GOP Taps 3 for Convention Roles, Citing Diversity

The Republicans have named three members of Congress--one Latino, one woman and one African American--to leadership roles for a national convention they hope will present an image of diversity.

Reps. Henry Bonilla of Texas, Jennifer Dunn of Washington state and J.C. Watts Jr. of Oklahoma will be deputy permanent co-chairs of the convention that begins July 31 in Philadelphia, GOP convention spokesman Tim Fitzpatrick said Thursday. The permanent chairman is House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert of Illinois.

Campaign officials for likely presidential nominee George W. Bush have said the convention will reflect the diversity the Texas governor wants in the Republican Party. The three co-chairs will probably speak at the convention, though it was not immediately clear when.

The appointments of Bonilla, who is Latino, Watts, who is African American, and Dunn, a woman, are a way to reach out to groups Bush wants in an inclusive party, according to the campaign.

“Gov. Bush thinks it’s very important that the Republican Party become a more inclusive party, and he will continue to push the party in that direction,” said Ari Fleischer, a Bush spokesman. GOP National Chairman Jim Nicholson said the new officers will be instrumental in helping Bush convey his messages on education, defense, lower taxes and Social Security.

Vice President Al Gore’s campaign dismissed the appointments as more symbolism than substance.

“People will look at the party’s positions on issues that actually affect their lives, not the congressmen chairing the convention,” said Dagoberto Vega, a spokesman for Gore, the likely Democratic nominee. “The Republican Party has not stood for issues important to most Hispanics, women and African Americans.”