One of the most prominent black conservatives has summed up correctly that one of John McCain’s mistakes was not confronting Barack Obama on his friendship with Jeremiah Wright…

By the way, we should take bets on what Huffpo and Kos will call him this time? Shall it be “race-traitor”, “house N-word”, or just the good ole “Uncle Tom”?

Hawkins1701 on November 15, 2008 at 12:22 AM

“House-N” has already been reserved by Kos for Dr. Rice.

And I’m always amused at “Uncle Tom” when used as an epithet. Uncle Tom — the character — was true to his Christian beliefs and refused to raise a hand against any other human — including his supposed “master”. He also refused to divulge the hiding place of two escaped slaves to that self-same “master”, and died for that insubordination at the hands of said “master”.

His death, the death of a good and decent human, at the hands of an evil and depraved human who was supposedly his better in society, was the ultimate statement by his creator (Harriet Beecher Stowe).

It’s liberals who most often use the “Uncle Tom” epithet, and they are the ones least apt to want to go to war, so I’m a little flummoxed by the contraposition of concepts here. Perhaps they think Uncle Tom should have ratted on the girls…

What all liberals and most blacks don’t understand is that conservatives would vote for ANYONE with like ideology

What he said.

And also – the right should not try to play the left at their own game: identity politics. It is disingenuous and cheapens politics.

Identity politics is by its nature is irrationally prejudicial: the ideas need to win out, not gender and race. One cannot help what colour or gender one ends up with, one can determine what ideas to embrace.

Win the battle of ideas and no number of useful idiots screeching ‘racism’ can change the game.

By Allahpundit, Hot Air 
So reports Matt Lewis, per Steele’s conference call this afternoon with bloggers. And that’s not the money part:
Steele also warned that we shouldn’t “soft-pedal” our attacks on Barack Obama, …

Having him up top could reduce the Absolute Moral Authority deficit superficially, but will it really “avoid the tedious race-card ploy”? Remember, this is a guy whom the nutroots have been known to photoshop as Sambo for the crime of being black while conservative. If anything, I suspect, electing him will feed racial politics by leading the left to frame The One as “authentically black” vis-a-vis the Republican “house slave” or whatever progressive witticism they’ve coined for him this month. Which isn’t a reason to vote against Steele, needless to say: On the contrary, maybe that’s the point — to bait them and let them show off how “enlightened” they really are. They won’t be able to resist.

Bingo. Highlight the racism inherent in the Left — they choose identity politics and slice and dice Americans into various groups and try to pander enough to each group to gain power. “Me tooism” Republicans fall into the trap of following that strategy and thus become Democrats-lite. Be the party of Lincoln and have core principals that apply equally to all.

I happen to know Mike Duncan and I’m a fan of his, and I think the RNC will be in good hands if he is reappointed Chairman. But I would really like to see Michael Steele get it.

saint on November 15, 2008 at 7:13 AM

Great advice and I think that is pretty much how the thread played out. Being a minority Republican requires some real back bone. We don’t get to vote on this one but the last effective RNC chairman was Haley Barber.

What all liberals and most blacks don’t understand is that conservatives would vote for ANYONE with like ideology. We will never convince them of it, don’t try. Just support like minded people and people in power must show that conservative principles work best and universally. That’s why the Republican governors are so important.

As this election for RNC shows you are only partially right. Steele won’t lose because RNC members are racist. We have no evidence they are either way. He’ll lose because he’s not a crony. See what conservative base has yet to accept (though they seem to be figuring it out more and more these days) is that the Republican party only cares about its own influence and power in the short term. The sooner the conservtive base figures that out they can start replacing these partisan hacks with real ideologues. With the election of Obama we’re hoping our side has started that process too.

Update: I’ve added audio below. Now that I listen to it again, I believe that the first time he referenced the “race card,” he said “Obama played the race card in reverse beautifully.” This doesn’t change the point of what he said, but I just wanted to correct it for accuracy….

If anything, I suspect, electing him will feed racial politics by leading the left to frame The One as “authentically black” vis-a-vis the Republican “house slave” or whatever progressive witticism they’ve coined for him this month.

Man Allah, I confess I don’t get you sometimes. To write that says to me you actually believe there is something true and valid in the progressive world view.

There isn’t.

Identity politics is a prison – as Baldilocks said, slavery even – and I can tell you as one who tip toed around the edges of that form of politics down here and seen how it has entrapped and entangled people including myself – that there is nothing more liberating than dumping that worldview.

Look as an outsider, I said on the other thread that I liked what I have heard and seen of Steele and asked if he was a contender for President (and to tell you the truth, compared to what I know of Obama, I’d have been thrilled for you all if you had Steele as President elect now. Steele strikes me as a man of conviction and principle and action without the theatrics and arrogance and spin.)

Obama is about as “authentically black” (and do ponder the sheer nonsense contained in that phrase Allah) as I am. Steele who has had to endure the outrage of being called “house slave” and “Oreo” (some of our indigeneous Aussies here get “coconut” etc) knows precisely the bigotry and hate and irrationality and yes, racism of the left’s politics. As he says, there is no race in policy. There is no race in character. It’s the left that jeeps that construct of race alive and continues to enslave people.

That Steele is prepared to go after them on his terms and not play by their terms, says to me there’s a man who believes in what he stands for (and boy does that get people’s attention). And to be prepared to put himself in the frontlines says to me there’s a man who does indeed live up to his name.

And if I may be so presumptious to advise, you should be chosing a person who best represents you and what you stand for, not one whom you think your opponents may find palatable. If you do that, then you’ve already lost the war.

And they use it in an ad? Hmmm.

Water, bridges, dead horses.

The truth is by the time the election finally rolled around people were focused on the economy. They voted for the guy most likely to extend their unemployment benefits.

What all liberals and most blacks don’t understand is that conservatives would vote for ANYONE with like ideology.

Cindy Munford on November 14, 2008 at 10:34 PM

True, and well worth repeating.

That said, on a superficial level, Michael Steele has a lot going for him in the telegenics department. One great thing about him is that he looks like an accountant and that’s a spectacularly good thing.

He just looks fundamentally trustworthy, authentic and solid. This shouldn’t matter but it does. He’s got the intellect and communication skills to deliver the fiscal conservative message, as do some others, but in Steele’s case they’re wrapped in a strongly credible package.

Steele may never be cool but the guy just reeks of competence and conviction. I hope he gets the RNC chair because he really is a great personification of Republican values.

I think eventually, if conservatives stick to their guns, we will reach a critical mass where, perhaps coupled with a significant event or development, most minorities will no longer fear ostracization from the cult. Eventually there will be enough people who’ve already left the cult who’s values more closely resemble their own that they will no longer see a downside or feel alienated.

FloatingRock on November 14, 2008 at 11:12 PM

It won’t be long.

This last election is paving the way for a new beginning for conservatism. I see many reasons to be optimistic.

Always…but, especially now, is the time to stick to our principles.

The race game is over. The new game is…finally…about ideology. Black conservatives are about to come out of the woodwork and take leadership positions in the conservative movement, from grassroots to national levels.

I know, I know…we don’t want to play identity politics, but in the long run, this will be the first step in taking a long journey toward the new American awakening.

There are so many conservatives in this country. They just don’t know it, yet. It is for the love of freedom that the dormant conservative lurking in most hearts will flourish.

Do not compromise. The time is near.

“As to the new chair, don’t pay any attention to people who aren’t on the RNC,” he told me. “This is not a good thing, but the current RNC believes only one of their own should be chair.”

Yeah, cuz they’ve done such a SWELL job the past two years.

Which isn’t a reason to vote against Steele, needless to say: On the contrary, maybe that’s the point — to bait them and let them show off how “enlightened” they really are. They won’t be able to resist.

My thoughts exactly.

I loathe the identity politics game as much as anyone, but this fallacy of the “enlightened” Left that stands up for blacks, women, and hispanics must be combated with everything in our arsenal. These bastards must be exposed for the fraud they are.

Sarah Palin is round one.

Steele is round two.

By the way, we should take bets on what Huffpo and Kos will call him this time? Shall it be “race-traitor”, “house N-word”, or just the good ole “Uncle Tom”?