Michael Steele:First black RNC chairman

[Silk Smoov]

Since my fellow GOP would not post this, I will. Here is the first step towards admitting the mistakes of the GOP from the past. This is a very important step that was needed. Now move on to the rest of the steps I outlined to get more minority voters over.

Story Here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/republicans

WASHINGTON – Michael Steele was elected Republican National Committee chairman on Friday, defeating the incumbent party chief and three other challengers over six rounds of voting to become the first black to lead the GOP. The former Maryland lieutenant governor takes over a beleaguered GOP as Republicans seek to rebound from back-to-back defeats in national elections that gave Democrats control of Congress and the White House.

"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.

He won 91 votes out of a possible 168 in the sixth round. A simple majority of 85 was needed, but it took six rounds for Steele to win.

[fluid.forty.one]

Race baiting. Can the mods please lock this thread.

Thanks.

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

Race baiting. Can the mods please lock this thread.

Thanks.

Start by locking up your comment, just for being you. Yep, race baiting at its best...You are just a silly dude wanting attention. All you had to do is make a positive comment on the choice of the RNC to make a first, but instead all you see is race baiting. Open up your mind, and stop being so quick to judge. This was a great move by the RNC, and I pointed out things like this to get minority voters would be welcomed and accepted and help move the RNC forward..

[rabbitproof]

Quit being wack.. there have been a lot of racial firsts, for Asian and Latinos, but you're not pointing them out either.

[Kirobaito]

Well... the guy who came in second became a Republican because he didn't want to go to school with black kids, and recently had to quit a whites-only Country Club. And it was a close second. What is wrong with this party?

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by rabbitproof

Quit being wack.. there have been a lot of racial firsts, for Asian and Latinos, but you're not pointing them out either.

I guess this makes you mad that I posted this? Dont worry about it, be like your ole buddy and turn it into race baiting. By the way, have some proud and post some of those firsts that you are talking about. Stop sitting on the sidelines and wait for others to help you, just get out there and make it happen. Point out the others or shut the hell up..

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by Kirobaito

Well... the guy who came in second became a Republican because he didn't want to go to school with black kids, and recently had to quit a whites-only Country Club. And it was a close second. What is wrong with this party?

You are correct, but I applaud this move. I think this is a great step forward. Michael Steele is an excellent choice no matter the race or creed. I really like this move.

[rabbitproof]

Get off it.

You're the one drawing distinctions between blacks and everybody else.

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by rabbitproof

Get off it.

You're the one drawing distinctions between blacks and everybody else.

Clearly you and fluid did, and now you making it a bigger issue by keep going with your bullshi* talk. By the way, still waiting on your post with all these other firsts you talked about.

[Silk Smoov]

New Addition to the story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/republicans

WASHINGTON – The Republican Party chose the first black national chairman in its history Friday, just shy of three months after the nation elected a Democrat as the first African-American president. The choice marked no less than "the dawn of a new party," declared the new GOP chairman, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. Republicans chose Steele over four other candidates, including former President George W. Bush's hand-picked GOP chief, who bowed out declaring, "Obviously the winds of change are blowing."

Steele takes the helm of a beleaguered Republican Party that is trying to recover after crushing defeats in November's national elections that gave Democrats control of Congress put Barack Obama in the White House.

GOP delegates erupted in cheers and applause when his victory was announced, but it took six ballots to get there. He'll serve a two-year term.

Steele, an attorney, is a conservative, but he was considered the most moderate of the five candidates running.

He was also considered an outsider because he's not a member of the Republican National Committee. But the 168-member RNC clearly signaled it wanted a change after eight years of Bush largely dictating its every move as the party's standard-bearer.

Steele became the first black candidate elected to statewide office in Maryland in 2003, and he made an unsuccessful Senate run in 2006. Currently, he serves as chairman of GOPAC, an organization that recruits and trains Republican political candidates, and in that role he has been a frequent presence on the talk show circuit.

He vowed to expand the reach of the party by competing for every group, everywhere.

"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.

"There is not one inch of ground that we're going to cede to anybody," he added.

"This is the dawn of a new party moving in a new direction with strength and conviction."

His job is to spark a revival for the GOP as it takes on an empowered Democratic Party under the country's first black president in midterm elections next fall and beyond.

He replaces Mike Duncan, who abandoned his re-election bid in the face of dwindling support midway through Friday's voting.

Two others who trailed farther back in the voting eventually followed suit, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and Michigan GOP chairman Saul Anuzis.

In the sixth and final round of voting, Steele went head-to-head with his only remaining opponent, South Carolina GOP chief Katon Dawson. Steele clinched the election with 91 votes; a majority of 85 committee members was needed.

Just eight years after Republicans controlled both the White House and Congress, the GOP finds itself out of power, without a standard-bearer and trying to figure out how to rebound while its foe seems to grow ever stronger.

The Democratic Party boasts a broadened coalition of voters — including Hispanics and young people — who swung behind Obama's call for change. At the same time, the slice of voters who call themselves Republican has narrowed. The GOP also has watched as Democrats have dominated both coasts while making inroads into the West and South, leaving Republicans with a shrunken base.

Despite the run of GOP losses, Duncan had argued that he should be re-elected because of his experience; his five challengers called for change and said they represented it.

As he left the race, Duncan thanked Bush and said of his two-year tenure: "It truly has been the highlight of my life."

Another candidate, former Tennessee GOP Chairman Chip Saltsman, withdrew from the race on the eve of voting and with no explanation, saying only in a letter to RNC members, "I have decided to withdraw my candidacy."

Saltsman, who ran former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's failed presidential campaign last year, saw his bid falter in December after he drew controversy for mailing to committee members a CD that included a song titled "Barack the Magic Negro" by conservative comedian Paul Shanklin and sung to the music of "Puff, the Magic Dragon."

[Flacolaco]

Liberal on liberal carnage?

Shouldn't you guys smoke a bowl, not go to work and then be friends?

[fluid.forty.one]

I'd only be friends with him if he was black.

[Mavdog]

when do we get to the day when people aren't spoken of by the color of their skin?

steele has an impressive resume, and a great record of achievement.

if he was selected due to his being a black american, I'm sure he would be disappointed much like if he lost due to being a black american.

[rabbitproof]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Liberal on liberal carnage?

Shouldn't you guys smoke a bowl, not go to work and then be friends?

That sounds like a good retirement plan.

[rabbitproof]

Originally Posted by Mavdog

when do we get to the day when people aren't spoken of by the color of their skin?

steele has an impressive resume, and a great record of achievement.

if he was selected due to his being a black american, I'm sure he would be disappointed much like if he lost due to being a black american.

This is partly what I'm talking about. But also, like a particular party's values change much just because their new chairman is black is baloney.

[wmbwinn]

apparently, the only way we could remove race from our current politics was to have a black man in one race lead with a black man leading the other party. We are making progress???

I love the pick. Mike Steele is an awesome Conservative and I don't care what color he is.

[chumdawg]

Congrats, Michael Steele. You are now captaining the Titanic.

[wmbwinn]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Congrats, Michael Steele. You are now captaining the Titanic.

Ah, yes, the Titanic.



I'm not sure what the currently proposed stimulus package stimulates. I heard one person call it a large pork phallus heading towards the rectum of the American Economy and its tax paying citizens.

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Congrats, Michael Steele. You are now captaining the Titanic.

We could easily say the same about Obama. Sometimes it takes a new captain to steer the boat clear of apparent danger.

[wmbwinn]

from Wikipedia:

"Oreo cookie incident
After a September 26, 2002 gubernatorial debate, which had occurred without reported incident, Paul Schurick, Ehrlich's communications manager, claimed that the Townsend campaign handed out Oreo cookies to the audience.[7] Five days after the debate, Steele said that one or more Oreo cookies had rolled to his feet during the debate suggesting a racist statement against him, that of being black on the outside and white on the inside like an Oreo. "Maybe it was just someone having their snack, but it was there," Steele said. "If it happened, shame on them if they are that immature and that threatened by me." At the time of the debate, Schurick had not mentioned any such incident, but in November 2005 he claimed "It was raining Oreos... They were thick in the air like locusts. I was there. It was very real. It wasn't subtle."[8] In a November 2005 Hannity and Colmes appearance, Steele agreed with Hannity that cookies were thrown at him.[9] Neil Duke of the Baltimore NAACP, who moderated the debate, praised the "passionate audience" and noted their "derisive behavior"[7] but did not see such behavior. "Were there some goofballs sitting in [the] right-hand corner section tossing cookies amongst themselves and acting like sophomores, as the legend has it?" Duke said. "I have no reason to doubt those sources; I just didn't see it."[8][10][11] The operations manager of the building where the debate was held, interviewed three years after the event by The Baltimore Sun, disputed Steele's claim and said "I was in on the cleanup, and we found no cookies or anything else abnormal. There were no Oreo cookies thrown."[8] Some eyewitnesses including AP reporter Tom Stuckey who was at the event have said cookies were handed out.[12] Other eyewitnesses could not corroborate Steele and Schurick's claim.[13][14]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_S._Steele


Typical. A Black man who is a Republican is an Uncle Tom, right?

[wmbwinn]

"Recently, Steele has attained national prominence due to his stature as a public speaker, as well as being a conservative Republican African American who has been successful in politics. At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Steele gave the Republican counterpoint to the Democrats' Barack Obama in a keynote address, Steele's first major national exposure. In April 2005, President Bush chose Steele as one of three members of the United States delegation at the investiture of Pope Benedict XVI at the ceremonial mass in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Steele was joined by Florida Governor Jeb Bush and by Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson.

Steele has appeared several times on HBO's political show Real Time with Bill Maher, hosted by comedian Bill Maher. He appeared on Comedy Central's talk show The Colbert Report on January 23, 2007.[15] Steele also hosted a PBS Republican Primary debate in Baltimore, Maryland on September 27, 2007."

same Wikipedia reference from above.

Obama and Steele do not like each other...

[wmbwinn]

"At the Media Research Center's 2007 DisHonors Awards Gala, Steele concluded a speech with the following: "I get a question all the time, 'Are you going to run again for office?' And I've thought about that, and I've come to realize that there's still some Democrats out there that I haven't ticked off yet. So, yeah, we're gonna do it again. We're gonna do it again, and all I have to say is, they haven't seen anything yet." "

same Wikipedia reference

[wmbwinn]

"Steele rejected the idea that the color of his skin had anything to do with his chances at becoming RNC chair, saying, "I am a Republican who happens to be African-American." "

same Wikipedia reference.

I like this man. Color should not matter.

[wmbwinn]

"Political positions
On the war in Iraq: "It is imperative we improve conditions on the ground so we can bring our troops home as quickly as possible and have the Iraqi people take control of their own destiny. At the same time, we should not publicly state a timetable for implementation. I do not support a 'cut and run strategy.' Any politician out there talking about timetables and timelines is playing into the hands of our enemies who have an enormous capacity to wait. It would be a disaster for us to cut and run, as it would destroy our credibility in the region for at least a generation. At the same time, it is the Iraqi’s themselves that will ultimately have to make democracy work in their country. We should stay there only long enough to give the Iraqi people the tools they need to secure the very democracy they voted for three times. After that, it’s up to them."[44]
Energy policy: "To provide immediate relief for Marylanders, I have called on President Bush and Congress to enact an immediate moratorium on the federal gas tax - more than 18 cents per gallon - and an immediate moratorium on the 24 cents per gallon diesel tax. Moreover, Congress should approve legislation to suspend the tariff on ethanol imports. But those actions are designed to deal with our immediate crisis. Congress must roll up its sleeves and work to solve the underlying problem - our dependence on foreign sources of energy. To do that, I’ve called on Congress to double President Bush’s budget request for biomass and bio-refinery research, and create market and tax incentives for E85 fuels, hybrid technologies and alternative energy sources. Tax credits for hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles need to be renewed and expanded. Additionally, we must increase fuel efficiency standards for automobiles – not just this year, but over the next several years."[45]
The budget deficit: "Congress must also enact pro-growth policies that encourage the economy to expand: like making tax relief permanent and repealing the death tax. As we saw with the most recent deficit figures, a growing economy will in fact reduce the size of the budget deficit. In order to achieve optimal economic growth, Congress must adhere to sane spending guidelines while promoting smart policies devoted to growing businesses and creating jobs."
Affirmative action: "Studies show enormous disparities still exist in education, healthcare, employment and economic opportunities along racial lines in the United States. I believe programs are still necessary to help close these divides. I support giving people opportunities. Programs must be fair to all Marylanders – of every color – and they should focus on economic empowerment."[46]
On gay marriage: Steele has stated that he personally opposes a federal marriage amendment to ban same-sex marriage and believes that states should decide the issue for themselves but has indicated he would support it if elected RNC Chairman. He rates the issue of banning same-sex marriage low in importance. [47]
Stem cell research: "We have a lot to gain through furthering stem cell research, but medical breakthroughs should be fundamentally about saving, not destroying, human life. Therefore, I support stem cell research that does not destroy the embryo."[48]
Health care: " We need to increase access to health insurance through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and high deductible policies, so individuals and families can purchase the insurance that's best for them and meets their specific needs. . . . I support allowing small businesses to band together and compete for better insurance options. . . . To help increase our nation’s seniors access to affordable care, I have called to extend the sign up period for the Medicare Prescription Drug plan." "

Same Wikipedia reference.

[wmbwinn]

"A former lieutenant governor tapped to run for Vice President two years after losing a U.S. Senate race? the idea seems outlandish. But, sure enough, Michael Steele -- Maryland's lieutenant governor, the state’s second-highest elected official from 2002-06 -- is quite often mentioned on lists of potential running mates for John McCain. And to those who point to Steele's 55%-to-45% loss to Democrat Ben Cardin in Maryland's nationally watched Senate race in '06 as a bar to his being on a national ticket, Steele enthusiasts counter that, among others, Abraham Lincoln and Richard Nixon lost races for statewide office before winning the Republican nomination for President.

At 52, Steele remains one of the most prominent African-American Republican spokesmen. This is significant, since the GOP has no blacks in either the House or Senate and only one member of the Republican National Committee is African-American. An attorney and businessman who once studied for the priesthood, Steele was GOP chairman of Maryland’s Prince George's County, and then went on to serve as state party chairman before becoming the Free State's first Republican lieutenant governor since the office was created. Initially often referred to in the press as "Mike Tyson's brother-in-law" (his physician-sister was once married to the former heavyweight boxing champion), Steele soon developed a strong following in the Republican grass-roots in Maryland. Now chairman of GOPAC, the Republican training and recruitment group, and a frequent Fox-TV commentator, Steele is often a guest speaker at GOP functions in his home state and nationally.

"That’s amazing," was Steele's response when I mentioned to him the vice presidential speculation about him I often run into. "I mean, he said, you’ve got to ask yourself the question, what would you do if the nominee of your party came to you, hopefully with a degree of confidence in what you could bring to the ticket, and asked you. You’d be hard-pressed to say no. But you definitely would have to take into consideration all the other things that are out there, like family, and stuff like that. But it’s one of those things. I’ll be very honest with you, John, it’s just so beyond my wildest imagination that I just, you know, I don’t think, I try not to think about it, at least.”

But Steele would like to see an African-American on a national Republican ticket, "either now or down the road,” arguing that "we have an enormously important history when it comes to the social, civil, and political empowerment of African-Americans," and Republicans "don't have to jump up and down and wave our arms and say, 'Gee, see what we've done,'" The Maryland man nonetheless concedes that, "unfortunately, today, politics has denigrated to that extent.” Notice the rhetoric coming out of the Democratic primaries. You know, ‘If Barack Obama’s not the nominee,’, fill in the blank. There’s not this sense of how the process unfolds. It’s all “it would have been stolen from them, it would have been cheating.” And that’s just not -- I don’t think that’s smart politics"

"The other thing ostensibly what happens with Republicans is invariably when an African-American rises through the ranks through hard work and the natural course of political experience, you hear that kind of crazy, loony stuff coming from the left, like ‘oh, well, they just promoted him because he’s black.’ Oh, well, you know, he’s just …” As, I think it was Cosmopolitan magazine, referred to me and ['06 Ohio and Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidates] Ken Blackwell and Lynn Swann -- “well, they’re the lawn jockeys of the Republican Party.”

For all the "lawn jockey" invective from the left, Steele also freely admits he is looked at skeptically by some conservatives for what they consider some of his less-than-conservative standards. A devout Roman Catholic, he is strongly pro-life, but also opposes the death penalty. While against quotas, he favors affirmative action in its original form. He says, "I love confusing people. And by what measurement are they making that judgment? Their own? What yardstick are they using? I didn’t get involved in the GOP to sit back and judge who’s the most conservative, or who’s the least conservative. What I joined was a party of men and women who believed in something.

Steele is a spirited advocate of the Bush tax cuts and lower taxes, and notes that Barack Obama" released his taxes for 2007. He, made over $4 million. Paid a little over $1 million in taxes. My question is, why didn’t you pay more? He roughly came in at about a 25% tax rate. Shouldn’t you have been at a 50% tax rate? You are a left-leaning Democrat who wants to redistribute everyone else’s [money]. Why don’t you start with your own?"

Like most conservatives, Steele disagrees with likely nominee McCain on the estate tax. ("Kill it, I say.") And, as a former county and state party leader, believes the oppressive McCain-Feingold measure that regulates campaign spending should be repealed.

Any talk with Michael Steele inevitably gets around to Obama, whose historic candidacy sparks suggestions that McCain consider an African-American as a running mate. What does he think of Obama?.

"Umm, I’ll describe Barack the way he described me when he came to Maryland to campaign against me in my race for the U.S. Senate," he replies with a laugh. "He’s an affable fellow, probably would make a good senator, but his resume’s a little thin for the job."

Steele for Vice President? “It probably won't happen -- not in '08 any way, Steele himself says. "I’m intrigued by the idea of running for governor [in 2010]. I think Maryland is ripe for my brand of Lincoln Republicanism -- that focuses on individuals, not institutions, that focuses on families in communities, not programs and outdated unionization of ideas, if you will, and opportunity." He also won't rule out another Senate race, especially if Maryland Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski retires in 2010.

One thing seems about as certain as it can be in politics -- Michael Steele will be heard from again. "


http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26413
printed May 8, 2008 when Steele was viewed as one of the possible VP slots for McCain

[wmbwinn]

"...that the October 2006 issue of Esquire Magazine featured an article which began by calling him, Ken Blackwell and Lynn Swann, the “lawn jockeys of the Republican Party”.

A Liberal rag attempting to ensure that the world thinks all Blacks must only support Democrats. Liberals speak of how racism is alive and well. They’re right, because they’re the ones expressing it on a daily basis. "

http://www.independentconservative.c...d_lawn_jockey/

And, the original source of the "lawn jockey" statement:


"LOST CAUSE OF THE YEAR

Pity the black Republican, the lawn jockey of American politics. He's largely regarded as exploited and ornamental, a toadying showpiece that enables Mister Charlie to say, "See, we have some, too." Studies have shown that blacks are more likely to belong to the Steely Dan fan club than the Republican party. So when an African-American signs on with the GOP, he's often belittled as an Uncle Tom, a Stepin Fetchit, or, more malevolently, an Alan Keyes.

Never mind that for years, Republicans have been stressing to black voters (rightly, if not cynically), that there is no surer way to be taken for granted than to reflexively pledge allegiance to the same party in perpetuity. But reverse racists in the Democratic party would have it that to become Republican is somehow "unblack," like enjoying a Wayne Brady show, or naming one's child Ashley or Blake instead of LaChevron or Dijonaisse.

For an African-American to run for office as a Republican, then, evidences something akin to political courage. And that's precisely what three black candidates are doing this fall. Pennsylvania gubernatorial hopeful Lynn Swann exhibited greatness on the field with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and off the field in Battle of the Network Stars. Now he's gotten the fanny pat from George W. Bush himself to take on incumbent Ed Rendell in a state in which an incumbent governor has never lost. Considering Bush has a 15 percent approval rating among African-Americans, it's understandable that Swann goes as light on Bush mentions as he goes heavy on forced football references. ("I haven't cried this much since I was inducted into the Hall of Fame," he said upon getting the Republican State Committee's endorsement.)

Joining Swann in an attempt to become only the second elected African-American governor in our nation's history is Ken Blackwell, a Bible-quoting free-marketeer and Ohio's secretary of state. Conspiracy theorists have attempted to paint him as Katherine Harris without the pancake makeup, alleging he masterminded 2004 voting irregularities and stole the election for Bush. But, nobody's butt-boy, Blackwell stuck his own party in the eye during the same election by keeping Ralph Nader off the ballot, which would've surely eaten into John Kerry's numbers. He also takes frequent shots at his own sitting Republican governor, Bob Taft, who was charged with criminal misdemeanors for that most Republican of crimes: failing to disclose lobbyist-sponsored golf outings.

Running for Senate in Maryland is Michael Steele. He, too, is trying to put some daylight between himself and establishment Republicans--tricky to do when you're the current lieutenant governor and your prior gig was running the state Republican party. Still, Steele nearly earned points for individuality when, on a background lunch with a Washington Post reporter, he lambasted Bush on everything from his Iraq policy to his post-Katrina absenteeism. Then, thinking the better of it after his own campaign revealed him as the mystery heretic, he backpedaled, saying Bush was "my homeboy." As an expression of authenticity with potential cross-party appeal to blacks, Steele's sounded less Soul on Ice, more Vanilla Ice.

With all three candidates lagging in polls (Swann and Blackwell by double digits), Republican Clausewitzes might be well advised to adjust the minorities-recruitment battle plan, and to find out what Andy Garcia's doing for the next four to six years, ahora. "

http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1...?click=main_sr

[Silk Smoov]

Yeah, Michael is a great guy for that job. If the GOP follows suit in going this direction, and for the most part start backing these agenda's that minorities follow, then I think the GOP will start to pick up speed in the recruitment process. Its a slow process, but things like staying away from a vote to prove a point will not work, because it will seem that they did not care for better education, child health and whatnots that the stimulus package is directed towards.

I think it is coming. I do my job on recruitment and it seems very easy to recruit minorities to the GOP. All you have to do is debate the issues that is important to them, show how things have not changed, but gotten worse, show how the income gap is widening, show how welfare has made too many people lazy, talk about how when welfare first started that it required the father to not be in the household. I can make this a very long list, shi* I can talk about section 8, food stamps and welfare requires you to have a very low income to stay on them, which means it rewards those who do nothing and just have babies.

I can talk about how those programs do not enforce education or trade programs to encourage those who are on those programs to better themselves. I can talk about those type of programs are set up to if you get a job making $7.00per hour, you dont qualify for those programs and you live in worse shape than those who do nothing and stay on those programs for years and years. I can say there are two types of dependents, one who is taken care of by their parents/guardian up through college, and one that is taken care of by the government after your college age of 22. The longer a person is a dependent, the less likely they can stand on their own for extended periods.

This coincides with wealth distribution in the United States. Any programs drawn up to make more of the 2nd type of dependents, is a program that can throw away in my book. I see those programs as currently written as a crutch, and not a solution. I say "Stand-up", and pull yourself up by your own bootstrap, and if you do you will be rewarded. I think this is the real "American Dream", but it also has to have safeguards to help those who are trying to pull themselves up and just need a bit of help to get started.

[wmbwinn]

I like you, Silk. But, they might call you a "lawn jockey" or "oreo cookie" or "Uncle Tom" if you aren't careful there...

I agree with everything you said in your last post.

Native Americans on reservations are given more in handouts and assistance than the poor of various ethnic groups in various inner city areas. Are the Native Americans on those reservations showing improvement with that help?

No. It just doesn't work.

Has nothing to do with compassion to talk about what does and what does not work. Actually, it is compassionate to put people to work and remove the freebies so that they can actually make something out of themselves.

Compassionate Conservatism is not just a phrase or empty idea.

[dude1394]

Just to throw my two cents in here. I think it's great. Michael Steele is a young (relatively) bonafide conservative. Like Thomas Sowell and Clarence Thomas (two of my favs) they can speak "truth to the race-mongers".

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by wmbwinn

I like you, Silk. But, they might call you a "lawn jockey" or "oreo cookie" or "Uncle Tom" if you aren't careful there...

I agree with everything you said in your last post.

Native Americans on reservations are given more in handouts and assistance than the poor of various ethnic groups in various inner city areas. Are the Native Americans on those reservations showing improvement with that help?

No. It just doesn't work.

Has nothing to do with compassion to talk about what does and what does not work. Actually, it is compassionate to put people to work and remove the freebies so that they can actually make something out of themselves.

Compassionate Conservatism is not just a phrase or empty idea.

You know what, I have not had that problem. The thing is to be true and dont down talk, but to encourage progress and getting the American Dream. It is there for all of us, and all you have to do is go out there and get it, and dont accept failure. If someone wont hire you, then go open up a business. If the banks wont fund you to start, then take baby steps until you are established to show proof of your business plan working.

Subscribe to magazines that talk about wealth and how to attain it. For me, I get Money, Forbes, SmartMoney and Black Enterprise. I believe in the American Dream and having fun living it. Its out there for the taken. Surround yourself with successful people and people who are at the top. Success breeds success. Its who you know, not what you know as well.

I truly believe that you are, who you surround yourself with. My motto is "You are, what your bank account says you are!" Sounds kinda bad to some, but I believe in that motto. Lastly, if you are blessed financially, give back, and give your tides to GOD.

[wmbwinn]

Originally Posted by Silk Smoov

You know what, I have not had that problem. The thing is to be true and dont down talk, but to encourage progress and getting the American Dream. It is there for all of us, and all you have to do is go out there and get it, and dont accept failure. If someone wont hire you, then go open up a business. If the banks wont fund you to start, then take baby steps until you are established to show proof of your business plan working.

Subscribe to magazines that talk about wealth and how to attain it. For me, I get Money, Forbes, SmartMoney and Black Enterprise. I believe in the American Dream and having fun living it. Its out there for the taken. Surround yourself with successful people and people who are at the top. Success breeds success. Its who you know, not what you know as well.

I truly believe that you are, who you surround yourself with. My motto is "You are, what your bank account says you are!" Sounds kinda bad to some, but I believe in that motto. Lastly, if you are blessed financially, give back, and give your tides to GOD.

I like you more all the time. Again, agree with 100% of that.

[92bDad]

Who cares what pigment is in his skin, I would like to know where he stands on the issues and what his plan is for leading the party.

The one comment that disturbs me is in the first post that Silk posted, it states that he is a bit more moderate than the other candidates.

If this is true and the RNC is moving more to the middle, then it is time to start a more conservative 3rd party.

Recently I posted a thread: http://www.dallas-mavs.com/vb/showthread.php?t=34698

Yet, I have seen no reponses...is it because a Black Woman of prominance made these statements? What would the reaction have been had it come from a white person?

Again, this is a sad state of affairs.

Sure the RNC has made its fair share of mistakes...but is not fair to acknowledge that some in the Black community are equally guilty of making some serious mistakes to the point that the perception of the black community is what it is today?

Right or wrong, perception of racism is what we are fighting, and saddly that fight has grown a very negative view of the black community. It is a bad generalization, but when one group tends to vote 95% the same it is challenging to say the least to be open in return, when the 95% are not open themselves.

This is one of the sparking topics that no doubt my comments will piss some people off. Be that as it may...

It's funny the further I get from these past elections and now the fall out associated...the more I begin to understand the greatness of Ron Paul.

Will the RNC ever get back to it's true conservative roots, or will they continue to become yet another liberal institution?

Keep in mind, just like Obama, this is NOT a Black/White thing, this is about what each of us as individuals believe in.

Granted, for some...a persons skin color means more than their character and beliefs...that is their own unique issue. For others, we have gone beyond racism and judged our politicians based on their records and public records of action/beliefs.

If we are judging America because it elected its first Black President and we are judging the RNC because it elected its first black Chairman, then we have failed to make this a nation who goes beyond skin color. That my friends is a sad state of affairs.

[92bDad]

Originally Posted by Silk Smoov

Yeah, Michael is a great guy for that job. If the GOP follows suit in going this direction, and for the most part start backing these agenda's that minorities follow, then I think the GOP will start to pick up speed in the recruitment process. Its a slow process, but things like staying away from a vote to prove a point will not work, because it will seem that they did not care for better education, child health and whatnots that the stimulus package is directed towards.

I think it is coming. I do my job on recruitment and it seems very easy to recruit minorities to the GOP. All you have to do is debate the issues that is important to them, show how things have not changed, but gotten worse, show how the income gap is widening, show how welfare has made too many people lazy, talk about how when welfare first started that it required the father to not be in the household. I can make this a very long list, shi* I can talk about section 8, food stamps and welfare requires you to have a very low income to stay on them, which means it rewards those who do nothing and just have babies.

I can talk about how those programs do not enforce education or trade programs to encourage those who are on those programs to better themselves. I can talk about those type of programs are set up to if you get a job making $7.00per hour, you dont qualify for those programs and you live in worse shape than those who do nothing and stay on those programs for years and years. I can say there are two types of dependents, one who is taken care of by their parents/guardian up through college, and one that is taken care of by the government after your college age of 22. The longer a person is a dependent, the less likely they can stand on their own for extended periods.

This coincides with wealth distribution in the United States. Any programs drawn up to make more of the 2nd type of dependents, is a program that can throw away in my book. I see those programs as currently written as a crutch, and not a solution. I say "Stand-up", and pull yourself up by your own bootstrap, and if you do you will be rewarded. I think this is the real "American Dream", but it also has to have safeguards to help those who are trying to pull themselves up and just need a bit of help to get started.

Silk,

You amaze me...how can you state this and have been such a supporter for Obama?

Everything you wrote stand against everything that Obama ran on.

There is no doubt in mind that you are a Great American, but you appear to have let the emotion of the election get the best of you...as did I.

You and I obviously got off on a bad foot, thanks in large part to my posting a stupid joke...from me to you, I'll man up and apologize...I should not have repeated that joke. Do you accept my apology?

Now in terms of this power than has swung drastically to the left...it appears to have gone drastically into a 'Welfare State' this is not good for our mutual futures, and the future of our children and beyond...

Perhaps if folks like you and I can change and come together, we can help to bring out the virtues of a conservative America.

What do you say, are you ready to change from within?

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by Silk Smoov

You are just a silly dude wanting attention.

Priceless.

[wmbwinn]

92BDad:

If we are judging America because it elected its first Black President and we are judging the RNC because it elected its first black Chairman, then we have failed to make this a nation who goes beyond skin color. That my friends is a sad state of affairs.

As I said earlier, we have chosen a Black man to run the RNC so that race won't matter when working with the DNC.

Same idea said another way. Same problem, race still matters when it should not matter

[rabbitproof]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Liberal on liberal carnage?

Shouldn't you guys smoke a bowl, not go to work and then be friends?

8 gold medals!

I shouldn't have quit....

[TrippleT123]

he is very religious, so he shares far right social views, but he still has the same old repub politics as and race

[mcsluggo]

Originally Posted by wmbwinn

92BDad:


As I said earlier, we have chosen a Black man to run the RNC so that race won't matter when working with the DNC.

Same idea said another way. Same problem, race still matters when it should not matter

so simple question.... if the democrats appoint a religious leader (like say, the reverend Jesse Jackson) as DNC chair, then does that mean that religion will no longer figure into politics either?

[92bDad]

Originally Posted by mcsluggo

so simple question.... if the democrats appoint a religious leader (like say, the reverend Jesse Jackson) as DNC chair, then does that mean that religion will no longer figure into politics either?

A persons beliefs will always play into politics, that is how we vote, based on our beliefs.

Now I wouldn't vote for Jesse Jackson because his beliefs are not in line with my beliefs...but I might vote for Mike Huckabee because his beliefs are closer to my beliefs.

Now one is Democrat the other Republican...one is black the other is white.

Neither of which matters to me...but some will point out those differences rather than how the two individuals stand on various issues.

When I think about...I'm hypocritical...heck I don't know how either stand on hardly any issues, but I know that when I listen to them speak, I find that I trust Mike Huckabee and that I don't trust Jesse Jackson.

I know that one is Republican and one is Democrat...so I fall onto the party lines...I trust Republicans and I do NOT trust Democrats.

Again, another reason to get rid of the multi-party system...imagine how much we would all have to research various candidates and issues, if they didn't have the "D" or "R" or other party labels associated with them.

We've become lazy...and I include myself in that "WE"...it's easier to vote down the party line than to research the candidates and issues.

Not to mention, I can feel comfortable that for the most part...when a house/senate/presidential vote is cast, they will vote along their party platform...which for me, the Republican party is a truer representation of my beliefs.

Freedom, Personal Responsibility, National Defense, Capitalism

Democrats stand for the opposite of my beliefs and I can never see myself voting for them.

[mcsluggo]

obviously. And my point was that the republicans on this board feel that there is no "there" there to the fact that blacks in this country feel excluded by the GOP... and that a single gesture should prove the fact.

clearly they are wrong. There is SOMETHING "there".. they (and everyone else) just are having a hard time specifically defining what it is. But the fact that 90% of black voters vote democrat is not a statistical anomaly, it is a revealed preference.

(just like the fact that evangelical Christians, and Mormons vote overwhelming republican... IN SPITE of the fact that 99% of ALL politicians loudly proclaim their strong christian beliefs)

stating: "Good, now that the GOP had elected a black chairman we can put this whole thing behind us..." is at the very least, over optimistic.