(CNN) -- Let's get real. The Republicans have a problem attracting African-American voters. And Cliven Bundy made it worse. Period. Not just because Bundy turned out to express racist views, but because of what he initially, falsely symbolized for some conservative Republicans: a humble, hard-working rancher who despises federal government overreach. The fact that armed militia turned up to protect Bundy's cattle only made it worse, because it fit ever more neatly into the kind of extremist narrative that frightens many people, including many African-Americans. They don't feel comfortable when conservatives, like Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, call the nation's first black President "the most lawless President in the nation's history."
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Carol Costello says it's not a secret that the GOP lacks strong African-American support
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She says the party acknowledges that it needs to do better
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Incidents like Cliven Bundy's racist remarks set back the GOP effort, she says
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Costello: It's appropriate to ask party officials to show what steps they are taking
Tara Wall: Media's coverage of @placeholder, race and GOP a disservice