Michael Steele, don't let the door hit you on the way out
Michael Steele being ceremoniously and democratically cast into darkness from his chairmanship of the Republican National Committee (RNC) probably could rate as a top ten story for 2011—and it's only January. It is what prognosticators live for. Let's take a closer look.
First of all, any one playing close attention to his last words are able to discern the wordplay. Did he say exit stage left,or was exit stage right? Answer: “exit stage right”. The moral of this story is that Steele probably didn't know his right from his left as he strained to use his prepared notes. One Classic Liberal blogger got it right with the health care issue in the background.
Sarah Palin left with good reason, to get rid of the John McCains! Michael Steele needs to exit stage left too, because with friends like Steele, we may stop ObamaCare, but we'll just get stuck with RomneyCare instead. It's a lose-lose situation.
However, Steele's two year stint as the Republican National Convention Chair made some history. He was the first African American (or the only one who could be found) to hold such a high profile and pivotal position within this pr and fund-raising entity. Just like any other brother form the hood he shared the coiffures with other blacks, primarily loyalists totaling at least one and giving bloated salaries. He demonstrated the elitist nature of blacks whose faces can be found in Ebony and Jet magazines and refuse to count beyond single digits when they are helping others to come upward. But, probably Michael’s most precarious status can be attributed to the fact that he was chosen in order to counter the black man who holds the most powerful position in America, President Obama.
This made his job harder because indeed Obama does hold the most powerful position, love him or hate him, and white people with power (Namely Republicans) have a low tolerance level for powerless black people. Hence, they can triangulate with a powerful President who happens to be black but its a whole new ballgame when they are burden with a poor black man (Def: not independently wealthy) where it appears that he is using their money to make himself seem powerful. As history has demonstrated, whites would prefer to build more prisons and throw away the keys than to develop black talent even as professional sports are being demanded to tow the line on this one. Sports and Entertainment have led the way in shoring up decent numbers for empowering blacks. But, poor Mr. Steele obviously didn't get the fact that the Conservatives don't like black entertainers on their payroll.
Parallel Universes Collide?
You're not in Maryland anymore. But why should he want to be another Black Lieutenant Governor? After all his old buddy, former Governor Michael L. Erlich, Jr., recently got soundly trounced (again) by the Democratic incumbent. Plus, Maryland does keep their domiciles on a tight leach anyways—no money for x-rated clubs or nepotistic leanings.
Nevertheless, back during his days of holding office in Maryland, Steele was touted as a diamond in the rough as he presided as the First African American Lieutenant Governor of the 'free state' of Maryland and by his being one of a few in this type of position. This had Republicans all over clamoring for his service. John J. Miller of National political Review in a 2004 Article described his special designation. “It isn't every lieutenant governor who gets so much as the time of day at the convention — in fact, Steele's the only one listed as a speaker on the schedule. Not even his boss, Gov. Bob Ehrlich, is receiving such prime treatment.”
Yes he was a special breed. Miller writes: “Steele, of course, draws additional attention because he is a rare thing: an elected black Republican. There are thousands of elected black Democrats holding various offices around the country, including several dozen members of Congress. By contrast, there are just 59 black Republicans holding any office requiring a partisan election in the United States, according to a new study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Steele is one of them — and, as a lieutenant governor who must win statewide, he is, in a way, the highest ranking”.
In all fairness, during Michael Steele's statewide service he stood up against some systemic issues that often strike hard in black communities--namely: education, drug addiction, prison and justice reform (expressly his disagreeing with his boss about supporting the death penalty). And even as he is a lifetime avowed Republican his connection with his blackness has never been in question while being unapologetic in identifying with great historical figures such as Malcolm X and Dr. King as role models. This is in contrast to President Obama who found it politically correct to exile his own pastor and a well known civil rights activist from from his address book, Steele probably will have no contradictions (not including the Republican policies) as we approach one of many celebrations for the life of Dr. King, one of the most fiercest civil rights leaders in American history. Plus, he's (Steeele) been true to his church membership in contrast to our first African American President who has yet to rejoin any church after that scandal concerning his pastor.
So, the good news for Steele is that even as his tenure as National Republican Committee Chairman was spiced with public gaffes, questionable financial acumen and pr blunders, most likely he has probably secured a safe haven within the Conservative community as he chooses to gracefully make a 'stage right' exit. One thing that pundits can't accused the first African American Chairman of is cutting off the hand that feeds him. For that, who knows, the entertaining, unflappable and sometimes irreverent Steele may be the first local Black Republican to become mayor of a city like Baltimore. Yes, a skyrocketing public career may have come full circle from local to national, from national, back to local. However, as a reward for his gracefulness, he may even get some financial support from the Committee that he once led. Yet, his time of having being perceived as having too much leeway with the white man's money may have come to a resounding halt. And, finally, Ann Coulter is on his side.
First of all, any one playing close attention to his last words are able to discern the wordplay. Did he say exit stage left,or was exit stage right? Answer: “exit stage right”. The moral of this story is that Steele probably didn't know his right from his left as he strained to use his prepared notes. One Classic Liberal blogger got it right with the health care issue in the background.
Sarah Palin left with good reason, to get rid of the John McCains! Michael Steele needs to exit stage left too, because with friends like Steele, we may stop ObamaCare, but we'll just get stuck with RomneyCare instead. It's a lose-lose situation.
However, Steele's two year stint as the Republican National Convention Chair made some history. He was the first African American (or the only one who could be found) to hold such a high profile and pivotal position within this pr and fund-raising entity. Just like any other brother form the hood he shared the coiffures with other blacks, primarily loyalists totaling at least one and giving bloated salaries. He demonstrated the elitist nature of blacks whose faces can be found in Ebony and Jet magazines and refuse to count beyond single digits when they are helping others to come upward. But, probably Michael’s most precarious status can be attributed to the fact that he was chosen in order to counter the black man who holds the most powerful position in America, President Obama.
This made his job harder because indeed Obama does hold the most powerful position, love him or hate him, and white people with power (Namely Republicans) have a low tolerance level for powerless black people. Hence, they can triangulate with a powerful President who happens to be black but its a whole new ballgame when they are burden with a poor black man (Def: not independently wealthy) where it appears that he is using their money to make himself seem powerful. As history has demonstrated, whites would prefer to build more prisons and throw away the keys than to develop black talent even as professional sports are being demanded to tow the line on this one. Sports and Entertainment have led the way in shoring up decent numbers for empowering blacks. But, poor Mr. Steele obviously didn't get the fact that the Conservatives don't like black entertainers on their payroll.
Parallel Universes Collide?
You're not in Maryland anymore. But why should he want to be another Black Lieutenant Governor? After all his old buddy, former Governor Michael L. Erlich, Jr., recently got soundly trounced (again) by the Democratic incumbent. Plus, Maryland does keep their domiciles on a tight leach anyways—no money for x-rated clubs or nepotistic leanings.
Nevertheless, back during his days of holding office in Maryland, Steele was touted as a diamond in the rough as he presided as the First African American Lieutenant Governor of the 'free state' of Maryland and by his being one of a few in this type of position. This had Republicans all over clamoring for his service. John J. Miller of National political Review in a 2004 Article described his special designation. “It isn't every lieutenant governor who gets so much as the time of day at the convention — in fact, Steele's the only one listed as a speaker on the schedule. Not even his boss, Gov. Bob Ehrlich, is receiving such prime treatment.”
Yes he was a special breed. Miller writes: “Steele, of course, draws additional attention because he is a rare thing: an elected black Republican. There are thousands of elected black Democrats holding various offices around the country, including several dozen members of Congress. By contrast, there are just 59 black Republicans holding any office requiring a partisan election in the United States, according to a new study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Steele is one of them — and, as a lieutenant governor who must win statewide, he is, in a way, the highest ranking”.
In all fairness, during Michael Steele's statewide service he stood up against some systemic issues that often strike hard in black communities--namely: education, drug addiction, prison and justice reform (expressly his disagreeing with his boss about supporting the death penalty). And even as he is a lifetime avowed Republican his connection with his blackness has never been in question while being unapologetic in identifying with great historical figures such as Malcolm X and Dr. King as role models. This is in contrast to President Obama who found it politically correct to exile his own pastor and a well known civil rights activist from from his address book, Steele probably will have no contradictions (not including the Republican policies) as we approach one of many celebrations for the life of Dr. King, one of the most fiercest civil rights leaders in American history. Plus, he's (Steeele) been true to his church membership in contrast to our first African American President who has yet to rejoin any church after that scandal concerning his pastor.
So, the good news for Steele is that even as his tenure as National Republican Committee Chairman was spiced with public gaffes, questionable financial acumen and pr blunders, most likely he has probably secured a safe haven within the Conservative community as he chooses to gracefully make a 'stage right' exit. One thing that pundits can't accused the first African American Chairman of is cutting off the hand that feeds him. For that, who knows, the entertaining, unflappable and sometimes irreverent Steele may be the first local Black Republican to become mayor of a city like Baltimore. Yes, a skyrocketing public career may have come full circle from local to national, from national, back to local. However, as a reward for his gracefulness, he may even get some financial support from the Committee that he once led. Yet, his time of having being perceived as having too much leeway with the white man's money may have come to a resounding halt. And, finally, Ann Coulter is on his side.
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