Blogger Steve Gilliard's doctored photo of Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele caused a minor kerfuffle (and here) last week. As a former Republican activist, I know that "black conservatives" are routinely called sellouts, untalented, self-haters, Uncle Toms and hankerchief-heads. And that's by me.
In exercising his First Amendment right, Gilliard merely expressed what black folks think of a politician who fancies himself a "bridge of steel" to the Republican Party. For 98 percent of black folks, it ain't that kind of party.
Truth is, Steele is a two-percenter who wouldn't even denounce an all-white country club. Or Karl Rove who headlined his fundraiser to build a bridge to nowhere. It strains credulity that the party of the Southern Strategy is offended by "gutter racism." Katrina, anyone?
Politics ain't beanbag. Gilliard gave Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell the same treament. Actually, Sambo is an improvement over the real-life ghoul to whom Blackwell is usually compared -- Katherine "Cruella De Ville" Harris.
If Steele can't stand the heat, he should get out of the GOP tent.
