Steele, in Essence interview, says he's going to take the GOP's message to Black community

[jenmito]

NELSON: What is your first priority with regard to changing the image of the RNC?

STEELE: Yes, we do have an image problem and the first thing I am going to do is take the GOP's message to Black community. We are going to show up, spend time, and spend money. And most importantly, if we want our message to be heard, we have to talk to the Black media.

http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/news/articles/michael_steele_gop_chairman

You should read most of the comments in response. :rofl:

[brianna69]

1. Good luck with that Steele

I don't see that working out for you. Putting a minority face on the same bankrupt republican policies that in no way address the needs of the minority community will not gain the republicans black votes.

[uponit7771]

4. They learned nothing from Palin, they think it was Bush's econ issues that cost them the election

...instead of it being McKKKlans bankrupt stupidity of clinging to Bush

[jenmito]

13. The first comment on the article said something similar...

So now since the "Palin" effect did not work, the Republicans are trying the "negro" effect? How clever! Anything to try and win votes.

Posted at 2/01/2009 1:34 PM by Ginger

[ellacott]

2. I've been waiting to talk to him

I'm going to see if he comes to my city. I've got a lot to say to him. :)

[jenmito]

14. I'm sure he'll try to sweet talk you...

I'd look forward to your comments to him. :)

[ellacott]

40. He just might do that

He was at a conference last year and he was so transparent. He's an actor. He talked about how poor his family was growing up and how much of a struggle it was. He was over the top and got people to applaud but most recognized it was an act. He also was on a black talk radio show. He tried to over talk the host but the host wouldn' let him. Steele was saying that he understands why blacks have an issue with the Repub party but he is trying to change it from within. He went on to claim if the Repub party didn't make changes that he would leave the party.

I could see him telling those Repubs who voted for him that he would leave the party if they didn't vote for him.

[jenmito]

42. Ooh-I wish that was on video...

him claiming if the Repub party didn't make changes that he would leave the party. That would get him thrown out of the party immediately since he's a creator of the RLC, which is a RINO organization.

[ellacott]

43. That's true

I was shocked when he said that. I knew he didn't mean it. I wish that radio show kept archives. It would have been nice to have it played today.

[jenmito]

44. He was asked about the DLC on Faux News Sunday by Chris Wallace

and I don't even remember what he said, probably because he didn't really say anything of substance.

[uponit7771]

3. ...and lose 3 times more racist vote than he gains in any community. The GOP is a party of racist...

...the lady stating that Obama is an "Arab" in such a large crowd was a tell tale to me.

If they're doing that in crowds what are they saying in "polite" company?

[ej510]

5. FUCK ASSHOLE! I cannot stand bruthas like him.

[jenmito]

6. Check out these comments:

So now since the "Palin" effect did not work, the Republicans are trying the "negro" effect? How clever! Anything to try and win votes.

Posted at 2/01/2009 1:34 PM by Ginger

My, Republicans really do think we black folks are stupid and will vote for anymore that shows us something of what we want to see.

Posted at 2/01/2009 1:20 PM by Terrance

obama effect that all.

Posted at 2/01/2009 10:20 AM by NARMER

Steele should in no way be referenced in the same sentence with President Obama. One is smart and intelligent in his own right and the other is a Pawn who couldn't make Governership of MD. African Americans are not stupid. So, whatever has to be pitched can stay with the Republican party of the haves that leaves the Blacks out.

Posted at 1/31/2009 9:38 PM by Chantilly

Yes, to understand the agenda of the Republican Party you first have to understand Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Rielly and other closet racists like them. The true voices of the republican party.

Posted at 1/31/2009 3:43 PM by Swiffht

[genna]

68. I thought the wild haired lady in that John McCain crowd was a cougar

I'm sorry not a cougar. The PUMAs.

She was a Dixie Democrat. There are plenty Dixiecrats in the heart of Appalachia.

[politicasista]

7. Yawn

:boring:

[firedupdem]

8. He's such a tool! I cannot stand this guy! n/t

[jenmito]

11. Me, neither. n/t

[Solomon]

82. Michael Steele is an ideologue.

And a very stupid one at that. I don't understand the comments that refer to him as smart and brilliant. He's as stupid as they come. I watched a model destroy him intellectually on Bill Maher one night. He was pathetic. And he plays the same tricks they play, don't answer the question, throw up bullshit. He's an idiot. The only thing he's got going for him is he is one of two blacks in the republican party.

[jenmito]

91. He's an ideologue who pretends to be whatever those he's speaking to WANT him to be.

He's stupid.

[damonm]

9. Oh, THIS should end well...

[Terran]

10. They don't have an image problem.

They have a substance problem. :dunce:

[jenmito]

12. Exactly right...

and I bet everyone knows it.

[Frustratedlady]

15. Is it just me, or is the Republican Party beginning to look like the Keystone Kops?

They are scurrying in all directions to try to get their act together, but falling down in the process. How obvious can you be? Put a Black leader in for the party and, during the announcement, how many Black faces did you see in the audience?

It's going to take more than a token, folks. The Whites and the Blacks are both laughin' at ya.

[jenmito]

18. It's not you. And I think he really thinks he was NOT chosen because of his race:

NELSON: You have been accused by the GOP as rolling out token Black members as a way to lure in more African-Americans. Do you suspect that some people voted for you for this reason?

STEELE: No. (Laughs.) You saw the vote. It took six ballots. What impressed me was that the party did not vote for me because I am Black. It never really raised the issue of my race. What the party cares about right now is coalition building and grassroots and getting our message out and they felt I was the best person to do that.

ibid

[sohndrsmith]

52. "What impressed me was that the party did not vote for me because I am Black."

I would hope that wasn't their only reason... but I can't help wondering if they would have considered him if anyone else had been elected President (or rather - anyone white, to put it bluntly. If the Dems had elected a woman, I can't help but feel like the RNC vote would have been different. Or if we'd elected Biden as President - or whomever - a white male....).

Would the party who seems to have done very little in showing support for diversity or inclusion or welcoming differences (ANY differences, for pete's sake!) have chosen Steele? It almost feels like they're using him... I hope they aren't.

[jenmito]

55. They didn't vote for him because he's Black...

just like McCain didn't pick Palin because she's a woman. :sarcasm:

[sohndrsmith]

77. He may very well be the best one for the job - it is just bugging me that

I don't know if they would have voted for him (even if he were the best person for the job) if Obama were not president. I feel lousy having that suspicion, but I can't shake it. They are really struggling as a party, that's for sure... I just don't like the idea that he's a gimmick - even if he's okay with it. It's just really... ugly somehow.

I hate to bring this (exceedingly uglier) topic up - Rush Limbaugh... wasn't he saying all sorts of stuff that Republicans felt they had to bend over backwards (to put it politely) and cow-tow to Obama BECAUSE his father was African American, and therefore somehow people felt they couldn't treat him normally - or criticism him without fear of appearing rude or wrong or worse? (his perspective, not mine). That that was somehow unfair and unacceptable?

That is more in line with many of the things I've heard throughout the past year - from people who really seemed to be against Obama for reasons that made no sense to me, and that I couldn't understand except in terms of redesigned, obscured, reconfigured racism.

Even when the effort is made to attempt to make it look like something else, it doesn't. It's still racism.

Palin is a pure example of this bait-and-switch attempt at "prettifying" what are her really ugly, racist views.

I want Rush to go away, personally. He's gross in character thought and form, in my view. But I wouldn't mind his having to explain how he applies his sensibilities to Steele as well. Even if they share partisan ideology, that has nothing to do with the statement that honest cooperation with African Americans is not forthcoming because one always has to be delicate for fear of acting or saying something insulting. That's what this guy said was harming his party regarding Obama, I wonder...
never mind - the answer is some people are not daunted by, much less concerned about, proof of their own hypocrisy.

[Raineyb]

87. I wouldn't waste any time feeling lousy over the suspicion

Especially as it's 100% true.

Michael Steele is a tool and no doubt we can look forward to more racist bullshit from the Republicans while Steele makes excuses for it like he always does and the most racist of the bunch can say "see what I said wasn't racist."

Regards

[MadMaddie]

60. Oh they are using him Sohndrsmith

no doubt about it. As one of the posters said Steele is a "House", he is either stupid or naive to believe they elected him because he was the best candidate.

[sohndrsmith]

76. That's pretty ugly. I can't really disagree... Best outcome would be if

Steele can actually use it to open some minds (and the party as a result). Hopefully he's above such tokenism himself - maybe he can make something good come out of it...

Ugh. I read an article today that Palin supposedly represents what Republicans want their party to be about? That doesn't really work with diversity and/or openness...

[MadMaddie]

80. Sadly it is ugly

I have been fired by someone just like Steele, she thought she was all that. The goal was to have someone black fire the blacks they wanted to get rid of and then guess what.......they fired her black ass.

Steele is the same type of person, he may want to believe that he was nominated because of his qualifications but this is a tit for tat situation.

He even acknowleded it when he made a statement to Obama, "How do you like me now"!! Thems fighting words and Steele does not care about the black constituency like he boasts.....because if he brings in too many blacks, minorities and women he will piss off the powers that be.

He is but a puppett on a string and one day he will get thrown under the bus like Condi and Powell. It's just a matter of time.

I saw that article about Palin too....simply pathetic. If that is what they strive to be then that's really sad.

[sohndrsmith]

81. well said--on all counts. Sad as it is. I, too, was really blindsided by

Steele's comment (challenge) to Obama. Them's fightin' words, yes - but they were awkward and odd (and degrading, both to him and those he's supposed to be bringing in). It seemed sort of a junior league jab for no reason and no context - just strange...

The incident you relate about being fired, and then the one who fired you being fired is really disturbing - disturbing in the fact that I'm sure this is hardly an isolated incident, and while it may not always be orchestrated simply to avoid discrimination charges, most of them could very well be just that.

That makes me really angry, and I'm sorry for your experience.

[MadMaddie]

98. The firing was disturbing

but I learned a valuable lesson. Never take for granted an employment position because you never know who has it out for you. Always watch your back because the dagger can come from a most unlikely source...
It's synical but I have been very successful since then. With the firing the naive me left the office too..

[laugle]

78. I noticed that too.....there was ONE!

[butterfly77]

16. I wonder how he will go about changing the image..

that would mean changing there whole ideology and policies they believe in...

[jenmito]

21. He thinks his race alone changes their image...

as does the RNC. The "Palin Effect" again.

[butterfly77]

25. If that was the case then...

all black people would have been behind Obama in the beginning. He had to prove himself. I don't see anything Steele can do that would change blacks minds they simply don't believe in what Republicons do..

[jenmito]

28. You're right...

but the RNC obviously NEVER learns. From ANYTHING!

[butterfly77]

31. I think that the public ..

seems to be quiet for the moment but the Cons don't know what they are playing with. We all were waiting for Obama to win so that we could get some action and as they watch this game of moving and changing the bill within the house and senate some people are losing their patience..Keep on playing republicons look at all of the people in the streets overseas

[genna]

71. If Steele has the substance that Obama had, the Republicans may be on a different road

That doesn't mean it is the road I'm on, but they might be able to go far.

David Duke's comment about Steele being Obama Jr. rang the right note to me. If Steele is able to push the fools who say their party doesn't need a Tiger Woods because they have John McCain (what was that Representative's name?), then I say more power to him. Steele might even be able to get an elected black Republican in the U.S. House or the U.S. Senate, maybe even get a black governor into a state seat.

I want these blatant racist hacks like David Duke to have no place in this party or in the Republican party. Let them become so marginalized that they can't spew all over the rest of us.

We have a certain amount of tolerance for diversity. The next phase has to be pressing the intolerant to the margins. I still don't think everyone has to be a happy racial integrationist...I just think they should keep their worst bile to themselves.

[Raineyb]

89. Steele will do no such thing

He may be able to find a token black Republican to run for something. (Said Republican will probably lose at that) but his main purpose is to put a black face out front excusing the racist comments that is sure to come from the hard core of the party. Steele is the same man who trucked in homeless black people from Philadelphia to pass out sample "Democratic" ballots with his and his running mate's name in it without disclosing that he is a Republican in an obvious attempt to trick black people into voting for him.

There's nothing new here just more of the same old bullshit with a black face on it.

Regards

[genna]

97. Steele IS from a generation of AAs who are the first, but maybe not the onlys

I don't doubt that Steele is all about self-aggrandizement. He has spent the last few years since his defeat as a black Republican Lt. Governor trolling the black community for empathy, support, and understanding. I don't doubt his insincerity.

My point is not that his self interest comes before the good of us all (not in the Justice Thomas sense). My point is his blind ambition might be able to stir up those blatant haters who can't stand anything or anyone who is black. They don't care about the substance AT ALL. They only care about the skin being black or being associated with what's black. Those haters voted for the Republican ticket (some from the Democratic party) because they could bear to think about a black president.

My point is those haters can't stand to think of an integrated Republican power structure either. If the Democrats don't want them and the Republicans are saying they have to share power with AAs, where will they go? What will they do about it?

If Steele being Republican chairman disbands those hateful buggers, why not be excited about that? I have no doubts if Steele could stomach that MD Republican governor, then he can stomach a great deal of loathsome behavior from the rest of them.

[Raineyb]

99. That is one way to look at it.

Although I suspect that that is not the reason he was elected. If his election could further destroy the Republican party I can't say that I wouldn't celebrate that. Unfortunately, all I see in my mind's eye is his mug on the TV excusing racist bullshit from Republicans and based on his track record I don't seem him doing much else.

It looks as though, Joe the non-plumber, Sarah "I don't have the sense God gave a roll of pennies" Palin, and Rush the drug-addled, Viagra popping, blowhard are the de facto heads of the party.

:shrug:

I guess time will tell.

Regards

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. WHAT *message* is that?

I can't even possibly imagine what that *message* could be?
:shrug:

[firedupdem]

20. LOL! You are right...what message?

I hope they make some more fake money with his picture on it with fried chicken etc. Send that message to the black community why dontcha?

[jenmito]

24. "Don't look behind the curtain." n/t

[tsuki]

19. I'm waiting for him to reach out to gays and pro-choice, as he said

he would. The Fundies will schriek.

[jenmito]

22. He was a creator of the RLC:

Judging from this obvious RW website article, they did NOT want him to be the leader of the RNC way back in Nov.: http://malignantlibiocy.blogivists.com/2008/11/23/would-michael-steele-use-the-rlc-as-a-model-for-the-rnc/

[NatBurner]

23. yeah, ok mike. i'll be here waiting.

please

[jenmito]

26. But he's the Repub. Barack Obama!

So they want people to believe. :eyes:

[NatBurner]

35. right? i would LOVE for his bootlickin'ass to knock on MY door

bring a camera with u too, mike. i have a few questions concerning their "image"

[jenmito]

37. I REALLY hope he does!

Make sure to post the pics here! :hi:

[skeewee08]

27. What ever! I am a African American Female, and I do not want to listen to him.

[jenmito]

29. Judging by your nic...

I take it you're a member of AKA?

[Number23]

50. I've asked that poster that same question and gotten no response!

Hmmm...

[jenmito]

51. Strange...

I wonder why not! :shrug:

[marimour]

58. lol.

i know y'all are not doing a perp search on DU lol. maybe she doesn't know how to check her messages.

[Number23]

62. lol I feel 19 all over again!!

:rofl:

maybe she doesn't know how to check her messages.

Now, that I don't buy. It only takes a few weeks to figure out how to work My DU and see if anyone has responded to one of your posts. :)

[jenmito]

65. All she has to do is come back here.

But it's no biggie. :D

[bullwinkle428]

30. Hopefully, he'll find out how that plays, and get back to us!

[jenmito]

34. I'm sure he'll keep going back on Faux and claim it's workin' "real good."

But he'll be lying.

[Occam Bandage]

32. "My fellow Black citizens: Let's all band together and let rich white guys exploit us forever."

"But put that aside. Isn't it time you dragged your prejudices out in the open, where they could be celebrated and legitimized? White folk have been openly bigoted for centuries, and we've stuck up for them every step of the way. If you join up with us, we'll have your back! Forget the fact that we hate you, because if you can work up some hate of your own, we'll hate together! Do you hate gays? So do we! Think the Mexicans are all over the goddamn place, and freeloading off your civil rights work? Oh, now, don't be shy, we know that divide's there, and we've got a big-ass wedge we're ready to jam down in it. Do you maybe not treat your woman the way that you should? Well...hey, hey, hey, hold on now fellows, I'm not saying any of you are sexist. No, no, no. Calm down. I'm just saying that if you were one of us, you could be, and we'd defend it with all sorts of talk about traditional values. Now. Who wants to join up? You might never be a rich white racist man, but we promise you that if you ever become one, you'll be damn happy with us!"

[jenmito]

36. That sounds about right.

I doubt anyone will buy it. Another transparent token choice.

[NatBurner]

38. ...

:spray:

[genna]

72. You forgot guns.

I know some gun nuts who refuse to be considered Democrats because we want to regulate their guns and reduce the overall number of guns.

I don't happen to think the prevalence of guns inside cities have been good news to my family, but hey cold dead hands and all that stuff.


Tongue in cheek. OK. Hate. Gays, check. Mexicans, check. Misogyny, check.


What about requiring great academic success for the teachers within inner city schools, certain grades and graduation rates for the students, and an equal in school parent participation in poor and in rich schools?

[AtomicKitten]

33. After decades of their boot on poor blacks, the GOP has some 'splaining to do.

This courtship should be entertaining. :popcorn:

:rofl:

[jenmito]

39. I look forward to the

epic FAIL. :D

[dascientist]

41. FAIL

[RFKHumphreyObama]

45. Because we all know it worked so well for you in Maryland Michael

:sarcasm:

[jenmito]

46. Steele told the Repubs. to all vote NO on the stimulus package. That should go over well...

and he's saying he "doesn't have time" for the "typical games and obstruction" etc. the Dems. are "playing" in Congress. He's sooooo cool. :eyes: And out of touch with reality.

[genna]

73. How about reaching back to Newt Gingrich for a forward looking agenda?

We've all experienced the Contract on America after the boom in the 1990s.

[SergeyDovlatov]

47. and where that GOP Message was before?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

48. No, thank you. We already know what you are about, you SCUM!!

[Number23]

49. God, I cannot WAIT for his first "unscripted" exchange with a black person.

I hope and pray that it is before a ton of cameras and on YouTube within the hour. :)

[jenmito]

53. Judging by your nic...

I take it you're a Michael Jordan fan? :D

Same here. I'd be so curious to know how he'd play it-playing the role of a Dem.-remember when he ran with bumper-stickers saying "Steele
Democrat"?

Or if he'd be honest and try to talk them into joining the anti-affirmative action, anti-hate discrimination, etc., platform!

[Number23]

61. Check my sig line

:)

[jenmito]

64. Oh...

My bad. Thanks for answering (even though I was really kidding). :D

[sofa king]

54. Oh, they already got the message a long time ago.

Sometime in between freeing the slaves and setting up African-Americans as welfare mothers who will kill again if allowed to vote.

[CharmCity]

56. Steele's approach really worked in MD!!

When he ran for the U.S. Senate!
Just ask Senator Ben Cardin!

[jenmito]

59. I know...

he thought he could trick people into thinking he was a Dem., remember? And NOW he's going to try to trick people into thinking he's a conservative. :rofl:

[ShadowLiberal]

57. The republicans have burned too many bridges with blacks to win their voting block

Even black republicans who are moderates don't usually do better then getting 1/4th of the black vote against white democratic candidates.

The only way the GOP can become competitive in the black vote is if the democratic party starts to screw up really bad with the black vote, and purposely throws them under the bus for some reason. That's how the republicans, the party of Lincoln, lost the black vote, because they decided to appeal to the racist southern vote instead. The democrats have stuck their necks out for African Americans for several decades now, advocating stuff like affirmative action, popular among them but more controversial among other Americans.

Besides, the democrats aren't going to throw away the black vote to try to appeal to some other voting block, African Americans are the racial group most likely to vote straight democratic.

Steele would be better served trying to salvage the Hispanic vote while the GOP still can, to avoid in the words of one GOP strategist 'making Hispanics become the new African American voting block'.

[jenmito]

63. Good post...

smart analysis. I agree. But he won't get the Hispanic vote, either.

[firedupdem]

67. I am 42 yrs old and the only black republicans I have ever seen

are on CNN. I've never met one....not one. They can forget it.

[jenmito]

69. Hey-I'll be 42 next month!

And the only Black Repubs. I'VE ever seen are on CNN and MSNBC (Ron Christie and Joe Watkins). But they don't exist in "real life." :D

[genna]

74. Your point about Democrats holding onto affirmative action especially when it was unpopular

in white America is exactly why I look favorably upon Steele's ascendancy as the Republican chairman.

In the same way he can stand in front of a black audience with a straight face and say that the Barack the magic negro ditty was not really offensive, he can stand in front of groups of Republican haters and say with a straight face that equal opportunity access is good for everyone because the rich diversity of America brings value to the Republican party.


If David Duke is preoccupied with Michael Steele for 4 years, maybe he and his ilk will leave Barack Obama alone. Prayerfully they can look inward and self destruct.

[Clio the Leo]

66. Will he still be talking like Cool Moe D?

Or will he choose to invoke MC Hammer and proclaim that the Democratic party "Caint touch this!" while doing the Chinese typewriter.

[jenmito]

70. ...

:rofl: That visual is now stuck in my head. Very funny! :hi:

[Juche]

75. Let Limbaugh and Hannity bring the message to the black community

Especially the part where they blame the banking crisis on groups like ACORN forcing banks to make loans to unqualified blacks and latinos, and that is why the economy collapsed. Make sure he doesn't forget that, the part where the GOP media heads tried to scapegoat blacks and latinos for the economic collapse.

[jenmito]

83. I'm sure when the "Black community" listens to what Steele is trying to sell them,

they'll SEE him as Limbaugh and Hannity with darker skin.

[kwassa]

79. Steele only won 25% of the black vote when he ran for the Senate.

He did ads with puppies. That didn't make him cuddly enough.

[jenmito]

84. I remember those ads...

he really thinks people are stupid. They're not, but HE is, thinking people will join the Repub. cause (which goes against their interests) just because he's Black. Not to mention he said he thought there was NO consideration of his race when he was chosen to be chairman of the RNC, that he was chosen because he was the best candidate. :eyes:

[Brewman_Jax]

85. I think that Steele missed his calling

he should go for comedy. :rofl:

[jenmito]

86. Or something very similar...

a radio "personality" competing with Rush so Rush can start saying racist things about HIM.

[WinkyDink]

88. It's always just "a media problem"; they only need to "get their message out."

Completely morally, ethically, and philosophically bankrupt.
Just another shade of Bush's "The American people have got ta unnerstand."

And fooling no-one.

[jenmito]

90. They just don't seem to get the the message is the problem!

He was interviewed on Faux and he claimed he was against illegal immigrants getting what they call "amnesty," that he's for a federal ban on gay marriage, and all the other typical positions of the Rush Republicans. What a joke that this message "getting out" will put them back in the majority.

[CitizenLeft]

92. he must be out of his mind.

WHAT freakin' message???? It took a year and a win in Iowa for Obama, a Democrat, to win African-Americans over. If he thinks all he has to do is grin at them (us), he's got another thing coming. I loathe him and his black Republican counterparts with a passion, and he has ZERO chance of getting a hearing from me. How dare he think it's that easy.

Don't come near me, you phoney lowlife scum.

[jenmito]

93. I've been hearing the same thing over and over...

I can't believe how stupid the RNC is thinking they can just put a Black face on their racist policies and think people are gonna buy it.

[CitizenLeft]

94. I wanted to post this first, but I didn't want to go "profane"...

...right off the bat (LOL). But Steele and Ron Christie and Amy Holmes and the rest of those Republican-ass-kissing toads can kiss my black ass. Their rationalizations and apologias for fifty years of racist, classist policies makes me vomit, and... oh my God, I can't even express my disgust. REALLY. :puke:



:hi:

[jenmito]

96. I hear ya...

Add Joe Watkins to the list. I can't stand how the Racist Party thinks they can put some tokens out there and think people aren't going to recognize it for what it is. Didn't they learn after the Palin fiasco? Of course they didn't.

:hi:

[bkcc]

95. He will bring the message anywhere he can...

as long as it's at a country club, or a regatta, or a gala ball.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

100. Does he know where to find the black communicty?