BREAKING! Pro-life, devout Catholic named new RNC chair!

American Papist ^ | January 30, 2009 | Thomas Peters

[NYer]

I'm hearing that it happened just minutes ago: Former Maryland Lt. Gov. (and former state party chairman) Michael Steele has been elected as the new chair of the Republican National Committee.

So who is he?!

CollegeNews tells us:

"Steele is a staunch social conservative: devoutly Catholic, pro-life, anti-embryonic stem cell research, etc."

Sounds like my kind of guy!

And no Kmiec-style justifications needed to support him.

update: WaPo blog:

The Republican National Committee elected Michael Steele as its first African American chairman today in Washington, a decision that came after an excruciating series of ballots that displayed a level of drama rarely seen in national politics.

On the sixth and final ballot Steele bested South Carolina Republican party Chairman Katon Dawson 91 to 77.

"It's time for something completely different and we are going to bring it to them," Steele said after his victory. "This is our opportunity. I cannot do this by myself."

[Sun]

Our Black leaders don’t kill Black babies.

1 out of 4 abortions kill Black and Brown unborn babies.

[livius]

Yes, and 80% of Hispanic Catholics and 93% of black Catholics voted for Obama. I think we need to do some catechesis here...

[DocH]

I understand he is weak on the Second Ammendment.

You are CORRECT. he is a POS, weak RINO when it comes to our 2nd Amendment rights, and from the quotes below, doesn't have a CLUE as to the meaning and intent of our 2nd Amendment.

How DO we keep getting saddled with these LIBERAL-MINDED LOSERS?

Michael Steele on Gun Control

No ban on guns; focus on enforcement instead

Q: Your views on gun control?

A: My views are pretty much in line with the governor's. I grew up under some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. You can have all the gun control laws in the country, but if you don't enforce them, people are going to find a way to protect themselves. We need to recognize that bad people are doing bad things with these weapons. It's not the law-abiding citizens, it's not the person who uses it as a hobby.

Q: Should people have access to buy assault weapons?

A: Society should draw lines. What do you need an assault weapon for, if you're going hunting? That's overkill. But I don't think that means you go to a total ban for those who want to use gun for skeet shooting or hunting or things like that But what's the point of passing gun laws if we're not going to enforce them? If you want to talk about gun control, that's where you need to start. We've got 300 gun laws on the books right now. At the end of the day, it's about how we enforce the law.

Source: Washington Post interview Oct 16, 2006

[DocH]

The 2nd Amendment is NOT about "skeet shooting" or "hunting".

He IS a POS liberal RINO when it comes to our 2A rights.

[dila813]

I like him for no other reason that his spirited defense of Palin.

He wasn’t a sell-out like the other RINOs. He was full in and he didn’t stab her in the back from the shadows.

He has my full support as he gave it to Palin.

[rbmillerjr]

“Is he pro-abortion? Someone told me he was.”

I’m from Maryland, he is virulently Pro Life...no hedging on that issue.

He hedged slightly on 2nd Amendment.

I want to see what his vision and strategy are for leading the Party back to it’s core priniples - and back to prominence.

I want a plan for the midterm elections and forward.

[rbmillerjr]

“For the first time...I’m proud of my country.”

Hehehehe

[sitetest]

Dear rbmillerjr,

“I’m from Maryland, he is virulently Pro Life...no hedging on that issue.”

That's not true. When he ran for the US Senate in 2006, he definitely hedged:

Meet The Press on October 29, 2006.

MR. RUSSERT: ...Mr. Steele, if you’re United States Senator, would you vote for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion?

LT. GOV. STEELE: I don’t — vote for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion? I think we’d have to have that get to the Supreme Court, wouldn’t we? I haven’t seen that bill proposed. I don’t think...

MR. RUSSERT: That’s been introduced in the Senate.

LT. GOV. STEELE: I don’t think anyone’s going to propose that this day.

MR. RUSSERT: So you wouldn’t do that?

LT. GOV. STEELE: No.

MR. RUSSERT: Would, would you encourage — would you hope the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade?

LT. GOV. STEELE: I think that that’s a matter that’s going to rightly belong to the courts [emphasis added] to decide ultimately whether or not that, that issue should be addressed. The, the Court has taken a position, which I agree, stare decisis, which means that the law is as it is and, and so this is a matter that’s ultimately going to be adjudicated at the states. We’re seeing that. The states are beginning to decide for themselves on, on this and a host of other issues. And the Supreme Court would ultimately decide that.

MR. RUSSERT: But you hope that the Court keeps Roe v. Wade in place?

LT. GOV. STEELE: I think the Court will evaluate the law as society progresses, as the Court is supposed to do.

MR. RUSSERT: But what’s your position? Do you want them to sustain it or overturn it?

LT. GOV. STEELE: Well, I think, I think, I think Roe vs. Wade, Roe vs. Wade is a, is a matter that should’ve been left to the states to decide, ultimately. But it, it is where it is today, and the courts will ultimately decide whether or not this, this gets addressed by the states, goes back to the states in some form or they overturn it outright.

MR. RUSSERT: Is is your desire to keep it in place?

LT. GOV. STEELE: My desire is that we follow what stare decisis is at this point, yes.

---

Many folks have found sufficient justification to let this slide, but it's definitely not a “virulently pro-life” assertion to say that Roe should be kept in place, that “My desire is that we follow what stare decisis is at this point, yes.”

In fact, it would not be unreasonable to interpret this as not pro-life at all.

sitetest

[TheOgre]

Thanks for your equally useless comment. Just callin them as I see them.

[rbmillerjr]

He is virulent Pro Life and you will see this in the days to come. But yes, he hedges there.

You are either for or against abortion in your heart. Steele is against it. The text you copied is as it is. It’s that of a Pro Life candidate attempting to dodge being nailed down on the issue to stay viable in the Great Socialist State of Maryland.

Do I think a little less of him for doing that? Yes. That is one of several issues I would not personally hedge on. But, I’m not looking to marry the guy, just lead the Party.

I have my own concerns with him, but that is not one of them. I’m concerned about his “reaching out” strategy. If it means agreeing getting our policies out to minorities and women...no problem.

However, if it means, selling out on illegal immigration, affirmative action, minority entitlements to bring in minorities...I’ll no longer be a Republican.

[wardaddy]

They hired the wrong black guy.

you can say that again...Blackwell was the real deal

the lady from South Carolina he defeated in the 6th ballot was also far more conservative across the board.

the moderates in the GOP are winning in spite of losing....Steele got it for being a known black man but all he has is an Lt Governor of an ultra lib state under his belt and a failed Senate run...that's it, and some questional super RINO ties that he just severed last summer

and kneejerk race obsessed freepers go ape over him like he's the second coming.

this is a dark time...no pun intended, reminds me of the amnesty battles here when the kumbaya crowd held sway....maybe we should invite howlin and nopardons and sinkspur and torie (i liked her)back.

i have little faith in freeper acumen anymore, this place lost it's edge after 9-11 when the moderates innundated us

depressing..."oh lookie lookie,,,,we now have our own black guy too", how cute and milquetoast

[neocon1984]

IMO, You don’t see them very clearly. It’s idiots like you that keep the libbies in power.

[sitetest]

Dear rbmillerjr,

“He is virulent Pro Life and you will see this in the days to come. But yes, he hedges there.”

No. You said of Mr. Steele, “no hedging on that issue.”

And now you say, “he hedges there.” Which is it? No hedging or hedging?

And if he hedges, it's tough to say that he's virulently pro-life. In fact, hedging would seem to be behavior that contradicts virulence on a particular issue. It's sort of the exact opposite.

“You are either for or against abortion in your heart.”

Sorry, but I hear that sort of baloney from Democrats all day long. Living in Maryland, I can't count the number of times that my friends have told me that this Democrat or that Democrat politician is “against abortion in his heart.” Yet they help to perpetuate the Culture of Death.

By endorsing the acceptance of Roe, Mr. Steele perpetuates the Culture of Death.

“It’s that of a Pro Life candidate attempting to dodge being nailed down on the issue to stay viable in the Great Socialist State of Maryland.”

Doesn't sound very virulent to me. Sounds like hedging. You know - the thing you said Mr. Steele didn't do concerning the issue of life.

“Do I think a little less of him for doing that? Yes. That is one of several issues I would not personally hedge on. But, I’m not looking to marry the guy, just lead the Party.”

Well, that's the thing. I don't think that the leader of the party should hedge on the issue of the right to life. In fact, from my perspective, it makes the Republican Party the second party of choice on abortion.

But I wished to merely point out that his words are not those of one who is “virulently pro-life ...no hedging on that issue.”

As for me, until he repudiates his remarks, I mark him down as not being pro-life or pro-abortion. Just pro-Steele.

sitetest

[TheOgre]

You know what they say about opinions and them being like someones orifice. Everyone has one and everyone thinks everyone elses stinks. Until republicans start acting like conservatives instead of liberals I will continue to bash them and the mindless drones such as yourself that continue to praise their ineptness. So, go fly a kite princess!

[rbmillerjr]

You said of Mr. Steele, “no hedging on that issue.”

And now you say, “he hedges there.” Which is it? No hedging or hedging?

I think logic and common sense would dictate that the second statement would represent the truth as I know it based on your evidence. No?

You make some decent points and I respect your opinion. I’ll stick to he will illustrate and clarify his position very soon. If I’m wrong I’ll admit it. Let’s hope I’m right.

[Salvation]

Pro-life bump.

[Iscool]

Michael Steele: Well, I mean you draw the line. I mean, what do you need an assault weapon for? I mean, if going hunting, I think that’s a little overkill or whatever, but the reality of it is, I think it’s important for a society, a community to draw the lines as we’ve drawn in a number of other constitutional areas, but I don’t think that that means that you go to a total ban for those who want to use guns for skeet shooting and hobbying and hunting and things like that.

That's the identical philosophy that Al Gore spouts...The 2nd Amendment is about hunting...

Another empty suit...They're just shuffling around the same people that made the GOP the disgrace that it is...

[Iscool]

Speaking only from personal bias (I'm not Catholic, btw), I have found that Catholics are often much more open to practical adaptations of the Christian faith with regard to real life than are those of the so-called "religious right." That's not a bad thing -- especially where politics are concerned.

HUH??? More than half of them voted for Obama...

[r9etb]

HUH??? More than half of them voted for Obama...

Newsflash: more than half of damned near everybody did that....

[Victoria Delsoul]

I'm pinging everyone who replied to Max to clarify something.

Max, before I answer your post let me give you the short version of Michael Steele's bio, so we know we are talking about the same person:

When Steele was elected Lieutenant Governor of Maryland in 2003, he became the first African American elected to state-wide office in that state.

He is currently a partner in the international law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf in Washington, D.C. From 1991-1997, Steele was a corporate securities attorney at the international law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in Washington, D.C., specializing in sophisticated financial transactions on behalf of Wall Street underwriters.

He also was a corporate finance counsel for the Mills Corporation and founded his own company, The Steele Group, a business and legal consulting firm.

His writings on law, business and politics have appeared in The Washington Times, Politico.com, Townhall.com, and The Journal of International Security Affairs, among others.

Named a 2005 Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership and awarded the 2005 Bethune-DuBois Institute Award for his ongoing work in the development of quality education in Maryland, Steele has served on a variety of boards and commissions, including the Export-Import Bank Advisory Board, the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors, and the Republican National Committee. link

When I read the Q&A supposedly from Steele that you posted, I knew that it wasn't accurate because that is not the way Steele talks. He is an educated and articulate man and it wasn't consistent with his speech pattern. So, I searched for the comments you posted and found that a small website posted these same comments on December 18, 2008 and falsely attributed them to Steele.

You obviously don't know who Steele is and you looked for the most negative comments you could find on the net to back up your bias against Steele, or you are the owner of the blog Arsenal (which originally posted these comments over one month ago), and now you are purposely disseminating them on FR.

Had you checked the link you provided, quoting a Washington Post interview of Oct 16, 2006 as the source, you would've seen the difference, unless you are deliberately misleading people regarding Steele's positions.

Let's look at the difference in the quote:

This is what Steele really said:

Q: Should people have access to buy assault weapons?

A: Society should draw lines. What do you need an assault weapon for, if you're going hunting? That's overkill. But I don't think that means you go to a total ban for those who want to use gun for skeet shooting or hunting or things like that. But what's the point of passing gun laws if we're not going to enforce them? If you want to talk about gun control, that's where you need to start. We've got 300 gun laws on the books right now. At the end of the day, it's about how we enforce the law.

Now, this is what you said he said:

Also, you misquoted the original question - the original question doesn’t say “any gun that they want”

Q: Should people have access to buy assault weapons or any gun that they want?

Michael Steele: Well, I mean you draw the line. I mean, what do you need an assault weapon for? I mean, if going hunting, I think that’s a little overkill or whatever, but the reality of it is, I think it’s important for a society, a community to draw the lines as we’ve drawn in a number of other constitutional areas, but I don’t think that that means that you go to a total ban for those who want to use guns for skeet shooting and hobbying and hunting and things like that.

He never used “I mean” or “whatever,” and he never said: “but the reality of it is, I think it’s important for a society, a community to draw the lines as we’ve drawn in a number of other constitutional areas, but I don’t think that that means that you go to a total ban for those who want to use guns for skeet shooting and hobbying and hunting and things like that.” You made up that part completely.

Perhaps your purpose here is to portray Steele as some kind of ignorant hick to help depict him as against the second amendment. I know there are some unappeasables who would be never be happy with any conservative or Republican as a leader, be they Sarah Palin, Michael Steele, or anyone running for public office.

When Annalex posted: “That is also frighteningly inarticulate. Does he always speak with I-mean-or-whatever-and-things-like-that, or did the reporter drag him out of bed too early that time?” You replied:

I line in L.A. and even Valley “girls” don’t talk in that manner.

This is the kind of comment that brings out negativity and incites discord among us, and the other side uses it to brand us as “the extreme right” “the fringe” etc. I don’t mean to suggest Annalex did so here, because her comments were measured.

Let's stop destroying our own and stay on a positive message. Constructive criticism is always welcome so we can help our leaders find the right direction. But attributing false comments and distorting someone's record is counterproductive to our cause.

Furthermore, all Steele was saying above is:

We've got 300 gun laws on the books right now. At the end of the day, it's about how we enforce the law.

The laws already exist, and all he is saying is ENFORCE THEM! So let's not confuse enforcing the existing laws with being anti-second amendment.