Steele and the party of Lincoln

Posted: Friday, January 30, 2009 4:52 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Republicans

From NBC's Mark Murray
Earlier this month, the candidates for RNC chairman -- every single one of them -- cited Ronald Reagan as their favorite Republican president.

Today, with Michael Steele becoming the party's first African-American chairman, they turned to Abraham Lincoln.

After the fourth round of voting, Ken Blackwell -- who is also black -- dropped out and referred to Lincoln before endorsing Steele. "We must be a party that makes good on the promise of Lincoln," he said.

Then Steele mentioned Lincoln at a press conference after his victory. "It is just one more bold step the party of Lincoln has taken," he said.

When the race turned into a contest between Steele and South Carolina party chair Katon Dawson -- who once belonged to a whites-only country club -- the choice for some RNC members became obvious, especially after Barack Obama made history last week by becoming the nation's first African-American president.

Besides race, picking Steele over Dawson was a signal that Republicans wanted to expand their reach beyond the South -- as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urged his party yesterday.

"It is time to get to work," Steele said. "We've got a party to build."

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Comments

While I wish Michael Steele good luck in his new position, I see his selection as a ploy for the GOP to make Blacks and other minorities feel like the party is suddenly pro minorities and anti racists.

Please color me "UNIMPRESSED".

Until the party adopts SUBSTANTIVE steps rather SYMBOLIC ones to address its INHERENT problems, it might as well be whistling DIXIE! OsiSpeaks[dot]com

KYJurisDoctor (Sent Saturday, January 31, 2009 12:14 PM)

Lincoln wouldn't recognize today's Republican Party. The radicals have taken control. Although there were radicals in his time he had them under control and was not himself a radical.

Lincoln, although opposed to slavery, was no fan of African American people. After the slaves were free he offered to send as many as possible to any countr or countries that would take them. A man of his time, he favored white, Western European, Protestant, males as having any kind of power. Today some of that attitude might be different in Old Abe but not much.

This doesn't dimish the greatness of President Lincoln but does put him in perspective of men of his time vs. today.

eagle1776 (Sent Saturday, January 31, 2009 1:05 PM)

Although, I am skeptical about how Mr. Steele will "lead" the RNC, I wish to congratulate him because it is another step forward. My hopes are that he will try to change the image of their party, "truly" try to be inclusive and quit subtle negative racial imageries to try to win elections. Although I am a Democrat, I do not wish the destruction of the Republican Party. I believe there is a need for multiple parties in order to put forth a multitude of ideas and solutions. I have voted for Republicans on the local level several times, but have not been able to do so at the national because the RNC seems to have much more control on that level and as an African American have not felt included and at sometimes negatively used.

So I say, Mr. Steele -- Congratulations and I wish you well in your new position!

DG, Oakland, CA (Sent Saturday, January 31, 2009 3:40 PM)

I read these communications and it makes me sick. Can you not look at the bright side. At least someone is willing to try somthing new. Why are youall so negative. Go look in a mirror and smile,It will not hurt.

Marion

Marion Sandefur 28 bark rd nw Dellroy,OHIO 44620 (Sent Saturday, January 31, 2009 4:01 PM)

The new rnc chairman = puppet FACE UNCLE TOM HOUSE NEGRO for the reSCUMlican white masssahs. Don't believe? Go watch the video of the rnc meeting.

RW (Sent Saturday, January 31, 2009 4:56 PM)

I am black. Steele is a token. Excuse, some of GOP supporters dont like it, and I am being prejudiced.I dont care. If your party is seliing Obama waffles at your convention, singing Happy Negro songs, Palin hateful rhetorics, major Civil rights leaders Congressman. Lewis calling your behavior racist, Real americans versus others bs, then GOP is racist party. Steele is a token pick, It is obvious attempt to change thier image, but if you pull back the curtain, you will see the real GOP>
Rush limbaugh racist quotes>
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/obama/top-10-racist-limbaugh-quotes/
http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/2007/08/25/rush-limbaughs-unebelievably-racist-comments/5

Charles (Sent Saturday, January 31, 2009 4:58 PM)

Hmm...wonder how the gop base is reacting. I bet Walmarts ammo shelves are really empty now. I can't imagine the old white rural repubs and evangelicals appreciate this (token) selection much. It's such blatant pandering, but desperation forces desperate actions. I doubt this will work.

JB, Houston (Sent Saturday, January 31, 2009 5:40 PM)

Actually some liberals DID call for her to be RAPED. It made national news. And Dems are supposed to be the party of Feminism? (Even though it was the GOP that originally got women the vote!)
PB, Los Angeles Calif. (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 6:22 PM)

___

I've go to call bullsh__ on this comment. Post a link because this post is outrageous. Do you defend the chants of "kill him" at Palin rallies?

Jilli - Milwaukee (Sent Saturday, January 31, 2009 5:43 PM)

Amy B - Portland, ME
----------------------------------------------------
Lincoln is no "code word" for President Obama! Not even close. I am 5th cousin to Abraham Lincoln through his mother Nancy Hanks. Lady, you need to hold your tongue!

Ron Lincoln - Tulsa, OK (Sent Saturday, January 31, 2009 8:59 PM)

Demonrats are the prejudiced corrupt bunch, sucking...and diddly away as demagogues, spreading swill to their enslaved crooked ACORN followers....their scandals are worst than any Republicans. Republicans are the principled ones, they deviated in recent years to do the excessive, deficit spending along with the damn demonrats....TIME to go back to Lincoln principles and destroyed those demagogue demonrats like Nobama, like corrupt clintooooooons...like Jim Wrights, and Coelho the scumbags of today. Did I forget the Airheads Reid and Peeeeeeeeeeelosi!!!

Micaiah2004 (Sent Saturday, January 31, 2009 11:43 PM)

P B you rock!!!!! Actually some of these lib's comments are really amazing,,,,, how can someone have that much hate and ignorance and still breath air????
Pigment seems to bring out every evil in the respondents. We have a black pres, black congressmen and women, we"ve had a black secretary of defense and secretary of state, mayors and governors, etc: et al ,,,, can't you people see anything but the paint job,,, look at what they stand for and what they do!!!! Their skin color shouldn't matter,,,, it doesn't seem to affect their brain,,, so why should it affect yours???? Unless you are RACIST ....... I really don't think race is the reason for all the hooplah,,,, its the fact that Steele is conservative, and this sets off the mudslingers..they seem to be concerned about loosing their freebies...

Bill W, Hermiston Oregon (Sent Sunday, February 01, 2009 12:14 AM)

Congradulations Mr Steele and to the Reublican party
Catch us Dems if you can. Let the games begin :)
Sarah Alin

Mishka Mehrens Anaconda MT (Sent Sunday, February 01, 2009 10:08 AM)

The problem though, is that, according to the way the articles are being written, Steele only won because the other finalist for the position had belonged to a whites only club and they were afraid of the perception that would have given the current administration. So, if indeed that is the case, then isn't Steele's victory somewhat tainted, because he appeared to be "the better choice than the whites only guy"? That isn't exactly a strong mandate, is it?

Jackson, Seattle (Sent Monday, February 02, 2009 11:08 AM)

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