Michael Steele Brews A New GOP: The Party Of Tea (Salutes Tea Partiers)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com ^ | December 16, 2009, | Evan McMorris-Santoro

[Maelstorm]

Now this is a move in the right direction.

[library user]

Not a Michael Steele fan. Once a RINO, always a RINO?

[Spirochete]

Its just pandering. I’m done with his party.

[paulcissa]

Steele needs to get thrown into the bay with the tea!

[MileHi]

Way too late, way too RINO.

[MuttTheHoople]

Jumping out in front of a parade, then claiming to lead it.

[mo]

Pack of country club preppies...could’nt find their own packages with a mirror .....

[ImpBill]

Pardon me if I don't get all "silly" about the buttons and symbolic tea cup drink. The GOP has been playing it's supposed base for far to long. And I don't think I have been motivated to send the RNC any $.$$ anytime soon. But I am sure the "party" faithful just might get "tingles" running down their legs.

[KarlInOhio]

Steele said he offered a "mea culpa" to tea partiers since the beginning of this term, agreeing with them that the party had abandoned its conservative "principles."

"Principles"? Did say it that way, or is the inclusion of the quotes for ironic or uncommon usage?

[Maelstorm]

I used to be till he started going stupid once he became GOP chair. He has a long way to go to earn my respect again.
I do believe this is a positive move. I’ve always wondered why individuals like Steele waste so much time trying to appeal to people who will never vote Republican all the while pissing off those who would otherwise. Conservatism is the largest political group and if more time was spent expressing and defending conservative values and principles the GOP would have so many people in its tent they couldn’t want for more.

[Vinnie]

"I think we are a natural home," Steele said.

That is true.
Unfortunately the house needs a good cleaning before we move back in.

[Bryanw92]

I agree that talk is cheap, but this is a big move forward for the GOP to go from ridiculing and ignoring the Tea Party movement to actually making statements in support of them. I think Palin is beginning to scare the RINO Elite a little.

If he continues with this trend, I may just start calling myself a Republican again.

[mad_as_he$$]

Steel is just stealing the light. He never had an original idea to save his a$$.

[Pete]

the Republican Party donned the mantle of the Tea Party movement

This is a VERY bad move by Steele. The mantle is not his to don. He comes off looking like he is trying to co opt the movement. Slimy and sure to be rejected.

[paulycy]

racially-questionable signage

They just gotta stick it to regular, decent people don't they?

[subterfuge]

I read it as blah, blah, blah.

[Maelstorm]

I’m never sending the RNC money till I see them doing more to lead the charge for real. My local GOP is fairly active but I get more emails from Democrats asking for money and pushing an agenda than I do from the GOP. I don’t understand it. The best promoter locally is Congressman Eric Cantor.

[JenB987]

Steele hopping on the bandwagon before he gets left on the side of the road.

Nothing to see here, folks.

[Pete]

The only way Steele could engage the Tea Party movement is to show up at a rally as part of the crowd. He had his chance to lead and blew it.

[DustyMoment]

I’ll believe it when I see it. Steele has proven himself to be one of the more inept RNC chairs in recent memory and seems to be clueless as to what the GOP needs to do to regain the conservatives it has alienated.

I’m not optimistic.