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."

[ArmyBratproud]

you’re full of ....

He is not weak on the second amendment. Just pulling stuff out of your ... makes you look bad.

[ejonesie22]

My understanding is that it is less a case of being weak as it is just not really saying much and never being in a position to take a stand legislatively. Given the rest of his political stances though, I think he is a safer bet than most.

[ArmyBratproud]

care to man up and actually give a source for that made up quote???

[milford421]

“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.”

This statement would indicate that he’s not RINO on gun rights.

[max americana]

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

[Blue State Insurgent]

MLK = GOP

[milford421]

Unkus is a newbie...I don’t see Steele as being weak at all on the 2nd amendment. Discrediting job seems to be underway.

[r9etb]

He is very articulative ...

Vocabulary irony alert! ;-)

Actually, the fact that he's a devout Catholic is a very strong recommendation, in my book.

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.

I think that, when and if Mr. Steele finds his religion within the political spotlight, that practical viewpoint will come across as much more honest and attractive than the sort of priggishness that one hears from the likes of Mr. Dobson.

[max americana]

> care to man up and actually give a source for that made up quote???

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Michael_Steele_Gun_Control.htm

Man enough for ya? Chill out. It’s a Friday afternoon.

[NoLibZone]

He can change the hearts of the majority of Catholics into becoming pro-life.

Obama carried 55% of US Catholics.

[LibLieSlayer]

That is it... I quit the National republican party. This jerk is anti-gun and thinks that America is becoming more liberal and that pubbies must embrace large government and that Reaganism is dead... well this party is now dead to me. I can backup what I say by telling you all to find the transcript of last weeks Bill Bennett show where steele subbed for Bill and interviewed Jim Greer (Florida GOP chair)... both of these men say that Red States are turning purple and the pubbies must become more “inclusive” and must move to the left. Screw the rnc!

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

He is a rino and I use his words as spoken on Bill Bennett's radio show as proof. He is a rino of the worst kind. I am no longer a member or financial supporter of the new rat party.

LLS

[ejonesie22]

That is opposite of a lot of other info on Steele....

[ejonesie22]

yeah, but you left of the first part from the site:

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.

[CedarDave]

So we can’t talk about Steele’s positions? At all?

Talk all you want. Steele's story is one of triumph over adversity, a lot like Clarence Thomas, though Thomas is more conservative. I'm just tired of people that spout the same litany of things he is not and not the positive aspects of the man, including his history and debating the likes of Carville and Beckel on NBC and Fox and scoring wins in those forums.

The options for the position (except for Ken Blackwell) were poor. The candidate he defeated was the party leader in SC and a conservative. However, Katon Dawson has an Achilles heel in that he was a member of a Whites only country club for 12-years and just recently resigned. Not exactly the equivalent of the Obama and the wrong Reverend Wright, but enough so the MSM will point it out in every news article that would mention him.

Steele is not running for President (though maybe he should one day) so his perceived "litmus" positions do not matter as much as they would if he did. On the other hand his enthusiasm and confidence do matter and frankly that is what I like about the man.

[LibLieSlayer]

I am telling you what came out of the man's mouth... he is a rino and time will prove that what I say today is dead on... I swear it!

LLS

[unkus]

>>you’re full of ....

He is not weak on the second amendment. Just pulling stuff out of your ... makes you look bad.<<

I didn’t pull it out of my.. Some other FReepers have said he was weak on that *after* I had defended him.

Apology from you is accepted.

[utahagen]

If Michael Steele is indeed pro-life — I believe he is —why would any freeper shout, “pro-choice”?

[max americana]

Which confuses people is the 2nd part...

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.

[utahagen]

I think the silver lining to Obama’s win is that politicians of all stripes will feel freer to give affirmative action the thumbs down from now on.