It’s on off: Gingrich may endorse Steele for RNC chair, says Fox News
posted at 4:05 pm on November 11, 2008 by Allahpundit
Via the Standard, a follow-up to yesterday’s death match post. No official word yet, but it’s in the works:
Michael Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, has decided to run for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee and is in talks with Newt Gingrich to win the former House speaker’s endorsement, FOX News learned Tuesday.
Steele declined to comment, but a source close to the situation said Steele would announce his candidacy as early as Thursday.
The source also contradicted a report in Tuesday’s Washington Times that Steele and Gingrich were competing for the RNC post.
“There is no fight,” the source said. “This tension between Michael Steele and Newt Gingrich is totally fabricated and, in fact, Gingrich and Steele are working together to create a new strategy for the direction of the GOP.”
The chief opposition appears to be current chair Mike Duncan, who shouldn’t be much of an obstacle having just presided over the worst GOP debacle since 1976. Steele beat Newt in our web poll yesterday, incidentally — 51/49 among just shy of 5,000 votes cast, a testament to his enduring popularity among the base via his FNC appearances even though he’s never won elected office higher than lieutenant governor. As for Gingrich, Ross Douthat’s take calls to my mind one of the many money lines from Raging Bull: “You give me all these answers, but you ain’t giving me the right answer.”
Via Marc Ambinder, in case you’re jacked at the thought of Chairman Steele, a new website coincidentally appeared yesterday featuring an online petition to draft him for the position. Sign up here. Exit question: Is this the surest sign yet that Newt’s thinking of a run in 2012? Remember, Huck allegedly wants his own former campaign manager, Chip Saltsman, in at RNC. If Gingrich plays kingmaker with Steele, he’s got important friends in high places ahead of the next primaries.
Blowback
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Ok, let me get this straight.
If Huckabee supports Chip Saltsman, who has actually been a successful state chairman and led a National campaign that far exceeded anyone’s expectations, he is demonstrating “Obama-esque” cronyism.
If Gingrich supports Michael Steele, who is a politician that once was Lt. Governor but lost his own local election for Senate, he is getting friends in high places.
Yeah, that makes perfect sense now doesn’t it?
jparks1972 on November 11, 2008 at 7:40 PM
I am, as Linday Lohan like to call us, a “colored” person. So can someone tell me what’s Steele qualifications for this position. Does he have any plans to move the party forward or is he just showing up to Sunday talk shows and hope that’s enough.
Apologetic California on November 11, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Steele in 2012 wouldn’t be bad either.
Speakup on November 11, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Well, he is at least as qualified as either of the three previous Bozos. Even if he doesn’t do any good at all, he would have to work hard to alienate as many of ‘the base’ Mel Martinez did.
LegendHasIt on November 11, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Exit answer: nah.
As for Steele, I like him, but conservatives ready yourselves for some disorientingly liberal positions.
Jaibones on November 11, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Excellent:)
canopfor on November 11, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Can you elaborate, give examples?
Red State State of Mind on November 11, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Yeah, JB. How about a little HotAir style vetting?
Saltysam on November 11, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Ok, you let a rising star such as Steele be the RNC chair and and face of the “new” Republican party and you have Newt contribute strategy and guidance to make it work.
Strategically, you gotta get control of the house first, but the Demos recruited a whole lot of “conservative” candidates in the last two elections, knowing that liberals couldn’t win enough seats. So, the party would have to out-conservative those blue dogs. Hopefully Queen Pelosi will demand their votes on a lot of liberal garbage (vote my way or your career is done) so there is opportunity for Republicans to wedge in.
It’s also time to for some of those Republican governors to run for the Senate – Palenty is one, Palin is another.
Question for the crowd here. What do you do with the RINOs in the Senate? You gotta keep them in the party to have some minimal say over what happens in the Senate, yet the party can’t move back to its principles with them in the party. So what do you do with ‘em?
Dr. Bob on November 11, 2008 at 10:36 PM
I am for going back to our roots.
chacker on November 12, 2008 at 12:10 AM
GO MIKE GO!!!!
/that’s mike s., not schmuck …
Buckaroo on November 12, 2008 at 12:32 AM
Steele/Palin 2012!
I have always liked Michael for his common sense approach to things. He’s not easily ruffled and is a great asset to the party.
hopefloats on November 12, 2008 at 2:16 AM
I am conflicted. I was for Michael Steele before a lot of party members noticed him. Young, vital, intelligent, and conservative. (he even looks clean, too) I want him to chair the RNC but I also WANT HIM TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. He and Palin would make a good team if she would consider a second time around. This would indeed enlarge the tent without sacrificing principles. Steele would not take the crap that Bush took, nor be a waltzing Matilda like McCain. I like John but he needs to memorize the old saying: Its not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.
AReadyRepub on November 12, 2008 at 3:05 AM
Steele is a RINO who supports affirmative action, Roe V Wade and Gun Control, seriously, when are people going to actaully look at what candidates support?
nelsonknows on November 12, 2008 at 6:25 AM
help, help! I completely lost any ability to type!
nelsonknows on November 12, 2008 at 6:26 AM
I know I just read yesterday that Fred was considering a run for chairman. Am I delusional? I even commented on the article. Was I just dreaming? If so, it was a good dream!
I think I like Michael Steele, but if the above is true, and he supports Roe v Wade, I must rethink my view. Isn’t he Catholic? I can NOT tolerate another ‘pro-choice’ Catholic! I just can’t!
pannw on November 12, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Steele isn’t conservative enough for me… he ran for Senate in MARYLAND… a very liberal state. Many of his positions then would not be considered conservative.
ColHogan on November 12, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Don’t get me wrong, I like Steele, but this smacks of “me too!” by the Republicans. Steele needs to be leading the charge by getting elected in a race for Congress/Senate or being a Governor. Put Steele out in front of the people.
Newt’s got the creds to lead the charge from the HQ. To help shape a republican revolution like ’94. Put Newt behind the scenes.
I’m a Newt girl. Go Newt!
baxtrice on November 12, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Michael Steele has been quoted as saying that he believes that Roe v. Wade should stand. But he then supports most Pro-Life views. So his position is a little fuzzy at best.
My biggest problem with Steele is that he is a politician and not an organizer or grassroots motivator. If he loses his own election for a Senate seat which is only voted on by people of his state, how can we expect him to help get others elected in not only his state, but across this nation?
jparks1972 on November 12, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I would agree that Steele is needed more as a Governor or Senator in Maryland. I think this would be better suited for him rather than RNC Chair.
jparks1972 on November 12, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Go Steele Go!
If Newt endorses him, at least it proves he can get at least one thing right.
LimeyGeek on November 12, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Newt isn’t a valid candidate either! Let’s not forget, Newt supported Shamnesty before the PEOPLE roped in Senators to vote against it, THEN, when Newt found out the folks were against Shamnesty, he was too.
ANYONE who sits on a couch with NAZI NAMBLA Nancy Pelosi, Sphincter of the House, and spews Global Warming propaganda is no longer a valid candidate for anything.
nelsonknows on November 12, 2008 at 3:05 PM
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