Michael Steele's Rx for the GOP

Baltimore Sun ^ | November 11, 2008 | Andy Green

[prairiebreeze]

The Wall Street Journal dedicated an op-ed page today to the question, "What Does the GOP Do Next," with brief essays from various conservatives, including former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. Steele's prescription for the GOP: Become the party of the future by emulating Ronald Reagan. Essentially, Steele says, the party's problem is that it betrayed its principles in order to win and ended up losing instead.

So the party needs to follow the example of Reagan, who "made it cool to be a Republican."

"It wasn't just his specific policies, but the timeless truths he so eloquently gave voice to, and upon which his policies were based. That's the Republican Party we must re-establish."

Steele, who has recently been criticizing the GOP for not doing enough to reach out to minorities, says times have changed and the party needs to adapt. But he said the one thing it can't do is change its principles.

[prairiebreeze]

"It wasn't just his specific policies, but the timeless truths he so eloquently gave voice to, and upon which his policies were based. That's the Republican Party we must re-establish."

[nmh]

I don’t know much about Steele ... I see he is black. Is the GOP playing the race card like they did with Powell? Or is he a conservative? I don’t want another Colin Powell. Colin Powel has ALWAYS been a Demoncrat. It was only his oolor that pushed him along.

[doberville]

It seemed like MS was more conservative before he lost his Senate attempt.

I don't believe he's nearly as wishy washy as Colin Powell.

[advance_copy]

Lt. Governor Steele is absolutely right about this. I would add that we need to focus on voters. We must take our stand on issues they understand.

I watched the Frontline hit-piece on Lee Atwater last night and wondered how he was so effective. He won election after election.

Here’s my take on what he did.

First, he was always on the offensive. In war, as General Patton said, the best defense is a good offense. In politics, the ONLY defense is a good offense.

Second, Atwater’s attacks on opponents weren’t just random hits on their perceived weaknesses. They were on issues that resonated with voters.

When Atwater put Dukakis in a tank wearing that helment, he tied it to the RAT opposition to important defense systems needed to win the cold war. Willie Horton was a good issue becuase crime is an important issue to voters.

When Republicans go after Obama, and go after him we will, we must hit him on issues that voters will notice. Example, Obama is now hiring lobbyists, betraying his promise like he did with campaign finance. And lobbyists are all now chomping at the bailout pie.

Voters need to know that Obama and his Democrat minions are serving up bailout pie to their lobbyist buddies. Do they want coffee with their bailout pie? Voters must be reminded how Obama lied just like before.

[MDformerDem]

It seemed like MS was more conservative before he lost his Senate attempt.

That could be. I don't think a true conservative can win in MD. Look at the last (R)-gov, Ehrlich, who ran as a moderate. Or look at Harris, more conservative than his primary opponent Gilchrest, who just lost in MD-01 which is more conservative than the state overall.

I remember Steele's race. I saw signs at black houses: Don't vote for Maryland's Clarence Thomas. Steele won white men, but lost (and it wasn't close) because women and minorities voted for Cardin.

[FrankR]

"Steele's prescription for the GOP: Become the party of the future by emulating Ronald Reagan. "

I like Reagan as much as the next guy; to me he was the best President to ever occupy the White House.

But...he was also one of a kind.

"Emulating" anyone is not the answer to the woes of the GOP. Actually, to "STOP" emulating is the answer, IMHO. Stop emulating democrats...that's the answer.

As long as the RINOs make it the business of the GOP to "reach across the aisle" and be "bi-partisan" with a bunch who will bite off your hand if you reach it out, the dems will win everytime.

As my wise father said one time of my handy-dandy new Swiss Army Knife, "Any tool made to do two jobs, usually only does each one half as well." Well, I can apply that to politicans as well, you can't please both parties at the same time...it ain't possible if you adhere to the principles of both parties. Just ask Senator Lieberman...

Being a "little bit liberal" is like being a "little bit pregnant", it doesn't work that way.

And I don't think "reaching out to minorities" is the answer either. Most of the minority population is solidly entrenched in the democrat party. They have been brainwashed into thinking that the republican party is the "white man's party", and those without their own brain will not get near it.

Minorities didn't cost us the election anyway, without the "white birds in a guilty cage", obama would not have won.

So, what is the prescription for the GOP? Well, another old adage comes to mind, "You can't really teach anyone, anything...you can only help them find it out for themselves.".

Keeping a daily watch on our new president, and shining a bright, bright spotlight on how he systematically takes our country down a step at a time, will go a lot further to show those who supported him what a mistake they made. Not in the "nah-nah I told you so" mode, but just pointing out each and every gaffe, wrongheaded decision, and mistake the annointed one makes during his tenure...you know, like they did with Bush for 8 years...that kind of drip-drip-drip harassment. They got here "incrementally", and that's how we need to fight this, we can't fix it all at once (not without a civil war, anyway).

You'll never convince the minorities and the "radical chic" to come on over - after all, the GOP is not going to promise them a free ride for life. They will have to discover what most of us discovered in 1st grade...nothing is free.

Which brings up my final quote from my Dad, "You are only enslaved to the extent of charity you receive."...a good slogan to remember under the obama administration.

[Above My Pay Grade]

I agree 100% with Steele’s approach. We need to get back to Conservative principles and sell them to a wider audience, especially minorities. They suffer the most from disastrous Liberal policies and should be reachable.

I would like more details on the “timeless truths” Steele refers to. If they are true conservative principles he is talking about, then I think he is the man to lead the RNC.

[sickoflibs]

GWB Bush had a chance to choose him to pick Steele in 2006, but NO he picked illegal amnesty pusher Martinez instead. (Why does GWB hate republicans so much ?) But now our former LT Governor who was critical in Republicans taking Governors position in liberal Maryland has national exposure from FNC H+C, and he is CRITICAL for our party to win against Obama. He is the perfect man to go after him. He is conservative, unlike Martinez .

[9YearLurker]

Unfortunately Steele’s idea of reaching out to minorities is fervid support for affirmative action. Not particularly Reaganesque.

[Finatic]

Dad was a very wise man.

[ScottinVA]

I think Steele is a strong conservative. I’d hoped he’d be the VP pick if Sarah were passed up.

[ScottinVA]

” agree 100% with Steele’s approach. We need to get back to Conservative principles and sell them to a wider audience, especially minorities.”

You are spot-on. That was what made Reagan so popular and effective. He didn’t move with the political tide; he beckoned the tide to come to him. The key, I believe, is to find that leader that will smartly extol the virtues of limited-government conservatism, and NO MORE “COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATISM” EITHER! We found out the hard way that’s just a euphemism for “moderate.”

[Non-Sequitur]

Is the GOP playing the race card like they did with Powell? Or is he a conservative?

I believe he is the real deal, at least he talks the talk. He could probably walk the walk as well. In any case, he's better than what we've got running the GOP currently.

Sorry if the fact that he's black bothers you.

[gimme1ibertee]

Not at all. Mr Steele is a good man who got a bad rap at one time. When he ran for the Senate,he had Oreo cookies hurled at him at a rally. He is a conservative.He is NO Colin Powell.

[carjic]

He is milktoast moderate. Not who we need. I like Newt for the bare nuckles fight.

[2001convSVT]

I think that you may be right. Mr. Steele is not a strong supporter of the second Amendment, I have heard that he only thinks the 2nd Amendment is about protecting a persons right to hunt. I am not certain but Mr. Steele may support a prohibition on semi-auto’s of all types.

[GingerC]

MS is solid conservative.. pro life, pro tax cuts and definitely pro cutting government spending.

He is articulate and well able to handle the mainstream media bias. I have watched him for some time on Fox News and like what I see.

[SumProVita]

Steele is solid on conservative principles and is articulate in explaining WHY.

[SumProVita]

Where do you get this idea?

[P-Marlowe]

I don’t know much about Steele .

Steele is PRO-CHOICE and PRO-AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.