Photo credit: Courtesy of the Gala Committee
The famed Watergate scandal became a distant memory for the upscale, exuberant crowd who flocked to the ballroom of the recently revived Watergate Hotel which now serves up Chicken and Waffles in lieu of gossip. The “Black Tie & Chic Gala” hosted by INSIGHT America celebrating Trump was a “Salute to Republican African American Leaders.” Armstrong Williams and Angela Sailor served as the master and mistress of ceremonies. Honorary chairs for the event included Michael Steele and J.C. Watts.
“Yes, there are African American Republicans,” radio talk show host and author Armstrong Williams pointed out. “For conservatives who call themselves black, it is amazing what they must endure for their principles, for their beliefs, and for their success. Someone that embodies that progress during this presidential campaign was world renowned Neurosurgeon at John Hopkins University, Dr. Ben Carson.” Williams later introduced the now Secretary of HUD (Housing and Urban Development).
Armstrong Williams
Hollywood on the Potomac chatted with Michael Steele, the former Lt. Governor of Maryland and former RNC chair. We asked him how he saw the Trump transition in a town like Democratic Washington. “I think that this transition has shown that they don’t do change well. The expectation game that people had that once he got past the election and once he got past, you know, all of that, being a candidate, that he would settle in and everything would resort to Washington normal. As you see, that’s not the case, nor will it be the case after the Inauguration. I think there’s still a lot of adjustment for a lot of folks in this town with what Trump will bring to the table, which will be an [asymmetrical] game. He’s not beholden to anyone in this town. He has an opportunity to carve out a space, unlike any Presidents have done before him.”
Armstrong Williams and Dr. Ben Carson (C) Photo credit: Janet Donovan
J. C. Watts, former Congressional Member from Oklahoma, also reflected on how the Trump administration would do and what the interaction with Democrats might be. “Well, it’s gonna be who you put in certain positions, and who’s doing the blocking and who’s doing the tackling. I’ve been impressed with some of the decisions that he’s made in terms of filling out his team. You know, I’m going to be curious to see what happens on urban policy matters and poverty and I’m not necessarily talking about just the black community, but any community with unemployment of 10% or more. You pick the number. There are a lot of people that under Clinton, under Bush, under Obama, whose lives have never changed. Black, white, red, yellow, their plight is still the same. So lets measure it. Let’s say were going to bring the resources to bear, we’re gonna keep score, we’re gonna measure to see where we are two years, four years, six years, etc. There’s a lot of things that can be done.’ Speaking in general terms he notes that you have to have people that understand the value of relationships. “We’ve got a much different world today than we had when I left congress in 2002.” As far as foreign policy goes, Watts considers that to be a delicate balance that requires the right person and thinks that Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State “seems to be an incredible guy that understands that.”
J. C. Watts Photo credit: Janet Donovan
The noisy enthusiasm that filled the room when Dr. Carson arrived must have given the mild mannered and soft spoken Neurosurgeon a major headache. When the crowd simmered down he said a few words:
