Steele Surrenders Before the Battle Begins
By Ward Smythe | Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 | PoliticsAnd they wonder why I keep returning their fundraising appeals?
In an interview with Sean Hannity, Michael Steele throws in the towel saying that no, Republicans can’t take the House back this year.
HANNITY: Do you think you can take-over the House? Do you think Republicans…
STEELE: not this year, and Sean, I’ll say…
Well, isn’t that just great leadership for you?
Look, I don’t know if it’s possible or not. But that’s not the message you want the leader of your party to portray.
Don’t work hard Republicans. Your leader says it won’t matter.
H/T Political Wire: Steele Doubts Republicans Can Take House
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Ward Smythe is a pseudonymous aspiring freelance writer from Central Virginia. Until late 2007 Ward blogged at the now defunct "Ward View" and was active in Virginia and national politics. Ward's signature style of snarkery gained him a unique following that he hopes to regain here at Bearing Drift. Ward uses humor, satire and sometimes photoshop to make his point. Ward is proud to be an equal opportunity offender.
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14 Responses to "Steele Surrenders Before the Battle Begins"
Maybe he meant: “I’m not going to lead this but I guess I have to rely on the Grass Roots dragging us across the finish line.”
Isn’t this somewhat akin to a coach saying, “I don’t think we can win the game, but we can keep it close”?
Doesn’t exactly inspire, eh?
Personally, I agree with Steele’s analysis. But he should leave political analysis to those who do it for fun and a living. As a party leader, his goal should be for his party’s candidates to win every election in which they participate – which would give them a majority in the U.S. House this year.
Come on! There is almost no way the GOP can take back the House in 2010…its almost mathematically impossible. For the GOP to do it, they would need to hold all of the current seats and then pick up 41 seats. Of all the 435 seats, only 50 are competitive.
I watched the interview last night. Steele did a good job. It was refreshing to see someone with some realism. Hell, if we did take it back, I am not sure the GOP is ready.
And frankly, taking back the House would spell disaster for the GOP in 2012. It would force Obama to the center and ultimately give him a 2nd term…just like Clinton.
I hear you David…and agree with your sentiment and argument.
However, I disagree with you that this is Steele’s role.
He wanted to be the party’s number one cheerleader – so it’s his job to be the eternal optimist. Seriously, he should be thinking that every Republican is going to win – that’s his job.
I expect the Detroit Lions football coach to have the goal of winning the Super Bowl next year. It ain’t likely, but he shouldn’t go on TV saying it.
I think Steele is right. However, I’d agree with J.R. that it sin’t his role to be saying that. Part of the national party chair’s job is to be the head cheerleader. He should be saying “of course we’re going to take it back.”
This is like a campaign manager telling the press “we’re going to lose, but it’ll be close,” a month out from Election Day.
This is not a presidential election year. So I doubt it is advisable to overstate the importance of the national Republican Party. If people want to replace their Democratic Party congressman (or keep a Democrat from winning), then they need to get involved now AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
Get involved in the local party. Figure out of the Republican Party functions and who does what. Find out who is running in your district for the Republican nomination. Put some effort behind your mouth. VOLUNTEER your time and your dollars to the candidate you support. If your guy loses, then get behind the guy who wins.
If enough people work at it, then any race can become competitive. It does not make any difference what Michael Steele says. He can take credit, but who cares.
With the switch of Griffith the GOP only needs 40 seats, and it is not impossible, need I remind everyone of 1994? The GOP took well over the 40 needed this coming year. Also, there are currently 6 sitting Dems that have said they will not seek reelection and one that has changed parties. In addition to this several of their top recruits to challenge sitting Republicans have decided not to run. Steele needs to be replaced with someone who does constantly apologize for and demoralize the party he supposedly represents.
GovGirl, I think you had too much of the kool-aid. I am as Republican and conservative as they come (and I work in politics) and cannot see it happening.
Of all the seats that are up for election (435), there are about only 50 that are competitive (Lean R, Lean D or Toss Up). It is almost mathematically impossible, for the GOP to hold its 178 seats and then pick up 40.
As for Steele being replaced…not a chance. He’s doing a great job so far. It’s refreshing to see someone tell it like it is as opposed to “peeing on my leg and telling me its raining.”
He should have said, We’re going to fight like hell to win as many seats as we can and we’ll see where we end up on Election night. We’ve got a long way to go until then. But I feel good about our chances.
Ron – Thank you, it is NOT Steele’s job to tell us how terrible we are. And as for not ready to lead, it is only his weak kneed part of the party that is not ready to lead. I am tired of being told, its too hard, we can’t do it, blah, blah, blah. Suck it up and FIGHT for pity sake. Of course we won’t win if you don’t try to.
David – maybe your problem (like Steele’s) is that you “work in politics” – the American people are furious, and are looking for leadership to say what they are thinking. Whoever says what they are thinking will get their vote in November, period.
1994 was mathematically impossible until about a month before it happened.
Steele said he hasn’t even met all the candidates. Nominees haven’t even been chosen. Relax, guys
Whether done intentionally or not, Steel’s answer is the right one. Downplay expectations, keep the focus on the damage of Obama policies. No one will lose motivation to contribute, work, vote if the objective is short of a takeover of Congress; no individual campaign will be negatively impacted just because the GOP Chair says we can’t get to a majority. Don’t give Dems a rallying cry the GOP is resurrecting Bush and Gingrich – don’t give them the enemy they sorely need, keep the focus on them. No, let the Dems continue to implode, while we recruit, build the war chest, and win as many seats as we can. Maybe we get there, but with polls showing that people still distrust the GOP as much if not more than Dems, we don’t communicate effectively to anyone outside of our membership list if we get into Dole-speak about process, majorities, etc. True the conventional job of a party leader like Steele is to be Pollyanna, but honestly, who outside of the usual party activists gets excited by that. Avoiding the topic of who will be in “control” is best – talk issues, and make each individual Dem pay for his sins.
I take real exception with the insinuation that the GOP is not ready to lead. It is exactly that attitude that will result in not winning. Maybe Mr. Steele is not ready to lead, if so – then get out of the way and get someone in there who can. I am ok with cautiously optomistic, but Steele’s comments were stupid, a point which I think he recognized when last night he said if he were not the head of the GOP he would be at the TEA Parties – he knows he stepped in it on Hannity.
I think Steele will end up defying a lot of expectations. Ron you have an excellent point of how he should have said that.
However, he was being honest, we tend to say we want honesty over political rhetoric….not always true but that’s what we say
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