The Republican National Committee elected Michael Steele as its first African American chairman today in Washington, a decision that came after an excruciating series of ballots that displayed a level of drama rarely seen in national politics.Oh snap!
I cannot believe the Republicans let this one slip past them! What are they going to say when all of those southern rednecks finally figure out he is a non-white?
Racism reared it's ugly head for all the world to see at the Sarah Palin rallies, and reminded all of America that the KKK is alive and well within the Republican party. It is highly doubtful that these newly re-energized xenophobes will take the selection of Michale Steele in stride.
I guess if his name were "Washington", or "Lincoln", or "Jackson" they might have had a clue. But "Steele" sounds like it could be the name of a Aryan superhero for God's sake.
Maybe he can look up Michael Jackson and ask him to reveal how he "got the black out" and made the majority of the world forget he was ever an African American.
But to be serious for a moment if the GOP really thinks that this is all they have to do to attract more African American voters to their party, and to make themselves appear more sensitive to minority issues, then they are even more insensitive and tone deaf than I could ever possibly have imagined.
Well, well. It seems as though the GOP found their Uncle Tom. That's not going to go over so well with those who live in the community his party thinks is beneath their time and/or "talent" to organize.
ReplyDeleteYes, it worked so well for them with SP . . .
ReplyDeleteGryphen,
ReplyDeleteRemember that Mark Garragos never let Michael Jackson forget that he was African American. Although Steele and I have race in common, I could never cast a vote for a republican unless the democratic candidate was the less qualified of the two. I totally agree with you about the Republican base since I live in GA and see it on a regular basis. The GOP is insensitive when it comes to minorities. If they believe that minorities will ignore the issues and vote the republican ticket just because the new head of the RNC is African American, they are truly delusional, possibly psychotic. I have absolutely nothing in common with republicans regarding political ideology, and many of my friends and associates think in a similar manner. My advice to them is to go back to the drawing board and create another plan that does not include racism, divisiveness, a focus on welfare for the rich, wanting control over womens' bodies, a desire for an American Christian Theocracy and disdain for the poor, sick, elderly, disabled, LGBT, or anyone who does not accept their emailed talking points as the gospel truth. Michael Steele will never be accepted by some in the GOP, and it won't be because he isn't qualified or unable to do the job.
A man of 'Steele' in name only, chairing the party of gutless wonders.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the RNC got their own "magic negro".
ReplyDeleteWonderfully said, Majii.
ReplyDeleteFYI, Michael Steele is actually considered a "moderate" Republican, and is a member of the Republican Leadership council,a pro-choice group within the party. He is a Catholic, and I really wouldn't call him an Uncle Tom...he was born and raised in DC, and still lives in Prince George's County, MD a DC suburb which is overwhelmingly African American and democratic. PG county residents gave the highest $$ amount for a US county to the Obama campaign.
ReplyDeleteHe was a one term Liutenant Gov with Bob Ehrlich who got elected on the slots issue alone...and never got anything done in the state due to a huge democratic majority in the MD legislature. His term was a disaster, and Ehrlich/Steele were overwhelmingly defeated by Martin o'Malley when they ran for reelection. It didn't hurt that his running mate was African American also. Their ticket basically got swamped in key counties in the DC suburbs as well as Baltimore, another area with a large black population. Steele was unable to win any other statewide election. Even in his Senate race he only got 25% of the black vote against a white candidate.
I am really not awre of any super fundraising prowess that he has, or his ability to appeal to minority voters, since he really has not been able to appeal to them in his own state. Maryland is more blue than ever now...the only red areas are in the northwestern part of the state.
Here in the DC area he is well liked and a prominent figure in politics, but I don't know how well he will play with Sarah's base. Anyway...it's a step in the right direction for the GOP.
Oh yeah...one more interesting funny tidbit on Michael Steele's 2006 senate bid...on election day, his campaign bussed in a bunch of African American workers from Philly to hand out fliers near polling places with his picture on it to black voters. The flyer kind of implied he was a democrat, and had the support of several black leaders who definitely did not endorse him.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing Steele should do is call a press conference to repudiate all his fellow Republicans like Chip Saltsman, Jeffrey (Osama, Obama)Frederick, and the other guy who belonged to the whites only country club and let America know that there is no place for that type of bigotry and hatred in their party.
ReplyDeleteAlso, he needs to publicly denounce Rush Limbaugh as the voice of conservatives. If he does not do these things post haste, then he deserves to be called an Uncle Tom.
He won't do that if he knows he's a placeholder for someone more conservative, someone more appealing to the "base", someone who is not intelligent but who is cunning, someone who winks and uses a fake twang to make herself seem more like "real America"...
ReplyDelete