Jim Geraghty reported a few moments ago that Michael Steele — who lost a race for the U.S. Senate in Maryland in 2006 and had to put up with vicious racist attacks from some quarters of his Democratic opposition — will head the Republican National Committee.

This is good. Not only is Steele conservative, competent, and eloquent — it is also a plus that a key leader of the opposition party in Washington is black. It is simply a fact that criticism of Obama will be painted in racial tones to make it out of bounds. That scurrilous charge now has a lot less sting.

It's (hopefully) going to continue to be a good few days for those with "Steele" in their name.