The United States has elected the first African American to be President of the United States of America. But I’m sure that most of you would agree that we didn’t just elect him because he was a black man, but because we felt that he was right for the job. We chose to work for the guy because most of us felt that he was the smartest guy in the room, the person who has the demeanor to calm the choppy waters of our economy and our foreign policy. What if I told you that I think you only voted for him because he was black? What if I told you that you wanted to assuage your white guilt by helping President Obama get elected? What if I called President Obama an Affirmative Action Candidate (as several on the right did).
That would cause a riot (especially, around here on the Kos). There would be outrage. And there SHOULD be outrage. I believe that Barack Obama is the right leader for this time, and that’s why I donated, campaign, organized phone banks and generally did all that I could to get him elected.
I argue that the same standard that applies to Democrats of Color should also apply to the Republicans of Color. Michael Steele, an African American has been elected to the highest post in the Republican party and all across the Democratic Blogosphere (mostly in the comment sections, its new news) we hear calls of "Uncle Tom" "Sell Out" "Token." There’s a comment thread on the announcement by brownsox (Fellow NU Alum Go Wildcats!) that debates whether he is articulate enough. Come on Democrats, you’re sounding like Redstate in Reverse. The right-wingers who like to claim "Liberal Racism" are reading these pages jumping up and down pointing at their screens and saying "SEE, SEE I TOLD YOU!!!"
Can we leave the possibility out there that Maybe, just Maybe, the Grand Ole Party Elected Michael Steele because they thought he would be the best one for the Job? He was head of GOPAC, which trained Republicans with skills to run for Higher Office. He was a former Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, and former Lt Governor of Maryland. He’s a well-known voice for Republicans having guest hosted several of Fox News Conservative blab fests. His credentials and qualifications on the right rival those of the Democratic counterpart Tim Kaine on the left.
I feel it’s Okay to hate his guts for any and all of his positions that he stands for. Feel free to take as many shots at him for being a Republican Pro Life Hate mongerer (he’s a bit more moderate, but what the hell, hate away!). Heck, its okay to call him every name in the book because just because he’s a Republican. To say he isn’t qualified or to say he got there solely because of his race is as racist as those who say the same things about President Obama.