Stick to Your Guns, Steele Tells Republicans Who Opposed Stimulus

[firedupdem]

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003022250


HOT SPRINGS, Va. — Michael Steele, the new national GOP chairman, urged House Republicans at the end of their three-day retreat to stick to their stand against the $819 billion stimulus measure as they plot their strategy for the 111th Congress.

A day after he won election as RNC chairman, Steele told the gathering at the Homestead resort that the minority party had sent a strong message to President Obama by joining together to oppose the version of the stimulus passed by the House (HR 1).

“This week the emphasis will shift to the Senate, and I am hoping they listen and learn from the very important message that you sent this week,” Steele told the GOP lawmakers, who had closed ranks and cast 177 “no” votes when the bill was before the House.

snip

“And you made it very clear that in order to grow through this recession that you would not redistribute the wealth of the people of this nation, but that you would empower them to earn it, invest it, save it, and just spend it on their terms. And that is such a powerful message,” Steele said.

House GOP leaders dropped plans for making their own speeches at the end of their caucus retreat, and instead handed the rostrum over to Steele to give a pep talk.

He used the opportunity to frame an argument for new ideas that stay true to bedrock conservative principles.

“Take some bold initiatives and bold steps,” Steele told them.

“Do not be afraid. We are the conservative party of this county. And as such we’re going to stand very firmly and very squarely on that foundation of principles. But it does not mean that in order to reach out . . . to new voters and new ideas that we’re going to give up any ground in what we believe or what we stand for,” Steele said.

[Xipe Totec]

1. Another Babblelanche n/t

[firedupdem]

2. You got it....

As mucked up as the economy is and he's telling the American people to pull themselves up by their boot straps.

He's talking loud and saying nothing.

[PylesMalfunction]

3. Holy crap!

At one point, he highlighted poverty and education reform as two issues that could be new areas of focus for the party.

I would make a comment on that but I have to go and clean up. My irony meter just exploded. :eyes:

[madeline_con]

4. That is rich.

Hey, let's try giving a damn about the poor and the state our schools are in! New and innovative, huh?
Edited to add:

I have to keep this on file to wave in Repug faces every chance I get.

[PylesMalfunction]

5. But they already do help the poor

By making them have respect for themselves because they think they just need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Like Dubya. :sarcasm:

[Kaylee]

6. How the hell are you supposed to "earn it" without a job...

friggin idiot.

[firedupdem]

7. He sounds like a friggin idiot. Go earn it and invest it.....what an

out of touch, uncaring, dumb ass.

[inthebrain]

10. We've already earned and ain't receiving shit

Fuck this guy.

Dickhead really want to have a discussion on class and economic/social justice then I say let em have it.

The lazy fuckheads who are gettin stimulous checks haven't earned a dime of it. The working class deserves every cent of it because they have earned it.

[Triana]

8. Oh THERE is that strawman phrase again: "redistribute the wealth"

Anyone remember that from the primaries/election?

I do! (hint: Joe the Plumber)

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

9. Republicans are so fucking clueless its pathetic. nt

[prolesunited]

11. Yeah, keep with that strategy

the American people are going to love it. Not!!

I listened to some GOP bobblehead going on about how more tax cuts are the answer. After eight years of tax cuts, I'm sure most Americans who already have or and in danger of losing their jobs and houses and health care will love that response.

[JayMusgrove]

12. Steele might as well sink the RNC ship in the first week he is...

at the helm. Why bother to drag this out?

Steele has no clue, no conscience and no pride......let him show he's a dummy within two weeks, and then he can claim he was mis-led by the RNC "leadership".....but will be relatively irrelevant for two more years.


Nice the Republicans are lighting themselves on fire already......let them burn on Earth......and be gone.

[muntrv]

13. How are the people of this nation supposed to "earn it" when you pukes

encourage companies to ship jobs overseas? Then again, Steele thinks that the GOP won on 11/4/08.