I wasn’t even going to write about this but it kept bugging me so here I am. Yesterday the Politico wrote a slam piece with tons of unattributed and derogatory quotes about Sarah Palin, saying that the GOP Establishment’s first order of business after the election is to destroy Palin’s presidential aspirations.
While I completely believe that some in the party are afraid of Palin I question the timing of the piece.
As a guy who’s done p.r. I believe it was a classic case of changing the subject by The Politico which leans juuuuuuuust a tad to the left. Two days before an historic election and they write a piece with unattributed GOP sources dissing Palin. This is meant to put distance between the Tea Partiers (who are generally sympathetic to Palin) and the GOP establishment (which is not.)
You can say the media hates Palin 365 days a year and need no other reason to attack her but the fact is they chose two days before an election to manufacture a huge piece. Two days before an historic election they take the time to look ahead to after the election?
So who understood what the media was trying to do? Sarah Palin, the supposed dunce of the universe, saw it for what it was and called the media on it.
Who didn’t get it and fell right into the media’s trap? Michael Steele, the head of the RNC. Two days before an election where GOP enthusiasm is running high, Steele does all the morning shows to denounce the Republican establishment telling them to “Shut up.” He aided and abetted the media’s efforts to change the subject from GOP landslide to the GOP at war with itself when he should’ve been denouncing the media.
Steele lambasted unattributed uknown Republicans for attacking Palin when all along it was the media doing it and by going on the morning shows, Steele only exacerbated the problem.
Now, I can only think of two reasons for this. One -Steele just doesn’t get it and he’s in way over his head. Two – he knows that someone’s going to make a serious run at his position after the election so he’s aligning himself with the grassroots Palin enthusiasts against the establishment. In that case, he’s putting his own political survival above that of the party’s electoral chances. Either way, it’s a problem that needs to be dealt with.
November 2, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Both? He didn't get it and saw the opportunity to align himself with the Tea. Sad but 2012 will require the RNC to have the most competent chairperson around and he ain't him.
November 2, 2010 at 4:20 pm
You bet Michael Steele knows somebody's coming after his job. He's more interested in keeping his job than he is following the Republican Platform. Everybody knows Sarah Palin is hated by the liberal media and the RHINOS because she follows the Party Platform and puts Life first and foremost. Perhpas Michael Steele should do the same. Or perhaps Michael Steele has a different agenda.
November 2, 2010 at 4:22 pm
A follow-up thought – this election isn't about jobs. It's about the moral issues. Abortion is the number 1 issue. Michael Steele and the establishment just don't want to take it on.
November 2, 2010 at 5:35 pm
I'll opt for #1, Steele has done nothing to show he has a grasp of political reality. Seems everytime he opens his mouth his foot is eagerly trying to cram it's way in.
November 2, 2010 at 6:48 pm
I'm not one to defend Steele these days, but it's possible he knew full well who the "unattributed sources" were. If you're on the inside, and you hear enough dirt, and you're the one holding the guide to the puzzle, it helps you put the pieces together early.
That said, the timing was bad. But the bigger problem than that is the inability of the Republicans to unite around a viable candidate, as in the case of Delaware, and the New York 23rd District before that, and Toomey in Pennsylvania before that.
The good news for Republicans in all this? The other side is even more divided, especially the Hillary supporters against the Obama rads who have taken over. Look for some major fireworks in BOTH parties throughout 2011.
November 5, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Maybe we should see "Chairman Palin" rather than "Chairman Steele". 😉