Michael Steele Acknowledges GOP Had “Southern Strategy” For Decades

[deminks]

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/republican-national-committee/michael-steele-acknowledges-gop-had-southern-strategy-for-decades/

A lot of people are pointing to a new set of remarks Michael Steele made about the Republican Party and race, in which Steele acknowledged that the GOP hasn’t given African Americans a reason to support the party.

But I think folks are missing the real news in what Steele said. The RNC chairman also appeared to acknowledge that the GOP has had a race-based “southern strategy” for four decades, which is decidedly not a historical interpretation many Republicans agree with.

Steele made his remarks at DePaul University on Tuesday night. He acknowledged that “we haven’t done a very good job” of giving African Americans a reason to vote Republican. That’s actually unremarkable. But here’s what he also said:

“We have lost sight of the historic, integral link between the party and African-Americans,” Steele said. “This party was co-founded by blacks, among them Frederick Douglass. The Republican Party had a hand in forming the NAACP, and yet we have mistreated that relationship. People don’t walk away from parties. Their parties walk away from them.

“For the last 40-plus years we had a ‘Southern Strategy’ that alienated many minority voters by focusing on the white male vote in the South. Well, guess what happened in 1992, folks, ‘Bubba’ went back home to the Democratic Party and voted for Bill Clinton.”

(end snip)

I suspect white southern men do not want to be called 'Bubba' either. Steele is just amazing every time he opens his mouth, and not in a good way.

[Schema Thing]

1. Thank god for implanted mind control chips.

[gratuitous]

2. And, despite this cynical, manipulative strategy

Some African-Americans, such as Michael Steele, still think the Republicans are the party for them. If they were chickens, they'd vote for Colonel Sanders.

[Wickerman]

3. I hope Agent Mike isn't listening

but I'm beginning to think that Steele works for us. Perhaps it's an open secret and I've been too dense to figure it out until now? :shrug:

Could he really be as stupid as he has come across whiel holding his seat of power? Truly unimaginable, must be working for our side.

[hootinholler]

8. Having seen him in action in an elected seat...

Yes, he really is that stoopud, dishonest, idiotic, insensitive and most certainly doesn't work for us. Although he did try to make it appear that he was the democratic candidate for Governor of Md during the last election.

-Hoot

[zipplewrath]

4. He's in a tough position

All he did was tell the truth. And a truth that virtually everyone knows. It's the 500 lb gorrilla in the room and no one will talk about it.

[Enrique]

5. most conservatives strenuously deny there has been a Southern Strategy

they have all kinds of explanations for the overwhelming rejection of the GOP by black voters. They've been fooled, etc.

Steele has now made it very hard for them to keep denying the reality.

[indepat]

6. That Steele is a part of the Republican hierarchy knowing what he knows is a testament

to his character, substance and core values. :-)

Edited to delete superfluous word

[randr]

7. People point out that racism has much to do with the baggers distrust of Obama

Well how about their dislike of Steele being a reason for their distrust of the Republican party?

[AuntPatsy]

9. Very interesting, I hope he continues to get what he can while he can, why not, after all,

it is the GOP requirement for membership and he obviously knows this well though it is not exactly supposed public knowledge...its the "ME" party..

[ecstatic]

10. That's obvious, but what does this say about Steele's character

now that we know he knows? It's one thing to be blind and naive, a totally different thing to be fully aware that the party you represent is full of racists using racist strategies.