I don't get the Michael Steele, GOP National Chairmanship pick, do you? He is a fiscally conservative, cafeteria Catholic. He is from a State where blacks are a minority but control the politics in urban areas. He has never been a major player, even in the politics of his home state.
For a Republican politician, you have to classify Michael Steele as liberal, right up there with Rudy Giuliani. This means he isn't an outright racist, gun nut or fundamentalist religious zealot. He is willing to cede to women, gays, progressives and racial minorities those rights that they have already won through hard work in the culture wars of the last 50 years but no more.
What does turning over the leadership of their party to this guy get the Republicans? He will not endear himself to the base. He will not bring support over from the ranks of the center or left leaning independents. He will leave actual Democrats cold.
Possibly he can rally socially moderate church goers to vote Republican. If he does, the Republicans run the risk of losing those for whom abortion, gay marriage and the anti Islamic global war are the only issues that matter. This is the Republican dilemma in a nutshell. It's not a trade they can afford to make right now. It's not a trade they can afford not to make for the future.
I guess the important thing going on here for the Republicans, is that they are starting to try and do things a little differently. This may lead to actual change later on.
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