Now this is a move in the right direction.
Posted on 12/16/2009 1:33:09 PM PST by Maelstorm
Two hundred and thirty-six years after a group of angry Bostonians dressed up as Native Americans so they wouldn't get caught taking on the establishment, the Republican Party donned the mantle of the Tea Party movement, in hopes that they won't get caught next year looking like Dede Scozzafava.
"Never has there been a moment like this in our history," RNC chair Michael Steele told Hill staffers and Republican party activists munching pizza and sipping iced tea (without irony) at the RNC headquarters today. "Except one time before," he added before telling the tale of the Boston Tea Party.
Steele raised his own cup of tea before promising to "stand in solidarity" with the tea partiers on health care reform. "I salute you," he said.
Though it lacked the size, enthusiasm and racially-questionable signage of its real-life counterpart, Steele's "RNC Tea Party" was all about embracing the ideals of a growing conservative movement that's often been as focused on slamming the GOP as it has on attacking Democrats. There were even official GOP tea bags given out with "Listen to Me!" signs stapled to them. Interestingly, though, the party lacked most of the big Republican names the tea partiers usually turn to at their rallies. Michele Bachmann and Jim DeMint were nowhere to be found.
The event was focused on health care reform, which Steele said Democrats have moved forward in the "dead of night," over the objections of his new friends, the tea partiers. Much of the rhetoric was similiar to Steele's "Listen To Me" press conference Tuesday, but this time there was little talk of Democrats. It was all about praising the tea partiers.
"It's time for you to fight," he said to the gathered Republicans, referring to the Democratic reforms. "It's time for you to push back."
But after the speech, Steele told TPMDC that the effort goes beyond health care and that tea partiers should know their friends are in the GOP.
"I think we are a natural home," Steele said. He acknowledged the tea partier's complaints with the Republicans and he promised that the party would work hard to keep its loudest constituents happy. 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."
But that's all over now, Steele said. Tea is the party's drink now. "We are moving back, head first, in that direction," he said. "Because that's where we should be."
Now this is a move in the right direction.
Not a Michael Steele fan. Once a RINO, always a RINO?
Its just pandering. I’m done with his party.
Steele needs to get thrown into the bay with the tea!
Way too late, way too RINO.
Jumping out in front of a parade, then claiming to lead it.
Pack of country club preppies...could’nt find their own packages with a mirror .....
"Principles"? Did say it that way, or is the inclusion of the quotes for ironic or uncommon usage?
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.
That is true.
Unfortunately the house needs a good cleaning before we move back in.
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.
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.
They just gotta stick it to regular, decent people don't they?
I read it as blah, blah, blah.
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.
Steele hopping on the bandwagon before he gets left on the side of the road.
Nothing to see here, folks.
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.
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