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."
Tom DeLay?
Both gentlemen come from “blue” states with among the most moribund party apparati in the nation.
Not at all, Mr. DeLay was so intimidated by the Democrats that he bowed out of a 2006 race for Congress after getting renominated. The the party was unable to field a replacement candidate by conventional means. Why do you think he would fight?
Michael Steele would be great for morale”
Who’s morale? NOT MINE.
Intimidation through the force of law is not the same as a floor fight. I believe he bowed out because he realized his indictment would serve only as a barrier to the party and its aims. I'd have to do some research to tell you how I know he's a fighter, so give me some time. I do know he's smart and he's tough. One reason I thought of him is because it would drive the dims crazy. (crazier)
Hedgecock would be unacceptable to the Bushes: he voted for Henry Ross Perot in 1992, and of that they don’t forget.
If they start rewarding failures, we're going to repeat the last 12 years all over again. F Michigan until they get their act together.
Michigan????? The state McCain pulled out of? The state in a recession all its own and still the dems win? Yeah, that’s who I want running the party......
Steele is a staunch defender of affirmative action.
Thanks.
Now there’s a record of success.
&&&&&
I am still waiting to see the record of Steele’s tenure at GOPAC. I doubt that it was very good, but I am willing to be corrected. I would love to see stats where borderline seats went to Republicans as a result of GOPAC efforts. When he ran for Senate, he ran away from President Bush, and that is still wrong as a strategy, I believe. If he “organized” campaigns all over the country, running away from President Bush, then he helped damp down Republican voters from participating on November 4.
Democrats NEVER diss their own!
Michael is a very nice person and a good talker. We need a good organizer(!) a la Ken Mehlman.
I hope Steele is picked. I like the man and respect him. And Obama couldn’t play the race card with him at the helm
Newt has way too much personal baggage. It doesnt seem to matter for the dems. But it does if your a republican
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis announced his candidacy via TwitterWow, the Michigan GOP. Now there's some creds! That's almost as good as the IL GOP.
So where do I run to vote for this guy. I'm just all atwitter over the probability of this unknown jackass leading the GOP over the final cliff.
"SERIES', if Michael Steele doesn't get the RNC Chairman job this time the GOP is finished.
GOP will stand for: Goofy Old Poofers.Steele better get it. Or something stinks - like Karl Rove sticking his fat butt in where it doesn't belong (Just like he did with the IL GOP).
RNC will mean: Really Nutty Concepts
Yes, I don't like Rove, never did. He's certainly NOT a genius, nor a 'magnificent bast*rd'.
Do you know his positions on Affirmative Action or Gun Control or Roe v. Wade?
And Obama couldn’t play the race card with him at the helm
LOL!
Does the name Clarence Thomas mean anything to you?
How do we support Michael Steele?
Thank you for your take on the two, Erik. Well FRiends, best I can tell, this is the new front of conservatism — who will lead the RNC? I heard Steele on Hannity recently [Thursday or Friday]. Steele impresses me. Fiscal conservatism, safe borders, and mentioning Wright. This sounds like the kind of change the RNC needs. The DNC is now more vulnerable on character than ever before. We need a leader who is willing to bring it up.
[If anyone wants to add important links, please feel free to reply here for those on the ping list. I may or may not find any good links to add today. All I know at the moment is that this seems to be the big battle right now. FRegards ....]
Do you know his positions on Roe v. Wade, Gun Control and Affirmative action?
And the answer is....(Let's diagram the answer)
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.
Obviously Russert was confused, but Steele managed at the end to state his position:
MR. RUSSERT: Is is your desire to keep it [Roe v. Wade] in place?
LT. GOV. STEELE: My desire is that we follow what stare decisis is at this point, yes.
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