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

[mypov123]

I wonder if Steele's suits are from the Steve Harvey collection, that would explain his poor sense of style LOL.

[bongogirl]

Now, that is not nice, he, he,he.

[dct1999]

The republicans rap (lyp-synching of course):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyzIfY9rSdU

[Pharaohh]

you trade your soul for riches... NAS

[Kiabell04]

WTH? Uh, I hate to inform you Mr. Steele, but not all of us young African-American and Hispanic youths enjoy hip-hop and say "off the hook"....that's stereotyping in itself.

[heather65]

that's what i was just saying. apparently my comment was too much.

[vjoseph]

THANK YOU. I am a house music DJ, I DO NOT listen to Hip hop. Glad I am not the only one

[kasinca]

The GOP is so out of step...they can dance a lick!

[take10]

Give Steele 3 months and they will have to carry him out of the RNC offices in a straight jacket. He has totally lost it! It, being his mind...

[Opygollopy]

Somehow I dont think he ever had a mind. Even when he was running for his chair, his comments were not very swift. But Repubs being so out of touch thought he was the one. He is a gift that keeps on giving. Maybe his brother in law - Mike Tyson - used him as his practice punching bag. There has to be a reason this 50 year old man acts and talks the way he does.

[OpalSky42]

Does he really believe all this hot air or is he just talking for the joy of hearing his own voice? Man, and this is the best the repubs could do?

[gretcheno]

I hope they won't hold thier breaths, cause IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN. People are not this st u pi d.

[dct1999]

Some people are this stupid; Steele's problem is that all of them are already republicans.

[MsMicki]

LMAO

[loki]

Yeah, that will work. More Karl Rove rap. Thats the way to win over the country. Wait, you could have the GOP version of Run DMC. Rove and Lou Pearlman.. They look like twins too!!

[Lahori]

Rather than advertising it, he should have rolled it out already. What is he waiting for. I feel bad for Rep. Party becuase it seems like he can not deliver and just playing with words....

[WorldGoneWild]

Hey Steele,

Gettin big money, playboy your times up. ~NAS

[HLL]

Millions of Americans have lost their houses, jobs, retirement and medical insurance and the best he can say about the bailout is "bling, bling"????

Do you have any suggestions, Mr. Steele, as to how our country can crawl out of this terrible depression we're in or is your "playbook" to just insult the President, and by association, the American people?

[WyomingJack]

The Democrats are very happy to have Mr. Steele heading up the RNC. I'm sure he'll recruit lots of new "young, Hispanic, black" to the GOP. After all, he has proven how hip he is by using the term "bling, bling." I'm sure there will be lines a mile long waiting to sign up with the new "Hip Hop GOP."

[WorldGoneWild]

Please! Bling, bling is so 2003.

[friskee1]

U DOWN WIT GOP?

YEAH U KNOW ME!!!!

[Rharte]

Nice one!

[Insideman]

You think Steele knows he's being u$ed by the GOP?

[gretcheno]

Of course he does!!

[deeppeace]

Is this The Onion?! 23/6?! Man, you can't make this stuff up!

[caseyblab]

Fool and the Gang.

[javagirl322]

LMAO...

[jdmba]

That's what I was thinking! It actually made me laugh!