Meet Michael Steele, New GOP Leader

Thanks to Otter for raising the question... about Michael Steele the newly elected leader of the Republican party.

I found this interview from last march (2008) with Michael Steele and found it interesting... here are parts of the interview...

"Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor, Michael Steele, burst on to the national political scene as a Republican candidate for the United States Senate in 2006. He lost the race to then congressman Ben Cardin. Steele has since assumed the post of Chairman of GOPAC, a Republican political action committee focused on training the next generation of Republican candidates. Steele can be seen regularly as a guest commentator on Fox News.

Q: In 2008, Republicans are going to return to the American people and ask them to restore Republicans to power. Is it too soon? Have the Republicans lost credibility that will take more time to reestablish?
Steele: "Remember, our opponents are still the Democrats. We should say more than just, "We aren't the other guy." We need to lay out a clear vision for the safety and security of this country and continued economic prosperity. We have the right candidates running for president and we have the right candidates running at the grassroots level who can provide that leadership. We just need to get our act together and go onto the battlefield and engage. We cannot just sit back and demonize Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton and think that is going to get us elected. It's just not going to work that way".

Q. Can you explain the impact of the blogs at the grassroots level?
Steele: "It is instant communication. However, it can be tricky because people can start sharing their opinions before all of the facts are available [which can lead to] a cascade of incorrect information. The responsibility of bloggers to be accurate is certainly no less important than delivering information quickly. I believe blogging and bloggers have a transformative effect on politics because it is instantaneous. It has an immediacy to which candidates and political operatives are still trying to adapt. It can have both a heartwarming and a heartburning effect".

Q. What specific influences in your life drew you to the Republican party?
Michael Steele: "Two... my mother and Ronald Reagan. That said, my mother is a card carrying Roosevelt Democrat. I often tell her that she raised me so well, I became a Republican. Ronald Reagan taught me the power of the individual to have an impact and that one person can make a difference. This great country is still a shining city on a hill, but most importantly, the light in that city is each one of us. I have coupled that idea with my study of the Republican party and note that the Republican party is the political home of African Americans. That makes this Party the perfect fit for me. Now I don't agree with everything the leadership says or does, but that's the beauty of being a Republican. I know that in the expanse of our Party, there is room for us to work through the issues and create the best opportunities for the people of this country."

Q. You mentioned the African American community. They vote overwhelmingly Democrat. What is it going to take for African Americans to embrace Republican values?
Steele: "It's not so much about the African American community embracing Republican values; it's about what the Republican party is going to do to embrace African American values. We're looking at this the wrong way. You look at any African American, especially those in their 50s or 60s or older, they will tell you that they didn't walk away from the Republican party, but that the Party walked away from them. In order to reintroduce ourselves to the African American community, we have to be present in the black community. It's hard work. It's heavy lifting because you have a lot of skeptics and a lot of doubters. It doesn't happen overnight, and there are no guarantees".

Q. What's next for Michael Steele?
"I take each moment as it comes. My mother told me to always be prepared. I try to prepare myself everyday for whatever may show up on my doorstep that day, for whatever opportunity may come my way. That's the Republican spirit.
Am I looking at future elected office? Absolutely. Right now, however, my focus is on GOPAC and engaging in the battle that lies ahead".- Michael Steele 03/2008