What does the nomination of Michael Steele, the RNCs first African American chairman, mean for the party?
GINGRICH: I thought it was a terrific choice. There were a number of first-class candidates, but he has the energy and the experience to do this job. He has the stature, the television skills and the background as Maryland’s lieutenant governor that prepares him. He was also a great contender for the U.S. Senate [in 2006]—it was just a bad year. He’s done a good job with GOPAC [a Republican political action committee for young people]. And he clearly represents the new, emerging Republican Party. What about him represents this new party, and where is the GOP headed? He’s going to reach out to minorities. He’s going to reach out to young people. He’s going to take all the arguments against the party and talk about them in a new way. This is because he’ll bring energy to the party that we haven’t seen. Previous RNC chairmen haven’t been stars in the same way. So how is Steele going to fill the role? Listen, the two best chairmen in my life have been Bill Brock, who ran the party from 197
