Two black men have emerged now as candidates to become chairman of the Republican Party. Ken Blackwell, former Secretary of State of Ohio, an ardent supporter of President George W. Bush, announced his desire to run the party this week, and weeks ago, Michael Steele, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland also announced his intention to seek the post.
It is an interesting development considering we will soon have a black President. It is also interesting considering the current perception of the Republican Party as the party of basically white men.
At the GOP convention this past summer, it was painfully obvious that the party does have a color problem. The convention showcased very few people of color as party bigwigs and speakers and the convention audience clearly was mostly white judging by media images. In addition, the election returns that had Obama winning 95 percent of the black vote, and a majority of the Hispanic and Asian-American vote was a strong message to the party that there is a serious diversity problem in your house.
So enter Blackwell and Steele to right the party’s racial ship.
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