Where's the trackback around here? (I wonder how the recursive link will work)

Stop the presses!! Michael Steele accepts money from white people! He even accepts campaign money from white people who have offended black people. Who you might ask? Well the big bomb is that his Senate campaign has accepted money from Floyd Brown's Citizens United Political Victory Fund and from Alex Castellanos.

Who?

I'm not going to tell you until right away. But chances are that you've heard of the things they've done to offend blackfolks. But the interesting note is that none of them, until this very moment, have made names for themselves big enough to merit the attention of blackfolks. I think I'm pretty informed and I've never heard of them before. Have you? No you haven't.

Now let's just consider the nature of the digging you have to do to make an enemy of and smear Michael Steele. I mean we've seen this before.

In July of 2005, Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich, a Republican, came under criticism for hosting a $1,000-a-head golf outing at a white-only golf club. Doug Duncan, Ehrlich's potential Democratic opponent in the 2006 gubernatorial elections, accused Ehrlich of "trying to divide us" and called for him to publicly apologize "for holding this event at a club that discriminates."[9] Lt. Governor Steele responded to the outcry by saying, "I don't know that much about the club, the membership, nor do I care, quite frankly, because I don't play golf." Adrienne A. Jones, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates, called Steele's dismissal of the controversy "a slap in the face of those of us who are African Americans." [10] After two weeks, the controversy still persisted, leading Steele to say that his "initial reaction to this was a little more flippant than it should have been." [11]

Basically, enemies of black republicans are at it again, trying to make all black candidates for office hew to a singular leftist political agenda and suggest that any black candidate who doesn't is a friend to racism. It pays to recall that these are the same people who find Bill Bennett to be a racist of the highest order.

What's the bottom line? What exactly do these political contributors want Steele to do? What's the quid pro quo? Well, let's just assume the worst. Let's assume that they want Senator Steele to back some racist agenda against blackfolks. Could those bringing up these names be onto something? Is there an actual hidden racist agenda? It seems to me that if we can find out the NSA's secret weapons against enemies of the nation, it shouldn't be too hard to find a black racist in public office. But there is no such thing to be found and Steele contributors have no such agenda, nor does Steele. What they really want to do is beat the Democrat.

On the other hand, if these contributors really actually want to offend blackfolks, how might they do that by putting a black man in the Senate? Following the logic of those who are opposed to the black Republican idea, that's basically all they have to do. The very fact of having yet another black individual representing the Republican party in a position of power in the US is the worst thing. Consider how they hate Secretary Rice. Isn't that why this 'issue' is being raised?

Well that's already done. Steele has already been kidnapped from the Democrats. He's already a GOP functionary, raising money, soliciting votes, playing partisan politics and following the GOP leadership. The 'race treachery' is a fait accomplit. So what could possibly be worse?

What could really be worse is that Steele himself makes racial claims - that he himself is a bigot and wants to use his power and influence for racist aims. He might be so incredibly clever that he's able to keep his racist agenda hidden even better than the NSA's wiretaps. So maybe, despite the presence of evidence, Steele's enemies might claim it to be true anyway. But you'll not find anyone who would make such a bold suggestion. Merely that he hangs around whitefolks who have been offensive to blackfolks in the past. This, ladies and gentlemen, is their case.

So now it's time to open up Pandora's Box and let the truth be known. Floyd Brown's guys were behind the Willie Horton ad, and Castellanos was behind Strom Thurmond's 'white hands' ad. If you are of the persuasion that Steele is a sellout, then this only fuels your fire. Burn baby burn.

What should satisfy those who complain the loudest would be a list of contributors to Steele's campaign by race. Obviously, some Democrats already have that, and have decided to get some mileage out of these two in particular. Given that, Steele would merely have to disclaim these which appear to be perfectly legal contributions to avoid the appearance of "selling out". But the problem here is not racism as I have shown. The problem is that Steele is a black man with Republican backing at the highest levels of the party, which is, by definition "selling out".

Boo hoo.

His returning the money would be a capitulation to this mealy-mouthed smear. If he does that would be the first evidence I'd accept of him being a sell-out.

Steele shouldn't return the money. He's earned it.

Oh, I don't do trackbacks, in or out. As soon as I trun them on I'm inundated...it's not worth it to me. 

"Basically, enemies of black republicans are at it again, trying to make all black candidates for office hew to a singular leftist political agenda and suggest that any black candidate who doesn't is a friend to racism.

The worst enemies of "black" republicans are "white" republicans.

"It pays to recall that these are the same people who find Bill Bennett to be a racist of the highest order."

I'm a charter member of the Bill-Bennett-is-a-big-fat-hypocritical-amoral-bigoted-sack-o-shit club. But in our monthly meetings we curse him and his ilk as the "lowest" of the lowdown.

I don't think it is a big deal at all.

Cobb, you should know that Steele later apologized for his initial comment about the country club as being flippant. He then criticized the country club for their membership practices. 

I don't think it is a big deal at all.

It's business as usual, that's all.

As I said, politicians serve those who buy them. Do you disagree, Darkstar?

When you vote, you're electing the folks who own the politician. We've just seen the payments...let it be known, and let the voters decide.

It's business as usual, that's all.

 It is business as usual.

As I said, politicians serve those who buy them. Do you disagree, Darkstar?

There are exceptions. From what I remember, Charlie Rangel used to get most of his "big money" from financial institutions, yet he was strongly for things like the Community Reinvestment Act, which most banks were strongly against. 

 When you vote, you're electing the folks who own the politician. We've just seen the payments...let it be known, and let the voters decide.

From what I see of Steele, they will be in for a surprise if they think he will do their bidding.

Pro affirmative action, supportive of HBCUs, pro minority business set asides...

From what I see of Steele, they will be in for a surprise if they think he will do their bidding.

Is he a reliable Republican? 

By the way, the Community Reinvestment Act ain't what it used to be. 

Is he a reliable Republican? 

I can't say. He doesn't vote. He's the Lt. Gov. He HAS gotten the Gov. to sign a compact with Blacks in Maryland to judge the administration by. Dems in Maryland won't sign one. And from what I can tell, he's, the Gov., has lived up to it for the most part. But, he ain't Steele. 

By the way, the Community Reinvestment Act ain't what it used to be.

True, and that's because of Republicans. But Steele has said of things that he believes which makes me think he would support the older version of the CRA.

This is my problem...words are too easy.

I find the Republican platform problematic and some of their target audience odious. That predates Mr. Steele. I know those folk who even approach his visibility in the Republican Party are of proven loyalty. I see nothing that makes Mr. Steele an exception to that rule. The company he keeps is the final bit.