WASHINGTON (CNN) – Capping off a day of conservative soul-searching, strategizing and navel-gazing at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele announced Thursday that the Grand Old Party is “alive and well.”
Steele, addressing CPAC’s Presidential Banquet, told the audience that “the conservative movement must become a revolution,” and the goal “must be nothing less than the transformation of America.”
“Tonight, we tell America that Republican values, conservative values, are right for America,” he said, admitting that the party has made some mistakes. “Tonight, we tell America: we know the past, we know we did wrong. My bad. But we go forward in appreciation of the values that brought us to this point.”
To much applause, Steele attacked the Obama administration’s recently-passed stimulus package, calling it “nothing short of frightening.” He said conservatives must use the political moment to re-assert their belief in a set of basic principles: limited government, freedom, opportunity and the ability of the free market to “create, innovate and prosper.”
November’s losses, he contended, should not be a discouragement.
“I am here tonight to reject the idea that defeats of the past are a repudiation of core conservative values and principles,” he said. “Nor do I believe that those defeats are a sign of things to come.”
The former Maryland Lt. Governor took a moment to honor two of his former rivals for the RNC chairmanship who were in attendance, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and Michigan GOP chairman Saul Anuzis.
Steele began his speech by needling Anuzis, who ran for the post on a platform of upgrading the party’s technological savvy.
“Alright Saul, stop Twittering,” he cracked.
As he concluded his remarks, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann - the event's moderator - told Steele he was “da man.”
“Michael Steele! You be da man! You be da man,” she said.
From CNN Politics
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Mr. Steele you need oxygen. From where I sit your party is in deep dodo. You absolutely have no one who knows any thing about anything. I am a Republican and I and ashamed and shocked at what I am hearing and seeing from the Republican party. I am jumping ship–this feels like I am on the Titanic
Tonight, we tell America that Republican values, conservative values, are right for America,” he said. “ I disagree and so do most American!
If so, why are you Republicans continue to lose sets.
Just fine. Or as John McCain would put it "The fundimentals are strong". A little advice: stop being pot-holes on the road to economic recovery.
Bachmann, Steele, Palin, Jindahl...the Republican party is just fine...ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha and HA!
"my Bad" "you da Man" ughh God do they really have to keep trying to do this urban appeal garbage?
I can't stop laughing! This is a joke, right?
Steele's ignorance is obviously spreading to the rest of the GOP..."you be da man"...ignorant
Republican values? You mean self-righteous, narrow-minded, bigotry?
"We know the past, we know we did wrong"
Then why do you want to repeat it so badly?
Wow, what a terrible thing to say.
So you have a black chairman and you use Ebonics to talk to him. Yeah, the Republicans have come a long, long way–NOT.
The Republican party showered their values upon the American people leaving the nation where it is today. You know what they say about people who do the same thing, but expect a different result. Next time, the fish won't be biting – they don't like the bait.
are they trying to talk like young people like me?
WOW, WEIRD!!!!
i think instead of talking like the new generation, they should start thinking and listening to the new generation!
so you guys are saying that the government shouldnt be helping people get back on there feet? that if we wait, they'll just stand back up? well they cant! the big businesses are holding them down!!!
can you blame them? youve been telling them that they need to compete, well, guess what, the small bussiness down the street is competing with WALMART!!! those guys need a boost, and even if you lower taxes on them, the big guys still got an arsenal of tricks up their sleeve to make sure the small guy cant compete with them.
the free market nowadays is a slaughterhouse. give the little guy a chance.
stimulate the little guy, a $60 tax cut isnt gonna help him
regulation is there for a reason!
Just fine? Are you kidding me?
I am no longer certain what Republican values are, but I can say that they are not the values that I grew up with in the Republican party. They remind me of failed parties of the past that went to far right and did not have the common sense to come back to the nations values.
Grand old party ye ? Old alright.
This Steel guy is a joke.
Why the Reps elected him? because he has black skin colour,
why Palin,because of Hilary and
why Jindal -because of immigrants.
Are they following on the foot steps of Democrats?
Do they have any thing original?
I know -they can criticize.
They are partying in DC-.electing a hopeful- for what?
Doom & Gloom
He's got to be kidding...when the Republicans controlled the White House for eight years, and Congress for six years, they fought AGAINST basic freedoms, dramatically ENLARGED government and made it far more intrusive, and the only ones to "prosper and innovate" were Halliburton, Black Water and the oil companies they were in bed with. Do they really think that our memories are THAT short?!
Living in a dream world, Steele. Wake up and smell reality.
Who is he trying to kid?
You be da man, Michael Steele? Holy crap!! This is worse than being tossed oreo cookies in your 2002 gubernatorial debate. I would love what you have to say about this on Hannity, you spineless hack. Is this is your pathetic attempt at being hip, or are you that out of touch? Michael Steele you are the Token of the Week.
I watch faithfully looking forward to that special day when your chickens, come home, to rooooossst.
As a loyal Republican it is unfortunate that Mr. Steele is ensnared in a campaign finance probe which will probably end in his resignation from the RNC position.
"we know the past, we know we did wrong..." If so, what was it you did wrong? I don't hear any Republicans admitting anything. They are falling back on the same old rhetoric of cutting taxes and spending. There are times to spend, and times to cut. I didn't hear any complaining from them about Bush's budgets. They (they who brought us "balanced budget amendments") are perfectly all right with deficit spending as long as we are bombing some third world country. They are not Americans. They fear the Bill of Rights. For eight years, they crapped on the Constitution. I wonder how many Republicans have been practicing deficit spending in their own households lo these many years. And they talk about values? They are hypocrites.
I'm sorry, but I don't see how the party which stands for government dictation of who is allowed to get married and what a woman can do with her own body is the party of 'limited government' and 'freedom'.
Why did the RNC chose the Louisania Governor to give the rebuttal speech the other night? Shouldn't it had been you? Already they are showing you how they really feel about their token leader.
Get a clue and step down...
Indeed just fine and not refined!
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...“the conservative movement must become a revolution,” and the goal “must be nothing less than the transformation of America.”...
conservative values, are right for America,” he said. “Tonight, we tell America: we know the past, we know we did wrong. My bad. But we go forward in appreciation of the values that brought us to this point.”
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Oh, my goodness....what pray tell, will you transform America into? Why suh, whateva do you mean?......... Scarlet wants to know.
"the values that brought us to this point?"
Are you saying that you are going forward in appreciation of the "values" of mean-spirited, opposition to everything Democratic? Are you going forward in your "values" of tainting and misrepresenting the truth in your propaganda-laden statements?
All the tactics, strategies, lies from your candidates, that have brought you to this point, are those the "values" that you appreciate, and will go forward with from this point? "My bad?" Ha, Ha, Haaaaaaaaaaaa.
Bravo, sir! You're doing a heck of a job!
This article has made my evening. I will drift off to sleep with a good joke upon which to muse.