Michael Steele: Evan Bayh Retirement A Sign Democrats Are 'Running For The Hills'

Republican National Commitee Chairman Michael Steele appeared to be relishing Sen. Evan Bayh's (D-Ind.) decision not to seek re-election to his U.S. Senate seat in 2010.

In a statement, Steele put Bayh's announcement in the context of other recent Democratic retirements, saying that it was a sign Democrats were "running for the hills because they sold out their constituents and don't want to face them at the ballot box."

"Senator Bayh announced today he won't seek reelection, claiming to be disenchanted with the political process," Steele said. "After Democrats spent billions of taxpayer dollars on a failed stimulus and voted to spend billions more for their unpopular government-run health care plan, I think it's fair to say that Americans are disenchanted as well."

Bayh joins two other Democrats -- Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-S.D.) and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who have also announced they are leaving the Senate. Democrats are also facing a wave of retirements in the House of Representatives. But Republicans too are facing their own retirement problem -- three GOP congressmen announced their exits over the last two weeks.

Still, Steele did not miss an opportunity to tweak the Democrats on the day that Bayh, who was said to be under consideration for the vice presidential slot in 2008, said he would leave politics -- for now.

"One year after the $862 billion stimulus was passed," Steele said, "Americans are making it clear that they are tired of the Democrats' binge-spending agenda, are done being ignored, and are going to do something about it in November."

Comments

[research]

06:40 PM on 02/17/2010

More Republicans leaving than dems, so what are the Republicans doing?

[GoldStarMom]

01:54 AM on 02/17/2010

So, out of the whole SOTU speech, all Steel heard Obama say was "Democrats are running For The Hills"? Pathetic.

[Juno912]

12:35 AM on 02/17/2010

Ouch!

The truth hurts.

Wake up my fellow Democrats!

[Tim303]

01:17 AM on 02/17/2010

You are evidently unaware of the relentless rightists' attacks on Bayh's family in Idaho.

[brendabfromfl]

08:06 PM on 02/16/2010

That is too funny! I believe that deciding not to seek re-election doesn't quite trump quitting so that you can go make a buck off your followers. Republicans are quitters all around. At least Bayh intends on finishing his term unlike Sarah Palin or Mel Martinez. You're elected, you finish what you start. Only one reason to quit honorably and that is due to health problems. Going off to make as much money as fast is you can (she has to do it before Republicans figure out that she isn't exactly that hopey changey thingy they thought they were getting) is selling out.

[TheCommons]

07:24 PM on 02/16/2010

I'm not conceding his point, but being sold out is just disappointing. That political poison the republicans dish out can ruin you.

[Marnie1]

07:02 PM on 02/16/2010

Spoken like a man who has sold out his entire race.

[NWGuy]

06:49 PM on 02/16/2010

Yah dems, don't sell out your constituents, do what the repubs do -- lie to them to begin with, baffle'em with BS, then either blame them for not really understanding what you stand for in the first place or just ignore their protests because they don't count anyway.

[Thundercloud65]

06:47 PM on 02/16/2010

So? The GoP sold out the entire country by tax cutting, spending increases, military adventurism, etc etc etc. Now they want the American public to trust them as the party to bring us out of the ashes? Please. Voter anger is aimed at all incumbents not just Democrats.

[foofoobunny]

06:38 PM on 02/16/2010

the last count I saw (last night) of politicians not running again has the GOP leaving more seats...who's running for the hills again?

[mavash]

06:27 PM on 02/16/2010

Michael Steele stans up comedian he always makes me laugh. Everytime he talks he shoot himself instead of the enemey.

[dfranz]

06:02 PM on 02/16/2010

5 Democratic Senators including Bayh and 6 Republicans senators aren't running or are retiring and 14 Democratic House members aren't running compared to 18 incumbent Republicans.

What the heck is Michael Steel talking about?

By my calculations thats over 12% of the Republican Senate compared to 10% of the Democrats and over 10% of the Republican House compared to under 5.5% of Democrats. It looks like a bigger hit to the Rethugs than the Dems. I think that all incumbents should be wary. There's an angry mood out here.

[plzgetreal]

06:46 PM on 02/16/2010

Would you please stop trying to use facts in a dialogue with repugs? They don't need no stinking facts.

[Jackandcoke]

05:53 PM on 02/16/2010

Mr Steele is chair of a party that has no agenda. It doesn't sound like he listened to Bayhe's conference to offer up 'running for the hills..." He doesn't realize his days are numbered in that party and should look in the mirror a what color he is and what his party is going to do to him in the near future. Stay tuned.

[funkyirishdem]

05:43 PM on 02/16/2010

NO MATTER WHAT THIS PRESIDENT DOES ..

- run into a burning building and bring out a child to save their life
- give a tax cut so that nobody pays ANY taxes
- FREE health care for ALL
- A FREE house for everyone
- CURE cancer
- EXPAND the military and bo.mb every last ter.ror.ist country on EARTH!

THE TE.AB.AGGERS AMD THEIR REPUBLICAN BREATHEN WOULD NOT BE SATISFIED ...

THEY CANNOT AND WILL NOT ACCEPT THEY LOST THE ELECTION OR THAT HE IS PRESIDENT

...and many (not all ) but MANY ..do not care so much that this Presidnet is a democrat ..

..but that he is black .

(in case you missed it ..take the time )
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/35413662#35413662

regards.

[calmerheads]

05:10 PM on 02/16/2010

Healthcare for every American? Yes we can.
Jobs bill? Yes we can.
Restore civility in the political process? Yes we can.
I voted for HOPE and CHANGE and I still stand behind Obama in pursuing it.

If you are liberal, moderate, make sure your voice is heard. The extremes are making a mockery of our great country.

[Jackandcoke]

05:55 PM on 02/16/2010

They are making a mockery of our democracy. Wriye to Boehner and McConnell and McCain and tell them to stop the nonsense.

[MThomasNC]

05:07 PM on 02/16/2010

All the repubs speak w folk tongues, but they make good tv and know it too - that's why they do it. Yes, Mr. Steele is correct. The dems have not done what they were elected to do. However, it is the conservative dems like Ben Nelson, three NC congressmen - McIntye, Kissell, Shuler, that sold us out.

I hope the dems can turn some of it around this year. It's all perception, and the dems are being perceived as wimps, no fighters, bickering, complaining, go along to get along, bringing a knife to the fight when your opponent has a machine gun.