Posted on 02/04/2009 2:01:43 AM PST by markomalley
The mainstream media will never give him a break, but conservatives should probably be comfortable with new RNC Chairman Michael Steele. On CNN, Don Lemon asked the CNN political reporter, “Is the RNC pandering, is Michael Steele legitimate?”
In an appearance on my radio program on Monday, Steele said “the Republican party is called racist when they don’t reach out and pandering when they do.” He went as far as to tell a reporter that asked him if he was legitimate to come back when he had a real question. If only the questions about his credentials were coming from the left. So the question is, will Steele pass muster with conservatives?
Three months ago, I wrote about Steele after we participated in a panel on the 2008 Elections. I believed then he would be the next chairman of the party, and it had nothing to do with race.
It was not an easy path to the chairman’s office for Steele. Groups opposing his involvement with the Republican Leadership Council say he’s too liberal. When Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday tried to box him in on the RLC’s mission to recruit pro-choice and pro-gay rights Republicans, he said he was not going to focus in on two issues and then invoked Ronald Reagan. However, these two issues are at the core of the social conservative agenda.
Michael Steele is a social conservative. He’s encouraged by the success groups in California cobbling together social conservatives, religious Latinos and Blacks on Proposition 8 in November. In 2008, the value of preaching a socially conservative agenda in minority communities increased dramatically. Prop 8 represents the future of the morality movement in America, and Steele sees it as both a winning movement and a way to mend fences with social conservatives who think he’s not one of them.
The new chairman understands the GOP message on immigration, and he knows how to communicate it. It’s not just conservatives that want border security. Steele said on Sunday, “The GOP's position on immigration is very much the position of many, many Hispanics who are in this country.” Steele went on to make the case when he said, “The GOP's position is secure our borders first. Let us know and let us make sure the American people know that we've taken care of the important business of dealing with illegal immigration into this country. You cannot begin to address the concerns of the people who are already here unless and until you have made certain that no more are coming in behind them…. How we messaged that is where we messed up the last time. We were pegged as being insensitive, anti-immigrant, and nothing could be further from the truth, because you talk to those leaders in the Hispanic community, they will tell you the same thing. They understand the importance of making sure the United States' borders are secure.”
That is the grassroots position held by a majority of Americans, not just conservatives.
The elephant in the room for Steele is not whether he’s a conservative -- he is -- but rather will he be conservative enough for the grassroots of the Republican Party. The code language for this is Christian conservatives. CCs are the most hated, loved or feared group of people in the Republican Party, depending on your point of view. The RINOs think these Bible-thumping hayseeds are ruining the party, but Christian conservatives represent the Party’s core values; RINOs don’t. And you can’t win without Christian conservatives. Steele is one of those Christian conservatives and has talked openly about his Roman Catholic faith.
Conservatives are responding positively to Steele but are wary. They’ve heard the talk before. Action is the only thing that will calm their fears and lead to wins for Republicans by getting the grassroots engaged again. Chairman Steele is hitting the ground running with updates to the website and how they will collect and disseminate information. He’s beginning to target upcoming elections in New York, New Jersey and in the off year. He knows he needs some wins under his belt, and when he gets those, conservatives will begin coming back to the fold and be happy about it. This Republican Chairman will have to be about message and a call to action. He’s got one election cycle to prove himself, and I think he’s up to it.
So will Michael Steele pass muster with conservatives -- fiscal conservatives and social conservatives? Yes, he will, and I think the hard-fought battle to become RNC Chair has honed his skills. He’s political, he wants to win and is conservative at his core. If he implements as well as he’s adapted in his campaign to be RNC Chair, then he’ll move conservative values forward through Republican wins.
But one warning from a Christian Conservative who believes he’s conservative enough to move the party forward: Don’t recruit wishy-washy conservatives. A party is only as good as the candidates and the actions they take once elected, and the electorate is impatient. You have a 4-year term, but like President Obama, your midterm exam is in 2010 and will determine what the future holds for you and the Republican Party. But for now, Mike, keep leaning right.
LLS
“Russert forced the Kool-Aid down Steele’s throat on abortion, back when Steele was running for U.S. Senate in Maryland, a liberal State”
Steele along with Ken Blackwell ~ and to a lesser degree, Lynn Swann ~ were prime targets for the far left, who carpet bombed Maryland and Ohio in 2006 to make certain that a black conservative did not move up to elected national office.
That was job one.
Taking out Santorum in PA and George Allen in VA was job two. Many blame RINOs for neutering the GOP, but I think a little credit is due to the away team. They’ve identified targets and made their mark.
Maryland is a moonbat state, Mike was trying to walk a fine line. I can assure you that Steele is pro-life. He is NOT pro-gay. That assertion is stupid on it’s face.
Don’t know, haven’t heard about Second Ammendment? I have seen posts along the line that he does NOT personally own guns and neither do I, that doesn’t make me anti-2A. Do you really think the guy could get elected to head the RNC if he did not support that constituency?
As for Affirmative Action; that’s an evolving issue and I will gladly take Mike Steele’s version of AA, which probably entails making sure that minorities KNOW about opportunities version over Reid and Pelosi’s “White Hetero Males Need NOT apply for Work or Bid on Federal Contracts.”
The folks who are posting the talking points need to grow up and understand the way things work in a wacked out blue state like Maryland. They’re doing the dirty work for the libs.
You’re wise not to be fooled by such nonsense.
Yes, Russert is gone. May God have mercy on his soul. Personally, I liked the guy. It’s unfortunate that he used his position as a tool to advance the pro-abort agenda. I hope that he was able to repent.
“He** no... no more so than olympia snowe or susan collins or christy whitman could.”
Your positions are uniformed.
Well olympia’s soul is black... does that count?
LLS
Amen Darkwolf... amen!
LLS
Steele is no Reagan conservative. That’s all I need to know.
LOL You are bad.
Don't freak out, LLS, but I will probably be lumped in with the "refusniks". I haven't read enough about this guy, and with all due respect, I don't like or dislike someone because FReepers I respect do--we don't need no stinking followers!
But Snow is the perfect example of what we DON'T need. She's not even a RINO, since I've never even heard her identify herself as a Republican without seeing her cringe like she doesn't want her friends to hear her talk about it.
Become a Dem and be done with it, lady.
He doesn't pass muster with this conservative. He stands for gay marriage, abortions, and gun control to name a few. Read his comments and look at his record and any right think conservative will agree with me. Mike Steele is no conservative but another Left Leaning RINO of the McCain type.
He doesn't pass muster with this conservative. He stands for gay marriage, abortions, and gun control to name a few. Read his comments and look at his record and any right think conservative will agree with me. Mike Steele is no conservative but another Left Leaning RINO of the McCain type.
LLS
Society should draw lines. What do you need an assault weapon for, if you're going hunting? That's overkill. But I don't think that means you go to a total ban for those who want to use gun for skeet shooting or hunting or things like that But what's the point of passing gun laws if we're not going to enforce them? If you want to talk about gun control, that's where you need to start. We've got 300 gun laws on the books right now. At the end of the day, it's about how we enforce the law. Source: Washington Post interview Oct 16, 2006
Your comment is out of context: In plain English this means, "Screw your gun-control bill, we've got enough gun laws. Don't like what's happening on the street? Arrest the criminals. Quit trying to hassle law-abiding gun owners with your statist crap." Maybe this will help limn where Steele's coming from on 2A. Enforcing existing laws is the right answer to gun crime.
You took Mr. Steeles quote out of context, I fixed it for you and put the rest of it in. He is ANTI-GUN and pro-abort, he is for gay marriage. You cannot reach out to those groups and stand against them on conservative principles at the same time, that's called being two faced or deceptive if you will. If you read and listen to every thing this guy says there is no doubt he is a RINO. I would not vote for this guy if he were running for office and I won't support him as RNC chairman.
The second amendment isn't about hunting it is about self defense, against criminals and against our government if need be. Period.
Michael Steele is going to be VERY good, despite any naysayers. I would also point out that several items from your list of concerns are taken out of context....such as the comments on standardized testing for students.
Go Michael!! We’re with you!! ;-))
georgie stephy on gma just called her a moderate... I think I am going to be sick. Off to work... catch you later. ALWAYS use your own talents to come to your own opinions... that is the Reagan way. Look into finding that transcript of last weeks show that I keep mentioning. Google may have some links. That will open your eyes using steele’s own words... and a man cannot run from his own owrds... not unless your name is hussein. Ceeya.
LLS
“He stands for gay marriage, abortions, and gun control to name a few”
This is NOT true.
No, WE are not with him, you may be, I am not, so don't use the we word. Many people, including me, were with Bush and look where that got us. I refuse to be sucked in by another frickin' RINO, and Mr. Steele's words clearly brand him as such. All you have to do is read and listen to the man. I am not supporting this guy, period!
“In Maryland, we liked him a lot as Lt. Governor.”
My sister (an AUTHENTIC conservative)who lives in Maryland said the same thing...that Michael Steele is terrific....and a good, articulate conservative.
THIS deserves repeating:
“The folks who are posting the talking points need to grow up and understand the way things work in a whacked out blue state like Maryland. They’re doing the dirty work for the libs.
You’re wise not to be fooled by such nonsense.”
I wasn't surprised when he revealed he and his wife cried with joy over Obama's inauguration--he's another manchild, just like Obama, and it's always emotional when one of your own does well.
Have a good one.
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