Novak: WH says Michael Steele could be a “black Rush Limbaugh”
posted at 2:03 pm on November 18, 2006 by Ian
President Bush’s political advisers are urging Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele neither to seek nor accept a Cabinet post but instead find a national platform on television or radio.
While losing for the U.S. Senate, Steele attracted favorable attention across the country as an eloquent African-American Republican. Bush political strategists have told Steele a high-ranking post in the administration’s last two years would curb his independence and cramp his style. Instead, they advised, he could be “a black Rush Limbaugh.”
Steele is a great speaker, very charismatic as I have noted before, and I imagine he would have a popular show. I agree a cabinet position wouldn’t be the best thing for Steele as Dems would use that against him if he ever runs for office in the future. However, this seems like the WH is brushing off Steele since they rejected him for the RNC chairman post. Only time will tell.
Update (Allahpundit): Peggy Noonan weighed in on Steele yesterday. Why didn’t he get the RNC job? Because he’s a committed conservative, not some open-borders stooge who’ll crap on command when Rove orders him to.
It is assumed by everyone, and accepted as truth that hardly needs expression, that the brilliant and independent Michael Steele was not chosen as head of the RNC for the simple reason that he doesn’t look like someone who’d simply take orders. Mel Martinez was chosen for the reason that he will. I heard talk of what is called “the list”–the lengthening White House list of those who are to be treated as enemies. A White House preoccupied with the petty gave too little attention to policy, to the big picture. Thus the history of bungles…
The White House’s reaction to the recent election was, essentially, Now we can get our immigration bill through with the Democrats. That was a clue. I suspect the president will over the next two years do to Republicans what he did to Donald Rumsfeld: over the side, under the bus and off the sled.
He doesn’t need them. They’re not popular. They’re not where the action is. He’ll work closely with Democrats, gain in time new and admiring press–”Bush has grown,” etc.
This is the path he will take to build his popularity and create a new legacy. If the Democrats let him.
Blowback
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Sigh…. same entrenched Rep Leadership (or lack thereor)…
Don’t they get that one of the reasons they lost last election is that the Rep Leadership had lost touch with us, and what we wanted them to do????
So they take the One bright spot we had all election, and because he won’t toe THEIR line, dismiss him….
They really don’t get it….
Sigh…
Romeo13 on November 18, 2006 at 2:11 PM
As a “black Rush Limbaugh”, what radio time slot is open? Not noon to three eastern, that’s Rush. Three to six? That’s Hannity. Morning rush hour?
PS- I missed Battlestar Galactica (again) last night.
Zorro on November 18, 2006 at 2:13 PM
Prediction: Fox News will give him a show instantly. All the president has to do is snap his fingers and his little puppets will bend over backwards. GUARANTEED. Michael Steele is not the kind of guy that I can see hosting a radio talk show. A cable news political program seems a little more acccurate. Bye bye, Sherpherd Smith or Sustren.
Grebrook on November 18, 2006 at 2:38 PM
Have you been paying attention at all since the elections? Bush and his cronies hate this guy because he isn’t an amnesty suck up and he’s a true conservative.
Benaiah on November 18, 2006 at 2:50 PM
If Bush thinks he’s unpopular now, he’ll learn what unpopular really means when he signs an amnesty bill into law.
I work every day with labor union guys, who think it’s disgraceful that anybody would even think about it.
The beltway folks just do not get it.
Martin on November 18, 2006 at 2:53 PM
Ok, get over it. Simply because they didn’t make him head of the RNC doesn’t mean they “hate” him. It was an obvious attempt to pander to the Latino voting bloc, which decimated them on the election. It had little to do with amnesty and immigration. The head of the RNC does not make policy in the republican party. Individual senators and reps will make their own decisions. Martinez nor Steele would have changed anyone’s mind, either way.
Grebrook on November 18, 2006 at 2:54 PM
Yes, it almost certainly did. Martinez co-sponsored the Hagel-Martinez amendment earlier this year; it’s no coincidence, I’m sure, that he’s been chosen to be the public face of the party right when Bush is talking about working with the Democratic Congress to push “comprehensive immigration reform” through.
He doesn’t make policy but he’s an important figurehead now who’ll be doing a lot of campaigning. They want their fair-haired boy in there to push their key issue for them.
Allahpundit on November 18, 2006 at 2:57 PM
Michael Steele is a leader. It would be impossible for him to not rise to the top in any heirarchy he was placed.
Sadly, the White House recognizes this, and would rather see him in a non-political heirarchy, at least until they can get the amnesty put in place. So they want him pigeon-holed in the media.
Freelancer on November 18, 2006 at 2:58 PM
Steele needs to stay in the limelight, but a solid stint in office, perferably governor would give him the executive experience to complement his Reaganistic style and vision. Love him giving what-for to all those Left liberal snotty whites. The more he stays out there, the more stupid the “Bill Clinton, first Black President” Liberal Left meme looks to the public. Steele is already showing growing support, and it’ll only get better.
He ran well across the entire State of Maryland, showing a winning broad general support among a wide variety of voters, until Baltimore precincts flooded him out – it’s long due to break that stranglehold on the urban ballot-boxes.
Now, who’s the national figure after this election, Steele or Cardin? Cardin is so forgettable, it’s pathetic, but Steele is zooming – people across the country have now heard of him; they like what they see. He’s classy and upbeat. Guaranteed the Dems are afraid of him, he has the wit and the humor to dismantle their blatently racist attacks – and the more the Dems spar and lose with him, the more people will be cheering for him.
naliaka on November 18, 2006 at 3:01 PM
Too bad. It was pretty good last night. A little self loathing, but gave some interesting back story to the whole thing. The end with Tigh almost brought a tear to my eye.
lorien1973 on November 18, 2006 at 3:05 PM
It’s very sad the Republicans would seemingly choose to side-line such a talented man. It seems they’re doing it for a very obvious reason: The Dems control the House and Senate, and Bush needs to build up his legacy during the last years of his presidency. The talented Peggy Noonan summed it up nicely in her article (linked above) with this:
If the Republicans really want to win the White House in ’08, they had better start listening to the base today.
thedecider on November 18, 2006 at 3:06 PM
Mr Steele has class and intelligence….He is too good to be on radio or cable. But he would raise the bar for the others on air if he created a show.
Marvin on November 18, 2006 at 3:07 PM
What the hell are you talking about? No one even knows who Michael Steele is who isn’t a political junkie. Most people don’t even know who Dennis Hastert, Nancy Pelosi or Barack Obama are, despite the more intense press coverage. Prove that “people like what they see”. What “people” would that be? The Republican hacks on talk radio and Fox News? Absolutely they do, but no one else last time I checked.
The guy got crushed in Maryland by 11 points. That’s not even close. That’s a double-digit defeat. And now that Steele has been denied a post at the RNC he’s going to all but fade from American politics. The way you worship at this guy’s feet is getting pathetic. We get it, he’s black and a Republican. WOW. He’s real special! The Messiah has arrived!
Other than that, he’s just another cliche Republican. There’s nothing about him that’s really notable. I’ve seen him try to debate on Bill Maher’s show and he gets his ass handed to him everytime he opens his mouth and utters a ridiculous talking point.
The man openly supports a hike in the minimum wage, anyway. So I don’t see why you love him so much.
Grebrook on November 18, 2006 at 3:13 PM
Michael Steele has come out of this election as a bona-fide national figure. Cardin is so forgettable it’s pathetic.
Steele makes mincemeat of the Liberal Lefties, and the more they try to knock him out, the more people will see what the LLL Dems are truly made of.
Steele won broadly across Maryland – appealing to a large number of voters, a good cross-section of the population liked what they saw. It wasn’t until literally the 11th hour did the urban precincts swamp the results. Steele looks like the type who doesn’t make the same mistake twice and he knows very well what he’s up against. A lot of politicians never have to be tested the way Steele is being tested. Don’t take the short term with someone like Steele, but the long haul.
naliaka on November 18, 2006 at 3:14 PM
There is no doubt Lt. Gov. Steele has a bright future in national politics. I like him. I’ll support him.
And thank you lorien1973. I’ve set the DVR for Monday night midnight for the replay of Battlestar…
Zorro on November 18, 2006 at 3:21 PM
Let’s just fix this slightly:
Who watches Bill Maher’s show? If you use him as an example of brilliance in anything …whoa!
Can HotAir reprint Bill Maher’s photo with that stupid stingray barg imbedded in his sternum, worn for yucks at Steve Irwin’s demise for ol’ Grebrook to hint as to what a loser Maher is?
naliaka on November 18, 2006 at 3:22 PM
Semi-retarded and illiterate. A lethal combo.
JammieWearingFool on November 18, 2006 at 3:27 PM
“We are getting aggravated – Yes we are.”
Is this some kind of Republican meltdown? Steele could/should start a new party. Lieberman has gone independent, Rush says he wont carry anymore “water”.
We’ll see how this shakes out. I may have to leave the party.
Agrippa2k on November 18, 2006 at 3:44 PM
A smart man like Steele does not have to kowtow to some corporate Big Media(tm) conglomerate to get his own pre-packaged boring show just to become “the black Rush Limbaugh” in 2006.
There’s this thing called The Internet… ever hear of it?
Apple iTunes
Microsoft Windows Media Center
Verizon FIOS
WiMAX
Republicans need to stop whining about the liberal media, quit Eff Dash Dash Dash-ing around and use the techology available to create our own networks.
ScottMcC on November 18, 2006 at 3:52 PM
I hope he doesn’t go to satelite radio…
SouthernGent on November 18, 2006 at 4:26 PM
…talk about snatching oblivion from the jaws of defeat!
If there is an assemble-able *BASE* of conservatism in the Republican Party, or more likely outside of it supporting it, it’s time for it now to assemble and make itself known.
To fail to do so is to have a two party system made up of a liberal party and a *REALLY* liberal party, with conservatives in the wilderness. It’d be a shame to consign the social majority to the wilderness….
Puritan1648 on November 18, 2006 at 5:06 PM
Making someone a talkshow host is hardly padding their resume for leadership. It’s trivializing them. Would anyone here actually *VOTE* for Hannity?
Puritan1648 on November 18, 2006 at 5:07 PM
…I heard that labor union insiders are trying to work up some sort of accomodation with the illegals advocates, hoping to turn this demographic to their advantage.
I admit to an utter ignorance of the culture of organize labor. I’m neither a union guy or someone with any use for labor unions. This is in no small part because I’ve been a working stiff all my life, and don’t need another layer of self-interested suits between me and the guy who signs my paychecks. But working stiffs are my people.
What *DO* the folks in labor — not the soft-handed organizers and political eels swimming in that murky sea — think about illegals, amnesty, and this last election. Organized labor has been an even more reliable demographic than the black bloc vote for the social engineers of the Left. What do *THEY* think about all of this?
Puritan1648 on November 18, 2006 at 5:13 PM
Bush doesn’t want this guy anywhere near him or his cabinet…. just like the conservative base.
Valiant on November 18, 2006 at 5:31 PM
There’s a lot you don’t see, Grubby. It’s the blinders and your preoccupation with being a PITA.
Pablo on November 18, 2006 at 5:52 PM
More likely that the strong conservative base only thought they were part of the Republican Party and unfortunately for the Republicans they found out they weren’t before the elections and stayed away in droves.
Is the conservative base assemble-able? I’m not sure. We tend to be issue driven and everyone seems to have their own set of issues while we’re up against groups of people whose sole issue seems to be getting the “party” into power and staying there. Strong principles get in the way of politics it seems. Conservatives aren’t going to be able to make any real inroads back into the GOP as ALL the spots are going to the Big Government / Open Borders boys and girls and honestly the GOP seems to prefer being the minority over having us in their party.
It would probably be easier to register as Democrats and take them over than to be taken seriously in the Republican party right now.
A third party isn’t even an option unless we’re willing to wait 30 or 40 years to be taken seriously.
Buzzy on November 18, 2006 at 6:03 PM
“black Rush Limbaugh”
Why don’t we just get this over with… How about the first “Black President”?
Don’t come up with all the reasons why it won’t happen and why, come up with how we get it done!
CharlestonCritic on November 18, 2006 at 6:04 PM
Al Franken could be the lefty Rush Limbaugh.
Sounds like a great way to risk rendering someone irrelevant. If that wasn’t the plan from the beginning, of course.
DaveS on November 18, 2006 at 6:12 PM
As long as ratings don’t count, he is the lefty Limbaugh.
Pablo on November 18, 2006 at 6:35 PM
Would it take 30 or 40 years?
How long is that in internet time?
kate q on November 18, 2006 at 7:10 PM
Why the “Black” Rush Limbaugh? Why not simply “Another” Rush Limbaugh? We don’t call Rush the “White” Rush Limbaugh, or the “White” Michael Steele, do we?
The guy is who he is.
Woody
woodcdi on November 18, 2006 at 7:15 PM
Steele for RNC Chair!
Enoxo on November 18, 2006 at 8:06 PM
Woody,
Thank you. Exactly. Michaele Steele has numerous valuable attributes that make him politically viable. His skin color shouldn’t be one of them, nor should it be a detriment.
Freelancer on November 18, 2006 at 9:00 PM
Of course Rove wouldn’t do anything for Steele. Rove hates conservatives. Has nobody else figured that out yet?
Ali-Bubba on November 18, 2006 at 9:44 PM
Talk radio is pretty much full. Laura Ingraham rules the late morning. Rush and Sean have things under control from 12-6, and Mark Levin is rapidly expanding that sphere of dominance to 8. Finding a foothold is key if that’s really what he should do, and the foothold doesn’t really exist in talk radio.
TV is a different consideration, though. There’s plenty of underperforming programming at MSNBC. How about Olbermann’s time slot?
flutejpl on November 18, 2006 at 9:52 PM
Dear Woody,
Amen!
flutejpl on November 18, 2006 at 9:53 PM
Puritan, I agree with you. Doing a talk might sound like a good idea, but it would seriously dampen people’s perception of him as a leader. They would start to think of him as a broadcaster, rather than a candidate.
Perhaps he should look into a run for the WH in ’08? It’d be nice to have a real conservative on the ticket, as opposed to McCain and Rudy.
Jezla on November 18, 2006 at 10:57 PM
I don’t remember any talk of Steele being RNC chair before the idea was floated, for about 2 days, that he might be offered the job. Now people are writing about it as if it was a long-term dream that had been stolen from them.
The man is talented, he lost his election, but he will be back. I’m not sure the RNC job was where I’d want him anyway.
I wonder what Peggy Noonan would write about Reagan’s amnesty bill if Bush proposed it today.
MayBee on November 18, 2006 at 10:59 PM
Last time I checked those Republican hacks on Fox News and talk radio were destroying everyone else in ratings.
In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2:1, he did excellent. He also got 25% of the black vote. Republicans usually get 5-10%.
You’re the one who’s brining up the mans color, not us evil conservatives. Most conservatives are looking for actual leadership. We have none and Mike Steele would be great.
Unlike the Democrats, Republicans don’t boot people out of the party for disagreeing on one issue.
V15J on November 18, 2006 at 11:00 PM
What a surprise, a demographic group that enjoys being preached to watches Fox en masse? The entire reason Fox succeeds and Air America fails is because liberals actually prefer to think for themselves and don’t need their ideas reinforced. I never even listened to Air America. Fox’s audience is 80%+ Republican to begin with, so it’s not like they’re winning over any independents with their propaganda. Who cares about ratings if you can’t win elections. Fox’s ratings have been falling pretty drastically lately anyway, while CNN’s have been climbing.
No, he did literally only 3-4 points better than the average for Republican contenders. In 1994, for example, Sarbanes’ opponent gleaned about 41% of the vote. That’s 2% less than Steele. So no, Steele was not very impressive in regards to historical standards. If you can’t break a double-digit deficit you’re just not impressive.
No, you’re in love with him because he’s a black Republican, and for no other reason. You desperately want to break the Democratic stronghold in the black community and make yourselves immune to charges of racism, so you hold Steele up and pretend that you actually listen to him or know anything about other than his name, an interview or two you see on Fox and the fact that he’s black. I’m willing to bet you probably don’t even known his positions on half the issues.
Oh, really? I could have sworn all the right-wingers on this blog were threatening to form a third party over just one issue: comprehensive immigration reform.
Grebrook on November 18, 2006 at 11:30 PM
Another brilliant analysis:
threatening to form a third party = booting out
Let’s see how the Democrats treat one issue apostates – Governor Casey ring any bells? And how about that guy um, um – what’s his name? Joe Lieberman?
naliaka on November 18, 2006 at 11:57 PM
I happen to think this is good advice and NOT a brush off…it’s the GOP saying, do NOT get the establishment taint on you in any way because you have a big place in this party in ’08…let people hear YOU, not tie you to the establishment.
Why is Allah so negative and narrow in his thinking?
Topsecretk9 on November 19, 2006 at 12:33 AM
Oh really …. then when are you going to start thinking for yourself? Do you remember your flat out lie when you attributed a quote to Steele that he never made?
Grebrook on November 12, 2006 at 5:54 PM
What Steele actually said was: “Look, you of all folks know what happens when people decide they want to experiment on human beings, when they want to take your life and use it as a tool.”
But of course the words you used came directly from the Washington Post. So maybe you didn’t actually lie, you were just letting the Washington Post do your thinking for you.
Maxx on November 19, 2006 at 12:50 AM
No Grubby, that’s the reason you hate him, not the reason he’s admired around these parts. In fact, I’d say that fact enrages you, doesn’t it? Your stripes are showing, lefty. Stop projecting.
Pablo on November 19, 2006 at 8:19 AM
The Libertarians could use a high-profile leader to legitimize the party. Michael Steele as Libertarian Party presidential candidate?
Fiscally he may fit, but where does he stand socially?
/the Libertarians need to shut up about that marijuana thing if they want to be taken seriously.
Im_no_dhimmi on November 19, 2006 at 2:27 PM
Ah…Michael. I just moved to Maryland and had the honor of voting for him. Still getting frustrated at the RNC for not putting him in charge. It appears the conservatives are being thrown under the bus.
danarchy on November 19, 2006 at 3:16 PM
No, it’s because liberals don’t listen.
That’s the second time you have told me why I think how I do.
We’ve had the power for 12 years.
You’re wrong, he won 25% of the black vote.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/nov/18/amie_parnes_martinez_right_rnc_chair/?local_news
First of all that would not involve booting anyone out of the current Republican party. Second of all, Republicans in power don’t throw eachother out when they disagree.
V15J on November 19, 2006 at 7:52 PM