The okey-doke: Trying to Change Its Face, G.O.P. Weighs a Black Chairman

[Uzybone]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/us/politics/11gop.html?hp


"WASHINGTON — As the nation is on the verge of inaugurating its first black president, the Republican Party is facing a telling choice: whether to elect its first black chairman.

The contest for Republican Party chairman comes as Republican leaders seek to figure out what the party stands for, as well as what face to put forward as it struggles to avoid shrinking into a party of Southern white men as the country grows increasingly diverse. Among the six candidates are four white men, including two from the South, and two blacks: Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, and J. Kenneth Blackwell, the former Ohio secretary of state."

"Nevertheless, racial codes and strains have emerged in the contest. Katon Dawson, the South Carolina Republican chairman, quit his membership in an all-white country club soon after joining the race. And another candidate, Chip Saltsman, the Tennessee party chairman, was roundly criticized for distributing a holiday CD to party members that included a parody song called “Barack the Magic Negro.”"

"Party officials said this was the first time two serious black candidates had competed for the Republican chairmanship. The Democratic Party elected its first African-American chairman, Ronald H. Brown, in 1989.

Given the depth of the Republican Party’s difficulties — and the divisions over ideology and region being played out in the contest — party leaders said they did not think race would be a deciding factor in many, if any, votes."

This is one of the reasons neither of them will win (apart from the fact they are black):

"Mr. Steele has drawn criticism from conservatives because, while he opposes abortion, he supports an exemption in cases of incest or when the life of the woman is in danger."

[jgraz]

1. Just as long at it's an anti-black black chairman

:eyes:

[Occam Bandage]

2. Incest babies and dead mothers are family values. nt

[Starry Messenger]

3. What a headline.

"So how much does he weigh, sir?" :crazy: Surprising seeing that at the NYTimes.

[rfranklin]

4. Why not just let Chip wear blackface and sing "Mammy?"

That would probably win over most of the Negroes who are being exploited and abused by those evil Democrats.

[YOY]

5. They really think it's just about skin color, don't they?

Amazing...

[BlooInBloo]

6. hahaha! They'll say anything to get in the news.

the credulous here are just as funny.

[AspenRose]

7. Good luck with that.

:eyes:

[opihimoimoi]

8. Lipstick ain't gonna do it...stoopid fuckers....don dey noe dis? dumb ass Pubs

[Hippo_Tron]

9. They don't get that they can't simultaneously appeal to blacks and white racists

Nixon's southern strategy is still alive and well in the GOP. They can try to appeal to black voters all they want and it still won't do jack shit. When they drop the southern strategy once and for all then they might be able to appeal to black voters. But at that point they will basically be an entirely different party.