Who will head up the RNC? - Sister Toldjah

In light of the drubbings Republicans have received the last two elections, the search is on to find someone who can lead the party out of the fog of defeat. The Washington Times reports this morning that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Lt. Gov. of Maryland Michael Steele are privately battling it out for the top post, even though neither man will admit it publically:

A behind-the-scenes battle to take the reins of the Republican National Committee is taking off between former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele.

[…]

A bevy of backers for each man, neither of whom is an RNC member, say the committee needs a leader who can formulate a counter-agenda to President-elect Barack Obama’s administration and articulate it on the national stage.

“The Republican National Committee has to ask itself if it wants someone who has successfully led a revolution,” Randy Evans, Gingrich confidant and personal attorney based in Atlanta, told The Washington Times on Monday. “If it does, Newt’s the one.”

Former California Republican Party Chairman Shawn Steel told The Times that Mr. Steele, chairman of GOPAC, a national organization once headed by Mr. Gingrich, “wants to be Republican national chairman.”

“I’ve talked to him many times, and he definitely wants it,” said Mr. Steel.

Word of the fight over the RNC post came Monday as Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who is widely credited with developing the “50-state strategy” that helped elect Mr. Obama, is stepping down in January at the end of his term.

Republicans, especially state party leaders, have become envious of the organization and money that Mr. Dean’s operation deployed in two victorious election cycles in which Democrats regained and expanded control of Congress and captured the White House.

Republicans agree that their national party is leaderless and in desperate need of someone who has the force of personality and history of accomplishments to command national attention to take on Mr. Obama. Someone is also needed to unite disparate factions that, even in the best of times, generate internal friction among themselves.

Ed Morrissey made a good case yesterday for Newt, but Steele would be an appealing choice, but Steele is pretty impressive as well.

If it came down to it between the two, who would you like to see lead the Republican party? Or is there someone else you’d like to see?

bcfunk says:

November 11, 2008 at 10:38 am

If the RNC wants to compete, they’ll select someone who leans more in Ron Paul’s direction (Pro-Constitution, liberty, and commen sense government by the people, for the people). Newt isn’t change. Any run of the mill Repub is just Democrat-light.

Leslie says:

November 11, 2008 at 10:59 am

Well, ST, assuming your hat’s not in the ring, too, I would want to ask each to write a 250-word essay on this question:

Many people who used to vote GOP now see the party as the party of bitter and uneducated white males, which is still arguing about issues that no longer seem relevant to today’s voters. What would you do to win back those people?

Karmadancer says:

November 11, 2008 at 1:24 pm

Ok, guys, let’s put the bowl of sour grapes down for a minute.

If you want to see where the problem is, look at the electoral map. Obama took the Rust Belt, the northeast and the far west, while McCain’s traditional GOP message took everything else. If the election had been held in terms of land mass, we would have done well. Not much of a consolation now.

I think one of the campaign’s biggest mistakes was to not emphasize what makes a democrat different from a republican. What is that exactly? Small government? Personal responsibility? Frugal spending? And “dumbing down” the campaign was a serious error. It obviously didn’t help get the message across either.

I know that for me, my credo is simple: non-intrusive government with emphasis on personal responsibility. This unprecedented freedom is contingent on the fact that while one is free to do whatever one pleases, one is not free to deny the consequences. I do believe in global business and the free market economy; history has shown that protectionism is unproductive and ultimately destructive. In terms of the Constitution, I am a strict constructionist.

What does it mean to be conservative to you? These are the kinds of things no one — in the GOP or out of it — seems to have bothered to ask. At least, not me. How about you?

Mark J. Goluskin says:

November 11, 2008 at 2:34 pm

How about both Gingrich and Steele as co-chairs? Steele can do a lot of the recruiting and broadcast interviews and Gingrich can set a cohesive agenda similar to the Contract With America as well as broadcast interviews. I think both men would be a compliment to each other’s strengths.

Chris in NC says:

November 11, 2008 at 5:15 pm

Steele. Gingrich has gone soft.

pjean says:

November 11, 2008 at 11:19 pm

I understand that Newt is endorsing Steele and offering advice. With Newt’s extensive polling, research and incredible data collected through American Solutions, he has captured what it is that ties Americans together, not just Republicans. Republicans need to articulate that,as a country that is technically center-right, conservative ideals can speak to most Americans.

Steele does not mince words in saying that the future of this party does depend on it’s ability to articulate conservative beliefs to all Americans, from many backgrounds and life stories. We don’t have to change to bring others into our fold, we need to explain better WHY it is in the favor of all Americans to support leaders who represent their beliefs and conscience, rather than support leaders who don’t.

vegas art guy says:

November 12, 2008 at 12:14 am

Steele, but not by much.

November 12, 2008 at 9:54 am

The old Lincoln-Republican brand is dead. They’re married to statism and will continue to see their numbers dwindle as the Left picks off more and more from their ranks. We need to return to a Jeffersonian brand of Republicanism.