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Home Front: Politix
Michael Steele becomes first black RNC chairman
2009-01-31
The Republican Party chose the first black national chairman in its history Friday, just shy of three months after the nation elected a Democrat as the first African-American president. The choice marked no less than "the dawn of a new party," declared the new GOP chairman, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. Republicans chose Steele over four other candidates, including former President George W. Bush's hand-picked GOP chief, who bowed out declaring, "Obviously the winds of change are blowing."

Steele takes the helm of a beleaguered Republican Party that is trying to recover after crushing defeats in November's national elections that gave Democrats control of Congress put Barack Obama in the White House.

GOP delegates erupted in cheers and applause when his victory was announced, but it took six ballots to get there. He'll serve a two-year term.

Steele, an attorney, is a conservative, but he was considered the most moderate of the five candidates running.

He was also considered an outsider because he's not a member of the Republican National Committee. But the 168-member RNC clearly signaled it wanted a change after eight years of Bush largely dictating its every move as the party's standard-bearer.

Steele became the first black candidate elected to statewide office in Maryland in 2003, and he made an unsuccessful Senate run in 2006. Currently, he serves as chairman of GOPAC, an organization that recruits and trains Republican political candidates, and in that role he has been a frequent presence on the talk show circuit.

He vowed to expand the reach of the party by competing for every group, everywhere.

"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. "There is not one inch of ground that we're going to cede to anybody," he added. "This is the dawn of a new party moving in a new direction with strength and conviction."
Posted by:Fred

#20  It is no coincidence that both of the party chairmen (RNC head Steele - Maryland and DNC capo Tim Kaine - Virginia) are based in states adjacent to Washington DC. Actually the DC suburbs, as soon as Kaine wraps up his term as governor and leaves Richmond.
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-01-31 23:36  

#19  I find Jindal to be a very able administrator but I have not seen a whole lot of leadership talent. He would be a competent executive, but not a charismatic one.
Posted by: Glenmore   2009-01-31 23:35  

#18  Jindal is very smart and a personable straight shooter (think about how hard it was to get elected Governor in La. as a child of Indian immigrants??). Don't sell him short.
Posted by: Frank G   2009-01-31 21:59  

#17  The hit pieces are already coming out about Mr. Steele. link via Instapundit.
Posted by: trailing wife    2009-01-31 21:53  

#16  I don't detect much Jindal charisma. Not a compelling speaker.
Posted by: KBK   2009-01-31 17:13  

#15  He's not, but many of his constituents are.
Posted by: lotp   2009-01-31 16:45  

#14  I knew Jindal was a Catholic but I wasn't aware that he is in the creationist camp. Very odd, indeed.
Posted by: eltoroverde   2009-01-31 16:26  

#13  Jindal is a non-starter for me. I can't stand that ignorant creationist crap he's pulling in LA. Which is odd since the Catholic Church is against creationism.

Steele should be a good start for rebuilding the GOP. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next couple years.
Posted by: AllahHateMe   2009-01-31 16:15  

#12  The Repubs have called me for money and I've told them that they won't get once cent until they actually demonstrate that they've returned to conservative principles and show that they are fighting against the rampant socialization of the economy that is now underway. Steele's election is certainly a step in the right direction. Prime example of how the Repubs had fallen...can anyone name the previous RNC chairman?? Anyone? Buehler?

When the chairman of the political organization is invisible, then the organization is essentially invisible. Steele will change that in a big way. Again, excellent first step.
Posted by: remoteman   2009-01-31 14:16  

#11  Steele is a conservative and a communicator. Unlike Bush and McCain and a lot of the old-line blue-bloods that have run the GOP off a cliff.
Posted by: OldSpook   2009-01-31 13:42  

#10  Steele was my choice and frankly, I think he represents the only hope conservatives have right now to form a new political majority for the 21st century. As has been stated several times already, this guy gets it. Most of all, he can articulate and communicate sound conservative principles in a way Bush & Co. never could and never did. Few other Republicans right now, minus probably Jindal, Crist, and Pawlenty (I wish I could say Palin, too, but I still think she lacks the media savvy that is necessary to get ahead nowadays, for [better or] worse. Give her some time though and watch out!) are up to the task, either. The fact that he won the RNC Chair as a relative outsider means that the RNC gets it, too. At least one can hope.

Congratulations, Mr. Steele! I look forward to seeing what you can do to reinvigorate the moderate conservative intellectual movement in America. After all, it starts and ends with ideas and ideals and the same conservative ideas and ideals that made this country great can help make it even greater.

Now more than ever, we need to get back to basics-- what works and what doesn't-- and it is up to sensible and level-headed conservatives to lead the charge, as they always do.
Posted by: eltoroverde   2009-01-31 13:35  

#9  Most would probably agree however that "first black" has a much more optimistic ring to it than the last.
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-01-31 11:31  

#8  In the 1960s, somebody introduced Rep. Shirley Chisholm at a banquet or other such event. Before she launched into her speech, she said, "I'm looking forward to the day when I'm not introduced as the "first black'."

I think that was before her party glommed onto the identity politics meme. That'd be about 1967, when I was first old enough to start reading the news.

I've forgotten exactly when identity politics took off. Right about the time the govt started quota programs?
Posted by: mom   2009-01-31 11:22  

#7  Ken Blackwell is another fine man, although he ran and withdrew for RNC. Steele, Jindal, Palin, Blackwell....

I like that lineup. I'm getting tired of the RINOs like McMaverick, Specter, Collins, Snowe,...... who can never be totally counted on for GOP support
Posted by: Frank G   2009-01-31 11:09  

#6  "When do we stop harping on "...first black..." for everything?"

Hopefully before the Dems and Lefties (but I repeat myself) do, Alan.

Which is likely, seeing as to how they'll NEVER stop.

Don't forget, according to the Dems & their ilk, any black person who aligns with the Republicans isn't really black - they're "House Negroes" or worse. >:-(

When I look at Michael Steele, I don't see a black man - I see a man of honor and conviction who's good-looking too ;-p.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-01-31 10:27  

#5  I'm pleased with this. I think Mr. Steele gets modern politics. Now what he needs are:

1) an organization that gets modern political social organization and the Web 2.0 (Obama got it)

2) a commitment from Republicans for a 50-state, 435-district strategy (don't laugh, it worked for Howard Dean)

3) emphasis on rebuilding from the state and local levels on up

4) relentless push-back on the MSM nonsense and stereotypes
Posted by: Steve White   2009-01-31 10:24  

#4  2 points:

1) Could he be to Obama as Newt was to Clinton?

2) When do we stop harping on "...first black..." for everything?
Posted by: AlanC   2009-01-31 09:24  

#3  Mike is intelligent, witty, and handsome. He's going to be a first-class asset to the Pubs.
Posted by: Fred   2009-01-31 09:16  

#2  The Trunks are like the economy, at a certain point the only way that remains is up. Real change usually comes after a major disaster. Not that they'd listen, but I'd recommend the development of a 'lessons learned' cell to document fundamentals so you don't have to keep relearning from the same mistakes over and over again. You also need a mechanism to make sure you don't slip back into bad habits once you fix what needs fixing. Of course, all that requires a degree of intelligent self reflection that egos at that level seem particularly resistant to.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2009-01-31 08:39  

#1  Bravo, the Republican Party finally gets one right!
Posted by: AzCat   2009-01-31 02:20  

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