Gingrich, Steele Preparing to Play Race Card?

Carter L. Clews for Washington News Alert

For Republicans scared to death of the racial undertones surrounding the growing Michael Steele controversy, the news couldn’t be worse: if Newt Gingrich and the RNC chairman have their way, those undertones could soon be overriding.

In a hastily assembled press op at the Commerce Club in downtown Atlanta yesterday, Gingrich defended Steele by all but hurling the “R” word at longtime GOP supporters. According to the Atlanta Journal’s Jim Galloway, the former Speaker told the newsies:

““Michael Steele makes a number of old-time Republicans very nervous … He comes out of a very different background – he spent six years at seminary. He is an African-American.”

Steele, for his part, has in the past criticized white Republicans for alleged being afraid of him because he is black. As reported by the Palmetto Scoop on November 10, Steele had the following exchange with TV broadcaster Roland Martin:

“While speaking on NewsOne’s ‘Washington Watch,’ Michael Steele was asked how the Republican Party could reach out to African American voters.

“During Steele’s response, host Roland Martin pointed out that ‘white Republicans have been scared of black folks.’

“And that’s where Steele once again went off the deep end.

“’You’re absolutely right. I mean I’ve been in the room and they’ve been scared of me,” Steele said. ‘I’m like, ‘I’m on your side’ and so I can imagine going out there and talking to someone like you.’”

As the Steele controversy continues to heat up in the days ahead – and particularly if a sizeable segment of the GOP leadership attempts to oust the embattled chairman – pundits are watching carefully to see just how far Gingrich and Steele are will to go to play the race card.

So far, there is no sign they are prepared to fold.

Bookmark It