Steele to Republicans Who Support Obama: ‘We’ll Come After You’
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: RNC Chairman Michael Steele has been endorsing a “big tent” approach to recruiting candidates for 2010, emphasizing the need to find candidates who fit the needs of individual districts. But on ABCNews.com’s “Top Line” today, Steele made clear there are limits to how far candidates can push the party’s limits. Asked if he’d be comfortable with Republican candidates in 2010 who supported President Obama’s stimulus package, or his push to overhaul health care, Steele said: “Well I’m gonna tell you honestly, that’s where the line gets a little bit tricky. And you saw in the House and in the Senate that there are ramifications, because that goes against a core principle. And trust me, you’re assuming that people want to have bloated debt, government expenditures and growth into their lives — they don’t. That’s a talking point out of the DNC.” “People aren’t buying that. So candidates who live in moderate to slightly liberal districts have got to walk a little bit carefully here, because you do not want to put yourself in a position where you’re crossing that line on conservative principles, fiscal principles, because we’ll come after you,” Steele continued. “You’re gonna find yourself in a very tough hole if you’re arguing for the president’s stimulus plan or Nancy Pelosi’s health plan. There’s no justification for growing the size of government the way this administration and this Congress wants to do it.” Steele didn’t mention any candidates by name. But the comments could be interpreted as a warning shot aimed at Republicans who have voiced support for the stimulus — like Gov. Charlie Crist, R-Fla., who’s running for governor next year in a competitive primary — or who, like Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, are supporting health care reform efforts. Crist told CNN earlier this week that he never endorsed the stimulus package, and that he voiced support for it only because he was simply trying to get the best deal for Florida, given that the stimulus was headed for passage in Washington. However, given Crist’s sharing a stage with President Obama to trumpet the stimulus package and his publicly stated support for it, it will no doubt continue to dog him in his competitive primary against Marco Rubio no matter how strenuously he attempts to walk it back. Steele also disputed the contention by White House senior adviser David Axelrod that 2009 wasn’t a referendum on the president’s policies, but that 2010 will be. “You have the president going into New Jersey four times, and you’re going to then sit back after we kick your butt and say, ‘Well, no, this had nothing to do with the president?’ Well why was he there?” Steele said. “And you can’t sit back at the same time and say … the only reason we’re losing is because our base isn’t excited so pass this horrendous health care bill. And that will excite them? They’re not excited because they’re fearful that you’re going to pass this horrendous health care bill because this is not the change that they voted for. They’ve missed that point.” “So don’t get in front of the White House lawn and give me this sort of disingenuous, ‘Oh well, you know, ’09 isn’t about the president, 2010 is going to be about passing our agenda and that way people will be excited again.’ They’re not excited because they’re fearful of what it is you want to pass.” Watch our full interview with the RNC chairman HERE. UPDATE: The Democratic National Committee jumped on the interview after it aired, saying that Steele is tying himself to "extremist" elements inside the Republican Party: "With today's threat to 'come after' moderate Republicans or those that would work for bipartisan solutions, it's clear the Michael Steele and the Republican party are ready to hand over the keys of the GOP to Michele Bachmann, Glenn Beck and the rest of the extremist tea party crowd," DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan said in a statement. "And in establishing a policy of purging moderates, the Republicans have committed themselves to being an extreme ideological party that will only turn-off independent voters and further marginalize an already isolated party going into 2010 and beyond."
GOP Rap: 'Take America Back' 
Afghanistan Timeline Realistic?
“Asked if he’d be comfortable with Republican candidates in 2010 who supported President Obama’s stimulus package”
Uh, what fantasy land centrist Republicans would that be exactly? Lieberman? Snowe and Collins are the only Republicans who supported the stimulus. Collins isn’t up for election for until 2014. Snowe is up next cycle…
So now Steele is directly threatening Snowe. Has the purge begun in earnest, or is the RNC so clumsy as to not understand when they are making a direct threat against a key member of their caucus?
Posted by: jhw539 | November 5, 2009, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
Steele had to be about the worst choice they could have made over there for this position. I know conservatives that hate him.
Posted by: secondlook | November 5, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
How American of him and the republican party. We would be glad if these moderate republicans would join the democratic party. We will gladly vote for them. As far as the republican party that is Steeles’ fantasy, Sorry Mr. Steele, but those Americans that care about each other and not just how “they” are doing will never let this happen. We proved we have the power last November, and will prove it again to keep your fantasy from ever coming to fruition.
Posted by: Chuck | November 5, 2009, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
Got nothing to lose?
Posted by: Thinking | November 5, 2009, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
“They’re coming to take you away, ha, ha.”………….What great lyrics for a song!
Posted by: Doppelganger | November 5, 2009, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
Steele’s and most conservative’s attitude is “If you aren’t with us then your against us”. Keep driving your party as far right as possible and lose another election morons. Just because conservatives are more vocal doesn’t make them a majority. They are on the fringes just like liberals. It is those in the middle that determine elections. And they would just as soon toss a Republican out of office as a Democrat…
Posted by: indy_voter | November 5, 2009, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
After Bush and 6 years of a Republican Congress that spent, spent, spent with no real goal, who in the hell are the Republicans to talk?
Posted by: Archie | November 5, 2009, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
I went to a taping of Bill Maher’s show a few years back and Steele was a guest. I thought the guy was out of touch then with his crazy answers. Well, at least he is consistent.
Posted by: Art in Chicago | November 5, 2009, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
Now the Republicans are threatening their own kind . . . this is getting even more uglier than ever. Keep it up Republicans . . . the more you open your mouths the more sane-minded people see you for what you are!
Posted by: Tom Kaye | November 5, 2009, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
What a complete empty bag Steele is. The Republicans are beginning to look more and more like fundamentalist Muslims…..just replace the crescent with the cross and order a few RPG’s. They already match each other gun for gun.
Posted by: dano | November 5, 2009, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
From what I see, most posters here are just as bad as the repub’s and dem’s. You think this is like picking a team to win the superbowl? What happens when something is attacked that matters to you? What’s the price of your integrity? Free healthcare? Obama winning the election? Unlimited unemployment benefits? What do you stand for exactly? Steele, misguided as he is, actually believes in what he is doing. What are you doing other than pointing out things about other people that are different than your point of view?
Posted by: Preston | November 5, 2009, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Gee, and Howard Dean as DNC Chairman was the benchmark for a good party chairman? LOL. The elections Tuesday were not victories for Obama and the democrats, because their candidates didn’t win. Period. Same time, next year may well be a repeat, only larger, much larger if democrats continue to spend huge sums without being able to account for where EXACTLY the money went and unemployment remains near or over 10%. Right now, Washington, D.C. is so out of sync with a majority of the electorate that it isn’t even funny. In fact, it’s pathetically sad that the middle 40% of Americans seem to have no sane, reasonable voice speaking for them right now.
Posted by: Rob | November 5, 2009, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
The RINOs are the ones to run in fear, good, and ACORN clinched your liberal elections. Look at the voting results, without the boggus turn out you got clobebred in Va and NJ. An unknown just about blasted your NY23 seat also in a matter of weeks as an independent…45% of the vote and the loser republican gave her support to the Democrat!
Wait til the primary for NY23, tell your current winner to leave his bags packed. Please keep up your delusional excuses for the angst and anger pulsing thru America right now…from the mainstream who make the country run, the people pulling the wagon, not the progressive parasites on the body politic. We are going to get that body “wormed” next year and out you go!
Posted by: RussRamey6 | November 5, 2009, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
It’s so interesting that the GOP uses this Black man to attack a Black president so as not to appear the racists they appear to be — and they also leave it open for him to attack everyone else — this Blakc guy can say “we’ll come after you” to a bunch of White guys and no one can say anything. If Obama were White, no WAY would the GOP trot this guy out to say the dumb things he says. There are fewer far right conservative voters than the GOP thinks. They’re going to alienate a huge base of moderate Republican voters with this kind of witch hunt.
Posted by: Julia | November 5, 2009, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
All liberal start packing,your time of lies are up.
Posted by: jumpboots187th | November 5, 2009, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
You know, I’m getting real discouraged by the angry tenor of both politician and crowds whose individuals I seen interviewed on TV. Are all you guys who are saying “I don’t want to pay for their healthcare, let them pay for their own HC”, really claiming to love your “Christian country”? Might I suggest that you study more carefully the sermon on the Mount and parables given by Jesus again & again, about what we should believe about the “least of these.” Amazingly sad……….
Posted by: linsam92 | November 5, 2009, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
SecondLook>>>>”Steele had to be about the worst choice they could have made over there for this position. I know conservatives that hate him.”. What a RACIST thing to say. You are saying that only because Steele is Black. (and by the way, I know of MANY moderates and liberals that hate Obama now….and that makes about as much difference as you saying that you know conservatives that hate Steele.) Have a nice evening, ma’am. And i do hope you realize that my “racist” is tongue in cheek…just feels good to send it back in kind to the liberal side…
Posted by: ncpilot09 | November 5, 2009, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
count the lib comments in here about the GOP eating its own, etc. I think that is hilarious. Did you guys not look at the headlines of the next story down?? Here it is: >>>>GEORGE: MoveOn to Fund Primary Challengers to Any Senator Who Blocks Up or Down Vote<<<<< kinda looks like Liberal Cannibalism is alive and well also, huh?
Posted by: ncpilot09 | November 5, 2009, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
Julia, Obama IS white. He’s as white as he is black.
Posted by: ncpilot09 | November 5, 2009, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm
Steele sounds alot like the Taliban-is he a muslum?
Posted by: cowgirl | November 5, 2009, 10:40 pm 10:40 pm
I love the signs about overthrowing the tyrant obama. The democratically and fairly elected tyrant who is supporting an initiative to treat people equally that the majority of the people support. we MUST act now, and end this horrible oppression.
Posted by: mike | November 5, 2009, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm
ANYONE, I repeat, ANYONE elected to office should represent the people that elect them, NOT the party. I’d like to repeat this, any politician promising to represent his area has an obligation to his district, and if that conflicts with the “Party” lines, then the loyalty goes to the people that elected her/him.
Posted by: able | November 6, 2009, 1:17 am 1:17 am
What is Steele’s background? Where did he come from? With his threatening talk, he sounds like a gangster or wife beater who says “coming after you” to kill someone. That is a very threatening statement that is abusive. Is this talk coming from alcohol abuse, verbal abuse, mental abuse, emotional abuse? With this type of talk, from an abusive person, the next step would be physical abuse. Watch out! Steele and Beck will next have RAGE! Possibly hormonal imbalance from the Conservative Right with extreme rage. Mental stress or mental disease like bipolar. These right wing conservative Republicans are a danger to society as a whole. They are to be watched and possibly America needs to get a restraining order to keep them at a distance.
Posted by: Elle | November 6, 2009, 1:21 am 1:21 am
GOP is completely out of control and exhibit mental stress from the fact their taxes are going to increase soon from 8 years they didn’t pay taxes under their leader Bush. These GOP are abusive verbally and threatening physically. They need to go to anger management group and have individual counseling to keep from killing others who differ from them. They are types of folks we normal folks don’t like being away. They are “creepy”.
Posted by: Elle | November 6, 2009, 1:24 am 1:24 am
We don’t like being “around” them.
Posted by: Elle | November 6, 2009, 1:25 am 1:25 am
This isn’t a witch hunt but a group of “thugs” who go out and verbally, physically, emotionally abuse their own party members. This just proves that GOP are abusive and believe that women belong at home barefoot, pregnant, and men can be men as they wish. Steele is Beck’s patsy, shield since Beck isn’t man enough to come out with his own verbage. Beck is sipping his Mint Julip.
Posted by: Elle | November 6, 2009, 1:28 am 1:28 am
These behaviors from the GOP just show how much they have fallen from grace. They don’t exhibit Christ behaviors but those who wanted Christ crucified. Remember the crowd — They choose Barabas since he was one of them but wanted Christ dead since he wasn’t like them. GOP have mob mentality and aren’t any better than those who said “Crucify Him, Crucify Him”. They are completely out of control and mentally damaged goods.
Posted by: Elle | November 6, 2009, 1:31 am 1:31 am
I respectfully disagree that Steele believes in what he is doing. He is nothing but a token and a patsy. He is the “Wise” guy for the GOP.
Posted by: Elle | November 6, 2009, 1:33 am 1:33 am
Who cares about Virginia and New Jersey anyway. They both have high taxes and have had for decades. Their state tax tariffs are out of control. The good thing about these two governors is that they can’t make enough jobs and lower taxes fast enough in one year to make any differences and the Democrats will rise again to the cream of the crop and blow out the Republican party in these 2 states. Then these 2 governors will be lame ducks. Will they quit like Palin did since they won’t be able to stand the heat? GOP are totally on the losing team.
Posted by: Elle | November 6, 2009, 1:37 am 1:37 am
Also Virginia and New Jersey have extremely high crimes and have had for decades as well. Remember the Spotsylvania sheriff and deputies who stole from their citizens in Virginia? That happened in the mid 80s, and the citizens would report theft, and the sheriffs department had really done the crime. Well, they were Republicans. That’s Virginia for you and we all know about New Jersey and their crime rates. No one wants to have conventions in their state for fear of being a statistic. No thanks! Democrats were smart to pass this round.
Posted by: Elle | November 6, 2009, 1:41 am 1:41 am
Mike, please, stop replaying the Bush tapes. That was what Bush did, not Obama. You must be bipolar since you can’t distinguish between illusion, delusion, and the truth of Bush Administration and what was done under his watch. His own VP Cheney didn’t answer 74 FBI questions about Valerie Plume. That’s absurd, and questionable into already questionable Cheney’s character. That’s just shows Bush’s character as well — not so good.
Posted by: Elle | November 6, 2009, 1:45 am 1:45 am
Any voter who wants to go back to October 2008 has short timers memory and needs memory restoration medication. The Bush administration placed our country in the worst recession since the Great Depression. GOP are impatient and have symptoms of ADHD and out of control anger with mob like threats towards their own party. It’s not the party they serve but their citizens and the Constitution of the United States of America. If GOP could, they would try to change the Constitution to take away citizen’s rights. Oh that right, Bush did that already.
Posted by: Elle | November 6, 2009, 1:48 am 1:48 am
Unlimited unemployment benefits Preston? What’s that got to do with Steele purging the R-Party of sanity and good common sense?
And let’s see what are you going to do if your benefits you paid for, expires and you’re really in Big trouble with no job and no prospects for one. Are we supposed to be a nation of homeless?
I see Democrats embedding themselves into our privacy, our pockets and personal choices but supporting the abortion pay by everyone – even those opposed to it, which is not a need medical procedure. Their stupidity is equaled by Republicans who sold the government functions to the (sic) private market just like the Dems,ohh, (that’s called deregulation and dereliction of duty by the way) a private market Madoff style which is not accountable to anyone cause we can’t vote them out.
All this is insanity. Neither party is really listening to us. They listen to Rush and Beck on one hand and to Sharpton in the other. We’re the looosers in all this political game.
Let the republicans eat themselves out. At least one incompetent party will be no longer our concern so we can go after the other.
Posted by: Independent | November 6, 2009, 1:56 am 1:56 am
Tea-publican party, heh heh
Posted by: Alex | November 6, 2009, 2:48 am 2:48 am
You people are about to find out this nation is a center/RIGHT country…not a Socialist/left country
Posted by: Glenn and Rush are right | November 6, 2009, 5:07 am 5:07 am
Oh, good. Then we can count on the RNC to get behind Marco Rubio in the Florida senate race and kick Charlie Crist to the curb?
Posted by: Mille | November 6, 2009, 6:45 am 6:45 am
Wouldn’t a RINO be like being in a war and having someone, you can’t trust, behind you with a loaded gun.
Just thinking out loud…
Posted by: Lew | November 6, 2009, 7:06 am 7:06 am
Seems to me Steele is starting to come around. The conservatives are taking back the Republican Party. It will be Grand again.
Posted by: KansasGirl | November 6, 2009, 7:39 am 7:39 am
I am still trying to figure out the nationwide election results. From my count democrats won many more contests mayoral, county officials, etc. overall.
Why are the Repubicans crowing over winning just two contests?
Posted by: Marvelous | November 6, 2009, 8:07 am 8:07 am
“Big tent” means all backgrounds, ages, education and income levels, music and art preferences, ethnicities, etc. are welcome in the Republican Party.
It does not mean that all policlies are welcome.
Policies of massive wealth redistribution, for example, should never be welcome – and the RNCC is right to oppose Republican candidates who support such policies.
Posted by: MKS | November 6, 2009, 8:40 am 8:40 am
Steele shoud talk. It was the Republican party who, in the last administration, bloated debt and government spending. The only difference is there’s a democrat now sitting in the oval office. Steele can take his hyprocrisy and shove it.
Posted by: Wayne | November 6, 2009, 9:00 am 9:00 am
And the voters will come after you as well. The dems are going to figure out that they are at risk of losing their jobs in the near future. Leave us alone and go back to running the country as a free country not a communist in theory country
Posted by: Jim Rod | November 6, 2009, 10:01 am 10:01 am
linsam92
I don’t recall Jesus ever saying anything about turning over the “least of these” to the federal government. Time for nominal and phony Christians to wake up. The U.S. goverment is godless, without godly morals and corrupt to the core. The righteousness of God will only be carried out when those who profess Christianity begin to walk in what God has called them to. True sanctification and holiness. The government has no place promoting your false notion of Jesus’ teachings. Do not let your politics define your faith. Rather your faith should transcend the corruption of politics in this country.
Posted by: NC77 | November 6, 2009, 11:52 am 11:52 am
Any one claiming to be republican that supports ObmaMAO will either change course, or, there will be a contender awaiting them in the primary. If they win the primary, simply don’t vote for them in the general.
Better a known demoncRAT enemy to your front, than a back stabbing traitor in your midst.
McCain here in Arizona is going down in 2010, one way or another, he is finished.
Posted by: Travis | November 6, 2009, 11:53 am 11:53 am
Ken Blackwell is a true conservative and he would be ten times better than Steele as head of GOP.
Posted by: Travis | November 6, 2009, 11:55 am 11:55 am
Bush was as bad as I had seen up to that point which blinded me to vote for Obama but now Obama is even more and undeniably excruciating.
One hand on the wheel, one hand on the pavement.
Let’s simply revisit these posts in December of 2010, shall we?
Posted by: seymour | November 6, 2009, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
I am glad to hear Steele make this announcement. Perhaps the GOP is listening to it’s members. My apologies to Mr. Steele. Ruth San Jose
Posted by: Ruth Skidmore | November 6, 2009, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
Who listens to this loser? He backed down from Rush – he’s gutless, and now apparently spiteful. It’s a typical right-winger response though. The heck with supporting the government or trying to do what’s best for citizens, just toe the crazy side of the party line. Steele (what an ironic name!) is on his knees to the FAR right. Great! They need a court jester.
Posted by: Cassandra | November 6, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
About this statement, “”And in establishing a policy of purging moderates, the Republicans have committed themselves to being an extreme ideological party that will only turn-off independent voters….” YES! From (sometimes grudging) admiration, I’m absolutely opposed to all things Republican. As long as the candidate running against them doesn’t go on TV and eat live puppies, I’ll vote against the Republican candidate every time.
Posted by: Cassandra | November 6, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Steele proves that the Republican party don’t care about the people they represent…they only care about the “Party”….just how sick is that?….He is a traitor to the people….
Posted by: DirtyShame | November 6, 2009, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
I love how the left constantly claims the right is ‘doesn’t care for their fellow man’. What a bold face lie. Republicans give a higher percentage of their income to charities than Dems. In fact I gave more money to charity than Biden, and I can tell you Biden makes a lot more money than I do.
Posted by: Its Time | November 6, 2009, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
“After Bush and 6 years of a Republican Congress that spent, spent, spent with no real goal, who in the hell are the Republicans to talk?”
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Your President has spent more in the last 9 months than all Presidents combined and you have the gall to finger-point to the RINO Republicans under Bush?
Posted by: Matt | November 6, 2009, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
when he implies that snowe should go,she should! She does not listen to the people here in Maine.I sent here an email stating that she should not support the stimulus,when i got the reply She said(paraphrase) “since you support kennedy’s health care…” First of all i never mentioned kennedy,and second of all I never supported anything the the drunk from Massachusetts did or said. She needs to go.
Posted by: jay s | November 6, 2009, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
When Steele says that he will go after GOPs Dumbo obama supporters ,does that mean those turn idiots Colin Powell and Bill”Pink Floyd” Weld?
Posted by: Scot | November 6, 2009, 10:42 pm 10:42 pm
Both the Dems and Repubs are in for a rude awakening in 2010. Neither party represents the majority of the citizens that vote in this country. It is the voters who understand what our government has become that will decide quietly, in the voting booth our future. I have just changed parties from Conservative to Independent because the Conservatives have latched onto social (far right)rather than fiscal (moderate) issues. Both Rush and Mr. Beck speak coherently when the subject is fiscal. It is when they start beating the far right drum of limiting all freedoms in the name of personal beliefs when they lose me. The big tent theory is the only one that will keep the Republican party from imploding. It is the only way they will be able to shed the same stink that they share with the far left in the Democratic party and become acceptable again to the majority of voters who in fact are moderates. Hang onto the fiscal portion of your platform and dump your religious righter than thou platform and there may be some hope for you in 2010 and beyond. Until that time your drum beat will become taps.
Posted by: pbaz | November 7, 2009, 9:45 am 9:45 am
Wow..and they call Obama a Nazi and Hitler. Sounds to me like Mr. Steele and Ms.Pallin are acting like just that. If you do not agree with me and my principles….we will get after you? What happened to freedom of choice. What hypocrates they are. I just hope they keep talking so that the rest of the world can see how they are trying to control what happens..People in any party have the right to vote what they want…that is why soldiers are fighting in Iraq and Afhanistan. They are negating what they are trying to achieve the right to think, act and vote as you please. Hopefully people will soon see through these people but I doubt it.
Posted by: talmag | November 7, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am
To Kansas Girl: If you think that makesthe republican party grand, you must be ready to take out your white sheets. Any party that only wants people who think like them, look like them are not a party I want to be a part of….this is America…we can think and vote for whom we please and no one can tell us who to vote for….otherwise there is no freedom of choice.
Posted by: talmag | November 7, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
It doesn’t matter who won the darn Presidental election, Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse. Once that person is in office, he should work with Congress and do what is best for the United States of America, not what they feel is best for each individual party (Republicans or Democrats). Over the past few years this seems to be the trend, what can I do for “my party”. There is no thought put into what is best for the people of the USA. They need to get off their high horses and starting thinking about this country or there is not going to be a free country left and there will be someone else making the decisions for them.
Posted by: d | November 7, 2009, 10:44 pm 10:44 pm