Imitation Isn't Always the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Now I have been known to do impersonations and imitations of people I know or have worked with in the past. It's good for a chuckle and a nice way of breaking the tension when people are working hard on something that has them stressed out. And although I do believe in the adage that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I don't believe the Republicans had that in mind when they selected Michael Steele, the former Democrat turned Republican from Maryland who looks to now be on the verge of leaving his current post of Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Personally, I think it's about time that the Republicans realized that they had hitched their wagon to someone so obviously unsuited for the role and position.

Being a former resident of Maryland, I followed the news closely when Steele was elected as the first African-American Lieutenant Governor of the state. It was not too long after that that he resigned from the Democratic party and joined the Republicans stating that he felt he was being exploited by Democrats or that he was not being given the freedom that he wanted to be effective in his role. Be that as it may, I couldn't help but feel that there was nothing more than posturing in the decision to make him the Chairman of the Republican National Committee a few short months after he joined the party. I mean it's one thing to be the chairman for your state or for a district, it allows you to test the waters (so to speak) before suddenly joining up to lead. But this just seemed to be a response to the fact that the Democrats were beginning to promote Obama in his run up to the Presidency.

So am I to understand that the Republicans could find no one else more qualified to take the Chairman's position at that time? That Steele had such overwhelming qualifications and support in Maryland that he would help lead a revolution across the nation leading to more people turning to the Republican Party? Or perhaps they figured one African-American is as good as another. Perhaps that's being very unforgiving but I was and still continue to be at a loss as to why Steele was given this position in the first place. Now he seems to be determined to do his best to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that he is unqualified and ill-suited to hold the position.

Take for example the recent revelations that he authorized the expenditure of thousands of dollars at an adult club in Los Angeles for supporters of his party. Is that how Republicans wish to see their money spent? On strippers and drinks at a bar? Clearly not. Now of course Steele has backpedaled and indicated that he is getting the money back from the organizations that he footed the bill for, yet the damage is done. Republicans within his own party now come forward and claim that he's not doing a good job for the party and that he should step down so that someone more qualified can step into his place. I agree.

While I'm not a member of the Republican Party I'm supportive of this suggestion because I'd hope that the Party realizes that it isn't about race, color or sex of the person holding an office, but their inherent ability to do the job. When Hilary Clinton was a front runner for the Vice President's position and then was passed over for Joe Biden, the Republicans did what they thought all women wanted, and that was for a woman, any woman to be on the Presidential ticket. Enter Sarah Palin. I hope that before the next elections the Republicans realize that they have another Michael Steele in Sarah Palin.