January 7, 2009
Posted: January 7th, 2009 11:58 AM ET

From
Jim Greer will back Michael Steele, pictured above, for RNC Chairman.
Jim Greer will back Michael Steele, pictured above, for RNC Chairman.

WASHINGTON (CNN) –- Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer will announce his support Wednesday for Michael Steele to be the next chairman of the Republican National Committee, a spokeswoman tells CNN.

Greer’s backing is a significant boost for Steele, a former Maryland lieutenant governor, who is competing with five other candidates to lead the national party. Greer considered running for RNC chair before deciding to stay on as the head of the state Republican Party. Florida Republicans will hold their annual meeting this weekend in Orlando.

Greer will make the announcement at an RNC candidate meeting being held in the nation’s capital, Republican Party of Florida spokeswoman Erin Vansickle said.

Filed under: Florida • GOP • RNC


james   January 7th, 2009 3:30 pm ET

If Steele becomes the RNC chairman, Rush will commit Hari-Kari.--I vote for Steele !!!!

alvino   January 7th, 2009 3:23 pm ET

The RNC must think that if they showcase another person like Clarence Thomas, every minority will jump on their "message of hate" bandwagon. All that will get them is the 25% who think Bush is doing a fine job, and they do not need a black to solidify that group.

artvpp   January 7th, 2009 3:12 pm ET

Michael Steele has an impressive resume both in the professional and political arenas.

In addition, Mr. Steele is a catholic fiscal conservative republican, who made a name for himself on his own merits.

Contrary to other opinions, being RNC Chairman may not necessarily be the best option to Steele but rather to start a grass roots organization of moderate conservatives that share his values to become an option for the Republican party in four or eight years.

Regardless of what the future brings to Mr. Steele, it is about time that minority members of the republican party are given prominent positions within the party.

KCBob   January 7th, 2009 2:41 pm ET

Steele is the Magic Negro for the GOP I guess eh?

KCBob   January 7th, 2009 2:40 pm ET

The GOP will remain a joke until they drop the Christ Cultist influence in their party.

GS-Florida   January 7th, 2009 2:27 pm ET

Another token-ploy by the Rebulicans, give me a break! . They can change their stripes as many times as the like, but they are just the same old hypocrites. Jim Greer's endorsement means nothing. The GOP has had it! It's over so Get over it!

Patrick   January 7th, 2009 2:24 pm ET

Take off your hate glasses for a second. The man is competent and qualified; that's all that matters.

JOE KILOZ   January 7th, 2009 2:22 pm ET

CHOOSE,,,,,,,,,,,,,HIM,,,,,,,,,,,,,BASED,,,,,,,,,,,ON,,,,,,,,,,,,,MERIT,,,,,,,,NOT,,,,,,,,

AS,,,,,,,,,,,DEMS,,,,,,,,,,,DO,,,,,,,,,,,ON,,,,,,,,,,,,,HIS,,,,,,,,,,,SKIN,,,,,,,,,,,COLOR

DJW   January 7th, 2009 2:19 pm ET

Noah wrote
The Republicans have always had African Americans in their party. It is the Democrats who make any African American who is a conservative feel like an Uncle Tom. Most Liberals do not even realize that Martin Luther King Jr was a registered Republican.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yeah the republicans have African Americans but the more recent African Americans act more like House Slaves to me.

Also it is not confirmed that Dr King was a Republican – some black republicans ran an ad back in 2006 to try to help Steele but it backlash the group. So it ain't so. Besides Dr King grew up during FDR presidency and was at the top of his career when President Kennedy and Johnson were in the white house.

LB   January 7th, 2009 2:18 pm ET

id vote for Steele over Obama any day.

cherrystrawberry   January 7th, 2009 2:16 pm ET

See we have a Negro....too!

J.L.   January 7th, 2009 2:15 pm ET

This is so funny... kinda sad also. Some Republicans think that they can turn things around for themselves by having an African-American as their chairman. They believe that by having a minority as their chairman, minorities will flock to their party or something? Sorry... it's the Republican backwards-exclusionary-elitist (i.e. rich folks) policies that drives people away, not the people in positions of power within the party. When the Republican party starts getting away from the policies and ideals that attracts only the bible-thumpers, bigots (and some straight up racist folks), and cigar-chomping Wall Street fat cats, then they might start getting more people to join the party....

Lisa V   January 7th, 2009 2:11 pm ET

If people here seem a little overly critical of African-Americans and the RNC, you have to remember that it was only a few weeks ago a potential chairman of the RNC was sending out Christmas CDs with magic songs about "Negroes" on them.

Greed is not good   January 7th, 2009 2:09 pm ET

Oh please...who are they fooling?

Eyckie   January 7th, 2009 2:05 pm ET

Noah, have you been living under a rock? I guess it's okay with you that Republicans bankrupted not just the United States but the world?
It's okay that more than 4500 young Americans have died in a war based on lies to take our Saddam Hussein that wasn't a threat to anyone? It's okay though because they only died for OIL. Republicans are racist and obstructionists that hate that Democrats are actually going to put qualified people in positions that Bushes buddies resided over with no qualifications. Every agency has been infiltrated and destroyed by Bushco including the EPA, the DOJ, the Supreme Court. How could anyone support a Republican when they have destroyed the world economy and taken American lives based on lies.

Karen - Missouri   January 7th, 2009 2:05 pm ET

The RNC has a LONNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGG way to go before they are respected again! Doesn't matter who they pick, they still have no clue as to what Americans need...oh, wait, they do know the wealthy CEO types.

Vern   January 7th, 2009 2:03 pm ET

Talk about the wounded...these Republicants who is still mad that Obama won is too funny!!! They will not give up like kurt C who wrote
To F.J. from Atlanta – People who are sick of the Democrat Culture of Corruption.
Rangel
Blagojevich (Obama is involved, the media is covering for him)
Jefferson from La.
Those are the major ones right now, but there are plenty more.
_________________________
I guess you forgot all the Republicants that are corrupt? It's not the Party it's the person. You poor misled fool!!!

chefsupreme   January 7th, 2009 2:01 pm ET

Steele a sharp cookie? Is that like the imaginary oreos thrown at him several years ago?

DJW   January 7th, 2009 1:55 pm ET

Newport News Va wrote
Steele needs to go back to Maryland and try to clean up that state first before pursuing any other political post.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sorry Maryland is doing just fine we don't want him send him to a Red State like Tn, WV,OK,MS.

But dig this if he is turned down for any particular reason this jerk cries racism. I hope the republicans are in for the ride.

Eyckie   January 7th, 2009 1:54 pm ET

NOAH, have you been living under a rock? You think it's okay that Republicans took America to war based on lies? It's okay that they bankrupted the world? It's okay that the terrorism has proliferated under Bushco? McCain is a traitor, a cheater and doesn't make very good decisions based on his choice of Palin for VP. Go blog on Faux News with their narrow minded point of view. Obama has 82% approval and many Republicans support him in his effort to reform government. At least he is putting qualified people into positions of power instead of giving appointments to his buddies like Bushco did. Every agency has been infiltrated by Bushes buddies and none of them work anymore. The EPA, Department of Justice, Supreme Court and many, many more. The whole country is bankrupt and the global markets are struggling not to go into a depression. How can you support these racist and washed up old white guys that wear white sheets and think that 'Barack the Magic Negro' is a great song to pass around. Amazing!

canuck   January 7th, 2009 1:53 pm ET

go mike!

DJW   January 7th, 2009 1:52 pm ET

I live in Maryland and in Steele's county. We do not like him because when he was Lt Governor and then Govenor Erlich hired homeless people from Pa. to pass out flyers saying all African Americas were voting for Steele and Governor Erlich for their re election. They also said that the NAACP was backing Steele.

Tell me why do black republicans try to disenfranhise African Americans knowing the histroy of this country??? Blackwell of Ohio did the same thing for George Bush in 2004.

My guess is as long as these black republicans are a crooked as the white republicans it's ok.

I will never vote for Steele even if he changed his parties!!!

TJ Johnson   January 7th, 2009 1:51 pm ET

Michael Steel will do a super job. He understands his foe and has the initiative to defeat them.

MD   January 7th, 2009 1:49 pm ET

Steele would be great at the post. He is more intelligent than Obama and has a wider appeal (excluding the far left fringe).

G.R.I.T.S. - Girl Raised in the South   January 7th, 2009 1:44 pm ET

Where are all the neo-con Limbaugh lovers shouting that Greer is ONLY backing Steele because he's black? That only works when it's Powell and Obama?

Erik S.   January 7th, 2009 1:43 pm ET

Yeah Newport, like Obama needs to go back to Chicago and clean that place up right? Atlanta GA, your comment about African Americans all of a sudden being in the GOP shows your willful ignorance, as with most of the posters on here, which is odd seeing as this is CNN. How many blacks had the Democrats had in power before Obama? You can see how many blacks were already on post in the GOP, you know, Colin Powell, Rice, in very powerful positions BEFORE it become cool to be the black candidate for the democratic party. Enjoy wallowing in your ignorance along with the other ditto heads. I'm just ashamed at what I read on here from day to day.

Nebraskan   January 7th, 2009 1:39 pm ET

Meanwhile, while the Dems are busy blocking the only AA senator from entering the building, the RNC is about to elect their first AA chairman. Man, 2008 has triggered quite a few interesting shakeups!

Jan   January 7th, 2009 1:37 pm ET

Do you young dems know that most of the KKK were democrats? Pardon me, it is not the repubs that are racist. It never was. Remember George Wallace? The dems like to us AA to push their agendas only. what hypocrites.

Marylander   January 7th, 2009 1:34 pm ET

I happen to think this is a good choice for the Republican party. I was born and raised in the Maryland. Under Gov. Bob Ehrlich and Lt. Gov. Steele, Maryland went from a $2.7 million deficit to a $1 billion surplus without hiking taxes. Unfortunately, the people of Maryland voted in Martin O'Malley who has raised taxes and done little for the state or its citizens.

The Republican party will benefit from Steele's leadership.

Phoenix   January 7th, 2009 1:33 pm ET

Blacks need to create their own power bases independent of both Democrats and Republicans. Whether they swing to the right or the left, they are racist and have both tried to make blacks a permanent underclass. It's amazing that Steele couldn't even get Republican support when he was trying to run in his state, but now that it looks like black folk are electable, hey lets give this guy a try. Now, some republicans are on here trying to race bait. Give me a break.

John in Ohio   January 7th, 2009 1:28 pm ET

"To F.J. from Atlanta – People who are sick of the Democrat Culture of Corruption.
Rangel
Blagojevich (Obama is involved, the media is covering for him)
Jefferson from La."

Stevens (Alaska)
Palin (Alaska)
DeLay (Texas)
Larry Craig (Idaho)
Scooter Libby (White House)
Bob Taft (OH)
George Ryan (IL)

And the list goes on and on and on and on.

Mick in Mesa   January 7th, 2009 1:28 pm ET

Because of the current state of the GOP with their plantation southerners, whack job evangelicals, neocon war mongers and union busting attitudes towards the working middle class there is no hope of reform.

Purge those elements first, then talk about recovering the respect of the rest of Americans...

Bill in Ct.   January 7th, 2009 1:27 pm ET

Michael Steele, Ken Blackwell and Juan Williams are nothing more than ( TOKENS ) for the racist GOP party. Have you notice every time someone brings up the racist crap the GOP does on a regular, they throw these ( TOKENS ) in front of the camera to explain how it's not racist when one of them say or run some kind of racist ad. As a African American we have seen these type of sale outs since slavery. Even when the GOP is so blunt about their racist views, there's always one of them defending their bigotry. Ken Blackwell help steal the election in Ohio in 04 for Bush by taking machines out of black and hispanics neighborhoods, only having one machine per district for thousands of people, putting broken machines in polling places, not allowing people to vote and so on and so on.

Arkansas Undertaker   January 7th, 2009 1:26 pm ET

Steele is just kidding himself if he thinks that any Southern Republican will ever vote for him for anything. Southern Republicans dont vote for African-Americans.

If the Northern Republicans find a way to make this man the leader of the RNC, then it will divide the Republican party even more than it already is.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   January 7th, 2009 1:26 pm ET

WHATEVER THE REPUBS OFFER STEELE HE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO DELIVER AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK.

John in Ohio   January 7th, 2009 1:23 pm ET

Bet he wishes he could have carried Florida for the Republicans.

Of course, even if McCain had won Florida he still would have lost. It just wouldn't have been *as* humiliating a defeat.

chuck   January 7th, 2009 1:20 pm ET

MICHAEL STEELE WILL BE USED BY THE RNC JUST LIKE HOW BUSH USED RICE. THIS IS JUST A FRONT TO ATTRACK BLACK PEOPLE.THE RNC IS A RACIAL NATIONAL CONGRESS.

Noah   January 7th, 2009 1:20 pm ET

The Republicans have always had African Americans in their party. It is the Democrats who make any African American who is a conservative feel like an Uncle Tom. Most Liberals do not even realize that Martin Luther King Jr was a registered Republican.

Proud American   January 7th, 2009 1:18 pm ET

I think it's safe to say the "FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS OVER" CNN can we please talk about something of substance?

MikeH   January 7th, 2009 1:17 pm ET

Token.

J.P..   January 7th, 2009 1:17 pm ET

Steele is a good man and sharp cookie. Conservatives would be well served to have more GOOD people like Steele in leadership positions.

ME WONDER TOO!!!!   January 7th, 2009 1:12 pm ET

Yea I wonder myself?? hmmm...get educated GOP...don't pick tokens!!!!!

welch   January 7th, 2009 1:07 pm ET

he wasn't fair and balanced on Fox.

Floridian   January 7th, 2009 1:06 pm ET

Wow, do the Liberty Council and Focus on the Family members in FL know Republican Chairman Greer supports pro-choice now? Interesting.

I'm Not Missing The Old Mule & Winky Half-baked Alaska   January 7th, 2009 1:06 pm ET

Well, now that the cheap imitation of the Democrats in picking a female candidate didn't work out so well, next up ... an African American ... And if that doesn't bode well ... Hey, Bobby Jindal! Hey Anh Cao!

AJ IN ND   January 7th, 2009 1:05 pm ET

MICHAEL STEEL IS A IDIOT, SEEN HIM ON FOX NEWS HE'S JUST AS BAD AS HANNITY. BUT WE CAN SEE RIGHT THREW THE RNC. LOOK EVERYBODY WE GOT ONE TOO!!!

Lillie   January 7th, 2009 1:05 pm ET

Wishing you well, Lt Gov. Steele..........and Karen get over it!

obama-mama   January 7th, 2009 1:03 pm ET

Atlanta- GA January 7th, 2009 12:48 pm ET

I wonder why all of a sudden the RNC wants to pick an African-American for chairman…hmmmmmmmmmmm

________________________________________________

The Republicans will do anything to win. Mr. Potato head will go through the same thing as Sara Palin....

Lauren lives in Maryland   January 7th, 2009 1:03 pm ET

I agree with Newport News, Karen and Larry...
I love my home state, but it's a complete hot mess. No thanks to any politician who has been in office recently.

BW   January 7th, 2009 1:02 pm ET

Sounds to me like a bunch of racist liberal democrats are commenting here.

Paul from M.D   January 7th, 2009 1:01 pm ET

In Maryland we hate this guy. he didnt win his senate race and im kinda shocked he did not run under a rock after that ordeal.

He realy thought people would vote for him because of his race. he realy thought people are that dumb. dont let this guy become your leader, he is no different from any outher hard head and will not bring any new people to the RNC

BW   January 7th, 2009 1:01 pm ET

Liberal Democrats: you need to get together and decide on how you will spin this. If we go by the way you judged others in the recently past presidential election, if you didn't vote for Obama, you were a racist Republican. So with that amazing logic, any liberal who speaks out about Steele must be a racist Democrat. If that's not true, then your opinions against Steele are based on a true assessment of Steele's abilities and character...the exact same thing many of us judged Obama on when we voted against him. You can't have it both ways.

tom   January 7th, 2009 12:59 pm ET

if he leaves behind hate violence teh destruction of teh working class and the republican trickle down economics,maybe and i meen maybe he has a chance of being un-evil. we must stop the greedy old party until they becoem the gentle open party.

Really??????   January 7th, 2009 12:58 pm ET

How obvious is that pick? How ironic is the timing – just when the party is looking to reinvent itself and win over new voters. ....and I'm an African American. They didn't give a hoot about my vote until Nov 5th!

Love Huckabee   January 7th, 2009 12:56 pm ET

He's insulting to any black person. It's ok for there to be black republicans, but he's just doing this because the GOP wants to counter Obama. Just like they put Sarah Palin up there to counter Hillary. The funny thing is, neither is qualified to run a McDonald's.

Steele nor Blackwell came out to dismiss the CD, as if it were ok. He's only after his own agenda. The GOP is just using black people, like they used women by putting up Sarah Palin.

Doesn't he know they don't care about him? This is the same group who fueled racial tensions just get get racists votes during the GE. He wants power so bad, he sold his soul. He's just as bad as Burris...he sold his soul and allowed himself to be used for power.

bsmith171   January 7th, 2009 12:54 pm ET

steele would be a good choice.

They pushed the envelope   January 7th, 2009 12:53 pm ET

You have to ask yourself,would I buy a used car from this man?

Atlanta- GA   January 7th, 2009 12:48 pm ET

I wonder why all of a sudden the RNC wants to pick an African-American for chairman...hmmmmmmmmmmm

anonymous in Big D   January 7th, 2009 12:47 pm ET

Mr. Steele is a great pick! He's an extremely nice person who is honest and listens to all sides before making decisions/choices, etc., unlike the disgruntled democRATS that don't know their A$$ from the perverbial hole!

ga.   January 7th, 2009 12:47 pm ET

if he's smart he'll run in the other direction as fast as he can.

Kurt C.   January 7th, 2009 12:44 pm ET

To F.J. from Atlanta – People who are sick of the Democrat Culture of Corruption.

Rangel
Blagojevich (Obama is involved, the media is covering for him)
Jefferson from La.

Those are the major ones right now, but there are plenty more.

Puff   January 7th, 2009 12:43 pm ET

COMPARED TO MICHAEL STEELE, YOUR NOBAMA IS A JOKE. THIS MAN IS FOR REAL AND A TRUE PATRIOT. HE LOVES HIS COUNTRY. YOU CAN'T SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT "THE ONE". AFTER ALL, THIS ISN'T EVEN HIS COUNTRY.

joe smith   January 7th, 2009 12:42 pm ET

one more time; this gentleman is a terrific choice. we are still looking into the little known blip that turned up on the radar screen, called the Amero. word has it, that there are some quantities of $50 and $100 dollar bills out among the populis. could we perhaps get Francis Townsend whose expertise is security, to give the American people the skinny on this one. seems the Denver mint did the printing..but she will be able to tell us more, right??

Kurt C.   January 7th, 2009 12:42 pm ET

Compare Steele to the people who have been in charge of the DNC lately, McAuliffe and Dean.

Steele is better than both of them put together. Those two guys at the DNC make Joe Biden look smart. And that's nearly impossible.

SENATUS POPOLUSQUE ROMANUS   January 7th, 2009 12:41 pm ET

Wow!!! Tonight I wan't sleep... :-) :-)

SteeleTheLoser   January 7th, 2009 12:40 pm ET

Steele is a loser he lost in Maryland, but then he can chair the GOP they are all losers, this is a sign GOP is going to the tube. I am loving it.

FJ from Atlanta   January 7th, 2009 12:37 pm ET

Who cares about the GOP?

Uncle Mikey   January 7th, 2009 12:35 pm ET

The Republicans think they can be considered "inclusive" if they put this guy on their poster,what a laugh,the people have gotten a little smarter than that now,or I should hope they have.

Larry in Houston   January 7th, 2009 12:35 pm ET

Thanks Newport News, I could not have agreed more...

NICK   January 7th, 2009 12:35 pm ET

Greer must be a pawn for Fox News and Right Wing Radio. Steele, should get his own house in order before leading the Republicans Country wide. Oh well, I guess we haven't "got it yet".

joe smith   January 7th, 2009 12:34 pm ET

not many gentlemen left; but he's a fine one indeed: now we still have not heard a word about the Amero, why?? out in the grass roots there apears to be some $50 and $100 bills circulating; perhaps Francis Townsend, your security specialist, could give the American people the skinny on this one??

Karen - Atlanta   January 7th, 2009 12:33 pm ET

Steele holds no credit at all... After seeing him on FoxNews I expected the RNC to consider him. Steele should have concentrated on cleaning up Maryland first, then the Republican Party. The Republicans will stop at nothing.. They all make me sick.

Trust   January 7th, 2009 12:33 pm ET

This guy is a joker and a token. He will never get the job.

Michael   January 7th, 2009 12:33 pm ET

Steele would be a wise choice. He's a good republican. Although The selection of Steele would be a first step toward, hopefully, a long journey to genuinely appeal to minorities. The GOP has taken such steps in the past. However, with each step the GOP has taken to advance their embrace of minorities, subsequent mis-steps with respect to race has driven the GOP further backward. Will they get it right, this time?

karen-phoenix   January 7th, 2009 12:33 pm ET

I've been a republican for 40 years. NO MORE. Since Reagonomics destroyed the middle class and Bush destroyed the millitary I can no longer vote republican! I even donated to Obama!! The republicans need to get out of their "ego" of rich, wealthy spoiled little boys and that attitude of fear and hatred!!! I want a republican who comes up from the working class, is highly educated, young and wants to advance the middle class through jobs, jobs and more jobs that stay in this country!!! AND National Health Care!!!

Proud American   January 7th, 2009 12:28 pm ET

This story is laughable. The future of the Republican is OVER. End of story. lmao

Brian G, Sugar Land, TX   January 7th, 2009 12:27 pm ET

The RNC needs to revise its platform before it can choose an appropriate leader. The RNC has an 18th mentality, which ignores all the advances in science, technology, environmental awareness, diversity appreciation and social justice. The RNC "creed" of "Me first, you never" has no place in today's world.

The RNC is like a small fundamentalist church asking why it has so few members, when the solution is obvious...move into the current millenium!

Newport News, VA   January 7th, 2009 12:18 pm ET

Is Steele supposed to be the GOP version of Barack Obama? Give me a break.

Newport News, VA   January 7th, 2009 12:17 pm ET

Steele needs to go back to Maryland and try to clean up that state first before pursuing any other political post.

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