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

[smbruce]

The GOP (Grand Obstructionist Party) has alot to overcome. Until they stop being : intolerant, fanatical religious zealots, hateful, closeted racists, judgmental, focused only on the wealthy, uneducated morons...........I can go on & on...........they don't have a chance of changing their image. Watch "Right America - Feeling Wronged" on HBO and what do you see at all of the McSame/Palin rallys ? A bunch of angry, hateful, fearful, war mongering, uneducated white folks who are judgmental religious zealots. If the GOP had the 'nads to stand up to the Christian Coalition & start being more tolerant & open minded, they'd be taking a tiny baby step in the righ direction. I haven't voted Republican since Reagan because I believe God & religion is very, very personal and should be kept out of politics and the republican platform.

[HarryMonster]

This ought to be fun to watch.

[OtayPanky]

Offa Da Hookah!

Fo' Schnitzel!

[VeroucaSalt]

Wanna read something funny? Go to CNN's Political Ticker & read the commentary from the bloggers on this very same atricle... I spit milk out my nose I laughed so hard!!

If nothing else, the Republicans are getting to be great comedians!

[indy girl]

cnn blogger comments:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/19/rnc-chair-plans-off-the-hook-campaign-tells-critics-to-%e2%80%98stuff-it%e2%80%99/

[TakeNoNeoConPrisoners]

These Rethugs actually believe their own BS. Unbelievable. No wonder things are so f--ked up after 8 years of these clowns.

[Pharaohh]

I would love to see GOP doing NAS/JAY-Z black republican song............

[bitterindependent]

LOVE THAT SONG.....

[Stronger1]

LMBAO!!!!

[mervr1]

This will be a successful as inviting African Americans to a pointy white hood rally.

[dct1999]

Michale Steele to Ken Blackwell:


Yo Ken,
my mellow, my man
get on the mike
like I know you can

[mervr1]

What's that now famous saying about "putting lipstick on a pig".

I guess this is Steele's wannabe hip version for the Republicans.

Give me a break, this is going to be like looking at a bunch of old white guys break dancing.

Does Steele actually believe young African Americans and Hispanics are that gullible?

[goldcatt]

Steele's version = putting bling bling on a sheep

[Blaze1]

dont fret people, they will be trying to expand their base all the way until 2012 becuase the youth can see thru them.

[schicklett3]

The GOP is making a complete and utter fool of this man.
Wonder if he realizes it yet?

[take10]

I think, based upon the letter to Steele from Russel Simmons revealed HP recently, they haveobviously entered into some kind of agreement supposedly to help Steele's image in the African American community and further enrich the Hip Hop mogul. Is this "pay to play?" Whatever, it won't work! Like President Obama, we may be overly optimistic, but we're not dumb...

[kalerik]

That will be about as successful as picking Sarah Palin to lure all of us women. Not at all.

[seenitall]

is Vanilla Ice still available??

[dfincher384]

Who doesn't love this guy?? He's the Democrats' dream come true! He's so ridiculous!

[bnhood81]

i couldn't resist, i had to make this. lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V6T0FhT6AM

i thought it fit rather well.