How 'Hip-Hop' Is the 'New' GOP?
David Knowles
Contributor
Posted:
02/19/09
Now that they've elected the first African American to lead the RNC, the Republican Party is looking to continue work on its "image problem." As Michael Steele detailed today, that means making the party a whole lot more "hip hop." How? Maybe I should let Steele explain. Via CNN:
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says his party is going to launch an "off the hook" public relations campaign that will update the GOP's image by translating it to "urban-suburban hip-hop settings."
Steele continued,
"We need messengers to really capture that region--young, Hispanic, black, a cross section..." he said in an interview published Thursday. "We want to convey that the modern-day GOP looks like the conservative party that stands on principles. But we want to apply them to urban-suburban hip-hop settings."
Oy-vey! Steele is right that a massive PR effort is in order, but how do you make a party more "hip hop" when it doesn't have a single African American in either the House or the Senate? Or make it seem friendlier to Hispanics when Mel Martinez, the only Hispanic Republican in either body is calling it quits? Use urban backdrops for your new ads? Ditch Hank Williams Jr. in favor Lil Wayne? Hey, maybe Steele can reach out to Mitt Romney for advice on how to make the party seem more "hip hop." Who could forget his legendary efforts back when he was running for president:
