Being in Black Face

The Republican Party elected the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, Michael Steele, as the Republican National Committee chairman. Now, I must admit to not knowing much about Mr. Steele, except that he is black and looks more like our current popular president than Mike Duncan or Katon Dawson.

Judging by the sea of sameness at the Republican Convention last year and every year beforehand, I doubt it if many Republicans know anymore about him than I do. Wasn't Chip Saltsman, that "Barack the Magic Negro" guy, leading in the race up until he quickly withdrew his name yesterday?

This selection feels to me somewhat like the selection of Sarah Palin. In this football season, how apropos. Hail Mary anyone?

Comments

[Syddiggers]

Is there any chance that the Republicans will come up with an original idea, or will we continue to see them copy and mimick the Dems? Firstly they thought that putting a woman on the ticket would be a great idea due to the " Hilary factor ", and now they choose an African American as a face of the GOP.

Are they aware that imitiation is the sincerest form of flattery, or are they following the " if you can't beat them, join them " school of thought?

[LeftistGuerrilla]

I think he is a muslim. I just filed suit in the supreme court. He is hiding his birth certificate.

[nicole473]

LOL!!!

[pepperdude]

Ahh. Spoken like a black liberal. let's begin the demonization of anyone black who dares to be repub

[Token12ga]

So, defense is the best offence, sorry............ that don't cut it here, you are batting for the wrong team is all

[spark19me]

He is not just anyone who is black, he just said on the TJMS radio show this mornig, if you don't have money, dont bother talking to him. He is not helping anyone, but himself and the have mores like bush. The obvious is too shameful.. if this is the GOP attempt at diversity..gimme a break.

[hortonhearsawho2]

Really now, I think he looks just like his pals...

[aquarharris688]

Steele is antagonistic! This is not the way to start out. When he spoke out during the 2008 campaign, my 1st impression was negative and that has not changed as of today. I am an African American and would not have voted for him just as I would not not have voted for Burris for senator. I cannot and no one should vote for someone just because they are African American. Qualifications and character must be considered.

[laire]

Mr. Steele is against stem cell research I remember him doing a commercial with his sister who is a Medical Doctor who has MS and who is also against stem cell research. The thing the republicans seem not to understand is their policies don't work but instead of changing their policies they change the rhetoric or go out and get a women or a minority person to be their spokesman, it is truly insulting to intelligent people.

[spark19me]

he said stem cell research was equivilent to the holocaust.

[meazy]

I was just telling a friend that this is just like the Sarah Palin pick. They really think people are stupid. Well, some people are. Their views never change.

[mesut]

Did this guy even speak or show up when McCain held the RNC Convention? Seems to me this is all for "show" more than anything else. This country needs to be on a course for change...all this talk about what used to be does nothing for a country that seriously needs to move forward. Republicans for Republicans sake means nothing when it's all about "them" and not the country. The selection of Steele wouldn't convince me to become a Republican just because he's black no more than me voting for Obama because he was black. Sheesh, haven't these guys been listening and watching the American public and their change of heart about the direction of the country?

[jeanno]

Like Seth Meyers said on Saturday Night Live, in reporting that MIcheal Steele was the new head of the RNC - 'You guys know that this dosen't work with just ANY black guy - right?'

[Jesster]

Same goes with just ANY woman, white guy, hispanic, Asian, etc. Clueless into perpetuity!

[Msohio]

Michael Steele has never spoken out about republican mis-deeds. The only redeeming value that I see is that he is not Kenneth Blackwell, the Kathryn Harris of Ohio. Steele's sister was previously married to Mike Tyson, after Robin Givens and after Mike's prison stint. Never knew what Mike's politics were.

[trumpetman]

Its like my dad if Steele is such a great politician then he should have recieved more then 30% of the vote in the senate race in maryland. And since he failed he proved that he is a L O S E R politician.

[trumpetman]

I meant to sat its like my dad said if Steele is such a great politician then he should have recieved more then 30% of the vote in the senate race in maryland. And since he failed he proved that he is a L O S E R politician.

[washington31]

BO has that something about him. He can relate to just about every group in America. He has knowledge and respect for every culture. He is also very smart and friendly.

[HeyNowToday]

Nicely-written piece. Relevantly, Michael Steele, born 1958, is a member of Generation Jones--the generation between the Boomers and GenXers--which has now taken over as America’s new leaders. Obama, and many in the team he has assembled, are Jonesers. The GOP is also now led by Jonesers, including Steele, Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty and Mark Sanford. I’m a Joneser and totally relate to this identity, and all the recent big-time national media attention about Generation Jones. We’re not Boomers or Xers! I’ve read several articles recently that make a strong case for learning more about Generation Jones to grasp the changes we can expect now in politics and leadership.

Steele embraces his Generation Jones identity, and speaks about the importance of the new Generation Jones leadership, in this short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbbVe_Twui0

There is an op-ed about exactly this topic in USA TODAY this week: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20090127/column27_st.art.htm .

I’m very curious to see what Steele’s early weeks at this new job will look like.

[MAragon]

Generation Jones? Sorry never heard of it and I'm basing my understanding on The Fourth Turning, the book which really kind of defined this generation business. And they would classify Obama as being Generation X.

[bazokbros]

If anyone saw Meet The Press this weekend, Erin Burnett(the financial expert on CNBC) was basically an apologist for Wall Street execs getting bonuses on what the American public perceives as their tax dollars going to these people. Essentially she was saying that the American is stupid and the execs deserved whatever payouts they get from their companies.

Today, Michael Steele tried to convince the American public that there was nothing wrong with the GOP brand, but were voted out because they didn't act responsible and broke America's contract with the people. He even went as far to mention the Republican party needed to model itself off Newt Gingrich.

My point is neither of these people are taking into account that "perception is reality." It doesn't matter if there is a legitimate explanation for the GOP's behavior as a party or how Wall Street Execs are getting compensated. When people feel their trust has been betrayed, no amount of PR spin is going to fix that. The first Wall Street exec that makes a publication declaration that they are willing to forgo what is perceived as bonus money will have an immediate boost in restoring the faith of the American public and what Wall Street execs are willing to do to fix a problem that they helped create.

[Bryon Sabol]

By the way, Steele was never governor of Maryland. He was Lieutenant Governor. He ran for the senate but lost badly. I don't know much about where he stands politically, but since he and Ehrlich were elected in Maryland over a Kennedy, he is probably more "liberal" than most member of the Republican party.