of $514 million spent.
The report examined expenditures from the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Democrats may talk a good game when it comes to diversity, but a closer look indicates that not only is it merely talk, they aren’t even employing minorities to write the scripts.