Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Steele picked to lead Republicans
Hopefully he falls flat on his face, but congratulations to Michael Steele. The former lieutenant governor of Maryland was picked last week to be the chairman of the RNC. When it comes to gay stuff, Steele’s record is wretched and if I were a betting man the Log Cabin Republicans will not be getting a call from their new boss soon (unless it’s to ask them to cease and desist with the use of the word Republican).
Steele’s new job will be no picnic. Since 2006, Republicans have been losing elections and key demographics (young people, suburban voters, etc., etc.). It had to cause hardcore Republicans weeping fits to see dependable red states now be in play. To stop the party’s increasing losses will require long term planning and a break from the past. In an obvious way Steele is a new day for the party because he is the first black person to lead it. For a few Republicans who love to hold on to their racism, Steele’s leadership will be a problem. But that tiny group can be dismissed.
Aside from the intra-party drama, there is something to be said that the country’s two leading parties are led by black men. What’s even stranger is that neither Steele and President Obama play the “first” card much. Sure they acknowledge the history–hard not to really– but their goals are larger than just being the first black to get an important gig. There’s something refreshing in that because it means the tenor of the country’s racial history is changing to something less burdensome.
Special note to GQ writer Joel Lovell: I hear there was a game yesterday called the Super Bowl. I alas could not watch because I finally got the anniversary DVD of The Wiz. Would congratulate the winning team but I don’t know what football is.
Well, since this idea of “firsts was brought up, the names Condoleeza Rice and Colon Powell come to mind. Gee, what Party were they affiliated with?
And to say that Obama does not play up the “first” card is laughable. I believe his quote went something like “I don’t look like the other Presidents on the dollar bill.”
Obama will certainly go down in history for being the “first”, but he is NOT going to be remembered as one of the greats.
How is it that conservatives know this man is a Rockefeller Republican, albeit a man of color, yet the LGBT proganda wing of the internet, has no clue? On what planet do you exist?
Tiger, Chanting Yeah Steelers a couple times a day is good for everyone!
Go Steelers!
Dave – well, it appears we differ on what “pride” in some sense is. (I’m a bit George Carlin in my take on that, it would take too long to explain – but his TV Special “It’s Bad For Ya” now on HBO, would explain it nicely).
Chris, I believe it is accepted that since “blacks” have been here for a few hundred years there has been intermingling of ancestry with the europeans who brought them here that doesn’t diminish their common experience and ancestry which brings them together. Like most people in this country, black, white, latino, native; Obama represents the melting pot that is America. But he is also black, not just mixed race, in the sense that he shares the experience of people having had their ancestors taken from their homes and forced into slavery, and he also shares the gene pool of a people that stayed in Africa hundreds of thousands of years ago instead of moving North. That makes him black (actually African American, I guess), and very much American in my opinion. At least this white guy is proud of my country for having elected him, even if most of his policies don’t square with my libertarian views.
Now, for you, James, I didn’t know who was in the super bowl until Saturday, and remembering your piece about the GQ writer I know you believe that gay men also watch sports and yes we should be insulted when people assume otherwise.
But there is a bigger question: why is it that those of us who tend to be in the intellectual and artistic set more than the rest of society (spare me the diatribes about generalizing….I KNOW) don’t cling to barbarian sports rituals as fervently as our head banging breathen across the sexuality aisle? I prefer to accept that I’m more well rounded and have interests as varied as athletics, fishing, art and history thanks to being gay. Not that the “gay gene” gives me this…I think it is the nurture side of the argument. We have dealt with the fact that we are different at a young age and that opens us up to interests that are taboo for the uber-male-macho image.
Maybe there is something here to be realized about schooling and upbringing. The herd mentality gives us fear, faith and hatred. Maybe we actually should teach basket weaving to young guys so they get over their fear of not being manly.
James…just chant “yay Steelers! several times a day and you will be ok
This seems to be the Republican stategy of late. The Decomcrats have a woman, HIllary Clinton, in the race – so Republicans get Sarah Palin (a political joke if ever trhere was one). Now again, the Democrats lead with Obama, and the Republicans follow with the selection of Steele. It will be interesting to see how Steele will conduct the divisive Republican rhetoric going foward. It doesn diminish the novelty of a black person in a high position but I find it curious that Obama is only referred to as being black, when his mother was white (and a far more inflecntial figure in his life than his father). Does it really only all come down to skin color – literally? What if Obama looked more like his mother in terms of his “coloring” – “more white” as it were – would we still be calling him the 1st “black president” even though he would have the exact same background? Would America have been as readily able to elect a black man who parents were both black? Interesting questions regarding public perception and self-identification.
…how did “humpty” from the “humpty dance” get elected as RNC chairman?!!