In this case, the closet is where Michael Steele is desperately trying to hide his race, his religion, his academic achievement and his family history. It is the closet that he believes will protect him from fact that the people he admires, the people he wants to be a part of, the people he wants to be admired by are, in fact, racist, undereducated protestant fundamentalists. His closest challenger in his race to become RNC chair withdrew from a whites-only country club just months before the contest won by Steele.
Catholics, Gays, Blacks and (to a lesser extent) Jews who identify themselves as Republican all struggle with variations on this theme. All are groups that have been wooed by a party that overwhelmingly sees them as, to use the Pope Benny's term, 'objectively disordered'.
And we all know what the Palinites and Limbaughites think of educated types...
Look at one just one example of what walking this tightrope leads to. (courtesy Sullivan)
"I think that there's a whole lot that goes into the makeup of an individual that, uh, you just can't simply say, oh, like, 'Tomorrow morning I'm gonna stop being gay.' It's like saying, 'Tomorrow morning I'm gonna stop being black.'" - Michael Steele.
The interview was given on February 24. In that interview, Steele also says about gay couples' rights:
"Well, my position is, hey, look, I have been, um, supportive of a lot of my friends who are gay in some of the core things that they believe are important to them. You know, the ability to be able to share in the information of your partner, to have the ability to—particularly in times of crisis—to manage their affairs and to help them through that as others—you know, as family members or others—would be able to do. I just draw the line at the gay marriage."
And yet the very same day he gave another interview to rightwing talk radio host, Mike Gallagher:
GALLAGHER: Is this a time when Republicans ought to consider some sort of alternative to redefining marriage and maybe in the road, down the road to civil unions. Do you favor civil unions?
STEELE: No, no no. What would we do that for? What are you, crazy? No. Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country? I mean this isn't something that you just kind of like, "Oh well, today I feel, you know, loosey-goosey on marriage." [...]
GALLAGHER: So no room even for a conversation about civil unions in your mind?
STEELE: What's the difference?
Look, I've seen these desperate-to-please types all too often. And more than a few of them have been, as Steele is, ex-Seminarians. But what I see is tragic, not comic.
Steele is most likely a well meaning man, desirous of honor and deserving of respect. A man who heard
Reagan and believed (inspite of what his eyes told him I might add) Maybe even a guy whose core values and vision would bring his party out of the wilderness and provide a legitmate counterpoint to the Democrats. Our Country would benefit from some reasoned discourse. But his Pavlovian 'what-ever-you-want-I'll-give-it-to-you' performances have assured that he will never ever be taken seriously, by anyone.
Come Out Come Out Whoever You Are.
