Republicans Increasingly Unhappy With Steele's Leadership

Republican party officials are starting to regret picking Michael Steele to run their national committee. In the wake of Steele's embarrassing scuffle with Rush Limbaugh, the GOP dissatisfaction has become increasingly vocal.

"There's frustration that there's no discipline, no planning," one Republican consultant told Politico. "He's risking being overexposed by accepting every interview, which makes gaffes more likely."

"What is amazing is that Steele was elected because of his communications skills, and it is those skills that are damaging the Republican Party. Before people begin to completely judge him as worthless, Steele needs to focus and knuckle down on building a strong foundation at RNC so we can begin rebuilding our majority," a top GOP strategist told US News & World Report. "If his implosion continues, RNC members are likely to call a special session to dump him for an effective chairman. There is not much patience for failure."

It's not only Steele's awkward TV appearances that are making Republicans nervous. The former Maryland Lieutenant Governor has failed to staff the organization he runs.

"I think it's been a disaster of a first month," a Republican insider tells the DC Examiner. "He needs to disappear for 60 days, go and staff the building, put his personal energy into making sure he has the people he wants, and go from there. That's what people are hoping he will do."

"It's not good," says another. "People feel that it's been very erratic at a time when we really need some sort of stabilizing force."

So far, Steele has responded with defiance. In an interview with Politico, he dismissed GOP critics as "nervous Nellies."

"If I told folks what I really thought, I'd probably be in a lot more trouble," he said. "I think that's what I bring to this job, as a voice of the party: I think it's important to have that kind of newness and rawness to it that grabs folks' attention and hopefully ... take a look at what we're doing."

But if the attacks continue, Steele might want to take this advice from Limbaugh himself: "It's time, Mr. Steele, for you to go behind the scenes and start doing the work that you were elected to do instead of trying to be some talking head media star, which you're having a tough time pulling off."

Comments

[donbrown]

I never thought I would actually agree with Rush Limbaugh on anything, but in this case, i do. Steele is a laughable disaster...and a great gift to the Democrats.

The Republicans are just clueless when it comes to assessing where the country is politically -- backing a pitifully unprepared Palin, a hopelessly jejune Jindal, and now this supercilious clown.

[macklin081]

Well it's been a week sense M. Steele put his foot in Rush Limbuagh's mouth. It will be less that 30 days before the Republicians decide to replace him. My opinion is 3 weeks tops and I'm stretching that. Steele is an embrassement to there party and he being BLACK, hell they might dump him tomorrow.

[returnofthejedi]

I guess the GOP would rather have Horse Chip Saltzman in there with Magic N#gro jokes. That will ensure the minority vote! Seriously though these folks are pathetic. They deserve the slow dissent into political oblivion. I think he should have stood up to Rush Limbaugh instead of apologizing to him.

[dgswilson]

All this and other political nonsense is paid for from taxes...Funding the meaningless. Funding the mutts that in turn waste the paper money. Paying for the demise of common sense. Spending our way out of debt? WeeYoooo... If I was a comedian I wouldn't have to write any jokes, I'd just repeat what I heard politicians and high dollar news people, pundits, ambassadors and supreme court judges "Oh Economists" ( that's not a complete list by any means ) saying out loud everyday. In fact you couldn't write stuff this good. I say, "keep electing on entertainment value". Hell with it, raise taxes, do what you have to do, just talk in public more. I just need enough for pop corn and cable. I'll stare at the screen in jaw dropping amazement till my brain finally short circuits trying to make reason out of madness and my eyes roll up into my head like a doped up cow. Give it to me...

[ginsushark]

EXACTLY 'Steele might want to take this advice from Limbaugh himself: "It's time, Mr. Steele, for you to go behind the scenes and start doing the work that you were elected to do instead of trying to be some talking head media star, which you're having a tough time pulling off."'

This supposed repuiblican dissatisfaction exactly mirrors Rush's comments. Is that a coincedence?

[returnofthejedi]

Not at all.

[MeanMachine2]

Do not forget Michael Steele was not anyone's first, second, or third choice as RNC leader. He was chosen because the least number of people objected to his selection; not because the majority believed in his leadership. Mr. Steele does not appear to have the leadership or organizational skills to lead given he should have known to "clean house in the RNC" and "put his people" is key positions, develop a strategy and plan of execution before going public. He really needs some immediate victories, however small, to begin consolidating his position. Unfortunately, there are significant numbers of Republicans who will never accept his leadership even if he turned water in to wine, walked on water, or parted the Atlantic Ocean and walked to Europe. Still others may be won over if they saw and effective leader. He was correct in identifying Limbaugh as an entertainer. Its unfortunate so many people fail to recognize this fact and how easy it is to critize than to do. I am not affiliated with any political party and plan to keep it that way. The Dems need an opposition party but one who places the best interest of America and the American people above party loyalty or winning the next election. Unfortunately, the RNC, its affiliates, and members have failed in these regards.

[RJII]

d umb GOP picked him cause he's black-- hoping for that Obama the Magic ne gro magic.
Hip Hop Steele was making big public gaffes when he ran for governor of MD.
And by the way, he lost big. He's still a big loser.
All republican leaders have been big losers for the last 30 years.

[gaebolgaes]

my dear GOP 'ers...racism has simply fallen out of fashion. fifty percent of all babies being born today are hispanics.minoritys are equal or more in number to whites.the ambience in the usa will be determined in the future by ...rules...not the rule of the rich...racists or the powerful.the nation will be ran according to how comfortable the middle class is...not according to the whims of millionaires.

[KOisGod]

Fear not republican's, Bernie Madoff is more then eager to replace Mr. Steele. He needs the money.

[SoccerNana]

"It's time, Mr. Steele, for you to go behind the scenes and start doing the work that you were elected to do instead of trying to be some talking head media star, which you're having a tough time pulling off."

Once messiah Limbaugh made that statement, we knew Steele was burnt toast.

You see, the Dough Boy says what the other Rethuglicans won't say out loud; so they pay him millions to be the trash talking idiot that he is. Steele is history.

I guess Alan Keyes, Juan Williams, or Ron Christie is next up.

[livesinreality]

This go to show the GOP is in shambles. Only in bad time to the parents eat their young.

Steele was not the only repub to lick the sack of RL, so why is he being singled out?

Is this the new repub agenda, juggling the balls of RL either in hand or kissing his sack?

I can;t help it...LMAO

[devans00]

Hahahahahahahaaaa, Michael Steele is very clueless. No?

All that RNC power has gone to his head. Yet again, an inexperienced, in over his head Republican is embarrassing the party. Didn't it occur to the powers that be to "train" someone before sticking them in front of the world?

[rosal]

Pass the popcorn, I am really enjoying the meltdown. The party of lock step is all over the place. Poetic Justice!

[kcgeezer]

har har har. He knew the job was dangerous when he took it. They eat their own.

[kdlaiusa]

Now it looks like Limbaugh's Operation Chaos actually works perfectly for the GOP.
Talking about backfiring, time can be so unkind.

[MsMadame]

Lol!