The criticism of Michael Steele appears to be intensifying. Over the last several days, it has become increasingly evident that many Republicans are quite unhappy with the chairman. First, it appears that the chairman might be responsible for decreased contributions and increased discontent.
Some wealthy contributors are shunning the Republican National Committee and donating instead to the other GOP campaign committees or directly to candidates — in many cases because of discontent with the leadership of Michael S. Steele, the party’s national chairman.
“I don’t plan to give to the Republican National Committee this cycle, and no other major donor I know is planning to either,” Christine Toretti, a Pennsylvania RNC member and a longtime major donor to the RNC and other GOP campaign committees and causes, told The Washington Times. [...]
Lawrence Bathgate, who served a record three times as RNC finance chairman during and after the Reagan era, told The Times, “No, I haven’t given to the RNC this cycle.”
So, in the year that the Republicans need the greatest leadership, they are being let down by the RNC Chair? But it doesn’t end there. Others are accusing the Chairman of defeatist thinking.
Top GOP Congressional aides on Wednesday demanded that their colleagues at the Republican National Committee rein in RNC Chairman Michael Steele after Steele suggested House Republicans could not retake the majority this November.
House and Senate leadership aides used a conference call with RNC staff to voice their latest frustrations with Steele, who said “not this year” when asked Monday on Fox News whether the GOP would win control of the House in 2010. [...]
According to multiple sources, Republican Congressional aides bristled at Steele’s decision to use his book tour to question Republicans’ political chances. They pressed RNC staff to keep Steele quiet and cancel any more media appearances.
This is a significant problem. In fact, it is an enormous problem. To set this nation right, we MUST win the House this year. I don’t believe it’s optional. Given the growing discontent among the public, and especially among independents, it would seem to be an achievable goal.
We can delay the Democrats for only so long. If we lose again in November, there may not be much of a country left to save in 2012. Apparently, Mr. Steele doesn’t agree. And since he leads the RNC, the committee will therefore NOT attempt to take the House. Of course, that will lead to failure in November.
We are watching you, Mr. Steele, almost as closely as we are watching the left. We have not forgotten how the Republicans let us down by not following the base. Consequently, many of us have decided to follow ideology rather than party. And while we continue to question the party, you simply add more fuel to the fire. If you truly want the party to succeed, I believe you must step down. I you are not daring or sufficiently ambitious for the party’s prospects, get out of the way, and allow another to lead the way. If you continue, your doubts will drive more Conservatives away, and you will reduce the GOP to nothing more than a collection of RINOs.
H/T: Washington Monthly
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Matt
I believe that future generations should have the same opportunities that myself, and those that came before me, had. My parents taught me that I could do anything I wanted to do. I don’t want to have to tell my daughter, “You can do whatever the government tells you to do.” We are at a crossroads in this country; are we going to be free, or are we going to be slaves to the nanny state. I choose freedom.
This is a blessing I think it is good to have the parties loose power and money. Donating to people not to parties is how it should be. I just hope that the disillusionment spreads on the left also. Perhaps we will wake up and start voting for people and not for parties? I know it’s still a long shot but if things keep heading the way they are people may wake up.
That’s a take that I hadn’t considered. Sounds good. The money is still coming in, but it’s just going to the individual candidates and local committees.
Michael Steele acts as if he doesn’t care what happens to the Republican Party. His attitude makes me wonder why he even bothered to run for the position of National Chairman. There were much better candidates in the running and we got stuck with this chap. Reminds me of the 2008 presidential election.
I didn’t pay attention very much at the time, but I know that many Conservatives were upset that another did not get the chair. Sadly, their criticisms are all proving to be true.
Chip Saltsman would have head and shoulders above Steele in his managing and operation of the RNC, but he was forced to drop out because of a small lapse of judgment concerning a gift he handed out to the RNC members. It didn’t amount to much, but because of political correctness, it affected his campaign for the position.
I remember that Ken Blackwell was favored by a lot of folks as well.
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“To set this nation right, we MUST win the House this year. I don’t believe it’s optional.”
Unfortunately, Matt, I don’t believe it’s going to matter. Both Democrats AND Republicans have been responsible for the out-of-control bloating of federal government. If what we want is a nanny state (and it appears we do, based on what Americans have been electing), then at the end of the day, our leaders will have to accommodate us, their constituents. It’s not really “Republican versus Democrat” anymore… it’s “Liberty versus Tyranny.”
And the problem isn’t really government… it’s the people.
Any other year Karen, and I’d agree. But I think that the Tea Party folks can influence the process in two ways. One is candidate selection. Rubio vs Crist is a prime example. Without the movement, Crist, a RINO, would be a shoo in. It’s happening all over the country. It won’t be perfect, but the local and state parties had better realize that the base will not support a RINO. The second is the Tea Party folks will hold whoever gets elected to their promises and standards. I think if someone runs sounding like a Conservative, and then acts RINO, will there be “angry mobs” at his or her office, or town hall meetings.
Taking over, or influencing the Republican Party is not a perfect solution, it never will be, but there can be some movement in the right direction.
Steele sent me his stupid “important” questionnaire on Obama’s policies … which was just a thinly veiled fund-raiser. I used it to help start the kindling in my fireplace.
Two things: Steele never did respond to me. And two, how cold is it at the Feed Your ADHD Bunker?
Got above freezing for 2 hours yesterday. Didn’t blog a lot this past week (or indepth blogging) because it was just too damned cold to sit in the bunker for hours.
I have always thought Steele to be something of a RINO, I noticed this during his days on FOX. I often look for the small points in interviews and comments and spotted this guy sometime back. A the moment he more concerned in hawking his book that helping the Republican party. He is not suited for the position he holds and is a drag on the party.
The whole NY-23 fiasco sealed the deal for me. He refused to listen, and stubbornly maintained that he was correct. Come to think of it, that did Newt in as well. Two RINOs in a pod.
I haven’t been very impressed with Steele so far, but if he is forced to step down I can just imagine the libs going nuts with cries of racism.
I wasn’t following it closely at the time, but there were people pulling for Ken Blackwell. Those I was talking with thought him to be a more Conservative candidate. He too is African American. You’re right though, they’ll play the race card no matter what the reality of the situation.
Steele has got to go, and he’s about to. His days as RNC chairman are numbered.
It’s interesting to recount how far he has fallen. Most of us were behind him when he ran for Senator but as more time passed his RINO ways were increasingly exposed.
Then he wins the RNC chairman position and one of his first steps was to call out Rush Limbaugh. Remember that?
He, like most RINOs, is an arrogant fraud of a conservative.
That’s going to actually make our job a bit harder. We’re going to to have to really take a look at anyone who is running under the “Conservative” banner. With sentiments running as they are, everybody and their cousin will be trying to look and sound like a Conservative.
You’re right. It’s almost going to become the “in” thing to do–act like you’re some uber-conservative. It will make distinguishing the true conservatives from those just trying to capitalize on anti-RINO sentiment much harder as you stated.
After thinking about this a bit more, we do to the candidates what we have done to the czars…quote them. They have statements, websites, speeches, voting records and the like. If a RINO is trying to sneak under the radar, we expose them. The local folks, who have a better shot at knowing candidates well, can do this easily.
Matt,
I found this blog about a month ago and I really find your analysis of the issues spot on. As far as Mr. Steele goes, he refuses to even acknowledge the internal civil war in the party right now. Instead of shoring up the base, he wants to make the tent bigger and include moderates. He is completely out of touch with the base. I watched him the other night on Sean Hannity and I got the impression even Hannity is becoming a skeptic.
Until Mr. Steele moves on I think the party will continue to trip over itself. I hope it is sooner than later. Keep up with the great work!
Thanks for the kind words John. I had seen your place earlier as it came up on Statcounter. I see that you added me, and I will return the favor.
I agree with your assessment of the situation in the RNC. Steele is not adapting, and not showing and signs or recognition of the problem.
I’ve also been a bit disappointed in Hannity for not taking the party to task a bit more.
I also received the same material like Dr. Dave stated above, I trashed it. This is why I am a Libertarian with conservative influences. I have seen more integrity from the people here than in the GOP. I have written letters to the GOP as well but all I received are donation request letters. I am done with them.
Lol, I consider myself a Conservative with some Libertarian leanings, which I why I always welcome Libertarians here.
I am disappointed in Michael Steele as well. Speeaking of his defeatist attitude, the RNC is not sending money to Scott Brown who has a real chance to win Ted Kennedy’s seat with a little support. He has closed to within 9 points with one week to go. He will vote against healthcare reform, the bill would be dead. Where is the national party and why aren’t they helping?
From what I have seen, there are a ton of people supporting him and bypassing the RNC to do so. There are also a lot of leftist efforts to thwart him.
Steele is hurting us at this point, for all the reasons articulated above.
Now, he is getting combative! Did you see this video, Matt?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGXgi67VeVI
I think the RNC and People should give him his wish!
He is a MAJOR disappointment and the way he is acting,
I might suspect a democratic mole.
Thanks for the linky. I will not shut up, and I do want him fired. So bite me!
I’m feeling a bit silly today, so speaking of moles…
Thanks for the Laugh, Matt, I needed that!