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 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.
30% Rep
30% Tea Party
40% Dem
= LOSE, and not just LOSE, but LOSE THE COUNTRY
The GOP (and a few talk show hosts) are scared to death that a new third party might emerge from the Tea parties.
Steele is just trying to suck up.
Too little, too late.
I agree. He is late. It is past time the party started listening.
Yep, I’m not for any 3rd party, particularly for 2010.
I agree with Rush, clean up this party, third parties never win elections. There are some really great Republicans like DeMint and Palin, let’s keep what we have that is worth keeping and throw out the trash.
Yes, she scares them. I hope enough to send them more conservative. Otherwise the third-party types will take over and we will be in the wilderness for a LONG time.
“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.”
Agreed. Just after what one would assume to be the most tone deaf and ineffective RNC during the Bush administration, along comes Steele to take the party organization to new lows.
No one can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory like Republicans. If the GOP wins big in 2010 (and I hope it does), it will be in spite of, not because of, the party boys.
The perfect election solution is for the GOP to accept and provide full-on support for Tea Party candidates. Win-win. Otherwise it'll be as you said, the third party nonsense starts and all the decent folk lose.
I agree the party is more than 60-70% conservative and if someone should leave the party it should be those who are not conservative.
Iced tea does not go with pizza.
“Not a Michael Steele fan. Once a RINO, always a RINO?”
Agreed. Still, what else can we do? A third party only splits the Conservative vote and hands the election to the Democrats.
It might be the right thing to do to invade the Republican party and take it over, returning it to principles of solid conservatism.
Oh yes, now they are going to try to co-opt and harness the
Tea Party. I think it’s time for a purge and leadership change.
The rump Republican Party is welcome to join the Tea Party as a provisional Junior Member.
We’ll see if their behavior can come up to par.
Yes, and look at this.
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_121609/content/01125111.member.html
BEcause they are NOT conservatives, and their ultimate goal is to keep us barefoot and pregnant, down on the farm, while they keep pushing the progressive agenda. I don’t trust him. He is a liar.
Do not forget, EVER, that you are a RACIST, cracker.
Nobody is saying they aren’t going to vote for the next pub candidate. Nobody is saying that they will. But if they pull another Rudy McRino, they just might get another four of this mess. Business as usual is not an option.
A subtle slap to Newt w/his ‘the Reagan era is over’.
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