RNC's Michael Steele recalls his college expulsion and the P-word

Michael Steele, as loyal Ticket readers know, is the son of a single mom, a laundry worker, who lived on the poor side of Washington and grew up to become the lieutenant governor of Maryland.

He's also the relatively new chairman of the Republican National Committee, the first African American to head the party of Abraham Lincoln. And Steele's had, shall we say, a somewhat bumpy start to his tenure as head of the GOP.

What with Rush Limbaugh thinking he's the head of the party. Or Democrat Rahm Emanuel saying Rush is anyway. And the flap about bipartisanship. And saying No to being the party of No. Etc.

We had an item here the other day about Steele speech's to party faithful restarting the troubled party's rebuilding process.But if you think Steele's gonna give up, watch this video below.

And now, thanks to C-SPAN's "Students & Leaders" program, we get a brief window into one character-building experience that Steele had as an immature young man. The program tapes leaders telling stories from their earlier days to today's students and offering lessons for the young people.

We won't spoil Steele's story. He's not the only one to have gone through a failure and come out other side stronger. Hint: The lesson learned involved perseverance. You can see it on C-SPAN on Monday at 4 p.m. Pacific (7 p.m. Eastern).

Or, here's an idea: You can watch part of it right here right now. Forget politics for a min. It's just a very human little yarn.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Speaking of perseverance, we know that not everyone has yet clicked here to get automatic Twitter alerts on each new Ticket item. Now's your chance, nice quiet holiday weekend. Or follow us  @latimestot

Video: C-SPAN

Comments

[Pom Pom Girl]

Civil Rights Act Of 1964 - Voting Record

The Senate Version that became law received only 69% of Senate Democrats while 82% of Republicans voted for it.
The House vote received only 63% of Democratic Party Votes while 80% of Republicans voted for it.
Note also that at the time of the vote on the 1964 Civil Rights Act Southern Congressional representation in the House was 94 D, 10 R and in the Senate was 21 D and 1 R. Can anyone truly imagine that any Civil Rights leader, raised in the south actually ever voted D?

[Pom Pom Girl]

How Can You Vote Democrat?

If you are not an anarchist, communist, illegal immigrant, un-proud to be an American, anti-traditionalist, anti-business or an affirmative action designee, their victim politics leaves you out in the cold. 85% of those who seek affirmative action want your job and to extract entitlements that you will pay for. Their party was founded by slave owners, ruled the south after reformation, established Jim Crow, wanted Rosa Parks in the back of the bus, voted against civil rights until the 1960's and stood in the doorways of countless schools to protest Eisenhower's desegregation achievements. They have pushed the regulations in place that have lost generations of blue collar jobs to more cost effective foreign nations. Bill Clinton signed NAFTA, costing hundreds of thousands more. Their platform and candidate slate embraces a "church" that does not have your best interest at heart.
How can you vote Democrat this fall or any other?

[Pom Pom Girl]

13th & 14th Amendment Votes

In 1865, Congressed passed the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery. 100% of the House Republicans voted for it. 78% of the House Democrats voted against it and 71% of the independents voted for it. In the Senate, 100% of the Republicans voted for it, 62% of the Democrats voted against it and 83% of the independents voted for it. Republicans in Congress passed a series of seven bills designed to enforce civil rights being denied to blacks in the South.
The 14th Amendment, passed in 1868, was designed in ensure that African-Americans would enjoy all the rights and privileges granted to citizens of the State or the Nation. State Legislatures in the South, mostly controlled by Democrats, refused to ratify either amendment. When the ratification vote for the 14th Amendment did finally come, 96% of the Republicans in the House voted for it. 100% of the House Democrats voted against it. 91% of the third party House members voted for it. In the Senate, 94% of the Republicans voted for it. 100% of the Democrats voted against it. 50% of the third party Senators voted for it.

Other than through voting for welfare and abortion, how the heck did the Republicans lose Southern African Americans, let alone any, to the Democrats?

[Ralph]

It's a tragic coincidence, but the National Education Association union took control of the nation's educational system following school integration, and henceforth students of all colors were subjected to a rapid deterioration in quality of education. Thanks to the NEA, students were no longer given the tools with which to make good choices, discern the logical from the illogical, or even right from wrong.

These chickens have now come home to roost. We have a naive electorate, never allowed to learn the exceptional nature of our country, constitution, etc.

This will not improve until American parents have true freedom of choice... choice in how and where their children are educated.