Kansas City, Missouri (CNN) - Facing questions about whether he can win a second term as chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele boasted Friday that he has re-shaped the committee from an unwieldy top-down behemoth into an agile grassroots organization with a record of success.
Appearing before committee members at the RNC summer meeting while donning a bright red cap emblazoned with the slogan "Fire Pelosi!," Steele painted a rosy picture of GOP unity ahead of the midterm elections.
"Thank goodness we have Republican 527s that are ready to go out and fight with us," Steele said, a reference to a several independent groups formed partly in response to concerns over RNC's dwindling financial muscle.
The RNC had $10.9 million in the bank at the end of June but pledged this week to raise $60 million more before the year is out. It's an ambitious goal considering that some top GOP donors have fretted over Steele's stewardship of committee resources.
But Steele said the 2008 election had left the RNC in a ruinous state and forced him to reconsider how the party does business.
"Where we had been a big old elephant plodding the states, demanding and dictating to the states, requiring the states to do the most unthinkable things in politics that really had nothing to do with winning and electing Republicans," Steele claimed, an apparent criticism of past chairmen.
"We had to change all of that, we had to move away from a top down approach," he added. "And we had to focus on becoming more nimble."
Steele said his efforts have been validated by GOP wins in the New Jersey and Virginia governor's races and the Massachusetts Senate special election.
He also drew a standing ovation from the committee – many of whom also donned the red baseball caps - when he announced a 117-city "Fire Pelosi!" bus tour for this fall.
"Get on the bus! Get on the bus!" Steele implored, promising to take the party's message "to the streets" ahead of the midterm elections.
In response, the Democratic National Committee, which has seized on Steele's numerous gaffes over the last year and a half, jokingly announced a bus tour of their own.
"We also are doing a bus tour this fall - it's called the Don't Fire Michael Steele Bus Tour," quipped DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse.
From CNN Politics
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It depends on how you define success. If you mean being absolutely useless, not contributing to legislation for political expediency than yes you have been incredibility successful.
Lets hope the GOP receives its just reward this Nov.
Lies, distortions and fear still work
ROTFLMAO!!!!! Are you kidding me?!?!?!? Thanks CNN & Steele, I really needed a laugh this morning.
Peace
How many times has Steele made a fool of himself, and still he thinks he's a success! Remember the strip clubs? How about the "meetings" in Hawaii, with all the trimmings? Attributing the debacle in Afghanistan to Obama?
I'll say one thing for him, he has an iron-clad ego. This image, combined with his total incompetence, reminds me of a slow-motion train wreck. Yeah, that's some success you've got there, Mikey.
Yes thank goodness the Republican 527's are ready to go with smear campaigns, Swift-Boat attacks, mudslinging and bottomless war cheasts thanks to the "Bush" SC.
You might want to bring some ideas to the fight as well, sorry, that's right the RNC – the Party of NO/No Ideas.
Maybe the Tea Baggers can help out...
Watch. As soon as the November election is over Steele is toast. The writing is on the wall. Steele could not bring in other ethnic groups like the GOP thought he would. He was used like an old rag by the GOP. He will walk away with his tail between his legs.
Where is the unaccounted for 7 million dollars Mr. Steele? Did you guys spend all up at the strip club?
My kids can say "no" just as well as, if not better than Steele, Boehner, Cantor, or McConnell. The real test is if reasonable alternatives are offered.
In that race my kids are far more effective than the GOP "leadership," hands down.
I see RNC let this clown Steele out of the dog house. Don't worry this clown will do or say something stupid.
If he counts screwing the middle class of American a success, than they are at the top of their class. If he counts losing 8 million jobs a success than he really has something to brag about. If you look at what administration is responsible for 90% of America's debt today than the Republican party is leading the pack. If you count how many billionaires were made out of millionaires it has been a real success. If you measure by how many American's were better off at the end of W's term than the beginning.........................not so much.
This man has a fondness for his former day job in which he stood on the front lawn of a wealthy Southerner dressed like a jockey in red coat and white riding breeches, holding the reins of the rich white man's daughter's pony.
You can tell, as he still has the red jockey's cap.
Kansas City, Missouri (CNN) – Facing questions about whether he can win a second term as chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele boasted Friday that he has re-shaped the committee from an unwieldy top-down behemoth into an agile grassroots organization with a record of success.
What grassroots? He have not convinence not one minority to join the Tea Baggers club.
How can you call your RNC successful when the teabuggers have reared their ugly heads and let Sarah Pathetic rise to the the top of the curd.
Steele is a big clown and good for the Dems.
Proof that it's easier to brainwash stupid people into voting against their own self interests.
How easy it is to hide facism behind fear.
Steele is a total goofball. The GOP obviously does not know what to
do about him. Too embarrassing to fire him now. He is not bright or
proud enough to go away. Maybe after the elections??
What idiot approved him for the job in the first place?
fool! leading an entire party of fools!
This clown should turn his hat around and do a little dance for us.Poor uncle Mike,Rush really doesnt like him and has numbered his days left on the job,hahaha
Wow. Real professional looking hat. And the GOP wonders why they're a laughing stock.
...Once again, people like Mike Steel are why I am now a Democrat after being a life long registered Republican. A little note to the RNC and all the Conservatives out there..."Actions speak louder than words."
is he not fully aware that MANY in attendance want to fire him??????...as usual, the sewer dwellers are completely oblivious to the needs of the middle class.....but they are good at insulting, critique without offering one bit of ideas, why???? because they do not have any and lack the intelligence to think for themselves.....bunch of rotten brains....
Leave it to an RNC "TOKEN" leader
To see his complete inability to actually lead, as an asset ???
Ya gotta loves these Republicans, they sure know how to blow smoke up their own air-holes
Steele said his efforts have been validated by GOP wins in the New Jersey and Virginia governor's races .........and the voters in those two states now realize what a freaking BIG mistake they made in electing the two dumbasses.......pathetic bunch of sewer dwellers.....but,again, they are repulsive, repugnant and conservatards.....
Just how many GOParrots can we stand?
Way to go Micheal Steele...we'll beat the cr@p out of these dumb liberal Democ-RATS election 2010 and 2012!!!!