Clutch Magazine: Condi Rice Glosses Over Important Part When She Talks Civil Rights

Former Secretary of State Condozeela Rice addressed the Republican National Convention Wednesday night in a speech that touched on everything from her foreign policy strengths (or weakness depending on who you ask), to social issues. But one of the issues she skiddladdled right by was the Civil Rights movement. Wanting to keep things in that "feel good" mode she spoke as if that leap from segregation to her becoming secretary of state was a glorious lap Americans ran together, rather than a knock down, drag out grudge match that people are still wielding cudgels about today. Never mind the fact that it took sending the National Guard to many states just to enforce the rule of law.

Jim Crow didn't die so much as he was a suicide bomber who tried to take as many folks with him before he finally blew up Alabama, and the scaring was so deep we're still dealing with the consequences today. To paraphrase the film "Magnolia," Rice may be through with the past, but the past isn't through with us.

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The Man of "Steele" Returns: "Iron" Mike Goes to MSNBC*

Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele is headed to become the conservative Alan Colmes of MSNBC. Or not. Or ... well, I really don't know what he'll be doing since the only MSNBC "performances" of his I can recall involved Chris Matthews cutting him off multiple times (as The Matthews is wont to do). Maybe he'll get to be as popular as ol' This Morning Joe is Brought to You By Starbucks, John Scarborough. But, blessed be, John Scarborough -- despite the fact that I find him somewhat annoying -- is actually an interesting show host. Heck, a lot of the MSNBC opinionators are somewhat interesting. Which is usually the hallmark of someone who shouts opinions on TV for a living. You gotta bring that razzle dazzle. Does Steele (currently a contribuiting editor for The Root) have WHAT IT TAKES?

More after the jump.

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Obama's First 2012 Ad Is About the Grassroots Getting Back to Work

In "It Starts With Us," President Obama kicks off his 2012 campaign not with himself, but with the volunteers who will work to get him elected. It's a low-key ad, focusing on the individuals who make up the President's base (women, minorities, white men who don't always agree with him but "trust" him, and so forth), and less our charismatic, but professorial-at-times President. I thought it was a pretty good way to tap into the goody-good, teamwork feeling of 2008, while placing it in the context of 2011 and how he's a sitting President, not the ingénue anymore. It's also a great contrast to the Republican's April Fool's Day Obama 2012 ad, that featured the Great Hopemonger on a Pegasus, surfing a rainbow. I'm sure Hillary Clinton is pleased to know that her old attack strategy (aka the Obama is a rainbow pipe dream made of sugar plum fairies strategy) from the 2008 primary still has some legs in the RNC.

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I Miss Michael Steele Already

Last week, Michael Steele lost his re-election bid for Republican National Committee Chairman and I was sad that he went out with a whimper, rather than a bang of malapropisms and comical nonsense. I wanted Steele to go out, possibly challenging all to a battle rhyme, then a pop n' lock dance off, MAN O' STEELE style. Instead he endorsed one of his rivals who then turned around and lost to that one guy with the name I can't pronounce -- Reince Priebus. I'm sure his name sounds like a third tier Star Wars character who traveled to Earth to become a Bond villain on the set of Spartacus on accident. Anyway, the real tragedy in all this ... what will happen that Michael Steele muppet on The Daily Show? I'm gonna miss him.

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Michael Steele Stays In the Picture

Rather than slinking off stage and going quietly into the night, embattled Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has decided to run for reelection to his post as the GOP's No. 1 excuse for all things that are wrong. Steele, who managed to run the RNC into as much as a possible $25 million in debt, while still pulling out wins in Congress (although many argue this happened in spite of Steele), has announced he's not going anywhere. This despite Republican heavyweights like Mississippi Gov. Hayley Barbour and Sen. Jim DeMint saying "Thanks, but no thanks" to a return of the Man of Steele. 

But since when did Uncle Mike care what anyone else thought? Screw the haters! Sweet delusion, don't fail him now!

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Michael Steele Is On RNC Borrowed Time

Today on The Loop 21 I pulled out my ol' Effie White references one mo' time for embattled RNC Chairman, hip hop aficionado Michael "The Man Of" Steele. No one wants to be like this Mike, let alone see him get reelected as chairman. But Steele doesn't exactly want to go. Ya think if RNC all-stars like Texas Gov. Rick "Good Hair" Perry, Gov. Hayley "Boss Hogg" Barbour, Sen. Jim "Not Alvin Greene" DeMitt and Virginia Gov. Bob "Don't know him well enough to give him a nickname" McDonnell are all saying "Thanks, but no thanks" to people who write things down for a living will it make Steele realize that they don't want him anymore?

Naaaaah.

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Michael Steele Is A Gremlin On the Airplane of Republicanism

Somewhere Sen. John McCain is sitting securely in his seat on the airplane, trying to gently dream of walnuts when he looks out the window to see RNC Chairman Michael Steele on the wing clumsily ripping out "unnecessary" wires in that pesky engine. And Ol' Walnuts will flail his arms and hoot and holler (but he won't call for the gremlin to be fired) and everyone will just shake their heads and force another valium down his throat. Because pointing out that Michael Steele is really, really, REALLY bad at his job means nothing. Last year I thought Steele would be gone by August, but for whatever reason, the GOP has begrudgingly stood by their man, while not-so-quietly undermining him. How many indignities does one have to suffer at the clumsy hands of the Man of Steele before he meets his demise?

Apparently, a lot. Also, none of this matters, as the RNC is unlikely to shake up management before the fall elections.

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Michael Steele: Too "Streetwise" For the Notorious RNC

"Talk to the pimp hand!"

Or at least that's what this Associated Press story says.

Republican Party chairman Michael Steele defended his stewardship of party affairs Monday and dismissed criticism as the talk of GOP figures uncomfortable with his "streetwise" managerial style.

Asked in a nationally broadcast interview if he would step down in the face of criticism of the party's financial management, Steele replied, "No." He said some had been second-guessing him "since the day that I got the job."

And he also said that everyone's always kinda hated him and, you know? It might be racial or something, but he's not gonna let THAT keep a brother down!

More quotes after the jump.

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Keep It Steele With Michael Steele (Old News)

RNC Staffer was just perplexed how this cash orgy broke out!I must be working for the wrong people. My boss has never treated me to private jets and expensive Las Vegas nightclubs where go-go dancers "simulate" Lesbian sex. Who knew? EYES WIDE SHUT IS REAL!!!!

From The Daily Caller:

A February RNC trip to California, for example, included a $9,099 stop at the Beverly Hills Hotel, $6,596 dropped at the nearby Four Seasons, and $1,620.71 spent [update: the amount is actually $1,946.25] at Voyeur West Hollywood, a bondage-themed nightclub featuring topless women dancers imitating lesbian sex.

RNC trips to other cities produced bills from a long list of chic and costly hotels such as the Venetian and the M Resort in Las Vegas, and the W (for a total of $19,443) in Washington. A midwinter trip to Hawaii cost the RNC $43,828, not including airfare.

I can hear my un-PC old relatives now muttering under their breath: "They should have never gave that N**ga MONEY!"

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