Steele Backtracks on Punishing GOP Senators Who Voted For Stimulus
Josh just posted the video of Michael Steele's appearance on Fox News yesterday, when the national Republican chairman suggested that he would be open to denying political funds to the three GOP senators who supported the economic stimulus law.
See more at Foxnews.com.
It sounds like a brash bit of moxie from Steele. But when I asked him about it today -- the RNC chief joined ex-Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) as an official lunch guest of Senate GOPers -- Steele backtracked.
"It's totally up to the state parties," he told me, in a stark contrast to his comment on Fox that he would "talk to the state parties" about withholding funds to the three stimulus-supporting Republican senators. (The three in question: Arlen Specter, up for re-election in Pennsylvania next year, and Mainers Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, both out of cycle in 2010.)
Incidentally, the Senate Republican campaigns chief, John Cornyn (TX) was also bearish on Steele's initial vow. When I asked if he was open to blocking party aid to the three Cornyn said simply: "We're going to support incumbents."
Josh
Elana
Matt
Eric
Uh, Steele is gonna talk the ME state GOP into not supporting Collins and Snowe?
Good luck with that™.
February 24, 2009 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Specter is primaried and loses, that is a lock seat for the Dems to win. He's have to be attacked from the far right in a primary, meaning that the Dem candidate could claim the moderate middle which would win.
February 24, 2009 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Specter's last primary opponent was a loony wingnut, IIRC. He almost won. Of course, that was 2004, when there was still just enough support for President Bush to make such a primary campaign viable. Maybe Rick Santorum can stage a comeback.
February 24, 2009 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's nice to know that leadership of the RNC is in such capable hands.
February 24, 2009 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's fun watching the Republic Party turn into a circular firing squad.
February 24, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hilarious! Like the GOOP holds enough extra seats that they can afford to lose those three senators who *ahem* come from blue states.
From here in PA, Specter in still in trouble and will face a primary challenge.
Keep talking, Steele! Nothing will help the Dems more than you on FuxNews on a daily basis!
PEACE
February 24, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
My only question is where do they find these whackos? I mean look at bachmann and wilson and turkey man and bonehead and kyl/herman munster and mcbush. Steele really is a fool as well. It's utterly amazing. Totally devoid of reality and they just blather on. Steele won't make it til 2010 I bet. He will resign to spend time with his family or some other such nonsense. What a fool.
February 24, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, the thugs feel the same way about us. I was raised in a household full of these people and I cannot have a conversation with any of the people in my family on the subject of politics. They think we are devoid of reality too. They literally see things just the opposite of the way we see things
February 24, 2009 8:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
same with some of my family, but here's a clue as to why: they can never cite critical or even relevant details around the issues that theyre more than happy to raise their voices over. like many of my evangelical friends that still believe quite 'vehemently' in the "rapture" (a late 19th century concoction by a wingnut, without much scriptural merit) they don't even know the tenets of the faith which they are willing to "fight" for.
evidently it's much easier to be confident when one's arguments are based on willful ignorance.
February 25, 2009 1:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wiggidy-wack! You down wit' O.P.P. ("Ooops! Please Pretend (I didn't say that about challenging sitting GOP officials. Fox tricked me!))? Yeah, you know me!
Oh, baby baby baby, the Wackness is trippin', yo!
Werd!
February 24, 2009 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems like the GOP governors weighed in on this one since these folks either head their state parties or are one of the top leaders....
Does Mr. Steele like the taste of his own shoe leather?
February 24, 2009 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Duh, Dude. If you trash Collins and Snowe, do you think you'll get "loyal Bushie" types? Maine would go with Democrats first. (I think it took a sec, but he figured that out...)
February 24, 2009 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
What an IDIOT! I can't believe he said that. I know I shouldn't be but....not even a rookie pol would say such a dumb ass thing out loud.
February 24, 2009 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, it's a darn shame; I wish he would have stuck with it. The only possible results (for each Senator independent of the others...I'll use Specter here, since he's up next) of such a ridiculous RNC move are:
1)Nothing. He wins the primary and general, and stays a Senator. Now he has proven that not only does he not need the RNC...he can beat them. In other words, even if he keeps the (R), he's effectively an independent.
2)He gets primaried out by some wingnut who is crushed by a Democrat.
3)He wins the primary by either spending tons of money or hewing right (or both), weakening him to be beaten by a Democrat.
4)He takes the cue before the election season starts and switches parties or goes independent. I can just see the press conference: "Well, the RNC has apparently decided there is no room for moderates in the party, so I've decided to seek a bigger tent."
As an added bonus, no matter which scenario plays out the RNC loses quite a bit of money on the deal. The best would be the wingnut; they'd have to bankroll him through the general too once they financed his beating of Specter.
Oh well, I guess it's not to be. But I think the very mention of this as a possibility is a loud signal to potential primary opponents. Certainly the RNC won't be helping these three stick around. So no matter how much he retracts Steele just made all three seats way more vulnerable...to Democrats.
February 24, 2009 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, if the republicans keep this up all three seats will be democratic sooner rather than later. I can see snowe, collins and even specter switching parties at this rate. Why not? Why stay in the minority that is getting more wacked by the minute. They could get some greater seniority in the majority if they switched. If the republicans don't change their tactics and if I were them, I would switch. They have more in common with the dem bluedogs than they do with the vast majority of the republican senators.
February 24, 2009 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, the thugs feel the same way about us. I was raised in a household full of these people and I cannot have a conversation with any of the people in my family on the subject of politics. They think we are devoid of reality too. They literally see things just the opposite of the way we see things
February 24, 2009 8:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Michael A.
I doubt Snow, Collins or Specter will ever change parties. They will retire before they do that.
February 24, 2009 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
GOP's Steely Message:
The reason we're in this mess is because we didn't do enough of what got us into this mess
That was what Romney said at the convention.
February 24, 2009 6:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gotta love it! And here I was all concerned with Bush out of the white house I wouldn't have anything to entertain me!
February 24, 2009 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
You'd think a guy who couldn't win his election in five tries wouldn't say much to people who won theirs decisively the first time.
February 24, 2009 7:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Postxian. That is such a nice way of saying (or I would have said), Steele is an idiot!!!
February 24, 2009 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink