While I like Newt Gingrich personally, Michael Steele is the fresh voice we need, and more inclined toward authentic Reagan Legacy conservatism. The report, however, notes Gingrich is now not vying for the post.
Steele Likely to Seek RNC Leadership Post
Michael Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, has decided to run for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee and is in talks with Newt Gingrich to win the former House speaker’s endorsement, FOX News learned Tuesday.
Steele declined to comment, but a source close to the situation said Steele would announce his candidacy as early as Thursday.
The source also contradicted a report in Tuesday’s Washington Times that Steele and Gingrich were competing for the RNC post.
“There is no fight,” the source said. “This tension between Michael Steele and Newt Gingrich is totally fabricated and, in fact, Gingrich and Steele are working together to create a new strategy for the direction of the GOP.”
In a statement issued by the former House speaker, Gingrich said he was not interested in seeking the post of Republican Party chairman.
Gee, I do wonder if all the Obama Zombies, the MSM, and Dems in general will declare Steele’s profile and power elevation a “historic moment” or an “Uncle Tom” moment. What do you think hypocritical MalNars will say? One thing I know, conservatives honor the MLK, Jr. tradition of judging people based not on the color of their skin, but the content of their character.
For more on Steele’s approach, here’s his opinion piece in today’s WSJ, Listen. Adapt. Be Positive.
Michael Steele is a quality individual who will be great for the Republican party in a leadership position. While some on the extreme right will not like his moderate approach, he does have the potential to lure former Democrats like myself into the conservative corner. Furthermore, he understands that in order to pry Blacks away from the Dems, the Repubs have to actually recruit them and use sound, logical arguments to bring them into the fold. Strident Obama bashing and extreme rhetoric will not be Steele’s style. Good for him! And good for the Republican party if it does this.
Steele would be good. Now if he would start recruiting conservatives to take out the Blue Dogs in 2010, even better.
Now we need to replace Beohner with Pence.
As long as the Republican Party continues to be “Socialist Light”, it’s going to continue to wither away, chipped off by all the little factions under the “Big Tent”. Can the concept of small government, less government best government ever be resurrected?
Idependent conservatives are best represented by a party that reflects what we believe, not what we’re against.
We are a group of like-minded individuals who believe in the “power and ingenuity of individuals to build a nation through hard work, personal responsibility, and self discipline”.
This is our uniting principle. Our “powerful vision for America’s future” that speaks to American “hopes, concerns, and needs” which translates into a positive message of how to make our county better.
It is the strength of “proposals for meaningful actions” that will show how we’ll lead to “make families more prosperous, children more educated, parents more secure, and all of us healthier, safe, and strong”.
I’m convinced now that Michael Steele represents the leadership we need. One more ray of hope in dismal times.
Thanks for the info Tammy.
Black conservatives need to get into the cities and pound the streets with CONSERVATIVE principles:
– the schools s*ck! answer: vouchers
– jobs s*ck! conservative economic principles
– maas aborting of black babies: get rid of Roe v. Wade and give it to the states to decide
Democrats have spent 40 years killing the black family….let’s roll.
Liberal pot-shot that he’s the token black in response to Obama in 5, 4, 3, …
Yay! Steele is the MAN.
I really like Mike Steele. I was crushed when he lost his Senate race, although I probably shouldn’t have been surprised. He’ll be a great RNC Chairman, especially if he puts Newt in some official capacity as well. And then I expect to eventually run for Governor of Maryland…and after that, who knows?
We all know Michael Steele hits the nail on the head regarding personal responsibility. But Barack Marx’s worshippers don’t want to hear that. If the beloved Bill Cosby can’t deliver the message without drawing a nuclear response, how can we? The leader who can deliver the message and actually have it be heard and respected, will have done something huge. It won’t be Newt. Mr. Steele?
And now it begins..
I’ve heard Michael Steele fill in on the radio before, the man has an exceptional mind. Here’s something I’ve heard put forward by a number of people and my own experience has confirmed it.
Most black people are far more conservative than they vote. If you put the principle conservative positions up as ballot initiatives, they’d support nearly all of them. What they have trouble getting past is the notion that the Democrats are their friends and the Republicans are protecting the Klan, the Aryan Brotherhood, et al.
“What they have trouble getting past is the notion that the Democrats are their friends and the Republicans are protecting the Klan, the Aryan Brotherhood, et al.”
Which I’ve always found bizarrely perplexing, since it’s the Dems who were the party of slavery and Jim Crow.
Having watched and listened to Michael Steele mostly on cable news I’ll take him just about anywhere anytime.
1. He’s an articulate conservative and aligns himself with our Founding Fathers.
2. He has a confident optimism in the traditional American ways of economics and constitutional government.
3. Charisma. He’s got it.
In all, he’s a great public spokesman. I hope he continues to speak out, no matter what.
PS:
Whenever I what to reassure myself that I’m not a racist I think of Micheal Steele. With him I am at peace. He can represent me any day.
On the other hand Obama and his whacked out palls induce a lot of watchdog type barking and growling in these parts.
Well I do recall Colin Powell being called an “Uncle Tom” until he announced his support for Obama. Funny how that works…
One thing I will always be proud of is my time working on the Michael Steele Maryland Senate Campaign in 2006. It taught me a lot and it was refreshing to actually support a candidate I knew to be a good decent man. If you meet Michael you know that is absolutely true — he oozes decency, confidence and brillance. What was done to him here in Maryland was disgusting, especially the outside influences who came into the state to defeat him. Also Chuckie Schumer should be ashamed of himself for what was done by his own staff.
Many black democratic legislators here in Maryland did come forward publicly (like Wayne Curry, etc.) and supported Michael Steele, because they were so disenfranchised by the Democratic Party’s ultimate support of Ben Cardin over Mfume, but it wasn’t enough. I sometimes think back to those times, and wonder if that wasn’t the catalyst of the Obama presidential candidacy pushed by black democrats who felt like the party wasn’t giving them their due for their years of democratic loyalty. With Steele I think the Republican Party has a good opportunity to reach out to the black community, which the party has been sorely remiss in not doing all these years.
Michael has many bright days ahead of him…and every time I see him on TV it makes me smile. He’s truly one of the good guys!
In order to bring back the Republican Party to where it should be, Michael Steele needs to do two things:
1) Return to our Conservative roots. We won the Presidency in 1980 because of Conservatism. We won Congress in 1994 because of Conservatism. Lately the Republican party has been trying to woo democrats by acting like “democrat lite” – and we’ve had our heads handed to us.
2) Fight back!! In 2006 everytime I saw a democrat talking to – or about – a Republican, the first words that seemed to come out of his mouth were the shrill scream “HOW DARE YOU SAY I’M NOT PATRIOTIC!!!!!!!” and instantly the Republican candidate would cave. I felt like giving a spelunking merit badge to every Republican candidate.
The proper response should have been: “YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT I SAY YOU’RE NOT PATRIOTIC!!!! What’s patriotic about wanting America to lose? What’s patriotic about always being against America?”
Those are just the first two steps that will bring the Republican party back. Then we need to keep our leadership position, but that’s another discussion entirely.
If you want proof of N. Campbell’s earlier comment concerning the social conservatism of black voters. Look no further than the results of the Prop 8 voting in California. Blacks,(and Latinos, by the way,) were almost 2-1 in the Yes column.
Mike Steele will be a outstanding leader, and will attract other outstanding individuals, such as Newt. By the ’10 elections the country will have had a taste ot the Messiah’s Presidency and the Republicans, under Steele and Gingrich will be poised and ready.
I like him.
White racism isn’t nearly the problem it used to be. It is extremely minor compared to the other ills holding back people of color. Still if Obama and Steele and others getting top spots sends the avowed racists scurrying off into the night, that’s a small, but welcome side-benefit.
I know a lot of you probably know Mike Steele from his appearances on FOX and see him as a good guy, and that’s true. He is a nice guy and pretty committed conservative. However, I’m not so sure he the best guy for this job. Firstly, unless he’s changed his view, he is one of those Republicans that has (again, unless he changed his mind recently) bought into the global warming bunk.
Secondly, I just don’t think he’s aggressive enough. We need someone with teeth. A ‘pitbull’, if you will. Someone who will really go after the dems with everything they’ve got! Someone who is an unflinching, committed, and unapologetic hardcore conservative. Like an Ann Coulter type on steroids!
Until we start playing to win (WITH OUR VALUES INTACT), we’ll lose.
Love the idea of Michael Steele. I think he is a great representation of what the GOP is Really all about not what the stereotype that’s been perpetuated by the Dems, the MSM and the Rino republicans.
Go Steele.
I think Steele is very capable of changing his style when necessary. The angry “in your grill” approach will work in some cases, but only with a certain crowd. The “Happy Warrior” approach of Ronald Reagan is far more effective, especially with those currently leaning left who might be persuaded to cross over to the side of the angels. Steele needs to show his “steely” side and stand up for the key Republican issues, but that fist of “steele” needs to be in a velvet glove.
And here’s some advice for the Republicans if they’re serious about bringing in some new blood. The issue of abortion is a big deal to many 40-something ladies I know who would never vote Republican because of this single issue. A women’s right to choose must never be repealed, although certain limitations might be in order. Bottom line is that a woman knows best if she is capable of being a good mom. And a bad mom raising troubled kids is a bad thing.
McCain had a good idea to go after women. Palin wasn’t exactly the best choice. But the party does need women, and a different approach might help in that area. If the Republicans show some moderation on this “choice” issue, they may grab some people like those ladies I referred to. But if they choose to make it a litmus test for candidates, they also make it a litmus test for voters. And that hurts their chances with many women.
I’ve always seen Gingrich as a team-player. He may scrimmage hard within pre-game practice. That’s how policies and teams get vetted.
He would be a good Chairman for the RNC based on his success with the “Contract with America”.
However, Steele has been an exceptional spokesman for the GOP over recent years and can give as good a conservative argument as Gingrich.
I’d like to see Steele get the Charimanship with Gingrich supporting him.
Sure, the Left will do a job on him. That’s all they do – propaganda. What can they say against their recent Pinnochio and Giapetto show?
He can handle it. And we can handle it, too.
“With Steele I think the Republican Party has a good opportunity to reach out to the black community, which the party has been sorely remiss in not doing all these years.”
Hey JUNIE,
How in the hell do you figure THAT?! Did Repub’s not support enough affirmative action policies, or something?! Geez….Blacks have to start thinking of themselves as Americans-NOT African-Americans. And CONSERVATIVE principals don’t dictate favoritism to ONE specific group (as the Deomocrats like to do). It’s for everyone that wants freedom from big-government and confiscatory tax policy. That’s not a white, black, or green thing. It’s an American thing. So let’s appeal to those that want to adopt the party that espouses policies that make one free. What we really NEED to do is to find a way to educate people so that they don’t continue to buy into a victim mentality and realize their ‘pursuit of happiness’.
And to CONNECTICUTBRUCE:
Yeah…we can see how great the ‘Velvet Glove’ approach has worked thus far…NOT!
We are on the right (correct) side. Therefore, we do not need someone to tread lightly or be some apologetic wimp. We need someone with strength and a good dose of righteous indignation.
Velvet gloves and trying to be polite and the most liked guy in the room got us where we now find ourselves!
ugh … zealotry on both sides is unappealing. sometimes the way you say something matters as much as WHAT you are saying. maybe the harsh and strident tone works with the people who already agree with you, but it can turn people off who MIGHT listen to your side if you weren’t so preachy. Persuasion works best when done in a positive way. Reagan was like that.
Reaching out to blacks for the sake of bringing in more blacks is a bad bad bad idea. If a person is conservative, I welcome him. If he’s a traditional foe I won’t welcome him, hoping to turn him into a person who will eventually share my values. I don’t want to be branded a racist for bringing up recent examples of good intentions going wrong like college scholarship programs, pro sports teams ignoring bad behavior, and political gerrymandering, so I won’t.
girlsgotrhythm,
Good point! Few have arguments for conservatism more intellectually sound than Newt’s. Few are more aggressive than Newt. I won’t comment on how well Michael Steele stacks up against Newt because I’m not sure. On the issue of public persona even though for me, and I like Newt very much, Michael Steele is a great PR man. Remember, the Left wing news media still dominates and, they buried Newt when he was The Speaker of The House.
ConnecticutBruce,
Remember that in China not long ago women had NO CHOICE. The China state forced women to abort their child’s birth under its ONE CHILD PER COUPLE rule. Contrast that with our constitutionally protected right to choose. Must we always abort our children as an initiation right to be accepted into government office? Sarah Palin chooses life and as such is a model citizen. She adds fresh meaning to the declaration that we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. She’s already stated specifically that it’s a personal choice for her, her own preference. Isn’t that the beauty of freedom of CHOICE? I never once heard her say that women should not be allowed to choose.
ConnecticutBruce:
Ugh, yourself. You sound like a R.H.I.N.O. to me. You obviously haven’t been paying much attention because it’s LACK of zealotry on our side (or shall I say MY side) that has enabled our defeat! We have had ENOUGH half-assed conservatives to last a lifetime.
The Left sure is zealous. And guess what? It’s WORKED for them!
If conservative zealotry bothers you, and you find it so unappealing, you may want to re-evaluate your ‘conservatism’.
Girlgotrhythm, there’s a way to be strongly principled without coming off as a militant fanatic. The GOP seeks to be a national party: it is also to hold firm to one’s principles while at the same time recognizing that at least as to detail, style and tone, what plays in one place does not in another. To say that is not to be insufficiently strident, or defeatist, let alone uncommitted or half-assed. It is called “reality.” Politics is the art of the possible.
Steele is a brilliant man. However (and it pains me to say this), during his stint as Lt. Governor of Maryland he did…nothing. Governor Erlich gave him free reign to pursue/back causes of his choice and he did nothing. I don’t see that as qualifying for the RNC post. I mean, honestly, Erlich/Steele won Maryland because they were up against the most incompetent Democratic candidate in this state’s history. It wasn’t a triumph of ideas (unfortunately), it was a failure of opposition.
DAVE J:
“What plays in one place does not in another”???
Are you suggesting that we use the disingenuous tactics of Barry Hussien when he spoke in San Francisco about Pennsylvanians “clinging to their guns and their religion”?
Uh, not in THIS lifetime!
Your view of “reality” with respect to politics is skewed at best. To suggest that a strong ultra pro-conservative stance is akin to a “militant fanaticism” (ESPECIALLY considering what exactly we are fighting against THIS time with Barry in the White House) is completely asinine. It shows just how twisted our populace has become. If those values and the vigorous defense of them is viewed as “militant” or “fanatic”, then we are in good company with “militants” like John Addams, Abe Lincoln, Tom Jefferson and our other great forefathers.
I say: be yourself. Your style may not be my style, but I am obviously not as concerned with being P.C. as most seem to be these days, in a world that has beat men down, making them afraid to speak their mind with conviction.
Most ARE half-assed, which is why we need new people with some balls. An hour of listening to Tammy’s show should enlighten you on this perspective.
Like the song says. “where have all the cowboys gone”?
We sure as hell need em now…
Let’s consider new faces like Saul Anuzis as well. Please read his open letter to republicans. He is an authentic conservative who is extremely tech-savy with creative ideas. He is fellow Lithuanian American with an inspirational immigrant story, a former union worker, a businessman, an economist….and a hockey dad!
We need grounded, credible, competent “doers” who will help organize an authentic grassroots movement, using every technical and not so technical tool, every form of media, PR, and marketing technique.
(sigh) GirlsGotRhythm: you just made my point. Zealotry is fine when you are only talking to people who already share your views. But it does not work when you are trying to persuade others to listen to your ideas and join your side. obama won BECAUSE he sold his leftist agenda in a moderate package. He may be the most leftist president ever, but he persuaded many moderates to embrace his message BECAUSE he was not preachy and shrill. And I’m so VERY sorry I don’t meet your standards of conservatism because I didn’t pass your litmus test. But that’s OK by me. I’m a “liberal conservative” anyway. Not quite a registered Republican, but definitely not in agreement with today’s Democrats.
And by the way, it’s RINO (Republican In Name Only), not R.H.I.N.O.