FRC Action Summit: Michael Steele
posted at 11:25 am on September 12, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Michael Steele got an enthusiastic welcome, and he didn’t disappoint. He joked about having endured the Democratic convention in Denver, saying that he had just come down from Mount Olympus to travel to Minneapolis. However, he took a serious turn within moments, discussing the decision to pre-empt the convention for service during Hurricane Gustav.
Steele quickly turned to Sarah Palin, saying “I know Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin is a friend of mine. You don’t want to mess with Sarah Palin.” He talked about the “relentless assault” on Palin, and equated them to the relentless assault on the values shared by the people at this conference. It reveals the hostility among the congnescenti to the ideas that most Americans hold sacred.
Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, Steele said, but don’t forget to render unto God what is His. Gathering in these forums allows us to gain strength for the kind of battles we face in this environment. But we have to be prepared to engage that battle. He pointed to the banner behind him and pointed out the word action. It doesn’t say. “FRC go-and-party”.
“Are you prepared to go back home and do something, fight for something? If not … you’re bringing the rest of us down.” We need, Steele says, people of principle who understand fundamentally what’s at stake. How children are educated, how people start new businesses, how we run our communities starts with people who are prepared to show leadership in their communities.
The story of Sarah Palin, Steele says, shows the power of this commitment. She took up the call to action, and look where it has led. He ripped Charles Gibson for attacking Palin in a way he never would have done with Barack Obama, but she held up well nonetheless. She has proven herself in her community already. “She shoots moose,” Steele joked, “and what do you think she’s going to do to a donkey?”
The only way to effect change is to follow Palin’s example. Think about the kind of change you want to make — and then stop thinking about it and do it.
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Mr. Steele is a valuable asset to the GOP. I see even better things coming from him.
madmonkphotog on September 12, 2008 at 11:30 AM
I really Michael. We need more like him.
L
letget on September 12, 2008 at 11:30 AM
S/B 11/30 post
I really like Michael.
L
letget on September 12, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Palin/Steele in 2016.
MarkTheGreat on September 12, 2008 at 11:32 AM
The growing Democrat fear would be a Palin/Steele ticket in 2012. It would turn identity politics on its ear, as two strong, articulate conservatives, represented by a woman and an African-American would totally destroy the Democrat party. A McCain/Palin victory in 2008, followed by a strong 4 years, leading to a Palin/Steele ticket could be the beginning of a strong conservative revolution, the culmination of Ronald Reagan’s Shining City on a Hill. I am feeling good about America!
jerseyman on September 12, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Michael is a great guy. I see great things for him in the future. A very intelligent man and funny guy.
jencab on September 12, 2008 at 11:34 AM
If McCain wins, I doubt he’d re-run in 2012. It’d be Palin/Jindal or maybe Palin/Steele.
lorien1973 on September 12, 2008 at 11:36 AM
I just hope Steele has actual conservative values on things other than social cred.
Social cred is great, but economic and security credentials are necessary too, you know.
Vanceone on September 12, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Steele just needs to build up the resume over the next four years. Perhaps a Sr cabinet position to position him for VP.
jerseyman on September 12, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Michael Steele is right, we all need to be more involved at our local level. After all, isn’t that really what republicanism is all about, less central government and more local authority…
Steele is a total mensch, I voted for him in his run for the senate seat in Maryland. It pointed out the hypocrisy of the Dems vis their identity politics ideology. Just as ‘Cuda is being assailed by the feminists, so too was Steele uncle-Tommed in his race for the senate. I lived in PG county, 80% black demographically. The Democrat machine is so strong that he lost that county…
I’m hoping to see Steele as a national player in the years to come…
What would really give the libs agita would be to put him and Palin on a future ticket!
Steele is the real deal!
RocketmanBob on September 12, 2008 at 11:38 AM
“She shoots moose,” Steele joked, “and what do you think she’s going to do to a donkey?”
Ha! That should be her new slogan!
Tony737 on September 12, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Do your blog readers ever watch Larry Elder?
Noe there is a man who calls a Spade a Spade.
LARRY ELDER
Rick007 on September 12, 2008 at 11:39 AM
You can find Larrys page om Drudge
Rick007 on September 12, 2008 at 11:39 AM
She’s going to hitch him to the plow and put him to work!
4shoes on September 12, 2008 at 11:43 AM
HA He should have said what would she do to a jackass.
Since now the Democrats have brought it out of the closet that they realy are jacksasses in a donkey costume.
Rick007 on September 12, 2008 at 11:44 AM
The Democrats take a much longer view of the political scene. They tend to work at least 4 years down the road. As a result they attempt to take out the most viable Republican presidential candidate (usually the current sitting VP). This is why Dan Quail was savaged long and hard as VP, as well as Dick Cheyney. Sarah Palin has to be destroyed NOW before she has 4 years as VP. A good four years as a sitting VP and she would be unstoppable. With Steele as VP, they could lock up the presidency for the Republicans for a long time. A lot can happen between now and then, but this is the type of long term view the Dems take but the Republicans have been content to fight it out in the primaries and see who survives. Hillary was derailed this year (with Obama targeted since the 2004 convention) and now looking to 2012. What Republican is even thinking about 2012 at this point? The Democrats are looking at this possible scenario and absolutely overcome with fear. “Oh no, not again!” Yes we can! McCain/Palin/Steele 2008-2024(Jindal would be a good choice as well).
jerseyman on September 12, 2008 at 11:49 AM
I read his column on Townhall.com. Also Sowell’s and that fellow from George Mason Univ. (whose name I’m blanking on right now). All conservatives, all smart, all happen to be black.
AZCoyote on September 12, 2008 at 11:50 AM
You mean I have to wait until 2016?
Why not 2012, Hell, why not 2008?
Browncoatone on September 12, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Lived in MD when Ehrlich and Steele won. After I picked myself up off the floor, because republicans had won, I rejoiced.
They’re both good men.
Marine_Bio on September 12, 2008 at 11:51 AM
I like the message. Get involved. Don’t just complain, do something to change what needs to be changed, improve what needs to be improved.
Conservatives need to emphasize that they are the party of grown up doers, not adolescent dreamers. The Democrats are like beauty pageant contestants who all answer “world peace” when asked about their greatest desire.
Conservatives need to emphasize that they are the ones who set the standards bar high even if we don’t always live up to it instead of an adolescent anarchy of anything goes mentality.
Jvette on September 12, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Who was it–Biden?– who snarked last week, “This isn’t your father’s Republican Party!”? Of course it isn’t! Palin, Jindal, Steele–not an white guy or a RINO among ‘em.
Republican rock stars all.
(With respect to white guys–I’m married to one)
Kimmer on September 12, 2008 at 11:52 AM
McCain has said that he isn’t interested in being a one term president. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about McCain, is that he says what he means. Even when I don’t like what he’s saying.
It’s way to soon to be assuming that he won’t run for a second term.
MarkTheGreat on September 12, 2008 at 11:53 AM
You can put lipstick on a donkey, but it is still a jackass…
right2bright on September 12, 2008 at 11:54 AM
A cabinet position for Steele.
Anything but State.
MarkTheGreat on September 12, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Heh. I’ve met him. Great guy.
Walter Williams. Subs for Rush sometimes.
baldilocks on September 12, 2008 at 11:58 AM
I like Michael also, but he has a terrible verbal tic (its actually a pet peeve of mine) in that he overuses the phrase “the reality is …”.
Let me fantasize for a minute: Lets win this election, then in 4 years, can you imagine the power of a Palin/Steele ticket?
lionheart on September 12, 2008 at 12:04 PM
I’ve always liked Steele. McCain should appoint him to a cabinet position.
YellowDawg on September 12, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Yes sir! I’m going to work the polls on election day. Pray for me.
As for what Ed and Michael said: AMEN.
Christine on September 12, 2008 at 12:09 PM
The other obvious choice for McCain’s VP would have been Steele. But, it would have been fodder for the Demos who would say: ‘You’re playing tit-for-tat with the psuedo-black man’!
Sarah was the perfect pick-just from the standpoint of the spike in the sales of Depends for the Obamites.
Christine on September 12, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Steele is the real deal!
As for that ridiculous interview, Gibson is an a$$! He came across as a misogynistic cool aid drinker trying to do a hatchet job.
Thank God he was so obvious.
America1st on September 12, 2008 at 12:20 PM
I’ve always liked this man! Wish he would run for Pres someday! Go Michael!
hopefloats on September 12, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Michael Steele is great. I’d love to see him get some more applicable experience an run on the national ticket.
Larry Elder is great too, but I’m afraid he respects personal freedoms too much for the social cons to accept him.
TedInATL on September 12, 2008 at 12:29 PM
RocketmanBob on September 12, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Dubn8tr on September 12, 2008 at 12:49 PM
steele needs to run for something SOON and win so he can get his butt on a national ticket.
Palin/Steele would be nuclear awesome cuz it would say to america “hey, Clinton/Obama didnt happen, but the Republicans?..we can deliver”…
Drunk Report on September 12, 2008 at 12:56 PM
except that he was Lieutenant Governor. He has even less of a resume than Gov. Palin. Maybe even less than Sen. Obama.
The Monster on September 12, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Steele and Blackwell both have a bright future in the GOP. The problem is they both express disappointment with the lack of GOP inroads to the black community. I hope they have a solution and aren’t just going to complain.
We need to break their blockvoting.
sven10077 on September 12, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Two strong days of polling for McCain, Tue, Wed, Thursday. What happened Wed, Pigs in lipstick flew; that’s what happened?
sophiesmom on September 12, 2008 at 3:36 PM
That other guy is Walter Williams. Love the guy.
I remember years ago when he was a guest on Lou Rukeyser’s Wall Street Week on PBS.
Lou asked him something like what the President could do to work with Congress. Williams said that they should “Give every Congressman a million bucks to get out of town”.
Love his confident libertarian small gov principles.
Sapwolf on September 12, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Love Palin.
Love Steele.
Love Jindal.
But let’s not fall into the trap of being right-wing identity-politics mongers. McCain should definitely put Steele into his cabinet so he can get some experience at something; but I think that should be true of George Allen, as well–after the massive smear which was perpetrated against him.
I doubt McCain has the vision to try to groom the farm team, but maybe Palin would, in 4-8 years.
urbancenturion on September 12, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Palin, Steele, Jindal. Three powerful leaders for the Republican future. The future looks bright indeed!
Herb on September 12, 2008 at 5:22 PM
I fell in love with Steel when I listened to him during Denver when the O was giving his speech and Michael kept on saying how when the O was saying what he was going to do for the country.
tee866 on September 12, 2008 at 7:13 PM
I hope someone is reading this that matters because Michael Steel is a great politician and has great ideas . We need more Republicans like him in office.
Gracelynn on September 12, 2008 at 10:11 PM
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