Michael Steele to lead RNC

Former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele has won election as the new Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Although Steele is himself an African-American don't get your hopes up for the dawn of a post-race baiting GOP. As John Cole reminds us Steele has a bit of a sordid history himself. From TPM a trip back to Steele's failed U.S. Senate run from 2006,

On the eve of this month’s election, the mailers began landing in Prince George’s mailboxes. One was a glossy red, black and green flier—the colors that represent African American power—sporting pictures of County Executive Jack B. Johnson, his predecessor, Wayne K. Curry and past NAACP president and former U.S. Senate candidate Kweisi Mfume.

Above the pictures of the three Democrats the flier read, “Ehrlich-Steele Democrats,” and underneath it announced: “These are OUR Choices.”

None of the three candidates had endorsed the governor, and only Curry had declared his support for Steele.

There were other fliers, too. A similar “Democratic” guide with Ehrlich’s and Steele’s photo on the front appeared in Baltimore. Another distributed in Baltimore County identified the Republican candidate for county executive as a Democrat.

Classy guy for a classy party.

Steve Benen has more.