Michael Steele is not pro-life. And he must be replaced as the Chairman of the GOP as quickly as possible.
Steele just did an interview with GQ which is quoted in The Politico.
The key part of the conversation is this. It’s shocking and I trust you’ll agree that Michael Steele’s days as GOP Chairman are numbered:
Steele: The choice issue cuts two ways. You can choose life, or you can choose abortion. You know, my mother chose life. So, you know, I think the power of the argument of choice boils down to stating a case for one or the other.
GQ: Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?
Steele: Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.
GQ: You do?
Steele: Yeah. Absolutely.
Now, you can rant and rave how poor Michael has been taken out of context once again and how the media has manipulated him again. I don’t want to hear it anymore. I don’t want a GOP Chairman who makes headlines weekly with his flubs.
And if he meant what he said then I want him out as well.
This is not the first time Steele has referred to his pro-choice credentials. CMR raised this issue months ago and we were told by many that we didn’t understand, it was a nuanced position, the media took him out of context and even that Steele was a good Catholic.
Remember this little conversation with Tim Russert on Meet The Press when Steele was running for Senate.
MR. RUSSERT: …Mr. Steele, if you’re United States Senator, would you vote for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion?
LT. GOV. STEELE: I don’t — vote for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion? I think we’d have to have that get to the Supreme Court, wouldn’t we? I haven’t seen that bill proposed. I don’t think…
MR. RUSSERT: That’s been introduced in the Senate.
LT. GOV. STEELE: I don’t think anyone’s going to propose that this day.
MR. RUSSERT: So you wouldn’t do that?
LT. GOV. STEELE: No.
MR. RUSSERT: Would, would you encourage — would you hope the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade?
LT. GOV. STEELE: I think that that’s a matter that’s going to rightly belong to the courts to decide ultimately whether or not that, that issue should be addressed. The, the Court has taken a position, which I agree, stare decisis, which means that the law is as it is and, and so this is a matter that’s ultimately going to be adjudicated at the states. We’re seeing that. The states are beginning to decide for themselves on, on this and a host of other issues. And the Supreme Court would ultimately decide that.
MR. RUSSERT: But you hope that the Court keeps Roe v. Wade in place?
LT. GOV. STEELE: I think the Court will evaluate the law as society progresses, as the Court is supposed to do.
MR. RUSSERT: But what’s your position? Do you want them to sustain it or overturn it?
LT. GOV. STEELE: Well, I think, I think, I think Roe vs. Wade, Roe vs. Wade is a, is a matter that should’ve been left to the states to decide, ultimately. But it, it is where it is today, and the courts will ultimately decide whether or not this, this gets addressed by the states, goes back to the states in some form or they overturn it outright.
MR. RUSSERT: Is is your desire to keep it in place?
LT. GOV. STEELE: My desire is that we follow what stare decisis is at this point, yes.
I’m done. Michael Steele cannot lead the Republican Party. I don’t want a leader who attacks conservative leaders. I don’t want a leader who smiles and agrees when Republicans are called Nazis. I don’t want a leader who waffles on abortion every time he’s asked about it. That’s not good enough. If this party wants the support of pro-lifers then Michael Steele must go.
UPDATE: Steele clarifies his statment. Ed Morrissey of HotAir has it but adds he still doesn’t know what Steele believes. “The two statements cannot be reconciled with each other. They are mutually exclusive. And Steele has offered both as his views in two successive days.” More at Hot Air.
UpdateII: Fallout is already occuring from some heavy hitters among social conservatives. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released a statement on this issue:
“I read the article last night so I am familiar not only with his comments about the life issue but also about theefforts to redefine marriage and ‘mucking’ up the constitution. I expressed my concerns to the chairman earlier this week about previous statements that were very similar in nature. He assured me as chairman his views didnot matter and that he would be upholding and promoting theParty platform, which is very clear on these issues. It is very difficult to reconcile the GQ interview with the chairman’s pledge.”
March 12, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I hope we conservatives don’t give up on the Republican party because of this. It is our only hope of taking back the country. Steele is just one guy; maybe he was a mistake. Mistakes can be fixed. Don’t say “Goodbye, GOP.” Instead, we must make our feelings known to the national and state committees. If Steele needs to step down, he can do it now without costing the party too much. We’ve still got some time, but not much time, to prepare for the 2010 elections. If things keep going the way they are now, we’ve got a chance. Kit
March 12, 2009 at 2:52 pm
HOLD ON PEOPLE!!!
What Steele is discussing here is WHERE the abortion issue is to be decided – on a state versus federal level. It is a LEGAL question. It is not a question of what he believes personally – it’s what he believes from a LEGAL perspective. Two different things!!!!
I hate it when the pro-lifers get irrational and don’t take a step back to evaluate the entire picture and just jump the gun and say “that’s it, I’m done with the Republicans! I won’t vote for this candidate because he supported so and so (without, of course, understanding WHY that candidate had to)….” Isn’t this all very juvenile? Doesn’t this equate one to being a fair-weathered friend or someone who never really held firm to their values?
Come on folks! Grow a backbone and some common sense!!!
Roe v Wade is a very bad legal decision. I also agree that it should be one that is left up to the states – from a legal perspective. (Please also understand that my personal beliefs would prefer that it be banned federally altogether, but that will never happen at this point thanks to Planned Parenthood v Casey using Roe v Wade to set precendence.) The question of federal versus state goes back to how our country was originally founded and where a “decision” such as this should be decided. Abortion is only one of many issues that should be tossed back to the ‘state level’ and not be decided on a ‘federal level.’ A true Republican would agree that the choice should fall back to the citizens and the federal government should be LESS involved in the daily lives of the citizens. In saying that, it does not mean you are in favor of abortion or are “pro-choice.”
So, please folks, take a deep breath, step back and fully evaluate someone’s statements BEFORE taking them out of context or jumping to the conclusion that someone is something tha they are not. If you had read the more recent statement out of his office, you would fully understand that Mr. Steele is indeed PRO-LIFE!!! (this is on Drudge this morning for your review)
Folks, use that cranial matter that God endowed you with. That’s what it’s there for…
March 12, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Tragically Unhip Mom,
Thanks for accusing anyone who disagrees with you of being stupid or just refusing to use our minds.
But the truth is that the states can’t decide anything about abortion until Roe is overturned.
The fact that Steele doesn’t know that may be even more disturbing than his wishy-washyness on this issue.
He told MTP that he didn’t believe Roe should be overturned because the states should deal with it.
But that is disingenuous because anything the states try immediately gets overturned as long as Roe is the law of the land.
In the meantime if anyone would like to donate any cranial matter to CMR in the future maybe then we could write posts that celebrate nuance.
March 12, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I have a better idea. Why don’t we let God destroy the USA with an outpouring of untold wrath, then emerge from the rubble and start a new Republic without having to worry about all the touchy legal issues?
After all, the Constitution, Supreme Court, and Congress won’t matter if they don’t exist anymore. Once our nation fragments and the world descends into universal anarchy and global war, screw legal precedent. We won’t have to wait long.
March 12, 2009 at 3:06 pm
What part of the following exchange are people not getting:
GQ: Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?
Steele: Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.
GQ: You do?
Steele: Yeah. Absolutely.
That’s not a “leave it up to the states” argument, but a let’s leave it up to the individual woman argument. That’s a big difference.
March 12, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Paul! You and I agree! Hooray! There’s no need to be cranky anymore. 😉
March 12, 2009 at 3:27 pm
There’s no need to be cranky anymore. 😉
Unfortunately, the subject matter on which we degree is enough cause for crankiness.
March 12, 2009 at 3:36 pm
MICHAEL STEELE IS PRO LIFE!
I WANT him to be pro life!
He MUST be pro life.
I don’t care what he says, he must be pro life ’cause I want him to be pro life!
LA LA LA LA! HUMMMMMMMMM! LA LA LA.
I don’t care how many times he says he is pro choice. I am not listening.
LA LA LA LA! HUMMMMMMMMM! LA LA LA.
See, he denied it again! So that must be the truth!
Michael Steele is pro life, isn’t he?
March 12, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Eo – that may well be what happens, but there would be a great deal of suffering as a result of that wrath, purging, and renewal, at least if God chooses that method. It would be a dreadful thing and a lot of squishy marshmallows would wind up as little puddles of goo.
Full disclosure: I include myself as a potential puddle; not through lack of faith or principles (at least, I pray not!), but because if God hit the reset button and I was forced to arm myself to defend my home, hunt for food, etc, I don’t know that I’d do very well. It’s funny, but I was just praying about this last night and I realized that I rather like the cushy modern life. I find myself praying for the renewal of my country, and of our Church and our world – but I also pray that God’s wrath would be stayed and that we could be spared a great persecution.
March 12, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Tragically (Unhinged?) Mom,
Whoa! Wait a second there. It is one thing to disagree with us. People do that all the time. We don’t mind and even enjoy it most of the time.
Entirely another thing to call us “irrational” “backbone-less” hyper- ventilators that refuse to use our “cranial matter.” We get enough of that at home!
Actually, we have read all of Steele’s denials and backtracking every time he says that he is pro choice. Why does the denial have more validity than the original statements. This is not a one time slip we are talking about.
As Paul Zummo says… what is misinterpreted about ” I think that’s an individual choice…Yeah Absolutely.”
You can believe whatever you want about Steele and we promise not to call you names. As for us, we will believe what Steele said about his own views … again … before he denied it … again.
March 12, 2009 at 4:02 pm
How about this idea….
Let’s all jump ship and have a temper tantrum because of what Steele said? Let’s all ignore the “clarification” he offered and not consider where was coming from. We’re all pro-life, here, right? (DID ANYONE READ THE CLARIFICATION?)
Let’s take it one step further – let’s all remain angry, bitter people and sit on our duffs all day condemning someone for not being “the perfect politician.” Let’s joint those who might not agree with us in further throwing Steele to the wolves… without any consideration of what he is actually facing and the daunting task ahead of him!
For those of you posting here condemning him, I ask each one of you – WHAT ARE YOU PERSONALLY DOING TO PROMOTE A CULTURE OF LIFE? What have you done today? How involved are YOU in your respective political party? Are you a committee rep? Are you involved with the Young Republicans or (gasp) Young Democrats? Do you volunteer for campaigns? Are you handing out lit or going door to door? Do you write letters to the editor? Do you write and call your elected leaders? Holding a sign up at a rally does’t actually count for “work.” But, what have YOU done to make a difference????
Ya know, I see a lot of pro-life people out there protesting. They go to the pro-life marches, they scream, they shout, they chant. They ride the bus home feeling all fired up. Yet, when a pregnant chick seeks help – where are they? Where are they when the single mom needs a babysitter or help with fixing something around the house? Where are they when a pro-life candidate needs someone to go door-to-door or work a phone bank? (Conveniently busy, for many!)
My point is – for those who sit around and gripe – back up your gripe with some serious action. Jumping ship doesn’t solve anything nor does condemning Steele for two lines out of an interview with Russert. Read the follow-up. It clarifies things quite a bit. Also take a step back and understand Constitutional law and the two viewpoints on where and how issues can be decided. Roe v Wade is stuck because it has been used to set precedence. Nobody wants to touch the issue for various reasons, but behind closed doors they’ll say “oh yeah, I want it gone, it’s such a bad decision…”
Nobody would like to see it overturned more than me… but at the same time, we’re stuck at the moment. Instead of screaming and arguing – let’s think about using our time more productively and constructively. Instead of screaming at Steele – JOIN THE DARN PARTY and make a difference from within! Run for committee rep, vote for who gets on the ballots in the first place. Work the campaigns. DO SOMETHING!!!
If we all bail – then we have nothing to complain about when Obama wins term #2. We’ll have no one left to retain a pro-life party platform and protect our country from heading further down the drain. If we don’t stand up – who will?????
Sorry, but I don’t see Ron Paul realistically winning in 2012.
Yes, Michael Steele said something dumb. I agree. But…. let’s not throw a temper tantrum. Let’s rise above it and act like “patriots” not “pinheads.”
(Am I banned yet???)
March 12, 2009 at 4:02 pm
How about this idea….
Let’s all jump ship and have a temper tantrum because of what Steele said? Let’s all ignore the “clarification” he offered and not consider where was coming from. We’re all pro-life, here, right? (DID ANYONE READ THE CLARIFICATION?)
Let’s take it one step further – let’s all remain angry, bitter people and sit on our duffs all day condemning someone for not being “the perfect politician.” Let’s joint those who might not agree with us in further throwing Steele to the wolves… without any consideration of what he is actually facing and the daunting task ahead of him!
For those of you posting here condemning him, I ask each one of you – WHAT ARE YOU PERSONALLY DOING TO PROMOTE A CULTURE OF LIFE? What have you done today? How involved are YOU in your respective political party? Are you a committee rep? Are you involved with the Young Republicans or (gasp) Young Democrats? Do you volunteer for campaigns? Are you handing out lit or going door to door? Do you write letters to the editor? Do you write and call your elected leaders? Holding a sign up at a rally does’t actually count for “work.” But, what have YOU done to make a difference????
Ya know, I see a lot of pro-life people out there protesting. They go to the pro-life marches, they scream, they shout, they chant. They ride the bus home feeling all fired up. Yet, when a pregnant chick seeks help – where are they? Where are they when the single mom needs a babysitter or help with fixing something around the house? Where are they when a pro-life candidate needs someone to go door-to-door or work a phone bank? (Conveniently busy, for many!)
My point is – for those who sit around and gripe – back up your gripe with some serious action. Jumping ship doesn’t solve anything nor does condemning Steele for two lines out of an interview with Russert. Read the follow-up. It clarifies things quite a bit. Also take a step back and understand Constitutional law and the two viewpoints on where and how issues can be decided. Roe v Wade is stuck because it has been used to set precedence. Nobody wants to touch the issue for various reasons, but behind closed doors they’ll say “oh yeah, I want it gone, it’s such a bad decision…”
Nobody would like to see it overturned more than me… but at the same time, we’re stuck at the moment. Instead of screaming and arguing – let’s think about using our time more productively and constructively. Instead of screaming at Steele – JOIN THE DARN PARTY and make a difference from within! Run for committee rep, vote for who gets on the ballots in the first place. Work the campaigns. DO SOMETHING!!!
If we all bail – then we have nothing to complain about when Obama wins term #2. We’ll have no one left to retain a pro-life party platform and protect our country from heading further down the drain. If we don’t stand up – who will?????
Sorry, but I don’t see Ron Paul realistically winning in 2012.
Yes, Michael Steele said something dumb. I agree. But…. let’s not throw a temper tantrum. Let’s rise above it and act like “patriots” not “pinheads.”
(Am I banned yet???)
March 12, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Here’s a sad fact that I’ve really been wanting not to believe for some time now, but that I fear may be true:
The Republican Party has a vested interest in pro-life lip service, but not in an end to abortion. As a party (though often not as individuals, i.e. partial birth dragonslayer Steve Chabot, Cincy REPRESENT!), they think that if they can dangle a pro-life carrot in front of us, that we’ll uncritically support them without asking any other questions. It’s insulting, it’s manipulative, and by golly, I’m sick of it.
Because the Democratic party is so significantly more pro-death than they are, they feel like they can sit on their leather-supported rears in insulation from their constituency, and speak a learned language when pro-lifers approach them, and they’ll be off the hook.
Reminds me of when Obama stuck up for the rural folk in Pennsylvania and then bailed on them when he spoke in San Francisco. As the past weeks have shown, Republicans now have ample example of similar doublespeak.
Psalm 146’s admonition to “trust not in princes” seems more and more applicable by the day.
March 12, 2009 at 4:20 pm
TUM
(Am I banned yet???)
No way. We like you too much for that anyway it takes much more than being completely wrong to get banned.
Besides, no after reading your comment I realize that I was never really pro-life to begin with. Phew!
Well, now that I know that I am not REALLY pro-life, I am good with Steele.
March 12, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Patrick – LMBO!
Yes, I’m “unhinged” today. I just get so irritated when I see folks just throw their arms up and say “I quit!” Who benefits from that? Duh! The other side!
As pro-lifers, we really do have to approach the subject not with just emotion (which sometimes gets us into trouble!) but also logic and reason. The latter two are not always that pallatable because it means we sometimes have to face the ugly truth of our freedoms and what it truly means to have a “free society” and “free choice.” It also means we have to face that not everyone agrees with us and not everyone uses their cranial matter to make otherwise intelligent decisions – and this is how we got into the mess that we’re in. We have to be ‘creative’ and work “with the system” to get what we want in a manner that works and will stick.
The ONLY way we are all going to get out of it is through common sense and a committment to standing up for our country. The GOP is STILL a good vehicle for us to do that! We need to realize we’ll NEVER have the perfect politician. Ain’t gonna happen. We had one – His name was Jesus. Hasn’t been anyone like Him since, although the guy in the White House has somehow convinced himself that He and Jesus are one and the same. (Robert Gibbs and Deadfish lack the courage to tell him otherwise)
But seriously, I truly hope that we will use this opportunity to rally around the party, rise up, get fired up and REBUILD. Let’s not let Steele hang out there on his own. Yes, he screwed up. He’s human. So are you and I! Forgive. Move on. Get involved. Make a difference. Write him a letter and tell him you’re annoyed if you wish. Just don’t quit!
Quitting only hands the victory to the other guys. Don’t let them “divide and conquer.”
Call the troops to action! Battle ahead!
March 12, 2009 at 4:45 pm
TUM,
I’m not saying give up the ship. But we need a leader. And Steele ain’t the guy. He’s poor at communication -which was supposedly the reason we made his the Chair.
I think we can better fight the pro-life fight with a better leader -preferably one that doesn’t have to offer up apologies every few days for saying something ridiculous.
March 12, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I’m still not willing to let pragmatism trump truth. Nor am I willing to try to shoehorn the universality of Catholicism into the modern (increasingly postmodern) narrowness of the Republican party.
In the words of frequent commenter Al Sharpton, “It’s a outrage!”
March 12, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Three things:
1) I agree that the Republican party needs a consistent message, and part of the message seems to be abortion.
2) However, abortion isn’t the only issue, and getting up in arms about it won’t win us back Congress or the Senate.
3) Abortion, strictly speaking, *is* an issue of personal choice. Its an act of free will: you will get an abortion, or you won’t. When it becomes: you can get an abortion, or you can’t, then we should begin to worry, as the next step could be: you can practice your religion, or you can’t. Increased control in one issue will spread throughout others as well, and as evidence by the current administration, that same control can be equally applied to us.
Just some thoughts.
March 12, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Also
“Besides, no after reading your comment I realize that I was never really pro-life to begin with. Phew!
Well, now that I know that I am not REALLY pro-life, I am good with Steele.”
I found that to be an incredibly snarky (Obama-esque, perhaps) response to a rather unhinged (compositionally), but reasonable question. That’s just me, however.
March 12, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Having played the role of TUM about six days ago on the Palin thread, I have some sympathy with where she’s coming from, and I agree with certain aspects of what we’re saying. We pro-lifers have a tendency to flippantly dismiss anyone who steps even a little out of line, and sometimes we can be our own worst enemies.
But while I’m all for giving people the benefit of the doubt, how much of that are we supposed to give Steele? This isn’t the first time he’s given an interview where he’s at least implied being pro-choice. At some point we really do have to cut the cord.
Also, let’s think about this from a purely political standpoint for a moment. The chairman of a national party committee has two key funcions: 1) organizational: fund raising, recruiting candidates, etc, and 2) communications: relaying the party’s message effectively to the public at large. Michael Steele was not chosen because of point number one. So if he is doing so poorly at the part of his job that was supposed to be his strength, then what does that say about his ability to be an effective chairman?