Michael Steele might become next RNC Chairman

[ProfJohn]

From the Washington Times link

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, whose party just lost both chambers of Congress, will leave his position in January, and the post as party chief has been offered to Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele.

This would be a great move. Steele ran a great campaign in a state that has not seen a Republican Senator win since 1980.

It would also be a great way to reach out to and recruit more blacks into the Republican party. A move that would be incredibly good for the party and the country.

Steele may also be offered a job in the Bush cabinet.
Either job would be a great move for Steele, but I think RNC helps the party out more in the long run.

 

[ntdz]

If he gets offered the job, I can just see every libbie in here babbling about how Republicans are pandering to blacks.

 

[ProfJohn]

Didn't Martin Luther King teach them that it is not the color of your skin, but the content of your character.

Or in this case the conservatism in your heart.

 

[SViscusi]

So he's going actually start labeling himself a republican in public now?

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: SViscusi
So he's going actually start labeling himself a republican in public now?

Huh? I would consider running and winning a campaign for Lt. Governor as a Republican, and running for Senate as a Republican, labeling yourself as a Republican in public.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: SViscusi
So he's going actually start labeling himself a republican in public now?

Hes always labeled himself a republican. He hasnt and will NEVER label himself a Bush Republican.

 

[Stoneburner]

A man who has signs that say "steele democrat" and none that says "steele republican" and that rarely lists party affiliation in a campaign (commercials, literature, etc) clearly feels like a "R" is a scarlet letter

 

[Painman]

Oh, the guy who pulled this stunt?

Yeah. You go with that.

 

[BDawg]

How does he have time to be chairman? Isn't he the Senator from Maryland by now?

 

[LumbergTech]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Didn't Martin Luther King teach them that it is not the color of your skin, but the content of your character.

Or in this case the conservatism in your heart.

conservatism shouldnt be about emotions..it should be about whether or not it works

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: BDawg
How does he have time to be chairman? Isn't he the Senator from Maryland by now?

No he lost to Cardin. He tried to capture the black vote by encouraging confusion that he was democrat but apparently it did not work. In the counties with large black voters, e.g. Baltimore, he got very few votes.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: ntdz
If he gets offered the job, I can just see every libbie in here babbling about how Republicans are pandering to blacks.

Sadly, that will happen. You had some people do that during his campaign, which is pathetic. However, if he does get it, it's because he did run one hell of a campaign. Cardin shouldn't have even had to try for the seat, but Steele did extremely well.

 

[Lemon law]

This is a very old political saw in the RNC---they always have to have their token black they can point to. In terms of the blacks attracted as a result---you can only point to characters like Alan Keyes and Clarance Thomas.

The only way a black candidate makes it in the RNC is to out conservative the most reactionary as a general rule.

The GOP big tent has always been a myth---more of image than substance.

Even when the face is black---they ain't buying racist policies.

Not saying this always has to be the case---but the GOP can't just talk the walk---the have to walk the walk.----------does anyone see the GOP doing that?

 

[FuzzyBee]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
This is a very old political saw in the RNC---they always have to have their token black they can point to. In terms of the blacks attracted as a result---you can only point to characters like Alan Keyes and Clarance Thomas.

The only way a black candidate makes it in the RNC is to out conservative the most reactionary as a general rule.

The GOP big tent has always been a myth---more of image than substance.

Even when the face is black---they ain't buying racist policies.

Not saying this always has to be the case---but the GOP can't just talk the walk---the have to walk the walk.----------does anyone see the GOP doing that?

Since you are generalizing, I have five words for you:
The Honorable Senator Robert Byrd.

 

[ayabe]

In related news, Bill Maher says that Mehlman is gay, I expect him to come out shortly after stepping down.

 

[Lemon law]

To FuzzyBee---who is also generalizing---and I got nine words for you--The Honorable Senator Robert Bird got re-elected this week.

Even a cartoon like George Wallace managed to reinvent himself---and actually enjoyed strong black support in his later years---and earned that support by pushing civil rights
legislation---which is more than the repubs do.

Maybe Robert Bird did not talk the walk many years ago---but he now walks the walk.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: GroundedSailor

Originally posted by: BDawg
How does he have time to be chairman? Isn't he the Senator from Maryland by now?

No he lost to Cardin. He tried to capture the black vote by encouraging confusion that he was democrat but apparently it did not work. In the counties with large black voters, e.g. Baltimore, he got very few votes.

Whoosh!

 

[FuzzyBee]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
To FuzzyBee---who is also generalizing---and I got nine words for you--The Honorable Senator Robert Bird got re-elected this week.

Even a cartoon like George Wallace managed to reinvent himself---and actually enjoyed strong black support in his later years---and earned that support by pushing civil rights
legislation---which is more than the repubs do.

Maybe Robert Bird did not talk the walk many years ago---but he now walks the walk.

Yet the Republicans are racist. I guess when you have no leg to stand on in your argument, you just throw out the "R" word. :roll:

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: ayabe
In related news, Bill Maher says that Mehlman is gay, I expect him to come out shortly after stepping down.

Does this mean that a Log Cabin Republican is being replaced by an Uncle Tom's Cabin Republican?

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: FuzzyBee

Originally posted by: Lemon law
To FuzzyBee---who is also generalizing---and I got nine words for you--The Honorable Senator Robert Bird got re-elected this week.

Even a cartoon like George Wallace managed to reinvent himself---and actually enjoyed strong black support in his later years---and earned that support by pushing civil rights
legislation---which is more than the repubs do.

Maybe Robert Bird did not talk the walk many years ago---but he now walks the walk.

Yet the Republicans are racist. I guess when you have no leg to stand on in your argument, you just throw out the "R" word. :roll:

Bingo

Black Republicans don't count apparently, they are just there so Republicans can say that they have a black person running, its not possible for a black person to be a conservative, because all conservatives are racist. Its also ok to be an ex member of the KKK, as long as you are a Democrat.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
To FuzzyBee---who is also generalizing---and I got nine words for you--The Honorable Senator Robert Bird got re-elected this week.

Even a cartoon like George Wallace managed to reinvent himself---and actually enjoyed strong black support in his later years---and earned that support by pushing civil rights
legislation---which is more than the repubs do.

Maybe Robert Bird did not talk the walk many years ago---but he now walks the walk.

Wow, thanks for making our point for us, lol. An ex member of the KKK keeps getting elected, as a Democrat. But Republicans are the racsit party right?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: JD50

Originally posted by: Lemon law
To FuzzyBee---who is also generalizing---and I got nine words for you--The Honorable Senator Robert Bird got re-elected this week.

Even a cartoon like George Wallace managed to reinvent himself---and actually enjoyed strong black support in his later years---and earned that support by pushing civil rights
legislation---which is more than the repubs do.

Maybe Robert Bird did not talk the walk many years ago---but he now walks the walk.

Wow, thanks for making our point for us, lol. An ex member of the KKK keeps getting elected, as a Democrat. But Republicans are the racsit party right?

I don't think either is a "racist party," but I don't think there's any serious question that the modern iteration of the Republican party has less to offer people of color than the Democratic party, and they clearly agree. Byrd is a bit of a red herring, and it's not as though Democratic candidates generally come from backgrounds like that, or as though racists generally favor Democratic candidates (this is not to imply - at all - that Republicans generally are racists, but I do think that most white racists are Republicans, to the extent they have a party slant). The Dixiecrat days are a thing of the past.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: JD50

Originally posted by: Lemon law
To FuzzyBee---who is also generalizing---and I got nine words for you--The Honorable Senator Robert Bird got re-elected this week.

Even a cartoon like George Wallace managed to reinvent himself---and actually enjoyed strong black support in his later years---and earned that support by pushing civil rights
legislation---which is more than the repubs do.

Maybe Robert Bird did not talk the walk many years ago---but he now walks the walk.

Wow, thanks for making our point for us, lol. An ex member of the KKK keeps getting elected, as a Democrat. But Republicans are the racsit party right?

I don't think either is a "racist party," but I don't think there's any serious question that the modern iteration of the Republican party has less to offer people of color than the Democratic party, and they clearly agree. Byrd is a bit of a red herring, and it's not as though Democratic candidates generally come from backgrounds like that, or as though racists generally favor Democratic candidates (this is not to imply - at all - that Republicans generally are racists, but I do think that most white racists are Republicans, to the extent they have a party slant). The Dixiecrat days are a thing of the past.

If you are talking about handouts then I agree with you. Do free handouts really help the person that you are trying to help, or does it just make you feel better about it? Free handouts just encourage more government dependance. I am all for helping someone that is down get back on their feet, but only for a short period of time. At some point, you have to take responsiblity for yourself and stop living off of the taxpayers.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: JD50

Originally posted by: FuzzyBee

Originally posted by: Lemon law
To FuzzyBee---who is also generalizing---and I got nine words for you--The Honorable Senator Robert Bird got re-elected this week.

Even a cartoon like George Wallace managed to reinvent himself---and actually enjoyed strong black support in his later years---and earned that support by pushing civil rights
legislation---which is more than the repubs do.

Maybe Robert Bird did not talk the walk many years ago---but he now walks the walk.

Yet the Republicans are racist. I guess when you have no leg to stand on in your argument, you just throw out the "R" word. :roll:

Bingo

Black Republicans don't count apparently, they are just there so Republicans can say that they have a black person running, its not possible for a black person to be a conservative, because all conservatives are racist. Its also ok to be an ex member of the KKK, as long as you are a Democrat.

It's ok to be an ex-member of the KKK as long as you've become one of the most vocal supporters of civil rights in government. Clearly Byrd learned from his past, anyone who thinks his stance on civil rights aught to be characterized by the time he spent in the KKK isn't paying close enough attention.

 

[Rainsford]

I think Steele would be a decent RNC chairman, but he's not going to get the job, and he's not going to go within 10 feet of Bush. He may be a Republican, but he clearly is not a Bush Republican, and unfortunately it seems the Republicans haven't gotten away from that particular style of Republicanism quite yet. As long as extremists like Bill Frist represent the Republican party, I just don't see a moderate Republican like Steele being chairman.

By the way, as far as Steele's race goes, I think everyone on both sides is making way too big a deal of the whole thing. For the Democrats, while it's obviously not the majority case, it's entirely possible that a black man can be a Republican, especially a moderate one...I don't see anything "weird" about that, and it certainly makes more sense than being a GAY Republican. Political choices have more to do with economic and social views than racial ones, at least for most people. But Republicans who are whining about this need to take a step back and look at how Steele was treated by the Republicans. The message his whole campaign was "Look, he's a black Republican, see, we're the big tent party!". He wasn't run as a Republican so much as a black Republican, you guys made his race an issue to begin with.