Feb 12 2009
Who Says Steele is “Just” a Token?
There’s been a lot of talk on the left that Michael Steele’s ascension to the head of the Republican party represented a degree of tokenism. I’ve long argued that tokenism or not, the fact of the matter is that years ago (not too many) it wouldn’t have even been possible, and furthermore – the man won by election – not by fiat. And of course, he won because President Barack Obama led the way to making it possible for the a black man to be the recognized leader of a major United States political party. Stomping all over that achievement just because it was republicans and not democrats, doesn’t work for me.
Anyway – here’s a news story that demonstrates even more powerfully, just how much Steele’s election really DOES matter: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/18627.html
Michael Steele owes his dramatic victory in the race for Republican National Committee chairman to votes from island territories outside the 50 United States. Now, the question is what else he owes them.
The residents of the five territories, from Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea to the tiny Northern Marianas in the Pacific Ocean, provided Steele with a bloc of 15 votes – one more than his margin of victory – when they swung into his camp late in the balloting last week.
Interesting. 15 votes from the islands. You know what? I’m betting that most of those voters are black and hispanic. Call me crazy, but – I think Mr. Steele has an agenda.
Moreover – the “black vote” is nowhere near as homogenous as people claim. African-Americans form only one part of the “black vote” and I’d argue that it is probably a solid block – maybe about 75% democratic leaning. But Africans and folks from the Carribean are more than likely a bit less homogenous – their experience in America differs significantly from the African American experience, though there are many touchpoints of solidarity, including the confrontation with racism on a daily basis. Hispanics, on the other hand, have never been a solid block – there’s always been a republican set and a democratic set of voters within the Hispanic community.
Anyone really want to shortchange Chairman Steele? I recommend seriously against it.
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