Does Steele (and the President) have a 'slimmer margin' of error?

[bigtree]

Here's Steele defending himself in an interview on ABC's 'Good Morning America: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/05/steele-says-he-has-slimmer-margin-for-error/?fbid=CUYKC9OksQm

"Barack Obama has a slimmer margin," Steele said in an interview on ABC's 'Good Morning America.' "We all - a lot of folks do. I mean, it's a different role for me to play and others to play. And that's just the reality of it. It's more of because you're not somebody they know. I am not a Washington insider even though I grew up in DC. My view of politics is much more grassroots-oriented. It's not old-boy-network-oriented."
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To accept that Steele's and the President's race are inhibiting their appeal (as Steele does) implies that the parties have somehow handicapped themselves by advancing these minority figures to their respective positions of leadership.

I have to strongly reject Steele's premise that he has some race-based 'handicap' to fall back on as an excuse for his incompetence and the lack of support that flows from his ineptitude. Likewise, I reject any argument by him that the nationwide support for the President has been limited in any significant measure by his race.

That's not to say that there isn't a minority contingent of opposition which is rooted in racism and other inanities. But, both the President and Steele are ultimately going to be judged on the results of the policies they advocate or enact, with race likely remaining nothing more than a nuisance which is mostly insignificant to his overall acceptance and influence.

In Steele's case, there is an ingrained element of his republican party which is open to accepting and using race as a political wedge. In the case of the chairmanship of his party, he may well be a 'handicap' to the appeal to those who have identified their own racial antipathies with the republican party and can't tolerate being led in that effort by Steele.

In most cases, though, Steele's problem is that he's just a dumbass. At any rate, he can't hide under our President's coattails by complaining about racism.

[lazarus]

1. Steele

has survived some real blows to his reputation, so I don't know what he's on about. Maybe he's preemptively playing the race card to forestall a move to oust him?

[bigtree]

4. interesting tactic

. . . brings to the surface what appeared as a dumb move appointing Steele to counter the President's appeal to the general public at the time, believing his margin of success centered on his race. Now, with his party's conservative base in revolt, Steele is self-consciously blaming his blackness on his failure to appeal to his republican constituency, It's really quite amusing to watch.

[HipChick]

2. Held to a higher level?

Institutional racism? Steele would have more credibility if he came out and called out the racist behavior of his party instead of using it as an excuse..

[Old Codger]

3. Even

Mentioning the two in the same sentence is grating, the only thing they have in common is their race and race has nothing whatever to do with how well they do their respective jobs.

[bigtree]

5. .

[socialist_n_TN]

6. Oh, I think that they DO have a shorter "leash"...................

if you will, than some white guy in their respective positions would. That's because a lot of white people and probably even other non-white people will take a "wait and see" approach. The "first of", whether it's a President or a child, is going to be scrutinized closer than the second, third, etc.

That said, it doesn't mean that Michael Steele's problem is his race. That's just a minor factor with him. Steele's problem, like W's problem, is that he's incompetent.