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]
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.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it.(March 2010) |
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]
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.
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]
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]
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 | 46 | 48 | 51 | 60 | 79 | 91 |
Dawson, Katon Katon Dawson | 28 | 29 | 34 | 62 | 69 | 77 |
Anuzis, Saul Saul Anuzis | 22 | 24 | 24 | 31 | 20 | Withdrew |
Blackwell, Ken Ken Blackwell | 20 | 19 | 15 | 15 | Withdrew | |
Duncan, Mike Mike Duncan | 52 | 48 | 44 | Withdrew |
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 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]
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.
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.
Ada M. Fisher is a retired physician from Salisbury, North Carolina and a frequent Republican candidate for office. She challenged incumbent Mel Watt in North Carolina's 12th Congressional district in 2004 and 2006. Fisher has said that she would like to be the first black Republican female elected to Congress.
The 2008 United States presidential election in South Carolina took place on November 4, 2008, and was part of the 2008 United States presidential election. Voters chose 8 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda, written by Michael Steele, was released on January 4, 2010. The book was published by Regnery Publishing.
The 2011 Republican National Committee (RNC) chairmanship election was held on January 14, 2011, to determine the next chairman of the RNC, to serve a two-year term ending in 2013 and will lead the party through the 2012 general elections. After seven rounds of balloting, Reince Priebus was elected chairman over incumbent chair Michael Steele, Saul Anuzis, Ann Wagner and Maria Cino.
Reinhold Richard "Reince" Priebus is an American lawyer and politician who served as White House Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump from January 20, 2017, until July 31, 2017. He also served as the chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2011 to 2017.
The 2016 United States presidential election in Georgia was held on November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 general election in which all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. participated. Georgia voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.
The 2016 United States presidential election in Kansas was held on November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 General Election in which all 50 states plus The District of Columbia participated. Kansas voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.
The 2016 United States presidential election in Wyoming was held on November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 General Election in which all 50 states plus The District of Columbia participated. Wyoming voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.
This article discusses topics and events in United States politics that deal with racism or are considered racist.