I’m not one of those enthralled by the Frank Luntz focus groups, but I did happen to catch the Democrat one two debates ago — or maybe it was the last primary, I’m not sure. But I recall one of the Hispanic members of the group pooh-poohing the idea that the culinary workers’ union endorsement was such a coup for Barack Obama in Nevada. The union’s rank and file, the panelist explained, features a very large Hispanic contingent and there was simply no way this bloc was going to support a black candidate, no matter what the union’s leadership urged.

I remember thinking at the time how extraordinary this admission was, and how nuts the media would have gone if it had been uttered by a Republican voter. Instead, one black member of the focus group made what seemed a pretty half-hearted retort (really, a mild press for more of an explanation from the Hispanic panelist, if I’m remembering this right) before Luntz, looking uncomfortable (though maybe I’m projecting) cut the discussion off quickly and threw the coverage back to the Fox studio, where no one seemed anxious to wade into the matter.

It was remarkable to see members of the Party that lives and breaths racial and ethnic bean-counting slough this off as if it were just a fact of life. And maybe it is. Living by identity politics is the surest way to die by identity politics.

UPDATE: Here’s the video.