Michael Steele: 100 Days on the Job

Pamela Gentry — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:43:30 +0000

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

May 18, 2009 – Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele will mark his 100th day on the job this week. Since taking over as head honcho, pitchman and fundraiser, he has faced a series of challenges from his partymates. How has this affected his ability to raise money and attract new faces to the fold?

When Steele was elected he wasted no time sending a message to President Barack Obama that he would “torpedo” the public perception that Republicans are a party “unconcerned about minorities” and average Americans. “This is the dawn of a new party. There is not one inch of ground we’re going to cede to anybody,” he challenged.

But before Steele could make good on his early agenda, he’s had to ward off attacks from conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, edit his personal opinions in the public eye, and as recently as this weekend, fend off an attempt by Randy Pullen, the newly-elected party treasurer to take over control of the party’s purse strings.

On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Steele was asked about the ribbing he took from the president during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Obama made a veiled reference to Steele’s hipper outreach efforts with hopes of attracting African-American voters to the GOP.

Obama jokingly said, “Michael Steele is in the house tonight, or as he would say, ‘in the heezy.’ What’s up?”

“Michael, for the last time, the Republican Party does not qualify for a bailout. Rush Limbaugh does not count as a troubled asset, I’m sorry.”

Steele said on the Sunday talk show that he wasn’t insulted at all by the president’s jabs. “I really appreciate the president throwing me a shout-out. It took me totally by surprise, and so this morning I just wanna say ‘what’s up’ right back at ya’.”

That response is far more gracious than the message he sent the president shortly after winning the chairmanship. Still smarting over Obama’s somewhat dismissive treatment of his run for the Senate in 2006, he told reporters, “I would say to the new president, congratulations. It is going to be an honor to spar with him. And I would follow that up with: How do you like me now?”

Steele has signed up for one of the toughest jobs in Washington during the toughest times: his party is the minority in Congress, is no longer in the White House, and is a minority party among American voters. Only 21 percent of folks self-identify as Republicans.

Faced with party unity only within the conservation base that requires a litmus test on issues of abortion rights, stem cell research and opposition to gay marriage, Steele has immeasurable obstacles before him.

As the first African-American chairman he may have wanted to expand the Republican party’s tent to bring diversity, but it looks like that may be more difficult than he expected.

What grade would you give Michael Steele as chairman of GOP?

Right Fight?

Pamela Gentry — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:46:45 +0000

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By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst
March 5, 2009 –  The feud between Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele and radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh isn’t really a fight at all. After all, they’re as cozy as two bugs in a rose bud when it comes to conservative issues. But all the snuggling stops when the issue shifts to whom the party should crown as the official message deliverer.
 
The irony of all this infighting is the GOP has resorted to the constant flow of symbolic moves by the party rather than those motivated by substance.  Republicans have been successful with their formula rooted in their ability to define themselves, their issues and their agenda.  
 
 All of this “drama” between Limbaugh and Steele began when the talk show host said he hoped President Obama’s economic plan would fail.  Steele tried to temper Limbaugh’s remarks by calling the talk show host an “entertainer” whose comments were “ugly and incendiary.”
 
Limbaugh was offended and blasted Steele, which brought about an apology from the elected leader of the RNC.   Now folks are questioning who’s the real leader of the Republican Party? 
 
Bill Sammon, Fox News' managing editor summed it up best on the Bill O’Reilly’s Show saying, “I think that Steele is the head of the Republican Party and Rush Limbaugh is the head of the conservative cause in this country. “
 
My theory is that all Republicans and party leaders are smarting from defeats in the 2008 and 2006 mid-term elections.  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) , the nominee in 2008 wasn’t favored by most conservative members of the party and even moderates were slow to warm to his candidacy. 
 
For some reason the party has now decided to create a façade of change which includes pushing the party's minority members out front.
 
First with the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) as McCains’s vice presidential choice with hopes of wooing Sen. Hillary Clinton supporters; then electing Steele, an African American, to head the RNC; followed by the recent selection of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindel (R), of Indian ancestry to give the Republican response to the president’s address to Congress. 
 
All of this has been designed to put a new face on the Republican Party without bringing about a clearly defined new message or renewed  agenda.  That could be why the infighting is making more news than the issues they care about. 
 
Sammon made an observation about the Limbaugh- Steele battle: “What’s interesting about this dispute -- when Steele talked about Rush Limbaugh, he talked about 'ugly,' he talked about 'incendiary,' he talked about 'he's an entertainer.' All of those criticisms were about style or tone, not about substance. “
 
He went on to add, “Steele and Rush don't represent some sort of fundamentally different and disagreeing factions within the right… They're basically on the same side of 90 percent of the issues.”

Would you consider the Republican Party now that the party's leadership is African American?

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Michael Steele: 100 Days on the Job

Right Fight?