Steele Republican

February 1st, 2009 by Kenneth Burns

I am a Republican.  I have said that loudly and proudly since 2003, and have been even more vocal about it since starting Maryland Politics Today in the fall of 2006.  Knowing the possibility that some people, namely some Black people, would view me as, I still decided to take the plunge from Independent to Republican.  The number one reason for jumping off of the fence, I (emphasis on I) did not agree with Democrats about how to go about state business.  Personally, I can care less about what happens 30 minutes down the road from me in Washington, DC.  At the end of the day, everyone is going to do what’s best for the party to save face.  Although last year, it was more like, how much money can I take home with me for my pet projects.

Recently, the Republicans have gotten more things right in one week than they have over the past four years (As you can see, I’m an honest Republican.)  Right thing number one was saying hell to the no in regards to the bailout of non-profit organizations.  Right thing number two was picking former Lt. Governor Michael Steele as it’s new chairman.  The party frankly has not had a “click” moment when it comes to pushing their diversity, now they have it at the forefront.

Keep in mind, neither party has a leg to stand on when it comes to race relations.  The Republicans have the worse of  it because they happened to have sinned in a time where media was growing.  The Southern Strategy was a black eye for the party and it took 35 years before someone in the GOP said, “our bad.”  The Democrats were silent propenents (and sometimes willing participants) of JIm Crow laws and lynchings.  The present state of affairs is that most Black people do not want anything to do with the Republican party, and would rather vote Democrat no matter one.  A big chunk in my generation would rather register as independent as opposed registering for anyone.  The Republicans want to diversify, but no one seems to want to bite.  Can we all just get along?

So now enter the Republican with the name of Steele, who the left is starting bash as it is.  Some migh be asking them selves one of the following two questions:

- Why did they pick someone who views the letter R as a scarlet letter?

- Why does Steele want to lead a party that he views as an achilles heel?

Yes, Steele equated the letter R to a scarlet letter, but the fact of the matter is, he was right.  Having an R bext to your name from 2005 to the current day was not a good thing because America was pissed at Republicans.  The war was not going well, there were still hurt feelings from the 2004 election where Bush was accused of stealing the election…again.  The economy started spinning and Bush happened to be president, nevermind the fact that Republicans on the hill became arrogant with their power and kicked to the wayside the reason they were there in the first place.  Steele made an estute observation, but critics seem to have a louder voice in the media and he was forced to the uncomfortable position of explaining himself.  Although, I have to admit having media in the room when you say “this is off the record” was a bad idea too.

Critics also will point out Steele defending Governor Robert Ehrlich (R) holding a fundraiser at a country club which did not allow members who were not White.  As the great Gregory Kane said, the policies of the Elridge Club is none of our business.  It is a private club.  Is it right for them to exclude members based on race, no, but that is their right.  Just like no one forces the Congressional Black Caucus to integrate, we should not force integration on a private club.  Besides, who would really want to try and join a place or deal with people that don’t really want to deal with you any way?

In the long run, I will not be surprised about the attacks on Steele because he is a (altogether now) Black Republican.  Similar attacks were hearled at him over three years ago, and amazingly, Black Democrats defended those racist attacks.  You can find a good example of what those attacks are like in a 2005 Washington Times Article where State Senator Lisa Gladden (D-Dist. 41 Baltimore City) who said “Party trumps race, especially on the national level.  If you are bold enough to run, you have to take whatever the voters are going to give you. It’s democracy, perhaps at its worse, but it is democracy.”  Well excuse me if I ask Ms. Gladden, when does politics justifies racist attacks?

This is not surprising considering the fact that Senate President Thomas Mike Miller (D-Dist. 27) said that Steele was the personification of an Uncle Tom.  Mr. Miller thought hurling such an insult is OK because the Black Democrats were doing that and didn’t speak up when Whites did it.  Anyone hurling a racist attack towards anyone should be unacceptable when it’s Black on Black, let alone White on Black.

Unlike many President Obama supporters, I recognize that change will not happen overnight.  For the GOP to hold to it’s principles and reach out across the divide will take time.  They have been trying for at least five years to change the perception of the party as that of racist, holier than thou and the like.  The election of Steele as chairman of the Republican National Committee is a step in the right direction, despite the critics and those Democrats still stuck on the plantation.

P. Kenneth Burns is the editor of Maryland Politics Today.  His email is kennyburns@marylandpolitics.us