Steele Prevails As RNC Chair January 30, 2009
Posted by The Underground Conservative in Michael Steele, Republican National Committee, Republican Party, Republicans.comments closed
Now this is change we can believe in.
Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele was elected chairman of the Republican National Committee in a contentious, six-ballot election. Steele is the first black chairman of the RNC, a sign that the Republican Party has taken the back-to-back whuppins in the last two election cycles seriously.
The Republican National Committee has picked Michael Steele, a black man from a traditionally Democratic state, to be the new face of the party as the GOP forges a revival following a second consecutive electoral drubbing.
Steele, the former Maryland lieutenant governor, won the chairmanship Friday after six rounds of voting in which five candidates were competing. He becomes the first black chairman of the Republican Party just days after [Barack Hussein] Obama became the nation’s first black president.
Steele delivered a rousing speech after winning the race, pledging to re-establish the Republican presence in the northeast and win elections in regions across the country.
“It’s time for something completely different, and we’re gonna bring it to them,” he said. “Get ready baby. It’s time to turn it on.”
Steele said he would work to build the party to an unprecedented level and warned: “For those of you who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked down.”
Outgoing RNC chairman Mike Duncan, who presided over the last two electoral wipeouts dropped his bid for another term after the second ballot. Duncan, the inside-the-Beltway elitist who apologized for Chip Saltsman, another candidate for RNC chair, when Saltsman gave out copies of a Paul Shanklin parody CD with the song “Barack The Magic Negro” on it, is the face of what is wrong with the Republican Party, a clueless turd merchant with a yellow cowardly stripe down his back.
“Obviously the winds of change are blowing,” Duncan said as he withdrew from the race and got a standing ovation. The Kentucky Republican thanked former President George W. Bush and said of his two-year tenure: “It truly has been the highlight of my life.”
Good riddance. Don’t let the door hit you in the rear end on the way out.
Former state Sen. Cathy Stepp, blogging at RDW, says it very well:
Steele is a Conservative’s Conservative! He’s the former Lt. Gov of Maryland, and is the first African-American to be elected head of the RNC. Someone who is unapologetic for his strong family values and conservative principles.
He was elected for his beliefs, not his color. How refreshing.
Pajamas TV via Michelle Malkin has an interview with Steele here. More from Allahpundit at HotAir here Gateway Pundit is excited as well.
Here’s the Man of Steele’s acceptance speech: