On April 18, former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele filled in for nationally syndicated talk-radio host Hugh Hewitt: most of Steele’s show was dominated by a discussion of the recent troubles of Barack Obama. With great clarity and wisdom, Steele spoke of the danger Obama’s extreme liberalism poses to the country, and the importance of voting for John McCain this fall.

At one point, Steele talked about the heat he occasionally receives from those who wonder why he, as an African-American, supports McCain. Steele stated that while he is happy that Obama’s running, he will do everything he can to forestall his victory, because Obama’s ideas are simply inimical to America’s best domestic and foreign interests.

Steele’s not alone. The regrettably small percentage of blacks who vote Republican in Presidential elections are wise enough to see through Obama’s illusions, and will support McCain in the name of national security and a strong economy. Blacks who will vote for McCain this fall are some of the most courageous people on the planet, because of the extreme social scorn they will face from their left-wing black counterparts.

It takes courage to challenge the dominant social order. It took courage for Elia Kazan to battle pro-Communist sentiment in the 1950s. It took courage for Martin Luther King to fight Jim Crow in the 1960s. It took courage for Ronald Reagan to confront institutionalized liberalism in the 1980s. Likewise, it will take courage for black Republicans like Steele to combat “Obama-ism” in the late-2000s.

Black Republicans recognize the fundamental emptiness of Obama’s vision; they’ve been fighting against his socialist worldview for decades. Blacks on the right understand that America’s problems cannot be solved by government—and because they know this, they have been harassed and demonized by the same folks who are lining up to worship Obama.

Steele’s outspokenness will again make him a hate-target of the left. "Progressives" think that they have exclusive rights to African-American support; liberals arrogantly believe that they were the only ones who fought for civil rights, and that blacks owe them their permanent political loyalty.

Left-wingers hate Clarence Thomas, Ward Connerly, Larry Elder and Steele because they assert a right to think for themselves. If they regard “progressive” premises as fundamentally wrong, they are not under any real obligation to support these premises. If the Republican vision makes more sense, why should they be denied a chance to advocate for that vision?

Thomas has stated in the past that the left has a special antipathy for black Republicans. If one doesn’t believe him after all these years, just wait until the left rhetorically beats down Steele and other blacks who support McCain. The left will accuse these blacks of being bought and paid for, of self-hatred, of deep-seated contempt for other black people. No insult will be considered too extreme.

Yet, blacks who support McCain over Obama will continue to stand strong, because they know the truth. They know that Obama’s left-wing extremism will inflict severe harm upon America. They know that his wealth-redistribution schemes will wreck the economy. They know that his excuse-making for demented religious figures like Jeremiah Wright will worsen race relations.

These black Republicans will also fight back against the left’s likely attempt to blame racism for an Obama loss. Steele and other black McCain supporters will point out that Obama’s socialism, not his skin color, caused his loss, and that America was right not to vote for an inexperienced, extremist elitist over a man who’s arguably overqualified to be President.

The left has perfected its ability to distribute hate over the last eight years. They will use their media advantage to ridicule, lambaste and humiliate blacks who feel that Obama is not suitable to become Commander-in-Chief. Black Republicans like Steele will be smeared from coast to coast, depicted as one of the “Worst People in the World”, and mocked from elite editorial pages. Yet Steele and other blacks who reject Obama have more than enough courage to get them through the dark nights ahead. It’s a courage borne of years of standing up for truth in an age dominated by “progressive” lies.

Blacks who support McCain will be considered social outcasts by some people. They’ll be considered heroes by others.