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Michael Steele
Posted on 11/15/2008 6:19:16 AM PST by Kaslin
The two men formally running to lead the Republican National Committee are reaching out to bloggers as an initial step to boosting their candidacy and hopefully, growing the party.
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis announced his candidacy via Twitter and quickly organized a conference call with new media to discuss his bid Wednesday. He held a follow-up call as he boarded a plane from the Republican Governors Association Meeting on Friday, emphasizing his willingness to “democratize information coming from the party.”
“Obama succeeded because he built an infrastructure and when he became popular they [his supporters] could plug into it…It’s our job as a party to facilitate that infrastructure,” he said.
Former GOP Maryland Senate candidate declared his intent to become RNC Chair on Hannity & Colmes Thursday evening and held a call with right-leaning bloggers the next day.
He said he felt called to run because “I am sick and tired of the whining.”
Steele faulted the current GOP leadership for “the failure to communicate that has undermined our efforts for some time now,” on issues like immigration. He said that too often Republicans have been “manhandled” by liberals from discussing issues out of fear of racism.
“We looked stupid, we looked immature, we looked ugly, we looked mean,” he said.
He mentioned that President-elect Barack Obama “played the race card beautifully, just beautifully,” against GOP presidential candidate John McCain to prevent Republicans from discussing Obama’s relationship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Steele said he could be relied upon to stand for fiscal responsibility as Chairman. “When I ran for the U.S. Senate I was appalled we were spending all this friggen money on a Bridge to Nowhere! C’mon! Let’s be reasonable!” he said.
He called the $700 billion financial bailout “crazy” and “absolutely against the interest of the American people.”
Michigan activist Anuzis touted his credentials as a fiscal reformer as well.
He told bloggers that he worked hard to bring Republicans in line during a controversial vote to raise taxes on Michigan. "We came out and said we would not support" Republicans who voted for the increase Anuzis said. "We went out and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and ran ads on talk radio...not only have I talked the talk I have walked the walk in Michigan. We have specific examples. This is not something theoretical."
“Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis”
Now there’s a record of success.
This is the first time since the election that conservatives have a chance to reform the GOP.
Steele is a decent conservative (not perfect).
Anuzis is conservative lite.
I take it that his title means that he is one of the RNC directors.
Does anyone know?
I would not want to see anyone who presently sits on the RNC board or is in any management position at present become the new chair.
They are the problem.
How do we support Michael Steele?
I know nothing of these guys. My vote would be for Newt Gingrich. I read his book and he has a very good plan laid out. Read “Real Change” by Newt Gingrich.
my friends say that have met Newt he has no People skills...especially in a sit down setting ...imagine him in a Meeting!hahah Plus he Has Gobs of Personal Baggage... Hippocrite is the word that comses to Mind!!
As Number #2 with his Ideas would be good .. The Face of the Party.. no way!
We pretend he isn't a loser without new ideas. He's a loser candidate and currently loser head of GOPAC.
The evidence is there that we won't get winning new ideas from either of these two losers.
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We don't.
I heard an interview with Newt on NPR this morning, he is not running for the seat.
Please show me a candidate for RNC who as been out there taking hits. I don’t know this Saul, and I have liked Steele on the various programs, but familiarity alone should not be qualificiation. We have just seen how you can create a candidate.
But of all the names I have heard, who is it who has been able to articulate the principles, who makes the case?
It’s Newt.
S.O.P. of the left. So our side must never be afraid to call a spade a spade, because the left and their mind numbed town criers are going to call you an evil, extreme, unsophisticated rube no matter what...
Steele is the perfect pick. He’s a solid social and fiscal conservative. And more importantly he has the moral authority to call out team zero on the race card crapola.
Otherwise any and all criticism from the RNC will be called racist.
Steele, baby, Steele.
Saul Anuzis - WHY? What has he ever accomplished in the political arena? Please someone give us a list.
It's like a coach who inherits a Tuscaloosa Teacher's Tech and makes them into a playoff team, vs. a guy who every year has a Florida, Miami, USC, or Ohio State but actually is underperforming.
WHOEVER WE GET, I WANT A BARE-KNUCKLE FIGHTER. I WANT SOMEONE NOT INTIMIDATED BY HOWARD DEAN.
Thank goodness. I thought I was alone in thinking Steele is just too nice.
I really didn't like his comment that during this election we were "too mean". I want somebody that will fight the dems.
Nov 5, 2008
MI GOP Chairman Comments on Election Day Results
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saulius “Saul” Anuzis today commented on the results of the 2008 General Election, offering thanks to the thousands of GOP volunteers who worked tirelessly to support candidates and turnout voters to the polls.
Michigan GOP Chairman Saulius “Saul” Anuzis:
“Michigan Republicans made a valiant effort to fend off a national ‘anti-Republican’ tsunami. I can’t say strongly enough how proud I am of the individual efforts by so many of our Republican grass-root supporters. As I traveled the state this last week on our ‘Fight to the Finish Tour,’ there was story after story of creative door-to-door blitzes, localized calling rallies, and candidates fighting hard against long odds. Michigan Republicans rallied as a team to fight to the finish, regardless of what pundits and others said or did.
“While others gave up on us, Michigan Republicans never gave up. Thousands of volunteers came out in the final weeks to fight for our values and our beliefs. It is my fervent belief that we are the right party with the right ideas. I do not believe these results indicate a repudiation of those ideas. Unfortunately, America lost faith in our ability to deliver on those ideas. In this environment, there was very little to be done on a state or local level to ride out the storm.
“Our challenge going forward is to renew the faith of the American people in our party. We are the party that represents the best hopes of America. Unfortunately, some of our elected leaders broke faith with the American people, on so many of our Republican core issues, that Republicans lost the ability to appeal to middle class families. On issues of national security, spending, taxes, and values, too many Republicans have not kept their promise to America. But by returning to those fundamentals, we can once again be a majority party. It is more then just tactics and mechanics. It is about believing in and living your principles.
“I believe that when our party once again adheres to our core values and beliefs, and can again demonstrate to America that we can be trusted on those issues, we will make a comeback – stronger than ever.”
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