Steele's Convenient Understanding Of Racism.

[babylonsister]

http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=04&year=2010&base_name=steele_criticism_of_me_is_race

Steele's Convenient Understanding Of Racism.


When Michael Steele ran for chair of the Republican National Committee, he was careful to signal to Republicans that not only would he help immunize them against accusations of racism, but that he'd be willing to use race as a cudgel against the Democrats. He said that Barack Obama "played the race card beautifully" during the election, and added that that the GOP shouldn't go easy on Obama "just because the President of the United States happens to be a black man." The point was that Steele, being black, would be able to help the GOP go at Obama while deflecting accusations that their criticisms were motivated by racial animus.

Since then, Steele has appeared more willing to utilize race as a cudgel against Republicans.

snip//

This is another example of why Republicans continue to fail at minority outreach: Their understanding of how racism works is completely politicized. Steele thinks he's a victim of racism whenever he's in trouble, but also thinks that Obama only got elected because he's black, except when he's trying to draw parallels between himself and the president. Abortion is a plot to commit genocide against black people -- but the idea that being black might make it harder for you to get a job is ludicrous. Republicans generally seem to see racism as a political weapon rather than something that actually affects people's lives and livelihoods, and Steele's presence at the RNC isn't doing anything to disabuse them of that notion.

-- A. Serwer

[NJmaverick]

1. Steele and the GOP have been cynical in their manipulation of the race issue

Steele and the GOP were mutually exploitive of one another. Steele got himself a job that he was ill suited for and the GOP got the cover they needed from charges of racism. It's no surprise that this marriage made in hell has gone poorly.

[tanyev]

2. The GOP judges EVERY issue on its use as a political weapon.

There is no policy, there's only politics.

[zulchzulu]

3. The RNC know that Steele will use the "Race Card" if he is ousted

I can see it now.

Steele gets fired and comes on whatever station will allow him in an interview to promptly say that the Republican Party leadership and followers are full of racists.

That's his Ace in the Hole.

[EffieBlack]

4. Don't you love how quick he is to attach himself to President Obama when it suits him?

My bruthah . . .

[babylonsister]

5. Yes, uncanny, isn't it. Or self-serving. nt