Michael Steele and the RNC Chair - Leadership without Compromise

There are several candidates for the RNC Chair, all with hefty resumes and conservative credentials; however, the choice should be made with an eye towards leading the Party forward, rather than focus on the “moderate”, or worse, trying to recapture a bygone era. From an intellectual perspective, the GOP losses in the past two elections were the result of the natural course of history, magnified by a seeming loss of identity. Over the past 6 years, there appeared to be little in the way of either social or fiscal conservatism coming from the Party leadership. Therefore a “business as usual”, chair candidate, will not bring the “change” necessary to attract the “base” as well as those all-important independents fence-sitters who are crucial to state and national elections.

The traditional GOP model was a party of inclusion, Abraham Lincoln aside, the platform of the Party has remained consistent, yet, the Party is viewed by the uninformed as a group of angry old wealthy white men, propped up by a base made up of religious nuts. This view has been fostered by the Democrats (who are actually a party made up of wealthy old white men, propped up by a base that is comprised of the “haves” (Hollywood, The Union Leadership, NARAL, Editors) and the “have nots” (Name the minority). The Democrats get better press and the Republican Leadership remains silent. Both parties have their share of “base” negatives, it is a question of producing an “image” that will appeal to those “independents” – if the DNC can downplay Ayers, Wright and the entire Chicago Political Machine, surely someone within the GOP would be capable of “normalizing” their base, which happens to be the normal aspect of the party – Social Conservatives, specifically those who are religious.

The choice of the RNC chair, therefore, should be carefully weighed towards an individual who is both socially and fiscally conservative, has a track record of inclusion of the various factions that make up the GOP, is media savvy and has the understanding of technology in order to counter the left, and actually grow the base. Michael Steele, former Lt. Governor of Maryland, FOX news contributor, and current GOPAC chair, meets that criteria.

In a recent interview with the Baltimore Examiner, Steele talked about his desire to “tear up the old playbook” and “move the party forward”,

That's going to start with building a ground game of fresh new faces and new voices that reflect a modern GOP. That's what I've tried to do at GOPAC [the candidate-training organization he chairs]. It doesn't mean that we're less conservative; it doesn't mean that those founding principles on which we have stood and are time-tested are no longer relevant. In fact, they are, maybe even more so. But how we speak to them and how we express them to voters without ticking them off or making them feel we're sitting in judgment of their lives and communities will make the difference.

Bingo – Steel knows what is at stake, and understands the need not to abandon GOP principals, but to effectively communicate. What sells this social conservative? The man understands the GOP’s biggest problem and he addresses it a phrase that should be practiced by every GOP candidate, from the local dogcatcher to the Senate to the White House : ”I don't need to be Democrat Lite to win.”

To learn more about Michael Steele and his Candidacy for the RNC Chair: visit Steele for RNC Chairman

DNC Reform - Links: Obama, Odingo and Genocide

In the lastest YouTube video (shown below) from DNC Reform, highlights of Barack Obama's involvement with his Cousin, Odingo's campaign, are shown. In 2006, Obama made a trip to Kenya on the taxpayers dime. The purpose: to support his cousin, an opposition candidate. The government of Kenya was not pleased.

The most interesting aspect of this video is the much used phrases of Change and "Yes We Can". Apparently, Barack Obama's pal, Massachusetts Govenor Duval Patrick, must have come up with that one a bit earlier when Patrick was living in Chicago. Both men have close ties to David Axelrod a Democrat consultant and former reporter who is adept at trying to put out fires. (On the lighter side, it is interesting that a reporter is advising the Democrats, given that the Democrats are getting talking points directly from the Obama campaing).

DNC Reform is a grassroots organization dedicated to original Democrat standards and not the Progressive/Marxist standards present in the current party leadership.

John Kerry – The Obama Factor

John Kerry, Junior Senator from Massachusetts is facing a challenger from within his own party for the first time since he took his seat 24 years ago. Gloucester attorney, Ed O’Reilly, who garnered more than enough votes at the Lowell Democrat convention, despite alleged efforts by Kerry’s camp to derail him, has challenged the Senator to a series of debates (AP). To date, no definitive answer has come from the Kerry campaign. Perhaps the Senator is far too busy campaigning for Barack Obama - Kerry, who has become a mentor to Obama, chose the young Illinois Senator to be the Keynote Speaker at the 2004 convention . With that in mind, is it any wonder he also was among the first to endorse Barrack Obama over the wishes of Kerry’s Massachusetts Constituents? Alternately the Senator may not wish to engage O’Reilly on the issues in a public forum, specifically if that forum may be televised. Kerry has an interesting style of debate – one that seems to resonate with his core group of supporters.

Why the Clinton Factor? Between Kerry and his 2004 running mate, John Edwards, the stage was set to replace the acknowledged front runner with an inexperienced two term senator from Illinois, through whatever means necessary. Clinton faced a barrage of attacks on everything but that what was relevant – policy. She was also advised, by these same men who had prior ties to Obama, to “give up the race”. Kerry, ever the opportunist, perhaps fancied himself as a “king-maker”. All well and good for the Democrat Party, should it be a party of exclusion. However, some Democrats are taking exception to that particular line of reasoning.

DNC Reform a group that has formed in opposition to those who would exclude the “majority minority” (otherwise known as women), is taking the Senator (as well as others who endorsed against the will of the voters) to task. Maureen Dowd, an avowed “Obamafile”, in her op-ed today, has implied that the Clintons are doing everything in their power to undermine Obama. Maureen could not be further off-base. Obama’s problems do not stem from Clinton supporters (the same cannot be said of sitting Senators, Congressmen and the like who ignored the will of their constituents), rather, his problem stem from exposure – to the American public. The more people get to know him, the more his poll numbers stay the same. Obama is becoming as charming as John Kerry and everyone knows what happened in 2004. Not only did John Kerry not win the presidency, Tom Daschle did not win re-election to the senate. Those at DNC Reform, along with 51% of the voters (Suffolk University Poll, June), in Massachusetts feel it is time for Kerry to seek employment elsewhere. Perhaps he can become an MSNBC commentator.

You tube videos from DNC Reform shown below.