RNC chairman in more hot water
By Joseph Williams, Globe Staff
WASHINGTON -- The brief, but rocky tenure of Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele grew shakier today when he was forced to reassure the party's conservative heavyweights by insisting he is "pro-life -- always has been, always will be."
Steele's stand on abortion came into question after he suggested to a GQ magazine interviewer that abortion was "an individual choice" and inferred that homosexuals might not choose to be gay -- positions on hot-button issues that put him at odds with conservative Republicans, the party's core membership.
He quickly back-pedaled today, declaring his allegiance to the official party position on abortion. "The Republican Party is and will continue to be the party of life," he said in a statement. "It is important that we stand up for the defenseless and that we continue to work to change the hearts and minds of our fellow countrymen so that we can welcome all children and protect them under the law."
The clarification did little to satisfy some angry conservatives, including former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who sought the party's presidential nomination last year. "For Chairman Steele to even infer that taking a life is totally left up to the individual is not only a reversal of Republican policy and principle, but it's a violation of the most basic of human rights," Huckabee wrote on his blog today.
Elected the party's first black chairman less than two months ago, Steele was already taking fire from within the party after a series of missteps and headaches that angered the RNC board -- including eye-opening remarks about making the GOP more hip, more notice of his prior financial and political problems, and a highly publicized spat with conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh, which ended only after Steele apologized.
The abortion remarks, in an interview published Wednesday on GQ's website, are likely to fuel the growing discontent with Steele from the influential conservatives who chose him after a six-ballot race in late January. Last week, Katon Dawson, the South Carolina state party chairman who lost to Steele by one vote, reportedly launched a no-confidence vote against Steele, and one RNC board member renewed her call for Steele to consider resigning.
"There are many people who want to see Mr. Steele out of here," said Ada Fisher, the board member, who is a North Carolina physician. The chairman's performance so far has been lackluster, she said, and "If I were him I would ask myself, 'Should I continue in this position?' "
In his interview with GQ, Steele, who is adopted, said he believes that the states should have the power to decide whether abortion is legal, but added that he believes the issue boils down to "a choice" for women that "cuts two ways. You can choose life, or you can choose abortion. My mother chose life."
When asked if women have a right to choose abortion, Steele answered, "Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice."
Steele, a former Catholic seminarian and Maryland lieutenant governor, went on to say that while he opposes gay marriage, he believes homosexuality is innate and not a lifestyle choice -- a position at odds with many influential Christian conservatives who support the GOP.
"You just can't simply say, oh, like, 'Tomorrow morning, I'm gonna stop being gay.' It's like saying, 'Tomorrow morning I'm gonna stop being black,' " Steele said.
A former rival for the chairmanship, Ken Blackwell blasted Steele, telling the conservative website Townhall.com today that the new chairman needs to "re-read the Bible, the US Constitution, and the 2008 GOP platform."
"He then needs to get to work -- or get out of the way," said Blackwell, the former Ohio secretary of state who guaranteed Steele's election when he threw his support to him.
Though some party activists may be dissatisfied with Steele, they appear to be stuck with him for the foreseeable future, since RNC rules set a high standard for ousting a sitting chairman, according to party officials.
Several political analysts also said the board that made history by electing its first African-American leader is probably loathe to sack him just a few weeks into his tenure -- a move that would be a public-relations nightmare for a party struggling to shed its lily-white image in the age of President Obama.
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This guy is so gone. Maybe Alan Keyes would be extreme enough for the Republicans "in the age of President Obama."
Wow, a truthful Republican. I thought that was an oxymoron. If it's one thing conservative Republicans hate it's being forced to look and think beyond their Bible-shaded idealistic world. I suppose it was "God's will" that Sarah Palin's daughter had a baby. Duh, no, it was uneducated and ignorant teenage hormones! What a sad sad way to live.
Really, you don't know the difference between infer and imply? Didn't we all learn that from the Cosby Show?
I'm wondering: Is the RNC the " party of life " or is it the life of the party?
It appears the Repubs as a whole do not really know what?? they supposedly stand for or against.
Perhaps an Independant makeover is long over due. Thee ole Repub church so to speak is also OLD. Whenever a church so to speak runs out of young people..it's not long before there is no church either.
SOO perhaps a bunch of younger people would be a good thing ( granted they'd have to "Get Modern" to attract those.
The real Visible Repub leader ie., tends to be Rush Limbaugh.
Unfortunately the afore appears to delve in an almost continuous slamming of the females in the USA ( almost every radio show it seems ).
That alone, pretty much dictates the Repubs are on the track of shrinking by perhaps 25% to 50% before another National election.
If one were to read the Bible, the U.S. Constitution and then the GOP platform from any year since at least 1972 or so, one would see that there are significant conflicts between those G.O.P platforms and both other documents. So are you a Christian who believes the teachings of Jesus and Moses, and wants a constitutional government, or are you Republican? The choice is NOT complicated.
Steele should go...
One has to understand that RNC actually stands for Reactionary Nut Case, and then it all hangs together. We desperately need a third (or whatever number) political party to accomodate the teeming hordes of moderate now-Republicans who claim that as their affiliation only because there is no alternative. When will the views of the RNC and its apologists be considered too extreme to endure?
More and more evidence proving that the GOP is still stuck in the most petty and shallow forms of poitical gamesmanship. Republicans have not only lost their credibility, but their substance as well. Hence the appointment of a little-known black RNC chairman after the election on Obama, and the appointment of the least qualified VP candidate ever after all the Hillary buzz. Members of the GOP have proven so incompetent that they even lost their once killer ability to implement the dirtiest and most effective political stunts. So long as out of touch unenlightened blowhards like Rush and awkward d-bags like Jindal keep speaking for the GOP then hopefully they will truly benefit the country with the complete self-destruction.
Conservatives are not the party's core membership, they represent a vocal block but there are plenty of Republicans who are moderate on social issues - just like there are plenty of Democrats who are not far Left zealots. Still, I have to think that if there was a centerist party that was fiscally conservative on economic issues and moderate on social issues (where most of the country tends to be) you would have a consistent winner at the ballot box. Its too bad that both parties are beholden to their vocal fringe elements.
Reading what Steele has actually said, I think maybe has it right, that the so called party elite have it wrong. But, let the republican elite continue to believe they have it right. This is why they lost the last 2 elections, and why their refusal to join modern society will continue to be relected by the party's continuing demise.
So long as out of touch unenlightened blowhards like Rush and awkward d-bags like Jindal keep speaking for the GOP then hopefully they will truly benefit the country with the complete self-destruction. - Steve Johnson
I think you need to take a deep hard look at Jindal's resume and academic achievements again Steve. He could mop the floor with Obama, with or without his precious teleprompter. Remember what got Obama elected now, style over 0 substance.
Lets keep making excuses for the GOP. NEOCONS have taken over the GOP or is it taken down the GOP. Isn't that what the USA is ultimately fighting in the mideast.....God in politics,........ where is the brain power for the real issues of the day?
With God, Guns, Rush Limbaugh, Shawn Hanntity, and Michael Steele at the helm maybe this is the end game for the GOP.