RNC Chairman Update

Two minor housekeeping items on the race for RNC Chairman:

• Chuck Yob, the Republican National Committeeman from Michigan had been a rumored candidate from the RNC Chairman against fellow Michiganer Saul Anuzis. Yob is endorsing Ken Blackwell.  This is a pretty firm public slap to Anuzis and a boost to Blackwell. (Hat Tip: Campaign Spot.)
• South Carolina Party Chairman Katon Dawson picked up the endorsement of Dr. Ada Fischer, the Republican National Committeewoman from North Carolina and one of three African-American members of the Republican Nation Committee. Glenn McCall, another African American member of the RNC from South Carolina has prasied Dawson’s and defended Dawson on belonging to a country club that did not accept minorities:

A few months ago, a local newspaper wrote an article about a country club where Katon was a member. The article pointed out that the club did not have any minority members. There was some confusion about whether or not it was club policy or a longstanding deed that prohibited minority members — none of that really matters. What matters is this: Katon Dawson tried to change the club’s practices to allow minority members. When he realized that things were not likely to change, Katon resigned his membership.

Sadly, Katon’s opponents are trying to use the fact that he was a member of this country club to disqualify him from serving as RNC Chair.

It shouldn’t. I believe it won’t.

I see what Katon did as evidence of his commitment to including and involving people from all walks of life and all races. Katon took a stand for what was right. He stood up in front of his friends at the club and told them what they were doing was wrong, and when they refused to change, he decided to leave. I’m not saying that Katon deserves a medal for the courage he showed that day, but I do think this one incident revealed the depths of Katon’s personal commitment to inclusion.

 McCall was recruited into the GOP and mentored by Dawson. In addition, South Carolina elected its first Black Republican in modern times under Dawson as well as an Indian-American State Representative. Dawson’s record is sound and with McCall as a character witness, I don’t think the unfortunate country club incident will present a problem.

One thing people need to understand is the election of RNC Chairman will require a majority vote, which means this race will shrink to a top two afther a few ballots. I think Saul Anuzis and Mike Duncan will draw from the same pool of RNC Members who are going to be more establishment-minded, while Saltsman, Dawson, and Blackwell will draw more conservative support. Michael Steele will probably draw some support from both sides. My personal hope is that the winner be from the conservative pod.