RNC Chair Steele: GOP Needs "Hip Hop" Makeover

Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele, in an interview with the Washington Times, says he's planning an "off the hook" public relations offensive to attract young blacks and Hispanic voters.

The RNC's first black chairman will "surprise everyone" when updating the party's image using the Internet and advertisements on radio, on television and in print, he told The Washington Times.

...

"There was underlying concerns we had become too regionalized and the party needed to reach beyond our comfort" zones, he said, citing defeats in such states as Virginia and North Carolina. "We need messengers to really capture that region - young, Hispanic, black, a cross section ... We want to convey that the modern-day GOP looks like the conservative party that stands on principles. But we want to apply them to urban-surburban hip-hop settings."

Asked if this venture will be cutting-edge, Steele replied, "I don't do 'cutting-edge.' That's what Democrats are doing. We're going beyond cutting-edge."

Steele recently said that President Obama's stimulus was just "bling bling."

Comments

[WorldGoneWild]

I wonder what Bill O'Reilly thinks of Young Jezzy and Ludacris possible being courted by the GOP. LOL!

[bubbuh]

Will Michael Steels and Paul Shanklin be teaming up for this production?

[WhatMatters]

What a joke!!! The "Token" has been taken! Does he really believe the GOP will embrace this new membership he hopes to attract ? Frankly, I don't see that happening any time soon. Looking back at the McCain/Palin rallies, the RNC convention and listening to those GOP spinmeisters, Hannity, Limbaugh, FOX "noise", et al, I don't see a welcome mat extending to Steele's land of OZ. The idea that he would embark on this window-dressing campaign is appalling, disingenuous and insulting. Oh, wait, that's their standard operating procedure!

[jonnai]

I can't wait to see steele and his ex-brother in law Mike tyson on the mike. Ha steele how's that money scam investigation going?

[danusgram]

Hey Mike here's some lyrics to use for your commerials from a hip hop classic "Don''t push me cause I'm close to the....edge, I'm a bout to lose my head."

[WorldGoneWild]

The GOP needs to "keep it real", fire Steele and bring in a wealthy, old and angry white man.

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

I bet this is going over like a ton of bricks with the base...LMAO

[WorldGoneWild]

Keith Olbermann tonight called Steele the Notorious GOP. LOL!

[ConfuciusSay-]

Steele ! DooD!
Ya totally hafta get Karl to dance to tha hip-hop!

[swsj07]

Didn't Areosmith tell them not to use their music and Heart said the samething last year? What music are they going to use?

[momuv2]

It's time to pop some popcorn and watch how this plays out. This is something stanger than fiction.

[Heady]

Young voters are looking for a more hip-hop pop-culture oriented guy to vote for?

Really?

Not the whole informed, intelligent, do what's right for the American people thing right?

Just "off the hook" makeovers?

God damn.

[Cedric Shine]

Here is a great response to this article from a self identified member of Hip-Hop Culture over at examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/x-1588-Philadelphia-Young-Professionals-Examiner~y2009m2d19-RNC-Chair-Michael-Steele-Its-Bigger-than-HipHop

[josholland]

I find it interesting that the author put that Dead Prez video at the end. I saw them the summer before the election and they were talking trash about Obama. Maybe they really would like Steele. haha. I honestly can't think of a single group of people who have LESS claim on hiphop culture than Republicans. It's actually quite hilarious.

[partisanpolitico]

Whaaa?
I'm out of the country for 7 days and the Repubs are the new hip-hop party?

*gasp*
we don't stand a chance now.

[byyou]

I am an african-american and i will never vote for a republican not because i hate them but there is nothing we have in common. And my ideology is way different then repubs. My governer Pawlenty wanted to cut healthcares for 115000 young children and women, simply because he wanted to balance the budget at the expense of people and i don't see myself supporting those ideas or tax cuts for wealthy americans while average working family gets the other end of the stick. so someone please tell steele it does't work with any black man. It is down to principle .

[motodude]

Oh, pu-lease!