Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I'm surprised that no one here is talking about the newly elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/31/steele-focused-critical-races-rebuilding-gop/" target="_blank">http://www.foxnews.com/politic...ing-gop/</a> Is this a token or is the GOP serious about trying to woo the ethnic vote? If so, how will this impact the party's core?
Originally Posted By TheRedhead He was huge news down here in DC in 2006, when he ran for senator in Maryland. It was a big, ugly, expensive fight, and he lost. After that loss, everyone down here said, "You haven't seen the last of him!" He was a personable guy, people really liked him, he's scandal-free, and oh yeah, he's Black. In fact, most people thought at that point that he'd be immediately tapped for the head of the RNC. And that was before Change.
Originally Posted By dshyates If you watched the voting it took them a total of six go-arounds, and by the time it got to the last 2 candidates it was between an old white guy who up to a month ago belonged to a whites only country club and the black guy. Can you imagine the PR nightmare if they had chosen the racist over the black guy? So they painted themselves in the corner and had no option.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt ^^I had heard something about that, but didn't know the details. Interesting.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>I'm surprised that no one here is talking about the newly elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele<< Actually we have been, in one of the Limbaugh topics. (Can't blame you for not following those.) Here's a crosspost of some mud I unearthed: >>Meanwhile, Judd Legum, former research director for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and an expert on Maryland politics, offers up "5 Facts About The New RNC Chairman": 1. Steele compared stem cell research to Nazi experiments during the Holocaust. 2. Steele bused in homeless African Americans from Philadelphia to distribute literature in inner-city Baltimore that featured a "Sample Democratic Ballot" with votes for Steele and former Gov. Bob Ehrlich, along with photos of prominent black Democrats. 3. Steele once described that "R" next to his name as a "scarlet letter," complaining that being a Republican was hurting his electoral chances. 4. Steele was endorsed by Mike Tyson during his run for Senate. When Tyson, who used to be married to Steele's half sister, pleaded no contest to assault in Montgomery County in 1998, Steele was on hand to support him. 5. Steele defended former Gov. Bob Ehrlich's decision to hold a $100,000 fundraiser at a country club that did not allow non-white members, saying that the club's membership's policies were "not an issue" because "I don't play golf."<< <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/30/michael-steele-rnc-chairm_n_162589.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...589.html</a> (References at the link.) Good thing he doesn't play golf, huh.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "Actually we have been, in one of the Limbaugh topics. (Can't blame you for not following those.)" I actually started that thread and I saw the comments about Steele only after I started this one. >>1. Steele compared stem cell research to Nazi experiments during the Holocaust.<< Um, sure, okay.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< 1. Steele compared stem cell research to Nazi experiments during the Holocaust. >>> Okay, so we know he's a Bible-thumper. My prediction: it's going to be a while yet before the RNC turns things around for its party.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<Is this a token or is the GOP serious about trying to woo the ethnic vote?>> Ummmm, false dilemma. I vote, "'Token' AND 'desperate attempt to woo the ethnic vote.'" <<If so, how will this impact the party's core?>> Now THAT's going to be the fun part to watch, isn't it? It's almost too bad that Imus is already on probation. It would have been interesting to see if this would have changed his race-bating behavior.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 mawnck, I gotta say that those five points don't come off as especially damning.
Originally Posted By alexbook Did anybody else hear this on the news and wonder how the bassist for the Bangles ended up running for chairman of the RNC? No? Just me, I guess. <a href="http://www.thebangles.org/bangles11.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.thebangles.org/bangles11.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By vbdad55 well politics and entertainment sometimes ends up with odd combo's -- usually outside of Minnesota is more normal
