Steele: GOP Should Reach Out To Gay, Pro-Choice Voters

Video Cafe (via Fox News) ^ | Feburary 1, 2009 | David Sunday

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Michael Steele, the new chairman of the Republican National Committee wants the GOP to reach out to candidates who support gay marriage and are pro-choice. Steele told Fox's Chris Wallace that it was "important" to reach out to those voters.

WALLACE: You are one of the co-founders of something called the Republican Leadership Council which supports candidates who favor abortion and gay rights.

STEELE: Yes.

(watch video)

WALLACE: Does the GOP needs to do a better job of reaching out to people who hold those views?

STEELE: I think -- I think that's an important opportunity for us, absolutely. Within our party we do have those who have that view as well as outside and my partnership with Christy Todd Whittman was an effort to build a bridge between moderates and conservatives.

[mojitojoe]

Reagan proved that.

Yes he did, BUT, that was many years ago and times have changed. A whole new generation has reached maturity since Reagan was there. Nobody likes abortions and I absolutely think partial birth and late term should be a crime.
As a conservative Republican(all of my life) I can honestly say that I don't think Roe v Wade will ever be overturned. Not in our lifetime. It is something may have to deal with. If we lose our party, the liberals run us over, then God knows what all they change. It could be so much worse.
I'll probably get flamed for this, but I honestly think it's a losing battle, too many have accepted it. Gay marriage, forget it. Fight that. But I have Republican friends that are pro-choice. They think it is an issue between doctors and patients. Some of them put forth some pretty good arguments. Yes, the idea is disgusting, but some would argue the alternatives are worse. That's not my argument and I'm moderately pro-life but I realize that it's going to take nothing short of a miracle or an awfully big change in the SCOTUS to ever change Roe v Wade.

[kevinm13]

I hadn’t read the article fully. The moment the GOP reaches out to any group that is not pro-life, will be the end of the party. Any direction of the GOP away from life and conservatism is a deal breaker for me.

[LibLieSlayer]

Yada yada yada... rant rant... feel better. Here is one that will piss you off... you cannot be a Conservative and embrace abortion or homosexuality. Conservatives do not need to persecute either... but neither do we need to embrace them or compromise our integrity to embrace them. Read my post in this thread about what Reagan said about both. BTW... I am a proud CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE... not all Christians are Conservative and not all Christians are Christian.

LLS

[KevinDavis]

How about embracing a smaller Government??

[itsahoot]

LOL - It can be difficult to get along sometimes though with the 'socially progressed Republicans'.

Sadly Rush has had similar experiences with the Republican elites. Maybe Sarah, was correct in ignoring these guys over the weekend. We shall see I guess.

[Girlene]

Here’s an idea: The only way to maintain a conservative site is to start banning Michael Steele supporters.

Here's an idea: Why not learn a little more about Michael Steele. Here's a good article from CNSNews, Q&A with Michael Steele, Candidate for RNC Chairman where he talks about various topics. Steele is pro-life and pro-marriage. His approach to limiting abortions and defeating gay marriage proponents centers on state jurisdiction versus changing the Constitution. Here's a few snippets from the article. Read the article if you really want to understand where he stands.

....."CNSNews.com: Would you support a state law in Maryland that bans same-sex unions?

Steele: Sure, we’ve been fighting that fight in Maryland now for three sessions of our legislature, and it is very clear, we’ve stated very clearly and reemphasized the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman – and have taken the argument directly to the people, and the legislators so far have not been able to muster the votes to put that constitutional amendment in place.................

.........."My personal view is Roe vs. Wade was wrongly decided, which is why I made the point that it should have been left to the individual states to have that battle and to have the communities decide for themselves what they would pay for, what they wouldn’t pay for, what they would accept and what they won’t accept, very much like what is being played on with the gay marriage bill. "..........

........"As we move to the beginnings of a new administration where the president of the country has a very, very clear view on matters related to abortion, very, very pro-abortion, that it is going to be incumbent upon Republicans, incumbent upon those who are pro-life, who hold the sanctity of life dear to be able to rise and speak to that and to challenge what I think are going to be some really dark legislation that’s going to come out of (the 111th) Congress under this administration."...........

[LibLieSlayer]

Now you are talking the talk and walking the walk... we need you as RNC Chair!

LLS

[spectre]

"Conservatives embrace baby killing and pervertion to prove we are not racist?"

Oh for crying out loud. No one said that.

Try to think outside of your own little box.

sw

[trisham]

It would be funny if it weren't so sad. All those congratulatory threads the other day inhabited by those who would not see.

[Will88]

That kind of thinking limits the large amount of people who may be 51% conservative to voting for democrats because they’re told by conservatives that their conservative lean doesn’t qualify them to vote conservative,

Several seem to feel that something about the GOP needs to change to attract those almost conservative voters, but no one has yet defined - specifically - what those changes should be. Maybe because the party really can't change anything about the pro-life, pro-traditional marriage stances without fundamentally changing the party, and alienating and losing far, far more dependable, conservative voters for some pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking about all the new voters that might be won if just a few little, hard to define things were changed.

All that navel gazing by Republicans who are uncomfortable around all those icky, conservative Christians will do little but bring more defeats to the party. The country clubbers need to learn to sell the parts of the party they do believe in more effectively, rather than trying to demean and insult the more conservative members to attract potential new voters who don't even share very basic principles.

[Beagle8U]

“Great!! Let’s have another Rudy purge; it’s been too long!

/sar”

Good idea. Where is the bug zapper!

[Darkwolf377]

My mistake. I never should have tried using rational reasoning with a moron. First they go defensive. Then they go ugly. All without any factual basis. Look dark. Read up on things before you comment. Spouting off ignorantly around here is not recommended. I said Palin’s first veto was based on balancine the state budget.

It's getting almost embarassing watching you shoot yourself in the foot over and over, and then insulting me ("then they go ugly" after calling me a moron) when you realize you're in a corner you put yourself in.

OK--one last time:

I said Palin’s first veto was based on balancine the state budget.

"Gov. Sarah Palin vetoed a bill Thursday that sought to block the state from giving public employee benefits such as health insurance to same-sex couples. "In the first veto of an administration that isn't yet a month old..."

http://dwb.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/8525563p-8419318c.html

"... but used her very first veto to prevent a bill that would have banned gay state employees from extending benefits to their partners..."

http://www.poligazette.com/2008/08/29/sarah-palin-first-impressions/

"Palin's first veto was used to block legislation that would have barred the state from granting benefits to gay state employees and their partners. In effect, her veto granted State of Alaska benefits to same-sex couples. The veto occurred after Palin consulted with Alaska's attorney general on the constitutionality of the legislation."

http://losttarget.blogspot.com/2008/08/sarah-palin-nra-life-member-fisherman.html

Read up on things before you comment. Spouting off ignorantly around here is not recommended.

Agreed.

Take your own advice. You won't look as stupid as you do right now.

[itsahoot]

Am I missing something?

Yes, you are, but you don't seem to know what it is. If you are wise it will come to you.

The beginning of wisdom is acknowledging God.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>This is no recession my friend.

Technically, you're right. When the US GDP goes negative in the 1ST-QT of 2009, we will officially be in a recession.

>>>>>The solvency of this nation is at stake. And we are here messing around with abortion.

Free Republic is a conservative, pro-life website. Free Republic believes abortion is evil. FReepers also believe fiscal irresponsibility is evil. The current fiscal downturn is bad, but not as bad as the economic downturn and recession of 81-83. Americans have survived recessions and depressions before. We will survive this period of economic instability. At the same time we will continue to fight against those in this country who believe abortion is a second tier issue of relevancy. People like you.

[itsahoot]

does that mean I’m not welcome in the Republican Party?

Why do you have to feel welcome? Vote your conscience.

[lone star annie]

That is right and we are going to keep losing with younger voters as long as we seem non inclusive. The GOP can stand as the party of pro life on principle, but face it folks abortion is here to stay for those that want them.

I am for overturning Roe V. Wade and returning the issue to the states where it can be voted on and the issue put to rest and out of politics. If a state wants to ban abortions, that is fine. There will be states that don’t.

[jla]

What I was getting at is a theme many conservative pundits are more often touching on, i.e., are we losing the 'cultural battle' to liberals?
Are those tactics that proved successful in the 80s germane today? What will work for us now?

You can read thru this thread and see how so much is being taken out of context and thoroughly distorted. Then there are the 'line-in-the-sand' factions who threaten to just leave if this 'awful Steele' isn't abdicated by midnight. And all this is amongst conservatives! We've yet to even present our case to 'Republicans' and sensible Democrats. (This last statement should get me labeled a 'liberal' for even thinking such a person exist! LOL)

I've not the answers, I don't pretend that I do. But, I have seen one person who genuinely rallied this Party like no one since Reagan, and that is Sarah Palin. Even she gets maligned and beat up for daring to state that she'd 'work' with the Obama admin. As if she, as an incumbent state governor, is just supposed to flip her middle finger at him and hide away in Anchorage for four years.
Now, Steele merely mentions the RNC should reach out to others of a different political stripe and some *ahem* solons here twist it to mean he's nothing more than a taller, and better dressed, Barney Frank.
Mr. Steele's job is not an easy one. He's a difficult road ahead of him.

[spectre]

Well said, annie.

[Darkwolf377]

Aren't the Reagan Democrats majority the above 60 crowd. They are dying off and the new majority is the under 60 crowd the spoiled baby boomers who grew up on the 60's being told life was free love, sex and abortions. 'peace man'.

Yes, my point was, where were these "Reagan Democrats" before they were "Reagan Democrats"?

I believe they were part of that very same "Silent Majority" we heard about and most Dems laughed over.

Look at the numbers that turned out to vote--there are plenty of potential voters who aren't coming to the polls...not even to "make history".

So no, I don't believe they're these gay marriage, pro-abortion, high-taxes/low liberty freaks. He said politely.

I believe there are plenty of pro-life, pro-tax cut,etc. folks who we haven't connected with, who need to believe there is a good reason to get out to the polls.

The area where Bush's poor communications skills hurt us most was in his clumsy explanations regarding the WOT. If those people could be made to see that Obama's path is going to lead us to catastrophe--and not necessarily today, but down the line, as Clinton's foolishness did--they will not sit home and think "Gitmo open, closed, what difference does it make, I have bills to pay."

We do have to reach out to those who will respond to OUR message. To do what the RNC has been doing--telling gays and prochoicers "We might think like you do!"--is suicide.

We MUST reach out to them and say "Look, who do you trust, those guys, or us when we tell you you deserve more of your tax money and you need protecting from Islamofascists who hate you?"

We don't win by being them; we win by doing something the RNC hasn't done in ages--act as conservative Republicans. Because what we're selling IS better--we just have to SELL it.

[donna]

Try to think outside of your own little box.

60 Million murdered babies would have liked to have a little box to be buried in instead of having their parts cannibalized for the enrichment and pleasure of the abortionists.