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Steele election gives Americans another option

Tiffany Shorter | Posted February 2, 2009 9:33 AM

Michael Steele is on his way to give the Republican Party a makeover and many conservatives are looking forward to a new and improved GOP.

On Friday, Steele was elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, becoming the first African American to lead the party, and many expect him to be the first 21st Century Republican to show that moderate policies can unite the GOP and work for America.

Before the Obama administration, Americans' discontent with neo-conservatism in Washington caused the party to reflect and consider a new vision to rebuild a better relationship with the country and move the nation forward. Senator John McCain's loss in the 2008 presidential election left many wondering about the future of the RNC. But Steele's "Blueprint For Tomorrow" -- which includes leading with integrity, rebuilding the RNC's branding and updating its technical abilities -- demonstrates his determination and ability to give the GOP a facelift.

Republicans are confident in Steele because of his history of success. As Lt. Governor of Maryland and chairman of GOPAC, he has groomed rising Republican leaders for elected office, raised millions of campaign dollars and helped to improve the quality of education in his state. In 2004, Steele introduced himself to the country at the Republican National Convention, and since then conservatives across America have been enthusiastic about seeing more of him. In 2005, the Aspen Institute named him a Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership, and in that same year he was given the 2005 Bethune-DuBois Institute Award. Steele has also worked on a variety of international issues, including the Export-Import Bank Advisory Board, and was a member of the presidential delegation to the Leon H. Sullivan Summit VIII in Tanzania.

As a black Republican, I am proud of my party. On Friday we proved that we are inclusive, and can evolve to reflect those values and understand the needs of America. Equally as important, Michael Steele knows our community and understands the necessity of people having the opportunities to provide for themselves and their families. His work in public education and community service shows that he is in touch with many of the dreams and challenges of hard working Americans.

My personal hope is that Steele can show the African American community, as well as mainstream America, that there are two political parties to choose from and that both of them are possible options to represent their interests.

Tiffany Shorter is the editor of Hip Hop Republican.com and an active conservative.

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Comments 27

MidwestGuy
2009-02-02 10:54:24

Does the election of Steele prove that Republicans are inclusive? Only if you believe that what we witnessed during and post election are the anamolies within the party. This is the same party who's former RNC head sent around the Magic Negro e-mail to his colleagues and was aptly defended by them.

This selection shows that some people in the party are interested in taking advantage of a political opportunity to broaden it's base. I'll give you that. That is not meant to suggest that the party itself wants to be inclusive since the vote itself was limited to republican politicians.

Steele as the party's lead shows that the republican party is now "inclusive" about as much as the election of Barack Obama showed that America is no longer racist. Before Steele, there was Powell. The party only got worse.

Ostend Street
2009-02-02 11:04:49

Michael Steele is not interested in black folk. Don't you get it. Michael Steele is interested in Michael Steele.

The real Jay
2009-02-02 11:15:37

Since when did michael steele was another option? To me, the Republicans have gone futher down the tube. I consider my self an Independent that lean left. Rupublicans haven't gave me ONE reason to vote for them. Not One! Give me a reason to vote for you (Republicans) and I will vote. Michael Steele is not a good reason or a reason at all.

john gilkenson
2009-02-02 11:32:17

I am reminded of Dr. Seuss and "Green Eggs and Ham. Seems to be that the black community just doesn't like the look of the republican party and never has tasted any of their ideas. Why not give Michael Steele and the GOP a chance and you may find out they taste good.

STEFANY
2009-02-02 13:24:12

He's nothing but a black face and a figure head, he's no different than the white conservatives, they're only using him to appeal to a wider audience because we have a black president..Steele won't make a change because the GOP has their hands up his back pulling the strings.

Debbie
2009-02-02 13:25:35

I wonder how with what David Duke said about him and the party: "I am glad these traitorous leaders of the Republican Party appointed this Black racist, affirmative action advocate to the head of the Republican party because this will lead to a huge revolt among the Republican base. As a former Republican official, I can tell you that millions of rank-and-file Republicans are mad as hell and aren�t going to take it anymore! We will either take the Republican Party back over the next four years or we will say, �To Hell With the Republican Party!� And we will take 90 percent of Republicans with us into a New Party that will take its current place!"

Cecil Jones
2009-02-02 13:37:10

I get it. I know that there are some Blacks like Gop Chairman Michael Steele and this author who feel that whining as victims won't solve the community's problems. I get it, but in order to be critical of the community you've got to be supportive of it. The Democratic Party exploits it and expects it to support all their efforts, but the Republicans are always critical and they kick us. Putting Steele at the top is a strong indication of change, but actions speak louder than words. Steele can get the Cosby vote again. Unfortunately, that could be just enough to win.

Cmoney
2009-02-02 14:39:38

After this suck up article, maybe Tiffany Shorter will get a job at the RNC headquarters now. That's progress--for her anyway. As for the rest of America and especially Black and Latino Americans, the GOP offers nothing. Putting a Black face in front of a racist organization is one of the oldest tricks in the book and we aren't falling for it anymore. If the GOP wants to APPEAL to minorities it must REPEAL the racists in its midst.

MidwestGuy
2009-02-02 15:02:16

Is it possible that people who question the opposition party's move in selecting their first black chair talk change more than they can embrace it themselves?

Most of the comments are grounded in hate and lack of interest in an opposing view. It is the same hate the election of a black president had supposedly moved us beyond.

Cadence
2009-02-02 16:26:53

I'm shocked that the author of this column failed to mention that when Steele ran for Governor a few years ago, he hired homeless Black people to pass out campaign flyers in majority Black areas that implied that he is a Democrat. Or, how about the times that Steele has claimed that he appeared at a college and said that the students showered him with Oreo cookies. But, then if you mention that, you would have to report the fact that no other media outlets support the claim, nor does the school, or anyone else who was in attendance. And that Steele himself has backed down from the claims, and now says that he saw two cookies on the floor as he stepped off of the stage. Or, how about writing about the time that Steele honored a colleague at the colleague's all white golf club. And when asked about being at a club that woudn't accept him, Steele said it's alright with him, because he doesn't play golf. Most intelligent black people know that we do have a choice in who we can vote for, and most of us, unlike the author of this piece, would look beyond the color of a politicians skin. As Dr. King sad, let's judge Steele on the content of his character.

Majjor
2009-02-02 17:16:18

Mr. Steele is far more a Black American than Barack Hussein Obama. Obama was raised by a White woman, and then a White family. Obama has no connection to the American Black experience what-so-ever. Furthermore the great next Republican leader Sarah Palin has far more in common with Black Americans than Barack Hussein Obama. The Obama's are the product of 4 Ivy League College degrees. Michelle Obama was earning about $240K/year when she left her hospital management job. How much of Black America can relate to this? Wheras as Sarah Palin went to 6 different colleges to finally get her degree, that's typical of Black folks. Sarah Palin's daughter got pregnant before marriage, that's something most ALL Black American can relate to. Sarah Palin's husband is a blue collar guy. Black America has far more in common with Sarah Palin than Barack Obama. The funny thing about the Negro? The negro thinks they are Barack Obama.....and they are not, not by a longshot. They were not raised by a White woman, in a White family, and have a guilded Ivy League education. Black folks are foolish in this way. As Michelle Obama once said, "Black folks better wake up"....and see your commonalities ride with Sarah Palin and her family and life, than the upscale elite Obama's.

MidwestGuy
2009-02-02 17:19:57

Cadence, you can replace the party with democrat and you will find many of the same abuses/mischaracterizations which are the subject of criticism in your post. Republicans don't have a lock on political posturing nor reprehensible behavior. I only have to remind you of this past election.

Beyond that, if lying was a reason not to vote for someone, Hillary Clinton wouldn't be Secretary of State. Corruption knows no one party. Guess who came up with the defense of Marriage act, Don't ask don't tell and a myriad of other legislation not in tune with the needs of "certain" members of the democratic party? His name is Bill clinton. Nothing you have posted pales in comparison to the things he has done.

MidwestGuy
2009-02-02 17:26:34

Did Sean Hannity, Michele Malkin and Rush Limbaugh decide to post on the board?

Major, your posts is straight out of their playbook. Most intelligent people would see through your silliness and understand what it really is---an opportunity, primed by the election of Obama, for you to show what the definition of "ass" is.

Hopefully others will realize this and not allow themselves to be lured into a dialogue with you--about things you don't believe yourself. You can be both provocative and intelligent at the same time. It's not necessary to forfeit that just so you can sound like Ann Coulter.

Cal Soldier
2009-02-03 01:30:43

I consider myself an independent that leans right. I voted for Bill Clinton in '92, then watched in horror as he gutted the military (I'm in the Army), running us into the ground with peacekeeping, downsizing, and BRAC. So, I voted Republican in '96, '00, and '04. I believed that Republicans, for all of their faults, really wanted the best for the country - even after multiple deployments since '01. I even listened to Hannity and Limbaugh on occasion (normally for the laughs). Then, I watched the '08 campaign. Once President Obama locked up the nomination, I watched and listened to Republicans throw out some of the most vile and offensive language that I've ever heard. No, they never used the N-word, but I grew up in GA, so I know code words when I hear them. What pushed me over the edge was to watch how John McCain (a man that I used to respect) said nothing until he was called out by the media. And, let's not talk about Sarah Palin - a intellectual lightweight who was nowhere close to being ready to be president. Her only attribute was that she was an attractive person who personified the far right of the GOP. So, for the first time in 16 years, I voted for a Democrat for president. I even gave money to his campaign! It's going to take a lot more than an African-American head of the GOP to convince me to vote Republican again. It's going to take the GOP to publicly purge themselves of the radicals that occupy the far right of their party. Fighting for "fiscal responsibility" and "smaller government" won't do it - I only see it as hypocrisy after the last 8 years. Until that happens, the GOP will never get this Black Vote again.

Candy16
2009-02-03 09:17:04

Tiffany, who is a Republican has a right to feel delighted about the Michael Steele appointment. I, however, as a Democrat feel that Michale will not be his "own man," and will not be able to make the kind of radical changes needed to overhaul the GOP. It is stuck on focusing on and promoting (1) cultural wars, (2) tax cuts, (3)smaller government, (4)capitalism, etc., etc. even while the American worker is being laid off by big business, jobs are going overseas, big business is robbing the American people blind, and telling the government to bail them out because they are too big to fail. They want to tell me what to do with my body, what church to worship in, what God to serve, who can live in my house, who I can leave my retirement account to, and that list goes on and on and on. The far right of the GOP and the far left of the DEM parties are just alike. The GOP thinks their far right is just fine. At least President Obama knows that he must work hard to keep the far left ideas on the table, but not let them pull the party down so that he cannot function and the DEM's lose elections. The GOP and Michael Steele have not figured out that the far right will not let him help them change.

Justin
2009-02-03 15:10:51

Judging from Mrs. Shorter and Majjor's comments, some people have been drinking the kool-aid to often.

Fred
2009-02-03 16:55:24

Michael Steele is not remotely a moderate. Although he is in contrast with his party on affirmative action and the death penalty, he is in lockstep with them on every other issue, and was quite hostile to any efforts towards GLBT equality as Lt. Governor of Maryland. He is from the Ratzinger (rather than the Romero) wing of the Catholic Church and brings that particular religious right viewpoint to all that he does. He offers the same options that the Republican party has for a while, the options of selfishness, greed, and total disregard for those unlucky enough to have not attained great wealth.

Gracie Spunks
2009-02-03 20:46:23

This is a bad time for Republicans and we shouldn't be swayed by this election of Steele. He was unfavorable in Maryland and will be ineffective nationwide

Gracie Spunks
2009-02-03 20:46:23

This is a bad time for Republicans and we shouldn't be swayed by this election of Steele. He was unfavorable in Maryland and will be ineffective nationwide

vincnent
2009-02-04 09:32:32

Trophy Black is not another option.

neo american boy
2009-02-04 10:53:21

A hip hop Republican?!! I've never laughed so damn hard. I was like, for real, they have a hip hop section in the Republican party? I think I vomited in my mouth a little. Considering, hip hop, its roots, a genre formed in slums, ghettos, lyrical protests of injustices, by any argument is the antitheses for anything Republican. I find it offensive. I mean, leave hip hop alone. Then again, now that many of the hip hop giants who are greedy rich living in the Connecticut, I guess there's a need to stay rich and get richer. Personally I have nothing against Michael Steele other than his ass is gigantic. It's like a rhino ass when he walks away. I remember seeing him on CNN commenting on the McCain-Obama debates and they caught a shot of him walking away, I was like that man has one hell of a huge ass. So when I think of Michael Steele, all I can remember is his Jurassic ass. Also, when Steele interviewed with Tavis Smiley, he was all pro-black but the second he got on Fox News, he was so conservative and supporting the right wing white-male agenda. I don't think Steele is as bad as Juan Williams who I seriously curse the day he was born. Actually I curse the entire month of April, because he is seriously a fool. I'm glad the Daily Voice allowed that Hip Hop republican to think she could recruit fans for Michael Steele. I think, not! Republican Party is like slavery, Lincoln has given his Emancipation Proclamation, which was followed by Reconstruction and the shot down with 1877 Compromise which birthed Jim Crow. Obama won, blacks decided again, Yes we Can, now we are in reconstruction but Republicans in a slick way is trying to make the black community compromise again with "happy negro" degenerates which if blacks fall for it, will lead us back to political Jim Crow again. Truth, Republicans have a long way before they can use the word "inclusive. Let�s not forget the greatness of " McCain "that one"; Palin "he rallies with terrorists;" Limbaugh "I hope he fails;" the Republican party --not one vote in the House and let's not forget Joe the Plumber and "Barrack the Magic Negro." Why isn't any of that in her article when the shit just happened last week? Why didn't she explain why she became a Republican? Why did her article feel as if it was some Republican stamp media letter with no soul or substance? She sounds like a freaking robot. I�m not buying it.

Cadence
2009-02-04 12:26:33

Midwest Guy, can you re-read my post. My post has nothing to do with not supporting Steele because he is a Republican. I've voted for Republican's in the past, not because they have an R by their name, but because I like what the individual politician stood for and what her or she had personally accomplished. My post, if you would read it, was about three things that Steele has done that speak to his character. Instead of voting for someone based on race, gender, or political affiliation we should be supporting them based on their character as well as their track record as politicians. No where in my post did I trash Republicans or say that Republicans are the only ones guilty of the types of things that Steele did. The only person that I put down was Steele. Now, in this post, I'm also going to put down anyone who is dumb enough to just support him based on his race, and not judge him on the other things that he has done.

MidwestGuy
2009-02-04 17:33:09

Cadence, my misunderstanding and I believe we are sort of reading around what each other wrote. I now understand the character issue and realize that it applies to so many politicians. Steele just happens to be another one.

I choose to vote party affiliation rather than what an individual politician because all politicians represent a political party with a political platform. Unless you are independent, it's hard to find the necessary balance couldn't imagine voting for John McCain or any other republican at this point because of what their party represents. They have a message which needs a severe overhaul.

I'm unsure who suggested Steele should be supported because he's black. If that is part of the consideration. I say go for it.

Ramsis
2009-02-05 10:17:16

. This article might be right in heaven but right now the only thing the GOP is offering not has to offer Black Folks is David Duke and Rush. It�s good to be hopeful but not stupid. Secondly it is hard for me to respect Mr. Steele thinking when he is apart of an organization which is openly racist and anti middle and working class. A party that has convinced the poorest whites, who they harm most to vote for legislation which harms them. Because they are the white people party! It is has become the party of confederate ideals. Like during the civil war it convinced poor whites to day for wealth of rich whites who shared beds with Black slaves but would not share a bed or meal with their poor white brothers or sisters.

JamesP
2009-02-06 23:44:58

So.... A party that prides itself on disenfranchising people of color is a choice? A party that felt if I was feeling good about being me then they must be doing something wrong and that's my choice? Now I'm suppose to play dumb and believe that the very party that takes pride in its hate for people of color is all of a sudden for me? Am I on a episode of Punked? I'm normally a well spoken person but... You gots to be crazy!

Futurejumps in Washington, DC
2009-02-07 01:44:49

HE IS JUST A CROOK!

vincent
2009-02-11 21:29:05

If today we have Hilary as President, GOP will elect a female chairwoman. Republican is ALWAYS many steps behind Democrats, and ALWAYS mimics Democrats.

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