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November 4, 2009 7:43 AM

Michael Steele: GOP Has "Found Its Voice Again"

Posted by Daniel Carty
(CBS)
Election wins in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races show the GOP has "found its voice again," the Republican party's chairman said Wednesday.

During an appearance on CBS' "The Early Show", Michael Steele touted the victories of New Jersey's Chris Christie and Virginia's Bob McDonell as a "bellwether for the party."

Steele said the wins, in two states carried by President Barack Obama last fall, recast the GOP as a "transcendent party."

"The conservative message resonated, but it was translated in a way that people felt embraced by it at the polls," Steele said.

Democrats did win the closely watched special election in New York's 23rd Congressional District – a contest that many painted as indicative of a clash between moderates and conservatives within the Republican party.

Right wing Republicans, including national figures like Sarah Palin, supported the Conservative party's Doug Hoffman over moderate Dierdre Scozzafava, who was pressured over support of abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Scozzafava dropped out of the race over the weekend and actually threw her support behind Democrat Bill Owens, who ended up winning the heavily Republican district.

But Steele didn't accept the argument that New York's 23rd underscored an ideological battle over the soul of the party.

"I appreciate that particular perspective on it. But it wasn't about the struggle between the right and the middle and all of this. It was a process problem. … They should've had a primary there, there's no doubt about that."

"Now the bottom line is this, the drama of 23 was nice and cute and fun, [and] everybody made fun about how the party's all fractured. The reality is now that we have a chance to get the seat back in about a year, which we likely will."

CBSNews.com Election Night Coverage:

Results
All Election Night 2009 Results
Republicans Sweep N.J., Va. Gov. Races
N.Y. Democrat Owens Wins House Seat
Maine Voters Reject Gay Marriage
Wash. Domestic Partnership Vote in Air
Breckenridge, Colo., Votes to Legalize Pot

Analysis
What McDonnell's Win Means for the GOP, Obama
Corzine's Fall Has Been Festering for a While
What Doug Hoffman's Loss Means to Conservatives
Lessons for the White House from '09 Election Results
Obama's One-Year Report Card
David Plouffe: Obama "Delivering on His Promise"
Why Christie Won in New Jersey
McDonnell Won Due to Turnout, Independents
Exit Polls in Va. and N.J.: The Obama (Non) Factor?

Tags:
Michael Steele ,
Republican ,
Election ,
GOP
Topics:
2009 Elections
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Add a Comment See all 93 Comments
by searingtruth November 4, 2009 5:52 PM EST
It's not that the GOP has found its voice.

It's that the Democrats have lost theirs.
ST


"Our last great hope is doing the same as our last great tyrant."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave
Reply to this comment
by goffredo29 November 4, 2009 5:29 PM EST
The voice it didn't have for eight years?
Reply to this comment
by tmittelstaed November 4, 2009 5:28 PM EST
Don't forget that the ultraconservatives in the Republican Party have called Steele a RINO, they really dislike him because he has sided with the centrists in the Republican party against the ultraconservatives many times. With both of these 2 elections it was left-wing Republicans who won, and that just strengthens Steele's position. No wonder he's happy. I cannot imagine the Palin supporters being happy, though, espically since one of the winning Republicans publically told her to stay the hell away from his state.
Reply to this comment
by briannorwood November 4, 2009 5:45 PM EST
Yeah, he sided with the centrists UNTIL Boss Limbaugh took him behind the woodshed. Now, Steele's voice sounds like "Yes masta', yes masta'"
by unshrub November 4, 2009 5:27 PM EST
They should be concerned about loosing the house seat in New York. After the dust sets, the two governorships they won won't mean squat.
Reply to this comment
by vancouverboo November 4, 2009 5:13 PM EST
Every election is based on Hope. We hope that by throwing out the bastards and putting back in the bastards we threw out last time that the bastards we're putting back in will not be bastards anymore. We're always wrong, but Hope springs eternal. If Bush hadn't been the worst President in the history of the United States all those Democrats wouldn't have been elected in the first place; people voted for every Democrat they could find on the ballot because of George, and now we're throwing them out because we can't stand the arrogant crap they're throwing at us regardless of what we want.
Reply to this comment
by PVperson2 November 4, 2009 5:09 PM EST
Michael Steele: GOP Has "Found Its Voice Again"

Since the democrats picked up two more seats in the house, one that's been republican for about 150 years, I say, keep speaking GOP, till the entire congress is democrat.
Reply to this comment
by superdem1 November 4, 2009 5:02 PM EST
Michael Steele was Lt. Governor of Maryland when Maryland elected Robert Ehrlich, the first Republican governor in something like 30 years. It was a miserable term, with all this abortion stuff, typical republican antics, Maryland came to its senses and Ehrlich was defeated for re-election. Michael Steele was also defeated, then out of a job he ran for U.S. Senate in Maryland, and was defeated. He was a washed up nobody in Maryland, so of course the Republicans made him their anti-Obama. You are all just getting to know him. Enjoy !
Reply to this comment
by kevjustice November 4, 2009 4:51 PM EST
So uncle tom steele says neocons have found their voice again. This voice utters the standard neocons words and phrases: cheat, lie, invade other countries and murder their people, pad the wallets of insurance companies, destroy our economy with more derugulation, etc.
Reply to this comment
by watchthis01 November 4, 2009 4:48 PM EST
Where did they find this puppet? He's has to be one of the biggest idiots on the planet.
Reply to this comment
by ABM_21 November 4, 2009 4:25 PM EST
YOu know, it's so sad when the smallest of victories garner the loudest of cheers. Take these last elections. For one thing, this nation has always blamed others for its problems, so seeing that some independents blame Obama for Bush's mess is truly not surprising. But, to have Michael Steele, the great 'I'm still the RNC chair' running his mouth and glowing over these pointless victories is sad. None of them were presidential elections, and when all is said and done, to use this as a foecast for an election that is a full three years away is not onlt amistake, it shows just how out of touch with reality the Retardicans really are. Yes, I hated to see NJ and VA got to the G(oofy) O(utdated) P(rejudiced). But, I am not worried about Obama. he tried to reach out to the idiots on the other side. I am quite confident he will win another term---something Bush never did.
Reply to this comment
by imnho November 4, 2009 4:22 PM EST
The GOP has found it's voice. In the process of finding ther voice they have lost there marbles.
Reply to this comment
by briannorwood November 4, 2009 3:35 PM EST
Yes. The GOP has found it's voice. And it says "NO". Gee, sounds a whole lot like the last voice. LOL!
Reply to this comment
by ABM_21 November 4, 2009 4:21 PM EST
I agree wholeheartedly!
by bradkt1 November 4, 2009 3:13 PM EST
Actually...that new GOP voice you hear is caused by the wingnuts pulling on some GOP short hairs.
Reply to this comment
by dajobr November 4, 2009 3:08 PM EST
nj governors race only had to do with a very unpopular governor who in fact in his policies generally did everything like a republican did, ............
Reply to this comment
by justsane-2009 November 4, 2009 3:01 PM EST
of the two wins that steele is touting as evidence of a newly 'transcendent' gop, one was almost guaranteed to go to the republican candidate. since the early 70s, virginia has always elected a governor from the opposite party when there has been a party shift in the white house the year before. so really, he can only claim one real victory...hardly a mandate for the gop.
Reply to this comment
by apachekid November 4, 2009 2:46 PM EST
Michael Steele: GOP Has "Found Its Voice Again" ......

Michael Steele. As an Independent Please keep in mind that The People are sick & tired hearing The Libs pathetic rhetoric. Talk, if you will, has been Obamas cheap attribute. Talk, no action, and an Agenda for the Rich & Famous.

On the contrary We The People have been left behind. Not only listen but get back to SERVING the people as a true Elected Official is to do. Not the Demn Obama Way that has been forcing its Tax & Spend Agenda on The People. Enough is enough. Millions of Grass Roots People have to live in tents & tee pees. While Obamas Moveon, Acorns & Rich & Famous are busy working on How The People can be taxed to pay this Record Historical Debt.
Reply to this comment
by pws54 November 4, 2009 5:27 PM EST
apachekid, this "Record Historical Debt" as you call it started with Bush at a Billion dollars a day for 2 wars we shouldn't be in and cannot possibly win. If a debt is to be created in this country, then let it be on Americans and not foreigners that hate our guts. Stop the war and refocus those dollars on helping un/underemployed Americans. Something you obviously cannot relate to.
by imprisoncheney November 4, 2009 2:44 PM EST
And what about NY's 23rd Democratic victory?? -- the first since 1852 -- ????

No bias against the WH, hmmmm, CBS?????

You're such a delicate little flower, aren't ya?
Reply to this comment
by nordeck52 November 4, 2009 2:28 PM EST
The Republican Party isn't out of the woods yet. Unless some major changes occur in the next few years, they're in danger of ending up like the Whigs.
Reply to this comment
by unshrub November 4, 2009 5:33 PM EST
The republican party can't even decide on what trees are standing in the woods, nor can they figure out which way is north or south. They are so lost in the forest.
by myopinionpal November 4, 2009 1:37 PM EST
They found their voice alright, a right wing voice that will keep the GOP out of the White House in 2012.
Reply to this comment
by rightbehind November 4, 2009 1:35 PM EST
Actually a Virginia based company lost a 35 Billion dollar contract to build the Air Force Tankers. I imagine the shipyards are a little dry to. As for New Jersey the voters are upset about property taxes. I don't blame them. It's highly unlikely though they find a solution by voting in a republican. Now they'll be dealing with pay cuts and runaway corporate salaries.
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