For many years there has been a disturbing trend in the Republican Party when it comes to the image it seeks to convey and the image it conveys. A political insider would resolve this by taking a careful look at the rhetoric versus reality. The rhetoric states often that: the Republican Party is the party of Lincoln and has a rich history of openness and diversity. The reality is: since 1964 or after the Civil Rights act was signed the Republican party pursued a strategy which played on racial divisions as it tailored its message to address the grievances with the Civil Rights Act from their new constituent group the disaffected Dixie-crats See Southern Strategy http://en.wikipedia.org/... as demonstrated through the career of Strom Thurmond http://www.strom.clemson.edu/... and others like him.
Fast forward to recent times, the Republican Party in early 2009, on the surface made a clear statement by electing Michael Steele Republican National Committee Chair. http://www.msa.md.gov/... In many respect, although the motives were suspect given the possible reasons for his selection, he ascendency to the RNC chair marked upward progress if only in a symbolic way. By all accounts Michael Steele in his campaign for the RNC chair position sought all the powers that flow from the position. Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor, Michael Steele ran on a platform of openness and a strategy that would expand the base of the Republican Party and that was the rhetoric. Here is the reality, whereas he is a member in a party that does not seek these aims, the wider group as many predicted would eventually seek to marginalize him. http://www.youtube.com/...
According to the Washington Times, May 6, 2009 article http://washingtontimes.com/... that day has come today.
The article makes clear that stripping Michael Steele of budgetary control over the party is unprecedented for any political party. Imagine applying for a Job and three months into doing it all of the power of the job is taken away and it no longer looks like the job, one applied for. Well, this is what happened to Michael Steele. More to the point the most telling part of the article is when Michael Steele is forced to work with a guy he fired in the following passage:
“The agreement, proposed by several current and former RNC officials, goes further, making 33-year RNC veteran Jay Banning, who was fired by Mr. Steele along with his deputy last month, an on-call adviser to the RNC treasurer. Mr. Banning was seen as a trusted liaison to RNC members critical of Mr. Steele's tenure and financial management.”
So not only does Steele lose the ability to control the budget he has to clear things with an “on call” adviser he fired.
No one should really cry for Michael Steele the guy sold out so long ago, I will bet he forgets the time and date it all happened. But this is very telling as he follows a long line of African-American leaders within the Republican Party that were eventually marginalized. J.C. Watts did the Republican response to Bill Clinton in 1997 and worked he way to the 4th position in the House of Representative in a short time to Republican Caucus Chair and when he sought his parties blessing in running for the US Senate 2004, he was told in so many worlds go to the back of the bus and shut up. http://www.youtube.com/...
I know this wasn’t reported in the paper in 2004 but that is what my sources told me who happen to work on the hill. Throughout the entire 1970’S decade Senator Edward Brooke never received the spotlight he deserved from the Republican Party. Clearly this emasculation that is taking place in the Republican Party of African-American leaders follows a long pattern.
While it may appear on the surface that some African-Americans are on the top of the glass ceiling based on the Rhetoric. The reality based on this article and the last 40 years still illustrates that perhaps that glass ceiling is still 3 inches think and some would like to imagine themselves on the otherside