Steele Makes Romney’s Mormonism Political
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Republicans, Romney
Yes, he apparently is the gift that keeps on giving. (His words, not mine.)
Here’s what Steele said today in answer to a caller on Bill Bennett’s show:
Yeah, but let me ask you. Ok, Jay, I’m there with you. But remember, it was the base that rejected Mitt because of his switch on pro-life, from pro-choice to pro-life. It was the base that rejected Mitt because it had issues with Mormonism. It was the base that rejected Mitch, Mitt, because they thought he was back and forth and waffling on those very economic issues you’re talking about. So, I mean, I hear what you’re saying, but before we even got to a primary vote, the base had made very clear they had issues with Mitt because if they didn’t, he would have defeated John McCain in those primaries in which he lost.
It’s about ten pounds of dumb in a five pound bag for the Chairman of the Republican National Committee to go around saying stuff like that. Especially since Romney is a clear frontrunner in 2012 and quite possibly the Republicans’ best chance at getting into the White House.
If Steele were a political pundit, it would be a different story. But he’s not and he should know better.
Obviously, Romney is none too pleased:
“Sometimes when you shoot from the hip, you miss the target,” said Romney spokesman Eric Ferhnstrom. “This is one of those times.”
And already Republican pundits are calling for Steele to step down.
The party cannot afford to have its national committee chairman doubling as a controversial pundit. It’s time for Michael Steele to resign.
It’s one thing to be ineffective as chairman — losing NY-20, for instance, which wasn’t really his fault — but it’s another to beclown your way into becoming a national punchline. More than anything right now, the GOP needs to project competence and gravitas; Steele’s done the opposite, out-gaffeing even Biden over the past three months, with his klutzy digression about the base’s disdain for Mormonism just the latest example.
I have defended this guy at every turn. Or, well, most turns. This is the last straw. Michael Steele is the latest person who needs to learn the lesson It’s not all about you, dude.He seems to believe that he is so magnificently charming and persuasive that he can gain voters by being overly candid and overly “interesting” as a speaker. And, if he had one quarter of the charisma he seems to believe he’s been blessed with, he might be right.
But he doesn’t, and he’s wrong. He’s not particularly charismatic and he does not have the skills to turn these dangerous statements into rapport-building assets. They just continue to gather on the ground like unexploded grenades.
No doubt there will be more follow-on tomorrow.
This entry was posted on Monday, May 11th, 2009 and is filed under Republicans, Romney. 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.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:03 am
romney/palin ‘12!! wooo!
May 12th, 2009 at 7:47 am
OK, that quote by Steele. He was telling the truth, right?
So what’s your point, exactly? You can’t have it both ways. You have been hammering the GOP for not “getting it” and how they need to face up to where they are and adjustments they need to make to be viable.
How does party leaders speaking bluntly and truthfully to the base NOT fit into what you’ve been nattering on about since the election?
Mormonism an issue? Romney’s a mormon, no matter who likes it and who doesn’t. And part of the GOP base is distrustful of that. That’s not “making it political.” It’s there. Always has been. It is what it is, which is a factor in the equation.
NOT talking about it even though everyone knows its a factor? THAT is political.
May 12th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Imagine no Religion. At least in our politics. As long as candidates keep pushing it as a qualification, they can’t be surprised that some are “Teaching the Controversy”.
Steele is in the unenviable spot of being asked about the base of that party and if he answers honestly, it is bound to get painful, if not downright ugly.
May 13th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Yeah I would say he was telling the truth, i totally wouldn’t vote for a mormon for president. Does that make me prejudice? maybe, but I know that 20% of his income is going to build gigantic temples and run brainwashing camps. I’ll pass on that, thanks.
May 26th, 2009 at 5:29 am
On one hand, I agree with kranky’s assessment. It’s a fact, and not mentioning it isn’t going to change voting results. But, the fact of the matter is, if Steele is going to do his job well, reminding his own party of their flaws and prejudices doesn’t help.