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DEL.ICIO.USRepublicans 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.
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Comments
By Lee
January 30, 2009 5:53 PM | Link to this
This is what American politics has degenerated into. The republicans knew that if they criticized Obama, they would get hit on all sides with cries of racism. So, they elect a black chairman in order to counteract some of that.
Doesn’t matter. They’ll just call Steele an Uncle Tom.
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
January 30, 2009 6:00 PM | Link to this
Or they’ll just make fun of what he does.
Like compare stem cell research to slavery.
By The Conservative
January 30, 2009 6:26 PM | Link to this
This is wonderful news. The RNC made the best move it could have made.
Lovin’ America here.
By Tears in my eyes
January 30, 2009 8:08 PM | Link to this
This is truly funny. Obama the commander-in-chief and Steele the rnc chairman—both from african ancestry…What a year…i think i’ll watch (White Man Burden) this is the direction of America and I can’t be happier….
By RaceCop
January 30, 2009 8:14 PM | Link to this
Steele is a racist. Only blacks that stay on the Democrat Plantation are worthy of praise. Steele is racist because he is a republican. All Republicans are racist because they do not support The Obama’s stimulus plan that does not stimulate.
By Will Jones - Atlanta
January 31, 2009 12:49 AM | Link to this
Steele is a Roman Catholic…like Clarence Thomas: tools of Rome’s Fifth Column…”the real Anti-Christ.”
theamericanfundament.blogspot.com
By Harry
January 31, 2009 7:49 AM | Link to this
There is only one authentic black guy between Steele and Obama.
Now you know why Barry changed his name.
By Jim Cricket
January 31, 2009 11:44 AM | Link to this
Catholics vs Protestants. Who won that 100 year’s war anyway? Or was it the 30 year’s war. No, it was the Seven Days, no, Five Days in May….I tell you all this day that Christ showed us how to celebrate mass and pass grace from him to each of us, yet you persist in denying that grace even exists. It does. ANd none of you have any. Want some grace? Here’s some……SUCKERS! I gave you penance instead. You cant have grace without penance. Your penance, should you deside to accept it, is to put your hand on the bible and raise your right hand and say the oath of office fifty times without stuttering, and maybe, then just maybe, you’ll totally disqualify yourself from any supreme court appointments by future presidents.
I can pray for your soul, but if you continue to worship Caesar, there’s nobody who can save you.
I see where Osama Bin Laden has released a new book, “Death to America and You Can Too.” WHere does this guy get off? Thanks, Cheney, for capturing Osama. What the hell did you do all day as Commander-in-Chief if you couldn’t get Osama?
Did anyone see where Bush preemptively pardoned Rove and Harriet Meirs. It’s legal if the president does it, you know, just ax Nixon.
Interesting: Cheney’s daughter’s 1988 thesis in college was about the total unchecked power that wartime presidents. 911 was Cheney’s daughter’s fault, (no, not the gay one, morons, the other real hot straight one. I wish she was a lesbo, can you imagine? Camelot in the bizarro world, man! But I digress….). Iraq was Cheney’s daughter’s fault. Afghanistan was Cheney daughter’s fault.
How many of you lurkers reading this know that Hitler’s rise to power and his own wartime powers have been in Rove’s playbook, seriously? No, seriously, Rove is a student of Hitler’s propaganda genius, Goebel, who, sorry to say, was a disinformation genius. He used to appear in the rubble after an allied bombing raid, and joke with survivers, saying stuff like, “Is that all they got? Hey, look, there’s a beer garten still standing. They cant shoot worth veiner schnitzel.”
Believe it or not, the Germans would rally around this guy. So it doesn’t matter what you say, it’s how you say it, and Rove was a genius.
Fact.
By Lee
January 31, 2009 6:54 PM | Link to this
Let’s see, after reading more about Steele,
Pro gun control
Pro affirmative action
Pro free trade
Anti death penalty
It’s official, there’s not a dimes worth of difference between the Demopublicans and the Republicrats.
By BigPoppa
January 31, 2009 7:12 PM | Link to this
How do we know the stimulus plan will not stimulate? Because the Bush authored bank executive entitlement stimulus plan failed? What do you suggest? Oh, I know, MORE tax cuts. How’s that been working for us the last 9 years?
By C4
February 1, 2009 2:40 PM | Link to this
Will The Republican Party Change With A Black Man In Charge?
Today the Republican Party gave itself a major facelift by the election of their first African American Republican Party Chairman, Mr. Michael Steele. The former Lieutenant Governor for the State of Maryland, Mr. Steele has positioned himself as the savior of the Republican Party promising to bring all groups to the party especially minority voters and young voters of the X generation. If one looks around here in my great state of Georgia, and contemplate the recent burning of an Obama supporter,Ms. Pamela Graf, home when she was visiting Washington, DC for the historical inauguration, you would understand that there are many places in this Nation where many people are proud to call themselves “Republicans” that will not, at this point in time, except minorities, Blacks, Hispanics, Latinos, Asians, Gays etcetera as a viable part of the American fabric having a right and an investment in its heritage, the fulfillment of, “The American Dream!” For many minorities in America, there must be a change in substance and not rhetoric before the all inclusive olive branch of trust can be grasped by the minority communities through out this country! Can the Republican Party change its strips and be an all inclusive party? Well, it took this country about 160 years since its founding to get an equal rights bill and a voting rights bill to allow minorities the right to vote, to go to schools and to enter its colleges, and to have some since of public dignity as an American! Then some 200 years later for the country to elect its first African American President, Mr. Obama. Am I calling the Republican Party racist? No! I am saying that before any group can change, it must first understand its nature, the nature of the beast inside itself. The Republican Party has not come to except the fact that it has people inside its very ranks of power that drips fluids of racism and segregation in its rhetoric. It is very hard for a crack head to understand that the crack cocaine they are using is destroying them, and they have to quit using that crack cocaine or they will die! The Republican Party need to quite using that crack cocaine and go to rehab.
Congratulations to Mr. Michael Steele and good luck!
Holla Back! C4 www.c4citizens.blogspot.com