Posted under Conservatism & Politics & Republican Party
This is really bad news. Michael Steele was the most moderate in the field of six. This likely means the GOP Establishment has been listening to THE Establishment instead of its frustrated grassroots and plan to move the party to the center instead of back to the right. (Of course we know that the GOP as rightist party has always been a joke, but that is how it is perceived by modern reckoning.)
The linked AP article describes Steele as “the most moderate candidate in the field,” and he has made a point of talking about inclusion and reaching out. In fact, this little gem from Steele is downright belligerent.
“We’re going to say to friend and foe alike: We want you to be a part of us, we want you to with be with us, and for those who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over,”
Somehow I don’t think when he speaks of reaching out he has non-interventionists, constitutionalists, gold supporters, etc. in mind. Of course he wants our votes, money and leg work, but we should keep our silly little immoderate ideas to ourselves.
Weaver on 30 Jan 2009 at 10:52 pm #
Maybe the dummies will let a 3rd party slip through then.
Americans surely aren’t going to take Obama-light as an alternative to Obama.
When they get furious and radicalised, they’re going to want some sort of radical alternative.
Too bad Buchanan is too old now. Buchanan was 2 decades too early.
Patroon on 30 Jan 2009 at 11:47 pm #
Ron Paul said it best, the race for the RNC chairmanship was irrelevent because none of the candidates really honed on what was wrong with the party. They just bashed each other and said how much they loved Ronald Reagan and how they all wanted Paul supporters in the party so long as they support the establishment’s candidate.
Steele won because it came down to a race between him and Dawson and since Dawson was seen as a symbol of the Southern GOP as far as non-Southern RNC members were concerned (and the punditry at large), then Steele was their guy, neocon or not.
The best party chairmen are usually non-ideological, non-factional people who do a good job at making the nuts and bolts of the party work. There’s no evidence any of these kinds of candidates are good at this outside perhaps Chip Saltsman, who took himself out due to his lack of taste. Thus Steele will waste his time on minority outreach without a message that transcends any differences.
roho on 31 Jan 2009 at 1:49 am #
Steele is a little “Frat Rat” of the GOP. During the primaries, he trashed Ron Paul pretty bad for the GOP Establishment, never missing a chance to elude to his thoughts that Paul was the “Retarded Family Member” kept in the basement of the GOP.
I don’t care for him, and neither did his voters.
Robert Lee on 31 Jan 2009 at 2:42 am #
How come nobody on this site has stated the obvious? That the only reason Steele got the job was because he was black. Republicans want to reach out to non-whites because they are the future of the electorate in this country.
So long whitey!
Weaver on 31 Jan 2009 at 3:40 am #
Mr. Lee,
what you say was certainly a factor. Quoting from Yahoo News:
Oh, those winds of change.
Btw, I like your name.
David B Allyn on 31 Jan 2009 at 8:48 pm #
Isn’t one high level black enough ? Now we have both major parties headed by blacks. In case anyone has forgotton, the principles of liberty in this country were formulated by white Europeans.
I hope this decision by the GOP causes a mass exodus and leaves the party in total ruins with no chance of any resurrection.
Robert Lee on 01 Feb 2009 at 5:36 am #
“what you say was certainly a factor.”
I would go as far as to say it was the deciding factor. Only a blind man wouldn’t notice the correlation between the rise of Obama and the rise of Jindal and Steele as GOP stars. It’s obvious that the GOP thinks it has to recruit more non-whites in order to stay competitive.
Besides, I’ve been listening to a lot of the GOP talk. They are all gushing over how black Steele is and how “historic” his election to become the RNC chairman is.
Robert Lee on 01 Feb 2009 at 6:06 am #
Here’s an interesting and relevant comment by Michael Steele:
“What Cao represents is a new face, a new opportunity, a 21st-century look for the party,” said Steele. “The Republican Party’s strength comes in many forms and many hues. We have to understand now it’s not all white bread.”
Imagine if a white man made a similar slur about blacks. His political career would be over.
Dostoevsky on 01 Feb 2009 at 9:47 pm #
Interesting episode in Steele’s career as a supposed Christian conservative:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061502097.html
Steele is also Roman Catholic — and a longtime darling of the “Pro-Life” movement, which has dubbed him “the Man of Steele” — but there was nary a peep from him during this entire episode.
Even though he was — get this — Ehrlich’s Lt. Governor at the time.
Harold Crews on 03 Feb 2009 at 12:23 am #
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/steele-gop-should-reach-out-gay-pro-choice-voters
Steele is all for reaching out to homosexuals and pro-abort. Those of us who oppose such “outreach” will be shown the door.
Big Spender Steele Has Got To Go! | Conservative Heritage Times on 29 Mar 2010 at 9:57 pm #
[...] BTW, we here at CHT warned you about Steele (here and here) early on. We hate to say we told you so but … | | | | | [...]