Howard Dean thinks the GOP is the “white party.”

“If you look at folks of color, even women, they’re more successful in the Democratic Party than they are in the white, uh, excuse me, in the Republican Party,” Dean said Friday in an appearance on NPR’s “Tell Me More” program.

I don’t have the data to break down whether or not Dean’s right about women and “people of color” (apparently the peach tone Howie himself is sporting isn’t a color) doing better in the Democrat party than the Republican party, but there’s certainly enough anecdotal to put this rather absurd, race-baiting claim to rest.

That Condoleezza Rice, a black woman, has managed to rise to the highest office ever held by a woman or a black is almost enough by itself to put lie to Dean’s comment.  But there’s more.  Rice succeeded Colin Powell who, while not a staunch Republican, certainly did well under Republican leadership.  Bush’s former Attorney General was Alberto Gonzales, a Hispanic.  Bush’s current cabinet features Carlos Guiterez (a Hispanic), Elaine Chao (an Asian woman), Margaret Spellings (a woman) and Mary Peters (also a woman).

Turning to the Republican party itself, the last chairman of the RNC was Senator Melquíades Rafael “Mel” Martínez of Florida who is of Cuban descent.  Martinez’s chief competition for the chairmanship was former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele, a black man.

And who are the “rising stars” in the Republican party right now?  Most would agree that the two most promising Republicans in the nation right now are Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (a woman) and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (descended from immigrants from India).

So is the GOP the party of white males?  I think Condi Rice, Colin Powell, Albert Gonzales, Carlos Guiterez, Elaine Chao, Margaret Spellings, Mary Peters, Mel Martinez, Michael Steele, Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal might be a bit surprised to learn that.  Just to name a few.