I have no problem with Steele being selected as chair, even if it's in response to Obama's election

[EffieBlack]

That's how progress on race is made. One person breaks a barrier and others respond by breaking other barriers - sometimes those other barriers are broken primarily in response to the first one. If the elevation of a black person in one case prompts other people to up their games by giving other blacks a shot at power, I'm all for it.

I love the fact that Obama's election is making the Republicans scramble to advance blacks in their own party. I know a number of black Republicans, decent people, who have been enormously frustrated by their own party and who have been struggling hard from the inside to change it. They were delighted with Obama's election because they knew that this meant the Republicans would be forced to change their ways. Steele's election as GOP chair is one step in that direction. I'm no fan of his and have many disagreements with him. But I feel that way about just about anyone else who would have been been named chair of the party, so that's no big deal. However, I think it's great that the Republican Party now has no choice but to open itself up.

When enough black people start moving into positions of power in both parties, no one will care anymore what color they are. That's a good thing.

[kirby]

1. Yes but...

Only 1.5% of the delegates to the Republican Convention (in 2008) were black. I feel this is more a PR move, not substantive. I imagine the Republicans will use Steele.

In general, I agree it is a good thing. I am just suspicious of the motives.

[EffieBlack]

6. I'll bet you that more than 1.5% of them will be black in 2012 . . .

Obama - without saying a word - has forced them to up their game and they're not going to be able to get away with only lip service. That's one of the beauties of his election.

[genna]

25. Isn't Obama a symbol of the same kind of move on the part of Democrats?

Republicans and Democrats are different.

It took the split in 1968 to transform the Democratic party. The Southern Democrats who jumped ship made the Republican party's claim to fame...no Blacks wanted.

How many AAs have ran to be president in the Democratic party? 5 maybe 6? The thought that there would be a mainstream AA elected to be the Democratic contender for President was ridiculous until Obama broke that barrier and actually won.

Each symbol had its place until there were enough AAs contending for leadership positions (a critical mass) to make Obama possible.

Blacks in the Republican party (biggest oxymoron I've ever thought through) have been trying to get those party members clinging to the Southern strategy to give it up for once and for all. I don't know how they have managed to tolerate 'Barack the magic negro' and other such b.s. over there, but they have continued to work at transforming that base. It might take them 40 years to get there, but if the first AA presidential contender in the Democratic party had thought that way BHO wouldn't have been possible.

[EffieBlack]

26. BINGO!!! nt

[RiverStone]

2. It still begs the question, why would any minority want to head up a party filled with bigots?

Though on a larger scale, I agree EffieBlack - that any door or post opening up to racial diversity is good thing. :)

Someday down the road, I hope and believe we will live in a color blind society.

[EffieBlack]

8. Maybe he wants to change the party into one that is not filled with bigots?

Why should black people just relinquish our right to be players in ANY party? And the Republican Party is not going to magically transform into a racially-open-minded organization without the help of blacks on the inside.

Steele and other African American Republicans have been struggling for some time to bring change from the inside. This is an opportunity to do so. I think it's a good thing.

[RiverStone]

17. If a rethug wants to transform into a racially-open-minded organization...

He/she should look at becomming a Dem!

I just believe Effie that the root of bigotry and fear is so deeply embedded into the core of the republican party, that turning it into an "open minded organization" is impossible.

If anything, they are moving farther to the right. Regardless of color, they believe the Palin's of the world deserve to be followed in lock-step. How can a group of people so adverse to thinking for themselves EVER change? As an aside, I grew up during the 60's in the south and slowly saw the rethugs religious-right wacko take over of local politics (hence I see em as rotten to the core).

The best thing folks like Steele can do, IMO, is change the party to the point that rethugs further isolate themselves from the mainstream --- and guarantee us at least a generation worth of Dem presidents!

[EffieBlack]

18. I don't agree with you at all on this

Racial bigotry is not the core of the Republican Party but is a bastardization of it. In fact, the Democratic Party was sprung from the soil of racial intolerance, degradation and discrimination, but managed to change. The Republicans can change back to what they used to be, too, and that will be better for us all.

[RiverStone]

20. It sounds like you are advocating for a "better republican"

I'm sorry, but in my view it is a choice between bad and very bad.

Minus the very rare Olympia Snowe's or Lincoln Chafee's of the world, I see the rethugs as the antipathy of equality and tolerance.

Of course, I want - as you - to see a world far more tolerant, but I would rather believe that if the majority can lead by example, the republican party and their small-mindedness will simply shrink away to further irrelevance.

I don't give a damn about trying (or even hoping) for a better breed of republican; call it conservation of energy.

Though in the BIG picture, we clearly want the same thing. :hi:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

27. They picked a sleaze bag

Steele is a nasty piece of work

[Number23]

32. Dems have had a lock on the black vote forever, but not on all of us.

I am a Dem-leaning independent and also a black woman. And more and more black folks every day are identifying themselves as independents. That may change now that Obama is on the scene, but I would bet that there are still many who want out of the two-party system.

The idea that every minority in this country should automatically become a Democrat is insane to me. Putting all of your eggs in the one basket that's somewhat more supportive than the other is not a good way to progress your causes.

[BlooInBloo]

11. He thinks they'll like him....

He thinks wrongly.

[hlthe2b]

3. I'm not sure how much progress is made

When they cynically promote an individual because of the color of his skin--in order to give them cover. They then will send him out to promote the most regressive policies that can only hurt other African Americans--but that's ok, because it is coming from a black man....

I'd like to think you were right. We'll see. But, I think any positives for the REPUGs in terms of a change of their attitudes is well off. This is a "marriage of convenience" and nothing more, IMO

[Captain Hilts]

7. Black men are widely seen in leadership positions in athletics and the military.

That's a Good Thing.

I think the impact here will be nil. The former Oklahoma quarterback was being groomed for it for a while in the late '90s.

[EffieBlack]

13. I don't think they promoted him simply because of the color of his skin . . .

Regardless of his race, Michael Steele is fully qualified for this position. But the fact that he is black is an added benefit and there's nothing wrong with that - any more than the fact that someone is from a certain region of the country or has the support of a particular demographic also enhances their ability to be an effective chair.

If the Republican Party is truly serious about reaching out and expanding their base beyond its traditional core of white men, why are people's shorts all in a bunch because they selected an African-American to lead the way? I can't imagine this kind of hand-wringing if, for example, the Party decided that they needed to attract more women and then, as part of that effort, they named a female chair. In fact, I have little doubt that people would have been screaming bloody murder if they had selected a man to spearhead such an effort.

[ChazII]

34. Agree with you 100%. n/t

[Captain Hilts]

4. First and only female head of the RNC, 1974-77. None since. nt

[supernova]

5. I agree with you

I'm happy for Michael Steele, as much as I disagree with him on policy and role of government.

This may force a leftward progression of the GOP over time. That would be a good thing.

The only thing I wonder is where are all the old Dixiecrats and their descendants going to go if not the GOP? Will they drop out of the participating in politics completely? I wouldn't lose any sleep over it if they did.

[EffieBlack]

10. Maybe they'll realize their time has come and gone and they'll simply fade away.

One can hope, can't one?

[Hello_Kitty]

15. The racists can just form a separate party. nt

[MzShellG]

37. That's a good thing.

If this splits the repukes, I'm all for it. A three party system never works. That will be to the advantage of the democratic party.

[BlooInBloo]

9. lol! It's precisely as stupid as what's-her-name.

[Gman]

12. Suddenly, Republicans love Negroes

and that's all it is. Sorry, but Steele is a sellout. He's prostituting himself and his race to get something. He's playing the white man's game and taking them to the cleaners. As a prostitute, he's being used for everything that they can get out of him. Is this change in the GOP? Not for one minute. THe GOP is the party of rich white people and Steele is their bitch.

[EffieBlack]

16. I don't think that's fair . . .

There are several factions in the Republican Party that have been battling for the direction of the party. Among them are African Americans and others who have long felt that the party has been too-white, too narrow-minded, and too backwards on issues of race and that this was leading the party into permanent minority status. For years, they were shouted down by others, but recent events have demonstrated that they were right and that, unless the party broadened its scope and its base, they would continue getting hosed by the Democrats for the foreseeable future. Now there is a stronger consensus and they are taking steps to change.

I think it's great and I'm glad to see that those who have been shouting in the wind for so long are now being heard. It can only make the Republicans better more worthy adversaries and work to everyone's benefit. The Republicans don't have to be ignorant bigots in order for us to beat them.

[AlinPA]

21. The republicans won't change until they stop playing to the religious fundamentalist, anti-science,

intolerant, anti-immigrant and disrepect for poor. Racial bigotry is just a fraction of the republican party.

[Gman]

22. Yes, there are some good people in the GOP

as strange as that sounds. But these people are called RINO's and vilified. The fact of the matter is that Steele did not get elected by these good "RINO's". He was elected by the wingnuts that control the RNC. That means Steele was elected because he is a "Negro" or "colored". The least of the reasons that Steele got elected is because he is an intelligent and capable leader. It means Steele used them to get what he wanted by selling out. It makes him a prostitute and the RNC's bitch.

[AlinPA]

23. Beyond the fact that he is African-American, I see nothing that would

help him change the party's stance on the environment and the things I mentioned above.

[EffieBlack]

24. How do you know who voted for him?

And did they share their motivatios with you? Or are you just guessing?

[Gman]

38. I know he won a majority of the vote

because he had to in order to win. And I know that the nuts control the RNC as they do much of the party apparatus.

[EffieBlack]

40. So you have absolutely no idea what the vote breakdown was

or who voted for whom or who was responsible for his win.

[hlthe2b]

28. I gotta give you credit for the optimism, if not the rationality....

I'm not quite sure why you are so determined to give the REPUGs benefit of the doubt... I have no concerns either way who they pick... That they chose Steele is fine by me. But, I hardly see it as any great strides towards a "color-blind" society. As we have seen with other rare, but prominent African Americans in the party, it has not changed their attitudes or positions on relevant issues. The old adage that African Americans voting for a Republican is like a flock of chickens throwing their support to Colonel Sanders...comes to mind. To think otherwise is admirably idealistic, yet very naive in my regretful, but sincere opinion. We shall see, Effie B....;)

[Hello_Kitty]

14. I agree.

While I don't want to see the toxic economic agenda of the GOP to gain prominence again, anything that is move toward eradicating their racism is positive and beneficial for everyone. Both major parties need to purge the racists. We need to get rid of the Dixiecrats and they need to get rid of their Know Nothings and xenophobes.

[EffieBlack]

19. Exactly!

[Catherine Vincent]

29. But what about that arrogant pompous ass Alan Keyes?

[Number23]

30. "When enough black people start moving into positions of power in both parties...

... no one will care anymore what color they are."

Absolutely true but it's still MONUMENTALLY laughable that the best the Repubs can offer to President Barack Hussein Obama is Michael Steele, RNC Chairman.

Yes, it's a step in the right direction. You'll get no argument from me on that. But it is still so predictable and so pitiful to be absolutely laughable. The fools at Free Republic were absolutely ASTOUNDED that Steele's chairmanship did not garner 1/10000000th of the coverage that Obama's election and inauguration did. To me, this is proof positive of how narrow, outdated and backwards their thinking is.

Btw, good to see you posting again, Effie. :)

[ProSense]

31. Dirty Trickster Steele Is New RNC Chair

Dirty Trickster Steele Is New RNC Chair

Steele is just another despicable Repuke. The Repigs haven't decided to open up, they're putting a black face on their failed party.






edited for clarity.

[backscatter712]

33. I have no truck with Steele being elected.

I don't really care that much at all - there's no way I'll vote for those assclowns, no matter who they choose as their frontman.

[YanquiUXO]

35. Palin 2.0

They thought they could appeal to women with Palin. Now they're trying to appeal to African Americans with Steele. As if we couldn't see through the veiled sexism and racism of both picks.

Sickening. Beyond fucking sickening.

[kwassa]

36. Steele tried to fool the black electorate in his Senate bid, and still only pulled 25% of the black

vote.

Steele is an opportunist, nothing more, without a shred of integrity.

those of us in Maryland got a dose of this.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/403474

They spent Election Day handing out glossy fliers headlined "Democratic Sample Ballot" or "Official Voter Guide." The fliers employed the phrase "Ehrlich-Steele Democrats." And they featured images of prominent African Americans, such as former Democratic congressman and NAACP leader Kweisi Mfume, above the words: "These are our choices."

The implication that Mfume and other popular Democrats in the state were backing Steele, and Ehrlich, was hard to miss.

But Mfume wasn't backing the "Ehrlich-Steele Democrats" ticket.

Steele and Ehrlich weren't running as Democrats.

Both men were Republicans. And, despite what the group Progressive Maryland descibed as a campaign of "Lies, Dirty Tricks, and Fraudulent Fliers Designed to Deceive African American Voters," they both lost.

[nomaco-10]

39. There is something about him that I like on a ....

pure personality level. He's seems calm and kind, totally unlike most pukes. He's a real enigma to me.

I'm watching C-Span right now. There are two aa men, one dem and the other a pub. The aa pub is uptight and coiled like a snake that's always on the ready to strike. Steele doesn't come across that way. Like I said, he's a total enigma to me.

[brianna69]

41. Steele is a nasty piece of goods

This move isn't going to help the repugs in anyway pick up minority votes or expand their parties base. The only reason he got this job is because we the democrats have Obama.It was a cynical move that is so transparent it is laughable and it isn't fooling anyone. He is just as nasty and repugnant as all the other repugs mouthing their stupid talking points and advancing the same repug bankrupt policies that led our economy to the verge of collapse. Steele heading the RNC is merely a cosmetic change, making a black man the face of their redundant and played out philosophy of government being the playground of the rich and connected and putting policies in place that benefit the top 1% of our society and leaving the majority of our population out in the cold.