Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Steele: GOP Should Reach Out To Gay, Pro-Choice Voters
Video Cafe (via Fox News) ^ | Feburary 1, 2009 | David Sunday

Posted on 02/02/2009 9:17:17 AM PST by UCFRoadWarrior

Michael Steele, the new chairman of the Republican National Committee wants the GOP to reach out to candidates who support gay marriage and are pro-choice. Steele told Fox's Chris Wallace that it was "important" to reach out to those voters.

WALLACE: You are one of the co-founders of something called the Republican Leadership Council which supports candidates who favor abortion and gay rights.

STEELE: Yes.

(watch video)

WALLACE: Does the GOP needs to do a better job of reaching out to people who hold those views?

STEELE: I think -- I think that's an important opportunity for us, absolutely. Within our party we do have those who have that view as well as outside and my partnership with Christy Todd Whittman was an effort to build a bridge between moderates and conservatives.

(Excerpt) Read more at videocafe.crooksandliars.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; bigtent; bohica; conservativism; culturewar; gayvoters; gopchairman; homosexualagenda; michaelsteele; moralabsolutes; proaborts; prolife; rebuilding; rncchairman; ruhroh; sellout; steele
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 501-520521-540541-560 ... 621-634 next last
To: P-Marlowe

Just evidence that it all comes together at the top. Hard to imagine that there aren’t any real conservatives who could have been voted Chairman.


521 posted on 02/02/2009 8:43:13 PM PST by little jeremiah (Leave illusion, come to the truth. Leave the darkness, come to the light.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 496 | View Replies]

To: Girlene

It’s not only not “Helpful”, it’s nuking the GOP.


522 posted on 02/02/2009 8:44:35 PM PST by little jeremiah (Leave illusion, come to the truth. Leave the darkness, come to the light.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 504 | View Replies]

To: gtsamson

The only people who would say that are people who are never going to vote Republican anyway.


523 posted on 02/02/2009 8:46:15 PM PST by little jeremiah (Leave illusion, come to the truth. Leave the darkness, come to the light.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 509 | View Replies]

To: gtsamson
Do you know how bad it would look for the Republican party to force their first black Chairman to resign within days of being elected? It would be a public relations disaster.

I have a solution for ya! Force RINO Steele to resign and replace him with African-American Ken Blackwell, a real conservative!

524 posted on 02/02/2009 8:48:35 PM PST by Ol' Sparky (Liberal Republicans are the greater of two evils)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 509 | View Replies]

To: P-Marlowe

“Afraid to admit that we were right about Steele’s position on abortion?”

I’m afraid I’d be telling a lie then - Steele IS pro-life. He is an orthodox Mass-going Catholic, a former seminarian, and a Knight of Columbus. Not only is he against abortion but also against ESCR.

“You refused to acknowledge that his position is that he wants to keep abortion legal and does not want to have the courts overturn Roe v. Wade.”

Couldn’t be further from the truth - it’s actually exactly the opposite. Someone posted a wonderful link of Steele’s interview with, I believe, CNS concerning the race for the chairmanship in which he articulates his conservative and pro-life views. I can’t find it at the moment but it’s around here somewhere. Some FReeper has already posted it.

“BTW Steele has caused me to finally decide to unregister as a Republican. If this is the best the Republicans can do for a Chairman, one who wants to ‘reach out’ to abortionists and people promoting a radical homosexual agenda, then I can no longer be a Republican.”

Look, maybe Steele was wrong - maybe he will be wrong. Becuase sadly if this is the kind of knee-jerk reaction we are going to see then our demise is inevitable, I don’t care if Palin herself chairs the party. I just hope not. Everything gets taken out of context. Perhaps bringing in gay voters wasn’t the best choice because frankly there aren’t that many but certainly we can stick to our principles and still attract pro-choice voters on issues that we do share. It’s not a matter of abandoning the right to life to attract them!

You may well leave the GOP and that is your choice. However I see the GOP as the best vehicle for advancing conservatism. People who advocate third parties are frankly nuts - they have absolutely no name recognition and no infrastructure, while the GOP has all that just waiting for someone to take the handles.

In Michael Steele’s acceptance speech he mentioned conservatism multiple times and not once moderation or liberalism. Above all he is a COMMUNICATOR and a very talented and charismatic one at that (what this party in fact needed most of all). This party is blessed to have such a man at such a needed time.

Give the man some time. Patience, please.


525 posted on 02/02/2009 8:49:09 PM PST by Norman Bates (Congratulations Chairman Michael Steele!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 489 | View Replies]

To: P-Marlowe
WE can't fire him even though he's an incompentent buffoon because he's black.

We can still play the political-correct game and end up on top. Ken Blackwell for RNC chair!

526 posted on 02/02/2009 8:50:04 PM PST by Ol' Sparky (Liberal Republicans are the greater of two evils)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 512 | View Replies]

To: Clemenza

Really, we are facing dire straits. The way I see it Steele wants to expand the party while maintaining core conservative focus. However too many are apparently willing to consolidate their shrinking power behind castle walls. I mean were the DUmmies really complaining that Obama picked up many evangelicals especially the young? I doubt even they agree with Obama on too much but there is an attractive intangible which pulls them in. We need to get back into that same game - principled but inclusive. Personalities like Steele and Palin can take us there.


527 posted on 02/02/2009 9:03:01 PM PST by Norman Bates (Congratulations Chairman Michael Steele!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 477 | View Replies]

To: donna
No. You are here trying to convert conservatives into RINOs.

That's a lie which you just made up. It's a very old trick around here pushed by people unwilling to actually read what people write. If you can't handle the actual words I type, move on--you add nothing to the discussion but lies.

528 posted on 02/02/2009 9:06:44 PM PST by Darkwolf377 (Pro-Life Capitalist American Atheist and Free-Speech Junkie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 519 | View Replies]

To: P-Marlowe

No he’s not. There’s nothing token at all about Michael Steele. The man is charismatic and a talented communicator. He is passionate (and he is conservative!). He’s here for a reason.


529 posted on 02/02/2009 9:06:47 PM PST by Norman Bates (Congratulations Chairman Michael Steele!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 512 | View Replies]

To: little jeremiah

I can’t agree. It would kill us among independents.


530 posted on 02/02/2009 9:07:40 PM PST by Norman Bates (Congratulations Chairman Michael Steele!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 523 | View Replies]

To: little jeremiah
It’s not only not “Helpful”, it’s nuking the GOP.

Fine. I tend to use less "explosive" wording in my posts. Michael Steele said this about abortion legislation:

"As we move to the beginnings of a new administration where the president of the country has a very, very clear view on matters related to abortion, very, very pro-abortion, that it is going to be incumbent upon Republicans, incumbent upon those who are pro-life, who hold the sanctity of life dear to be able to rise and speak to that and to challenge what I think are going to be some really dark legislation that’s going to come out of (the 111th) Congress under this administration."

That tells me that he gets it. He understands what's at stake. That we pro-lifers must rise and challenge moves by this congress to remove measures to limit abortions. That we need to elect more congressmen who will promote life. I'm just not willing to throw him under the bus yet. I am willing to give him a chance as a chairman. He can also be reminded how important this plank of the Republican platform is to Conservatives

Frankly, the country is trending more pro-life with improvements in medical techology that allow younger and younger premature babies to survive and with the latest ultrasound technologies. There is a lot less deniability that this "result of contraception" is in fact a human baby that is being killed.
531 posted on 02/02/2009 9:07:45 PM PST by Girlene (Hey, Repub's: This is an entrepreneurial insurgency)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 522 | View Replies]

To: DirtyHarryY2K

The proof is in the pudding. Obama got above 70% of the vote against Keyes, which was the highest ever for a U.S. Senate race in Illinois (far above his state total against McCain). Keyes lost because of Keyes. He did not run the campaign he needed to run (neither did McCain for that matter).


532 posted on 02/02/2009 9:14:12 PM PST by Norman Bates (Congratulations Chairman Michael Steele!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 513 | View Replies]

To: All; UCFRoadWarrior; Salvation

I don’t trust that website. It has links to Huffington and other liberal websites.

I smell spin.


533 posted on 02/02/2009 9:15:43 PM PST by Sun (Pray that God sends us good leaders. Please say a prayer now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Darkwolf377

In fact this entire thread is nearly fictitious. It’s based very largely on overblown views (in some cases massively overblown) of what Michael Steele is actually trying to say. If we can’t accept that we can be principled, conservative, and expansive as a party/movement then I’d like to hear a plausible alternative for our future.


534 posted on 02/02/2009 9:17:15 PM PST by Norman Bates (Congratulations Chairman Michael Steele!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 528 | View Replies]

To: Girlene

Keep posting that. Maybe FReepers will come to realize that he’s really a pro-life conservative.


535 posted on 02/02/2009 9:18:58 PM PST by Norman Bates (Congratulations Chairman Michael Steele!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 531 | View Replies]

To: Norman Bates
In fact this entire thread is nearly fictitious. It’s based very largely on overblown views (in some cases massively overblown) of what Michael Steele is actually trying to say. If we can’t accept that we can be principled, conservative, and expansive as a party/movement then I’d like to hear a plausible alternative for our future.

Thank you.

I can't figure out why people can't understand the need to convince more people of the rightness of conservative principles--which is the exact opposite of being a RINO or becoming liberal, despite the foolish comments of those who can't understand. Where are we to get new voters from if not from the ranks of those who presently DON'T vote our way?

I think it's just too much work for people to get informed about conservative values and then communicate with others and convince them of the truth. Much easier to shout "We don't talk to them RINOs" and sit back, pleased with ourselves, while those potential conservatives look elsewhere.

I figured that was a no-brainer. Apparently that's too much for some folks to grasp.

536 posted on 02/02/2009 9:23:13 PM PST by Darkwolf377 (Pro-Life Capitalist American Atheist and Free-Speech Junkie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 534 | View Replies]

To: Sun

oh, please ... are you trying to inject some common sense here?

Too many FReepers have it all figured out .... Steele is a RINO, a moderate, pro-choice, and anti-gun. And he doesn’t like puppies.

The Dems in MD (including those who threw Oreos at him) were more rational than some of the responses that have been posted on these Steele threads.

I’ve watched Steele in MD for years, and he is very impressive. I’ve never met him but will trust the judgment of Trueblackman, who has known Steele personally and professionally for years, any day of the week over the spin of the MSM and the jerks who fall for it.


537 posted on 02/02/2009 9:24:16 PM PST by EDINVA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 533 | View Replies]

To: UCFRoadWarrior

ROTFLMAOPIMP

Steelebots on suicide alert


538 posted on 02/02/2009 9:25:30 PM PST by wardaddy (Free Republis is as moderate as I've ever seen, why is that?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibLieSlayer

late to the party

where are all the Steelebots now?


539 posted on 02/02/2009 9:26:54 PM PST by wardaddy (Free Republis is as moderate as I've ever seen, why is that?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: donna

You go girl


540 posted on 02/02/2009 9:27:56 PM PST by wardaddy (Free Republis is as moderate as I've ever seen, why is that?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 519 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 501-520521-540541-560 ... 621-634 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson