"After five ballots, the race came down to Steele and Dawson. Republican party strategists in attendance at the meeting openly fretted about the possibility of electing Dawson, who had acknowledged his membership in a whites-only club, and the signal it would send to a country that had just elected Obama as the nation's first black president."
This is all so very image-y.
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Sigh. So this is what everything is going to come down to for the next 8-10 years?
Seems like a nice enough guy. I thought he was a Democrat though.
American Idol Politics.
Who will be in the bikini?
Trey - hoping to be cast as Simon if the Supreme Court thing does not work out.
And why the hell was a member of a "whites-only" club even in the running?
Read the fun comments at that Washington Post piece. The guy's already being called an Uncle Tom and a soul-selling race traitor, and accusations that he's been chosen solely because of his race— accusations being made by some of the same people that dropped a load in their pants whenever anyone dared suggest that that race is exactly how Obama got so far so fast.
Correct, Palladian, however Michael Steele, Condoleezza Rice, Clarence Thomas, Colin Powell, aren't really black, or are Uncle Toms. So the Repubs won't be gaining any "image".
Steele will need to ask the question whether there is anyone remaining out there who is susceptible to a conservative message, being weaned off of entitlement, to reducing the size of government, to fiscal responsibility. You know, like republicans the last 8 years.
Oops, stupid me.
I honestly didn't know there were "whites only" country clubs still around.
Correct, Palladian, however Michael Steele, Condoleezza Rice, Clarence Thomas, Colin Powell, aren't really black, or are Uncle Toms.
Ahem...correction! Colin Powell was given back his Black Card after his appearance on Meet The Press last October.
Zach,
I saw that program. Actually, he got his Uncle Tom card back. (They look nearly the same.)
"I honestly didn't know there were "whites only" country clubs still around."
Me neither. So how is that advertised? Was it "whites only" just because there weren't any black members or was that an actual policy? If it was, isn't that against the law?
I honestly didn't know there were "whites only" country clubs still around.
Oh yeah. And for some of those, "Jew" is not "White."
How do you know it is a "whites only club"? I am sure they don't advertise.
Where the fuck are these "whites only clubs".?
Is there a directory?
I seriously thought those disappeared years ago.
Palladian - It does not matter whether there still is one, it only matters to WAPO and their readers that the country club was, or could have been, whites only, sometime in the past. Besides, to a good lib, wouldn't "country club", "republican", and "whites only" be synonymous?
And then there are the Jewish Country Clubs, only M.O.T. need apply.
While I would not join such a club, nor, to be honest, would they want me, I think it is part of our freedom of association that there can be private clubs that racially discriminate.
You know, like the Congressional Black Caucus. 8)
Trey
At least they didn't pick Ken Blackwell. He is horrible.
I'm more intrigued with our new GOP rep, Anh Cao. He described himself in an interview this week as a "Jesuit existentialist." It's kind of nice to watch Illinois take the corruption mantle for a bit, while we ponder to whom exactly does a "Jesuit existentialist" pander?
Such are the puzzles of politics - every feminist I know in that district voted for Cao rather than Bill Jefferson. Cao is a social justice Catholic; he's GOP because of abortion. But sometimes you have to vote on more than one issue and boy howdy, was it time for Jefferson to go.
I have never belonged to a country club. Do you have to golf in order to belong to a country club?
I always thought that Maple Bluff Country Club in Madison looked nice.
I hate golfing. Sure, the clothes can be cute but it is so fucking boring.
My parents love to golf but they don't belong to a country club. They golf at the place that takes their two for the price of one coupons.
Steele seems like a decent enough choice. He's a bit of an outsider, which is a damned good thing for the party right now.
I honestly didn't know there were "whites only" country clubs still around.
The Senate until earlier this month, despite Harry Reid's efforts to keep it white.
I want to belong to a country club.
There were country clubs in the US before golf became popular around the turn of the last century. From The Happy Golfer (1913) by Henry Leach, regarding the Onwentsia Club near Chicago.
"It is a country club in a large sense. It is a hunt club, it is a polo club with a splendid ground, it is a tennis club, and it is a golf club"
So if you can ride a horse, or swing a racquet, you're in good shape.
I approved of Steele's bid for the chair back in november, and I am pleased by the news that he got it.
Actually I wouldn't want to belong to a country club.
I don't want to get to know other people. A country club would likely force me to talk to people and that sounds awful.
Also, my sense it the hog would be old and not exotic. Definitely not my taste.
TMink said...
"American Idol Politics. Who will be in the bikini?"
Hillary!
Simon, you shit.
My wife is home and has taken over my cooking of dinner.
She is adding little country steaks and browned butter brussels sprouts to my mashed potatoes.
How the frack am I supposed to eat after reading that. I dare not look, I want to eat tomorrow.
Trey
Steele was the first candidate I ever supported with a campaign donation.
"And why the hell was a member of a "whites-only" club even in the running?"
Same reason a tax cheat was picked for Sec Treasury?
Oh. Sorry. THAT party is pure.
AJ's Main Man:
1. Steele compared stem cell research to Nazi experiments during the Holocaust.
2. Steele once described that “R” next to his name as a “scarlet letter,” complaining that being a Republican was hurting his electoral chances.
3. Steele was endorsed by Mike Tyson during his run for Senate. When Tyson, who used to be married to Steele’s half sister.
garage mahal said...
Seems like a nice enough guy. I thought he was a Democrat though.
Supposition that all or nearly the ones that matter to you are Democrats? Typical.
Gauranteed Steele ain't no conservative.
The Pubbie's whole image problem will be solved if they keep hanging together the way they did on the House vote and keep telling Obama where to shove it.
JAL, do you, or do you not, want there to be a difference between the parties?
well now we have the image problem solved and the house, senate, and presidency should go back to the GOP in the next election(s)
You know what's funny about the whole OMG Michael Steele is black non-controversy? It's that the moronic leftists/liberals will make the cries of Uncle Tom and sell-out as loud as possible, while conservatives will look to see what he has to offer the party and how he will manage it and get it's message out. Color won't even enter into it, but then again, if the leftists/liberals are worried that blacks will go the 'R' way, they need not worry since they've been able to successfully for the last 40 to 50 years engulfed blacks into their victimhood ideology with no way out of it. The blacks who are conservatives get derided, while Republicans bemoan how they need to have more outreach to blacks when it's conservative blacks that need to convince liberal blacks that their way is the wrong way.
Michael Steele is pretty boring. But I loved when he accused people of throwing Oreo cookies at him.
I think Mr. Steele needs to get a better tailor. That suit he is wearing looks ill-fitted.
Seems like a nice enough guy. I thought he was a Democrat though
Sure you did.....because he is black, how could he possibly be a Republican, much less a conservative Republican? Therefore he must be an Uncle Tom and a discredit to his race.
nathan said...
well now we have the image problem solved and the house, senate, and presidency should go back to the GOP in the next election(s
With the last election as a guide, the GOP only needs to gain an extra 3% of the vote at the expense of dems in 2012 to claim a popular victory (electorally, not so straightforward). Of course if they work on their "image" the way WAPO readers think they should, they could lose by 25% easy.
Sure you did.....because he is black, how could he possibly be a Republican, much less a conservative Republican? Therefore he must be an Uncle Tom and a discredit to his race.
It was subtle joke on his Senate run in 2006 when he put out "Steele Democrat" signs. So no, it had nothing to do with him being black.
I don't care why they actually picked him; I love Steele. He's an excellent communicator and knows how to articulate conservative fiscal policy to regular people (read: not political junkies). Plus, the guy has a spine.
I think Steel is darker than Obama... giving us an edge in the color wars ;)
Color War is declared! Color War is Declared!
Your friend may be your enemy!"
Poison Ivy (1985)
Agree very much with what Freeman said. Steele has core beliefs, expresses them very clearly and forcefully. Steele is not a wimp either.
Maryland voters were sheep. That is why Steele lost to longtime Dem congress-critter Cardin.
Anyone else hear that Tom Daschle neglected to pay $100K in taxes to the IRS.
I wonder how long Obama has known this? He should have rolled it out together with Geithner tax "omission".
Anyone else hear that Tom Daschle neglected to pay $100K in taxes to the IRS.
I'm not paying one more red cent in taxes....
I figure I'll take care of it when I get nominated by Palin ;)
Good idea Lem.
As far as I'm concerned Michael Steele brings the Sexy. He is a terrific communicator. Check out this ad from his Senate campaign. The man is comfortable in his own skin.
Any country club that wouldn't give Tiger Woods an 8 handicap to compensate for the legacy of slavery is considered all-white no matter how many blacks belong to it.
Oh yeah and the Daschle tax news gets released on a Friday night. Which of course is an old old political maneuver to tamp down the damage.
Christy, that is a great ad! I hope he brings this light touch to RNC ads, etc. It would be such a nice, er, change. Sorry, I had to go there.....
onparkstreet is filled with the hope?
Daschle paid around $100,000 in back taxes after his nomination to the HHS post to pay for the car and driver he was supplied but did not report as income... Daschle "naively" believed the car service was a "generous offer from a friend," and he discovered only last summer that it is considered reportable income.
For Chrissakes, lay off the guy.
As far as I'm concerned Michael Steele brings the Sexy
I agree.
No, it's not against the law for a country club to be whites-only, as long as they are a private club and don't accept any public money. It's the same reason the Boy Scouts are able to exclude gays. And yes, there are some all-white country clubs. There are also some which exclude women-- like the Augusta Country Club where the Masters is played every year (though they were forced to accept blacks some years back when the television networks theatened to stop televising the Masters.) Of course if they hadn't then they eventually would have had to, or else not invite Tiger Woods to play there.
Actually, I like Michael Steele. He's not the hardcore conservative type like the ones that have run the GOP for the past few years (and run it off a cliff, I might add.) He was open in his race in 2006 about the GOP's image problem, calling the party label next to his name a 'scarlet letter R.' I think from listening to him in interviews that he is both well spoken, and also a deep thinker. He knows that the GOP has driven a lot of people away (especially young people and Hispanics) with their rhetoric so I think he will probably work to change that.
I don't see how he got it because of his race-- most Republicans know that African-Americans are certainly going to remain solidly Democratic for the foreseeable future. I think he got it because there are enough Republicans who can see how much the crew who has been leading their party has damaged it and how bankrupt it is of new ideas, and Steele is willing to try and bring some of the people who have quit voting for Republicans back in.
If he was only a gay, handicapped vegetarian. Damn, we were so close to true change.
I'm also encouraged by the fact that Dawson's membership in the club was a factor in his defeat. If being a member of a whites-only club is now seen as being politically dangerous that might be a big step towards getting rid of those things. A lot of country club members do have political ambitions.
Actually, I like Michael Steele. He's not the hardcore conservative type like the ones that have run the GOP for the past few years (and run it off a cliff, I might add.)
I like him very much too and am happy that he has been picked. However, I dispute that the party has been run by conservative types. The problem is that the party has tried to be conservative lite or to morph into Democrats. They lost their principles, spent like drunken sailors, expanded government.....none of which are conservative ideas.
If they can bring back those moderate and conservative ideals...SMALL GOVERNMENT...less intrusive government, lower taxes, less entitlement programs, the RNC will see a resurgence.
Michael Steel has all of these qualities ...plus he's kind of cute.
....news gets released on a Friday night. Which of course is an old old political maneuver to tamp down the damage.
So why is the news that the Black guy beat out the Whites-only Country Club member for the RNC Chairmanship coming out on Friday? What damage is being tamped?
As far as I'm concerned Michael Steele brings the Sexy.
You guys don't get out much, do you? I like myself some chocolate, but this guy gives off less sexual energy than a Bill and Hillary make-out session.
Hardcore conservative to me means Socially Conservative. The abortion must be outlawed at all costs, and we'll spend every dime the government has 'til it happens type of Social Conservative.
That is the kind of conservative that's been running the RNC lately. (IMDO)
Madison Man said..What damage is being tamped?
It's a matter of perspective. Daschel's news comes out Friday afternoon because it is damaging to the Dems.
Steele's news comes out Friday afternoon because it is good news for Repubs.
See? It's a matter of perspective.
Steele's news comes out Friday afternoon because it is good news for Repubs.
Uh, Steele's news came out today because this is the day that the RNC scheduled to vote for a new chairman.
Actually Mad Man, the Steele news occurred today because the election was held today. As far as I can tell, there is no bad news here to tamp down.
As to Daschle, surely you would agree the information has been known for some time. I suspect it was withheld til today (a Friday) to tamp down the political damage.
I think it's likely, but I confess that I think sometimes bad things do happen on Friday. I'd say one out of seven bad things! Is this one of those times? I don't know.
Garage Mahal says: "It was subtle joke on his Senate run in 2006 when he put out "Steele Democrat" signs. So no, it had nothing to do with him being black."
And here is a link to a story about that little dustup. Garage, you may need to type a little slower for some folks around here to keep up.
I agree with your math of one of out seven if you concede that when you take the timeframe of Friday after 5PM; let's say 5-7PM. That cuts the odds to 2 hours out of 168hours in a week.
Steele was the dude who had his credit card reports and other private information accessed by using his SSN by two of Chuck Schumer's crew in 2005.
Read about it here: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/134mpbij.asp
Nice.
Hardcore conservative to me means Socially Conservative. The abortion must be outlawed at all costs, and we'll spend every dime the government has 'til it happens type of Social Conservative.
That is the kind of conservative that's been running the RNC lately. (IMDO)
Really?
How much of the government's money did the RNC spend on outlawing abortion in the past eight years? Or let's say from, what 2002-2006 where the Reps were in charge of everything-ish.
Shumer taught Obama how to throw staffers and friends under a bus.
I think Steele's a pretty good pick. I don't know about conservative vs. liberal, but the Republican leadership has certainly been tone deaf. Hopefully that will change.
As for Daschle and Geithner, I don't get all the fuss. Obama said he was going to make the rich pay their fair share and he's going to do it, even if he has to nominate every one of them.
A great PR pick - but otherwise? Simon is for him, hmmm... thats not encouraging. Wasn't he for McCain?
But he should be able to increase our share the black vote from 5% to 7% or 8%
rcocean said...
"Wasn't he for McCain?"
Whether that's good or bad depends on when he was for McCain. I hope all of us were, after he secured the nomination.
Wasn't it Fen (the commenter) who disappeared from here for a while because he was working on the campaign for Steele's unsucessful Senate bid? Am I recalling incorrectly? (I don't think so, though surely, surely I could be wrong.)
Yeah, I know Fen hasn't been around here for a while more recently, too. But I'm not talking about this a while. I'm thinking of that a while.
Am I the only one who has that recollection?
@reader
I have a vague recollection of the same.
If he was only a gay, handicapped vegetarian. Damn, we were so close to true change.
Why does it always have to be about race?
Color won't even enter into it, but then again, if the leftists/liberals are worried that blacks will go the 'R' way, they need not worry since they've been able to successfully for the last 40 to 50 years engulfed blacks into their victimhood ideology with no way out of it.
Wake up and enjoy life! It is OUR time!
Is Tom Daschle a tax cheat?
Of course not. Only Republicans and businessmen can be tax cheats. Democrats just "make a little mistake on their taxes", probably because they were too busy worrying about Doing the Right Thing for Americans.
So black is the new...black. Got it.
Image-y, of course. But it's more than skin[color] deep.
"When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
I wish I could ask Dr. King if we're there yet, or drifting further apart.
Hell if I know.
I think McCain's failure to win the Hispanic vote defeats the "image" excuse.
The Republicans have a values problem, not an image problem. Stop being Democrat lite, and you might have something there.
Madison Man wrote: "Hardcore conservative to me means Socially Conservative. The abortion must be outlawed at all costs, and we'll spend every dime the government has 'til it happens type of Social Conservative."
I think your brush is a bit too broad. Some social conservatives are big government types. They voted for Huckabee and can be thought of as Christian Socialists, a term supplied by my friend Sgt. Ted.
I am a small government (I typoed GIVErnment, no surprise in today's climate) state's rights kind of guy. I would like to cut the fed in half and would expect my state to outlaw most abortions while California would make them mandatory. 8)
Those other guys are not small government conservatives at all. I understand the confusion though, I am still trying to figure it all out.
Trey
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