If I had my way, they would all say, “I don’t care what her sex is or where her parents or ancestors came from. I care about what she thinks.” We have had a lot of talk recently about what the differences between the parties should be. Should we be Tweedledum and Tweedledee (or Tweedledumber)? Or should the parties offer distinct, contrasting views?

One of the reasons I became a Republican, long ago — and that was an unlikely conversion — is that I was appalled by the racialism of the Democrats. In my time and place, the Republicans were the party of One America: E pluribus unum. And the Democrats were the party of constant, obnoxious race-consciousness — running around with clipboards, putting everyone in a box. Race is destiny, they said (in effect).

Baloney.

It’s not very fashionable now to quote Condoleezza Rice — was it ever? — but I remember well what she said at the 2000 convention. She said that she was glad to belong to a party that “sees me as an individual, not as part of a group.” That, ladies and gentlemen, is what Republican music should be — at least in my opinion.