Some bloggers have called for Steele's head, and now we've got a Dr. Ada Fisher of the RNC calling for Steele's resignation.
On MSNBC Wednesday, Norah O'Donnell discussed Steele's tenure so far with Jennifer Skalka of Hotline On Call (via Newsbusters):
O'DONNELL: He's 30 days on the job, he's says he's made some mistakes. But the bigger question a number of Republicans here in Washington are raising is, there's no political director at the RNC, there's no finance director, that person just recently left. There's almost nobody left at the RNC, except a couple of consultants that are advising Steele. He says he's doing it to clean out the party and restart it anew, but is that part of the problem?Not to put too much faith in the memes coming out of MSNBC, but if Steele's not really doing PARTY ORGANIZATION, but rather public relations, it's truly going to be a "long winter."
SKALKA: Well, I think part of the problem is that he's show-boating on television instead of doing some of the internal reorganizing that members want to see him doing. You know, he's got a big task ahead of him, from fund-raising to revamping the online operation for the party. There are some pretty -- pretty big tasks ahead and I think there are folks who want him to get to it and stay off the air for now.
(As to whether Steele should quit? Well, the party's already in deep disarray, so it's not as if GOP fortunes can sink that much lower. Give the guy another month or two - kind of like a "probationary period" - and see how things go in the meanwhile, especially with fundraising and committee staffing. It couldn't hurt to look around for someone with more charisma, in any case. If Republicans really do have a shot at picking up some seats in 2012, the party can't really afford more public relations fiascos like we've seen this week.)
**********
Video Clip: RNC Chairman Michael Steele on Sean Hannity's Show, via Gateway Pundit.
4 comments:
I like Michael Steele and think that he got ambushed on that CNN program. BUT, I would not have gone on a program like that in the first place. I know that we have to bring in new people, but somehow the viewer (all three of them) of DL Hughley's is not going to change their mind no matter what Mr. Steele did or said. I do not expect ANY chair to turn anything around in 30 days or less. I am very willing to give Mr. Steele a break. And it will take time to bring in his people to the RNC. A lot of people thought when the Dems put Howard Dean in as DNC chair, he would be a failure. He turned out to be rather brilliant. And I HATE to admit it. Let's give Mr. Steele a break.
Thanks Mark: I'm hestitant to fire Steele, mainly because that will give the lefties even more ammo. But he needs to get it together.
If Steele is going to spend a lot of time on the tube, the least he can do is defend the party that just elevated him to chairman against the obligatory NAZI charge.
My real concern is the time factor.
While I don't think Steele has the, a'hem, intestinal fortitude necessary for the job, I also realize that the window for stopping the dems while there is still something somewhat salvageable is beginning to close.
I hope he tightens up, and fast.
-Dave
People of color have not been receptive of the 20th Century rhetoric of the Republican Party. Rush's tone and strategy tend to alienate the very people the party needs to not only gain power but retain power. Palin was viewed as an affirmative action/identity politics pick. If in fact we recognize the need to diversify, using the same logic as John McCain and most of the conservative pundits (including Rush, Ann Coulter, Hannity, Ingraham etc... who supported his diversity pick) lets get diverse people who can help us win. As long as republican nominees are almost exclusively white for statewide and national elections the party is wasting its time seeking to win minority votes. If we are going to break the Democratic Party’s stranglehold on the minority vote, the party has to show real and demonstrable change. Remember talk is cheap. When minorities see significant change in the fabric of republican politics then the Democratic Party will be crippled. Is affirmative action, which is pretty much a moot point) more important than national defense, the economy, abortion, traditional marriage etc...?
People of color have not been receptive of the 20th Century rhetoric of the Republican Party. Rush's tone and strategy tend to alienate the very people the party needs to not only gain power but retain power. Palin was viewed as an affirmative action/identity politics pick. If in fact we recognize the need to diversify, using the same logic as John McCain and most of the conservative pundits (including Rush, Ann Coulter, Hannity, Ingraham etc... who supported his diversity pick) lets get diverse people who can help us win. As long as republican nominees are almost exclusively white for statewide and national elections the party is wasting its time seeking to win minority votes. If we are going to break the Democratic Party’s stranglehold on the minority vote, the party has to show real and demonstrable change. Remember talk is cheap. When minorities see significant change in the fabric of republican politics then the Democratic Party will be crippled. Is affirmative action, which is pretty much a moot point) more important than national defense, the economy, abortion, traditional marriage etc...?
President Obama brilliantly attacked the conservative strength, as being the party who will give tax cuts, with his "95% of Americans will receive a tax cut" promise. The party needs to attack the DNC strength, which is being the party of diversity, if the party is going to gain political dominance. Conservatives need to prioritize. Again, is affirmative action, which is pretty much a moot point, more important than national defense, the economy, abortion, traditional marriage etc...? Losing national elections due to holding on to dubious/failed strategy, rhetoric, and policy should not be a source of joy for the RNC or conservatives.
Consider that something like 95% of Blacks and 67% of Hispanics voted for President Obama. Again, I think we should focus on winning rhetoric, policy and action. The extremely negative response to Chairman Steele by some conservatives will do nothing but promote the Liberal assertion that the RNC is the "Whites only club".
Post a Comment