Of course to the media, people such as Allen West, J.C. Watts, Gary Franks, were never authentically black. Nothing can strike terror more into the hearts of patronizing liberals then qualified and unafraid black, Hispanic or Asian Americans running for and being elected to office as Republicans.  Heads would explode at MSNBC and The New York Times like fireworks on July 4th.

by Matt Lewis

As was widely reported, Sarah Palin told attendees at a recent fundraising breakfast for the Susan B. Anthony List to watch out for a stampede of “pink elephants” who can “get things done.” Palin has ramped up her efforts in recent weeks to help elect such women. And though it is unclear the extent to which she has motivated these candidates, it is worth noting that a record number of Republican women have filed to run for Congress this year.

The former governor of Alaska and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee went on to cite such notable female candidates as Carly Fiorina (running for U.S. Senate in California), former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton of Colorado (also running for the Senate), former state Sen. Sue Lowden of Nevada (likewise) and South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley.

What’s also worth noting is another phenomenon that has received much less attention: the increasing number of viable minority Republicans running for office in 2010.

For years, the GOP has been criticized for having few ethnic minorities in Congress. Even when the party could find strong candidates, like former Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma or former Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida, they always seemed to retire early. But things appear to be changing. The liberal news service Alternet recently reported there are 32 black Republicans running for Congress (the current Congress has zero black Republicans). Add in other minority candidates, and the party could be on the cusp of electing the most ethnically diverse freshman class in history.

Read the rest: Republican wave could sweep in minority candidates, too