RNC Chair Michael Steele Threatens to Focus on Race as Election Approaches

This is just what Republicans get for trying to manipulatively use race to their advantage. After Barack Obama became this country's first African-American president, the GOP went out and chose Michael Steele to be the first black head of the Republican National Committe (RNC).

The only problem is that their superficial attempts to show that they were sensitive to race backfired. Steele went on to participate in what can only be described as a modern day minstrel show.

He said ridiculous and racist stuff such as how he would lure blacks to the Republican Party using fried chicken and potato salad. He has posed in mock hip-hop stances with white interns and tried to use hip-hop vernacular.

When the RNC was busted for talking about family values out of one side of its mouth while paying for luncheons at strip clubs, Steele foolishly compared himself to Barack Obama (You, sir, are no Barack Obama!) in another desperate attempt at using race to his advantage.

Amiri Baraka called Steele a "public coon."

Now, after two years of this foolishness, Republicans want to bounce Steele to the curb, and rightfully so. He, however, is holding the Republicans hostage by threatening to use his election as an example of Republicans' lack of progress on racial issues:

"Who you elect as our next Chairman will speak volumes about our willingness to truly be the party of Lincoln," Steele said during a conference call, the Washington Times reported.

Republicans are, as Steele and Mobb Deep might say, "shook."

Politico writes:

As the race for Chair fast approaches the RNC Winter meeting, accusations of playing the race card and racism itself abound on both sides of the aisle. The GOP seems both anxious and angry that Steele is hinting at using his Blackness as an issue during the race, a move that could very well hurt the RNC heading into 2012 by hampering its ability to attract growing minority demographics.

And despite an electoral tsunami on Nov. 2 and a majority in the House, Republicans find themselves heading into 2011 with a party apparatus in disarray. At the center of it is Steele, the party's first African American chair and a former Lieutenant Governor plucked by the GOP establishment as a counterweight to the election of the first Black President. Now, to the chagrin of that same establishment and an assorted chorus of high profile partisans looking to change direction, Steele has announced plans to run for a second term.

"It is apparent that when Steele loses, he wants to take down the RNC with him," said RNC committee member Jim Bopp. "This is the threat he has made by playing the race card – he will smear the RNC by saying we are all racist by not voting for him."

I'm glad Republicans' use of race is backfiring. As my mother used to say, "When you play with fire, you get burned." Republicans are looking like toast right now, and they deserve it.

If Republicans were truly serious about improving their standing with the non-whites in this country, then they wouldn't be vehemently advocating against things such as the Dream Act.

Latinos in this country, some of who were fervent followers of George W. Bush, are furious about strong Republican opposition to the bill that would allow young people who are undocumented but who have completed some college or served in the military to become citizens.

Republicans would also stop playing horrible racial games: They would stop pushing the lie that President Obama's agenda is pushing this country toward a socialist agenda that will help blacks and undocumented immigrants. They also would shift their agenda and stop being the party of the wealthy.

It would be fabulous if Republicans wanted to address racial issues in this country. To be honest, it would be great if African Americans weren't all congregated in the Democratic Party - that has also allowed our vote to be taken for granted. However, superficial and embarrassing attempts by Republicans to use race to their advantage just aren't going to cut it.