I must say the Republicans surprised me when they selected Michael Steele as RNC Chairman. So, Mike Tyson’s former brother-in-law heads the GOP. I wanted Steele to win that Senate seat a few years ago and wish him well because he has worked with former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman to add some moderation and common sense to the “right.”
Her book It’s My Party Too should be the blueprint for Steele but, mark my word, it won’t be. The South runs the current GOP and the grassroots won’t hear that “we need change” stuff. Let’s see: Steele runs the RNC, Obama runs the White House, Serena will run the Australian Open finals at 3:30a.m. and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will win the Super Bowl Sunday.
Some people might think the only think left is a Black Pope of Rome but I don’t See (get it) that happening. The time is right for each individual member of our community to be the best individual we can be.
In the book Success Runs in Our Race, George C. Fraser wrote that Blacks are the only group that sought political gains in America before economic gains. Well, we obviously needed the federal government on our side—with that whole bondage/oppression thing. Today, we are (on some level) still in bondage and oppression by some of our own actions.
Let’s give Brother Steele’s conservative views respectful consideration. That won’t be hard to do in Georgia where Rep. John Lewis is the only real liberal sent to Congress. Blue Dogs Scott, Marshall, Barrow and Bishop are only a quick jump across the centerline of the political spectrum from Steele’s senate race position.
The Blue Dogs are running things; Obama supporters must keep them on a firm leash or they might find a home in Steele’s new yard.
Project Logic Ga 
Republicans elect first African-American as national chairman
Friday, January 30, 2009, 04:05 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia GOP chairman Sue Everhart just called to say that Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, was just elected chairman by the Republican National Committee with 91 votes.
Steele is the first African-American to hold the job, which will be to counter the policies of Barack Obama, the first black president.
On the sixth round of voting, Steele defeated Katon Dawson, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party. Incumbent RNC chairman Mike Duncan withdrew after the third ballot.
“As a little boy growing up in this town, this is awesome,” said Steele, the most moderate candidate in the field and considered an outsider because he’s not a committee member.
In a brief acceptance speech, the new GOP chairman struck a tone of inclusiveness.
“We’re going to say to friend and foe alike: We want you to be a part of us, we want you to with be with us, and for those who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over,” Steele said, according to the Associated Press.
Everhart was somewhat relieved. She announced Thursday that she would back Steele over Duncan, who was the favorite of many in the GOP establishment.
“I’m very excited that myself and the grassroots backed the winner,” Everhart said. In essence, she had asked Georgia GOP activists permission to back Steele in an e-mail. Three quarters of respondents told the party chairman to proceed.
The Georgia chairman said Steele has already committed to appearing at the party’s state convention in Savannah in May. “But I’ll get him here sooner,” Everhart said.
Expect to see a lot of the new chairman here come the 2010 elections, when Steele’s presence is likely to be used to dampen Democratic attempts to tap African-American enthusiasm for Obama in the race for governor.
Steele was in Georgia two weeks ago, for a state Capitol ceremony honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
Steele was also aided by Randy Evans, an Atlanta attorney and confidant of Newt Gingrich.
Rufus Montgomery, a member of the state GOP executive committee and an African-American, was also up in D.C. for the election. He said Steele’s election represented an opening up of the party to new ideas — and new people.
Montgomery said the early withdrawal of Duncan surprised many, but that once the third remaining candidate — Saul Anuzis, chairman of the Michigan GOP — withdrew, the race was over. “The folks that voted for him voted for change,” Montgomery said.
Montgomery credited Everhart, the Georgia chairman, who took a chance on Steele. “Sue was right. She delivered some votes for him, working the floor,” Montgomery said.
Okay, put yourself in the position of grassroots GOP member who wanted to head the RNC. I mean someone from Ty Ty, Georgia, or Andalusia, Alabama. If that person thought he was supporting an African American to be the counterbalance and chief critic of the African American in the Oval Office, that supporter just made a mistake.
Michael Steele is no J.C. Watts. I enjoyed watching Watts run the option as quarterback at O.U. and he was an effective representative of his Oklahoma congressional district—basically, Watts was productive but innocuous.
Steele is from suburban D.C. and Prince George’s County Maryland—-Atlanta North. So, he is a business brother/lawyer who likely grew into the GOP from the pro-business, Black Enterprise standpoint rather than the silliness of recent years.
If the GOP wants, Steele is the person to return them to the Reagan days of true conservatism but if people are thinking he is the natural attack dog against Obama—wrong. That attack dog (if African American) would come from the congress. Oh, I forgot—there are no Black GOP members in congress.
Senate GOP leader McConnell was right to say that the GOP has a “sales” or marketing problem. The ideas are sound, but the talk radio guys are all about starting mess.