2 dozen white Young Republicans sit in front-row reserved seats at Steele's "black outreach" event

Tuesday night at Howard University, RNC chair Michael Steele did an impression of the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz: he was absolutely heartless. Not everyday do we see the head of a major political party insult a 23 year old whose mother just died of cancer.

But first let's set the scene:

Steele spoke at Howard in front of roughly 150 students as part of his outreach program to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. His effort to connect with young black students got off to a rather cringe-worthy start when right before the billed "student dialogue" two dozen white members of area young Republican groups arrived to sit in the reserved first two rows of the packed room. One wondered, as students grumbled, if Steele hired John Ashcroft to be his event manager.

But the discomfort turned to boredom as Steele's "dialogue" turned quickly into a monologue. The RNC chair went on a long rambling speech about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, while the texting audience strained to stay awake. There was no impassioned argument or defense of the Republican Party and any questions in the "dialogue" had to be submitted in writing while Steele spoke. The only thing that caused even a raised eyebrow was Steele's occasional effort at slang. When a student told Steele she was going into business law he said, "Business law! Mo money!"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-zirin/michael-steele-meet-amand_b_274697.html

http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2009/07/republican-chairman-michael-st-002106.php

Republican Chairman Michael Steele offers 'fried chicken and potato salad' to recruit black voters
Staff Reporter | Posted July 14, 2009 2:53 PM



Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told a group of young Republicans that he would reach out to black voters by offering them fried chicken and potato salad.

Asked by a blogger how he would reach out to "diverse populations," Steele said: "My plan is to say 'Y'all come,' because a lot of you are already here."

After someone in the audience said, "I'll bring the collard greens," Steele added, "I got the fried chicken and potato salad."

Steele went on to explain that the Republican Party has long been the party of inclusion. He cited President Abraham Lincoln's decision to free the slaves as an example.

The questioner was Cameron Cowan of milehive.com and the video was posted on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2DJpcIu5cY