GOP Weighs Electing First Black Chairman

As the nation is on the verge of inaugurating its first black president, the Republican Party is facing a telling choice: whether to elect its first black chairman.

The contest for Republican Party chairman comes as Republican leaders seek to figure out what the party stands for, as well as what face to put forward as it struggles to avoid shrinking into a party of Southern white men as the country grows increasingly diverse. Among the six candidates are four white men, including two from the South, and two blacks: Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, and J. Kenneth Blackwell, the former Ohio secretary of state.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[MacQ]

So much of the comment here revolves around Steele and Blackwell not being "really" black.

Early on, Mr. Obama was accused of "not being black enough". That was presumably because he did not share the historical ancestry of slavery. Or perhaps it was his priveleged upbringing.

So, what's "really black " ?

[Robinsong]

As an African American and lifelong Democrat I understand the need for representation in the other major political party but I wouldn't want the job of being a window dressing tool of the GOP to criticize and denigrate the extremely popular first AA President of the US.

[RationalDubSteppa]

LOL, I love how the GOP has turned so desperate. Electing a black chair-person will be seen as a fake and a façade. The problem is that the GOP has too much of a deep and rooted history over the past 25 years of race-baiting for political gain and now we are to be believe that they have changed over night? Of course not. They have become a regional and ethnic party. The modern GOP is a party of the south and the suburbs that caters to majority white religious constituency.

If the GOP really want to progress they need to face up to their own shortcomings and embrace diversity in a genuine, honourable fashion.

[jsgaetano]

Their options are either becoming even more of a white southern racist party (in other words, continue being who they've been for the past 30+ years)... or else trying to rebrand themselves as a limp immitation of the Democratic Party.

I don't see them getting much success either way. Their brand has been permanently damaged, even among voters who HAD previously been Republican.

[iswideopen]

mrskorn:
As a staunch democrat, and and African-American, there is much work to be done in that arena, however, the democratic party is all inclusive. They are an "understanding people". They have more "humaness" about them than the republicans ever did or will have. Having said that, yes, the move is "token" and I happen to agree with bobok. It is offensive to me that they can't see the offense. The republicans are so out of touch with the rest of us "working people" that they are still trying to figure out why they lost the election. They ride this high moral horse and have more skeletons in their closets than there is room for. To them, "we don't get it". It's all about the "free market" and low taxes. It's their way or the highway. And now, all of America is on that highway of destruction because they refused to let go of the idealogy of the far right wing. The republican party is actually fueled by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, et'al. Ask yourself some questions and be honest with you; you don't have to tell another soul. The normal minded person that watched Sarah Palin at her rallies and in interviews formed a first and last impression of this woman; knowledgeless, un-intelligent, un-educated, divisive, polarizing, and a hate-filled, joke. And btw, the republicans love her, so a "token" won't fix what ails them.

[mrskorn]

So you are saying that a black person should not have the chance to be elected to be the chairman?

[myfatherschild]

Are you saying that a black person should be accepting that they are JUST NOW being considered for the position in the RNC?

We've known our value all along. Too bad the RNC has to wait until it becomes a NECESSITY to be inclusive of minorities.

As I recall, Sarah Palin and her base is the face of the republican party. I doubt if any AA's would have felt too welcomed at those rallies and I don't recall any outcry of inclusiveness from the repubs then. We should be jumping on board that ship only because they need to rebrand? No Thanks.

[iswideopen]

mrskorn:
I'm not saying that at all. What I am saying is, I thought, quite clear. It would highly offend me. It's like one of those "why now" questions. It could have been done years ago. After all, this is the party, not the voters. Or am I mistaken?

[mrskorn]

"the question of the candidates’ race has not been explicitly raised by the committee or the contenders."

Why does the article make it seem like they are 'deciding' whether to vote in a black. Basically there are 6 people vying for it and 2 happen to be black. To make it into an issue, as the NYT is, seems to make it into a race issue. Same with Obama. He won and he happens to be black. Big deal. People who are making it a big deal are the ones stuck in the past.

Btw. Michael Steele has a very interesting life story.

[letinstar]

the repubs have learned nothing...when they nominated palin, they had in their heads the women would run and vote for mccain....­FAIL....no­w, you're trying to convince me if you elect steele as head of the rnc, that me and most of the black people would jump on the repub bandwagon...not ever, repubs...not ever...

[vern50]

It won't work Repubs. You can put a black in charge or at the end of the line. It is your politics that I refuse to buy so either of these men can lead the charge. I am not interested!!!

[DofG]

Blacks, in general, have not supported the republicans since Nixon ran against Kennedy! In fact, many Blacks, despite knowing that democrats can be a lesser of two evils, think that Blacks who support the neocon-inf­ected-Repu­blican Party tend to be either hyper-ambitious, or self-hated!

Who's that guy on the Supreme Court?
And the lady who's last name rhymes with "ice"?

[zorak1704]

Blackwell, that dork nozzle handed the 04 election to w.

[paulalex]

If they thought it would get votes they'd all use black face paint like Al Jolson.

[offred]

Isn't Ken Blackwell the guy who was investigated on charges of questionable actions during the Ohio election in 2004?

[rejoiceinit]

Got news for you GOP, I GUARANTEE YOU, even if you ran COLIN POWELL or CONDI and Obama hadn't run...you still would have lost 96% of the AA vote!

They will never ever get it...

[myfatherschild]

Oh we got it alright. Republicans like Palin and many before her made it perfectly clear!

[iswideopen]

rejoiceinit:
I love it!!! Perhaps the republicans will understand it one day. I've never heard it put like this before!!!

[DelvinMcGee]

I think republicans are aware of the sheepish devotion of black americans to the democratic party.

[robXdion]

That "sheepish" line people like you use to shame blacks for supporting the Democratic party is played out now. If you haven't noticed their bedrock support delivered an AA president. Meanwhile the RNC is debating if they can tolerate a black man in charge even if their views are contrary to everything blacks stand for.

[jdmba]

That is completely the wrong use of the term "sheepish"

[DelvinMcGee]

I think your posts make my point nicely.

[PhDcommonsense]

The GOP is really digging deep to try and come up with 2 African Americans, they think can appeal to minorities like Barack Obama in the last election..

My comment to them is to look a little harder if Michael Steele and Ken Blackwell are all that they can come up with. The RNC would be better served with a White Guy in the position who is not out of touch with the voters and the world, without pandering to minorities. Don't insult minorities with Steele and Blackwell.

[jazzofcourse08]

I agree with you 100%. It is an insult. Minorities are not stupid; it is the GOP policies that most minority groups dislike. Selecting a black person, will not solve their problems.

[mrskorn]

I am curious....what is your beef with Steele?

[scottymac11]

A black man as republican chairperson now. It makes sense to me. The republicans are desperately searching for a black person named quisling as an even more symbolic gesture.

[mrskorn]

Maybe they are just interested in they job. Why should they not be in the running? The article is the one who made it into a 'symbolic' issue rather than it just being a group of men (2 of whom just happen to beblack) running for the charimanship.

[HC4BO]

Who do they think they are about to bamboozle ... ?

It's the POLICIES stoopid [sic] ...

If Obama was a Rebub with McSame's policies he would have been back in the Senate by now ...