Since Michael Steele has been chairman, a succession of disasters have occurred to negatively impact the RNC on his watch. Contrary to Steele’s assertion last week that race is one of the driving reasons behind the scrutiny, I am convinced that race is the only reason why he is still the RNC chair.
The RNC simply is afraid of the political fallout of firing Steele so close to the 2010 mid-terms. The Democratic Party is in a win-win situation. If the Republican Party gets rid of Steele they can point to his dismissal as a sign that Republicans really haven’t changed. If the Republicans keep Steele on, the Democratic Party can keep highlighting the miscues of Steele and make him the poster boy of mismanagement, bad judgment, and a prediction of future poor governing decisions if the voters choose Republicans in 2010 – “they can’t even manage their own house and they want to take over YOUR House.”
Prediction: Steele will survive the mid-term. However, his time as a relevant political force will be over in 2012. Steele had such promise, but like all good disaster movies, the destruction has been entertaining to watch.
Faculty, Department of Political Science, Towson University. Graduate from Liberty University Seminary.