Montgomery County Republicans who have endured the, uh, erratic political career of former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele as state party chairman, and then as Republican National Committee chairman, are probably looking on with some trepidation as he careens around the country promoting his new book and infuriating party leaders on Capitol Hill and elsewhere.
Not only is he shilling a book that purports to lay out a Republican solution to today's financial and social woes, policies not in the current GOP orhodoxy, he is making inspirational speeches far and near accompanied by RNC aides, and pocketing the speaker fees.
This has earned him criticism from every former GOP chairman since 1980..the others are dead or they would knock him too.
I would urge readers to examine Politico.com for a fuller list of critics, but following are some comments:
“Steele talks too much, raises too little and needlessly wades into things he has no business commenting on,” said a conservative GOP House member. “He needs to raise money for the party, not his wallet.” (But asked if Steele could be forced out, this member said: “Nah.”)
“I’m disappointed because what I saw very frequently during the chairman’s election was an articulate spokesman for our candidates and the conservative cause,” said a state party chairman. “What I’ve seen since then is, well, I’m disappointed and surprised at the number of gaffes.”
“I hoped he’d be an effective communicator and raising money, and he’s not doing either of those things and that’s a concern,” added another state party chairman.
"Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan GOP chair who vied against Steele to lead the national party and is in frequent contact with RNC members, said there is “a degree of disappointment” with some of the chairman’s gaffes.
“But it’s more, ‘Why did he have to say that?’ than it is, ‘He’s a disaster, how do we get rid of him?’” Anuzis said.
