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October 11, 2004
CRP Urban Project Reception: Part Two
As I was meeting people like David and Bobby, Marvin and Tyrone, Kwame and Rev Amos (and his young son), Walter and Clarence, I found out that Bobby was counting Alphas in the room. There turned out to be six, and there was a Que sporting some USC paraphenalia. Although I didn't get a chance to meet Roxanne Petteway, I know that there will be plenty opportunities, because she's a mover and a shaker. I met the singer Phil Perry and his wife Lillian who raise funds out in the Inland Empire. So it was very good for me a sample of the blackfolks who are making a difference in the California Republican Party.
The first thing I noticed about Michael Steele was how much like his headshot he looks, except that the headhsot gives you no idea that he's something like six foot five with enormous hands. The next thing I noticed was how much he reminds me of Dr. J. I don't know why exactly, but whenever I see Dr. J. hosting or commentating at a basketball game, he's got this ultimate insiders knowledge and a kind of refinement that makes you scratch your head and wonder if this is the same guy who was so aggressive and dominating on the court. They both have a kind of quiet power.
Steele has what seems to be a rather standard yet still impressive story about his election, and the way it winds up, you cannot be anything but convinced that this is a working man. Some politicians try to convince you that they're on a mission from God, Steele doesn't have those kinds of pretensions. He's a very intelligent man with an important job. As he puts it, he's a public servant. The difference between a politician and a public servant is that the politician makes promises, the public servant makes progress.
Steele, like my best friend Lee, is a mama's boy in the best sense. His mother sacrificed, he took up the challenge and excelled. I know such men to be inherently trustworthy, who make no assumptions about instant fraternity, who understand very well where they come from and the value of achievement against all odds. These are qualities you cannot assess when reading biographies, but you can hear it in a voice.
Although he spent a fair amount of time reminding us what Bush has done for us lately, consciously paraphrasing Janet Jackson he also reminded us how we have failed for the sake of political strategies and in pursuit of demographics. Specifically, he spoke about how we dropped the ball after 1965. We? He means the Republican Party doesn't he? Yes he does, and he means that 'we' seriously. He reminded us of the work of Nixon and Arthur Fletcher to make Affirmative Action real and how that was not about political promise but public action, rooted in the values of liberty and ownership. But for the sake of some clever political strategies, the party sacrificed its committment to its core values and this cost us three generations of African Americans.
Steele often spoke about the difference between promises and action, and his insight into this matter was the most surprising, for me anyway, point of the night. He jumped right to a core issue. So what if Republicans invite you to a big dinner and introduce you around? So what if you get to speak at a big convention? Politicians do that all the time, what about the action? Where does the rubber meet the road? Steele says it's all about parity. He wants results.
In support of the concepts of the Ownership Society, Steele was pointed as he referred to 'legacy wealth'. I managed to contain myself as he spoke, as this is something I've been talking about since day one. He spoke about 50.8% home ownership for African Americans and referred to how his own mother's house increased in value from 12k to something north of 450k.
All in all, Steele impresses me as a good guy fighting the good fight. This impression may be coming to me late, as I didn't see him speak at the Convention. He's less of an ideologue than I am, rather he is all about the core values which serve blackfolks and keeping the party straight on them. As he said, it's not about putting a label on it - sure you can if you like, but the people know when you are doing right by them. It's all about public action, not political promises.
He makes an example of himself as proof that one individual can make the difference. The Segregationists eliminated the office of Lt. Governor in Maryland in response to the fact that the first one was an African American during reconstruction. Now his team is the first Republican team in the 20th century. He was inaugurated on MLK's birthday. Steele has a sense of destiny fulfilled and work to do. It's a balance that will not only take him far, but continue to inspire us people who are shorter than six foot five.
Posted by mbowen at October 11, 2004 10:44 AM
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Although he spent a fair amount of time reminding us what Bush has done for us lately, consciously paraphrasing Janet Jackson he also reminded us how we have failed for the sake of political strategies and in pursuit of demographics. Specifically, he spoke about how we dropped the ball after 1965. We? He means the Republican Party doesn't he? Yes he does, and he means that 'we' seriously. He reminded us of the work of Nixon and Arthur Fletcher to make Affirmative Action real and how that was not about political promise but public action, rooted in the values of liberty and ownership. But for the sake of some clever political strategies, the party sacrificed its committment to its core values and this cost us three generations of African Americans.
That's where he and I found the common ground to have a decent conversation. I asked him why the GOP places blame on Blacks for the success of the Republican strategy. He agreed but then said, how have the Democrats followed through on their promises?
So what if Republicans invite you to a big dinner and introduce you around? So what if you get to speak at a big convention? Politicians do that all the time, what about the action? Where does the rubber meet the road?
And there it is.
Now that you've seen him in action, do you understand why I said he is doing what I think Black Republicans should be doing?
BTW, your comment section doesn't work from the main page.
Posted by: DarkStar at October 11, 2004 12:48 PM
That's what this project is all about. Just showing up.
But one of the things I think we are starting to recognize is how there has to be a watershed moment. You see, you'll get people like Steve Harvey getting political or suggesting that blackfolks ought to register to vote, but you know how many times he'll invite a black Republican to speak on his show?
Any day of the week if there's a black event and somebody says 'Where are the Republicans?' is a day none were invited.
I'm not so sure how easy or difficult it is going to be when a black Republican sticks up his head in the future, but we know right now that it's headshots not handshakes. And everybody is banking on that hostility. Hostility to black Republicans is a given that both sides expect to be inevitable.
Posted by: cobb at October 11, 2004 10:01 PM
Any day of the week if there's a black event and somebody says 'Where are the Republicans?' is a day none were invited.
For some, you don't have to be invited, you can buy a spot.
but we know right now that it's headshots not handshakes. And everybody is banking on that hostility. Hostility to black Republicans is a given that both sides expect to be inevitable.
When Armstrong Williams was at a Black Expo in D.C. to push his book, there was no hostility that I saw.
I think it's over played.
Posted by: DarkStar at October 12, 2004 04:21 PM
Of course it is overplayed. The Grand Basileus BEFORE the Immediate Past Grand is not only Republican, he is a FLORIDIAN Republican. Was one of the electoral college votes. He didn't catch any flak from us that I can see.
Posted by: Lester Spence at October 14, 2004 02:24 PM