Steele to GOP: Time to do the 'My bad'

Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:16 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Republicans

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe this morning, said of Specter that Democrats may have "bitten off more on that bargain than they can chew on right now." He added later, "The conservatives he's railing against helped his behind in '04."

Video: MSNBC's Joe Scarborough ask Michael Steele what he intends to as party chair about the shrinking Republican Party.

Steele acknowledged the difficulties for his party, and laid blame on an unpopular war, an unpopular president and "mismanagement." But he declined to pin the troubles by name on Bush and Cheney when asked. He said there's a "chance to clearly define" the party and cast this time as a "battle of ideas. ... We need to clearly define what we believe in."

He said Republicans have sounded "disingenuous" in criticizing Wall St. bailouts, since "we jumpstarted this thing," he said. "We're the ones who put the $700 billion on the table and started nationalizing the banks." Republicans, he said, need to "own up, do the, 'My bad,' and move forward."

He argued that the even though the party has been decimated outside the South, its problems can be traced to those that "got comfortable" and got away from those "core principles."

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Comments

Lester Rider, Houston (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:27 AM)

Is this 'cat' for real?? This is the best the G’no’P can come up with to represent them? If that is in fact the case us Democrats will be in POWER for a very very long time.

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:28 AM)

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:29 AM)

I like Mr. Steele, and hope that he can bring change to the GOP. I am a die in the wool democrat, but believe we do need diversity in the political parties. The current GOP is fairly dysfunctional and could use some help. Lets hope Mr. Steele can help bring about change...but seems highly unlikely.

kathy, Eau Claire, WI (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:30 AM)

Steele or someone in the Republican Party should define their 'core principles'. What does the Republican Party 'believe in'? Would that be support for torture? Would that be support for spying on Americans? Would that be for or against bailouts and stimulus or does the answer to that depend on who the President is? Would that be tax breaks for the wealthy and continued burden for the poor and middle class?

Terry, Kansas City (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:33 AM)

Hmmm... Have to say I agree with Steele. Sounds like he's trying to take responsibility for their actions. I'll excuse the "my Bad" thing. Kind of funny! Not funny tho that he is the only one taking a little responsibility.

cindy, las vegas, nv (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:33 AM)

The Republicans have already kicked back and relaxed if you ask me. From what Congresswoman Foxx said on the floor of the House yesterday, they are relaxing their brains. Just say no without thinking.

Keith in DC (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:35 AM)

Can you say CLUELESS!? The problem IS their "core principles," not getting away from them.

Kent, Harrisburg, PA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:37 AM)

To Lester Rider, Houston:
Your party trashed the economy for the last 8 years. Republicans have been kicking back and relaxing for the last 8 years. They have not accomplished a thing.

sam Littleton , Colorado (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:40 AM)

I agree with Lester Rider. The Dems own everything, and they can just continue overreaching and do themselves in. And for the first time in years, Republicans have overtaken Democrats on Rasmussen's Congressional poll. If elections were held today, people would vote for the Republican candidate 41% to 38% over the Democrat. A small number, certainly, but interesting nonetheless.

Nancy P (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:40 AM)

Congresswoman Foxx and Michelle Bachmann are really on the fringe but the fact that they are getting press coverage is bad for the GOP.

Michael Steele cannot save the GOP. No one can, because they do not have a platform that the average American can identify with.

Sheila, Pikesville, MD (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:46 AM)

The more this guy talks, the more he sounds like a reject from the casting call for the 70's sitcom "Good Times". Seriously, I expect that Jimmy "JJ" Walker is going to run up on him and exclaim "Steele is kid DY-NO-MITE".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jawillie,

That's TOO funny... personally he reminds me more of George Jefferson the way he struts and preens!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:47 AM)

Be careful Chairman Steele or you will be back to apologizing to Lord Limbaugh again.

eagle1776 (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:47 AM)

The "core principles" are the problem. The further right they go, the more they will lose. Trickle down economics doesn't work. Handing over the decisions for the country to corporations is a disaster. We will all be "working poor" without healthcare. Excluding everyone not rich, white, and straight won't work either. We do not have a 'national religion". Become more moderate or die.

joan, minneapolis (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:50 AM)

Not funny tho that he is the only one taking a little responsibility.
cindy, las vegas, nv

Cindy, Micheal Steele isn't taking any responsibility, he said it was time for the GOP (Bush, McCain, McConnell etc/) who passed last years bank bail out to step up and say "my bad", he's basically admitting the immediate past President shares blame, as do GOP in congress, but Steele personally isn't taking blame, nor should he given he wasn't an elected official. But if you've heard Steele he accepts little responsibility for anything he does, and rarely talks straight. The clip John Stewart played last night of Rick Sanchez of CNN asking Steele, what the hell did you just say is priceless!

Steele's one of the Democratic partt's best assets! (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:55 AM)

Michael Steele is a bad joke - he is being used and he looks and sounds silly. Virginia Fox, on the other hand, is pitiful! She is a LAW MAKER! No wonder some parts of the nation are still "back woods!" SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING LAWS! I am from NC and so embarrassed! Thank God I voted Democratic or I would have to go into therapy if I thought for a second she represented my views! She is old, tired, cranky, ugly, and she must go! NC kick her out quickly before she causes an uprising!

JJ Young, Cary, NC (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:56 AM)

Other than reducing taxes on those that make the most and bowing to those social conservatives (anti-abortion, anti-same sex marriage etc), what do Republicans really believe in? If it is smaller government, then I am confused over their actions from the past 8 years. Maybe they are thinking that they are Libertarians

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:59 AM)

Republican core principles:

GREED and STUPIDITY

Actually, they HAVE lived up to their core principles !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:02 AM)

Steele at least acknowledges that today's economic problems were created by the GOP. Now, if he could just say it without using slang. Too bad he didn't acknowledge that the party has been turned over to the extreme right as proof listen to Bachmann and the latest mind-numbing stupidity and total insensitivity of Congress Woman Fox.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:04 AM)

Well, well, well....he finally said something that made sense. They are going to lynch him now. He is absolutely right. Did I say that? Yes, he is absolutely right.

The republicans will surely dismiss you now Steel, you admited that the party of no is responsible for this nations economic problems. My bad....we've always known it.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:08 AM)

For all you repubs who think Keynesian economics is going to run us into the ground: Did you forget about WWII? That was a massive government spending operation. Our nation has been long over due for an updated energy grid and highway system for some time now. Its about time we spend some money stateside - I hope you all go on vacation, at least then we can get something done that will help this great nation without your bungling it up.

Jay, Norman, OK (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:10 AM)

Poor Micheal Steele he is between a rock and a hard place being the national chair of the GOP. These people hate everybody including the very government they seek to control.

Ben Purser,Royal Oak, MI (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:12 AM)

Republicans need to kick back and relax. Maybe take a vacation, work on their gardens. Let the Democrats work their Keynesian economics for a year or so. The economy will be so trashed by then, the people of the country would vote for Anyone But A Democrat in 2010.
Lester Rider, Houston (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:27 AM)

_____________________________

must be driving you crazy. jobless claims report is better than expected. the markets have been moving in the right direction. consumer confidence is up and now it sounds like this thing gets turned around a little sooner than anticipated. tell you what. how about of the republicans who got us into this mess kick back and relax until 2024 (hillary 2016). the independents and democrats will fix their mess.

ken from holland, pa (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:20 AM)

bobbyv hinesville ga (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:28 AM)

Now if Steele can get Rush and Dick (Cheney) to say "my bad" he might be on to something here!!! Ha!

Lisa in FL (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:50 AM)

"Let the Democrats work their Keynesian economics for a year or so. The economy will be so trashed by then, the people of the country would vote for Anyone But A Democrat in 2010.
Lester Rider, Houston (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:27 AM)"

I love this statement because it sums up so much of conservative thinking. The Democrats will obviously fail because conservative ideology says so. The voters will go flocking to Republicans even though they failed the country miserably over the last 8 years. Conservatism seems to consist almost entirely of being sure something will work because it's conservative, and being sure something will fail because it isn't. Good luck with that when facing a pragmatic President working hard on real-world solutions.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:51 AM)

Oh oh mr. steele - you know that accepting responsibility for failures is not allowed under the republican rule book!!

He'll get blasted mighty heartilly by the dittoheads and deadheads for this pronouncement.

Jilli, Houston, TX (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:53 AM)

Once you get past the platitudes, the Republican core principles always come down to this: be sure government favors the wealthy, and everyone else will be benefited in the sweet by and by.

Oh, and guns – lots more guns. Also.

Joe Don, Topeka, KS (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:54 AM)

WHEN WILL WE GET ALL 100 SENATORS TO VOTE ON IMPORTANT ISSUES.I KNOW WE DO NOT HAVE A MOJORITY BUT WHEN WE VOTE 61-31 WE SEND THE MESSAGE IT IS NOT IMPORTANT TO VOTE WE WILL LOSE ANYWAY. SEND A MESSAGE HOW WE AS COSERVATIVES REALY STAND.

DR.VIC RUCKER CARROLLTON TEXAS (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:58 AM)

Steele is trying to make the best out of a deteriorating situation, the state of the republican party. He has to watch his P's and Q's very carefully as he is already pushing his luck with those that want him ousted, but don't want to deal with the embarrasing aftermath that would follow letting him go.

There are proposals out there to strip him of the authority to designate which monies go to what candidates and races. The very reason for his position.

I'm quite sure that the republican "cleansing" that is going on would not look favorably at republicans like Steele. He is just window dressing. A transparent one at that.

Johnathan, West Palm Beach, Fl. (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:59 AM)

Time will only tell if the Republican Party can rediscover it's libertarian roots. Until then, I will be supporting the Libertarian party.

Cicero (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:09 PM)

Tomorrows topic- Steele issues an apology to the Repuke party because limpbag slammed Steele for this remark and issues a hate filled diatribe against Steele!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:09 PM)

Steele, did Limbaugh give you permission to speak? I thought he told you where your place was, but you haven't been listening, and you just continue to sound stupid in front of TV audiences and everything else where you are allowed to speak. Are you hyper or something, and just can't keep quiet? Whatever is wrong with you, we dems just love you buddy!

Shirley Atlanta, gA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:20 PM)

Steele forgot to mention anything Bush put forth they approved with overwhelming support. And now they know how to lead our country? Give me a break. Same old policies, tactics and ideas.
They need to do what they were elected to do and that is put our country and us over party, political games and stop the hate, anger, swiftboating and obstruction. Disagreement is fine, but on EVERYTHING?
By a goal that they are obsessed with to make our President fail, they are also supporting failure of our country. How unAmerican, irresponsible is that??

katiec (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:23 PM)

A new name for the party .... REPUBLICAN'Ts.

R Scott, Eureka, Ca (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:33 PM)

Jody, Iowa,

To clarify you choice of words. When you use the term "extreme right" are you referring to the "social/Christian conservatives" who place social issues above all others, even fiscal issues? If so, I agree. And I am/was a Republican. Our county Repub C.C's are taking on more of an aire of a 'revival' than a political gathering. As long as the "social conservative's" insist upon a path of "theocratic authortiansim" I am going to be supporting the Libertarian Party.

Regards,

Cicero (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:39 PM)

Read what Mr. Steele said carefully. He's not suggesting the GOP claim responsibility for the unpopular wars or mismanagement. The 'my bad' thing only applies to the first $700 billion for the bank bailout. In other words, it's political gamesmanship because attacking spending is the only thing they currently have that gets any traction at all.

In my opinion, going farther to the right to their 'core principles' is going to cause the GOP to shrink at an ever faster rate. Tax cuts for the rich, deregulation, religious extremism, intolerance, etc are not good for the country as a whole.

To GOP voters: Take note the tax cuts and balanced budget mantra is nothing more than a campaign slogan. To do both, huge cuts will need to be made -- and the cuts will not be pretty. Notice the GOP leadership NEVER identifies what spending will be cut. The GOP core principles are a get something for nothing shell game.

David, CA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:41 PM)

The problem isn't Spectre or STeele..the problem, the ELEPHANT in the room, is this 1) 8 of the 10 trillion budget deficit accumulation occurred during GOP presidencies 2) 9 of the last 10 recessions during the last 60 years started during " " 3) 9 of the last 10 times a year ended with a 7% plus unemployment, it occurred during " " (including the highest 4 under Reagan) 4) The past 80 years (40 demo & 40 GOP), the average annual return on the Dow is negative 4% GOP and Plus 13% Demo.The last 16 years stock market returns were more than 100 times higher during Demo presidencies!...no matter what you compare, history shows that our country suffers during GOP presidencies..The word is getting out and that is why the GOP is going the way of the dinosaurs! Even GW stated, if you fool me once, your fault, fool me twice my fault;people are tired of being fooled. They want the facts.

Margi, Sacramento (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 1:14 PM)

The core principles were shoved aside following Ronald Reagan. They began to court Christian conservatives, rely on people like Limbaugh and Rove to denigrate the opposition, attack persons, worked at splitting the nation on very focused issues such as guns and abortion (which they did not change during any Republican presidency), use lies more than ideas. It just got worse and worse. To find core principles they would need to return to Lincoln's thinking. The core most spout today is not the core that can engage a majority of voters. I believe that most voters could not identify a republican issue other than Christian prayer in Public places, the generalized lower taxes, and specific abortion, guns. Those are not core values. They are actions that one may support or not support. There are few statesmen (persons) or intelectuals left in the party who can focus on core values. They will be drummed out by rage radio if they say anything that is not in the mind of the opinion maker of the hour.

mexed, san antonio, texas (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 1:27 PM)

Anyone wondering why the GOP has to (get together to see what we stand for)....if after your party has been around for 160 years, you still have to sit around and figure out what you stand for, only the mentally challenged will be around to listen and most of them will probably jump ship also..........

Mike, Rocklin (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 1:31 PM)

The democratic party is getting to be the only party. There are many differing interests under that tent, from gun lovers and haters to pro and anti abortionists, those that voted for the war, those that didn't. Pretty soon we will have to split into democrats left of center and democrats right of center. The GOP can represent the small, super minority sliver of narrow minds that are left.

Johnathan West Palm Beach (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 1:39 PM)

I was curious if Mr. Steele, who offically heads the Republican Party, had vetted his latest remarks with the acting head of the Republican Party, Rush Limbaugh. These days Republicans before making public statements apparently have to first obtain clearance from Limbaugh. If that sounds like an exaggeration, just consider how several prominent Republicans, such as Mr. Steele recently, had to eat their words after giving offense to a person who holds no political office but merely hosts a talk show. Which is in itself a good explanation of why the Republicans find themselves in their current state.

Steven Danis (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 5:27 PM)

As long as the "social conservative's" insist upon a path of "theocratic authortiansim" I am going to be supporting the Libertarian Party.

Regards, Cicero
==================================================
No surprise. That's where a lot of former Republicans are headed. Too bad libertarianism is an idea that was tried and rejected around the turn of the 19th century. The problem is it only works in a vacuum of like-minded individuals acting in good faith. Perhaps it'll fly in 2250.

E (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 5:33 PM)

Forgive me if I happen to think the GOP owes us a heck of a lot more then a "my bad" after all they've done to destroy our country the last 8 years.

dan, reality, USA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 6:00 PM)

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