But he also seemed to deliver a bit of a rebuke to potential 2012 presidential aspirants in his party such as Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, and Rick Santorum, all of whom immersed themselves in the NY-23 special House race with their endorsements and support for conservative Doug Hoffman who came up short last night.
“If you don’t live in the district, you don’t vote there, your opinion doesn’t matter very much,” Steele said while assessing the intra-party strife that resulted in a Democratic pick up of a seat held by Republicans since the Civil War…
When he was asked to assess the claim made by conservative blogger Erick Erickson at RedState.com — a grassroots driving force behind Hoffman’s candidacy — that conservatives scored a victory last night, Chairman Steele could not have disagreed more firmly.
“I don’t see a victory in losing seats,” Steele said. “I’m in the business of multiplication and addition. I want more Republicans. I don’t buy that we somehow find victory in defeat.”
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How many CFG candidates have won the general?
Apologetic California on November 4, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Goodbye, Steele. After your support of SCCCCOOZZZZAAAFAAAVAAA, you’re finished.
Enoxo on November 4, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Hmmmm so if the person voted into a Senate or Congressional seat isn’t my “problem” who’s problem will it be when something is voted in and it affect ALL?
Steele you are coming close to the edge.
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 1:53 PM
A candidate that was so far to the left of the Democrat, that she was supported by DailyKos, would have been a victory?????
MarkTheGreat on November 4, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Does Steele live in NY-23?
zmdavid on November 4, 2009 at 1:54 PM
I was a big supporter of Steele, but he’s just been one disappointment after another.
clearbluesky on November 4, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Unless Mr. Steele can show that the RNC put no money or effort into this election, then he is being one heck of a hypocrite.
MarkTheGreat on November 4, 2009 at 1:55 PM
So he was unhappy with Newt and Sessions and others who supported her?
Cindy Munford on November 4, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Meh. Steele has to say this so that the party apparatchiks that select the local candidates don’t go up in arms because “their” candidates are at risk.
LincolntheHun on November 4, 2009 at 1:56 PM
This guy has got to go before 2010. Give the job to Palin.
gophergirl on November 4, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Say what you want about Newt and Steele but ultimately they were right. Hoffman lost. The locals now their area more than us commenters on blogs.
terryannonline on November 4, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Dude…. are you really that clueless Steele? Skankafozza was, is, and will always be a liberal.
Better to lose a one seat to a Democrat now than to plant a “republican” into the House that is anything but republican. One seat won’t make a difference in the House now.
Big picture Steele! Look around for it, you can’t miss it.
Hog Wild on November 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Another affirmation to why RNC letters remained unopended and in my garbage
WashJeff on November 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Yet again more proof that Rush Limbaugh controls the GOP! /SARC
gwelf on November 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM
IT WAS NOT HELD BY REPUBLICANS SINCE THE CIVIL WAR. THE MSM I AN IDIOT!
Michael R. McNulty Democratic 1989 – 1993
Sherwood Boehlert Republican 1993 – 2003
John M. McHugh Republican 2003 – 2009
Enoxo on November 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM
That would be fun just to see which people would be driven over the edge.
zmdavid on November 4, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Totally agree with AP that 3rd parties are a dumb idea but Steele is an absolute idiot and a fraud.
He funded the opposition to the tune of $900,000 and then shifts blame? What an asshat!!!
tetriskid on November 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
I still think we are better off with a scared sh!tless Mr. Owens then Ms. Scozzafavva anyday.
Cindy Munford on November 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Man, that’s waving a red flag in front of an enraged bull. Michael, you chose poorly. Are you unable to learn? Talk about asking for trouble in the big tent!
a capella on November 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Steele’s not learning the right lessons here.
BadgerHawk on November 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Enoxo on November 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM
I beg you not to confuse people with facts.
txag92 on November 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
you know .. holding on to that GOP dream isn’t going to make the GOP any better.
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
I’m beginning to think Steele has Mark Sanford disease–he doesn’t know when to shut up.
NebCon on November 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Get him outta there! (Steele). How can that happen? Seriously.
Oink on November 4, 2009 at 2:01 PM
The words right out of every liberal blog.
Plenty of excuses, plenty of liberal appeasement, not a word about representing core values, or that the RNC just flat screwed up.
Speakup on November 4, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Translation: Shut up and let the liberals take over the party.
LibTired on November 4, 2009 at 2:03 PM
When you have an unknown third party candidate come within a couple of points of beating the well funded and well known major party candidate, i’d say they were more lucky than right. Give that $900,000 to Hoffman instead of Scozzafava and we’d be celebrating his victory today.
clearbluesky on November 4, 2009 at 2:03 PM
You would prefer to have Dede in that seat? What kind of logic is that?
a capella on November 4, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Mr Steele, winning seats with an “R” at any cost might be a Republican value, but it’s not a Conservative value!!
Maquis on November 4, 2009 at 2:05 PM
How do you get around the fact the idiots in charge of the Republican Party had a DOA nominee on the ballot who sucked votes from Hoffman? Then there’s the ’small’ issue of putting a doctrinaire leftist R in Congress to give the Ds a veneer of bipartisanship when they ram their leftist agenda down our throats using reconciliation.
No thanks. Much better to keep the Rs to a minimum when fiscally-suicidal liberty-destroying legislation comes to pass.
Beagle on November 4, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Steele has disqualified himself as NRC chairman, especially considering that clown necktie he’s wearing in the photo at the link.
Emperor Norton on November 4, 2009 at 2:06 PM
It may have been a mistake for conservatives to latch onto his candidacy like we did. “Outsiders” make endorsements all the time and involve themselves, so I don’t understand why he would say that, but Hoffman didn’t even live in that district and had no knowledge of the local issues. I’ve seen people say we should support him ‘10…really? Without seeing if there are any other viable conservative candidates who actually live there?
And the RNC’s job is to elect REPUBLICANS, not conservatives. I wish they were one and the same, but they’re not all the time. The RNC supported the Republican, chosen by local leaders. I think the wrath needs to be directed at the county Republicans, and Scuzzy-whatever. IMHO.
changer1701 on November 4, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Funny how after democrat losses (not only governorships, but ballot issues as well), it’s all about the republicans.
lorien1973 on November 4, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Time for Steele to go!
Conservatives around the country give a damn what happens in NY-23 because that is a US representative vote, paid for by us tax payers, who will vote on important legislation.
Time for a change in the RNC.
cubachi on November 4, 2009 at 2:09 PM
He doesn’t want wallets shut across the nation , he wants them SLAMMED shut. No, Mark Kirk gets not a dime from you from me.
Marcus on November 4, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Steele doesn’t live there, so by his logic he had no business running his mouth for DEDE.
Of course, his opinion never mattered that much anyway.
RESIGN, BABY, RESIGN!
darclon on November 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Too often, Steele (and the so-called GOP elite) seems to live in another world.
Thankfully, for conseratives, there are people like Michelle Malkin, Fred & Jeri Thompson, Sarah Palin, etc, etc, who are willing to do their jobs and the hard work in uncovering and confronting the DIABLO that was Scuzzyfuzzy.
Learn it. Live it.
red winger on November 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Bye Bye Michael Steele.
portlandon on November 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Wouldn’t it be easier to just call all the Democrat politicians Republicans? Presto! Republicans add seats!!
aikidoka on November 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Then maybe you should endorse an actual R instead of a D next time, just maybe.
thevastlane on November 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Heh. +100
portlandon on November 4, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Did I prefer Dede in that seat instead of the Dem? Yes.
terryannonline on November 4, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Actually I think “QUIT, BABY, QUIT!” has a better ring.
darclon on November 4, 2009 at 2:14 PM
She is a Dem. She endorsed the Dem which sort of eludes to the fact that she would have voted like him rather than like Hoffman.
thevastlane on November 4, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Steele rebukes Stalinists with their own local ‘principles.” Ugh, you people are such loathsome hypocrites.
Grow Fins on November 4, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Steele is in the same stuck-on-stupid mode as Newt. He should resign immediately.
farright on November 4, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Terry and others have GOP mentality. Gotta Open Pocket and they aren’t afriad to put anyone with an R in that seat… come hell or RINO!
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 2:16 PM
I disagree. Owens winning is not a terrible outcome for NY-23. Think about it. Had Scozzafava won, she’d have been almost indistinguishable from Owens in terms of voting–yes on cap & tax, yes on socialist healthcare, yes on card check. She’s a RINO of the worst order.
So compare the paths to victory for a conservative in NY-23. If Scozza had won, the consevative would have to unseat her in a primary, or would have to do a third party run again. However, Owens holds the seat. Thus, there will be an open GOP primary for a conservative to win. Having won that, the conservative then runs against Owen in traditional GOP district in what’s shaping up to be a bad year for Dems. I don’t know about you, but I think the easier path to ultimate victory in 2010 goes through Owens and not Scozzafava.
Outlander on November 4, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Palin for RNC Chair!
Maquis on November 4, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Mike, just stop.
Terry_Dyne on November 4, 2009 at 2:17 PM
So Steele makes a speech to keep the locals happy. He also got us Jersey and Virginia, Maine got to vote on gay marriage, he has out raised the Dems almost every single month and you are going to beat him up over NY-23 where he had to support the candidate picked by the local power brokers for obvious reasons?
Dude big picture.
Scuzzy was a boon to the GOP next time the locals pick a shady candidate the actions of Scuzzy can be used to vet the candidate on the national level.
LincolntheHun on November 4, 2009 at 2:17 PM
If steele thinks us conservatives are going to give our money to go down the drain to fund rino’s, YOU got another think steele! With this bho, team, and most of the dc bunch, our money is tight and will be given to people who share our views. NO money to WHO you good old boys want.
L
letget on November 4, 2009 at 2:17 PM
I second that motion!
farright on November 4, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Stalin was a left-wing (like yourself) autocrat, not a conservative. Purges are a left-wing characteristic.
I think you took an accidental detour on the inter-tubes on the way to the DU.
darclon on November 4, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Anything that goes through Scozzofava is gonna take a very long time to see daylight again…
(apologies for ugly mental image!)
Maquis on November 4, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Yep! If there had been an actual primary in the first place, I am pretty sure Scozz would have been gone a while ago.
Oh and speaking of meddling in “local affairs,” Mark Rubio would like to have a word with you, Mr. Steele as well as with the NRSC.
XWing5 on November 4, 2009 at 2:23 PM
“Babies, the other, other white meat.”
darclon on November 4, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Dede was against cap and trade and the PelosiCare.
terryannonline on November 4, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Let me get this straight – “outsiders have no right to an opinion regarding someone who will be part of the Congress whose actions affect the entire nation?
And if “outsiders” should butt out – shouldn’t the money of “outsiders” also butt out?
katiejane on November 4, 2009 at 2:25 PM
”
Whose opinion was it that decided to spend national R money there?
blink on November 4, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Sorry, you beat me to it.
blink on November 4, 2009 at 2:27 PM
So basically if Bill Ayers or the Reverend Jeremiah Wright takes it into his head to run for Congress and figures he’ll get voted in more easily if he has an (R) after his name instead of a (D), well, the rest of us really need to just butt the hell out, because Steele wants more Republicans. Because there’s room in the big tent for Scozzafava and her ilk, but not so much for the Sarah Palins in this country.
/sarc
Aitch748 on November 4, 2009 at 2:28 PM
He’s right about the “outsiders”, but the Dede pick was incompetent…
ninjapirate on November 4, 2009 at 2:28 PM
1) Dede was already trailing.
2) You seem to feel that it’s better to have a liberal Republican than a blue dog Democrat? Why? In this case, the Democrat is more aligned with the positions of the Republican party, than the Republican was.
MarkTheGreat on November 4, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Mr. Steele, I just got a survey from the RNC…my first recommendation is that you get rid of yourself.
Sarah Palin is the only reason that I am lingering on the edges of the GOP with hope in my heart that it will finally see the light.
shomegirl on November 4, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Hoffman lived just a couple of miles outside the district, and had lived in the district prior to the most recent redistricting. As to him not knowing every whit and jot regarding issues that weren’t relevant to federal office holders anyway. So what?
Which is why I’m a conservative, not a Republican.
MarkTheGreat on November 4, 2009 at 2:33 PM
You prefer someone who will vote against your interests almost all of the time (The Democrat was more conservative on the major issues than was Dede), merely because she had the right letter by her name?
That’s an extremely shortsighted position to take.
MarkTheGreat on November 4, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Actually, Owens is less likely to vote for those things than Dede was.
MarkTheGreat on November 4, 2009 at 2:37 PM
One fact is not talked about…NY-23 had it’s last election. It is surrounded by heavily democrat districts, and through redistricting it will be absorbed and no longer a Republican district.
This was an election for two years…a lame duck district.
right2bright on November 4, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Copy, pasted and will use for a later time.
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Yeah, his house is right next door to Newt’s. They hold hands while watching Allahpundit walk his dog every morning.
Darth Executor on November 4, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Terryann, you should read Michelle malkin’s column. She writes:
“Better a donkey in office that acts like a donkey than a donkey in elephant’s clothing making a complete ass of the GOP.”
I couldn’t agree more.
UltimateBob on November 4, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Then you are welcome to get comfortable with defeat. Because that’s all you’re going to get, quisling.
spmat on November 4, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Memo to The Head of Steele:
YOUR pick endorsed a Democrat and even worked towards his election.
YOUR pick is the reason the seat’s now occupied by a member of the opposition party.
Hoffman would have caucused with Republicans.
Judging by her actions and stances, I’m not so sure YOUR pick would have done the same if elected.
Seems that YOUR judgement is to be questioned here, if not your motives entirely.
SuperCool on November 4, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Note to Steele: the GOP got 5% in the NY 23 race.
Another party, not your party, got 48%. You chose not to back Hoffman. You spent money on ads ATTACKING him. YOUR candidate ended up endorsing the Democrat, so you should be happy.
Don’t go acting like you’re some wise friend of the Conservatives.
hawksruleva on November 4, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Ditto. If the Dems want to be liberal, fine. They can find out at the polls how the public feels about it.
But voters need another option. If the GOP wants to run clones of Democrats, then voters will have to find their option elsewhere. If that’s what Steele wants, that’s fine by me.
hawksruleva on November 4, 2009 at 3:24 PM
They were right? They backed Scozzafava. Did she win? Did she beat Hoffman?
hawksruleva on November 4, 2009 at 3:25 PM
See ya, pal. You’re done.
RedNewEnglander on November 4, 2009 at 3:28 PM
You may be right about the lame duck status, but there’s still the 2010 elections for the 23rd. Now after that you may be right, but that region has, for the most part, been packaged that way quite a while. A lot will have to do with how many seats NY loses, and as such, the head count apportionment details, which can vary considerably from state to state.
As for how long the area has had Republican representation, I’m thinking the 100 years might be right. The Wiki list is based on what is called the 23rd, I think, not what the region is. In 1993, the 23rd encompassed Syracuse and areas south, not this current area of the 23rd. In the late eighties when a Dem presented the 23rd, I think that area was Albany and areas to the south, not this area and certainly not the area along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence.
Dusty on November 4, 2009 at 3:30 PM
yup.
ditch steele
alexwest on November 4, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Newt backed the local officials decision (at first). The locals knew couldn’t win…and he didn’t.
terryannonline on November 4, 2009 at 3:51 PM
How liberal are the surrounding districts?
Splitting up the 23rd could also result in half a dozen solidly liberal districts suddenly becoming blue-dog friendly districts, or even competitive districts for Republicans. Such a move is not always in the interests of the liberal party.
MarkTheGreat on November 4, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Blindly supporting someone just because they are Republican is a sure way to lose.
If Newt had no idea whether or not Dede could have won, he should have just shut up until he did know.
MarkTheGreat on November 4, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Its only a 10 month position anyway. Plenty of time to ramp up and sharpen the blades for the fall. No more Mr.Niceguy moderate tactics allowed.
Rubber aprons and butcher hooks time is comin’. (figuratively speaking of course)
Itchee Dryback on November 4, 2009 at 4:13 PM
How liberal are the surrounding districts?
Splitting up the 23rd could also result in half a dozen solidly liberal districts suddenly becoming blue-dog friendly districts, or even competitive districts for Republicans. Such a move is not always in the interests of the liberal party.
[MarkTheGreat on November 4, 2009 at 4:06 PM]
Well, surrounding is actually bordering along the south. Along the border at the east end is Albany, and I’ll guess it leans more Democratic. In the middle and to the west it’s decidedly R in it history. As an indication of the latter, Hofmann had a majority in the partial counties of Oneida & Oswego; was close but lost in Madison (the complete county is in 23rd and areas adjacent all lean R) and I think Herkimer which juts into the 23rd but is excluded is very R.
Fulton, which gets close to Albany the eastern parts being close to bedroom for Albany, had one of the larger Tea Parties in NY back in April.
Looking at the not complete results Hoffman lost in the northern counties along the St Lawrence — St Lawrence, Franklin, and Clinton. This might reflect Hoffman’s ignorance of the local Roof Top Highway issue which would run through all of them from Watertown to Plattsbugrh as well as the St Lawrence dredging.
If the 23rd is absorbed southwards, then what will happen is they will stay R and areas closer to urban areas of NYC, Albany, Rochester and Buffalo (maybe Syracuse but I think they are more R than the others) will see themselves absorbed to compensate and those R areas will be the ones affected, not the people of the 23rd.
Dusty on November 4, 2009 at 4:46 PM
But do you prefer a Liberal in office to avoid the possibility of having a Conservative? Dede does… and it appears Steele would as well so long as the Liberal has that magic (R) after their name. Sorry that you don’t prefer a Conservative choice.
A republican majority that won’t work for conservative goals, we had that from 2000-2006. As I recall it wasn’t popular, so I’m not sure why you’re wanting to put it back. Pardon me if I work for a different goal.
gekkobear on November 4, 2009 at 5:48 PM