GOP Hopeful Belonged to Whites-Only Country Club

Republican strategy being 'field tested' on highways

(NEWSER) - For a likely preview of the GOP's upcoming fear-fueled political campaigns, look no further than the ominous billboards sprouting along the nation's highways, like the one portraying President Obama as "Saddam Hussein" out to kill American babies. The GOP strategy to exploit "visceral fear" to raise campaign funds revealed earlier this week in a leaked RNC presentation is already being "field-tested" by interest groups sympathetic to the party, writes John Avlon in the Daily Beast . More»

'Is it because a black man is chairman?'

(NEWSER) - Michael Steele suggests his race has something to do with the knocks he's taken since becoming chairman of the RNC in an interview with Washingtonian magazine. The interview isn't online yet, but Greg Sargent of Plum Line has an early peek: Steele acknowledges that he can "take things too far," but then wonders why there is so much media coverage of the internal workings of the RNC. More»

They reject his 'legitimacy as president'

(NEWSER) - Jimmy Carter was right when he said racism fuels some of President Obama's critics, Eugene Robinson writes for the Washington Post. Carter may have overstated it—plenty of naysayers have legit policy concerns over issues such as health reform—but "the most vitriolic attacks" reject Obama's "legitimacy as president," Robinson writes. "I can't find any explanation for it other than race." More»

(NEWSER) - Things aren’t going well for Michael Steele in the media, but behind the scenes he’s undertaken a sweeping restructuring of the Republican National Committee, Marc Ambinder writes in the Atlantic. “He’s become clownish. And that judgment could endure until the end of his tenure,” Ambinder writes. “But it probably won’t.” If Steele helps the GOP win elections—that’s his job—all will be forgiven. More»

Dawson said to be organizing no confidence vote for after NY election

(NEWSER) - Controversial Republican National Committee head Michael Steele will likely face a no-confidence vote after the election to replace former New York Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand March 31—whether or not the GOP is able to keep her seat, Republican sources tell Political Wire. Katon Dawson, who placed second in January's vote for RNC chairman, is stealthily organizing the vote with the backing of state party chiefs who want Steele out, according to the sources. More»