Steele's Antics Invite More Eye-Rolling than Eye Opening

By: Deborah Mathis

Saw a woman on the subway the other day wearing Timberland boots, huge, baggy jean shorts that hit below the knee; a bandana and a cap; and a T-shirt with a likeness of reggae great Bob Marley.

It was not the hip-hop uniform per se, but the woman’s age that made her look, as they say, “a hot mess.” She was with her fully grown daughter and granddaughter and looked to be at least my age, 55.

Two questions sprang to mind: (1) Why, sister? And (2) Do you know Michael Steele?

Ever since he won the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, Steele, who is 50, has been slinging slang with abandon. He criticized the stimulus bill for being overloaded with “bling.” He offered “slum love” to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, whose parents are from India, the setting of the Academy Award-winning film, “Slumdog Millionaire.”

And, last week, on MSNBC, there was this expository on diversity among Republicans: “You wear your hat one way. You like to wear it, you know, kind of cocked to the left, you know, because that's cool out West,” Steele said. “In the Midwest, you guys like to wear it a little bit to the right. In the South, you guys like to wear the brim straight ahead. Now, the Northeast, I wear my hat backwards, you know, because that's how we roll in the Northeast.”

Good heavens.

Steele's Antics Invite More Eye-Rolling than Eye Opening....