Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2009 > January > 30
Friday, January 30, 2009
Republicans elect first African-American as national chairman
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.
Photo by Kimberly Smith/AJC: Christine King Farris, left, sister of Martin Luther King, Jr., talks with Michael Steele, following a January ceremony at the state Capitol.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment |
Blue jean war escalates to include formal wear
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last year, you’ll recall that state Sen. Dan Moody (R-Roswell) had a public confrontation over colleague John Bulloch (R-Ochlocknee) over the latter’s Friday wardrobe.
At the state Capitol, Bulloch likes to wear pressed blue jeans on Getting-Out-of-Atlanta Day.
Apparently, the disagreement has shifted away from words and into the realm of sartorial sarcasm.
Moody showed up today in a tuxedo. And Bulloch had his blue jeans. Again.
My AJC colleague Mary Lou Pickel talked with both:
“As you know, in the South it’s customary to dress up for special occasions,” Moody said. “We only serve 40 days out of 365. I consider each of those to be special days,” he said. A black tux is his way of showing respect for the people of Georgia, he said.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle noticed Moody’s outfit. “The senator looks extremely dapper,” Cagle said.
Last session, Moody and Bulloch exchanged words over their different views of “proper attire.”
Sen. Bulloch defended his choice of trouser Friday.
“I represent cotton farmers,” Bulloch said. He wore jeans, a Brooks Brothers tweedy jacket and yellow silk tie decorated with dragonflies. He also wore a handmade diamondback rattlesnake belt and ostrich skin cowboy boots.
“I think that a clean, neat pair of jeans with a sports coat and a tie is just as appropriate as anything else,” Bulloch said. “When we’re not in session, I wear ‘em everyday.”
Photos by Kimberly Smith/AJC: Top, Sen. Dan Moody of Roswell, in his tuxedo, confers with Sen. Mitch Seabaugh of Sharpsburg; Bottom, Sen. John Bullooch of Ochlocknee talks with Sen. Nan Orrock of Atlanta.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment |
John Sherman has issues with property tax freeze, and the House GOP pulls back
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The House on Friday passed H.B. 143, which means we’ll soon have campaign literature with a duality that would puzzle Nietzsche.
“I voted to cut taxes.”*
*(I voted for H.B. 143.)
“I voted to raise taxes.”*
*(I voted for H.B. 143.)
However, House Republican leaders pulled H.R. 1, their centerpiece legislation aimed at capping property taxes. They didn’t have the 120 votes for the mandatory two-thirds approval.
One reason for falling short: Republicans lost John Sherman, president of the Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation.
Here’s the note from him that was placed on the desk of lawmakers. In short, Sherman said, homeowners would “bear the brunt of higher millage.”
If you’re Republican and you’ve lost Sherman on a property tax issue, you’ve lost your base.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Incumbent RNC chairman Mike Duncan withdraws re-election bid
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Updated at 3:30 p.m.: After a fifth round of voting, it’s Steele, 79; Dawson, 69; Anuzis, 20. Eighty-five votes are needed to win. Anuzis, chairman of the Michigan GOP, just withdrew without making any endorsement.
Updated at 2:45 p.m.: Incumbent RNC chairman Mike Duncan has just withdrawn. On the fourth ballot, it’s Dawson, 62, Steele, 60; Anuzis, 31; and Blackwell, 15.
Up in Washington, the Republican National Committee has conducted two rounds of voting in the chairmanship race.
Incumbent RNC chairman Michael Duncan dropped by four votes on the second ballot, while former Maryland lieutenant governor Michael Steele picked up two, putting both gentlemen at 48 votes.
You can watch it live on C-Span, but the session has just broken for lunch.
First round: Duncan, 52; Steele, 46; Katon Dawson, 28; Saul Anuzis, 22; and Ken Blackwell, 20.
Second round: Duncan, 48; Steele, 48; Dawson, 29; Saul Anuzis, 24; and Ken Blackwell, 19.
Updated: Round Three: Steele, 51; Duncan, 44; Dawson, 34; Anuzis, 24; and Blackwell, 15.
By the way, Secretary of State Karen Handel, who is not tied down by legislative duties, is also in D.C. attending a meeting of the Republican State Legislative Committee. She’s also been spotted at various social events by RNC attendees, no doubt working her 2010 race for governor.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment |
Much of stimulus might take detour around state government
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The House today takes up a property tax relief program that is in danger of disappear, at a cost to homeowners of perhaps $200 to $300 a year.
That’s the primary topic of this three-minute interview with House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), from GPB’s “The Lawmakers” that aired last night.
But toward the end, Porter drops a very large hint — that many of the billions and billions of dollars flowing from a federal economic stimulus package will be bypassing Georgia’s Republican-controlled state government, and going directly to local governments.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
You can’t write a bill to force lawyers to be lawyers and not make Leno
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hat tip to Blog for Democracy on this: A bill by State Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland) to bar actors from playing lawyers in all ambulance-chasing ads is now stirring dust in Hollywood.
Below is NBC’s Jay Leno from Wednesday night. The measure of which he speaks is S.B. 41, which — among other things — would require that “the face and voice appearing in the advertisement shall be of a duly licensed attorney.”
Robert Vaughn would have to get by on his very thin “Man From U.N.C.L.E.” residuals. Or go to law school.
