To the editor:

I’m glad to see that the Republican Party has chosen Michael Steele as its next national chairman. Michael Steele, former Maryland lieutenant governor, was the first African-American elected to a statewide office in Maryland in 2003.

Steele, a moderate Republican, no doubt has a huge task in front of him. The Republican Party, now out of power, will need an articulate man of conviction like Michael Steele to again recapture the confidence of the American public and more importantly, Republicans who have defected.

Like the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American president, is this another indication of how the racial divide has narrowed? Within hours of this announcement, David Gregory from NBC, speaking on behalf of the mainstream media, said that some see this as a “cynical attempt” by the Republican Party to get back in the game. Is this going to be the position of the mainstream media regarding Steele? Where is the excitement they were overwhelmed by for Obama?

Steele is committed to reaching out to every group, saying “We want you to be part of us, we want you to be with us, and for those who want to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over.” Who could he be talking about wanting to obstruct? I have a pretty good idea.

Tom Shewmon,
Lawrence