Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele should resign from his post immediately, according to the American Family Association’s new online survey.
In light of Steele’s regrettable GQ interview, AFA President Don Wildmon asked members if the beleaguered Republican chief should resign from his post, declaring the former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland believes “abortion is a choice, and homosexuality is not.”
An overwhelming 94% of the more than 74,500 respondents answered Wildmon in the affirmative.
Likewise making their displeasure known, prominent social conservative luminaries characterized Steele’s mea-culpa as “very troubling.” Ken Blackwell, who formerly endorsed Steele after withdrawing from consideration for chairman on the fifth round of balloting, sternly instructed his former rival to “re-read the Bible, the U.S. Constitution, and the 2008 GOP Platform … or get out of the way.”
Both Chairman Steele and his socially conservative detractors, the number of which are growing by the thousands at AFA’s website, are sorely misinformed: The role of RNC Chairman is not one of a curator of opinion. Steele’s opinions on abortion and gay rights – whenever he settles on one – should have no influence on the implementation of sound strategies in his capacity as chairman.
Speculating perhaps that the “open,” candidate-centered campaign for chairman manufactured Steele’s present predicament by creating the perception that the candidates’ opinions actually mattered, Phil Klein writes, “in the end, it turned the race into more of a personality contest.”
The premature calls for the forcible ejection of the first African American chairman of the RNC – like those by the AFA’s tunnel-visioned membership – only offer credibility to the maddening circular firing squad meme.
Steele assumed office January 30th, 2008 with the hope he could unite a fractured party and make sense of the current political climate. Rome, as they say, wasn’t built in a day, and similarly, the Republican Party will not be re-built in three short months.
In addition to besting Blackwell, darling of the social conservative movement, Steele also wrestled former RNC Chairman Mike Duncan out of the running.
Despite his ability to mediate intra-party disputes with ease and his reputation as a prolific and unrivaled fundraiser, critics of Duncan often cited his scanty public appearances and interviews as motivation to elect a more polished, camera-friendly communicator. To them I say: Eat your words. In fact, have a second helping.
I am not sure where you stand on the spectrum.....
barry915barry Saturday, March 14th at 8:35PM EDT (link)but, I will grant you , James, that R’s need to give Steele a full fund raising cycle, perhaps even two, in order to see if he is up to the task as RNC head. Personally, I think the fact that he is “…the first African American chairman of the RNC…” is not entirely relevant if he he not up to the job. We already have another case, nationally, of a “first African American” who thus far may not be up to the job (according to many). Mr. Steele certainly isn’t going to win any conservative awards, AND he seems to have come down with a very acute case of foot-in-mouth disease. Your insulting so social conservatives by suggesting they have “tunnel vision” isn’t helping either. I do not see any tangible evidence of ANY strategies, let alone the “…implementation of sound strategies…” on the part of Mr. Steele. I fully believe the only winning strategy for the GOP is to rally the base–that is–rally Conservatives. I see little evidence of Mr. Steele even pretending that he is attempting to do that thus far. I agree that Rome was built in a day, but, I am very limited in how long I will wait for the rebuilding to START.
I haven't formed an opinion on Steele yet.
suzieQ Saturday, March 14th at 8:38PM EDT (link)I had my concerns at first, and his statements against the Log Cabin Republicans really infuriated me. But some of his more recent statements have made me lean towards a second chance. I definitely don’t think he should resign. But he should sit down with the LCR leadership. After all, it is his opinions on such matters that will dictate his strategy.
“It’s finally happened: Abortion stopped a bleeding heart.”
- Ann Coulter, January 25, 2006
“My concern about the role of the federal government is that an intrusive government, a government that says, ‘Don’t worry, we will solve your problems’ is a government that tends to crowd compassion out of the marketplace, that too often in the past people said: ‘Somebody else will take care of the problem in my area. Don’t worry. The government is here.’”
- George W. Bush October 31, 2000
“Had the decision belonged to Senator Kerry, Saddam Hussein would still be in power today in Iraq. In fact, Saddam Hussein would almost certainly still be in control of Kuwait.”
- Dick Cheney
James Misses the Point
kcdude Saturday, March 14th at 9:03PM EDT (link)I would not want to see Mr. Steele resign. I do think he must always accurately articulate his core beliefs which he says match those of the GOP platform. He would do well to stick to his talking points and to begin soon to compare and contrast core GOP values with those of the Democrat Party. In the Hughley interview, he tried to come off as an agreeable guy. He would have done better to point out that the liberal positions that have been embraced and trumpeted during this early period of the Obama administration have been tried in the past and failed.
He must always do a good job of communicating the message. He has to know what he believes, frame it, present it and live it. If he sticks to his core, he will be fine.
I don't want Steele to resign either
James Richardson Saturday, March 14th at 9:08PM EDT (link)Former Chairman Duncan, unlike Steele, understood the role of the chairman: Shut up and keep your nose to the grind.
Steele would do well to continue his top-down review of the building than do more interviews.
http://www.skepticians.com
Perhaps
kcdude Saturday, March 14th at 11:23PM EDT (link)I should have made my point about articulating core values prior to pointing out my support for Mr Steele. Your post did not focus on what I believe to be the real problem with Mr Steele giving interviews. That problem is that he has not articulated what he believes - based on his post interview statement/releases.
He definitely needs to manage the GOP and recruit great candidates for the mid-terms but he cannot send mixed messages to the opposition or party faithful, for that matter, that will turn his misspoken words into devisive soundbites. Mixed messages have killed the GOP effort in recent years. The message needs to be positive. The core planks of the GOP need to be foundational beliefs of the head of the RNC and the candidates who would seek to represent the party. The major problem with the GOP, as I see it, is that the candidates do not communicate well the difference between the GOP and the opposition. This effective communication will not take hold and the message will not resonate unless and until those same candidates believe that the difference is one that is defined by their worldview in contrast to the worldview of the opposition.
Steele needs to shut his yap and get to work.
Old_Crow Saturday, March 14th at 9:39PM EDT (link)He has trouble delineating when he is expressing his personal opinions or those of the Republican party. How about stopping the preening for the MSM for a while and get busy organizing.
“Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.” — James Madison
“So this is how liberty dies.. with thunderous applause” — Star Wars III
Agreed. Hey Michael, get to work on 2010!
TNJim Saturday, March 14th at 10:22PM EDT (link)Stop trying to gain friends inside the MSM and get to work on trying to get the House back. Line up some true conservatives and get the fund raising and organizing going already. If you need some guidance on true conservatives, replay Rush’s CPAC speech again. And again. I had high hopes for you as RNC chairman following your stint as a Fox News contributor. Where’s that Michael Steele?
“No. You can’t” -Moe Lane
Whatever...
island_native Saturday, March 14th at 9:51PM EDT (link)Let’s maybe leave internal disputes and fundraising to the back office and lieutenants, please. We need a strong front man for crying out loud! All the money in the world isn’t gonna help if we have no public momentum with a real person. That person can still be Michael Steele.
So he is shooting off his mouth on some of the most controversial topics in politics… that’s just his style. Personally I fully support the LCR’s and am pro-life but don’t think legislation is a cure-all for this either. It’s complicated.
A chairman who is a strong administrator? Whatever. I want some personality, let others administer. The key is that he surround himself with a strong team. If he fails to do that, then he’s in for real trouble. Anyway, I still like him immensely and wish him the best of everything.
I am okay with Michael
smitch61 Saturday, March 14th at 9:58PM EDT (link)The AMA can be a problem sometimes……. a little over the top, regardless what you believe everyone has a right to their opinion.
Republican Party line
philottee Saturday, March 14th at 10:17PM EDT (link)Michael Steele seems to have said what very many Republicans VOTE.
How many Republicans have put their vote/reputation on the line saying that abortion ought not to be called a choice ?
How many of those Republicans have put their vote/reputation on the line saying that homosexuality is a choice ?
At least we know where Mr. Steele really stands.
Not just what he says to get our approval.
Wake up, all that want to see the Republican Party as Conservative.
It isn’t. It may well be. Someday. But, not today.
I don't want Steele to resign...
liberalrepublican Saturday, March 14th at 10:38PM EDT (link)I want him to learn from this experience.
He still can be a great RNC leader, but he better not make these mistakes again.
If he shows he hasn’t learned, better get rid of him sooner than later.
“Broadly speaking, liberalism emphasizes individual rights and equality of opportunity. … including extensive freedom of thought and speech, limitations on the power of governments, the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market or mixed economy”
Well put
whitman4562001 Sunday, March 15th at 5:10AM EDT (link)my sentiments exactly.
You want him to be what he isn't.
jmimac351 Saturday, March 14th at 11:48PM EDT (link)Face it, if Michael Steele were white you’d be calling for his head. Oh…but isn’t it great that we have a chance to have such a likable black man share our conservative values and put it in Obama’s face? Well, he may be a Republican but he isn’t a Conservative. I guess I may be a Conservative but I’m not a Republican. The problem with Michael Steele is he likes to see himself on TV and he engages his mouth before he engages his brain. The other problem is that the weaknesses he has in Conservative principle happen to be a pretty big deal to a lot of people - Life and all. But, I guess pushing for image and inclusion (ie, abandonment of beliefs) over principle is the way to go. It seems to have worked so well as of late…
I like Michael Steele
modgopgal Sunday, March 15th at 1:59AM EDT (link)Sure, he’s stumbled a few times. And I think he can ditch the “hip-hop, we need more bling” silliness. But he’s got a flare for speaking his mind. To me, that’s refreshing in an era when politicians of all stripes seem to be swayed by polls and what others think. Most of all, I appreciate his desire to expand the GOP tent.
JTKell
jtkell100 Sunday, March 15th at 9:00AM EDT (link)Republicans Leaders will never get it. We have lost two national elections because of RHINOs and now they are going for the third with Steele. He will give money to states that would never vote Republican. Half the Conservatives will be mad and stop donating. WAKE UP PEOPLE.