GOP Chairman Michael Steele Denies Tea Party Claim
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
Turmoil and controversy continue to swirl around new Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele. But the latest flare-up—a very public rejection of a request to speak at the anti-Obama, anti-tax "Tea Party" in Chicago on April 17—might not be his fault. "He never asked to speak," says a party official. "There was never an expectation nor formal request for our participation."
But here's how it's playing: The event's organizers, the Don't Go Movement in Chicago, say they received a request earlier this week from Steele to participate. Organizer Eric Odom, on the Don't Go site, thanked the GOP for the outreach and then shut the door to any play by Steele. "I very much appreciate the fact that Chairman Steele is now finally starting to reach out to the true grassroots side of the free-market movement in America. Unfortunately, it appears that he has only just decided to reach out after realizing how big the movement has gotten and how much media is now involved," he wrote in an E-mail to the RNC. "With regards to stage time, we respectfully must inform Chairman Steel [sic] that RNC officials are welcome to participate in the rally itself, but we prefer to limit stage time to those who are not elected officials, both in Government as well as political parties. This is an opportunity for Americans to speak, and elected officials to listen, not the other way around."
Yesterday, when I heard about this, I called the RNC, which said that Steele plans to be in Chicago for a party meeting and was just interested in getting info on the event and the attendees. "He's in a daylong meeting anyway, so we weren't ever going to be speaking," said an official. "It was just a 'Hey, we're going to be in town' call."
Well, after we E-mailed Don't Go, organizers there must have realized the news value of their claim. They put out a news release titled: "RNC Chairman Denied. Steele Not Wanted to Speak at Chicago Tea Party." The RNC's reaction: "They're just having a little fun."
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Tags: Republicans | Michael Steele
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Reader Comments
Chris Petty
Wgo is it you are asking to Grow Up??? May I make an equal suggestion that if you are not willing to "Grow Up" you at least grow more inquisitive, turn off Talk Radio and develop your own opinions.
You all are Clueless
Do you all even understand what the Dems/Obama are trying to do? Or is it that you are doing what you are told to do? Or better yet is it about race? Yeah, I think its more about race, cuz if you knew, Obama couldn't do anything by himself or without the help of Repubs...
Not the answer to everything but...
Lowering taxes is not the answer to everything but neither is "Yes I can 'cause I'm president now". Both parties have spent us into the poorhouse, the Democrats just seem better at it.
THE answer is to cut our Government spending and insist "they" live within their budget like we have to.
Obama has promised everything to appease the pent-up demands of Liberal America at a time when we're already in debt up to our necks. Both McCain and Obama campaigned against GWB's deficit but here we are 66% WORSE off in under 3 months.
We as a Nation and as Individuals must learn to live within our means. I know that CEO bashing and turning our nose up a Corporate America is very popular right now but there is one area where we should cut taxes.
The USA has the second highest TAX rate for corporations in THE WORLD. You wonder why we keep losing jobs over seas? It's too expensive to do business here. Tax cuts to individuals appeases the masses but does $10/week really help you?
Join the TeaParty and tell the government to "grow up" and behave like adults.
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