The news media has been all over the recent developments within the Republican Party (resignation of RNC Chief of Staff McKay, sex club incident in LA, lavish expenditures, etc.), with the more liberal media outlets making it sound as if the Republican Party is literally unraveling from the inside out. It really does not matter what the liberals do with or say about the Republican Party. What does matter is how we respond as conservative grassroots activists.
The first thing we need to keep in mind is that we will not be voting on the Republican Party come November (or in the primaries); we will be voting for individual candidates who will be judged on their personal merits. What may be true about the Republican Party is not necessarily true of the candidate and vice-versa. With that said, it must be remembered that if the progressive liberals are saying something about the Republican Party, it is very well being taken out of context and/or tweaked to fit their agenda.
Second, it is doubtful the Republican Party is going to unravel anytime soon and do not expect Michael Steele to resign or be removed as RNC Chairman, especially during such a critical election year. The Republican leadership is smart enough to know that it is better to work within the existing framework than it is to dismantle the top of the party at this point. While it is true that many within the conservative grassroots movement would like to see some changes take place, the Republican leadership is going to stick together, at least for the near future. In 2010, it is far more important to remove the incumbent progressive liberals from office than it is to bring change to the Republican Party. Issues within the party can be dealt with in 2011 after the midterm elections are over.
The primary issue seems to be a loss of confidence in Steele’s ability to be an effective leader for the party. Scott Reed, a former chief of staff at the RNC and Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential campaign manager said of Steele’s leadership reaching a tipping point, “It’s tipped over his ability to be relevant and helpful.”
In the meantime, the Republican Governors Association under the leadership of Mississippi’s Haley Barbour has become a very effective force for fundraising. Barbour, a former RNC chairman himself, is being increasingly sought out for strategic guidance and as a spokesman for the party.
Being at the center of the news is the one thing the Republican Party must avoid at all costs. It is imperative that the leadership of the party act like they are the conservatives they represent. Tom Rath, a former RNC member said, “It is critical as we approach November that we stay on the messages that distinguish us from the Democrats and not get caught in a series of discussions that don’t make sharp those distinctions.” There is nothing more the Democrats would like than the Republicans having to spend their time in self-defense against themselves.
In response to Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Ken McKay’s resignation, Steele said in a released email memo, “Leadership requires that I can safely assure you, our donors, and the American people that our mission is what drives every dollar we spend, every phone call we make, every email we send and every event we organize. Recent events have called that assurance into question and the buck stops with me. That is why I have made this change in my management team and why I am confident about going forward to November with renewed focus and energy.”
As the old cliché goes, “we must keep the main thing, the main thing.” And that would be cleaning house during the 2010 election cycle and it is to that end that the Liberty First PAC and the Patriot Caucus will remain focused.