Posted on 04/08/2010 6:38:11 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross
"Do you feel that, as an African-American, you have a slimmer margin for error than another chairman would?"
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele was asked this question on ABC's "Good Morning America." The RNC reimbursed a staffer -- since fired -- $2,000 for a trip to a Hollywood club featuring topless dancers, simulated sex and S&M scenes. So the Democrats/lib-media broke out the good china.
Steele said: "The honest answer is 'yes.' It just is. Barack Obama has a slimmer margin. A lot of folks do. It's a different role for me to play and others to play, and that's just the reality of it."
Good grief. So he and Obama, as fellow blacks, ride in the same boat on troubled racist waters? More people than not voted for Obama because of his race. And given the ever-concerned-about-being-perceived-as-racist GOP, Steele's race was also a plus -- enabling the party to say, "Hey, we're racially inclusive, too."
Steele could have said: "Yes, there is a slimmer margin of error -- but not because of racism. It comes from the double standard applied to Republicans. I'll give you just one example. Republican Mark Foley resigned from Congress because of sexually explicit Internet messages to an underage intern. It was such a big media-driven scandal that it helped Democrats regain control of Congress. His Democratic successor, a married man, put his mistress on his congressional payroll. When he fired her, she threatened to sue, and he paid her a six-figure settlement. Not big news."
He could have said: "According to a Web site by Republican David Frum, the DNC has spent lavishly on parties, travel, hotels and limos -- including $6,000 at a D.C. club with stripper poles and go-go dancers. But I guess Democrats and strippers don't make news like Republicans and strippers."
He could have said: "For crying out loud, it's 2010. This is America, where more than anywhere else -- regardless of race, ethnicity or gender -- you are rewarded or punished based on your performance. Losers whine and make excuses. Winners don't."
He could have said: "Gee, when Republicans preach hard work, accountability and strong family values, they call us scolds. When we let our hair down and show that we're receptive to alternative lifestyles, they call us hypocrites. Can't win. Seriously, Democrats and their media friends would like nothing more than to divert attention from what's really going on -- the fierce opposition to this administration's massive expansion of government. Nothing less than the future of the country is at stake, and we're going to take this country back."
He could have said: "Black Republicans pose a special threat because black Republicans disarm the left wing's weapons of racial grievance and the victicrat mentality. Black Republicans are a scary bunch. They don't follow the script by blaming everything on race, as if nothing's changed. Like a gay who supports traditional marriage, a Latino who wants the borders secured first, a woman who is pro-life, or a poor person who doesn't want to soak the rich -- we threaten groupthink and identity politics."
He had a teachable moment -- and he blew it. This says a lot about why Steele worries so many. A March National Journal poll of about 100 named "Republican insiders" found that 71 percent considered Steele a "liability."
Already under fire for incurring expenses thought excessive for travel and lodging, Steele caught flak for the money spent redecorating his office and for the time spent promoting his book.
A major complaint involves Steele's acceptance of money to give speeches. While this apparently does not violate committee rules, former RNC chairmen disapprove.
Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., who ran the RNC under President Ronald Reagan, said, "Holy mackerel, I never heard of a chairman of either party ever taking money for speeches. The job of a national chairman is to give speeches. That's what the national party pays him for."
Jim Nicholson, RNC chairman from 1997 to 2000, said, "(The position) demands so much of your time that you can work 24/7 and not get everything done, so taking time out to speak for the benefit of one's own bank account is not appropriate."
Rich Bond, 1992-93 RNC chair, said, "It just doesn't look right using RNC resources and trading on the title of chairman to make outside money."
Steele blames his difficulties on the "African-American ... slimmer margin for error" -- the same hazard that Obama deals with. Honestly. From the traditional media to the punditry class to academia to the monologues of late-night comics, never has any president enjoyed a more groveling, fawning, obsequious, hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil, see-no-evil quasi-deification.
How long before the Democrats use Steele's own words to attack Republicans, tea partiers and others for refusing to accept that a black man has been elected president?
Steele faces Republican trouble from Republican unhappiness about his Republican leadership. This has nothing to do with race. By raising it, he diminishes himself, his party and his country.
They ARE in the same boat.
Because they are both INEPT.
I’m going to buy a new set of golf clubs with the money I used to send to the RNC.
Why should they not be in the same boat?
They are of the same mind.
Steele is a sabateur. He will effect a last minute GOP disaster immediately before the midterms, then pull a Scozzafava on his way out the door to the other side, laughing as he goes.
He is a mole.
The Party of Stupid:
Steele
McCain
Graham
etc.
The Stupids will never get it, they are too stupid. The only thing that can save their bacon is the Tea Party.
Affirmative Action recognizes race over ability. So in a sense they are right when they complain that race is the problem. They are thrown into jobs they are not prepared for and thus failure is more likely for them than for those who got where they are through hard work.
Its gotta be a better investment than giving to this clown.
And "victicrats", as Larry is fond of saying.
I second the nomination.
Ken Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State, came out against him as well and he is black. He would have been the chair if not for the fact that some of the arrogant RNC members insisted the Chair be a former member of the RNC which Steele was.
Blackwell is organized, articulate, and people love working for him. He is also as honest as they come and would never have said some of the things that Steel has said — Blackwell didn’t like Obama and didnt think anyone should vote for him because he was black.
RNC Members blew it big time. Blackwell was the most qualified of any of the candidates.
Do you believe the Tea Partiers endorse these RINOs?
Do we really need the RNC chairman spouting off this whiny crap? Any smaller margin of error for Steele is because he is not a crooked Democrat who is excused or provided cover by a complicit media.
It is risky to change chairman at this point in the election cycle. But it just may be time.
Let’s go with Blackwell as chairman or JC Watts and get Sarah Palin to come along as a special fund raiser and watchdog over the candidates who get funding. The problem with the GOP raising money is that few grass roots Republicans trust them to be wise with the money.
Can you believe he is using the race card. What a doofus!
Incompetence transcends race, Steele.
Steele - slowly back away from the race card...
I saw nothing wrong with giving Steele a chance to run the RNC, even if it were to show a more inclusive face in GOP politics. But Mike, you goofed-—not once, but quite a few times-—with a lot of silly comments, and now with this spending at strip joints. You definitely need to be booted out-—stop crying race-—you’re sounding like a liberal!
“I’m going to buy a new set of golf clubs with the money I used to send to the RNC.”
Since I don’t golf, I am gonna put that dime toward my new Judge.
Yo racist Steele:
As a European American, my Jim Crow era “Whites Only” drinking fountain was the Office of Minority Affairs when I attended school, not to mention the massive Affirmative Action program.
Completely off limits to whites, particualry white males.
Far more extensive in discriminatory implication and implementation than a mere restaurant, water fountain, Country Club or lunch counter.
What??? Where did you get that from? The answer is Hell No!
The Tea Party is the only credible force that can return the GOP to power, that was my point. But the Tea Party must first purge the GOP of these asinine characters and then unleash a bloodbath on the democrat socialists.
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