Modern Black Republicans…Hmm…
I…get this feeling that many within the base of the Republican Party don’t truly like Condoleezza Rice or Colin Powell. (They flipped the switch quick on Powell a few years ago, didn’t they?) I wouldn’t say that they genuinely like Herman Cain either, but they love his antics and foolery. It makes them comfortable. He’s something to laugh at. He was a good sideshow until the White candidate that they truly wanted could surface. He’s not intellectually intimidating. His resume cannot stand up against Rice’s or Powell’s.
I don’t say this because I believe Republican base = automatically stupid (though lately, automatically racist is sadly not far-fetched, and it doesn’t help when Akin and Palin dominate microphones). I do notice that phrases revealing discomfort with Black intelligence have been used by many base members for years. It’s not hard to extrapolate this by simply examining history for the last few decades…or even since summer 2009.
And um…they sure do not like or respect Michael Steele. Other than being an analyst for MSNBC, Steele has no real role at the convention.
As I tweeted:
So RNC didn’t invite Michael Steele and is blaming him for pre-existing party debt, and incurring debt like other Chairmen did. Heh heh heh.
— Trudy (@thetrudz) August 27, 2012
Blame for debt that existed prior to his lead and for incurring debt the way other leaders have? Doesn’t this…sound familiar?
I have not been invited to the convention at all. Their view is, the less we talk about him, we don’t invite him, we ignore him — it just didn’t happen. But those 63 seats in the House did happen. They may want to ignore me, but they don’t want to ignore what I did. It’s just sad.
I don’t think Steele is horrible or stupid. I’ve seen him on MSNBC many times articulating his points well and avoiding CTRL C CTRL V style of thought or talking points. He seems to actually think. His thinking is not along the lines it needs to be…for true equality, but he is not “stupid.” Lost might be a more accurate word.
I…don’t think all Black people have to be Democrats. At all. I’m registered as an Independent. (Admittedly, most vote Democratic, or have in the last several decades.)
I…still wonder how do you navigate a space where you aren’t truly wanted? But then again, that’s just being Black in America, in general, regardless of party afiliation. Navigating spaces where you aren’t truly wanted. I just can’t…actively put myself in those spaces where ambivalence at best and the “well we sorta like you…just not other Blacks” at worst, cloud the spaces. I could never be a part of the Republican Party.
On an unrelated, barely registering as a tangent note, I like the song “Black Republicans” by NaS and Jay-Z. *shrugs*
