Urban Thought Collective

When former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele was elected the first black chairman of the Republican Party last weekend he declared, “It’s time for something completely different!” But there’s nothing different here – especially insofar as black folks are concerned. Steele is committed to the same conservative policies that have alienated the vast majority African-Americans (along with other people of color, working folks, the middle class, young voters and a large percentage of women) for decades. So, the only difference between Michael Steele and previous Republican Party chairmen is his skin color – and that difference makes no difference.

After winning the RNC chair on the 6th ballot, Steele told a ballroom full of predominately white party leaders: “We have an image problem… We’ve been mis-defined as a party that doesn’t care, a party that’s been insensitive, a party that’s unconcerned about minorities, a party that’s unconcerned about the lives and expectations and dreams of average Americans.”

Mr. Steele, that statement is an insult! The negative image that you describe does not exist because of our perceptions of the Republican party but, rather, because of the Republican Party’s own policies and philosophy. In short, your problem isn’t us, it’s you.

Steele admitted to conservative Fox News host Sean Hannity that his election to head the Republican National Committee would not bring a flood of black voters into the GOP. But he said having him in the top job will, quote: “send the appropriate message that right now at this hour the Republican Party gets it. We are prepared to come into town squares and into town halls and meet with the community, talk about those issues, talk about the differences between us and work to earn their vote.”

So, after all these decades, the Republican Party finally gets it? That would be laughable if it wasn’t so condescending. That’s two insults in a row, Bruh Steele.

The Republican Party and its new black figurehead couldn’t care less about the issues that matter to black people. Steele spent most of his chat with Hannity talking about his plan to energize the Republican base by rededicating the party to conservative values (remember, they thought John McCain was too moderate). The interview began with Steele gushing about House Republicans’ party-line opposition to President Obama’s economic stimulus bill. Steele went on to say that the Republican leadership was sending out “a clarion call to the base to get ready, get revved up, and get ready to go forward and move that agenda, that conservative agenda.”

Strengthening conservatism and opposing President Barack Obama’s plans is the Republican Party’s real agenda, and it is Michael Steele’s top priority. Steele knows that most black folks aren’t down with that and he doesn’t really care.

It’s obvious that the Republicans did not choose Michael Steele to be their new party chairman because they care about black people. But I believe they chose him because he is black. You see, the Republicans plan to give President Obama obstructionist hell over the next four years. (The House vote was a preview of coming attractions.) But they know that having a steady stream of white men talking smack about America’s First Black President is risky. So, to deflect possible perceptions of racism they needed a brother to be one of their main standard bearers. The fact that this particular brother, Michael Steele, is not a “brother” in the socio-political sense, but is fully one of them, means that they can try to look like they care about us without actually having to care about us.

Thanks for listening. I’m Cameron Turner and that’s my two cents.

THINK! IT AIN’T ILLEGAL…YET!

Cameron Turner is a Los Angeles-area native whose editorials, entertainment news features and audio documentaries have appeared on national radio networks, online and in print for over 20 years.