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Michael Steele Brews A New GOP: The Party Of Tea (Salutes Tea Partiers)
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com ^ | December 16, 2009, | Evan McMorris-Santoro

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."


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: countryclubbersraus; party; steele; tea
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To: 1776 Reborn

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.


Agreed; I also want to make sure folks here realize I don’t really like Steele - I wanted Ken Blackwell, a true conservative. However, one must realize as much as they think he’s a RINO, if he finally gets it and does the right actions...the actions speak louder than words. Right actions keep the following from happening:

30% Rep
30% Tea Party
40% Dem
= LOSE, and not just LOSE, but LOSE THE COUNTRY


41 posted on 12/16/2009 2:04:16 PM PST by CincyRichieRich (Keep your head up and keep moving forward!)
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To: Maelstorm

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.


42 posted on 12/16/2009 2:04:59 PM PST by wolfcreek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsd7DGqVSIc)
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To: Maelstorm

Too little, too late.


43 posted on 12/16/2009 2:09:54 PM PST by 4woodenboats (B0-"There'll be no shooting of out of uniform enemies" RR-"The Bombing Will Begin In 5 Minutes")
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To: Maelstorm

I agree. He is late. It is past time the party started listening.


44 posted on 12/16/2009 2:10:18 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: CincyRichieRich

Yep, I’m not for any 3rd party, particularly for 2010.


45 posted on 12/16/2009 2:11:04 PM PST by 1776 Reborn
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To: Maelstorm

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.


46 posted on 12/16/2009 2:13:48 PM PST by ohiogrammy (12)
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To: Bryanw92

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.


47 posted on 12/16/2009 2:15:46 PM PST by Sigurdrifta
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To: 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.”

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.


48 posted on 12/16/2009 2:18:54 PM PST by SharpRightTurn (White, black, and red all over--America's affirmative action, metrosexual president.)
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To: Sigurdrifta
Yes, she scares them. I hope enough to send them more conservative

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.

49 posted on 12/16/2009 2:20:40 PM PST by paulycy (Demand Constitutionality.)
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To: ohiogrammy

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.


50 posted on 12/16/2009 2:22:21 PM PST by Maelstorm (Party like it's 1776)
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To: Maelstorm

Iced tea does not go with pizza.


51 posted on 12/16/2009 2:23:20 PM PST by HIDEK6
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To: library user

“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.


52 posted on 12/16/2009 2:33:49 PM PST by RoadTest (Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3)
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To: Maelstorm

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.


53 posted on 12/16/2009 2:42:58 PM PST by Steamburg ( Your wallet speaks the only language most politicians understand.)
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To: Maelstorm

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.


54 posted on 12/16/2009 2:48:30 PM PST by Uncle Miltie (If you need a < / sarc> tag, you're not paying attention.)
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To: Maelstorm

Yes, and look at this.

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_121609/content/01125111.member.html


55 posted on 12/16/2009 2:49:54 PM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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To: Maelstorm

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.


56 posted on 12/16/2009 2:51:07 PM PST by ichabod1 ( I am rolling over in my grave and I am not even dead yet.)
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To: paulycy

Do not forget, EVER, that you are a RACIST, cracker.


57 posted on 12/16/2009 2:53:05 PM PST by ichabod1 ( I am rolling over in my grave and I am not even dead yet.)
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To: CincyRichieRich

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.


58 posted on 12/16/2009 2:55:31 PM PST by ichabod1 ( I am rolling over in my grave and I am not even dead yet.)
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To: Maelstorm

A subtle slap to Newt w/his ‘the Reagan era is over’.


59 posted on 12/16/2009 3:00:44 PM PST by presently no screen name
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To: Seruzawa
to fool the conservatives into voting for corrupt RINOS again

The tea party movement explicitly shows conservatives can't be fooled.
60 posted on 12/16/2009 3:05:11 PM PST by presently no screen name
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