July 20, 2009
Michael Steele needs to exit stage left.
I guess Michael Steele has to be careful what he says as long as Romney is in the picture:
Michael Steele, chairman of the RNC, doesn’t seem to know the basic terminology of the health care debate.
In a Q&A at the National Press Club just now, Steele was asked if Republicans support an individual requirement to get health care (also known as an individual mandate).
“What do you mean by an individual requirement?” he asked the moderator. After she explained, he dodged the question.
“Again, that is one of those areas where there is different opinions…I don’t do policy,” he said. “My point in coming here today was to begin to set a tone, and a theme if you will.”
I know this isn’t what Republicans stand for now, but they should be against mandated or requierd health care. They are supposed to be about smaller government and personal choice, responsibility, and freedom. The fact that the head of the RNC doesn’t get this or can’t answer this question straightforwardly is a little disheartening. Why didn’t Steele take my suggestion and lead himself to the unemployment line?
(H/T: Memeorandum)
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I cringed while watching his performance. What should have been a stemwinder speech exhorting the conservative principles turned into a mumbled mess complete with an inability to read his speech with anything remotely resembling emotion or comprehension.
I used to think he would be one of the new leaders of the movement, but I have lost all faith in him and the RNC. The RNC should spend every last dime it has on TV and radio ads exposing the truth about the bills underway in Congress. The polls show that once the people are aware of what is going on behind closed doors they shout STOP!. What better time to expose the truth and offer acceptable alternatives and rally independents and conservative Democrats to our side? This will go down as one of the biggest lost opportunities in U.S. political history.
Comment by in_awe — July 20, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
“The Fierce Urgency Of Nonsense”…
Michael Steel, spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) emails:
Folks – let me get this straight: according to the AP, the House Democrats’ government takeover of health care won’t fully take effect until 2018 (though the tax hik…
Trackback by Ed Driscoll — July 20, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
[...] Well, Michael Steele was asked a question about the individual requirement to own health care. He asked what it was. Thank you so much, Captain Clueless. And some people still insist on wondering why I and a lot [...]
Pingback by I’d Like to Buy a Clue for the RNC… :: YankMcCain.com — July 20, 2009 @ 7:10 pm
Folks Michael Steele is a joke.Michael Steele doesn’t know whether to scratch his watch or wind his a$$.He is the poster child of whats wrong with the GOP,the me too Big Tent philosophy.If you stand for everything,you stand for nothing.
Comment by cleantalkingchimp — July 20, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
Mr. Steele is a perfect example of what is wrong with the GOP. He is a politician as are most of those in party leadership.
They are clueless as to what thinking Americans want from their representatives. They concentrate on self promotion and the security of their position whatever that position may be. But too many voters are just as clueless so the situation is basically hopeless at this time
Comment by edward cropper — July 20, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
Your point is well taken, in this case he could be more prepared.
But Mr. Steele got the message out well today, that the Democratic Partisans are pushing socialism, and socialism is a disaster.
I think some should give Mr. Steele a bit of a break. There is a fashion to be so judgmental of Republicans from the cynical sidelines. It is understandable, but the focus should remain on the vapid Democratic Party. Steele may grow, and we could do worse.
Thank you.
Comment by Brooklyn — July 20, 2009 @ 9:57 pm
Obama’s Health Care plan isn’t new.
Mitt Romney has proposed something similar.
http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/DESMOINES-IA/WHO-AM/romney%20care%20podcast%20071709.mp3
So, I guess either way we are going to get socialized medicine. The question is will it be the Rs or the Ds who are going to give it to us.
Remember, that first bailout. That was BUSH.
And that didn’t feel good. Not to me. If we are going to have socialized Medicine regardless, let the Ds go down in history as being responsible for it.
Comment by Joan — July 20, 2009 @ 11:50 pm
Socialism is a disaster…Period!
It was a disaster when Bush did his Bailout just like it is a disaster with Obama.
Point is, it doesn’t mater if the Democrats are pushing it. It doesn’t matter if the Republicans are pushing it. Regardless of political party socialism brings disaster.
But the Republican front runner is a socialist himself with a healthcare scheme which actually was a model for lots of what Obama is doing.
But it seems to many that it is bad BECAUSE OBAMA is doing it but it would be GOOD if ROMNEY is doing it. That is why the Republicans have no credibility. Socialism is bad – PERIOD!
Comment by Joan — July 21, 2009 @ 12:13 am
I have spent some time with Michael Steele, and he is a smart, impressive person, who is taking a long, principled view of the Republican party and its future. His job is to build coalitions and enforce party discipline, not to determine policy. I believe his critics forget what his role is and they want him act like a governor/president, which he is not. The RNC has been on top of every major issue with good adverts, a convincing message, and a suggestion for solutions. Remember, without a sitting president, it is a challenge for the RNC to raise money and be on the air all the time.
Comment by Kurtis Fechtmeyer — July 21, 2009 @ 10:20 am
[...] Palin left with good reason, to get rid of the John McCains! Michael Steele needs to exit stage left too, because with friends like Steele, we may stop ObamaCare, but we’ll just get stuck with [...]
Pingback by Elections Have Consequences — July 24, 2009 @ 2:20 pm