The RNC Chairman Debate: Who Won, Who Lost?
The five remaining candidates for RNC chairman (Gentry Collins dropped out of the race Sunday night) debated at the National Press Club Monday. I watched it on C-SPAN and tweeted it live, here. It was a somewhat frustrating debate to watch. Thanks to the questions posed by both the moderators, Tucker Carlson and Grover Norquist, as well as those in the physical and internet audience, the candidates spent too much time debating social issues rather than discussing the GOP’s issues and what the chairman’s role is, and how each candidate plans to do business if elected. That’s not the candidates’ fault; the questions just did a poor job of focusing on what the party chairman actually does.
Briefly put, the party chairman’s job boils down to three major tasks: money, message and manpower.
Money
This is the most obvious. The party chairman needs to be able to raise money, and lots of it. This task is more than fundraisers, direct mail and phone calls. It’s all of that plus choosing wisely among the zillions of consultants and vendors out there, all of whom are more than happy to charge a large chunk out of every dollar raised to help the party fundraise. The chairman therefore needs a strong knowledge of what techniques and messages work best, how timing and economic cycles impact fundraising, and how technology is evolving to make fundraising easier and cheaper, so that every dollar raised goes as far as it possibly can toward winning elections.
Message
The chairman needs to be more than just a doctrine conservative. He or she needs to be that, but they also need to be able to articulate the party’s principles when called upon to do so. This is about more than radio and TV hits, it’s about the day to day direction and image of the party. The message part of the job is more than one way. The chairman needs to be a voice for the grassroots, and a voice for the party’s principles, and the chairman delivers that message to the undecided voter, to the press, and to elected Republicans who always face the seduction of the Beltway. Message in today’s environment also includes strategic uses of social media to move the party’s ideas beyond traditional media and means of communication, to effectively present the GOP cause to persuadable voters where they’re most likely to receive those messages.
Manpower
The chairman organizes the party’s headquarters staff and its field staff, and also works with state parties, elected officials and candidates to move manpower where it’s needed most, when it’s needed most. When you’re talking about field staff, get out the vote (GOTV) efforts, recruitment, block walking, phone banking, etc you’re talking about manpower, which is one of the RNC chairman’s core duties.
The RNC chairman debate didn’t focus enough on these three topics. It did focus on social issues, it did focus on who the candidates consider to be their political heroes (other than Reagan), and it did focus on national policy. It also focused on trivia such as on how many guns each candidate owns (Wagner wins this one, with 16), and what their favorite books are (and in which Steele attributed a Dickens quote to Tolstoy, for whatever that’s worth). All fun, all largely irrelevant.
Overall, today’s debate was not a moment of glory for any of the candidates or the hosts. Here is my take on the five.
“I’ll give this to the RNC: It’s a good sign that it’s looking for new and better leadership even after a big victory”
The GOP leadership rightfully senses that we were very lucky. Voters may not have been so pro-Republican as they were anti-Obama. In other words, we often won key races by default. The feckless Michael Steele probably cost us the minimum of fifteen additional congressional seats. A little extra help would have most assuredly prevented some close loses. Steele leaves much to be desired as a strategist. He appears not to have a clue—and this should have been obvious to his earlier supporters. Steele is similar to the mediocre running back cut after a winning season who fails to realize the team won in spite of his ineptness.
I am quite impressed with Saul Anuzis. He looks like the best one of the bunch.
Right you are.
When Steele won on the 8th ballot two years ago I was excited. I thought he was a fresh face and a bright, true conservative. I was wrong in my assesment. Steele showed poor managment skills again and again. He was a gaffe prone speaker who got himself off message too frequently. There is no excuse for the fiscal disaster he helped foster.
I am still ripped at the RNC for the election meltdown in 2006 and have not given them a dime since resigning in 2007. Others have spoken of the need for the Republicans to live their fiscal message. Damn straight! I will no longer tolerate repubs who are spendthrifts and who ignore the limited government concepts set up in our constitution. You are either conservative and understand the founders or you are a socialist, there is no gray when it comes to Article 1 Section 8. Read the document, the decisions of the Supreme Court since 1940 regarding the powers of the Federal government are an abomination foisted upon us by a continuous stream of progressive socialist judges. They are anti constitutional.
This needs to be fixed by a convention now. I’d like to know what Anuzis thinks of that.
Steele worked against the Tea Parties until he couldn’t ignore us any longer. Throw out all the RINOS. This hilarious animated short feature exposes the insanity of Progressives with BIG TIME HUMOR. http://www.marcrubin.com/hairmerica.ivnu Ridicule is a powerful weapon, if everyone is laughing at the idiocy of Progressives.
Instead of tweaking the messaging and the fund raising wording, how about really stand for the values that you pretend to stand for? DADT repeal was an in your face assault to its christian base. The START Treaty was an in your face to strong defense republicans. And the stimulus package was just an in your face to to small business. 13 more months of unemployment benefits–you gotta be kidding! Was your real objective to help reelect BHO?
You are so right. After the numerous so called Republicans voted with the opposition I called the RNC office and told them exactly why they can’t raise money. They can’t keep saying their candidates are conservative and then turn around and vote to hurt our country. I don’t know if I consider myself a Republican any longer, certainly not a Democrat but I can’t stomach the way the Republicans are voting for me. Traitors.
I’m not sure that the RNC is that relevant any longer after the birth of the Tea Party. The R’s won INSPITE of Steele and his gaffs and blunders. Also, anytime I see an elected leader putting his girl friend into a position of authority with no experience I know he/she is a loser. With Tucker Carlson on any questioning board you will have frivolous questions and stupid remarks. He is the type person who is no more a conservative than Chuck Schumer. The last thing is the social issues. If these people who want to run the RNC get deeply into social issues they will find no support from the Tea Party movement. The TP formed because of fiscal irresponsibility in the US gov and not because of abortion or gay marriage. To get into those debates is like repainting the rooms on the Titanic AFTER it hit the iceberg! The US ship is sinking and we need to stop the water from pouring in BEFORE we start trying to control the mores and social values of our people.
“The R’s won INSPITE of Steele and his gaffs and blunders. Also, anytime I see an elected leader putting his girl friend into a position of authority with no experience I know he/she is a loser. … The last thing is the social issues. If these people who want to run the RNC get deeply into social issues they will find no support from the Tea Party movement. ”
Bingo, bingo, and… tragically wrong. Nobody wins without the social conservatives.
Nobody.
(BTW, IN SPITE is two words, not one.)
I’m with you, Mark v.
The repubs have routinely USED the base to get elected then ditched them in the crunch, oblivious to the fact that most of what ails America, fiscally, is directly linked to our moral decline that is in many ways government-induced. You’d almost think that there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between dems and repubs, the way the repubs have licked the boots of the dems these past 30 years.
Those days are gone. Repubs will be facing a conservative party challenge if they don’t get their act together this congress. And that’s a fact.
“I’ll give this to the RNC: It’s a good sign that it’s looking for new and better leadership even after a big victory…”
Michael Steele will continue as the Chairman of the RNC. Were this not the case every voting member would have been present in force following an agenda that paralleled what the voters that produced the big victory said that they want, not the social show and tell that just took place.
The RNC shot itself dead in the water with the creation of this mess.
Somehow Conservatives, Independents and Republicans were supposed to be pleased with a race card to counter the Democrat’s race card that marched them into power in the Whitehouse.
Things don’t work that way.
Either the RNC doesn’t understand this, or they don’t give a damn.
You decide, but meantime don’t allow yourself to be snookered.
“Somehow Conservatives, Independents and Republicans were supposed to be pleased with a race card to counter the Democrat’s race card that marched them into power in the Whitehouse.
Things don’t work that way.
Either the RNC doesn’t understand this, or they don’t give a damn.”
They don’t understand. They are arrogantly clueless. Or should I say, “elitist clueless”.
And we have only ourselves to blame. For too long we have taken everything they dish out, and still supported them, like an abused wife begging for her husband’s favor.
No more. I, and many, many others, will not give one thin dime to the RNC until they stop supporting RINOs, and as long as the RINO Steele has ANY leadership position, they are still supporting RINOs.
Support good CANDIDATES; boycott the RNC.
Steele lost me when he played the “race” card as to why conservatives thought he was a POS.
No, after that Steele confirmed to me that he was not just a POS… but a N(word) as well. Or,in other words, a typical democrat.
Clue number 1 you racist Steele… we like Colonel West. West is a man.. not a ‘black or white” man..just a real man. Something you.. Steele, are not.
Steele IS a race card. He is the “affirmative action” choice. He is RNC Chair because he’s black, NOT because he’s qualified.
The chairman needs to be a voice for the grassroots, and a voice for the party’s principles, and the chairman delivers that message to the undecided voter, to the press, and to elected Republicans who always face the seduction of the Beltway.
None of the RNC’s fundraising appeals went beyond “we’re not Democrats, SEND MONEY”. “Voice for the party’s principles”, none – unless ‘principles’ mean blind unreasoned partisanship. NOTHING in those appeals would have persuaded an independent, nor even kept her attention over ten seconds. Bad marks for Chairman Steele.
The title of this post should be: “Who Won, Who Lost, Who Cares?”
In the real — non-political — world, there is a concept known as “value-added”. You pick something up, do something, and when you put it down it is more valuable than when you started. Where is the value added by the RNC?
One might suppose that there’d be value if I could give money to an institution that would look at available candidates, determine which ones shared my values, determine which of those had a chance of winning their contests, and apportioned money intelligently to increase the influence of my state-of-mind. Is that the value that the RNC provides?
Well, it seems like the the RNC is more concerned with its chums than my values; more concerned with its perks than realistic outcomes; more concerned with its influence than strategic resources allocation.
In years past, I’ve just blown off the political “beg letters”. The perpetual fundraising leaves me cold — don’t these politicians already have salaries? Besides, if you listen to the MSM, you get the impression that all the choices are between Dumb and Dumberer. This cycle, though, blogs and alternative media let me know about candidates like Scott Brown or Allen West…or, sadly, like Ruth McClung or Joe Miller — real choices that could make a positive difference in our dysfunctional Federal government.
But did I hear about any of these from the RNC? Was the RNC out there with information and support? Was the RNC doing anything that I might value?
I’d rather donate to SarahPAC. They’re not perfect, but they’re a hell of a lot closer……and Sarah learns fast.
The next head of the RNC had better articulate a path to value for the organization — and then demonstrate that it’s not just teleprompter BS…..or he’s likely to be the last head of the RNC.
Maria Cino was asked a direct question: “Did you lobby for obamacare?” She walked all the way around the question and did not answer it. Someone in the audiance must have remarked that she didn’t answer the question and she got visibly angry, balked and restated her position. All she had to do was check a box, yes or no but she refused. She is a RINO.
Michael Steel reminds me of the dirt bag in the white house. He is not transparent and when he is challenged, he whines. Personally, none of them impressed me. They are ‘car salesmen’. I don’t trust them.
Considering the way the RNC does business, one cannot see much use in them, no matter who runs it.
It appears to exist merely to serve itself and it’s cronies, to the detriment of everyone else, both candidates and voters. Cookie cutter ads and drone campaign staff are no help to grass roots candidates. When the RNC loosens up some real money for candidates and then actually provides real assests for support, then maybe it will be taken seriously.
Didn’t watch the debate. Didn’t read about the debate. Don’t care about the debate. Checked the bank balance of the RNC. Steele lost.
How can any Republican let alone conservative support Steele after he went on Al Sharpton’s radio show and agreed that the attempt to replace him was racist? The RNC should just admit it made a mistake and put this unfortunate stab at political correctness in the rear view mirror.
The GOP did pretty well in ’09 too.
Steele is a winner. It’s stupid to fire winners.
It’s stupid to attribute any GOP gains to Steele, when there are clearly many other factors that caused those gains, and there is clear malfeasance and incompetence that is directly attributable to Steele.
Just because the guy is holding the office doesn’t mean he produced the results.
By your standards, Bill Clinton gave us a booming economy.
The Steele Bashing has a comical side and Markie Mark embodies it. Bill Lawrence is ‘stupid’ for mentioning we just enjoyed historic gains? What am I a lead suspect in the Vince Foster non-suicide because I agree?
Get serious Mark. We are way way into fantasy baseball land here. People are falling all over themselves to trash an RNC Chair who has been getting trashed since a stupid aid decided to abuse credit privleges in an LA Titty bar over a year ago. But a few facts are in order.
That Michael Duncan had the temerity to even suggest he might run again after being arguably the worst Chair since Edsel Ford exemplified just how effective the Trash Steele Washington Times campaign was.
The guy has conducted himself with dignity and fortitute and has the cajones to refuse to step aside given the success the party has enjoyed. It’s childishly one-sided and abjectly false to insist he deserves zero credit.
This has got to be the weirdest witch hunt since Salem. We garner the greatest gains at the state level since 1898. AND THE BEST CONGRESSIONAL SINCE 1938! Yet, because there is a 20 million debt the chair is a doofus who let victory slip away? What was he supposed to do at this debate – recite the lords prayer backwards & in Latin – or face a fatal waterboarding in the Potomac River?
It would be laughable if it wasn’t so pathetic. I know why Tucker Carlson was there, besides giving his ‘execute Mike Vick’ (I’m guessing he has the Saints in the Super Bowl office pool) a rest – good for the Daily Caller. I know why the No Tax Man was there as well, eager as he is to recapture as much power in the party as he once held. (check out how Norquists fund raising has dropped off a cliff!)
Look, history and the party will eventually get off this snide lynch mob mentality and treat Steele to a cup of coffee and an atta boy. The day will come. He took the job after Duncan cake mix pureed it into a mess and devoted body and soul to reviving a battered party – and he didn’t have to have a debate on C-Span with a bunch of wannabees come lately to get it.
Because then NOBODY WANTED IT. It was viewed as a career killer and a waste of time. NOBODY WANTED IT – UNTIL HE RECICITATED IT!
Every accusation I’ve heard leveled at this guy is self-serving bunk. Hey the fundraising issue? The party was fractured period – and doners gave. The big doners were ‘never asked…’ Crap – they gave – many gave directly…because as fractured as the party was there was – via Citizens United – a new dawning in how money was legally available. Look even Obama is whinning about it – STARTING WITH HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS!
You can’t say this guy deserves ZERO CREDIT. Not and retain any credibility in an adult discussion. Period. He made mistakes, certainly. The debt is inexcusable. Likewise, there is no excuse to be outfundraised by anyone anymore.
I think he acquitted himself quite well given the venue. It would have been pretty easy to step down and let cowards like Mark continue to semi-annyomously abuse him. Taking the heat was an exercise in grace under pressure the guy has adapted well over the past year and half.
I saw a man who was contrite for mistakes made, and, who refused to be run off. I admire him even more for it. He did a fantastic job working with a damaged brand, exorcising astute judgement when confronted with an uprising via the Tea Party movement.
And right at the moment no good deed goes unpunished.
Well, this too shall pass.
All this energy is better directed. Instead of publically lynching fellow Republicans (and the tired rally call for skinning RINO’S) how about devoting blood sweat and tears to repealing the monstrosities O-man has foisted on the public. The governing co-ilition part and getting things done is the part of the passion play we now are in.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
“Bill Lawrence is ‘stupid’ for mentioning we just enjoyed historic gains? ”
Reading is fundamental. Here; let me help:
“It’s stupid to attribute any GOP gains to Steele, when there are clearly many other factors that caused those gains”
There, see? I didn’t say that he is stupid for mentioning gains. To attribute gains to Steele in the face of massive evidence to the contrary, IS.
See? It’s not the fact of the gains, it attributing them to Steele simply because he happened to be RNC chair when those gains occurred.
It’s EXACTLY like giving Bill Clinton credit for the great economy (which liberals do every chance they get) simply because he was in office when the economy was good. So, as I do with liberals, I’ll ask you a simple question:
What specific actions or policies, carried out or instituted by Steele, produced the gains that the Republicans enjoyed?
(HINT: The correct answer is, NONE.)
As for malfeasance, check your history and the RNC’s bank balance. There’s a lot more trouble there than a single misused credit card.
To attribute gains to Steele in the face of massive evidence to the contrary,
Oh, do elaborate.
You can’t say this guy deserves ZERO CREDIT. Not and retain any credibility in an adult discussion.
Well said.
It is stupid to claim that Steele had nothing to do with the GOP successes that occurred during his tenure. For one thing he avoided meddling with the Tea Party Movement much less try to undermine it.
For what could have happened see John Cornyn and the NRSC.
Indeed you’re correct. Steele’s incompetence and that of the GOP’s other fundraising arms ensured that grassroots donors bypassed them and gave money instead directly to candidates.
Also, the incompetence of Jimmy Carter led directly to Reagan. Shall we give Jimmy credit for that, or merely cite him as an example of what shouldn’t be done?
If Carter was trying to get Reagan elected he was a genius.
If Steele was trying to keep Pelosi as Speaker he was a fool.
Voters got what they wanted both times, no thanks to either man. Giving Steele credit for what the voters did, makes you a fool.