Hot Air poll: Is it time for Steele to go?
posted at 8:40 pm on March 12, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Momentarily bereft of content, I turn to the cheapest traffic ploy imaginable. I’m hearing a lot of “Steele must go” lately but I think it’s nutty. First, the man hasn’t had a shot at so much as a single congressional race yet. Admittedly, the first one on his plate isn’t looking good, but if it turns out he’s got a knack for getting people elected, he can mumble as much as he wants about “individual choice” and none of us will care. Second, the optics of the GOP tossing its first black chairman out on his ear in a matter of weeks would be horrible, especially if the guy who replaces him is known to frequent racially restrictive country clubs. Third, he hasn’t even finished naming his staff yet. How about giving them a month or two to perform (and to pull him aside and let him know that fewer interviews would be better at this point) before wiping the slate clean?
On the other hand, Liz Mair is right. He’s inching dangerously close to buffoonishness. Vote it out!
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Bullshit Barkie.
EVERY socon I know is a fiscal conservative. Every one of them.
Sapwolf on March 13, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Thanks, sincerely and I admit there is some.
Fact is were he doing his job he’d have not been in more than one of these gaffes right now.
regards,
sven
sven10077 on March 13, 2009 at 12:02 AM
Clarence Thomas wore the black panther uniform throughout his college experience. He has never diminished the significance of racism, nor has he rejected the impact it has had on the black community. He rose above it, and wants the rest of the black community to do the same, but it definitely affected him.
Just look at the numbers, poverty rates, incarceration rates, AIDS rates, crime rates in their neighborhoods, how the hell can you explain those without acknowledging that perhaps, just perhaps, there were some social consequences to killing any black person who attempted to get an education or behave entrepreneurial for hundreds of years?
galenrox on March 13, 2009 at 12:08 AM
In spite of the cult of victimology factor? I’m no expert, but it really does seem like a cult to me. A lot of black conservatives are considered “uncle toms” and are maligned. I believe even Bill Cosby has had some difficulty with that. It seems that many people in struggling neighborhoods reinforce each others negative attitudes, and until somebody leaves, it seems to me, it would be difficult for them to extricate themselves from the cult without being maligned by everybody around them. Wouldn’t this make it difficult to make progress on the ground in spite of the fact that conservative principles would improve their lives?
FloatingRock on March 13, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Certainly, and Condi can use a gun because of the same thing hating the haters…
and that’s fine…both used rage at injustice to fuel their rise to the top of their fields and both are heroes to me….
a burnt out 36 year old white guy, why the race hustlers like Jesse and Al won’t allow them to be heroes to their flocks is a mystery(well no not really)
Maybe, then again I know plenty of high functioning morons who have managed to dodge AIDS, look I get it and I also get that their anger is currently the most fresh rage out there, that said institutionalizing reverse racism in perpetuity is not the answer…
The goal is to be One Nation, not many little nations inside a holder nation….
sven10077 on March 13, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Sapwolf on March 13, 2009 at 12:00 AM
crap.
Who do your socons expect to run to when they get fired for not dispensing birth control?
How many socon charities turned away Bush’s faith based charity money? What’s that? Zero?
Thought so.
barkolounger on March 13, 2009 at 12:15 AM
The black community voted Republican right up until the great depression, and has been used and taken for granted ever since….
if the stakes were not so high, I’d ponder the sucker punching they take with a smile….
“yeah yeah sure….help us elect “x” and we’ll help you by letting you take your rightful place in union leadership….
yeah speaking of guys who “run in all white clubs” not a lot of African-American leadership in the unions eh?
sven10077 on March 13, 2009 at 12:17 AM
I don’t own a business so I don’t if that’s true or not but I will say that I’ve seen a lot of minority small businesses pop up in the last bit of years. But this is a could example. Their taxes will go up, and republicans have told them that, but they still voted for Obama for two reasons.
1. He’s black and its a historical moment
2. He was the Democratic pick.
While number 1 was and important factor. number 2 was the most important. A Democrat gets the majority black vote. Why, because regardless of what Republicans say, their image is that they can give two craps about us so they go automatically in the NO box.
Once the image is changed minds will open up to the message.
I was hoping Steele could convince me. I’m sitting on the fence with both feed over the left side and can go either way depending on the word of the day. Frankly its annoying. But I have no clue how I could fit into the Republican party even though my philosophical views are somewhat more aligned that way. Unfortunately I feel closed off and unwelcomed.
You know its things like Welfare. My mother was on welfare with my sister and I when our father kind of dropped us and roamed elsewhere. But that was when welfare was a means to an end, not a lifetime lifeline. I had to break down this year and put my baby girl on state insurance (peachcare,SCHIP) because my husband lost his job while I was looking for one and we couldn’t afford to purchase any. She has digestive problems and severe food allergies. Of course we couldn’t get crap but at least I got the toddler covered. Its a horrible feeling knowing that one sickness or accident could bankrupt us at that point. So I think some sort of universal healthcare is not that insane of an idea or that welfare should be totally wiped out.
Magnus on March 13, 2009 at 12:21 AM
To answer my own question: I think it would be difficult to make progress on the ground in a piecemeal fashion. The greatest hope we have to instill conservative principles in struggling minority neighborhoods, (which is really a secondary consideration), is to give them the tools provided by a good education, (which is most effective with a strong family), stop the gang violence by ending the war on drugs and drying up the market the gangs rely on, and thus allow them to lift themselves out of these neighborhoods or improve them. Then the cult-of-victimology will crumble on it’s own and democrats will no longer have a stranglehold on the black vote.
FloatingRock on March 13, 2009 at 12:25 AM
+1
funky chicken on March 13, 2009 at 12:27 AM
Yes, that’s why you need someone who is strong and willing to fight in those areas and sees some sort of value in that.
Its going back to the image problem.
Republicans and Conservatives have been successfully branded by the media, liberals, and by the own words and actions as being exclusive, white, racist, uncaring, and willing to tear down and run over anyone in their way of wealth and their own success. Specifically the poor and minorities.
So if they are views as a group of people that hate black people and despise minorities any black person that joins their ranks are going to be maligned. It’s like that house slave that goes and tells the master that the field slaves are wanting to run north to freedom.
Does that make sense?
Magnus on March 13, 2009 at 12:28 AM
I’ve heard that, and that welfare changed all that. Welfare may have been instituted for the best of reasons but it’s had a devastating effect.
FloatingRock on March 13, 2009 at 12:29 AM
okay I’m tired. My spelling is suffering. Good Night all.
Magnus on March 13, 2009 at 12:29 AM
Can Steele? I don’t know but he needs to repudiate these positions:
“I strongly support affirmative action” – Michael Steele (The Washington Post, October 30, 2006)
“You draw the line. I mean, what do you need an assault weapon for?” – Michael Steele (Washington Post, October 14, 2006)
“We have to elect moderates in the party.” – Michael Steele (CBN News, December 8, 2008)
Poptech on March 13, 2009 at 12:37 AM
Sure, but many of those factors are outside of our control. I’m not saying that it’s not worth the effort. I’m all for conservative outreach to the poor and minorities, (but not pandering), I just have doubts that we’ll make much headway until some of those circumstances have changed.
FloatingRock on March 13, 2009 at 12:41 AM
Magnus on March 13, 2009 at 12:29 AM
Good Night and thanks for the insight. For the record, I think some of the perception comes from countering Dems positions. It is an important thing to work out though and we need more honest conversations like this.
msmveritas on March 13, 2009 at 12:43 AM
Goodnight. Please come back, it’s been interesting.
FloatingRock on March 13, 2009 at 12:43 AM
It wasn’t done for the best of reasons.
When LBJ passed his Great Society reforms (especially welfare & Medicare), he reportedly chortled, “These *n-word’s* will vote for us Democrats for the next 200 years.”
And so they have.
So, it was done for the very reason we see now: to get & keep votes.
Ogabe’s current crashing of the economy and his upcoming budget (if it goes through) is nothing more than dressed-up reparations.
Jenfidel on March 13, 2009 at 12:49 AM
Goodnight Magnus,it was a pleasure to meet you here at HotAir
and I hope you return soon and often.
dragondrop on March 13, 2009 at 12:52 AM
Are you certain of that? Wow!
FloatingRock on March 13, 2009 at 12:53 AM
I was a counselor in a pretty well off school district. There were a good number of students who were not though, in fact, they were quite poor. I was working at the time Clinton went with Welfare to Work and these kids were genuinely glad because they saw how it made their families dependent and they hated that. Despite Obama paying lip service to the idea he got that all wrong, he goes and undoes it immediately. I think his ideology is so ingrained he will continually govern from the far left.
Those kids I counseled are probably in their late 20’s now. I wonder what they will think of Obama’s plans.
msmveritas on March 13, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Your problem is you think you are smarter than average voters and hang with people that really do ‘get’ you, despite how you come across.
The first blocked quote is a good example of your snide disrespect for black issues and the advances fought for and won by this constituency.
If you ‘really do know’ why Sharpton won’t ‘let’ condi be a hero why not just say why?
Also don’t you understand how condescending and insulting it is to imply that sharpton has control of the black consciousness?
That condi isn’t a hero because a few black leaders forbid it is ridiculous.
The second blocked quote is stunning irony in that the Republican party has been doing that to evangelicals for almost 30 years.
The difference being the power Democrats have given black members of their party hasn’t been cosmetic and impotent.
Most importantly opening their party to minorities hasn’t hurt their party. It has in fact grown it to where we are in danger of becoming a regional fringe party of morons and blowhards.
Sure there are still smart republicans all over the country but they aren’t getting elected. The only place republicans are getting elected they are electing the worst among us.
Everywhere else the American people are voting for the party that represents the broadest mix of ideas and membership.
I mean perish the thought… a pro life democrat?
Well yes, if the pro life person also values life past the womb and wants to invest in public education and healthcare, if the pro life voter also believes in government agencies like the fda and the epa.
Right now we tell the pro life voters that we, wink nod, will end abortion. And while doing so we will put the companies importing our kid’s toys from china in charge of the agencies making sure china isn’t putting poison in them.
Telling pro life voters we will let them impose their moral standards on everyone else while at the same time we tell them the chemical plant down the street has the divine right to pollute the drinking water their children drink.
The socon pandering isn’t working anymore, and now we have emboldened religious zealots demanding their pound of flesh from a political party that no longer wins a majority even with their support.
Pro choice
Pro environment
Pro universal health care
Pro public education
Pro science
None of the above contradict core conservative beliefs.
The question is…Do republicans have polices on those issues that can compete with the Democrats who have been on these issues for decades?
We have lost ground on our so called staple issues while we haven’t been gaining an inch on any of those. The economy and national security used to be ours, without hesitation.
We are in the wilderness and have to stop wandering while pretending we are following a map.
In my humble opinion we will be here longer if we keep pandering to socons instead of acknowledging 21st century political realities, looking around the world at popular conservative parties, and adapting our policy positions to reshape modern conservatism.
barkolounger on March 13, 2009 at 1:00 AM
I lost 90% of my respect for Steele with the Nazi bit. Add 9% of what remains for his GQ interview, specifically how he addressed racial issues.
Steele was elected because he was thought to have the best shot at dealing with these perceptions with the middle of the road folks and the lefties that lean right. Not because he’s black (although that certainly adds credibility, especially in the Age of Obama)but because he used to present and support a good case. God know what happened since his election. So far, he’s been an abysmal failure in this regard, along with everything else. I cannot fathom how this idiot has consistently chosen to address these issues from such a floundering, pandering position of weakness. Last time I check, it was the Republican party who has the most historically positive record on racial issues, economic issues, values and overall quality of life. Please remind me, which party is it that still has a KKK member in elected office and consistently uses race both a weapon against opponents and a tool to keep the ignorant voting for them? So why is Steele apologizing? It’s not our fault that the last election was decided in spite of content of character and solely on color of skin.
I don’t give a damn about the Rush crap or the Al Franken statement. Yes, it’s still a stunning display of ineptitude, but that was an engineered bear trap that no one was getting out of unscathed. The media, under the direct instruction of Rahm and his merry morons is out to put the final nail in the Republican coffin. As much as I hate to admit it, they’re good at what they do. They have the MSM and thereby general public perception locked up and they’re exploiting it for all it’s worth. They no longer have Bush to kick around, but the wasted no time in targeting their new boogey man.
The only reason he still has 1% remaining from me is because the alternative is far worse. If we replace Steele with an idiot that got into politics, by his own admission, to oppose desegregation and has since been a member of a whites-only country club, we might as well just sign the country over to the Democrats for infinity, pack our things and move to Iraq.
Damiano on March 13, 2009 at 1:01 AM
Night magnus, sven and all others communicating in good faith. God bless you. You may not believe in Him but He believes in you. /quote
baldilocks on March 13, 2009 at 1:02 AM
FIFY
radiofreevillage on March 13, 2009 at 1:16 AM
Very well put. There is not longer an accepted, significant difference between Republican and Conservative. Even the slightest variation leads to RINO accusations and demands for expulsion.
I’ve personally experienced it here, since I am a Conservative Republican on everything except religion and abortion. I even support the same values, I just don’t root them in religious belief. On many occasions, I’ve gotten flamed and told to go back to Koos where I belong.
From this perspective, I like what Steele’s trying to do with taking the party in a more open and welcoming direction. I just think he’s going about it in the weakest, most pathetic, most pandering and most inept manner possible. Even with my differences of opinion with the traditional conservative line, I see no reason to deviate from core conservative values.
There’s a funny thing about the minority, specifically Black and Hispanic voters, that I know (many of whom supported Obama). They’ve got a stronger set of traditional conservative values than most Conservatives I know. They teach their kids the value of work hard and personal responsibility.
The problem comes down to the fact that Democrats have been frighteningly effective in propagating the myth that Republicans are the racist party who is bent on denying them what is theirs and keeping them down so that the rich can walk across the mud by stepping on their backs. We know this isn’t true, yet Steele seems to be hell bent on apologizing for it and making reparations anyhow.
Damiano on March 13, 2009 at 1:18 AM
radiofreevillage on March 13, 2009 at 1:16 AM
No I’m sorry. Making sure everyone has access to health care and quality public education isn’t antithetical to conservatism.
We have let the Democrats define those isssues while we have rejected them out of hand as socialist.
Look at Canada.
Look at Israel.
Look at Germany.
Sure each of those examples of governing conservatives has ‘trust issues’ to deal with from their respective voters on these issues but none have allowed the left to paint them as so against them that electing conservatives would mean a rejection of these ‘values’.
Here? Not so much.
barkolounger on March 13, 2009 at 1:26 AM
Guide me O Thou great Jehovah
OmahaConservative on March 13, 2009 at 1:31 AM
I am with you on education, it can only strengthen us as a country. Making sure everyone has access to quality affordable health care is far different, IMO, to insuring everyone through the government. I don’t want the government involved in my health care decisions nor do I want them dictating health care operations. I absolutely think politicians should stay out of medicine, they can’t help themselves but to do harm.
msmveritas on March 13, 2009 at 1:45 AM
I have refered to Steele as the GOP’s ‘token black guy’ in a past post, and perhaps it was remiss of me to do so. It’s not a racist slight I intended, it’s just the truth.
The Defeatocrats have Obama and a whole host of black Senators, albeit most of them are corrupt, in powerful postions. The RNC counters with Steele, the first black RNC chair ever, as if to project some kind of ‘Hey, look at us. we like black people too’ image. It’s B.S. all the way. Steele wasn’t qualified for the position from the start and he has made a number of idiotic gaffes that prove he was the wrong choice from the beginning.
The RNC’s choice for chair has turned himself and the RNC into a punchline.
The GOP did it with Sarah Palin and the ‘female vote’. They did it with Bobby Jindal and the ‘ethnic vote’. Now it’s Steele and the great-white-guilt-trip vote. Stop already!
Image means very little, if anything at all, to the big picture and the end game.
GOP: Stop playing race and sexism politics. Just get some people on point who are intelligent and informed, know what the hell they are doing, damn the skin color and/or sex, who don’t spew idiotic sentences in front of every single camera and microphone that comes within sight, and we can go from there in the future. If the picks are ethnic and/or female, great. That would be wonderful. But that shouldn’t be the priority reason for freaking putting them on point!
And please…no more PRO-BABY-MURDERERING-SERIAL-KILLERS!
Thank you very much. If you can somehow manage to pull your heads out of your posterior location where the Sun never shines, maybe I’ll even start writing checks again too.
Can Steele and get on it now GOP!
SilverStar830 on March 13, 2009 at 1:58 AM
If you are going to assert the right to smoke, drink, and engage in sexually promiscuous behavior, you accept the responsibility for the consequences of your behavior. Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand.
With universal health care, that goes out the window. Under universal health care, one class of citizens will have all the rights while another class will have all the responsibilities.
eaglescout1998 on March 13, 2009 at 2:35 AM
And another thing. People need food and water before they need health care. Are you suggesting we should have universal nutrition? Universal hydration?
eaglescout1998 on March 13, 2009 at 2:37 AM
We’re on the same page here. Sharpton is a scumbag, Jesse Jackson I think makes things worse but I think he’s motivated by good things primarily.
I agree, but involves getting serious about solving the problems. Realistically the war on drugs is gonna have to end and we have to switch to vouchers that aren’t funded by property taxes. It’s gonna come from entrepreneurialism, it’s only when a black kid has as much of a chance to become independently wealthy as a white kid (speaking law of averages picking a random kid).
The right wing is going to have to recognize that racism absolutely still exists, but more significantly the subsequent problems of slavery and everything that followed have not been addressed and that they need to be addressed. As long as there are Republicans saying they just need to get over it (obviously you’re not saying this, I recognize that) we’re gonna be seen as the party of redneck racists who don’t take fixing things seriously because we were probably not to excited about any of the major steps for civil rights. And it’ll keep sticking because to a much larger degree than most any of us would like to admit, there are a lot of those people in the party. Strom Thurmond served in the Senate almost until he died. That’s insane.
I’m sorry that I took that tone in my first post, you clearly ultimately think about this the same way that I do. It’s about one nation, and that’s not gonna happen until we recognize the role that conservatives played in making it two.
galenrox on March 13, 2009 at 2:41 AM
A much greater percentage of social liberal Pubs tend to expand government far more than social con Pubs. The only exception that comes to mind is RGuil. Just look at the social lib David Frum and see all the growth he now supports.
True_King on March 13, 2009 at 3:08 AM
Since the GOP is currently without definition leave him there to placate the brothers.
In a few weeks if he does not become a mouthpiece for whoever is controlling the bank accounts and phones of the RNC and RNCC he may as well leave unless he likes sitting alone at a desk all day waiting for the phone to ring
entagor on March 13, 2009 at 4:10 AM
I tried to tell everyone BEFORE Steele was voted in, that Steele was a BIG mistake but no one wanted to listen, ARE YOU FINALLY LISTENING NOW?
nelsonknows on March 13, 2009 at 4:20 AM
I say we can him and replace him with MachoSauce!
Two points:
1. Silences the crys of RACISM!(TM)
and
2. Zo would TOTALLY attract people to the big tent: he communicates conservative ideas clearly, concisely and in a manner that everyone can relate to and at the same time, isn’t a gutless tool bent on criticizing his own party to it’s detriment while effectively attacking the rank hypocrisy of the Donks and exposing their schemes for exactly what they are: brazen power grabs on the backs of the ignorant and dependent!
SuperCool on March 13, 2009 at 5:37 AM
For the next RNC Chairman
Abortion is murder, PERIOD
Republicans are the good guys, Democrats are the bad guys EVERYTIME
Rush Limbaugh is NOT the enemy, Barack Obama is.
If an interviewer compares Republicans to Nazis, Interview over or punch him in his liberal prick face!
sabbott on March 13, 2009 at 6:28 AM
So, what do we prefer? An Chairman who calls for putting Rush on Mount Rushmore and demands that any woman getting an abortion be put on death row?
I mean come on. I don’t think he is buffoonish, but I do think that it is becoming more and more clear that no one is ever good enough. Not Bush as president, not McCain as nominee, not Steele as chairman.
I am beginning to think that we are at least part of the problem. I am wondering if there is any pleasing a lot of us.
Hopefully Steele will find a way to pacify enough people. I think this is why so many politicians tend to say nothing when they speak. They are trying to avoid getting in trouble.
Terrye on March 13, 2009 at 7:23 AM
sabbot:
I had a friend who had to have an abortion. The fetus was not developing properly the and the doctor told her it would not survive to term. The doctor also told her that if she tried to carry the baby, they might well both die.
She wanted that baby and was heartbroken when she could not carry it to term. To tell her that was murder is just wrong. And if you make a point of doing that you will alienate more people than you will persuade. That means that issues like parent notification will be decided by Democrats not Republicans.
Terrye on March 13, 2009 at 7:27 AM
Seriously? Let’s stop eating our own for a few days and rag on Chris mathews some. He can’t go a day without embarassing the human race. Had he been eskimo his parents would have long since placed him out in the snow to die as the freak of nature he is.
BrideOfRove on March 13, 2009 at 7:47 AM
Polling a can of worms opens, not closes distraction after distraction. Allap, you may as well poll whether to ban yourself. Had you the maturity, you would not insist to always be the major distracting thorn in the *ss that you are.
FOCUS.
From his GQ interview, Steele presents the perception that the GOP not only doesn’t care about minorities, but that the GOP offers them nothing.
My response to Steele’s perception remains that the GOP preserves the Constitution, the single ruling document that protects all populations and individuals with rule of law under balanced branches of governmental authority. The Democrats destroy our Constitution. THAT is simple enough for anyone to grasp as illustrative points substantiate.
Should Steele determine to use his particular experience in life to minister amongst the masses of minorities preaching the Constitution as gospel, THAT is what the GOP offers. The national security and fortunate opportunities of a good life given responsible personal efforts is what Republicans want to share. As the RNC Chairman, Michael Steele, FOCUS!
No one can be all things to all people at all times; every person has his own stake in success. Republicans value virtues. Be all that you can be and enjoy life. Democrats simply forsook what that takes long ago.
Sean Hannity has proven that the general population, and the entire public educated masses, have been indoctrinated with Marxist Socialism. Karl Marx was some salesman. Youthful “Great Expectations” today are based upon communism, unlike Dickens’ story. The past century has proven that every communist regime fails which does not embrace the life force of capitalism. As soon as American youth discover en masse the plague of poverty that permeates communism, irony never lost, they will persist in the attempt to amalgamate their Socialism with an element of motivation, aka capitalism. But never fear; only the Socialist Party Elite prosper.
OK, Steele. Make CLEAR points with the minority populations of every color. Prove the point you failed to make in your published interview. Either that, or admit once again that the ministry requires something specifically than you don’t honestly have and retire to a position better suited to your own perceptions. Personally, I have some faith for you. Now go shine your light!
PS A motivational leader never intimates the self destructive behavioral victim card. Even at the time of your education there, Johns Hopkins as an institution and student body presented NO OBSTACLES to minority students; rather, enhanced opportunities and real friendships.
Only morons consider canning Steele so soon. Can yourselves.
maverick muse on March 13, 2009 at 8:41 AM
Gee, never heard of Huckabee?
Al in St. Lou on March 13, 2009 at 8:46 AM
You can’t can him; but you can put others in place to help him, whether he wants the help or not.
james23 on March 13, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Purging all grey matter leaves a brain dead moron.
Pacification does not a larger party base make.
Steele needs to bone up on the Constitution.
Conservatives ALL must recognize Constitutional boundaries, and honor those, namely STATES’ RIGHTS; else wise admit fraud.
There’s enough to promote within the Constitution without requiring revisionism, the very Socialist element that changes/corrupts the essence of matter.
Change Obama’s Corruption
maverick muse on March 13, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Heh, he mentioned changing by force of personality, or by sheer force /laugh.
Shake it
Shake it
Shake it, baby.
Twist and Shout!
maverick muse on March 13, 2009 at 8:59 AM
Ironic, those promoting universal health care squeal the loudest fear that the government abuses a person’s DNA.
DUH, Socialist Democrat dimwit!!!
maverick muse on March 13, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Steele threw Rush under the bus and has no spine in standing up to liberals and defend conservatives…can his ass. We don’t need a yes-man, we need someone with integrity and strength, not a wishy-washy RINO.
thinkagain on March 13, 2009 at 9:29 AM
I was hoping that having Mr. Steele represent the Republican party would help draw African Americans that held Conservative values to our party. It amazes me that many of my black friends share the same Christian values I hold, but stick to the Democratic party because they feel that the Republican party is a white country club.
I am not real thrilled over Mr. Steele’s performance though. I get the feeling that he is just a politician and doesn’t really have strong Conservative convictions. If he had these, he could fight for conservative beliefs and not pander to the left.
SGinNC on March 13, 2009 at 9:44 AM
He’s been hosting Bennett’s show on Fridays for some time, but Santorum was guest host today. Is that dripping with meaning, or no?
Akzed on March 13, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Steele is clearly a lightweight in an age of lightweights, but we didn’t participate in the RNC Chair election — so why participate in a poll now? The only polling that matters is solicitations for funds. Rush fans and Pro-Lifers might have been highly committed to the GOP emotionally and financially — let’s see how good the smart guys in the Frum wing are in helping Steele to meet RNC fundraising goals.
Mark30339 on March 13, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Public Education for true, real Conservatives is important. We should demand that our Government give PARENTS the right to choose… Isn’t it interesting that Liberals demand “choice” in their decision to KILL BABIES, but refuse to allow PARENTS choice in schools. Conservatives should force and demand that OUR TAX MONEY is provided to every parent, allowing them to choose the school, be it public, private, Christian or home school… The TAX money is then given to that group, or rebated for home schoolers. What’s wrong with this? Union thugs control the far left Liberal garbage forced down Conservative kids throats and WE PAY FOR THE BRAINWASHING!!! It’s OUR MONEY, we should be allowed to choose where and to whom it is given… Conservatives and Christians should NOT be forced to pay for horrible public Liberal schools AND PAY for the Conservative school that is “balanced” in it’s teaching…
HEALTH CARE IS NOT A RIGHT, it is NOT provided for in the Constitution… You have NO RIGHT to steal from me and mine to provide for those that refuse to be personaly responsible. Work harder, learn to be worth more, get coverage by making lifestyle choices, or do without. Do not attempt to take MY health care and destroy it, like Canada, England, Germany. Their systems are broke, SS anyone?, and rationing IS accuring… Just leave me and mine alone with all this Social pandering, do not force the earners, the producers, the workers to pay for the lazy, the welfare queens, the ignorant, the foolish and the cheaters…
Mark Garnett on March 13, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Not yet. He really has not done anything to warrant canning him, he has not even had enough time to analyze the organizations positions, let alone being required to perform just yet.
His Biden gaffs have been harmless and I sense by his admission he’s learned his mistake.
Those that want to can him are one mistake and your out leaders. Such types have tough times leading because they do not have a large group of supporters.
MSGTAS on March 13, 2009 at 10:06 AM
American Family Newsletter (it’s not just about abortion)
Also from the Steele – GQ interview:
Steele also disputed the view that being homosexual is a lifestyle choice. “I don’t think I’ve ever really subscribed to that view that you can turn it on and off like a water tap. …You just can’t simply say, oh, like, ‘Tomorrow morning I’m gonna stop being gay.’ It’s like saying ‘Tomorrow morning I’m gonna stop being black,’” explained Steele.
Steele said an amendment to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman is a state issue and is “mucking around with the Constitution.”
Akzed on March 13, 2009 at 10:08 AM
It’s been time. I been saying from the start that he would be horrible and I am glad that the Steele lovers, who I have no idea why they wanted him in the first place except for maybe on very superficial reason, are eating their words. If you live around the DC-VA-MD area you would know this guy is an empty suit. All of his political campaigns lacked substance, this is the guy who had misleading campaign material to trick voters in thinking he was a Dem and his commercials were mindless dribble void of any policy, moreso than your average campaign.
LevStrauss on March 13, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Even Blackwell has chastised him.
Steele has no one to blame but himself. All his wounds have been self-inflicted.
At this point, I think he sucks for three reasons. First, he doesn’t seem to be doing anything remotely related to his position. Second, because he’s gone on TV to yack, I cannot figure out what he actually believes. Third, he’s made some incredibly stupid appearances.
Let’s get Blackwell in as soon as possible.
BuckeyeSam on March 13, 2009 at 10:12 AM
I always find this annoying, this is just like with Palin where people complain that they have the wrong people around him, and need people to take these supposed leaders by the hand like little babies. If you need remedial help you obviously have no place being in a leadership position. And people wonder why the party sucks right now.
LevStrauss on March 13, 2009 at 10:14 AM
It has been in the 42%-43% range of ‘can him’ since the poll began. Not a majority, but a significant number but that could become a bare majority if Tedisco loses.
technopeasant on March 13, 2009 at 10:16 AM
I think the problem with public schools is that they’ve created generations of adults that are “book smart” but not “street smart”.
eaglescout1998 on March 13, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Levi Strauss on March 13, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Imagine if you a starting QB on a NFL team. In modern football the head coach or his offensive coordinator calls the plays into the huddle through the QB’s earpiece. Whether the QB calls a run play or a pass play is determined by a guy on the sidelines and not by the guy handling the ball after the snap of the ball.
Levi, Sarah Palin is the QB; as a VP candidate she was paid to ‘perform’; in political terms give cogent speeches, rally the base, inspire volunteers, and convince partisans to relinquish money from their wallet and send money to the campaign that she represents. That is exactly what she did.
With respect to your point about ‘complaining that they have the wrong people around him (her)and need people to take these supposed leaders by the hand like little babies…if you need remedial help you obviously have no place being in a leadership position’ Sarah Palin basically had McCain’s handlers foisted upon her, in which she articulated after the election that she had virtually no relationship with them prior to being selected as McCain’s running mate and that she as the VP candidate had to bestow her trust to people who she did not know her very well.
That’s like a QB going to a new team, does not know the head coach at all and then thrust into a game not having a firm grasp on what the coach is going to call at a given moment and above that not sure if the coach ‘is going to put him in a position that he can best succeed’.
This is where Sarah Palin found herself with McCain and his handlers. As Sarah related in Media Malpractice Sarah questioned the staff to the wisdom of going back to continue with the Couric interviews after the first episode had not gone well. That the handlers insisted that she return for more distress, grief and indignity is an example of a coach not looking after the welfare of his player and ‘not putting him (her) in the best position to succeed.’
If Sarah had hired those people herself I would come down on her for poor personnel skills but in her case you cannot blame her for affixing some blame to McCain’s handlers for putting her in less than favorable positions during the campaign or bestowing advice to her that did not work.
technopeasant on March 13, 2009 at 10:40 AM
The GOP simply can’t fire its first black chairman, no matter how incompetent he may be. Unless Michael Steele is caught e-mailing underage interns and asking for swimsuit pictures, he has to stay until the end of his term.
Enrique on March 13, 2009 at 10:48 AM
I wish I had more time to read all the commentary, perhaps this thread has been commented on already. I’m from the Peoples Republic of Maryland, and we had Steele as our Lt. Gov. under Ehrlich for 4 delightful years, before returning to the normal schlock this past election. Steele was great – repeat, great – as Lt. Gov. Possibly that’s because we MD conservatives have such low expectations. I’ve been extremely disappointed to see Michael make such an awful – repeat, awful – showing this past month.
I would like to point out that being leader of the RNC is not the same as being leader of the party. I see the problem as been a much deeper one: we have no conservative leadership at present, in the Republican Party or elsewhere (I’m Independent). Steel might stick to his talking points better if someone were leading the party.
What I find most distressing at this particular moment in time is the empty, vacant hall of leadership in our capital, and in most of our state capitals. There are just a bunch of pigs grubbing in the trough. No one with cajones is standing up for the people. Are there no spines left? Will no good man or woman, with the charisma, wit, and will, stand up to the task at hand, and begin the task of reining in our government? Of finding a way to bring the ridiculous nature of Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters, Barney Frank, etc. ad nauseum, to the eye of the American people? Is there no one who can speak the plain words of truth that most Americans will hear, even if it is not always good news?
Where have all the leaders gone?
(of course working in politics in DC is like swimming in a sewer, so you have to have a really huge desire for power to want to play in those fields, too … *sigh!*)
WraithRat on March 13, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Just say no to Katon Dawson…We don’t need his semi-racist baggage.
MechEng5by5 on March 13, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Yeah , give the guy a chance. At least he is not an empty suit like the last one.
kangjie on March 13, 2009 at 11:06 AM
On the other hand the idea that we can get anymore of the black vote in 2012 than we did 2008 is not gonna happen.
Blacks vote racially and any black republican is no longer a black person in there eyes. Same thing goes for any minority really, just take a look at Malkins hate mail.
kangjie on March 13, 2009 at 11:10 AM
I’m sick and tired of being classed as a racist for telling the truth, so here goes… Oh yes we CAn and SHOULD if he’s a tool, black, white, green, purple… I do not care anymore. Fire losers! Blacks will not vote for values anyway, they voted SKIN COLOR, they elected an IDIOT! Makes them STUPID BLACKS, racists, voted for color, not America… I call Blacks traitors for voting for an empty suit full of lies, so SCREW WHAT THE BLACKS THINK! I care what Americans think, Americans of ALL colors, not those that vote color, or welfare, or Liberal womb to tomb care…
So yes, yes we can and should can the loser…
Mark Garnett on March 13, 2009 at 11:18 AM
I have always liked giving people three chances, like the old “3 strikes you’re out.” Steele is on his second strike. One more big goof, he’s out.
moonsbreath on March 13, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Everyone calling for Steele’s job are the Al Davis of politics.
Give the guy a chance. Steele needs to help his own case though, and stop giving interviews for awhile. Thinking before talking will help.
Chubbs65 on March 13, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Just win, baby.
Snowed In on March 13, 2009 at 11:48 AM
he has had some issues with wanting to be a populist for the party, but at least he hasn’t been this bad:
“See, uhhh, I — I — eh — Just one thing that, uhh, I was thinking about as I was, uhh, — as I was — getting off the, uhhh, copter ’cause, I — uhhh — you know, it was hard for me to believe you were entirely serious about that socialist question.” – Barack Obama
kirkill on March 13, 2009 at 11:57 AM
The Liz Mair piece linked presents an ironclad argument for how badly Michael Steele is has been performing, and it’s been going on before he took over as RNC chair. He is an ineffective communicator, but no one really paid too much attention before he began shooting himself in the foot repeatedly on television.
If those against firing him are too squeamish because of the potential backlash and being called racists, then put someone in there who can do the job whether Steele likes it or not. My pick is /newt Gingrich, and I’d prefer it was him alone. But whatever. Someone has to do the job, and Steele has demonstrated he can’t.
chunderroad on March 13, 2009 at 11:57 AM
That’s right, kick everybody out who doesn’t agree with your agenda. Pretty soon there won’t be any more party. Then maybe some sanity will prevail in the new party that plays a pick-up rather than kick-out game.
{^_^}
herself on March 13, 2009 at 12:20 PM
No one said kick him out. He can’t do his job. Appoint a co-chair, if you’re afraid firing him will look too bad.
PS: What would be the platform of “the new party” and how would it be different from the Democrats?
chunderroad on March 13, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Point is that Steele as RNC Chairman is not to put forward his views but to map a strategy for Republican victories. He doesn’t seem to get this. He doesn’t get that the MSM is not an uncritical friend. He is a liability and an impediment to progress, not a means to it. The Republican Party does not have the luxury of time to groom Steele. He is fostering division within the party and has failed utterly to expand the reach of the party.
What is the upside to keeping him on?
Angry Dumbo on March 13, 2009 at 12:38 PM
If you folks who want to can Michael Steele based on Steele’s futile attempt to embrace or outreach to minority voters or moderates let me ask you where were you when this was said by a prominent social commentator?
(And this person was not talking about Michael Steele)
“…(his/her)speech was undiluted white guilt…apologized for the Republican Party and thereby reinforced the very stereotype that (he/she) was trying to overcome.(he/she)justified blacks in their self-defeating rejection of the Republican Party by assigning Republicans a racism that has been historically active among Democrats than Republicans…it was a speech entirely defined by white guilt- (his/her) desire to separate (himself/herself) and (his/her)party from racism, no matter the self-betrayal involved…there was no reason for this speech except to win political legitimacy among MODERATE WHITES. And supplication to black victimization is still, sadly, the price of POLITICAL LEGITIMACY in America.”
Shelby Steele, referring to George Bush’s speech to the NAACP Convention on July 20, 2006
NB: if you want to understand the foundation of current RINO philosophy I would suggest you read the book White Guilt or read Steele’s interview at FrontPageMagazine.com
technopeasant on March 13, 2009 at 12:43 PM
No. Wait for the midterms.
SCOOPTHIScarlos on March 13, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Point is that Steele is not getting the job done in promoting the party. He is not getting the job done uniting the party. He is not doing a particularly good job of fundraising. Steele is under fire and his response is to stop giving interviews?
I’ve heard this story before and it doesn’t end well.
Angry Dumbo on March 13, 2009 at 12:59 PM
The problem isn’t the need for ideological purity, but that Steele doesn’t appear to have the foggiest idea of what shared values unite the party. As such he continues to step in it. The negative is that when he steps in it he divides the party and keeps people away. He sounds like he is an outsider with an agenda to change the party, not someone who believes in the party and wants to unite and attract.
Steele’s RNC adopts a false premise that it must cast off certain conservatives to attract new voters.
Steele is the wrong man for the job because his approach and fundamental view of the party is wrong.
Angry Dumbo on March 13, 2009 at 1:27 PM
I agree with Steele. Shelby, that is.
baldilocks on March 13, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Can’t we just can Steele and bring in Blackwell?
azcop on March 13, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Reading through the various arguments on why Michael Steele should be removed from the chairmanship of the RNC, they have focused mostly on his stumbles, missteps, that he misspoke, that he was not clear in what he believed or did not believe; but very few people have focused on the purpose of his visit to DL Hughley’s program and his interview by GQ–that is to offer outreach to minorities and moderates.
What am I getting at for conservatives in or associated with the Republican Party, regardless of whether Steele had stumbled or not, would you have favored Steele’s efforts in this regard and if you do not did you oppose the efforts by George Bush in 2006 to do the same thing?
Now here is my main point. The foundation of RINO philosophy is white guilt and until it is rooted out of the Republican Party, the conservative base will always be disappointed in most of the GOP politicians that represent them in Congress and the Presidency. Is Steele planning more of the same and for that reason alone should conservatives spurn him?
technopeasant on March 13, 2009 at 3:03 PM
This statement is old and wrong. For me, as a Christian conservative, I don’t want the government doing our job. What’s our job? Showing people the love of Christ by caring for their needs, thus leading them to Christ. If we turn that job over to the government, they will not only not lead people to Christ, but try to stamp out our ability to help in the name of “political correctness.”
Racism – Republicans put through and passed the Civil Rights Act. Southern Democrats fought desegregation, and because of that many Democrats became Republicans.
Homophobia – Not afraid of homosexuals, just don’t want their morals forced on us any more than we want to force our morals on individuals.
Demagoguery – See Obama, demagogue of demagogues.
Antiscience – Yes, because when scientists each have facts that point to the accuracy of their theories, but their theories differ, the religious person must be wrong. Listening to scientists had us believing the world was flat, germs didn’t exist, the sun revolved around the earth, global warming was man made (I say was because of the last ten years of cooling), etc. Scientists aren’t always wrong, but trusting them only becuase they are called scientists doesn’t make them right.
Back to topic: Michael Steele is in a very tough position. He has a media hostile to conservatism trying their very, very hardest to get him to say the wrong thing, knowing he’s very conservative. He’ll get his legs and be able to embarrass these media types like Ari did on Wednesday. He’ll be fine if we give him the time to recover.
PastorJon on March 13, 2009 at 3:45 PM
The dumbasses that run the GOP aren’t willing to learn a DAMNED thing! Moderates, move over or LOSE! Moderates have proved time and again that they lead to disaster because sitting on a fence leads to nothing but being violated by a fence post. You are the people who gave us John McCain and what happened? YOU LOST and now we have a National Socialist in the office of President. Are you moderates so stupid to think that you can out-left the left?
I and other conservatives tried for months to EDUCATE you sorry moderates on Michael Steeles record and you wouldn’t listen, you NEVER seem to listen and you continually drag conservatives down into the gutter with you because you NEVER LEARN.
Mark my words, if the RNC doesn’t rid themselves of Steele, soon, if the GOP nominates another travesty like John McCain, let’s say Mitt Romney, if the GOP doesn’t man up, wake up and stop Obama at EVERY turn, we’ll be looking at fifty years of pseudo-nazi rule by the Democrats.
The GOP has six moths to stop Obama from gerrymandering every state with the census and ACORN defrauding the vote to make it impossible for anyone BUT a Democrat to win.
Are you moderates going to listen or are you going to continue to allow RINOs to hand elections to National Socialist Democrats to destroy this country? It’s about time moderates got OFF the fence and wake the hell up!
nelsonknows on March 13, 2009 at 4:05 PM
nelsonknows on March 13, 2009 at 4:05 PM
I agree with you completely and that’s why many conservatives are now abandoning the RNC and in a manner of speaking going third party–donating exclusively to SarahPAC, thus allowing for an opportunity for conservatism in the person of Sarah Palin to win the GOP nomination in 2012. If SarahPAC raises a $100m, whoever the MSM prefers as the GOP nominee will not come into play.
technopeasant on March 13, 2009 at 4:27 PM
I agreed with much of what you said and appreciated how much thought went into it overall. The problem with this last point is that the base was unsure what Michael Steele actually believed before, and they are even more suspicious now.
There was never any question of Ari Fleischer’s loyalty to the Bush administration. It’s why Matthews had him on the show. Because he was so sure in his convictions, and it was obvious, he was able to stop Matthews cold in his tracks with a well-placed smile and a coherent argument close on its heels. Michael Steele does not have the luxury of time to learn those skills on the job, either. He may never be an Ari Fleischer.
chunderroad on March 13, 2009 at 4:58 PM
AP, always concerned about those “optics”, aren’t you? When your atheist-libertarian-hawk party gets going, will you keep terrible party chairmen in place because of how it will look if you have to replace them? Will the elected politicians of your party have to vote in favor of boondoggle stimulus bills because of concern about what it would look like if you are standing against something that is portrayed as a solution to helping the economy? Or do you just want Republicans to fall victim to this sort of panicky limp-wristededness?
Buddahpundit on March 13, 2009 at 5:14 PM
A bit of humor: first we had Allahpundit, now Buddahpundit; when can we expect Christianpundit?
technopeasant on March 13, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Well done, BP. : )
Angry Dumbo on March 13, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Not going to happen. Listen to all the complaining in here. Conservatives have reduced themselves to whining complaining hysterical sanctimonious cry babies.
It’s embarassing.
VinceP1974 on March 13, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Enough of these RINOs and wimps. If you aren’t man enough to say “I like Rush Limbaugh and screw you” then you aren’t man enough to go to Washington and remain a conservative.
Spartacus on March 13, 2009 at 7:25 PM
As the hated Ken Harrelson would say -
“HE GONE!”
p.s. He’s hated because he’s a White Sox homer, and I’m a Cub fan.
Joe Pyne on March 13, 2009 at 8:19 PM
I like Steel. *lol*
Course, I’m not a real Republican, either.
I’m more like…..visiting.
Too bad. I think the social issues are the only thing that blocks me from being Republican.
AnninCA on March 13, 2009 at 8:54 PM
Keep Susan Collins and Olympic Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, but kick out Steele?
STUPID!
DannoJyd on March 14, 2009 at 12:16 PM
I hear this story or proposition all the time. I have serious doubts in today’s world with modern medicine that a sick fetus is going to endanger the “life of the mother”, however let’s give you that one. I have no problem in the case ending the pregnancy if the fetus would not survive to term. However, be very careful about this argument. It can be used as a very broad brush.
sabbott on March 14, 2009 at 4:27 PM
God help the women who have abortions, and damn those who hide the relevant facts surrounding it.
Whether you believe in a higher power or not, TANSTAAFL remains a fact of life.
DannoJyd on March 15, 2009 at 12:34 AM
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