Republican National Committee chairmanship election, 2009

Last updated

1999 ← Republican Party chairmanship election, 2009 → 2011
January 20, 2009
Michael Steele.jpg
Fmr. L.G. of Maryland
Michael Steele
Noimage.gif
S. Carolina GOP Chair
Katon Dawson
Saul Anuzis.jpg
Michigan GOP Chair
Saul Anuzis
Ken Blackwell.jpg
Fmr. Ohio Sec'y of State
Ken Blackwell
Mike Duncan by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Incumbent RNC Chair
Mike Duncan
Timeline
  • January 29, 2009 – Chip Saltsman withdraws from the race amidst controversy surrounding racially political satire [1]
  • January 20, 2009 – Election held by party voting members in Washington, D.C.

John Bruce "Chip" Saltsman, Jr. is an American politician who has served as chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party from 1999 to 2001, senior political advisor to former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and manager of Mike Huckabee's 2008 presidential campaign. He also worked for the Chuck Fleischmann campaign in Tennessee's 3rd district from 2009 to 2010.

Balloting

  • First ballot: Duncan wins plurality; 52
  • Second ballot: Duncan and Steele tie for lead; 48–48
  • Third ballot: Steele wins plurality; 51; Duncan withdraws
  • Fourth ballot: Dawson wins plurality; 62; Blackwell withdraws
  • Fifth ballot: Steele wins plurality; 79; Anuzis withdraws
  • Sixth ballot: Steele wins majority over Dawson; 91–77

Results

Mike Duncan American political activist

Robert Michael Duncan was the chairman of the Republican National Committee. He was elected in January 2007, replacing Ken Mehlman, and served until January 30, 2009, when he withdrew from renomination to the chairmanship. He became the chairman of the board of directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority effective May 18, 2009. Duncan stepped down as TVA chairman in May 2010 to become the founding chairman of American Crossroads, a 527 Super PAC organization. On September 13, 2018, he became a member of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service.

Kentucky State of the United States of America

Kentucky, officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state located in the east south-central region of the United States. Although styled as the "State of Kentucky" in the law creating it, (because in Kentucky's first constitution, the name state was used) Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth. Originally a part of Virginia, in 1792 Kentucky became the 15th state to join the Union. Kentucky is the 37th most extensive and the 26th most populous of the 50 United States.

Michael Steele American politician

Michael Stephen Steele is an American conservative political commentator and former Republican Party politician. Steele served as the seventh lieutenant governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007; he was the first African-American elected to statewide office in Maryland. As lieutenant governor, Steele chaired the Minority Business Enterprise task force, actively promoting an expansion of affirmative action in the corporate world. Steele also served as chairperson of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from January 2009 until January 2011; he was the first African-American to serve in that capacity.

The 2009 Republican National Committee chairmanship election started out as a six-way race, and ended on the sixth ballot with Michael Steele becoming the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee. [2] The Washington Times called it the "'Dirtiest ever' race for RNC chairman." [3]

Republican National Committee top institution of the U.S. Republican Party

The Republican National Committee (RNC) is a U.S. political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is also responsible for organizing and running the Republican National Convention. Similar committees exist in every U.S. state and most U.S. counties, although in some states party organization is structured by congressional district, allied campaign organizations being governed by a national committee. Ronna Romney McDaniel is the current committee chairwoman.

Contents

Pre-campaign

On November 11, 2008, Jeff Burton launched a political draft website to encourage Steele to run for Republican National Committee Chairman. [4] The website allowed visitors to sign a draft petition, and received over 6,000 signatures. [5]

Jeff Burton American racing driver

Jeffrey Tyler Burton, nicknamed "The Mayor", is an American former professional stock car racing driver and current racing commentator. He scored 21 career victories in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, including two Coca-Cola 600s in 1999 and 2001 and the 1999 Southern 500. He currently serves as a color comentator for NBC Sports, having joined them upon their return to their coverage of NASCAR. His son Harrison Burton currently competes in the ARCA Menards Series and part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. His brother Ward Burton and his nephew Jeb Burton have also competed in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Campaign

Katon Dawson announced his official bid on November 24, 2008. [6] Dawson was one of two candidates to earn votes on each of the six votes taken; he lost the final ballot to winner Michael Steele, 91-77. [7]

Katon Edwards Dawson is an American politician from the state of South Carolina, former chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party and was a 2009 candidate for chairman of the Republican National Committee.

On November 24, 2008 Steele launched his own campaign website, [8] and confirmed his intention to run on Hannity and Colmes . [9] Steele, seen as an early frontrunner, [10] rejected the idea that the color of his skin had anything to do with his chances at becoming RNC chair, saying, "I am a Republican who happens to be African-American." [11]

Chip Saltsman was the first candidate to release a specific plan regarding the future of the party, which can be viewed at Our Plan for Republican Victory. [12] In his bid for the RNC Chairmanship, Saltsman had been endorsed by: former Republican presidential candidate Governor Mike Huckabee, [13] former United States Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, and Tennessee House Majority Leader Jason Mumpower. [14]

USA Today reported that, "half of the candidates to lead the Republican National Committee (RNC) are Southerners: current Chairman Mike Duncan of Kentucky, South Carolina Chairman Katon Dawson and former Tennessee chairman Chip Saltsman. Former Ohio secretary of State Ken Blackwell and former Maryland lieutenant governor Michael Steele are black. Saul Anuzis, the Michigan GOP chairman, is a Harley-Davidson rider, an ex-union member and the son of an autoworker. [15]

"Barack the Magic Negro" controversy

For Christmas 2008, Chip Saltsman sent members of the Republican National Committee a music CD of 41 songs that included one entitled "Barack the Magic Negro" set to the tune of "Puff, the Magic Dragon". The origin of the song was the title a Los Angeles Times column, written by David Ehrenstein in March 2007 that criticized the reception that Obama, a long shot candidate at the time, was getting in white America; Ehrenstein described the image of Obama in white America as that of a Magical Negro, a stereotypical gentle black man who helps white people, often used in movies created by white people. [16] Rush Limbaugh commented on the column the day it published, and interpreted it as criticizing Obama himself, called the column an example of "the racism of the left," and sang the words, "Barack the Magic Negro", to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon." [17] [18] Shortly after that Paul Shanklin recorded a song about Barack the Magic Negro set to that same tune, which Limbaugh played numerous times throughout the 2008 presidential election season. [19] This is the song that Saltsman included on his CD. [20] [21] Saltsman's campaign imploded as a result of the controversy caused by the CD, and he withdrew from the race. [22] [23]

Voting

The election was decided in late January after six rounds of voting, with Steele elected chairman by a majority vote of the 168 committee members. [10] [24] [25]

Candidate Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6
Steele, Michael Michael Steele 464851 60 79 91
Dawson, Katon Katon Dawson 28 29 34 62 69 77
Anuzis, Saul Saul Anuzis 22 24 24 31 20
Blackwell, Ken Ken Blackwell 20 19 15 15
Duncan, Mike Mike Duncan 52 48 44
     Candidate won that round of voting
     Candidate withdrew
     Candidate won RNC Chairmanship

After the third round of balloting Duncan dropped out of contention without endorsing a candidate. [26] Ken Blackwell, the only other African-American candidate, dropped out after the fourth ballot and endorsed Steele, though Blackwell had been the most socially conservative of the candidates and Steele had been accused of not being "sufficiently conservative." Steele picked up Blackwell's votes. [27] After the fifth round, Steele held a ten-vote lead over Katon Dawson, with 79 votes, and Saul Anuzis dropped out. [28]

The sixth round

The final push that led to Steele's win was from the eight voters from the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Virgin Islands, who switched to Steele after Anuzis dropped out. [29] Steele won the chairmanship of the RNC in the sixth round, with 91 votes to Dawson's 77. [30]

Related Research Articles

In the cinema of the United States, the Magical Negro is a supporting stock character who comes to the aid of white protagonists in a film. Magical Negro characters, who often possess special insight or mystical powers, have long been a tradition in American fiction.

Paul Shanklin is an American conservative political satirist, impressionist, comedian, and conservative speaker. Shanklin writes and voices the characters for, the songs and satirical comedy segments used by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.

The Rush Limbaugh Show is a conservative American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Networks. Since its nationally syndicated premiere in 1988, The Rush Limbaugh Show has become the highest-rated talk radio show in the United States.

David Ehrenstein is an American critic who focuses primarily on LGBTQ issues in cinema.

Saul Anuzis politician

Saulius "Saul" Anuzis is a Republican Party politician from the U.S. State of Michigan. He was chairman of the Michigan Republican Party from 2005–2009 and was also a candidate for national chairman of the Republican National Committee in 2009 and 2011.

The following is a timeline of major events leading up to and immediately following the United States presidential election of 2008. The election was the 56th quadrennial United States presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008, but its significant events and background date back to about 2002. The Democratic Party nominee, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, defeated the Republican Party's nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona.

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References

  1. ↑ Kleefeld, Eric (January 29, 2009). "Saltsman Drops out of RNC Race". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Michael Steele elected RNC chairman". USA Today. January 30, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  3. ↑ "'Dirtiest ever' race for RNC chairman". Washington Times. January 29, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  4. ↑ Isenstadt, Alex (November 11, 2008). "Draft Steele group launches". Politicker.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2008. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Support Michael Steele for RNC Chairman". draftmichaelsteele.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  6. ↑ Mark Murray. Dawson officially enters RNC race Archived February 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine ., MSNBC, November 24, 2008
  7. ↑ Burns, Alexander. Steele: 'How do you like me now?' Archived February 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine ., Politico, January 30, 2009
  8. ↑ Reiter, Daniel. "Steele Website Goes Live". Politicker.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Michael Steele Announces Candidacy for RNC Chair" (video – YouTube posting by SteeleForChairman on November 14, 2009). Hannity and Colmes. Fox News. November 13, 2008.
  10. 1 2 Cillizza, Chris (December 11, 2008). "RNC Field Sorts Itself Out". The Washington Post. The Fix . Retrieved January 2, 2009.
  11. ↑ Stephey, M.J. (February 2, 2009). "New RNC Chairman: Michael Steele". Time. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Memo – Chip Saltsman for RNC Chair". Chipsaltsman.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  13. ↑ Huckabee, Governor Mike, "Chip Saltsman for RNC Chair", Huck PAC, December 8, 2008.
  14. ↑ Brooks, Jennifer and Theo Emery, "Saltsman acts to become national GOP chairman", The Tennessean, December 9, 2008.
  15. ↑ Lawrence, Jill (January 5, 2009). "Six-way race for GOP chairman heats up". USA Today. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  16. ↑ Ehrenstein, David, "Obama the 'Magic Negro' ", The Los Angeles Times, March 19, 2007. Quote: Like a comic-book superhero, Obama is there to help, out of the sheer goodness of a heart we need not know or understand. For as with all Magic Negroes, the less real he seems, the more desirable he becomes. If he were real, white America couldn't project all its fantasies of curative black benevolence on him"
  17. ↑ Rush Limbaugh Show Transcript. March 19, 2007 Liberal Calls Obama "Magic Negro"
  18. ↑ Rush Limbaugh recording via Media Matters. March 20, 2007 Latching onto L.A. Times op-ed, Limbaugh sings "Barack, The Magic Negro" Song is at 11:30
  19. ↑ DeParle, Jason (2008-12-28). "G.O.P. Receives Obama Parody to Mixed Reviews". New York Times .
  20. ↑ Sinderbrand, Rebecca, "RNC chairman candidate defends 'Barack the Magic Negro' song", CNN, December 26, 2008.
  21. ↑ Barr, Andy (December 30, 2008). "'Magic Negro' flap might help Saltsman". www.politico.com. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  22. ↑ Nagourney, Adam (January 29, 2009). "Candidate Linked to Obama Parody Song Leaves Race for G.O.P. Chairman". New York Times .
  23. ↑ Kleinheider (January 29, 2009). "Chip Saltsman Withdraws From RNC Chairman's Race". NashvillePost.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2009.
  24. ↑ CQ Politics (January 30, 2009). "Republican Choose Michael Steele as Party Chairman". Archived from the original on February 3, 2009.
  25. ↑ PollPundit.com (January 30, 2009). "RNC Chairman Vote: Live Coverage".
  26. ↑ Armbinder, Mark (January 30, 2009). "RNC Chairman Duncan Drops Re-Election Bid". The Atlantic .
  27. ↑ Cillizza, Chris (January 30, 2009). "Steele Elected RNC Chair". Washington Post.
  28. ↑ Hamby, Peter (January 30, 2009). "Steele wins contentious RNC race". CNN Political Ticker.
  29. ↑ Reid Hill (February 9, 2009). "RNC race came down to island territories". The Hill.
  30. ↑ Burns, Alexander (January 30, 2009). "It's Steele!". The Politico. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
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