At the 2009 Republican Jewish Coalition winter leadership meeting in Fort Lauderdale, I had the pleasure of once again seeing Michael Steele.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_S._Steele
http://www.rjchq.org/Multimedia/multimediadetail.aspx?id=3c6b0816-19d9-4460-b39c-f252604fa552
I initially met and interviewed Michael Steele at the 2008 GOP Convention in Minnesota. At the time he was the head of GOPAC, and running to be the head of the Republican National Committee. Thankfully for Republicans everywhere, he is now heading the RNC.
His job at this conference was to rally the troops. Consider us rallied. I make no bones about it. I love this guy. He is a born glad hander. He oozes likability.Yet unlike many others who do so, he is actually sincere.
He got the crowd in Florida off to a great start from his opening words, and like the Energizer Bunny, kept on going.
“You all look tanned, rested, and ready. How is my tan coming along?”
“In this room, I am more than a Chairman. I am a friend.”
“I see Senator Norm Coleman in the room. Whatever baggage exists at the end of the Coleman race, I promise you that the party will be there for him.”
“I have a great, personal, and deep relationship with the Jewish people. I can identify given my history.”
“We must get back to first principles…restrained government, personal responsibility, freedom, and liberty.”
“I bet Thomas Jefferson is looking and thinking, ‘How did a brotha wind up in my office?’ Now he must be wondering how two brothas reached high office in both political parties, the one in power and the loyal opposition.”
“People keep talking about the future. The future will be right if we get it done right now. The present is what we must get right.”
“The past was 1994. Then we caught Potomac Fever. We spent and spent. Over 12 years we stepped away from our first principles.”
“Now, picture a Republican and a Democrat walking down the street. They both see a homeless person. The Republican gives the homeless person his business card and says, ‘See me Monday.’ The Republican takes $20 out of his pocket, and tells the man to get himself ready, and to absolutely see him on Monday for an interview. The Democrat hands the homeless person the number for the local welfare office. Also, after seeing the wonderful example of the Republican, the Democrat reaches into the Republican’s pocket, takes $50, and gives it to the homeless man as well in the name of compassion.”
“Liberals call this stimulus. We call it devaluing the individual and wealth redistribution.”
“They are gleefully planning downward mobility. That is not the GOP vision.”
“My mom didn’t take welfare because she didn’t want the government raising her children. That is why I am a Republican.”
“My mother Mabel was not rich in money, but she was rich in character and purpose. She would find a way. There are many Mabels out there.”
“Attitude starts the ball rolling. We need a complete overhaul of our tactics. We need to take our heads out of the sand, stop blaming, stop whining, and stop picking on each other.”
“Democrats are looking for scapegoats, and we sign up. Not under my leadership! Those days are over!”
“Believe you me, I’ve learned my lessons. I’ve learned lessons in the last few weeks.”
“Liberals want to change America. The GOP wants to keep it the strongest and freest nation in the world.”
After a standing ovation, Chairman Steele took some questions. I asked my question in my own way, to the amusement of the Chairman and the crowd. No, I did not ask if Democrats were bigoted against the follically challenged. This was not the time and place.
“Chairman Steele, I live in the People’s Republic of California. I live there for the weather, which is the only thing the liberals in my state have not yet taxed. It seems every six years Barbara Boxer is beatable, but the national party does not give her opponents any money. Is the Republican National Committee going to give GOP Candidate Chuck Devore the money to compete, or is California going to be conceded again? Will you help defeat Barbara Boxer and commit the funds needed to do it?”
As expected, Chairman Steele did not miss a beat.
“We are not conceding anything. We will compete everywhere, including California. I live in the People’s Republic of Maryland, and there they actually have found ways to tax the sea and the air.
Come to Maryland. We have Roscoe Bartlett, and we also have Connie Morella. They are both good Republicans, although very different. What works for the constituents of Roscoe Bartlett might not work for the constituents of Connie Morella, who have different needs.
We need candidates out of the neighborhoods. We need to stop trying to manufacture candidates. That is a losing strategy.
Picture the four people on this stage. Guy number one is from the West. He wears his hat to the side, because that is how they do it on the West Coast. The second guy is from the Midwest. He wears his hat to the other side, because that is how they do it in the Midwest. The third guy is from the South, and they wear their hats forwards. I am the fourth guy, and I wear my hat backwards, because on the East Coast, that is how we roll.
We are all wearing the same hat. We are just wearing it differently. I am part of your family, the GOP. Core principles matter, the rest is details. We take care of everybody in our family.”
I have said it before, and I will say it again. I love the guy.
Another questioner asked about what can be done to win over moderate GOP women. Chairman Steele was prepared.
“I don’t do teas and coffees. I work. I want workers. The most phenomenal workers are the women. They get it done every time.
Look at Sarah Palin. They tried to destroy her. Appealing to the women involves knowing who our friends are. We need to stop running to the New York Times. If we have problems, we must handle them inward. The other side wants to talk about her clothing. We need to talk about their policies.”
After a lengthy standing ovation, I had an opportunity to meet the Chairman again. At that moment I told him that I had met him at the GOP Convention, and that I was the blogger that asked him if Democrats were bigoted against the follically challenged. He laughed and again patted his head.
I also told the Chairman that “I don’t mind a black President. I just want one with an ounce of substance, like you perhaps.” That elicited more laughter.
I made one other remark that truly got to Steele’s funny bone. “Mr. Chairman, so many liberals say they are proud to have a black President, but they get their information from NPR and do not own a television. How do they even know he is black? Isn’t that racial profiling? I thought they were against that.”
The last thing I brought up was, “Chairman Steele, did you know that Barack Obama is a world class athlete? He can jump 20 feet in the air and reach his nose.”
The Chairman responded, “You’ve got schtick man. You’re a funny guy.”
Like Chairman Steele, I do possess humor. However, like Chairman Steele, beneath the schtick is a seriousness of purpose. There is a job to do.
Luckily the Republican Party has picked the right man for the job. Leaders have to inspire. Michael Steele definitely does that very well.
eric