World

Republican Chairman Michael Steele Admits Mistakes, Rallies GOP

by Rory Cripps | April 11, 2010 at 11:02 am

269 views | 8 Recommendations | 4 comments

GOP national chairman Michael Steele told members of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, on Saturday that, "The one mistake we cannot make this November is to lose."

Steele's speech wrapped up the 3-day SRLC attended by about 3000 GOP activists and party leaders. It was his first public appearance since the media broke the story about questionable spending by the RNC, including $2000 for entertainment in a West Hollywood lesbian bondage club.

In spite of some Republican's calls for Steele's resignation, the RNC chairman told the audience, "I'm the first here to admit that I've made mistakes, and it's been incumbent on me to take responsibility, to shoulder that burden, make the necessary changes and move on."

In life, you realize very quickly that you can't please everyone. But you can certainly make them all mad at you at the same time," Steele said. "And that is a lesson well-learned. It is an opportunity as well. Because folks have been mad at us in the past and we have learned from that past, and we are now ready to move on to a brighter future."

Steele went on to say, "We can't coast into the majority, nor can we assume it's a sure thing. The liberal media are looking for any possible alternative narrative to tell . . .They are looking for those distractions, and Lord knows I've provided a few."

Former RNC Chairman and current Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour who described himself to CNN's John King on Tuesday as a "fat redneck" that "got an accent" emphasized cohesion in the Republican Party.

"We stick together," said, Barbour. "We've got to let the things that unite us be the things that guide us." Barbour added, "We cannot let ourselves be torn apart by the idea of purity."

Sen. Rick Santorum, former Pennsylvania governor, told the SRLC audience, that when Republicans controlled the White House and Congress, "We let America down."

Santorum struck a note when he alluded to the federal government buildup under the Bush administration. "Conservatism didn't fail America, conservatives failed conservatism . . . . Let's be honest: we were guilty of more government when we were there."

2 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Sign In or Join to post comments

YankeeJim

at 14:17 on April 11th, 2010

On the eve of self-destruction. The Democrats were doing it to themselves, and up jump the Republicans. Which are the most self-righteous?

Rory Cripps

at 15:04 on April 11th, 2010

Jim: I've said it before and I'll say it again and probably continue to say it: Both the Repub's and the Dem's leadership need a check-up from the neck-up! But for the party of "family values" to spend money in a Hollywood lesbian bondage club . . .well it's just not politically correct! HA! That's why I'm an independent. If I spent money at a lesbian bondage club and someone called me on it, I'd tell them, "So what! I never claimed to be PC!" LOL!

Earl Court

at 15:20 on April 11th, 2010

I think it time for the republicans to moderate their party much better, though there is the GOP there has been more loud mouthing from fringe groups that really are not conservatives but much more far right well into extremism. If these people continue demonetization the republican party will lose its moderate voters. It needs these voters to win the next election in November so a tone down is really required.

Dirty politics will not win the next elections because at present the people when the word republican is mentioned think of the Bush administration and demonization of Obama is just not working. The only real thing that will work is to have a solid manifesto, showing what the republicans will do if an when elected. Then attacks that hold true water and proof not propaganda pure facts. The republican can not hide and sweep under the table what the Bush administration did whilst in power nor blame the prior administrations.

This speech shows that GOP at least knows they have an administration problem

t k kidwai

at 16:14 on April 13th, 2010

Deception is a norm in political life,if Leo Strauss,a German Jew is to be beleived,and what politicians do,they never say,and what they say,never do.Masses have a tendency or in other words propensity to be more favourable to deception.Whosoever succeeds in deceiving them,wears the crown.Why conservatives are out of power?Simply because they failed to deceive massess effectively.Democrats did it and won the race.

Grand Old Jokers Party must introspect in the light of the above suggestion.And lastly,do not make the mistake of not making mistakes