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

[Marie62866]

Everytime I see Steele, I totally crack up! The repugs going hip hop! HAHAHAHAHAHA

[IndependentTogether]

Yep, yep. Hip hop for the country clubs and rural/mountain town. Can I get ah "HELLS YEAH"!!!

[widelens]

"DA G.O.P. IZ OFF DA CHAIN!" - future tagline?
I want to laugh at this story, but my jaw can't move. Unbelievable.

[jweider]

a party composed of red necks, blacks and hispanics. I wonder how that's going to go for them?

[dave1111]

Heck of a job, Steeley... Oh, no, work is not a job, Uh.... whatever.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

If G.O.P. Techno is THIS entertaining - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtOoQFa5ug8 - I can't wait for G.O.P. Hip Hop.

[IndependentTogether]

So what are they going to do to attract the LGBT community, musical theater? This guy is so out of touch and offensive and the Republicans are so clueless that they don't even know it.

[movecenter]

Poor guy. He's black and has absolutely no idea how to connect with black people. Better he focus on just developing a GOP that addresses American workers' and families' needs. But I guess that would be even more impossible for him.

[jdmba]

So. true!

[gosolar]

The GOP is being headed up by Urkel.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

The G.O.P. - Using 21st century technology to spread an 18th century message.

[klnosaj]

word.

[montemalone]

N.W.A.
(nincompoops without aclue)

[dct1999]

good one

[Telemachus]

LOL!

[USADownUnder]

I wonder if those rabid "Palinites" and "rank and file" Republicans will be down with this off-the-hook, urban-suburban hip-hop makeover of their party? Yeah, I can just see someone like that guy from election last year who showed up to a McCain/Palin rally with the monkey that had the Obama sticker on it, just welcoming with open arms all those "urban" types to the Republican party!

[IndependentTogether]

Steele hopes they'll be all Palin "mavericky" and "put their hands up!"

[skmbho]

When will the repubs learn that people of all ethnic origins are SMART! They read newspapers and watch political shows. They know that the repub ideology involves narrow-minded, exclusionary politics. There is not enough PR money in the world to paint over what the GOP has become... 'the party of NO!"

[NPA]

Not gonna happen! Watch and see.

[UsofA]

Oh, you betcha I like the hippity-hop. I can get jiggy with it.

[ckfan]

Steele is the gift that keeps on giving. Once again these fools don't get it. Obama's success had nothing to do with hip hop or urban slang or appealing to young, urban voters. I can't wait to see Limbaugh v. Steele. You know it's gonna happen. And it'll be great.

[wineandjazz]

Amen to that! I can't wait to see that either but isn't it ironic that Limbaugh has yet to comment on Steele yet he goes to critisizing Democrats recently.

[USADownUnder]

Oh yes, I can see it now - Michael 'off da-hook' Steele going in for the urban bytch slap on Rush 'the Blimpo' Limbaugh! Now that will be a Main Event not to be missed.

[jdmba]

This guy has the trifecta: Bla ck stereotypes, the Grand Obstructionist Party, and a middle aged man who is completely out of touch.

I'd look forward to SNL doing a good skit, but as we've seen, they don't believe in Bl ack comedians.. nor do they know what "good" really means.