Michael Steele For Republican VP?
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Race, Republicans
Let me say, for the record, that I like PoliGazette’s Michael van der Galien a lot. He’s an incredibly nice guy and I appreciate his contributions to the moderate blogosphere. However, he’s batting 0 for 2 today.
First he made the very thin accusation that the media thinks Obama is a Saint (with a capital S). I responded to that here.
Now he’s suggesting that Michael Steele, a guy who has been elected only once to a secondary state office, should be the VP pick for the eventual Republican nominee.
What’s even more disappointing is the reasoning…
Aside from that, it would also send a clear signal to the African-American community: conservatives aren’t racists. If you’re black, but talented, you too will be taken seriously and you too can become their party’s leader. Aside from that, it’ll be difficult for Obama (or Clinton) to play, as Jimmie explains, identity politics with a black VP.
I seriously can’t think of two worse reasons than those. Make Steele the VP so Repubs have racial insulation? Frankly, I think Steele would have a BIG problem if he heard that’s why van der Galien wants him for VP.
To be fair, Michael does come up with some more reasons but they’re just as thin…
Steele is a solid politician, with a good, conservative background, which will probably give many conservative voters the idea that Romney is truly one of them (I’m not saying I agree with his policies). [...]Most importantly though, Steele is simply a good politician. John McCain too should consider picking him as his running mate if he were to win the nomination, especially considering the fact that McCain is very old, whereas Steele is young enough to take over after him (same for Romney of course).
Solid politician? Good politician? Hmm…
I posted the following comment over at PoliGazette…
Steele? Really? The guy is one of the lightest of the lightweights out there. To explain…First, his resume as a leader is as a lieutenant governor for ONE term. Second, that election wasn’t exactly the hardest in the world for him because he was picked as a running mate by the gubernatorial candidate (i.e. a VP position) and faced a very easy contest due to the outgoing Dem governor’s personal peccadillos. Third, when he ran for the Senate on his own he proved he couldn’t win it. Last, he’s presently just a fundraiser and a pundit, which is what he was before his only term as an elected official.
But just to be clear…THIS is the guy you want to be a heartbeat away from the top spot? And you have a problem with Obama’s experience?
Also, let’s look at the national scene. If Romney gets the nod, he’ll need somebody to shore up his foreign policy resume. Steele ain’t it. If McCain gets the nods, he’ll need somebody to shore up his economic policy resume. Steele still ain’t it.
Yes folks, Steele is WAY underqualified for the VP position and if anybody is playing identity politics at this point it’s unfortunately van der Galien and the blogger he linked to.
Better luck tomorrow Michael.
This entry was posted on Monday, January 28th, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, Race, Republicans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
January 28th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Michael van der Galien is not a moderate. He’s a conservative. It’s part of why he left The Moderate Voice, IMO. He tried to claim to be a moderate even as all of his positions supported Republicans, and not the ones that Republicans call RINOs, either.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
The VP position is more a figure than anything else (unless we elect McCain….).
Steele is an excellent speaker, even Reagan-like in that department. Plus, he’s head of GOPAC, so he has ties all over the conservative land. He’d make sure that all troops are working (at least) to defeat Hillary/Obama.
I think it would be a pretty good choice — better than what’s out there. He’d be MORE conservative than anybody who is running for President (now).
After 8 years of Steele as VP, what better experienced (and REALLY conservative) candidate would there be? None. Look what we have now. Sheesh. I would actually volunteer 8 years from now after he had that experience - - a real conservative. No… nobody will be Reagan, but at least we’d have someone who is truthful (NOT McCain) and a true conservative (NOT anybody currently running).
So there! ;0)
January 30th, 2008 at 11:30 am
[...] incongruity, at least in terms of experience, was especially evident when Michael thought that the grossly underqualified Michael Steele would make a good GOP VP nominee. Quick background [...]
March 19th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Michael Steele is far more qualified than Obama was to be a senator.
Steele is extremely Qualified to be a VICE president.