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."
I don’t think it means a thing. He’ll still jump to support the next Dede Scozzafava, and leave the conservative candidates to raise their own money.
Well if he announced his regignation at the same time I would agree...however he is just using Conservative voters.
Don’t fall for it.
All,
Before you say, “I’m done with that party”, let’s examine the possibilities. You abandon “R”, and you get Perot.
You look to see what Steele does, like perhaps he endorses Rubio against Crist...what would be proof. Pandering? I don’t care, if he does what he’s supposed to do like put forth the right candidates (pun intended), then we get what we want and need.
Losing to win in the long run is STUPID...listen to Rush on this...long run may be too late and your country is gone and replaced by France of America or some other Euro-weenie country run by college professors and Sierra Club founders.
Before you go and toss “R” under the bus, let’s keep pushing Steele to do the right thing.
There still needs to be real change at the top.
I distrust him.
When I confirm that he has gotten rid of hte GOPride people I may reconsider the GOP donations.
Mr.Steele should understand that the Tea Party movement
was the home of the GOP, not vice versa. We didn’t leave them, they left US. Any time the party returns to it’s conservative roots they will find the big tent filled to capacity. We do not want to “get along” with socialists
we want them to “get OUT”!.
It's going to take a much more sustained and *effective* effort before I call myself a pubbie again, that's for sure.
What a total a$$, and that is what he is trying to save.
If Rip Van Steele has woken up and he supports individual rights against the rat collectivists, I’ll back him. But let’s first see if he engages the marxist-in-thief with some action.
He is going to have to do more than this that is for sure but I’ll withhold judgement till I see where he is just giving lipservice or if he is really wants to be a part of the team.
We intend to trample liberal crops, and sow their fields with salt!
He's obviously beginning to understand how the American people, including the majority of his party feels about what's going on.
Signs of life. Good.
Only a fool thinks that the Pubbie leadership has had a change of attitude. Steele just wants to hijack the Tea Party movement and use it for votes to put the same liberal RINOs back in office. I can’t believe that anyone thinks that this is anything other than a cold calculation to fool the conservatives into voting for corrupt RINOS again.
I have to hope this is a move in the right direction because the alternative, destroying our own chances of a majority with a third party, are frightening at best.
We need to get this gang out of Washington and we won’t get it done by eating our own.
This is a good thing. A reformed Republican party embracing conservatism is what we need to regain power in this country and rid it of the Marxist rot going on right now.
The line starts in back Steele.
“I’m done with his party.”
Then you’re done with ever being on the winning side of an election or of history.
I agree with you. I thought his recent actions have shown that he is starting to get it. I think he also could be very useful if he can get the present party office holders to take this movement very seriously.
Spot on, my friend.
That's Ice-T™ for all you non-hiphop Pubbies. Let's give a big shout out to flyover country from DC, yo!
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