Steele trap? GOP fears grow

The Politico ^

[Sub-Driver]

Steele trap? GOP fears grow By: Mike Allen and Andy Barr March 4, 2009 04:41 AM EST

A month after Michael Steele became the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee, key party leaders are worried that the GOP has made a costly mistake — one that will make it even harder for them to take back power from the dominant Democratic Party.

Steadily becoming a dependable punch line, Steele has brushed back Rush Limbaugh, threatened moderate Republican senators, offered the “friggin’ awesome” Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal some “slum love,” called civil unions “crazy” and promised more outreach to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings” via an “off the hook” public relations campaign.

He even threw a shout-out to “one-armed midgets.”

That’s in just 30 days on the job — and that’s just the PR part.

On the organizational side, Steele does not have a chief of staff, a political director, a finance director or a communications director. Last week, one of the two men sharing the job of interim finance director was forced to resign.

For now, “the fourth floor,” as the RNC’s executive suite is known, is being run by a pair of consultants.

“There’s frustration that there’s no discipline, no planning,” said a well-known Republican consultant. “He’s risking being overexposed by accepting every interview, which makes gaffes more likely.”

[TornadoAlley3]

Operation Rushbo

[steve8714]

Simma down now, simma down.
Steele controls the mechanism but I think will work with our ideas.
Talk radio is the heart circulating those ideas.

[greyfoxx39]

None of this matters! Steele is of the correct race. All will be well.

[Comanche]

I think Mr. Steele has dug a hole so deep he can’t get out. His tenure may be short. Too many gaffs early on.

[Obadiah]

Wow. Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse.

[Halls]

Goodbye Steele!

[sickoflibs]

I live in liberal Maryland where he came from and I knew he was trouble when he said he would "Reach out to other voters". This means going on liberal shows and apologizing for being a republicans, ala Jack Kemp

Steele was pushed by Hannity on FNC and his radio show.

Steele is on laura Ingrahm right now

[RockinRight]

I think Steele is just getting settled in at this point.

I feel that he’ll mold in where he needs to...honestly, who outside of political circles really knows who a party chairman is anyway?

[Nervous Tick]

[Obadiah]

Let’s face it, if Steele steps down (or is forced out) the liberals will have a field day and the corrupt MSM will amplify it. This could be a big disaster waiting to happen.

[MNlurker]

At this point a bunch of cats (can’t use the usual animal here for fear of racism charges) could put together a more coherent and organized message. The only good I personally take out of this was I was for Blackwell.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Talk radio is the heart circulating those ideas.

Really? The heart?

Where Steele is concerned, talk radio currently is more like the gut that’s undergoing uncontrollable spasms of power-retching because Steele activated our gag reflex.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Give it to Gingrich.

[dforest]

There is a way out of this. Embrace a different party and leave the GOP in the dust.

[mywholebodyisaweapon]

I think we’ve found our Howard Dean.

[Hacklehead]

“Steadily becoming a dependable punch line, Steele has brushed back Rush Limbaugh, threatened moderate Republican senators, offered the “friggin’ awesome” Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal some “slum love,” called civil unions “crazy” and promised more outreach to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings” via an “off the hook” public relations campaign”

Ever see a 50 year old man trying to fit in with his 18 YO son’s friends by acting and talking as they do? Its EMBARRASING.

[popdonnelly]

Republicans should stop fighting among themselves, and fight with the abysmal Administration.

[Oldpuppymax]

Source—The Politico. This is not exactly a conservative friendly publication, to say the least. So take what it offers with the largest grain of salt.

[yoe]

“If I told folks what I really thought, I’d probably be in a lot more trouble,” he said. “I think that’s what I bring to this job, as a voice of the party: I think it’s important to have that kind of newness and rawness to it that grabs folks’ attention and hopefully ... take a look at what we’re doing.”

He should just go ahead and say what he thinks....he did say this: "If you are not a conservative then get out of the way or get rolled over"......sounded good to me at the time....so why did he throw Rush under the bus? Maybe Steel has a big chip on his shoulder after all or is not a true conservative.