Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Opinion

Republicans, Including Michael Steele, Must Rid Themselves of the Religious Right

April 30, 2009 03:45 PM ET | Bonnie Erbe | Permanent Link | Print

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog.

Poor Michael Steele. The recently appointed GOP chair is already wiping rotten tomatoes off his jacket and the worst part is, they were thrown by his fellow partisans:

Nussle, who served in the House of Representatives from 1991 - 2007 and was President George W. Bush's last OMB chief, told the Des Moines Register that Steele was not the figure the GOP needed to turn itself around.

"I don't think we've found that yet in Michael or anybody else yet for the party," he said. "So we're going to have to struggle through that for a while."

...

The Republican party has been looking for it's new "big toe" for some time weathering two massive election day defeats in 2006 and 2008. Not to mention, the near comedic showdown between Rush Limbaugh and Steele earlier this year over who was the de facto leader of the Republican party.

I agree with Nussle, but we probably come to the same conclusion for very different reasons. The GOP's main problem is it is stuck in the 1950s as long as it is controlled by the Religious Right. When the party realizes that the Christian Right is yesterday's Chevrolet, and decides to return to fiscal conservatism, that's when the tent doors will open wide once again.

On Facebook? You can keep up with Thomas Jefferson Street blog postings through Facebook's Networked Blogs.

Tags: Republicans | Michael Steele

Tools: Share | | Comments (19) | Print

advertisement

U.S. News Weekly

Subscribe Now

Order the new U.S. News Weekly digital magazine at a special low introductory price!

About Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and hosts PBS's weekly news analysis program, To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe. She also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service.

advertisement

NEWSLETTER

Sign up today for the latest headlines from U.S. News & World Report delivered to you free.

RSS FEEDS

Personalize your U.S. News with our feeds of blogs and breaking news headlines.

U.S. NEWS MOBILE

U.S. News daily briefings are also available on your mobile device.

FAVORITES

advertisement

People who read this also read ...

Thomas Jefferson St.

Turkey Tax

Uncle Sam is joining in on your Thanksgiving dinner.

Ideological Labels Just Don't Fit

Hard-liners don't understand that some of us don't toe an ideological line.

A Decade in Biased Review

How well does the video sum up the last decade?

GOPers Push European-Style Litmus Tests

Some RNC members want strict party platforms. Why do they hate America?

Can Conservative Carly Fiorina Carry Cali?

Ronald Reagan's state is now one of the most liberal in the nation.

Opinions Clash on Wars in Iran, Afghanistan

Fewer favor the effort in Afghanistan, support rises for hostilities against Iran's nuclear program.

Bennet's Senate Seat Is Already at Risk

His vote on healthcare would be less a case of political martyrdom than it may seem.

Bush Airport Reflects Its Namesake

Could Houston's Bush Intercontinental airport be number one because of its name?

Cartoon Gallery

Editorial Cartoon

Political Cartoons

Check out our most recent cartoons.

Public Opinion

Should the GOP Have a Litmus Test?

Should the RNC exclude politicians who don't match the party's platform?

Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.
Make USNews.com your home page.