May 14, 2009Raynard JacksonMichael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, is more like chairman of the bored. If committee members would spend half as much time fighting Democrats and President Obama as they spend fighting Steele, maybe the party wouldn’t be in such disarray.In all my years in this party, I have never seen any other chairman micro-managed to this extent. It is well documented that Steele got off to a rocky start, but either he is going to be chairman or he’s not. If the committee doesn’t have confidence in him, then vote him out. But, if he is chairman, let him operate as such and then hold him accountable for his results.I don’t think this is a racial thing, but the perception is very problematic. The public is not privy to the inner workings or discussions within the committee (and really could care less). But, I have been amazed at the number of phone calls I have received from “non-political” people asking if Republicans are doing this because Steele is Black?Again, I don’t think it’s racial, but all this public fighting is creating that perception among some outside of DC.I think this in-fighting has more to do with Steele being an outsider to the committee and his having a different vision for the party than those who are part of the “good ole boys” network within the party. It’s sort of like getting in your car with your wife to go to a concert. She wants to go left at the corner and you want to go right. The destination is not in dispute—only how you want to get there.In this case, there is no dispute that both sides want to win elections. Steele wants to go down the center of the street; the others want to take the far right lane. Ultimately, the driver should have the final say, in this case Steele (as chairman of the party).Anyone who drives knows how irritating it is to have a back seat driver. At every turn, Steele has acceded to their directions (demands). He has decreased his media appearances, agreed to give up control of the finances, and has been forced to accept a special meeting next week.Next week there is a previously planed state party chairmen meeting. After the regularly scheduled meeting, dissident adversaries of Steele managed to force a special meeting through a seldom used parliamentary rule. According to this party rule, 16 committee members from 16 different states can force a special meeting at any time.Invoking this rule demonstrates the friction going on inside the committee. According to media accounts, the purpose of this special meeting is to vote on 3 resolutions:“to urge Republican lawmakers to reject earmarks, to commend Republican lawmakers for opposing bailouts and reckless spending bills, and to label Democrats as the Democrat Socialist Party.”ARE YOU KIDDING ME?Tell me this is a joke. They called a special meeting for this foolishness? And they wonder why they lost the election? This is a total embarrassment! This is like a college fraternity issuing a statement to the school president asking him to support higher education. It has absolutely no relevance nor meaning.Where were these same committee members during the 8 years of the Bush administration?To his credit, Steele vehemently opposed this foolishness, but didn’t have the votes to stop the meeting from being called.Just imagine if the committee spent this same type of energy fighting for more diversity within the party, fighting the Democratic congress, and rebuilding the trust of the American people.With another month spent by the committee fighting, very publically, with Michael Steele they have lost another month of expanding the party, regaining the trust of the American people, and sharing a Republican vision for solving the problems facing our country.Steele should make it perfectly clear that his time and energy could be better spent electing Republicans, not being chairman of the bored!Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-based political consulting/government affairs firm. You can listen to his radio show every Saturday evening from 7-9:00 p.m. Go to www.ustalknetwork.com to register and then click on host, and then click on his photo to join his group.
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