Yo, Michael Steele, Whut Up Homie!

Dear Michael Steel -

From one Hip Hop Head to, well, I guess another, do you mind if I address your latest call on the GOP to engage broader, more diverse groups like the Hip Hop community?

This will only take a sec.

While I don't think the idea of reaching out to broader or more diverse communities is counterproductive for the GOP, I do think that as their leader, you ought to focus more on encouraging the GOP to deeply reflect on their public policies, image, and messaging. Then, after some necessary introspection, perhaps the GOP might be ready to reach out to the Hip Hop community. You can't expect other communities to accept your olive branch when your own tree house isn't in order.

And then there's that whole 2006 campaign thing, you know where you kinda misled poor, low-income folks of color to distribute campaign fliers in Philadelphia under false pretense. That was pretty gangsta, but it's really not the kind of change we've been looking for. By reaching out to Hip Hop folks now, are you just using another community to satisfy your own personal interests? It's a fair question, no? One that also asks you and your folks to engage in some serious reflecting before going forward with this whole reaching-out-to-the-Hip-Hop-community bit.

Baby steps, GOP, baby steps.

Don't suggest that the Hip Hop community will help, or even save, the GOP. And please don't use the "first-African-American-to-chair-the-RNC" shtick to seemingly assume black, brown, yellow, and white folks within the Hip Hop community will follow the GOP lead. Like Obama, you and your party need to earn our short attention spans by first checking your own party members. This includes voting records that hardly reflect issues of those within our communities and neighborhoods - oops, I mean, 'hoods.

Quick! What was Mos Def's position on the Jena Six situation, and why was it important to social and criminal justice? And no, it wasn't that he thought Bush didn't care about Black people - that was the other Black rapper guy talking about that other Louisiana city.

(My bad, "gotcha" questioning is so 2008.)

But nothing says 'I'm seriously engaged in your community' like uttering phrases such as "bling-bling" and "off the hook" while speaking to members of Congress and national press. That's right, Michael, using patronizing slang as code words for being disingenuous is exactly what gets you an "in" with all the hipsters.

On the real though, you should encourage the GOP to be more concerned about its dangerously divisive domestic and foreign policies. Polices that, by in large, aren't grounded in reality but instead centered on a combination of illusion and some really neat 1950's sitcom I saw on TV Land last weekend.

Reconsider GOP messaging, which largely impacts the GOP's perceived image and brand. Stop using folksy, out of touch women to be the "face" of the party, when it's obvious that the party needs much more than a faux feminist face lift. Try reconstructing the entire GOP political body by supporting women and their issues all of the time, not just when it's convenient. Stop allowing your party to use self-absorbed, self-serving, and unapologetic Black men as puppets to passive-aggressively talk smack to the opposition.

Aim low, GOP.

Consider recruiting humble, thoughtfully spoken, and open-minded individuals who have a complex understanding of the worlds we inhabit. Having a complex world view doesn't mean adopting a post-9/11 mentality that believes "most" of Islam wants to kill "all" Americans.

Stop giving right-wing conservative warriors (?) like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh woodies by either appearing on their shows or acknowledging their existence.

There's always room for opposing views, but for any conservative leader to encourage such narrow-minded opinions should be held accountable - this especially includes you, Michael. (You might want to peep out fellow GOPer Arlen Specter's radio interview with Laura Ingraham, a.k.a Ann Coulter Jr.)

When you can approach your party behind closed doors without cameras and microphones and ask them to candidly reevaluate their regressive policies and ideology, then you certainly have my permission to step up on that podium and ask to engage broader, eclectic, and creative communities of influence. Then maybe, just maybe, we'll consider your request.

I'm outty five thizzie, home skillet!

Tara

Comments

[jamel1999]

That was too funny....are we to stand behind Steele just b/c he is a "black" man...better ask Jesse....Did the GOP not learn from the 2008 election at all? Most black americans were voting for Hillary, and it wasn't until she screwed up that, that changed. Give us more credit than that....we don't just follow b/c they are down. Some of us are educated and have a bit of common sense to know when we are being sold a shamwow. Mr Steele should be ahamed of himself, he is merely a means to a dead end for the GOP. And no, it's not coincidental that this is the first year the GOP is down with OBP (other black people). I will say it again, they are reactors and not proactive - this is nothing if not entertaining!

[indy girl]

Maybe what Steele is missing is a giant clock around his neck....so he can turn it back to the 1980s.

[indy girl]

Oh my god, that was funny!!!

[CCverve]

Off the Chizz ain!

[Londonboy30]

One word, tara... Word.

[anewworld]

Nice one Tara...............smile

[FebM]

Bling baby, bling

[disconcerted08]

Tara, I was just wondering if you were free next weekend...

[Diane Reid]

I hear ya Tara! LOL Yo u dis him good! LOL LOL You know if a person doesn't know a thing about his/her culture because that person is too busy trying to impress their mastas! That person will never come to reality that there are people from the hood who do not agree with all that that negativity that goes on there.You do have doctors, lawyers. etc. who do come from there, and just because they do know the slang and its interpretation (unlike fake brother steele), doesn't make them beneath mr. steele, just because he/sh doesn't want to identify or relate. Even if that person was never raised in the hood, if that person doesn't relate, but just hate, that person is an ignorant fool! I betsha he wish he had a bling, bling! If this doesn't make sense it is because I am tired and I need some sleep! But I just had to respond LOL LOL HOLLA!

[bogues]

All of the things that the Republican party needs to be, the Democratic party already is. Just vote Democrat all the way.

[Ucan2]

I remember what he said about how party was going to attract the hip-hopster, but he never elaborated on how the party was going to attract the one-arm midget group. That part of the plan remains unclear.

[OhioObamaVoter]

Best piece of writing I've read here!

[lovable]

i want to apoligize to all for not checking my spelling.!!!!!!

[sandpiper1]

"I'm outty five thizzie, home skillet" Can someone clairfy, please. Great article nonetheless, and so on point. Even this biracial Canadian see through this idiot...he's nothing but a token like palin...it didn't work then and it ain't gonna work now.

[LV711]

MICHAEL STEELE is funnier (or more ignorant, however you wish to approach it) than Sarah Palin, but it's a toss up between he and that Alan Keyes character. When Steele realizes that jobs and work are one in the same, then he came offer advice. Until then, he should have nothing to say. Nothing. Close his piehole.

[lovable]

dexter hannity and limbaugh are enemies of black people son. hannity gets a few blacks on his program and use them as props. like that incredibly ignorant jesse lee peterson. this guy blames nothing and i mean nothing on white ultra conservative sepremacy thought that limbaugh and hannity su scribe too. true some bkacks do cry racism when there is non but linbaugh and hannti are influencing the people out there who turn down ur loans at banks/ redline in real estate / wont wait o u at restaurants/ wont hire u. please dexter open ur eyes. also dextoer have u ever heard hannity complain about racisl prifilling or when he hears that police have shot a black man for nothing - have u ever herad hannity condemn the policeman???????? no and u never will. i am an american who is conservative and blakc and i fear for our president beacuse of limbaugh and hannity rants.