link Michael Steele has done it again. This time, the RNC Chairman's riled his own party's presumptive frontrunner for the 2012 presidential election: Mitt Romney. On a radio show this weekend, Steele attempted to explain Romney's loss in the 2008 Republican primaries by stating what he thought was the obvious: Romney was a flip-flopper with a whacky religion. "Remember, it was the base that rejected Mitt because of his switch on pro-life, from pro-choice to pro-life," Steele told the caller. "It was the base that rejected Mitt because it had issues with Mormonism. It was the base that rejected Mitt because they thought he was back and forth and waffling on those very economic issues you're talking about." Now, we can't imagine why the Romney camp might take issue with that type of statement by the RNC chairman. Nevertheless, they responded: "Sometimes when you shoot from the hip, you miss the target," said Romney spokesman Eric Ferhnstrom. "This is one of those times." Shooting from the hip and missing is kind of Steele's trademark. We're hoping that he'll propose a reconciliation with Romney with a duet singing of "Who Let the Dogs Out?"
The GOP is in a tough position. The far right wing drives moderates away, and they won't back down on anything. You can call the far right wing and fundamentalists stubborn, or extremely true to what they believe in, but they don't seem willing to compromise or back down from any of it on any issue. They are outside the mainstream and moderates in the party are being isolated. It seems like the far right is getting more entrenched as time goes on. If the GOP appeals to the moderates the right wing will either leave or won't vote. Without the right wing they will lose some of the few states they are still strong in. It's a catch 22 for them. The right, and religious fundamentalists divisive style of politics isn't winning any more. It seems that part of Obama's change has already had a huge effect and the GOP is suffering because of it. The GOP could move to the center and hope to snag some of the conservative Democrats, and independents - particularly those that have recently stopped voting Republican but used to in the past.
I'm starting to think that the only thing that can galvanize the Republican party at this point is a major terrorist attack.
The GOP base will continue to open up to Romney more and more. Especially once they start realizing he's probably their best candidate for 2012. Sooner or later people will realize they need to stop being so petty over him being Mormon and pro-choice back in flippin 1994. Romney obviously brings a lot more to the table than those two small red flags.
Steele is straight up gangsta and comes from the hood, so anything he says about Mitt has immediate street cred with his homies who make up the bulk of the Republican Party.
Exactly. He's paid his dues and that means a lot when Republicans select their presidential nominees. If another very strong candidate doesn't emerge by 2010, Romney will be the nominee unless a scandal brings him down. The GOP nominates candidates they are very familiar with. I look for the establishment to coalesce around Romney early next year. Michael Steele is just an idiot. He's obviously a savvy guy to get the RNC chair, but every other time he opens his big mouth, he kills himself and the party.
