The Meaning of Michael Steele

Michael Steele's ascension to the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee is a tremendous step forward for a party seeking to avoid slipping into the political abyss of its own creation. The symbolism of Steele's win is undeniable -- a party whose late 20th century rise to dominance was largely fueled by demonization of African Americans is now led by a Black man. It's difficult to underestimate the symbolism of Steele's election as chairman. It's also difficult to see what difference it will make in the fortunes of the party. For all the talk about this election, and it's hard to remember the last time a party chairman's race has been so closely followed, the reality is that Steele's win really doesn't mean much.

Yes, his win has great meaning. It demonstrates that at least some party leaders understand that the wheel of racial politics is turning away from the Grand Old Party. Recent Census Bureau projections make clear that the Party can no longer be competitive in much of the country by ignoring minority voters: in a little more than thirty years, the U.S. will no longer be a majority white nation. Steele's election and, indeed the attention given to the chairman's race, sends a message that the Party knows the status quo must change.

Steele's election may actually be more important to white moderates than it is to minorities. Suburban white moderates, in particular, don't want to be associated with a party that continues to play race cards. Things could have been much worse. Had the Republicans elected Chip Saltsman, distributor of the "Barack the Magic Negro" discs, as chairman, the message to those voters would have been: In times of change, we give you the "same old, same old."

But recognizing the need for change and making it happen require two distinctly different skill sets and it's an open question if Steele is up to the task. While Steele is the official head of the party, he may prove to be a titular leader because there will be many 2012 Republican presidential hopefuls that want to guide the party in their own interests. Moreover, Steele stated since his election that the problems engulfing the GOP are as much about marketing their ideas than the ideas themselves. That is not the kind of vision that will lead to better days for the party. The data are clear: most Americans think the GOP is too conservative. It doesn't appear that the Party is getting the message.

Steele's win doesn't mean that the Republican Party is any closer to serious competition with the Democrats for the votes of African Americans. The single digit performances of the GOP in two of the last three presidential elections is emblematic of a party that has more than just marketing problems. The Republican Party, overtaken by narrowly focused special interest groups, is now officially out of the business of mainstream thinking and Steele's ascension, while historic, is unlikely to bring about the change needed to make the GOP relevant going forward.

Michael K. Fauntroy is an assistant professor of public policy at George Mason University and author of Republicans and the Black Vote.

Comments

[donasanya]

"...Steele's ascension, while historic, is unlikely to bring about the change needed to make the GOP relevant going forward." Nuff said!

[JudgeSchmells]

One word: transparent.

[yearlin]

Steele's looking to fight with O but he doesn't understand that if BO didn't win, he wouldn't have won...the party has some good ideas(welfare needs to be curtailed, illegal immigartion needs to be curtailed) and some good players (colin powell, peggy noonan). the thing i can't stand about the repubs is that they don't practice what they preach...red states have higher rates of abortion, divorce, and poverty/welfare. they claim God but are fanatical about war.

[timmmahhhh]

I would agree with most of he comments I have read here, but if you look at the other choices this probably was one of the better ones. Yes he is black but so is Ken Blackwell, from whose articles I have read I place somewhere between Rush Limbaugh and Clarence Thomas. Steele was the more moderate African American.

[kissthestick]

wasnt it ken who made steele win giving him his votes, how was it a cop out move?

[kkmcc]

This move by the RNC will backfire horribly because it is so arrogantly patronizing. Michael Steele will have the same affect on black voters as Justice Clarence Thomas: a deep, unending resentment. On white voters the same: a deep resentment (toward party leaders). The vast majority of blacks resent Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton because the media crowned them as voices of our commnity when they are not. In the same way Michael Steele's career will be forever impacted by this pathetic move. This is just what Lou Dobbs (CNN) has been waiting for. The self-proclaimed "Mr. Independent" has been campaigning with free air time for over a year denegrating anyone and anything to make himself appear to be a party leader for Independents. I believe the Repulican Party has just sealed its fate (thankfully).

[joannenj]

Here - Here. Well said. Mr. Steele is boasting that he is ready to take on President Obama. As if he could!! Ha.

[joceeco]

Exactly, Steele means to African American voters what Palin means to women voters...absolutely nothing!

[Tammie]

Oh you are so correct. I live in Md. where he was Liet.Governor for 1 term. Gov.Ehrlich and Steele did a HORRIBLE disservice to this state. It's insulting what the Repubs call themselves doing.

[wcarlon]

Electing Michael Steele as chairman of the RNC is the equivalent of John McCain picking Sarah Palin as his VP hopeful.....a last ditch effort to placate the public. Don't mistake me, I respect the man (much more than I can say of Palin) but does the Republican party truly lump all minorities into one group??!! It would seem so....Doesn't matter which face we choose....just as long as we pick one of "them." Guess we are all interchangeable right? A black is a black is a black.....­..whatever

They need to implement change in a more genuine manner because electing an African-American as chairman shortly after the first African-American president is sworn in is just too transparen­t.....Sorr­y RNC, we don't buy into the posturing.­.....Sorry Mike that you have become the poster boy to a failing whale of a party. Abe Lincoln would be ashamed.

[JayDDrew]

Michael Steele will have a net negative effect on Republican voters.
The author makes a good point in that moderate Republicans can now feel more comfortable voting Republican because they have "opened the door" to a black RNC chairman. Well, last I checked, voting was secretive. Those same people were still voting Republican behind the curtain, even if they knew chances are most racists are on there side.
The racists, on the other hand, will be more likely to stay home now that their "side" is led by Steele.
This line of thinking compares to the Palin gambit. Women will vote for a woman no matter her qualifications. Surely, Blacks can now vote Republican because of Steele.
They just don't get it, do they? If they would actually try talking to minorities and women.....­......nah, not gonna happen!

[Cathy22]

So the Republicans want us to think they have changed and are now up on the 21st century way of thinking. But it is a lie. Michael Steele is basically being used as some sort of symbol of change they can hide behind while they do the same old same old. Their beliefs have not changed.
This is what I really want to know: Remember the reporters at McCain rally's during the election? The ones that talked to McCain/Republican supporters who said things like this about Barack Obama, a black man, becoming president: "But he's black." and "If he becomes president, then the black people will take over America." These people said these things on TV! I would like to know what these people think now about a black man being the head of their party. Are they afraid of him too? Are they still Republicans? Are they still ignorant? Could those reporters find these same people and ask them? It would be interesting.

[Greg Petty]

michael steele is meaning-less

[Bariis]

My thoughts exactly!

[HNC]

Republicans will have to do a lot more than put a black man (face) to lead their party. This man is a hail mary pass like sarah palin was to McCain's campaign. This man thinks that there is nothing wrong with the republican party. The message from the party is fine as it is. Really dude?

He is proof that the republicans still don't get it. You can't just place a female in the race like sarah palin to try and get all of Hillary's voters. Everyone soon found out that Sarah was no Hillary. And you can't put in place a black face to lead your party just because the Barack Obama, a democrat, is now the president. Steele is nothing but a repug wolf in black sheep's clothing. Republicans think that america is stupid...we are not....well I ain't. I see that steele wolf for what he is and my house is made with bricks.

Republicans need to seriously re-evaluate because America is changing...America has changed. I'm sorry, but as a black 31 year old woman from Harlem...I don't trust any black republicans.

[Grammy3]

69 year old white woman....don't trust them either.

[joceeco]

43 year old Black Man...don't trust them either!

[Roy49]

You hit the nail right on the head! Why do people think that everyone but them is stupid? Michael Steel is a puppet that will have absolutely no effect in changing the republicans view on society. And Michael Steel "is not" Barack Obama...not by a long shot! What a joke!

[observer007]

Enough writing practice. The only reason he's anywhere near this chairmanship is that he'll attack Obama and no one can say that the rethugs are rac*st* - human shield. He's a smart loudmouth who found a way to make himself rich, just like so many other politicians. But, hey, that career path may be coming to an end during this century.

[hl7]

Agreed. It's a sign of the times that it took them six ballots to blunder into this cynical, self-serving maneuver. I hope it is anyway.

[Kenji]

It's a desperation measure, like the Palin fiasco.
Presumably, he will speed up division in his own party.

[lwaldmann]

Dean was the boss of the Democrat's for 8 years while Bush the Dummy was in office. Now how many times did he engage with President Bush. I can't think of a single time although I am sure their paths crossed. Now we have this Steele fellow, without going through the ranks want a shoot at the Champ (Obama), I think everybody should come down, this guy has a job to do, and if the Republicans learned nothing from Dean, then I suggest they dump this neanderthal, and get in a web savvy character to take on the Democrats in all fifty states. In and month or two, no one will even know this guys name.

Lary Waldman

[squawkbox]

Michael Steele's election as RNC head means one thing to me: That the GOP understands symbolism, and that they are masters at creating symbolism that has nothing to do with the actual facts on the ground, nor the reality of their policies and politics.

Michael Steele will be an effective spokesman and spinmeister for the GOP, but he does so while protecting--not challenging--the GOP's status quo.

[Michael Briggs]

And therein lies the ultimate demise of the GOP as we know it. Indeed, conservatism, as it has been mishandled and abused over the past thirty years, is on its deathbed. Unless the Republicans can generate real change in their party, the party's over.

[ErrolSmythe]

Perhaps like they say in streetwise circles that the political party is like a bus and the leader of the party is likened unto a bus driver. Changing the bus driver now and then by electoral vote is fine as long as the bus driver drives with due care and does not race through the traffic lights nor take unneccessary risks.No endorsements on the drivers licence for speeding tickets.
However, it is wise not to forgeet that now and again the bus needs to be driven to the garage for a major service and a major tune up.
If the bus is not running well and is need of a tyre change, or an engine tune up,changing the bus driver ain't gonna help one bit. The bus has to stripped to pieces and rebuilt and put back together. So it is with a political party. Now and again you got to give it a thorough system overhaul and not just a cosmetic change of changing the driver.

[Roy49]

Perfect analogy! The bus is broken, it doesn't run well and changing drivers won't help the bus run any better. Too bad the Republicans don't understand that yet. I truly don't understand how a group of human beings in this day and age could be so very clueless and uncompassionate yet still in the same breath cry "Country First". Hypocrites...all of them!