Michael Steele at Howard: Focusing on Runner’s Steps Instead of the Race
By HHR | September 6th, 2009 | Category: Featured, General, HHR Contributors, Opinion/Reviews | 7 commentsby Lenny McAllister
The RNC took a bold step last week as Chairman Michael Steele went to the campus of prestigious Howard University in an attempt to re-engage America during the “Freedom Tour.”
Just as with President Barack Obama when discussing his societal impact, many are focusing on Steele’s current results as a politician too much versus of viewing the long-term direction that his actions are setting into motion.
Just the same, both men at times are kicking up dust that is unsettling and unflattering for themselves and their allies. Yet, both men are doing things in different ways that, done correctly, will yield better results for America’s future.
Whereas Obama as president seems to continue to get sympathy from the media for the overhauling that he is undertaking to strengthen the country, Steele is bashed as a convenient figurine made available whenever Republican attempts to contrast the president’s radical directives since January or to reconnect with disenchanted voters after the Bush Era are to be ridiculed.
Even as Mr. Steele makes moves that make headlines for positive and negative spin for the GOP (such as his latest commercial on “seniors’ bill of rights” or the media rumblings with Rush Limbaugh earlier this year), America seems to miss the point with the current RNC chairman and his current direction. Further, without conservatives rallying around their figurehead to defend him, it threatens to weaken his long-term effectiveness.
Michael Steele was able to be at Howard University to speak with a level of credibility that Republicans have not been afforded at a HBCU since the days of Reconstruction. That means something. The same is true with the presence of other notable Black Republicans in GOP leadership around the country, including those such as Dr. Timothy Johnson (Vice Chair of the North Carolina GOP), Dr. Ada Fisher (GOP National Committeewoman for the state of North Carolina), and Troy Rolling in Michigan.
Just like a marathon, it is a movement due to a rising need within urban America and throughout the nation overall. But, just like a marathon, you can’t focus on where you find yourself at that current time; you have to focus on where you are headed and keep running for the long haul.
I’m sure that, just as we are seeing with the Democrats regarding leadership and policy, there is a level of debate amongst the ranks that will never quite leave as long as we have a nation that guarantees free speech. All Republicans have not lined up directly behind all of the Steele’s actions or public statements, nor perhaps should they. However, with the nation looking for alternatives to the dangerous directives coming from Washington, there are prime opportunities awaiting the GOP to reclaim the confidence of likely American voters.
The level of anger and growing distrust of the president’s initiatives will only translate into second looks at Republican initiatives and candidates if more within the GOP base lend support to Steele’s attempts to re-engage those that Republicans disenchanted over the past several elections – young people, ethnic people, and new voters.
Even if Chairman Steele pulls a hamstring during the course of the race, it doesn’t mean that the GOP won’t break the tape. However, if we allow the focus to be on the short, choppy steps instead of figuring out how to collectively expand our stride, we’ll never be able to win the race. With the historically-left agenda pushed in Washington these days, without a GOP marathon win, America will eventually lose.
Lenny McAllister is the author of the new book, “Diary of a Mad Black PYC (Proud Young Conservative,)” which can be purchased online at www.tinyurl.com/lennysdiary and www.amazon.com. He is a founding contributor to HHR and is a political commentator regularly seen on “Fox News Rising” in Charlotte, WVON in Chicago, XM Radio, and the CNN media assemblage. Follow him at twitter.com/lennyhhr , on Facebook at tinyurl.com/lennyfacebook , and at www.lennymcallister.com where McAllister’s weekly video commentary can be found.
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At Howard, Steele yelled a young white woman down at the townhall for talking about her mother dying of cancer. His response to her was “a large number of the uninsured are young people who choose not to enroll in health insurance.”
He also filled the first two rows with white Republicans he brought in for what– moral support?
He danced at one point and compared himself to the President, saying they were both at the top of the “political class”. He is a black Sarah Palin. The man is a buffoon.
Michael Steele will never be taken seriously by the Republican party or anyone else in America. He comes across as a fool and charlatan.
Whenever you Negroes get a clue and some self respect, let us know. Believe me, if you have half a brain cell, you will run as far and fast from the Republican party as you can.
By the way, the reason Steele is working the “chitlin circuit” (sure he can appreciate that turn of phrase), is because he knows if he EVER tries yelling at a white woman in front of a white Republican audience, he would not leave that stage alive. He does’t dare show his face to drum up support among his white conservative constituency. They would kill him. He knows it. The RNC knows it. And, unless you have an IQ of 65, you know it too.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Sorry, blah blah blah! You are so wrong not sure if you’re spreading lies just to get liberal brownie points or you actually believe this stuff? Steele did not yell at this woman. He tried to speak over her only after she began screaming in a belligerent hostile manner;. It was her not Steele that was yelling and screaming and the video shows this. Any fair person can see very clearly what occurred if they simply take the time to watch the whole video. The reason why the left is circulating an edited version of the video is to make it appear as if Steele was yelling at her. Again, the ENTIRE VIDEO can be seen via C-SPAN!
Isn’t funny how the left screams and critiques conservative protesters at town halls but its fine when its them yelling and interrupting! How many times did we see liberals interrupt conservative speakers on campus? How many times did they interrupt, scream, and throw objects at people they disagreed with? How many times did they interrupt and shout during congressional hearings?
What liars and What hypocrites!!!!! There were rules at the forum and she broke them. Steele agreed with much of what she had to say but she became emotional and started screaming and yelling.
Please listen and watch the video before you spread lies. I agree a mind is a terrible thing to waste but lets not have a mind so open that our brains fall out!
Kay,
Please, why don’t you stop with the “tantrum telethon” seriously you sound like a deranged cult member trying to persuade a former member to return to green pastures. Nevertheless, while were on the topic of “self respect” what’s truly disrespectful is that in this day and age there actually black folks that refer to other black folks as “negroes”.
Perhaps you yourself should show some self-respect and use a more respectable term to describe people who differ with you. The last time I checked the black community was full of independent thinkers. Isn’t our history filed with men and women who thought outside the box and made there own choices in life.
I would thing that this type of non-subservient independence was something to be proud of in our community. However, I guess independence is only as far as the Democrats front door, and being “a real black person” is as far as its front porch. Look I respect your right to be a Democrat but do us a favor and respect our decision to be Republican.
Fact of the matter is, you could not seem to come to terms with the fact that:
a) the man is a buffoon
b) he is not taken seriously by his own party
c) he is NEVER brought out to talk to the rabid right-wingers at these white-dominated town halls
Like the rest of you, he is a stooge. He is being used. And we all know that, including yourself.
“blah, blah, blah” all you want, Negroes (yes, that’s what they were calling you the last time the Republicans got the self-respecting black vote in like, um, 1905), the fact remains, black Republicans in the 21st century are pathetic. Deal with it!
Furthermore, if you are sooooo “independent” why don’t you form your own conservative party? Why hook up with the mainstream group, whose base HATES you. Why are you constantly trying to integrate? You don’t know whether I’m a Democrat or not. You assume that I am because I don’t agree with you. LMAO You don’t even know if I am black. I can be a white conservative who hates Steele. A lot do.
So much for independent thought and thinking beyond the box. You don’t need to be a Democrat to see that Steele is the ultimate affirmative action baby. The ONLY reason he is heading the RNC right now is because he is black. Not because he’s some intellectual firebrand in the tradition of William Buckley. Not because he’s some NRA or pro-life activist. NOT because he is respected among rank-and-file Republicans.
Face it. You are losers. On a losing team. Lead by a loser. With nothing to offer anyone but your own two middling cents.
KAY, what are you? Besides an angry lefty who is pandered to by a party that takes you for granted. And I suppose there are no racist democrats……. oh I forgot Pelosi calls them Blue dog…… Your garbage is recycled racist rhetoric reminiscent of what was used sever al years ago against Rice and Powell.
Do you feel the change slipping away? And I suppose an inexperienced Jr. Senator from Illinois is doing such a wonderful job heading up your party….. Or are you just a democrat that hates any black man that doesn’t agree with U.. Do we want to go down the list of Democrat Bafoons…. can we start with Van Jones or Marion Barry how about the head of your party…… great speech giver…. I’ll give you that…. major problem….. He doesn’t run your party Pelosi and Reed do….. The President is not taken seriously by his own party how about them apples… A super majority and he can’t get what he wants or is it what Pelosi wants?
Kay, You only need to point out the facts such as ….SCOREBOARD- black POTUS: Dems 1, Repubs <0 LESS THAN ZERO… Not now, Not ever, NEVER deal with dat!
That our guy turned out to be a Corporate shill is beside the point, Scoreboard!!
What we ALL should realize is that we’re in a CLASS war and the Ruling Elite has co-opted the Congress plain and simple! Eisenhower warned us it was coming and Nixon and Justice Lewis gave it a mighty heave forward!